735. Non-obvious opportunities.
Ever since Billy had all the time in the world. Ever since he began to play with his occasional drawing time. He carried along his new supporting actress, in whom a girl took what remained of her position, a hand offering her the slightest possibility.
-Your events have been quite well known these past few days.- she replied with confidence and certainty.
-You mean these events.- Billy commented, watching the crowd move. Some familiar faces were missing, others had arrived unexpectedly—James Cameron, for instance, holding hands with his new wife of several months. A simple ingredient. Alongside another director who seemed eager to make a film, it was now a straightforward position: coming to do business, large parties, community, and the Lux Animation checkbook, which made everything simple.
-Optimization.- Billy replied.- Everyone wants to skip the steps that occasionally exist within companies. I, on the other hand, am a friend of art. I place it above everything else. They take advantage of that and come here to pitch their ideas. Many of them are truly good, challenging—and that doesn’t only include the world of animation.-
A simple dynamic. It was about stepping in, because Billy’s sharp gaze left them breathless. Someone who could fully explain a good idea in five minutes and earn Billy’s support—or that of his advisors—was what most hoped for. Billy left these spaces open so people could come in and diversify their investments.
-That seems very bold; it just surprises me that he’s here.- Natalie whispered, watching one of the writers who had defined cinema in recent times. Tom Clancy, holding hands with his new partner, Alexandra Marie Lewellyn. They had been seen together for some time, even though he was still married to Wanda Thomas—there was talk of a de facto but not legal separation. Many were businessmen, others writers, politicians, and public figures. He had even sent some invitations to more public channels, such as embassies, police departments, and others.
-That’s why I scheduled two screenings.- Billy commented casually. Each ticket came with a pass for immediate family—wife and children—while seating included a family combo for families and a personal combo for younger guests. A premiere that conveyed a sense of luxury and comfort. The guest list rotated constantly but always fit into the golden list: Lux Animation producers, DreamWorks, and their closest associates, all finding a place within the full media circus expected of a film release.
A bit farther away, a lively dance unfolded with hired performers—students dressed as Sinbad the Sailor and his main characters: a pirate crew and, of course, a commodore, Eris, Jed, and Marina. A full gala of voice actors, along with one notably well-known actress, is working for a fixed price set by Lux Animation. The offer was always clear. $200,000 for the female lead, $200,000 for the male lead. Opportunities—he always gave opportunities to newcomers, earning goodwill within the industry, since crumbs were gold mines for actors struggling to make ends meet.
-You can talk to anyone. Whether you find the love of your life, your accountant, or a lawy, r—just be careful. There are many scammers in this city.- Billy said calmly, fully aware of the dangers careless minds posed to opportunists. He said goodbye, but in the back of his mind, he saw Monica waiting not far away. Fashion seemed to materialize in her—she shamelessly wore the most elegant, provocative, and defiant outfits. That was Monica’s fashion.
-I expected to see you in Italy.- Billy commented. He was flying to Tunisia the day after tomorrow and now found himself acting as Natalie’s chaperone. She behaved with the serenity of a young girl, though something was missing. She still posed like a child in front of the cameras.
-I arrived this morning. I have a promotion tomorrow morning.- Monica replied with complete confidence. It was normal for her now to say she was one of the most acclaimed models in New York, evoking provocative beauty with her wide hips, full breasts, and deep black eyes that left anyone speechless.
-So it’s a good promotion.- Billy asked.
-It really is.- Monica replied, thinking of becoming one of the faces of Victoria’s Secret’s 1998 lingerie campaign. The photo alone was enough to leave Billy utterly undone—he knew how tempting those legs were to anyone.
-I negotiated a percentage of sales with Jim Wait for my promotional line.- Monica commented.
Billy’s eyes widened. That kind of negotiation wasn’t typical—at least not for Monica. In recent months, she had begun taking business seriously. Now she was completely different: thinking about alliances, creating clothing brands, or becoming a promoter—being part of sales, promotion, or acquiring shares instead of just taking a flat fee.
-I’ll help you, sweetheart. Don’t worry. Leave everything to me. You just focus on doing what you do best.- Billy said, gently kissing her lips. Her makeup was blue, matching the navy dress that accentuated her curves, made of a fabric that seemed to fall like ordered chains.
Her eyes sparkled with a soft grace. Monica introduced him to her new friends—three charming Italian women who were now protégées: young, beautiful, and ready to succeed in great America.
-You didn’t take part in this film.- Monica commented.
-I didn’t have time, but I’ll appear in the next one, which premieres in May.- Billy replied, thinking ahead. A distant step—Robots—would feature him as a main member, an active Winona as part of the cast, and, of course, see Danny DeVito as the villain. That was exactly what he expected. Danny accepted a salary of $500,000 on the condition that two of his friends and his wife also got work. Billy agreed, though his friends would work at Lux Animation on a film of his choosing.
-Well, I also want to bring someone. Is that possible?- Monica asked carefully, a hint of apprehension in her mind about Billy’s response.
-You always can, as long as you accept the offer and the working conditions.- Billy commented, understanding in a straightforward way that everyone could have a slice of the animation world—where voices provided essential substance.