Chapter 391 I thought this kind of thing could only be seen on TV
"Do you still remember Esme?"
While Ashley was lost in thought, Damian suddenly asked.
"Yes, I remember. Sven's daughter. What about her?"
Damian casually replied, "She joined Hendrix's entertainment company."
Ashley recalled her brief interaction with Esme, who left an impression as a pretty and sensible girl. Esme had shown a keen interest in Hendrix, and it was surprising how quickly she took action, directly joining Hendrix's company.
This decisiveness was quite similar to her strong-willed father; she was also someone who wouldn't take no for an answer.
"The Bergstrom family is a dominant force in Limehof. She has such good resources at her disposal but chose to go to Rochester City to make her mark. It’s probably not just about career achievements."
Damian said, "Her target is Hendrix."
Ashley had guessed this but was puzzled why Damian, who usually didn't gossip about others' private matters, was so interested. "That's her business with Hendrix, it has nothing to do with me."
"Nothing to do with you?" Damian continued to look at the documents, his eyes never leaving the black and white text, occasionally making notes with handwriting more beautiful than print.
Ashley gripped the steering wheel, focusing on the road. "What are you trying to remind me of?"
From an outsider's perspective, Damian calmly said, "Esme leaving Limehof's resources to go to Rochester City shows her determination. She won't stop until she achieves her goal. Given Hendrix's attitude towards you, she will soon see you as the biggest obstacle. With Esme's methods and style, do you think she will be friendly to you?"
Ashley furrowed her beautiful brows slightly and smiled, "Don't underestimate me. I have plenty of ways to clear up such simple misunderstandings."
Damian said no more.
Because Ashley's phrase "simple misunderstandings" had already put him at ease.
Some are happy, some are worried. Amelia was currently very troubled.
She had finally landed a major TV production, playing a high-profile supporting role, but it was now facing collapse because an investor had pulled out.
Garry lit his fifteenth cigarette of the day. Since learning that Benjamin had withdrawn all his funds, his hair was almost turning white with worry.
The crew was silent, not daring to discuss, speak out, or ask questions.
Many had heard that Jessa had joined the crew with financial backing, supported by a wealthy benefactor who spared no expense for her.
Now, with Jessa leaving the crew and the investors pulling out, the rumors were confirmed.
But that was no longer the main issue; the lack of money was everyone's common crisis.
Amelia bit her lip, standing silently among the crowd.
Did Jessa, after being messed with by her and Ashley, get so angry that she didn't want to act anymore and then cried to her man to take the money back?
Was that possible?
If so, wouldn't she have ruined her own future?
But thinking about Jessa's troublemaking ways, Amelia felt that even knowing this outcome, she would still have allowed Ashley to go hard on her.
No, even harder, to the point of disfiguring her, so she wouldn't cause any more trouble in the entertainment industry.
Garry, troubled, flicked the ash from his cigarette, the dust mixing with the butts in the ashtray. "We've all been through a lot together, endured many hardships, all with the aim of doing a good job and making a great show. I've seen all your efforts."
Garry's words brought tears to the eyes of several actresses with low emotional thresholds.
Amelia heard the low sobs and was speechless.
Seriously, their acting was good even at a time like this.
The assistant director, dejected, said, "I've been strict and harsh with everyone, hoping you'd grow and improve quickly, honing your acting skills. I thought I'd apologize after we wrapped, but it seems I have to do it now. If we get a chance to work together again, don't avoid me."
"We won't, Director. We love learning from you!"
"Director Glenn, are we really... disbanding?"
This time, someone was genuinely crying because the disbandment meant losing the money they were supposed to get. Everyone, including the writers, had only received advance payments; the final payment was the big one.
Garry forcefully stubbed out his cigarette. "I've tried, but the funding issue can't be resolved quickly. For various reasons that are inconvenient to explain, this show can't continue. I apologize to everyone."
After speaking, he bowed in thanks, showing sincere gratitude.
The crying grew louder, some people lamenting, others starting to curse.
"Who caused trouble by messing with Jessa? Don't they know she's our investor?"
"Some people just don't get it. They don't have the ability but can't endure a bit of grievance. If they're so capable, why don't they put up the money themselves?"
These words triggered a chain reaction, with more and more complaints following the first wave.
Although no evidence was found on the spot, Jessa had only targeted Amelia and her friend, so the crew members all indirectly blamed Amelia.
Amelia couldn't take it anymore. "No one is happy that the show can't go on. No one wants this. But is it so great to live off others' charity? Watching people's faces, being sycophants, acting like slaves, with no self-respect?"
She looked at Garry and sincerely said, "Director Glenn, I greatly admire your talent. Your movies and TV shows are industry benchmarks. Before films became mere capital playthings, you used art to express your thoughts, working meticulously, with each piece touching people's hearts. But this time, even though you haven't said a word, I can see you didn't enjoy the filming process at all. The outside world says the film and entertainment industry is chaotic because some people completely disrupt it. But no matter how chaotic the industry is, true artists are never tainted. You are still my mentor. If you say the word, even if I don't get a penny for this show, I'm willing to act. If that's the price of a dream, I'm willing to pay it!"
These words were half true, half false, but the passionate atmosphere was instantly heightened.
Since they were already at a dead end, saying nice things and maintaining a high stance couldn't hurt.
It could also leave a good impression on the director, possibly leading to future opportunities.
Amelia didn't consider herself a naive girl. To survive in the entertainment industry, one had to be a bit cunning.
Garry, having weathered many storms, could naturally tell sincerity from pretense. But Amelia's words gave him a lot of face, providing him with an out. His impression of Amelia improved significantly.
"Amelia, dreams... are expensive in this era."
Quick-witted people soon caught on and chimed in, "Director Glenn, we all came here for our dreams. If you don't mind, I'm also willing to act for free."
"That's right, Director Glenn. Learning from you and being guided by you is the greatest wealth."
Voices of agreement rose, creating a lively scene.
Christian, who had just gotten out of the car, clapped three times, applauding them.
"United we stand, divided we fall. What a deeply moving scene. I thought such moments only happened in TV shows. But today, Director Glenn, through your personal charm, you've shown me a real-life version."
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