The film was undeniably a masterpiece, directed and starred in by Roberto Benigni. The man was an Italian i with a well-established career. He’s talented and, though it may not seem like it, quite the dies' man. The movie is based on true events, inspired by the experiences of Romeo Salmonì, a Holocaust survivor who shared his story with Benigni. Initially, they inteo cast Nicoletta Braschi as the actress since she’s the director’s wife. However, Mixamax suggested they preferred Monica Bellucci, feeling that the allure of a quest like hers was more intriguing. The untouchable aspeonica is palpable.

  For the role, the woman would travel the world even now, cutting her hair a bit for the tration camp ses; the new look is the shortcut, or it will be very soon.

  -You've been busy, and I uand,- Monica remarked, downpying Billy's two-day abse made sehat he’d miss things; he was the type to get engrossed in his work, losing sight of everything around him. She wasn’t surprised to say that even with her at home, he sometimes fot muasks like pig up the mail, calling his parents, doctor’s appois, and other activities she handled whenever she could.

  -I’m afraid so,- Billy ented, scraping his pen across the bnk paper. He’d fihe sketches for Mortal Engines, a magical book filled with great drawings, and had pleted the first two installments out of six. He was moving in circles, his phone wedged between his shoulder and ear.

  Delivered and published in the ing years, he po write the third and fourth volumes in the few days, as he was ahead with the Real ic. Most likely, it was the right thing to do, ensuring eae was its own masterpiece.

  -Everything’s been fine. I’ll be traveling to Italy weekend, and I hope you’ll be by my side. If there’s any issue, no matter what, call Jim or me. There are no small matters when it es to you,- Billy said.

  -Thank you,- she sighed. -Everything’s going well; we’re in the early stages. We film for three to five hours a day, going slowly, and each take is full of life. The differeween filming here and there – you all are a bit obsessive about the work. I see now that it wasn’t just my imagination. I want you to rest for a few days, at least, and I hope you’ll take my advice,- Monica added.

  Rexing, she felt the desire to see Billy. All that youthful vitality of his was now poured into his work and their new retionship, which, for her, required a lot of nurturing.

  -We’ll be traveling, with Anne ing along. She’s been very stressed with the team expansions and might be pnning taennis cup in San Jose, a tour of some significe. She’s w with anizations to include it iP circuit,- Billy ented.

  -Tennis? I’d love to see some of that; it sounds iing,- Monica remarked.

  -It’s not soccer, but I think in the Uates, soccer hasn’t mao capture the i of the elite; young kids prefer to dedicate themselves to the many sports avaible here,- Billy responded.

  -Buy an Italian team – Genoa would be fantastic, - Monica suggested.

  -For now, Europe isn’t in my pns, at least not in the few years… But if I buy an Italian team, Genoa will be my first choice. It’s a promise, as long as I afford it. I’ve realized that sometimes attats are greater than my pockets, - Billy replied.

  -My love, for you, there are no excuses. You’re Billy Carson. I’m a bit thrilled about you ing; I miss having you warm my bed and love my body. It’s been weeks where I’ve felt a bit out of pce with all your obligations, - Monica said, pletely absorbed. She’d loo feel his arms arouhe love she felt for Billy was utterly perfect, ohat hit the mark with just the foam of intimacy, together uhe moon as their witness.

  Billy uood that, for Monica, a couple of times wasn’t a business. She always said that love should be shown through small gestures. pany is one of the important ones – special dates, birthdays, moments of sadness, happiness, and other things that burden people.

  -On the weekend, I won’t be w, I promise, - Billy said, refleg on how he wouldn’t have to overdraw in the ing days. He was well ahead with several hat would be postponed for his drawings, like One Piece, which was reag the end of the East Blue saga, in chapter 129. Billy had expahe saga, showing various battles involving all the Whitebeard Pirates, and the Beast Pirates, along with panels of Kid and Trafalgar Law fighting against other defeated pirates.

  He expanded Zoro's story as a bounty hunter, almost dedig aire chapter to it, and gave more attention to other characters who hadn’t had it, such as Nami’s sister, Nojiko, and Nami’s rival, a. He added more Mario the equation, reshaping the One Piebsp;world entirely, beyond just what had been shown, pushing the story to its fullest with many characters.

  For now, he’d be ung some spin-offs with parallel stories, episodes that could be called filler, especially for the fans. There were three episodes on the Shichibukai and their backstories, which helped weave a rger narrative. Simirly, there were three episodes on Ad three separate ones on Akainu (Red Dog).

  -Yes. It’s a promise, - Monica said, smiling at his now stony face.

  ***

  Steven Spielberg g the numbers ing into his bank at – five million dolrs, six zeroes after the five – and nodded with a smile. The money had arrived soohan expected, very quickly. He saw Billy talking on the phone in the distand was again surprised by the success of Star Wars, which grossed 298 million worldwide at the box offi its sed weekend and 217 million in North America, having broken even long ago.

  -Sorry for the dey, - the young man eo the elder, who gave him a slight smile, little more than a grimace. They were both in DreamWorks’ designated offices.

  -It’s no invenience, - Steven replied.

  -Now, let’s talk about the important stuff… what’s the film you’re ready to make as DreamWorks’ first produ? I uand the partnership with HBO wasn’t as profitable as we initially thought, despite breaking even with the paid subscriptions, - Billy said.

  -There are three projects, - replied the famous director, sending him the scripts. The first was Amistad, done in partnership with HBO Films, premiering only in the Uates as part of HBO’s lineup. Directed by him and financed by Steven with his funds.

  The sed was Mouse Hunt, a tough oo crack, directed by Gore Verbinski, with an iment of 35 million dolrs; The Peacemaker, with a 40-million-dolr iment, produced by Mimi Leder; and finally, Deep Impact, again directed by Mimi Leder, financed by DreamWorks at 70 million dolrs.

  Billy reviewed the sheets and found nothing different or ued from the teags he’d received from Arnon Mil.

  -Are we going to i in and distribute these films? - Billy asked.

  Steven nodded, expining that depending on their funds, they could gain a rger or smaller pertage and that other studios would hahe films for them while they awaited reiment.

  -If you distribute those films at a reasonable price, it’d help bring in more money for DreamWorks' bigger projects or enable us to i in various other projects, - Steven ented, pig up his gsses as he sipped his coffee. Everything was said and done, and there y three projects. He had ied 90 million, and Steven 90 million. They had enough for all the films, and as long as they broke even, it didn’t matter; the pany was already funing well and would allow nifit projects to e.

  -You know how I ha. I ’t go any lower, or distributors will jump on me, or the exhibitors themselves will raise their prices. It’s different when the films are mine because I argue that everything I do is for me and by me, but when there are many involved, the minimum is 35%, - Billy replied, expining that as a pany, he could distribute o ten films a year. That was the maximum capacity in terms of both spad staff. ting Anada, Donnie Brasco, and three animated films, distributing four more films wasn’t bad.

  -No problem; that’s good enough for me. What are you willing to i on your own, and what will you leave to the pany? - Steven asked.

  -All in on Mouse Hunt, - Billy replied thoughtfully. -Half of Deep Impact. -

  Steven’s eyes sparkled as he nodded, while Billy ran calcutions of potential earnings and losses. But that didn’t matter now; the rest would be covered by pany funds. The opportunities were alive and in the air.

  -I knew you would! - Steven said. The retionship between Warner and Billy was cold, with yards of reproach between panies.

  -Don’t bme me; I’ll call Jim to iate the tracts. You know those movies are perfect for the children’s el, - Billy said.

  ...