Getting Involved

A month later, accompanied by Shelly, Irene officially stepped into the conference room of the Coppola Family's production company, Zoetrope Studios, for the first time to take part in a planning meeting for Legally Blonde.

"Irene, this is Jack Harris, the film's assistant director." Jack looked to be in his early thirties. He wore a neat black suit and tie, and his composed air didn't quite match the image of a typical director.

"Hello, Irene. Just call me Jack. The script is excellent." He stood and offered his hand.

"Hello, Jack. Thanks for the compliment. I hope we can work together to make a great film." Irene quickly shook his hand.

"We certainly will."

Besides Jack, several other key members of the crew were seated in the conference room. Her father introduced them one by one. He had brought her in today so she could meet the people she'd be working alongside and finalize the details of her contract.

"Since this is your first time directing a feature, there are a few procedures you'll need to learn firsthand. After that, your agent can handle them for you," Francis explained.

"Your director's fee will be $200,000, paid in three installments: $50,000 before filming begins, $100,000 after filming wraps, and the final $50,000 once the film finishes its North American theatrical run."

This was standard practice in Hollywood. Shelly had already explained it to her, and Irene had no objections.

Francis then briefly outlined the director's rights and responsibilities. Shelly and Francis would work out the detailed terms together and include them in the contract.

Like all first-time directors, Irene would have the right to make recommendations, but not the final say. The producer would still make all major decisions.

"Of course, since the film came entirely from your own ideas, you can also take part in editing it afterward." Francis had specifically secured this measure of creative control for his daughter.

With him backing her, no one raised any objections.

Once he'd finished explaining everything, Francis brought out the formal directing contract. Irene carefully reviewed the additional clauses. The profit-sharing arrangement she'd agreed on with her father had been clearly stated as well. She signed without hesitation.

Several people had reviewed the contract and agreed that, after theater and distributor fees were deducted, there would be very little profit left. They regarded that "little bit of money" as a perk from a father to his daughter, so no one objected.

Even Shelly Ovitz hadn't given it much thought when he helped draft the contract. He didn't think Irene could make a hit at this stage of her career. If she could succeed that easily, then ninety percent of directors in the industry might as well kill themselves in shame.

Little did they know that a year later, everyone would be left stunned by that "little bit of money."

"Who's my producer?" After she signed the contract, the other executives filed out to get to work. Irene looked around and realized her father still hadn't introduced her to the most important person on the film.

"Of course, I am," Francis replied with certainty.

Irene's eyes widened. Since Bram Stoker's Dracula, her father hadn't directed or been deeply involved in a film's production for nearly six years. He'd even left her sister's debut film to Aunt Julie.

"Why are you so surprised? You don't want me as your producer? I did expect people to question whether I'd actually be directing the film, or accuse me of favoritism, but..."

Before he could finish, Irene threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. How could she not understand the deep concern and care behind his decision?

"All right. I'll just do the producer's job. You'll still be in charge of the entire film. Are you confident?" Francis gently patted his daughter's back and asked.

Irene let go and looked into her father's eyes. "Yes!"

Francis saw a light in her eyes, just like the one he'd seen in himself all those years ago.

"Most of the film takes place at the school, the protagonist's home, and the courthouse, so the locations should be fairly easy to secure. The team is already looking into places to shoot. Do you have any ideas?"

"Our school would be perfect," Irene said at once, thinking of USC. Its campus was ideal, and negotiations would be easy.

"I'll have someone talk to them. I'm planning to have Skywalker Sound handle the music. Lucas will make sure his people give us their full support. The film hardly needs any special effects, which will save us a lot, too. Any other suggestions?"

Irene considered this for a moment. "Could we get the film out in time for next year's summer release season? If so, please have someone get more Britney posters from Jive. We need to make it feel real, like the story is happening right in front of the audience."

"No problem. That'll all be easy to arrange."

"What about casting? I get the final say on that, right?" The original lead actress had done an excellent job, and Irene didn't plan to replace her unless she had to.

"Of course, sweetheart. We'll respect your opinion. Do you have anyone in mind?"

Irene thought it over but didn't name the original actress. In Hollywood, no role was made for any one person. What if there was someone more suitable?

"I don't have anyone specific in mind, but I do have a suggestion."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"I want the whole cast to be handsome and beautiful."

Her father burst into laughter. "All right."

Over the next month, Irene kept up with her classes while completing most of the film's storyboards. Preproduction also went smoothly. The filming schedule and requirements had mostly been worked out with the school, which had always supported its students' creative projects.

With her father's support, everything moved forward in an orderly fashion. Before long, casting officially began.

Before auditions, everyone gathered at the temporary office they'd rented for the film and held a planning meeting.

After an assistant brought coffee around, Shelly handed Irene a stack of résumés.

"These are young actresses and actors signed with CAA. Do any of them look suitable?"

Irene took them and found Reese Witherspoon's résumé on top. She was one of CAA's promising newcomers at the moment. None of the others stood out to Irene, so she casually picked a few.

Besides Reese, she chose a few others who looked appealing and handed the rest of the résumés back to Shelly.

"Does anyone else have suggestions?" Irene asked.

"I got a few, too. They were referred by other people." Assistant director Jack had brought along some résumés as well, from both men and women.

In Hollywood, roles often went to people who were prepared and well-connected. Otherwise, they might not even know where to send their résumés.

She looked through these as well and picked out a few actors who caught her eye.

Normally, a project like theirs would have a hard time attracting well-known actors to audition.

It was neither a film as profound as Sophia's, where actors could hone their craft, nor one as famous as Lucas's, which could boost their profiles.

Aside from the producer, everyone from the director to the screenwriter was Irene—well, both of those roles were hers. Even Francis had long since lost the popularity he once had among younger audiences.

The production team consisted almost entirely of the "Coppola Faction." To outsiders, the film practically screamed "flop."

Even CAA, which specialized in "packaging" talent for projects, wasn't interested in getting involved because Irene was unknown.

As a result, most actors with even a little name recognition looked down on the audition.

In theory, an actress like Reese Witherspoon, whose career was on the rise, shouldn't have been on the list at all.

But since she was also with CAA, she'd been able to read part of the script in advance. It intrigued her, so she told the agency she was willing to audition.

That was perfectly normal in Hollywood. Anyone who wanted to protect their reputation would be reluctant to have a "flop" on their résumé.

Everyone was just using conventional wisdom to predict the film's fate.

But Irene happened to have a "Golden Finger."