Praises

In the cafeteria, surrounded by noisy students chasing and shoving each other, Cady stood all alone.

She was being bullied by those mischievous boys, but she didn't know how to fight back, until that beautiful girl helped her scold the boy.

"CUT!"

Watching Rachel's expression on the monitor, Irene called for a pause and walked straight up to Rachel McAdams.

"Rachel, right now, Regina hasn't revealed her evil side to Cady yet. She is the only person on the scene who speaks up for Cady, so in Cady's eyes, she seems like an angel descended from heaven. Your expression just now was too much like a bad woman about to do something wicked."

"So, should my expression be a bit sweeter?" Rachel asked, looking bewildered.

"Yes and no. You should smile with your lips, but not with your eyes." Irene tried to demonstrate, but she found her own facial control wasn't quite up to the task.

"In short, Regina is helping Cady only because she needs to cultivate an image of being friendly to others; she doesn't actually want to help her. You need to smile, but it shouldn't be a sincere smile."

"Like this?" Rachel widened her eyes slightly, while her mouth curled into the perfect arc.

"Very good, let's try it."

After that, Rachel tried several more expressions, her face nearly stiffening from the effort before she finally found the most reasonable state.

After all, they were just making a teen comedy, not serious literature, so the requirements for everyone's acting skills weren't that high.

Moreover, almost all the main cast members were young, and many were newcomers appearing in a film for the first time, so mistakes were a common occurrence.

But Irene had a complete film in her mind, so her goals were very clear. As long as the actors moved in the direction she planned, everything would go very smoothly.

September passed by in the busyness of filming.

Time arrived in October, and half of the entire film's production had been successfully completed, while her first work, Legally Blonde, had officially finished its theatrical run.

The final North American box office result of $136 million left many jaws dropped, becoming another classic case of a small investment yielding a massive return this year.

The overseas release hadn't even begun yet, and since this type of teen comedy had a decent market abroad, industry insiders estimated the global box office could reach $250 million.

When this news reached the crew, the way everyone looked at Irene became incredibly fervent; participating in a massive hit film was the dream of everyone working in the film industry.

"Irene, congratulations!" Assistant Director Jack Harris was the first to walk over, holding two cups of coffee and handing her one. "I saw the box office numbers this morning, and the whole crew is talking about it. 136 million! It's practically a miracle."

Irene took the coffee and smiled slightly. "Thank you, Jack. This is the result of our entire team's hard work."

"But you are the one who made it all happen." Jack said sincerely. "Honestly, being chosen by director Francis to work on your first film, and now being able to work on your second, I feel very lucky. You have a special eye for knowing what the audience wants."

The head of the floor crew happened to pass by and couldn't help but chime in: "My daughter and her friends went to see Legally Blonde three times, and now they all want to be lawyers. Irene, you didn't just make a good movie; you inspired a generation of young girls."

At lunchtime, the costume designer specifically sat down next to Irene. "I heard Fox is already talking about your next project? If there's a chance, please be sure to take me with you. Working with you, I feel like I'm participating in history."

During a break in the afternoon, a veteran gaffer whispered to his assistant while adjusting the equipment: "See that girl sitting behind the monitor? Remember this moment. We are working with the next Spielberg."

Even Vera Cecil whispered in Irene's ear during a break: "Boss, the whole crew—no, the whole of Hollywood is talking about you right now. To achieve such results with your debut work is truly amazing."

Irene listened to these praises and maintained a humble smile. She knew that in this industry, success comes fast and goes just as quickly. But at this moment, standing in the center of the set and feeling the admiration and expectation in the eyes of those around her, she did feel a hint of satisfaction.

"Everyone," she clapped her hands to draw the attention of the whole crew, "thank you for the compliments, but now let's put our energy back into the work at hand. I believe that the film we are shooting right now will be even better than Legally Blonde!"

A burst of cheers and applause erupted on set. Irene looked around at the enthusiastic faces, knowing that this was just the beginning. In Hollywood, success is the best pass, and she had already obtained the key.

It wasn't just that a crowd of people were discussing Irene; even Francis, far away in another social circle, was immersed in the reflected glory of these accolades while gathering with old friends.

At Francis's home in Malibu, a small gathering of old friends was proceeding in a relaxed atmosphere.

On the terrace, the charcoal on the grill glowed a faint red, a professional chef was meticulously cooking the dishes, and several friends who had been floating in Hollywood for decades, including Irene's godfather George Lucas, were holding wine glasses and enjoying the California sunset.

The conversation naturally turned to their recent situations and the hot news in the industry. Soon, the staggering box office numbers of Legally Blonde became the focus.

"Francis, honestly," a veteran producer patted Francis on the shoulder, "when you said you were going to let Irene handle everything on her own, I was sweating for you. Now it seems we old guys were overthinking it. 136 million! God, that result is beautiful."

Francis held his whiskey, his face showing unconcealable pride, but he only smiled subtly. "That was her own project. From the script to the casting, she handled it all herself. I just provided the backing a father should provide when she needed advice."

"Come on, Francis!" George Lucas's booming voice rang out.

He laughed and pointed his wine glass at his old friend. "Why be modest now? We all know how many invisible hands are behind a first success in this industry. But this time, everyone saw it clearly: the success of Legally Blonde bears the name of Irene Coppola, not Francis Coppola." He emphasized the surname, intending to break those ridiculous rumors.

He continued with emotion: "I watched that movie; it's full of spirit and a very contemporary sharpness. It accurately captured the pulse of the younger generation, which isn't something we old guys could have taught her.

Francis, the best thing you did was to truly let her fly. Irene has proven that she not only inherited the talent but also possesses her own unique vision."

These words resonated with everyone present.

Another director friend also nodded in agreement: "George is right. Irene used a concrete report card to make those boring rumors outside shut up for good. Think about it: 136 million in North America, potentially reaching 250 million globally? This isn't just success; this is a phenomenal event.

Francis, you didn't just lose a daughter who needed your protection; you've 'manufactured' a powerful competitor for Hollywood!"

This remark drew a round of good-natured laughter from everyone.

Francis listened to the unreserved praise from his old friends, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He felt an immense pride for his daughter, far exceeding the joy he felt when he achieved success with The Godfather all those years ago. At the same time, he felt a deep sense of relief.

He had withstood the pressure to firmly refuse to intervene in the production of Irene's second film, even withdrawing their Coppola family crew and leaving only Jack Harris to serve as her assistant director, all so the outside world would know that Irene was not a delicate flower held in his palm—she could win recognition on her own merits.

As long as Mean Girls could achieve the same results as Legally Blonde, then Irene's rise would be unstoppable.