Praise

In the cafeteria, students all around her chased one another and made a racket, while Cady sat alone.

The boys who loved playing pranks bullied her, and she had no idea how to get back at them—until the beautiful girl helped her yell at one of them.

"CUT!"

Watching Rachel's expression on the monitor, Irene called a pause and went straight over to Rachel McAdams.

"Rachel, Regina hasn't shown Cady her evil side yet. She's the only person here who's stood up for Cady, so in Cady's eyes, she's practically an angel descending from heaven. Your expression just now made you look too much like a wicked woman about to do something bad."

"So I should make my expression sweeter?" Rachel asked, looking confused.

"Yes and no. You should smile without meaning it." Irene tried to demonstrate, but unfortunately she wasn't very good at controlling her expression.

"The point is, Regina is helping Cady only because she needs to cultivate a friendly image. She doesn't genuinely want to help her. You should smile, but it shouldn't be a sincere smile."

"Like this?" Rachel's eyes widened slightly, though her lips curved into a perfect smile.

"Great. Let's try it."

Rachel tried several more expressions after that. By the time she found the most convincing one, her face was nearly frozen from smiling.

After all, this was just a teen comedy, not serious literature, so they didn't demand that much from the cast's acting.

Besides, nearly all the main cast members were young, and quite a few were making their film debut, so mistakes were common.

But Irene had a complete movie in her head and a very clear goal. As long as the actors followed the direction she'd planned, everything would go smoothly.

September passed in a busy blur of filming.

By October, half the movie had been filmed, and her first work, Legally Blonde, had officially finished its theatrical run.

Its final North American box office haul of $136 million was enough to leave plenty of people stunned. It became another classic example of a low-budget film making it big that year.

It hadn't opened overseas yet, and teen comedies tended to do reasonably well in foreign markets. Some industry insiders estimated that its global box office would reach $250 million.

When the news reached the crew, everyone looked at Irene with burning admiration. Making a blockbuster was every film industry professional's dream.

"Irene, congratulations!" Assistant director Jack Harris was the first to come over. He was carrying two cups of coffee and handed one to her. "I saw the box office figures this morning. The whole crew's been talking about them. $136 million! It's incredible."

Irene took the coffee and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Jack. It was a team effort."

"But you're the one who made it happen," Jack said sincerely. "Honestly, I feel lucky to have been picked by Francis to work on your first film, and now to be working on your second. You have a special eye for what audiences want."

The head of the production crew happened to be passing by and couldn't help chiming in. "My daughter and her friends have seen Legally Blonde three times. Now they all want to be lawyers. Irene, you didn't just make a great movie—you inspired a generation of young women."

At lunchtime, the costume designer made a point of sitting beside Irene. "I heard Fox is already discussing your next project. If there's a chance, please bring me along. Working with you makes me feel like I'm part of history."

During a break in the afternoon shoot, a veteran lighting technician adjusted the equipment and murmured to his assistant, "See that girl sitting behind the monitor? Remember this moment. We're working with the next Spielberg."

Even Vera Cecil leaned over and whispered in Irene's ear between takes. "Boss, the whole crew—no, all of Hollywood—is talking about you. It's amazing to have achieved this with your very first film."

As Irene listened to the praise, she maintained a modest smile. She knew success in this industry came quickly, and went just as quickly. But at that moment, standing in the middle of the set and feeling the admiration and expectation in everyone's eyes, she did feel a little satisfied.

"Everyone," she said, clapping her hands to get the crew's attention, "thank you for the kind words, but now let's put our focus back on the work in front of us. I believe the movie we're making will be even better than Legally Blonde!"

Cheers and applause rang out across the set. Irene looked around at the eager faces and knew this was only the beginning. In Hollywood, success was the best calling card, and she already had the key.

Irene wasn't the only one surrounded by people discussing her. Even Francis, at a gathering with old friends in a completely different social circle, was basking in the reflected glory of their praise.

A small reunion of old friends was underway at Francis's home in Malibu, and the atmosphere was relaxed.

On the patio, the coals in the barbecue glowed faintly red as a professional chef carefully prepared the food. Several friends who had spent decades weathering Hollywood's ups and downs, including Irene's godfather, George Lucas, stood with drinks in hand, enjoying the California sunset.

The conversation naturally turned to their latest news and the hottest stories in the industry. Before long, Legally Blonde's astonishing box office numbers became the focus.

"Francis, honestly," said a veteran producer, patting him on the shoulder. "When you said you'd completely let Irene do as she pleased, I was worried for you. Now it looks like us old-timers had nothing to worry about. $136 million! Good heavens, what a result."

Francis held his whiskey, unable to hide his pride, but merely smiled modestly. "It was her own project. She handled everything from the script to the casting. I was just there to offer the support a father should when she needed advice."

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

He grinned and gestured at his old friend with his glass. "Why are you being modest now? We all know how many unseen hands are behind a first success in this industry. But this time, everyone can see that Legally Blonde bears Irene Coppola's name, not Francis Coppola's." He emphasized the surname, intent on putting those ridiculous rumors to rest.

He continued, full of feeling: "I saw the movie. It's full of spark and a very modern sensibility. It captures the pulse of the younger generation perfectly. That's not something us old-timers could have taught her.

"Francis, the best thing you did was truly let her fly. Irene has proved that she inherited talent, but also has a unique vision of her own."

His words struck a chord with everyone there.

Another director friend nodded in agreement. "George is right. Irene has used hard numbers to shut up all those silly rumors once and for all. Think about it: $136 million in North America, with a chance of reaching $250 million worldwide? This isn't just a success—it's a phenomenon.

"Francis, you haven't just lost a daughter who needs your protection. You've helped Hollywood 'create' a formidable competitor!"

His remark drew a wave of good-natured laughter.

Francis listened to his old friends lavish praise on Irene, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.

He was incredibly proud of his daughter, even more so than he'd been when he found success himself with The Godfather. At the same time, he felt deeply relieved.

He'd stood firm under pressure and refused to get involved in the making of Irene's second film. He'd even pulled out the entire Coppola family crew, leaving only Jack Harris to serve as her assistant director. He wanted the outside world to know that Irene wasn't a fragile vine being held in his palm. She could earn recognition through her own ability.

As long as Mean Girls did as well as Legally Blonde, Irene's rise would be unstoppable.