Fresh off the intense and successful shoot for "Salem's Lot," August 1st found Alex back at the bustling CAA offices. He was there to see Aunt Nancy, eager to catch up and share his experiences on the miniseries. After checking in at the busy reception desk, he settled into one of the comfortable waiting chairs, flipping through a magazine while keeping an eye out for Nancy.
Just as he was getting engrossed in an article, the receptionist's voice called out, "Alex Hayes? Mr. Ovitz would like to see you in his office."
Alex's head snapped up, a surprised look on his face. Michael Ovitz? He'd heard Aunt Nancy and Bill talk about him – the driving force behind CAA, though he hadn't met him before. A little nervous but also intrigued, Alex followed the receptionist to a large corner office that exuded power and influence.
Inside, Bill and Nancy were already seated, a warm smile on Nancy's face as she gestured towards an empty chair next to her. Behind a massive desk sat Michael Ovitz, a man with an intense and sharp gaze, who offered Alex a curt but welcoming nod. Alex took the offered seat, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the unexpected invitation. Another man sat in a chair to the side, observing the scene with a quiet air; Alex guessed he was in his late thirties.
As Alex took in the room, he couldn't help but recall the ages Nancy had mentioned about CAA's key figures. Nancy, he knew, was the most senior person in the room. The new, unknown man appeared to be the next oldest. Then there was Bill, followed by Michael Ovitz, who despite being the de facto leader of the agency, was still in his mid-thirties, just like Bill Haber and another founding partner, Ronald Meyer. The other two founders, Rowland Perkins and Michael S. Rosenfeld, were in their forties. Looking around, Alex realized he was, by a significant margin, the youngest person in that room filled with such powerful figures in Hollywood. He wondered with a mix of excitement and trepidation what this sudden, private meeting could be about, especially so soon after finishing "Salem's Lot".
Michael Ovitz turned his attention to Alex, a practiced smile gracing his lips. "Alex, I'd like you to meet Tony Bill." He gestured towards the man sitting to the side. "Tony is a very accomplished actor and producer." Ovitz then turned to Tony Bill, introducing Alex with a touch of flair. "Tony, this is Alex Hayes, one of our bright young actors here at CAA. He just finished some fantastic work on the upcoming 'Salem's Lot' miniseries."
Alex offered Tony Bill a polite nod, feeling a bit awkward at the "bright young actor" introduction. He was pretty sure Michael Ovitz had never given him a second thought until perhaps very recently.
Tony Bill returned the nod, a warm smile on his face. He extended a hand to Alex. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Alex. 'Salem's Lot,' you say? That's quite a project." As their hands met, Tony Bill's smile held a knowing quality, a subtle acknowledgment that seemed to convey, *Don't worry about the grand introduction. We all know how this works.* It was a silent understanding that transcended spoken words, a hint of the standard procedure in the agency world where a little exaggeration was often part of the game. Alex felt a flicker of ease at the unspoken communication.
Alex's mind raced as Michael Ovitz mentioned Tony Bill's Oscar win for "The Sting." He knew that movie! It was a classic caper film from 1973, starring one of his absolute favorite actors, Paul Newman. It had grossed over $150 million and was still playing in re-releases, having won a remarkable seven Academy Awards. Yet, despite this connection, Alex was still completely in the dark about why he, a relatively new face in the industry, was sitting in this room with such influential people.
As if reading his mind, Michael Ovitz leaned forward, a hint of a knowing smile on his face. "Alex, the reason we wanted you to meet Tony is that he's about to embark on his directorial debut with a new movie, and he specifically wants you to play a role in it."
A wave of surprise washed over Alex. Tony Bill, an Oscar-winning producer, wanted *him* in his movie? It felt surreal. He reasoned that if it were a small, insignificant role, the director wouldn't likely come all the way to CAA to request him personally. This had to be a substantial part, a significant supporting role that held real importance to the story. The realization sent a jolt of excitement mixed with a healthy dose of nerves through him. This was a major opportunity, far beyond anything he had imagined happening so quickly after "Salem's Lot."
"Is it... a big role?" Alex asked, the question tumbling out in genuine surprise.
Before Michael Ovitz could respond, Tony Bill leaned forward, a warm smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Yes, Alex, it is. It's one of the main leads."
Alex blinked, his mind momentarily blank. He'd thought he couldn't be any more surprised than he already was, but this revelation proved him spectacularly wrong. One of the main leads in a movie? It felt like he'd stepped into some kind of wonderful dream.
Nancy gave Alex's hand a reassuring squeeze, a silent message of support and pride.
Bill, leaned forward, his gaze shifting between Tony Bill and Michael Ovitz. "So, Tony, what's the name of this film?"
Alex's gaze mirrored Bill's, both men now looking intently at Tony Bill, eager to hear more about this exciting opportunity.
Tony Bill smiled as he announced, "It's called 'My Bodyguard'."