Hollywood:Starting out as an MV director

Chapter 169: Lucky Ethan

In the past two days, Ethan received countless invitations via phone calls—offers from fashion brands or magazines for work opportunities and interviews.

He wasn't about to let such a good chance slip by. After some careful selection, he chose a few of the most influential and prestigious magazines to accept their interview requests.

After completing the magazine interviews, an unexpected organization also reached out to Ethan.

The American International Photographers Association (AIPA) invited him to join as a member.

Following the Oscars, Ethan had already joined the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), though he seldom paid attention to its activities—it served more as a platform for networking and resources.

So, at first, he wasn't particularly interested in the invitation from the International Photographers Association.

However, when the association's chairman, Mr. Erickson, mentioned the possibility of organizing a personal photography exhibition for him, Ethan's interest was piqued.

It's well known that the highest threshold in photographic art is holding a gallery exhibition. Other than a few photographers who are exclusively signed to galleries, most must produce enough artistic photos to qualify for such an honor.

Ethan never expected that he would one day achieve this milestone—it was even more exhilarating than a box-office hit.

After all, in his previous life, he didn't lack money, but he did yearn for recognition within the industry.

Now that the opportunity had arrived, he wasn't going to let it go. He agreed to Mr. Erickson's proposal, officially joined the International Photographers Association, and became an honorary member.

The day after the American International Photographers Association announced Ethan's membership, the magazines that featured his photo series, Dark Art, experienced unprecedented sales, with numbers surging to more than double their usual figures.

When newspaper reporters investigated the phenomenon, they discovered it was because the photo series had become immensely popular among young people across America.

On one hand, the photos gained attention due to celebrity endorsements, and on the other, they captivated viewers with their vivid colors and unique angles, which many unconventional youth found incredibly cool.

People were enthusiastically discussing the photo series' style and even attempting to mimic the photographic techniques.

Unfortunately, not everyone had Ethan's skills, and most of these attempts ended up as poor imitations.

However, some businesses astutely recognized the commercial potential in the trend and promptly launched services offering to photograph clients in the dark-art style. This turned into a profitable venture that drained the wallets of many young enthusiasts.

Meanwhile, independent photographers who admired the Dark Art series began promoting and mimicking the style through online platforms and columns, quickly amassing their own followers.

As for Ethan, after joining the association, he launched his own personal website, featuring not only various photographs but also detailed courses he had authored. His site received significant attention and saw its traffic steadily climb into the top 100 most-visited webpages in America.

"Ethan, your name has been everywhere these past few days…" Anne Hathaway said with a broad smile as she lounged in his arms wearing a blue silk nightgown.

Ethan shrugged and set down the newspaper. "True, though I don't know why people enjoy talking about me so much. Could it be because of my good looks?"

"Hahaha!" Anne burst into laughter. "Even if that's true, I still have to say you're shameless for admitting it."

"Perhaps," Ethan replied, but just as he spoke, his phone rang. Casually glancing at the caller ID to confirm it wasn't one of his romantic interests, he picked up the call.

"Hello?"

"Ethan!" It was Julia Roberts.

He wasn't sure how she had gotten his number, but it was likely through Jessica, considering the last party they attended had been hosted by Julia.

"Julia, what's up?" Ethan gestured for Anne to keep quiet, and she listened intently to the conversation.

"I just wanted to thank you—really, I never thought something like this would happen!" Julia sounded so excited that her words came out in a rush.

"Calm down and tell me what's going on," Ethan said, a bit puzzled.

"It's Chopard. They invited me to be their brand ambassador! After your photo series was published, their executives thought I was the perfect fit for their new line of watches," Julia explained, her tone still filled with disbelief.

Chopard, a top Swiss brand for luxury watches and jewelry, was notoriously selective about their ambassadors. Julia had likely already been under consideration, but the Dark Art photos had sealed the deal for her.

Her gratitude toward Ethan wasn't misplaced—she was a straightforward person who expressed her feelings openly.

"Congratulations, Julia. That's fantastic. Thinking about it, you presented me with the Oscar for Best Cinematography, and that in turn led to you becoming Chopard's ambassador. Doesn't it feel like divine intervention?"

"Yes, exactly! Ethan, I regret not taking more photos with you at the time. When you're free, I'd love for you to shoot a portrait series for me."

Ethan chuckled and shook his head. "You know how busy I've been lately. Let's talk about it when I wrap up my current projects."

"Of course, no problem. You missed my last party, though. Jessica was so disappointed. You can't say no next time!"

Looking into Anne Hathaway's eyes, Ethan's expression didn't change as he replied, "Of course. I wouldn't miss your party for anything."

After hanging up, Anne spread her hands. "See, Ethan? I told you. You must be an angel sent by God. Whoever you photograph for covers or portraits ends up getting lucky—just look at me, and now Julia."

"Maybe," Ethan said, raising his eyebrows. "I do feel honored to be your angel."

"Ethan…" Anne was touched by his words. She leaned in closer, pushing him onto the bed.

"What are you planning to do to your angel?" Ethan asked, feigning ignorance.

"I'm going to…" Anne bit her lip, leaned closer, and whispered in his ear, "show you what a devil's temptation feels like."

"Well, that sounds... ahem, terrible."

"You're such a liar!" Anne exclaimed, flipping the covers over them. The room instantly filled with an intimate atmosphere.

---

A week later, the buzz surrounding the photo series began to fade. Yet, at the same time, a new rumor spread like wildfire throughout Hollywood.

Julia Roberts, in her excitement, had told everyone how Ethan's Dark Art photos had brought her good fortune. This prompted some curious individuals to investigate, and they found that six other celebrities from the series had also benefited.

Aside from Julia, stars like Gisele Bündchen, Leonardo, and Jessica Alba had all signed contracts with major brands shortly after the photos were published.

Although some of these deals had been in the works before the photos' release, enthusiasts still lumped them together to strengthen the narrative that Ethan's photos brought good luck.

People often draw a target around wherever the dart lands.

With this rumor originating from the celebrities themselves, it gained even more credibility.

The legend of "Lucky Ethan" spread far and wide, prompting other stars to feel tempted.

Some, quick to act, called Ethan to request photoshoots. However, as Ethan was swamped with work, he had to turn most of them down.

Only one actress managed to secure his acceptance—Charlize Theron.

The reason Ethan agreed to her request was straightforward: he wanted to solidify the rumor about his "lucky" photos.

If the title of "Lucky Ethan" stuck, he could gain goodwill from countless celebrities. After all, who wouldn't want to work with someone who brought good fortune?

Charlize was the perfect candidate. With the 2004 Golden Globes and Oscars approaching, photographing her at this critical moment would align perfectly with her potential win for Best Actress.

If she claimed the crown, Ethan, as her photographer, would naturally receive a share of the spotlight.

This would pave the way for advantageous negotiations in future film projects.

Ethan always thought several steps ahead, never letting opportunities to build his future slip by.

At the same time, the movie Monster began its limited screenings in Los Angeles.

When renowned film critic Bunch entered the theater, he noticed many colleagues in attendance.

"Hey, Bunch, long time no see," said Fernando, another critic and an old college friend. They greeted each other warmly before taking their seats.

"I heard this film is based on a true story," Fernando commented as more critics filed in. "But I feel like Charlize Theron's face doesn't suit a murderer's role."

"You're not wrong," Bunch replied. Charlize was too beautiful—while the film claimed to break stereotypes, challenging entrenched perceptions wasn't easy unless she delivered a transformative performance.

"And the director is a newcomer—Patty Jenkins. I've never heard of her doing anything impressive. The only familiar name in the crew is Ethan."

"I thought the same," Bunch said with a smile. "Ethan is the art director and cinematographer for this film. Have you seen his recent photos?"

"Of course. My kid even went to a studio to get photos taken in that style. Damn it, those people couldn't replicate the Dark Art look at all, and they still charged me fifty bucks!" Fernando grumbled before continuing, "I just hope Ethan's art direction can salvage this film."

"Let's see. Who knows, we might be in for a pleasant surprise," Bunch said. Just as he finished, the theater staff began introducing the film

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