MTLNOVEL Chapter 25: Chapter 24:
Chapter 24:
...
The backlash from the critics still lingered in the film industry. The reviews for Bogus hadn't been kind.
The words "boring," "predictable," and "wasted potential" appeared far too frequently in the headlines.
Yep…. But hey, amid the disaster, there was one constant—the actors, especially Adam White, had been praised for their performances.
So, in a way, the damage was done, but Adam's image remained intact.
Despite the failure of the movie, Adam wasn't to blame for the poor script or the slow pacing of the story. In fact, the actors' performances were the only thing critics seemed to genuinely praise.
On the other hand, despite the negative reviews, the PR team had already scheduled some interviews to continue promoting Bogus.
So, Adam had to attend several morning shows.
Accompanied by his mother and Estelle, he visited only a few TV networks, appearing on family-friendly morning programs targeted at parents and kids.
Thankfully, the interviews went smoothly.
As Estelle had advised, Adam focused on talking about the experience of filming the movie, emphasizing how much fun it had been to work with Whoopi Goldberg and Gérard Depardieu.
Yes, he had to repeat himself over and over and over and over AGAIN, which made the whole process incredibly tedious and dull….. Adam almost felt like a damn robot programmed to give pre-recorded answers.
Oh and, as expected, at some point, the bad reviews came up.
With questions like:
"Adam, your performance has received excellent reviews, but some critics haven't been as kind to the film overall. How do you feel about that?"
Adam didn't even have to think about what to say….. Estelle had drilled the perfect responses into his brain.
That's right.
He already knew these questions were coming, and Estelle had prepared him thoroughly to handle them without any issues. After all, he couldn't badmouth the film even if everyone already knew it was pretty lousy, no, he had to keep as much as possible out of talking about it at all costs.
Though he wouldn't deny… the temptation to go off-script was very, very strong.
But he didn't want to cause any problems….. so, this time, he stuck to the script 100%.
Every time the topic was brought up, he would keep a calm expression and respond with maturity:
"Well, not every movie is for everyone. But I had a great time making it, and I learned so much"
Yea… It was just a calculated answer, but it wasn't entirely false.
Adam really did enjoy filming the movie.
The problem was that the final edit and the plot/script didn't live up to his performance or those of his co-stars.
But, of course, he couldn't say that.
So, like a true actor, he kept his composure and delivered the perfect, pre-approved response.
The upside?
His maturity genuinely impressed the interviewers.
Most morning shows highlighted his professionalism, despite his young age, and the audience loved him.
After the morning interviews came the press articles and entertainment shows.
Family and teen magazines described him as a young, rising star with great talent.
Film magazines like Variety and Premiere published articles praising his emotional range, particularly in scenes like the loss of his mother in the movie.
Entertainment news segments featured him alongside clips of Bogus, emphasizing his on-screen chemistry with Whoopi Goldberg.
In conclusion:
Bogus was a failure.
Yup, definitely.
But Adam White wasn't.
His talent had caught Hollywood's attention despite the film's poor performance.
And soon, he would receive a new opportunity…
…..
….
- July 8, 1996
The Los Angeles sun burned bright in the sky.
Adam was in his hotel room, enjoying a rare moment of peace as he flipped through a book without much interest.
Yes, it was none other than the first Harry Potter book, which still hadn't been released in the U.S..
He had been going non-stop for weeks.
Filming Leave It to Beaver, promoting Bogus, traveling constantly between film sets, TV studios, and photoshoots…
It was far more exhausting than he would ever admit.
But he knew that if he complained even once, his mother would freak out and forbid him from filming for a while so he could "rest."
And No.
That wasn't happening !
Adam loved acting…. he had no problem with filming.
But all these pre-scheduled interviews, where he had to repeat the same thing over and over again like a parrot…
That?
That was unbearable.
But in reality, what bothered him the most right now wasn't even that.
It was the poor performance of his first movie as a leading actor.
Yup, It was so frustrating.
And, though he refused to admit it out loud, the bad reviews for Bogus did leave a bad taste in his mouth.
Even today one could see newspapers with news such as:
{ Despite actors' efforts, 'Bogus' doesn't ring true
Meant to be a feel-good family film, it seems superficial and forced.
By Chris Hicks
Deseret News movie critic
BOGUS –★★– Whoopi Goldberg, Gerard Depardieu, Adam White, Denis Mercier. Nancy Travis; rated PG (profanity, comic violence, skimpy showgirl costumes): Carmike Plaza 5400 Theaters: Century 9 Theaters; Cineplex Odeon Holladay Center, South Towne Center and Trolley Square Cinemas; Gateway 8 Cinemas.
"Tis the season for titles that re- flect content. First it was "The Stupids," and now it's "Bogus." This warm-and-fuzzy comedy wants to be a cross between "Harvey" (right down to showing a clip From the movie) and "Ghost" (right down to the casting of Whoopi Goldberg in a central role) -but Instead it's just a lukewain, insinicere attempt to make the kind of movie that audiences complain Hollywood never makes anymore. Watching "Bogus" suggests why Hollywood has apparently forgotten how.
Too often these days, when mainstream studios strive for a slick, feel-good family picture, it comes off as superficial and forced. As if no one in the filmmaking process really believed in what they were doing.
Such is the case with "Bogus," which has "concept" written all Cover it, along with big-star casting to ensure box-office success in both the United States and over- seas. Goldberg is the draw domestically; Gerard Depardieu should pull them in in Europe. Of course, whether that casting is appropriate for the film is irrelevant.
The story has 8-year-old Albert (adorable Adam White), a budding amateur magician, being orphaned in the film's opening sequence, as his Las Vegas showgirl mother, Lorraine (Nancy Travis), in a fatal car accident on her way home from work.
With no other living relatives, the executor of Lorraine's will calls up a foster sister named Harriet Franklin (Goldberg), an inde-pendent New Jersey business woman. And though she hadn't seen Lorraine in years, she reluctantly takes the boy in, complaining that "I don't have a motherly bone in my body."
Traveling alone on a plane from Las Vegas, Albert conjures up an imaginary friend named Bogus (Depardieu) and spends much of the film in conversation with him. No one else can see or hear Bogus, of course.
As the film progresses, unhappy Albert repeatedly clashes with Harriet and has trouble adjusting in school, but Bogus offers him ad- vice and encouragement - and eventually it is revealed that lonely, unhappy Harriet felt alien- ated in her youth and could have used an imaginary friend of her own. As you might suspect, she does ultimately see Bogus, and in a fantasy sequence, they do a Ginger Rogers-Fred Astaire ballroom dance that seems awkward and illadvised.
To their credit, the performers try very hard to make this work, and Depardieu's natural charm does much to make parts of it palatable. And the trappings -set de- sign, costumes, special-effects- driven fantasy sequences are colorful and surprisingly lavish.
Also, the film's most striking achievement lies in the astonishing performance of its young lead, Adam White, who, at just nine years old, delivers a portrayal of remarkable depth and nuance. Whether conveying quiet vulnerability or youthful exuberance, his every gesture and expression feel meticulously calibrated yet achingly authentic—a rare feat for any actor, let alone one so young.
But it all feels cobbled together, with no sense of narrative style. Veteran dırector Norman Jewison, who gained his greatest fame with the hard-edged "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), has made some wonderfully light and bubbly com- edies, ranging from Doris Day vehicles to "Moonstruck." But the fantasy intentions here - what- ever they were- have eluded him, and the film sinks in a mire of cloy and the film sinks in a mire of cloy- ing sentimentality.
This is the kind of Hollywood film that mixes real-world worries and ridiculous plotting (as when Albert runs away from Harriet's home and manages to board a bus for Atlantic City on his own late one night) and creates a fantastic universe that portrays backstage show business - Las Vegas show biz in particular - as a sort of Dis- neyland, the happiest place on Earth. Children are welcome back- stage, scantily clad showgirls are nurturing, motherly types and ev- eryone loves everyone else. Even Ebenezer Scrooge...er, Harriet Franklin has her heart softened af- ter she's been around Albert for awhile.
And yes, at just nine, White displays a command of emotional authenticity that shames the film's meandering plot.
The central idea here isn't bad - we could use some fluffy, uplifting, optimistic comedies. But "Bogus" just feels. well, bogus.
The film is rated PG for comic violence, profanity and the show girls' skimpy costumes. }
Sure, he knew he had done a great job.
Everyone said so, and he himself could see that the performances were one of the strongest aspects of the movie.
But…
Having his first film turn out to be a massive failure wasn't exactly the best way to start a career.
Then, the door to his hotel room swung open, and his brother, Andrew, walked in.
"Adam, are you busy?"
Adam closed the book and looked at him with curiosity.
"Do I look busy?"
"No, but I have something you're gonna want to see"
Andrew sat down on the chair across from him, pulled out a folder, and handed it over.
Adam took it and opened it.
Inside, there was information about an audition.
But not just any audition.
His eyes locked onto the title of the project, and they widened slightly.
"Ju-Jurassic Park… The Lost World"
Adam blinked, completely caught off guard.
"Is this a joke?"
"Oh, not at all" Andrew smirked with satisfaction. "It came in today from Estelle"
Jurassic Park!
The first movie had been a global phenomenon.
One of the biggest box office hits in history—the highest-grossing movie of all time at the time.
And now…
They fucking wanted him to audition for the sequel!
….
Shortly after, Adam called Estelle to get all the details about the role….
"Well, surprisingly, I didn't go looking for this one. They reached out to us," Estelle explained over the phone.
"So, they want me for the role"
Adam's lips curled into a small smile.
Oh yea…. This was huge.
Being personally sought out for a role—that was no small thing. Nop.
And even better, for a movie of this scale and importance.
"Exactly. The audition is just a formality. They've already seen your work, and they're interested in what you can bring to the role"
Adam's smile widened.
This was the perfect chance to recover from the failure of Bogus. Just knowing this boosted his mood instantly.
According to Estelle, The Lost World: Jurassic Park was set to begin filming at the end of September.
Adam had more than enough time, as he would wrap up Leave It to Beaver by early or mid-August.
The character they wanted him for was a small but significant supporting role, with a few important scenes.
And even though it wasn't a major role…
It was again… FUCKING Jurassic Park!
Of course, he was going to take whatever part they offered him.
The only issue was that Adam was still filming Leave It to Beaver, so he couldn't audition in person. Sadly taking days off to audition for another role wasn't in his contract, so if he got behind everyone's back to do it, he could get in deep trouble, and no, Estelle wouldn't approve it.
But that wasn't an obstacle.
Just like before, he would do a taped audition.
Estelle received the scripted lines and scenes he needed to record, and Adam would film with Andrew the material as soon as possible to send it to the casting team.
If they were still interested after seeing the tapes, they would schedule an official audition once he was done filming.
Though, at that point, it pretty much meant the role was already his.
Still on the phone with Estelle, Adam flipped through the folder, going over every detail as he spoke to her.
Then, he shut the folder, a confident grin spreading across his face.
"Tell them I'm gonna send them the best audition they've ever seen"
Estelle chuckled softly.
"I hope so. Now, get some rest. We start on this tomorrow"
And with that, she hung up.
And Adam now had a new goal.
The chance to join one of the biggest franchises in the world.