After the holiday season, it was 2002, and Laila had returned to the film set and was once again busy.
According to her plan, she aimed to complete all the filming for "Harry Potter" by February and move on to post-production. As for special effects, she wasn't worried, as her recently established special effects company could handle some of the work, and she would subcontract the rest to other well-cooperated special effects companies.
Next, she had to prepare for "Iron Man" while simultaneously beginning filming for "Chicago." Fortunately, "Chicago" was a collaboration, and she only had to focus on the shooting, with less need to divert her attention elsewhere.
As for "Iron Man," there was no need to rush, as it wasn't set to be released until the summer of the following year.
When discussing the release schedule, Louise sought Laila's opinion.
"If we release it in this year's summer, it might be too rushed. If we release it next year, will it affect the box office for 'Iron Man'? Putting two big films together could lead to mutual interference."
This was indeed a problem. If it were just ordinary summer blockbuster films, Laila wouldn't be concerned about releasing one of them a month later. However, she knew that both "Iron Man" and "Harry Potter" were potential box office blockbusters, and releasing them too closely might indeed affect each other's box office performance.
Laila thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know when 'Catwoman' is set to be released?"
Louise silently lit a figurative candle for anyone who had crossed her boss's path. This was undoubtedly an attempt to create a conflict.
"As far as I know, they're planning to release it in June or July of this year, but the exact date hasn't been confirmed."
"Not confirmed yet? They want to see our schedule," Laila remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm afraid that's the case. I think Joseph may want to pit 'Catwoman' against our 'Harry Potter,'" Louise replied. She could already foresee the results of this rivalry and felt a touch of sympathy for the person involved.
"Regardless of whether he wants to do that or not, let's make him believe that he does!" Laila casually tapped her finger on the table. "You should find a way to stoke the rivalry and get him agitated."
Angry people were more likely to make mistakes. After spending so much time in Hollywood, Louise had seen enough of such situations.
For example, those celebrities who physically assault paparazzi, do you know what triggered their actions? The result? Their violent behavior gets faithfully captured, and they end up paying hefty compensation along with facing criticism from their fans and the media. Meanwhile, the paparazzi they assaulted, counting the money they've earned, happily invest in new cars and houses with the compensation they received.
Louise nodded in agreement. "I know what to do."
"What's his temperament like?"
"Based on what I know about him, he seems to be ambitious but also quite cautious at times, making him a rather contradictory individual. He does possess some skills, and people with some level of ability like his are usually somewhat proud. If you wish, I can make him pay a price for his pride this time."
Louise was usually a kind-hearted person, but she was irritated by the way Joseph had switched sides. She was well aware that it was not a pleasant situation.
Laila smiled at her. "Louise, if you keep doing this, our company will grow even faster."
A slightly embarrassed Louise shook her head. She knew her strengths and being on the frontlines to deal with such situations was beyond her capabilities. Otherwise, the former Phoenix would not have turned into such a mess after Reynolds passed away.
Laila flipped through her desk calendar and said, "Let's pick a date in late June for the release of 'Harry Potter.' See if you can discreetly convey this information to them and gauge their response."
"Alright!" Louise agreed readily.
Having spent many years in Hollywood, Louise had a wide network of contacts and channels. Her friendly and kind nature has led to good relationships in various aspects. So, she managed to discreetly inform Joseph about the potential release date for "Harry Potter."
"Faaris, I'd like to release 'Catwoman' at the end of June!" Joseph said as soon as he got the message.
Faaris, who had his fingers crossed, looked at Joseph and asked, "I need a reason for this."
Joseph hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to reveal the truth. He had heard about this Saudi tycoon's first film investment, which ended up being a complete disaster because it coincided with the release of one of Laila's films. Of course, the outcome was mainly due to the film being of poor quality, despite having renowned writers, and directors, ample funding, and still producing a pile of trash.
If it were up to him, he was confident that he wouldn't let things go the same way. However, he didn't know whether the boss had lost confidence because of the previous incident.
But if he didn't speak up now and the boss later found out that their schedules clashed with Laila's film, he might assume that Joseph had intentionally withheld this information. In that case, the tycoon might react impulsively, potentially causing problems for Joseph. After all, he was a businessman from Saudi Arabia, a place not far from that infamous dark lord.
"Well, the situation is this: I received information that Laila Moran, the director, will release her 'Harry Potter' film at the end of June. I hope to use my film to show her what a true masterpiece looks like!"
Faaris didn't immediately agree or disagree. Instead, he looked at Joseph seriously and asked, "What kind of director is Lala Moran in your opinion?"
Joseph was taken aback for a moment. "She's a very accomplished director. Since her debut, she hasn't had a single failure. Her films consistently gross at least $300 million, with some even reaching as high as $500 million. Even though I might not want to admit it, it seems that she has a bit... of luck!"
Indeed, she was extraordinarily lucky! If he is given sufficient funds, a satisfactory crew, and the best script, he can definitely surpass her achievements!
But now, all the conditions have been met, and he has indeed made a movie that satisfies him, there was nothing left to fear from her.
Joseph went on, "I admit she's a very talented director. But, Mr. Faaris, I don't think there's anything she can do that I can't. Look at my previous films. Despite limited budgets, they still earned a good box office. Now that you've invested a significant amount in this movie and we have a fantastic story, along with Halle Berry playing Catwoman, we are in the best position to dominate and surpass a children's film!"
His argument was well-structured and sounded very persuasive. Faaris listened attentively, deep in thought.