"You're right!" Faaris nodded in surprise.
At this point, he couldn't help but admire Cooper's foresight. When he invited him for help, the original intention was to invest in films to disrupt Laila's chances of winning directorial awards. Making money through movies was never part of the plan. Considering the amounts Faaris and his previous partner, Faiza, invested in movies, it was evident that their films repeatedly failed, resulting in losses of at least one or two hundred million dollars. They never made a penny, and it all ended in vain.
However, when Cooper came on board, the films he introduced made a profit, and just that alone was enough for Faaris to appreciate him more.
Cooper smiled, "I believe we are on a very promising path. Moving forward, we can continue to invest in films with award potential. As long as the quality is high enough, it can serve as a deterrent. And, at the same time, we can ensure a steady cash flow through investments, making it a healthy financial venture."
Earlier, Cooper understood that Faaris was walking on a distorted path. Previously, they had no understanding of the film industry, yet they repeatedly invested large sums in movies. The result was not only a failure to make money but also significant financial losses. Although they didn't care about losing so much money and could provide more funds for their investments at any time, it wasn't a normal practice for a company.
Healthy investments should yield profits, using the investment amount to generate a certain return. This way, the company can operate normally and healthily, rather than throwing money into a black hole. Money doesn't come out of thin air, and when Faaris's boss behind him decides not to invest due to significant losses, Cooper would be the one bearing the loss as he lost a powerful ally against Laila.
Even for his own sake, Cooper would do everything in his power to ensure that Faaris could continue to be his solid support. The best way to maintain this situation was undoubtedly to make money! The amount didn't have to be vast, but it had to exist. Money wasn't an experiment; it couldn't afford to fail hundreds or thousands of times and continue. Too many failures could lead to a loss of confidence, ultimately resulting in withdrawal.
Faaris, indeed, thought similarly to Cooper. After realizing that the investments were profitable, his passion for films transformed from a simple desire for revenge into that of a film investor.
He wanted to show his revered boss that even if a company made a mess like the one Miss did before, he could still expand and strengthen it. Only then could he occupy a larger place in his boss's heart.
"Cooper, I'm glad you helped me make those choices. I hope we can have more cooperation in the future." Satisfied, Faaris extended his right hand.
Cooper shook hands with him, a smile playing on his lips. "Of course, our cooperation has been very pleasant, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration."
The atmosphere finally became harmonious.
Faaris finally remembered to invite Cooper to sit down.
"I heard Moran has come up with new film production plans?"
"Yes. According to my information, her Dragon Soul company will produce four films this year, including the highly anticipated sequel to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Transformers.'"
"Which one is Moran directing?"
Cooper shook his head, "She won't be directing any of them. She's set to direct the epic masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings!'"
Faaris furrowed his brow, "What's that? I remember that whether it's the sequel to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' or 'Transformers,' they should be more famous than whatever the King is, right?"
As a Saudi, even if he spoke English fluently, he had little interest in books like "The Lord of the Rings." Of course, he couldn't be expected to find time to read those books, especially with the turmoil caused by that young lady. Before that, he had been working alongside Faiza's father, gaining his trust. If he didn't use every minute to learn from work experiences, treating one day as two, it would not work.
In comparison, he knew more about the film that Laila had once turned into a blockbuster, "Pirates of the Caribbean," after they invested $200 million. "Transformers" had a higher profile, and even in the distant East, children of that era were proud to own a Transformers toy.
Cooper wasn't surprised that he wasn't familiar with that work. "The Lord of the Rings is a great novel, and its trilogy is widely known worldwide. Perhaps the names of those two films are more recognized at this stage, but if 'The Lord of the Rings' is made into a film, the effect might be outstanding."
Faaris didn't want to hear about it, "What should we do? Didn't you just say she couldn't keep making films like 'Chicago' that sweep the Oscars?"
Cooper dismissed it with a smile, "Mr. Faaris, I think you've entered into a misunderstanding again. First, let me tell you, 'The Lord of the Rings' is not easy to film! Why hasn't such a good book been filmed until now? It's because of its difficulty. The scenes, characters, and stories in the book, I believe everyone who has read it has constructed their own world of The Lord of the Rings in their hearts. Do you think Laila can make a movie that satisfies all these fans?"
Faaris raised his chin, indicating for him to continue.
Cooper didn't mince his words, "There's a saying, 'A thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's hearts.' Each person will construct a world they like in their hearts, and Moran can't possibly showcase all those worlds. As a result, her film might face significant criticism and dissatisfaction from the fans."
"Additionally, the scenes in the book are a very challenging choice because it's a fantasy story, and the scenes in the story are entirely imagined. It's not easy to find such places in the real world. If she can't even find suitable scenes, how can she expect to win the fans' approval?"
"If 'The Lord of the Rings' fans resist her film because they don't like the visuals, even if she relies on her own fan base, how much box office can she secure? There's no guarantee that this failure won't consume the popularity she accumulated before."
Faaris asked, "What if there's no resistance?"
"There will definitely be! Even if there isn't initially, there will definitely be in the future!" Cooper stated confidently.
Seeing his expression, Faaris understood his meaning— if there's no resistance, then let them do something to ensure resistance arises!
"That's a cunning idea." He said, while his mouth curved up in satisfaction.
-----
Cooper: I just love how easily I can manipulate a powerful ally.
Laila: I just love how they put so much effort into opposing me but end up increasing my attention and box office every time.