April 25, 1996.
Everything turned out better than expected… The Phantom Menace brought in enough revenue to cover all box office expenses, debuting internationally on April 7th and domestically on April 1st. For Anne, it was a relief to see the financials. The screenings kept rolling in, and critics gave it a solid 81% positive rating. Although some compared it to the original, feeling it didn't have the same impact or uniqueness, the earnings still doubled the target.
-Mr. Lucas, it's a pleasure to see you in such high spirits,- Anne remarked. The success was fantastic, though it hadn't yet crossed the $700 million mark. With a worldwide box office total of $434 million and a domestic tally in the U.S. of $342 million, it amounted to roughly $776 million. Every bit of revenue was a blessing, but Lucas was a little disappointed at not reaching $800 million. For two simple reasons: the first Star Wars film hit that figure twenty years prior, and achieving the same result felt underwhelming. But now Ice Age and Star Wars from Lux Animation ranked among the highest-grossing titles in history.
With Star Wars, they were up against Jurassic Park, which grossed $940 million; managing costs was intense.
-Anne, good to see you... Sorry I couldn't meet sooner, but I've been caught up in the excitement. A fourth success places Star Wars above any series, - Lucas commented sincerely, weighing his mixed feelings silently. His youthful, flushed face, paired with his square, clear glasses perched on his nose, only amplified his "nice guy" image.
Anne sighed, focusing on the task at hand.
-No need to apologize, besides, we're practically neighbors. A quick trip from San Jose to San Francisco is nothing. Now, I'd like to address something that, in my view, may be a bit premature, for myself and others. Billy wants to buy a stake in Lucasfilm. The negotiation process has both parties discussing the percentages. Lux Animation has proven it can lead Star Wars in the right direction. - Anne explained.
-The kid wants to buy my company! I thought we were done with that in our last meetings! Once again, Billy manages to surprise me, always coming up with some new idea or intricate plan that's simply exhausting. But Anne, why did they send you here? Did you see the news? - Lucas asked.
-I haven't, is something happening? - Anne replied.
-Nothing that concerns us directly… CNN covered the progress of Star Wars, highlighting Lux Animation as one of the most successful companies. Yes, in the '90s, its remarkable growth places it among the top 50 emerging companies. Typically, they release these rankings every decade, but the list is coming out sooner, - Lucas noted.
-We've worked hard to achieve that; we're active in nearly every field. But we particularly excel in comics and animation production. Enough about that, though, Mr. Lucas. I came to negotiate a share purchase. First, let me outline the reasons for this offer: Billy says Lucasfilm needs a successor, and he's willing to step up despite any differences. Secondly, we're offering a generous $500 million for 60% of the company. Lastly, he simply wants to do what he loves, - Anne presented.
-A better offer than I'd anticipated, - Lucas remarked, gripping his walking stick. -Add another 200 million, and I might accept. -
Anne replied with slightly lower numbers, which he still declined. She sensed that Lucas wouldn't find the idea so far-fetched, with $650 million nearly within reach.
***
-You can't do it; you're not that kind of man, - said Kate.
-Our desires don't always matter as long as we know that the fruit of tradition stirs our hearts, - Billy replied, moving from thought to action swiftly, with a poised yet restless response.
-You deny it? -
-I would deny my actions, but they drive me. My heart beats at every opportunity since I met you. I feel alive as the sky, intrigued by the clouds you watch so intently; they hint at a new dawn, - Billy replied.
-You're exaggerating, but I won't deny there's truth in your words, - responded Kate. In their playful games, they sometimes acted like a quaint, chivalrous couple, and at other times, they were two young souls on the streets of London, shy and reserved in each other's company.
-Goodness! I sound like a fool, in love with a man leading me to ruin, a man who only desires my body, - laughed the young woman, mastering her shyness and embarrassment.
-Such powerful words, spoken in the heat of the moment. Don't be alarmed or weighed down by this desire to corrupt what is good. I could never deny you something as precious as recognition, - Billy assured.
The act of improvising and seeing chemistry unfold delighted Kate, who was a lively, occasionally unpredictable young woman when she wanted to be. She adored classic novels, especially those exploring love and women's perspectives from earlier eras—a profession not considered "suitable" for women at the time. It was frowned upon.
-You're something special, - she almost remarked about language but decided against being so rebellious with her words. It was surely not wise to reveal the type of humor she possessed.
Billy nodded, though certain things were undeniable: Kate was talented at what she did. Yet Billy was looking for the best actress, and testing her was part of his duty under Cameron's direction. They needed the best for Titanic. His long hair often obscured his vision, forcing him to brush it aside—it nearly reached below his eyes, though he usually wore it shorter.
The tests for Rose ranged from improvisation and joyful spirit to dignity, resistance, camera work, elegance, and the subtlety of a woman's whispers, all for Titanic.
They sat as they requested further details like a dance, and to deliver certain scenes. At this point, he repeated the same steps as with the five previous actresses; each had strengths and weaknesses.
…
Later that evening, they reviewed the work carefully. Billy shared his thoughts on each actress and how they would approach their roles. Usually, he would note down his impressions, which James would review and add his insights, while the producers would read through all the arguments as they saw fit. Celebrating the Hollywood festivities, each actress appeared in photos as if part of a fashion shoot, dressed in evening gowns, tea dresses, and seven looks from the latest finalists.
All the details were nearly complete, paving the way for a long, grueling shoot that would span much of the summer in studios and into the fall for the second phase of filming for Titanic, a daring production expected to run up to 180 days—a time estimate double the 90 days initially projected. But when every detail had to be flawless, compromises were rarely an option.
...