The unexpected encounter with Lucas prompted William White to resist temptation. While he hoped for a successful investment in the treasure hunters, he regretted that Lucas was a cautious individual. A simple description of the script interested him in proving its quality.
Lucas's reluctance to accept the script wasn't rooted in arrogance. He had encountered numerous setbacks while working on this challenging script.
The situation had clearly changed. William White was eager to invest and wasn't overly concerned about the share ratio.
In other words, William White had immense optimism about this film, and the $30 million budget was a mere formality. Comparatively, the movie he had been making had a budget of just tens of thousands.
Lucas's ability to thrive in the cutthroat world of Hollywood was certainly not due to luck.
What caliber of IP was Star Wars?
This was something any industry giant would covet. Lucas undoubtedly had a firm grip on it, far from being a mere stroke of luck.
Lucasfilm surpassed DreamWorks, especially in terms of directorial prowess. Lucas dominated the company. If not for his age and a messy divorce, he would have been worth an estimated billion dollars.
Following the uneventful dinner, William White chose to head home directly. He might still be interested in becoming a treasure hunter, but for now, he had been distracted by the old man's delaying tactics.
"Dealing with this crafty old fox is quite the challenge," William White realized he would need to tread carefully; he was likely being manipulated.
Hollywood was currently in a sensitive phase, scrutinizing every move William White made. Even if he didn't immediately change his stance, the film would be reevaluated.
In America, luck played a significant role, after all.
Since investing in William White's movies seemed hopeless, investing in what he saw was a viable alternative. Although it left him somewhat disheartened, not all blockbuster movies could be secured.
If anyone attempted to monopolize the industry, they were headed for disaster. Maintaining balance was paramount.
Whenever AMD faltered, Intel came to the rescue, and the two companies had a love-hate relationship. This could be the basis for a movie.
William White couldn't help but think that this might be a deliberate manipulation. The relentless rivalry between the two companies had inadvertently sidelined other chip manufacturers—a potential grand scheme.
Wasn't it akin to squeezing toothpaste with Intel?
AMD typically surged ahead, crushed Intel into oblivion, and then the cycle repeated.
William White was here to enjoy life. As long as no one provoked him, he had no intention of causing trouble. Money wasn't an issue for him; the troublesome bills were best forgotten. They held little meaning.
This incident served as a reminder that he should leave professional negotiations to experts; he wasn't suited for them.
If he crossed paths with Lucas again, that cunning old fox, William White would insist on an exclusive agreement. Under the same conditions, Lucas would have no choice but to sign with him.
It was likely true; news of the dinner event quickly spread through orchestrated leaks, and Lucas smoothly secured several investments, effectively resolving the earlier awkwardness.
Hollywood was a place where capitalization was pervasive. To avoid being beholden to investors, one needed a plethora of them.
Lucas was naturally a master at this. The situation changed overnight. Not only did the old man secure additional investments, but the film's release was also virtually confirmed.
Regarding Lucas's apologetic phone call, William White was understanding. Fortunately, Lucas was young and shameless. Regardless, Lucas owed him a favor.
The old man didn't want to antagonize this valuable connection, so they let bygones be bygones. Besides, he could still provide assistance in the future. Apologies were unnecessary.
Lucas couldn't help but marvel at this turn of events. Was this a case of riding the Yangtze River's current? The old man was still relatively young, and a poorly-performing film had suddenly gained momentum.
The old man produced it, Spielberg directed it, and Harrison Ford starred in it. This was Hollywood's dream team; how could it lack investors?
Lucas was right, but Hollywood was short-sighted, focusing on short-term gains. His Star Wars franchise was impressive, but its production costs were high. The return on investment and box office performance paled in comparison to White Pictures.
Christmas had come and gone, and other films were still performing well at the box office. Although the figures had dwindled, they still outperformed other movies in the same period.
At this rate, it might even surpass "Police School."
"Forbes, have they arranged the meeting venue?" William White couldn't dawdle; he had important matters to attend to.
"Master, everything is set. The location is confirmed, and there shouldn't be any issues."
In two days, there would be a press conference. For William White, the year was just beginning to get busy. Aside from the arcade, his comic projects needed acceleration.
Although he had faith in his abilities, he decided to oversee things personally. After all, his staff lacked experience, and identifying problems now was better than later.
Footbaths were abundant, but William White had no intention of serving Japanese cuisine. It was too cumbersome and impractical.
The small six-story building seemed somewhat extravagant, with cartoon images from the games adorning its walls. While he was still in the early stages, constructing a headquarters building was beyond his current capabilities. Fortunately, land in the country remained affordable, without the risk of steep price hikes.
When the real estate market boomed, it paled in comparison to the footbath and heaven industries.
It was worth noting that the government and banks encouraged real estate speculation, but it hadn't seen much appreciation.
"David, make sure they turn on the ventilation. There's a strange smell," William White remarked upon entering the company's lobby. His heightened sensitivity to odors made such issues more noticeable.
"Of course, boss. I'll take care of it right away."
"Get some air fresheners as well, spray them today, and make sure they're used when the official opening begins in two days."
The employees were accustomed to such requests. Even if they couldn't perceive the scent, they would comply with the boss's wishes.
After a thorough check of the company, everything appeared in order, and William White departed with his team of bodyguards.
The new year had started, but Los Angeles seemed unprepared, with people on the streets taking it easy.
This included White Films; none of its crews had started working yet, but there was little William White could do. This was the American way; apart from the elite, most people preferred to enjoy their holidays.
Lucas had already begun preparing his crew. With ample US dollars, other arrangements were straightforward. He was moving faster than William White.