In Park City, film enthusiasts attended screenings of competitive films not only in Park City but also in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah. This year's Sundance Festival was quite successful, featuring notable films such as "Like Crazy" and "Another Earth."
Fans of Lucas who managed to see "Like Crazy" were thrilled and eagerly shared their experiences online. On Twitter, attendees from Sundance praised the film:
"Lucas's performance in the film was really good! His two female co-stars were also impressive!"
"I really liked the film, especially Lucas's songs! I was so impressed that I bought tickets again for my friends so we could all enjoy Lucas's performance and his music once more!"
Dozens of new posts about the film "Like Crazy" and Lucas Knight emerged on social media. Meanwhile, other fans of Lucas who were not previously aware of "Like Crazy" learned about the film, but they couldn't see it as it was exclusively screened at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
At the same time, the buzz about Lucas on Twitter began to fade after media reports covered his interview at Sundance.
Rumors about Lucas's relationships with Jennifer Lawrence and Felicity Jones were also put to rest by their new film at Sundance, "Like Crazy," which confirmed that Lucas was just friends with both actresses. This news reassured some of Lucas's female fans who felt it was too soon for him to be in a romantic relationship, although other fans continued to support the idea of Lucas with Jennifer or Felicity.
Some people even posted photos of Lucas with Jennifer or Felicity, set against romantic music.
As the 2011 Sundance Film Festival was drawing to a close, "Like Crazy," a Grand Jury Prize winner, became the center of a pivotal discussion in Park City. Drake, representing the film, was deep in negotiations with Sony Pictures. Inside a quiet corner of a bustling cafe, the air was tense with anticipation.
Drake leaned forward, making his case, "We're asking for $1.3 million and 13% of the box office shares."
Davy, the Sony Pictures representative, rubbed his forehead, concern etching his features. "That's a significant ask, Drake. You know the risks involved for us at that amount, not to mention the marketing expenses."
Recognizing the hesitation, Drake lowered his demand slightly, "How about $1.2 million then?"
Davy sighed, still unconvinced. "It's still a big gamble for us."
Sensing an opportunity, Drake played his ace. "Consider Lucas's involvement. His songs in the film are a major draw. He's not only a rising star as an actor but also in music. His album sales are through the roof—hundreds of thousands of units—and he's even Grammy-nominated. Having him is worth the $1.2 million. He's a central character and even performs a song in the film. It's a unique selling point that's sure to attract audiences."
Davy paused, mulling over Drake's points. The promise of Lucas's growing popularity was tempting, but the decision was far from simple.
Davy looked thoughtful, his gaze settling on Drake with a mixture of contemplation and caution. "I need to discuss this with the Sony Pictures executives. It's a lot to consider," he admitted, his voice carrying a tone of professional hesitation.
Drake nodded, his expression firm yet open. "I understand, but just so you know, other distributors are interested in acquiring 'Like Crazy.' We might find a distributor who will accept our terms."
Davy's response was prompt, reflecting the urgency of the situation. "I'll get back to you as soon as possible, Drake. I appreciate your flexibility, and I'll push for a quick decision on our end."
A few days later, as the Sundance Film Festival neared its conclusion, Drake successfully secured a deal with Sony Pictures to acquire the film "Like Crazy." The agreement was settled for $1.2 million and 12 percent of the box office shares.
Drake then allocated 8 percent of the box office shares and $100,000 to Lucas, recognizing that Lucas's star power and musical contributions to the film were instrumental in closing the deal at such favorable terms. Lucas's recent Grammy nomination had undoubtedly swayed Sony Pictures' decision to invest heavily in "Like Crazy."
Meanwhile, Lucas had returned to New York, where preparations for his Grammy appearance were already underway, thanks to his manager, Neil. Neil had arranged for a designer to outfit Lucas for the prestigious event.
Although Neil received several project offers from other studios, particularly for indie films interested in casting Lucas, they had to decline as Lucas's schedule was now dominated by his upcoming appearance at the 2011 Grammy Awards and Golden Globes.
Of course, Lucas carefully read through the project scripts before making any decisions. Ultimately, he declined because none of the scripts ignited his passion for acting in those projects.
Lucas had a busy schedule ahead. With the Grammys still weeks away, he was already committed to filming episodes for the TV series "Modern Family." Shortly after, he was required on the soundstage for HBO's "Game of Thrones," where he also had to voice some scenes for his character, Rob.
Amid this hectic period, Lucas was kept in the loop by the production team of "The Hunger Games," as they needed to coordinate schedules and updates.
In his scarce downtime, Lucas caught up with Jennifer over the phone, sharing updates about their days. During one call, Jennifer mentioned meeting Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein while preparing for her role in "The Hunger Games."
Lucas, concerned, cautioned her, "There are rumors about that guy; you should be careful. I don't want you to end up regretting anything."
Jennifer, in the workout room, couldn't help but smile at Lucas's concern. "Rumors are just rumors. He might be different in real life. I've just spoken to him, and he seemed funny and straightforward," she replied.
Lucas shook his head, his tone more serious, "Just be careful, Jennifer. What he shows you might just be a facade to earn your trust and lure you into a trap."
Laughing softly, Jennifer responded, "A trap? You're overthinking it, Lucas."
Lucas, knowing the more severe allegations against Weinstein but unable to disclose his futuristic insights, pressed gently, "Just be careful, okay?"
Acknowledging his serious tone, Jennifer agreed with a warm smile, "Alright, I'll be careful."