Bang!
A bottle of champagne, vigorously shaken, released its cork into the air.
Shhhh...
Warren poured the wine into a pyramid of glasses, and applause and joyful shouts erupted around them.
"Let's welcome our hero!"
Amid loud applause and cheers, the director of "Sharknado" and the lead actors stepped forward. Confetti and champagne drenched them from head to toe.
"Hahaha!"
"How does it feel to be a star?" Eric joked.
Director Anthony Ferrante beamed with joy. "Mr. Eric, please don't make fun of me. It's a miracle, but the true creator of this miracle is you. Isn't that right, everyone?"
"Yes!"
The enthusiastic shouts erupted again. Even the usually serious Bema Hardy smiled. "Eric, say a few words. We're all waiting."
Eric came to the celebration just to have fun, but seeing the expectation in the eyes of the employees, he realized they were hoping for more from him.
"The success of 'Sharknado' is thanks to all of us. At Christmas, when the film was still in theaters, you didn't receive your bonuses. But now it's time—each of you will receive a $10,000 bonus as my belated holiday gift!"
Money always excites people. More than 50 A.K. Films employees erupted in joyful cheers. Someone suggested tossing Eric into the air, and the party atmosphere reached its peak.
After the fun, a group of people gathered in a quieter place to discuss future plans.
The first topic was the sequel to "Sharknado." The film, which became a hit, now had its unique audience. But there was a problem—Ryan Reynolds.
Now he was the second lead in "Transformers," and his career was clearly on the rise. It was unlikely he would want to return to "Sharknado," as no actor wants a flop in their resume.
All eyes turned to Ryan Reynolds. If the lead actor was replaced, the film would clearly suffer in perception.
"Ryan, are you going to star in 'Sharknado 2'? If not, just say it. No one will judge you."
To everyone's surprise, Ryan Reynolds smiled. "Of course, I'll continue. I'm the lead, or do you want to replace me?"
Warren was surprised. "Aren't you worried about your reputation? 'Sharknado' already has a reputation for being the worst movie. Just look at its IMDB rating."
Ryan Reynolds waved his hand nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter. As Eric said, if something is terrible to the extreme, it becomes art. Ed Wood's films also became cult classics. I think 'Sharknado' is the same kind of film."
"You don't understand, after the movie came out, I felt for the first time what it means to be a real star. On the street, fans approach me, asking for autographs and photos. In ten years in the profession, I never had that experience."
"I'm telling you, 'Sharknado' will be my signature film. As long as it's being made, I'll be in it, always!"
Ryan Reynolds' stance made things easier for everyone. He turned out to be a grateful person. Eric didn't deceive him and gave him a chance, and Ryan appreciated it.
However, with the increase in popularity, his demands would also rise. When "Sharknado 2" begins filming, Ryan Reynolds will be the only actor receiving a share of the profits.
Sipping some wine, Bema Hardy said, "So the second part will come out again in December. Let's stick to the annual schedule."
"Wouldn't it be better to release it in the summer? The film shoots quickly, and there's already a lot of buzz online for the second part," Warren suggested.
But this time, Eric did not support him.
"Warren, films have a novelty and cause fatigue. If we release the second part just six months later, the market won't have time to saturate. One film a year is already the limit. We need to give the audience time to restore their interest."
"But what will we do in the meantime? Soon the company will have a lot of money, and we need something to do."
"Do I need to explain this? Have you forgotten why I founded A.K. Films? You can start with parodies of MGM films."
"Right now, 'Saw' is hugely popular, so make something like 'Bloody Axe' or 'Deadly Scythe.'"
"MGM has 'Red Dragon' and 'Hannibal,' so you make 'Blue Dragon' and 'Hannibal Tree.' And if they have the James Bond series '007,' then you make '001,' and make sure the one on the cover looks like a seven."
"By the way, 'Legally Blonde 2' comes out this year, so make 'Pretty Girl in Law 2: Court Deception.' Let the plot be about a lawyer falling in love with a beauty."
"Spider-Man is at the peak of popularity right now, so we can do 'Fly-Man' or 'Dragonfly-Man.' In short, act boldly and decisively."
These words seemed to open everyone's eyes to new possibilities.
Eric added, "Of course, you need to shoot purely commercial parodies or, as they're also called, spoof movies. But you can't fully dive into this genre; low-budget B-movies shouldn't be ignored either."
"After the success of 'Sharknado,' A.K. Films has gained some fame, and screenwriters and directors with ideas will definitely come to us. If something seems promising, buy it."
"Besides, I have a draft script called 'The Purge.' Find a screenwriter to fill in the details. This film shouldn't be turned into the same chaos as 'Sharknado.' Keep the budget within $3 million, let it be A.K. Films' main project for the first half of the year."
Having finished with the company's business, Eric pulled Ryan Reynolds aside. "Ryan, be ready; preparations for shooting will start in a few days."
Ryan exclaimed excitedly, "Are 'Transformers' finally starting filming?"
"Yes, filming will start in early February, but the actors need to spend two weeks on preparatory training. You have a lot of fight scenes, and I want you to show the best result. And don't tell me later that you need a stunt double."
Ryan Reynolds thumped his chest. "Don't worry, I've been waiting for this chance for a long time and won't let you down!"
...
The next day, Eric boarded a plane headed for New York. This time his destination was not Hasbro but JP Morgan.
Exiting the waiting area, he looked around. Suddenly, a silver-white Porsche Panamera pulled up in front of him.
"Get in!" came a woman's voice from the driver's seat.
Without hesitation, Eric opened the door and got into the car.
"Do you smoke?"
"I'm not interested in nicotine."
"Mind if I smoke?"
"It's your right, ma'am."
Pressing the gas pedal, the Panamera started moving again.
"Where are you taking me?"
"To the hotel!"
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