"Sir, international capital is very enthusiastic. I believe it won't take long to complete the subscriptions."
"Well, that's nice! Filson, no one's cursing outside, right?" Filson didn't know how to respond. Anyway, several institutions that had bet on Micron had stumbled. If it weren't for the booming market, they'd have to get into the boardroom. This was a classic case of stock traders becoming shareholders.
"Pretty much. Compared to this project, Micron is just child's play, and Motorola has kept quiet."
"Hmm, they should be grateful. If I had done this a few years earlier, all their stuff would've been scrap. I even think the IT industry should be grateful; they wouldn't want those volatile prices either." William White had a point; at least Filson couldn't argue back.
...
The day of the premiere for Mr. & Mrs. Smith was indeed momentous. After all, a certain fellow with too much time on his hands had decided to cross over into yet another field -- this time, as an actor.
Since the boss starred in the film, of course, a kickoff event was necessary.
With so many sponsors involved, the premiere was bound to be lively. In fact, aside from the advertisements from White Films, these sponsors were also casting their nets. Given this, you could imagine how hotly anticipated the movie became.
True to the audience's excitement, the film did not disappoint. The cool martial arts sequences, thrilling car stunts, and explosive gunfight scenes stirred the adrenaline of the viewers.
As for the matters between the couple, they could only be described as wild and beautiful.
Well, compared to the action flicks of West Hollywood, these scenes were a bit underwhelming. But don't forget, this featured William White, and the beautiful lady alongside him was quite a catch.
The most talked-about aspect was undoubtedly the high-tech gadgets showcased in the film. We've seen mobile phones, but a device that small? That was unheard of.
Wait a second, is that a laptop?
It could control directional mines.
If Star Wars was too far-fetched, no one bothered about the so-called technology presented. The Smiths, on the other hand, showcased tech that bore a resemblance to 007 gadgets. Such things did exist; only ordinary folks lacked the means to acquire them.
Audiences quickly picked up on the fact that the performances of the two were quite remarkable. Especially their seamless transitions between two identities felt completely natural.
Well, this was exactly what Americans loved -- the sudden bursts of energy that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
...
"William, you didn't really create that computer, did you?"
"What are you thinking, Steve? The mobile phone is real and it's coming, though it'll take some time. As for the portable computer, it can't do those things. Even if it could, there'd be no need -- it'd be too expensive."
"What about that little thing?"
"Ha! That's called a PDA, and it'll be hitting the market soon."
"Alright, I must admit, you are definitely a genius." Jobs understood that imagining something was one thing, but bringing a product to market was another. That laptop wasn't beyond William's capability; it was likely due to cost. There was no necessity for the trouble.
...
People had different interests, and the casual crowd enjoyed watching someone show off, while the tech enthusiasts were keen on those high-tech toys.
They had their sources, whether it was a mobile phone or a new pager. They'd treat the movie like a product launch. This meant that everything shown would eventually reach consumers.
To bolster their project, Motorola didn't shy away from spending money. However, it seemed their investment paid off. Despite his troublesome ways, William White wouldn't let anyone down; if he said something was worth it, he'd deliver on that promise.
Motorola was quite certain it wouldn't be long before inquiries poured in. Satellite phones weren't so surprising; being able to video chat with one was totally next level.
The FBI was a bit frustrated. They wanted to say, "We've never seen such advanced gear. You really think those hit squads would have access to that?"
Tsk, it was a good idea, though. Why not give it a shot?
Tracking via GPS?
That doesn't seem that hard, does it?
Triangulating to find the phone's owner's location?
Why do I feel like we're stepping into a fantasy here?
"Chief, theoretically, both points aren't too tough to manage, or rather, very feasible."
"What? Are you sure?" The FBI head looked at his technical guy in disbelief. He was just an old-school bureaucrat, not grasping the simple terms from the movie, let alone needing to elaborate on other matters.
"Ahem, with sufficient funding, it could be done in no time. There might be some errors, but it's absolutely doable."
"Go ask White Films for a copy. We're heading back."
To be honest, he'd brought a tech expert along based on professional advice. From the film's beginning, the small-town bureaucrat was taken aback. He thought all the tech was just nonsense, firmly belonging to the realm of science fiction.
Little did he know, his mutterings were overheard by the guy next to him. He felt fortunate, considering if this had transpired in a meeting room, he'd be the butt of everyone's jokes.
"Chief, this is a premiere. It wouldn't be proper to leave abruptly; we seem to have some distance from the billionaire here."
"Tsk, I suppose you're right. Let's keep watching. I say, you wouldn't be a little too hooked, would you?"
"Chief, it's definitely enlightening. Military-grade laptops are quite impressive."
He initially thought of joking about whether this guy couldn't take his eyes off the ladies. But now it seemed this bespectacled chap wasn't bothered about any glamor.
"Tsk, you're right -- if we disrupted the premiere, that'd be a grudge worth having."
...
In the theater, all kinds of people were present. Their points of focus may have differed, but they all shared a common perception: the film's high-tech elements were indeed abundant. It all seemed a bit flashy for their taste.
"Darn, William, are you sure the shuttle can be driven like that?"
"I don't know. Not sure about agents, but ordinary folks could never manage. In reality, there are three shot angles; you just missed the cuts! I mean, come on, you don't need to take movie business this seriously. If it comes to it, I could take out an F-14 with one shot from an M-16."
"Ahem, I've confirmed -- you're definitely a jerk."
"Thanks!"
William White knew this guy was just full of envy and resentment. When dealing with someone looking for trouble, he wouldn't hesitate to retort.
Listening to their banter, Sophie felt a bit surprised. There were so few people left who could talk to William White like this. That tall, slender guy seemed familiar.
...
Meanwhile, many departments around the world took notice of this film. The reason wasn't so much its entertainment value; they merely wanted to understand why their intelligence departments were keeping tabs on a movie.
Honestly, if anyone else had directed this piece, they wouldn't have cared at all.
William White, however, was different. He had solid research resources at his disposal. Even if he really produced something, it wouldn't be earth-shattering. But this time, the impact seemed significant.
Other items might be hard to distinguish as real or fake, but communications technologies couldn't be ignored. These were branded resources, not casually acquired props, though the brand seemed slightly exaggerated.
*****
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