[Chapter 614: The Anticipated Blockbuster]
On Friday, May 3rd, after a two-week delay, Jurassic Park officially premiered. With 4,000 screens across North America, it set a new record. Before this, even the so-called blockbusters rarely broke 3,000 screens.
"Lucas, do you really need to be this nervous? Look at Spielberg, he's so calm," William White remarked.
"Alright, you two are the artists, and I'm the businessman. Is that good enough?" George Lucas replied.
"Ha! You don't have to worry; the feedback from the test screenings in London has been exceptional," he scoffed.
"I heard. It's precisely because it's so good that I'm nervous," Lucas admitted.
William White fully agreed with Lucas's sentiment. With certain box office success already assured, there was always room for wanting it to be even more explosive. After all, some people get carried away with movies; if all your friends are seeing it, you definitely consider going too.
The film, adapted from William White's bestseller, backed by Lucas and Spielberg, had undeniable drawing power.
...
As Oliver Stone gazed at the dinosaurs before him, he instinctively felt the urge to cover his eyes. Judging by the expressions of those around him, he wasn't alone in his discomfort.
"Oh God, what kind of monstrosity is this? Wait a minute, Spielberg's not known for this style -- what's happened in the last few years?" Stone grumbled to himself.
Biopics were Stone's forte, and he'd seen White's Evita. Frankly, it was pretty mediocre, aside from a few catchy songs. If it had been his project, the outcome would surely have been better.
As for Oscar nominations, he believed the film didn't deserve one. Without William White's box office appeal, it would likely flop hard.
Despite disliking White's films, he appreciated his books. In his eyes, The Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump were brilliant, vivid and cinematic. If he were behind the camera on those, the Oscars would have been a done deal.
Too bad though, getting the rights from William White? Forget it; that ship had sailed.
"Sorry, sorry, everyone! All screenings for the next three days are sold out," greeted the ticket booth attendant.
As Stone left the theater, those were the first words he heard. Well, it was a very good film, and IMAX really was impressive. But seriously, did they have to charge so much? An average of $25 a ticket? That's just highway robbery.
The theater operators were over the moon; oh man, this film was unbelievable. If this kept up, E.T.'s record would likely be in jeopardy.
William White was well aware that Jurassic Park had many advantages that didn't exist before. Purely in cinematic terms, it couldn't match E.T.'s impact.
...
White Studios was throwing a celebratory party. William White, Lucas, and Spielberg, the three giants of the industry, were all in attendance, which meant the level of the event needed no further explanation.
While White Studios was buzzing with excitement, other industry giants were in a bit of a headache. Of course, the most unfortunate of all was Time Warner. With this year's economy struggling, other companies were trimming their budgets, but they were working on a project about the JFK with a budget of $40 million.
What the heck, what kind of madness was White Studios on? With the economy in such a bad place, how could he pull off so many big productions? It left everyone in disbelief!
"George, what are you rambling about? The economy is bad? If it were good, would I be investing so much money in theaters?"
Lucas said, feeling a bit dizzy. What kind of nonsense is this? "William, what is this economic theory of yours?" he queried.
"Listen up; the worse the economy, the better the entertainment industry does. Do you know where video game consoles and comics are selling the best?"
"Duh, obviously in Japan," came the sarcastic reply.
"No, no, that's not what I mean. I'm talking about growth rates. Japan has the worst economy but the highest growth rates. It's not just me; all comic companies are doing great."
Ahem, "And those 'action' flicks -- goodness, the profits! If I weren't worried about my reputation, I'd have already bought one of those companies," William White said, eyes gleaming.
"Ha ha, you're not plotting to shoot an IMAX version, are you?"
"Pfft, there have been inquiries. But seriously, it won't happen for at least ten years. Right now, let's just milk the kids' money while we can; when they grow up, I can cash in again."
William White chuckled, exchanging knowing glances with Lucas. Spielberg was at his wit's end with the two of them and quickly found an excuse to leave.
He realized that if you wanted to make money, integrity didn't matter. Come on, you're already the richest guy around -- still trying to scrimp on those minor profits? Good grief, you two!
"Ha ha, William, you scared Spielberg off! Next time you want him to help you make money, you better write a good script," joked Lucas.
"Aw, I just wanted to express myself artistically. This guy is just a bit too sensitive," White responded. "The same idea can come across very differently depending on how you phrase it."
"Okay, let's hear it," Lucas challenged.
"Imagine seeing a gorgeous woman, and you say, 'Darling, I want to sleep with you.'"
Sophie, the cute girl, nearly sprayed her champagne everywhere.
"Haha, you really are a jerk," she laughed out loud.
"Alright, alright, I apologize. Let me express it another way. 'Darling, I want to watch the sunrise with you.' See? It's the same idea, but one is a rogue while the other is romantic."
"Okay, William, I'm convinced -- you really are a jerk," she said with mock solemnity.
"Thank you," William White shrugged in acceptance, causing a fit of giggles among the ladies around him.
Sophie rolled her eyes at him. She knew all too well that this guy wasn't just talking nonsense; he had done just that before.
In truth, at William White's status, he was free to say whatever he wanted without worrying about being misunderstood. To put it bluntly, as long as it wasn't overly outrageous, someone would always be there to clean up after him.
The world was strange; as a star-level mogul, no one cared about your flaws. His fans stubbornly believed that with those imperfections, their idol was more relatable.
This wasn't just White's rambling; rumors about Tiger Woods had spread like wildfire in the late 2000s.
What happened next?
Oh, well, he got sick, and his infidelity was just a cover for treatment. Quite a peculiar illness, mind you -- it's also afflicting that Black Mamba, and a certain guy from Manchester United, too.
Once a doctor coined that condition, the world became a curious place. No matter how much you go off-the-rails, your image wouldn't collapse. Because, hey, it was just an illness.
"William, how is it that your new movie is about racing? That subject matter can be tricky," Lucas asked.
"You know, George, my car sales have been slumping lately -- I've got too much inventory," White explained.
"I can't believe this; are you planning to make an ad?"
"Honestly, the genre doesn't matter as long as the story is compelling. For me, any type works; I may not achieve perfection, but I will definitely make a profit."
No one disagreed with William White's statement. If it were just about the money, he wouldn't have the standing he did in the industry today.
It was an industry consensus that William White truly loved his craft. He was always pushing his limits, and the remarkable thing was when he couldn't push through, he wouldn't force it.
When he said he couldn't make Jurassic Park, it was a genuine reflection. Now he claimed that as long as the story was solid, profits would follow -- it wouldn't be long before this become the Hollywood mantra.
*****
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