[Chapter 615: The Opening of Jurassic Park]
Over the course of the three-day weekend, North America's box office broke a hundred million dollars, and when Hollywood bigwigs found out, they were practically in despair.
"Seriously? You can't be real! We'd be thrilled to clear 100 million in three months, and you do it in three days? Oh, come on, can someone please strike this guy down with a bolt of lightning? Life just isn't bearable anymore," one of them lamented.
"Where's that guy who claimed IMAX was worthless? Come on, step up! I promise I won't hurt you," another chimed in.
They all knew full well that IMAX had a clear and significant impact on box office sales. It's no joke; sure, it may be just a few more expensive tickets, but one ticket equals four or five regular ones.
Not to mention the number of screenings; thanks to its smashing success, this IMAX movie was practically on a 24-hour loop. Seriously, was this even a movie anymore? It was just a money-grab.
...
A week later, Jurassic Park (theme park) officially opened to the public, and it was suddenly packed to the brim. To everyone's surprise, most of the early visitors were book fans.
Jurassic Park had redefined the valuation of bestselling novels and movies, showcasing just how valuable these IPs could be.
Wall Street elites came to a realization: the added value of bestselling books and high-grossing films was immense. Toys, clothing, all sorts of memorabilia, plus a theme park and video rentals; the profits generated here far exceeded that of the films and books themselves.
Vacationers at Jurassic Park were pleasantly surprised to find that the merchandise was surprisingly affordable. Beyond the park, there were also reasonably priced golf courses and tennis centers.
And that wasn't all -- there was the massive aquarium nearby. Though it hadn't opened yet, it was clear that Jurassic Park was part of a bigger theme park experience.
Many visitors thought to themselves how great this place was. They could see themselves coming back during holidays. Plus, the food and drinks were also reasonably priced, so it seemed like the billionaire behind it all had a good heart.
In reality, it wasn't about being generous. If they wanted people to come back often, they couldn't run the place dry. A theme park needs to keep introducing new attractions.
Why was Disney so successful? It's precisely because of this!
Disneyland, which was originally struggling in the U.S., managed to revive itself thanks to the creativity of those in the theme park business. As time went on, all Disney parks around the world adopted this same strategy.
...
William White was quite pleased, but Warner Bros wasn't feeling too great. They had realized their film was going to go head-to-head with The Lion King.
Now witnessing the explosive success of the IMAX movie, they didn't feel confident about how to compete with this animated feature. And that's not to mention the other movie in the pipeline -- you couldn't expect a William White movie to tank; over the years, the only one who could stand a chance against him was probably Spielberg.
Of course, they weren't left with a choice -- they had to compete. Investors had demands, but these folks didn't seem too concerned about ROI.
...
"William, did you hear about Warner's movie?"
William was intrigued. How did George W. Bush know about it when it wasn't even finished? The screenplay from the Writers Guild was just for show; you couldn't get any real insights from that.
"Hey, I just found it odd. Oscar-winning director, writing his own screenplay, producing, directing... C'mon, why would you think I wouldn't know about it?"
George truly had no idea. He had just heard that the movie was bound to stir a tremendous amount of controversy; those behind it clearly weren't the best types.
"This guy is a big deal?"
"Platoon -- he's known for biographical films, and from that standpoint, I'm at a disadvantage."
"Oh, so it's him? I see now -- he's anti-war. So, is he planning a rewrite?"
"Ha! One bullet, seven wounds. George, that's just for deceiving the naive. The insiders are all gone, so I am very curious how he plans to frame the story."
"Hmm, looks like someone's not happy."
William didn't respond; he had already helped as much as he could, and it wasn't necessary to dig deeper. Plus, Bush Sr. likely didn't want a direct confrontation. Two terms in office was nice, but if it came at an exorbitant cost, it wasn't worth it.
After years of navigating through the CIA, he was pretty attuned to these situations. Perhaps they preferred that the top guy was just a puppet.
...
"Dad, he did notice something was off, but he didn't make too much of a fuss. Besides, his movie is slated first, so there's no overt hostility apparent."
"Ha! This guy is something else. At least when I was his age, I wouldn't have been so tight-lipped."
George was a bit frustrated; though he didn't know what was happening, he could sense something was off based on his dad's demeanor. The swagger of triumph after victory had disappeared, replaced by indecision.
"Dad, looking at it this way, the problems with that movie might not be as severe."
"Yeah, I got it, son. Just leave this matter alone and avoid asking William White about it. He's done everything he could. The rest... you guys can't get involved in."
George was conflicted; he had genuinely planned a trip to Los Angeles. He believed William White must know something. But he dismissed the thought; given the gravity of the situation, he shouldn't get involved.
...
In fact, George was overthinking it. William didn't know much more than him. It was just that since they had differing stances, it was necessary to set traps and dig pits -- there didn't need to be any further justification.
He wouldn't just suppress them at the box office and the cinemas; at the Oscars, he would apply the same pressure. If those old-timers at the Academy didn't know their place, he wouldn't hesitate to flip tables.
Writing propaganda for George or rallying support wouldn't be wise. You'd face backlash for sure afterward. If it had to do with interests and awards, that would be personal grievances. If he didn't want to seriously offend William, it was best to keep clear.
Just look at the current state of News Corp -- without outside aid, the two companies had actually become peaceful. That was a clear signal: if you didn't want trouble, you best not poke the bear.
...
Oliver Stone was less concerned about such matters; he had never made such an enjoyable movie. Firstly, he didn't lack for money, and secondly, the cast was terrific. For the artistic vision he sought to convey, no one could interfere.
As for whether the movie was good or not, it didn't matter; the volume was certainly there.
...
When William heard this film was a whopping three hours long, he was lost for words.
Seriously? Is this just burning money?
Well, this was bound to be a flop. A three-hour movie? You think the ticket price is going to double? It'd just be a bit more expensive, that's all.
This Christmas, William had two films to consider. If theater owners weren't delusional, they wouldn't give it much screen time.
Sure, Warner Bros' associated cinema chains might give them a slight edge, but as far as those rats hiding in the gutters were concerned, William would welcome them to step into the light. If they stayed hidden, how would he know who to deal with later?
*****
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