Made in Hollywood

The night gradually dissipated, the sun in July climbed the sky on the west coast for the first time, the briefly silent City of Angels resumed its hustle and bustle, and the fiercely competitive film industry began to fight silently again. This weekend before the Independence Day holiday, officially Ushered in one of the most heavyweight productions of the entire summer, "Independence Day".

Although the midnight show was released in the early hours of the morning, it was a special show for fans of sci-fi action. For most ordinary movie fans, Friday daytime is the beginning of their movie viewing.

As the sun rose, the midnight box-office statistics also came to an end. The box-office figures of the films just released this weekend were passed to the corresponding companies at the fastest speed, and then to many interested people.

In the Fox Building in Century City, Townsend Rothman had just entered the office, and Jon Landau, the executive producer of Fox's "Independence Day", walked in. The fat man was holding a report in his hand and his face was hanging. His bright smile squeezed those ugly fats together, making it extraordinarily interesting.

"Townsend, good news!" He seemed eager to share his joy.

"Go ahead, Jon."

From the fat man's face, Townsend Rothman had already guessed something, "Did the midnight box office exceed expectations?"

Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox's midnight box-office estimate was $4.5 million, which is almost the midnight hit for a top-grossing film in North America.

"Not just exceeding expectations!" Jon Landau clapped the statement in his hand, as if trying to restrain his excitement, "$7.75 million! Townsend, we broke the record! This is the best ever in North America. Midnight box office results!"

"What?" Townsend Rothman stood up straight, as if he couldn't believe it, "Break the record?"

"Yes!" Jon Landau nodded affirmatively, "Duke Rosenberg's work has created incredible box office results! $7.75 million, surpassing the $7.54 million of "Batman Returns"! This is the latest North American midnight box office record!"

Hearing Jon Landau's confirmation, Townsend Rothman calmed down. After all, he was the CEO of a large company with complicated experiences. He gestured to Jon Landau, who was still standing over there, to sit down. Walked back and forth behind the desk twice.

Generally speaking, the box office of the film on the first day can reach about three times that of the midnight show. Based on this calculation, the box office of "Independence Day" can reach 20 million US dollars on the first day? What about the first-week box office?

Townsend Rothman's mouth was upturned, and he put on an imperceptible smile. He gave up the previous disputes and re-cooperated with Duke Rosenberg. This move was too right!

Duke Rosenberg always surprises people!

"Jon, you call Duke immediately..."

Just when Jon Landau wanted to stand up, Townsend Rothman suddenly raised his hand to stop him, "No, I'll fight it myself!"

After speaking, he asked for a call from the secretary desk and dialed that number directly.

Duke's cell phone has been ringing nonstop since the sun rose, and his midnight box office performance and North American record-breaking performance have made him receive many congratulatory calls.

The executives of Warner Bros., the executives of Twentieth Century Fox, the agent Nancy Josephson and the ICM agency behind her, the team of lawyers and accountants who served him, the stars of several films directed and their agents, and even the The person in charge of the PR firm who didn't know how to get his number, etc.

Chasing winners is one of Hollywood's perpetual themes. Although it's only a midnight sale, it's clear that these people are unanimously optimistic about "Independence Day."

"You're welcome, Townsend, I'm very pleased with our partnership, does the Fox press need more publicity? Do you think so? That's great! So we're always more in agreement than disagreement! Celebration party? Don't worry about this, you can wait a while..."

Under the umbrellas on Santa Monica Beach, Duke had just hung up Twentieth Century Fox CEO Townsend Rothman when the phone rang again.

"Duke, well done!"

The caller turned out to be George Lucas, Duke said a few words of modesty, and Lucas's voice rang again in the receiver, "You have improved far faster than I expected. Spielberg was in Didn't do as well as you did in the beginning. Duke! You could be a top commercial director, but keep your head up!"

"I understand, Uncle Lucas."

Although making these films has a deep relationship with his accumulated learning over the decades, Duke understands how these films came to be, and naturally he will not be arrogant and proud, "I know what to do."

"Congratulations, young man, for setting a new record."

After the two said a few more words, they hung up the phone. Duke put away his phone and looked at the other side of the parasol. Across the small table, Scarlett Johansson was sitting on a children's beach chair, holding a Bucket of ice cream, seems to be very happy to eat.

"Why don't you go to the summer camp organized by the acting school?" Duke asked, turning his head.

"The school invited only a summer camp organized by an inexperienced director!" Scarlett Johansson pulled a tissue and wiped the cream from her mouth, "You will soon be the best director in Hollywood, I think following you is better than attending. Summer camp can learn more.”

"Thank you, dear, I didn't expect you to have such confidence in me."

Hearing what Duke said at will, the little girl put down the ice cream, got off the beach chair, went around behind the sun umbrella, took a can of beer from the ice bucket, pulled it open, and brought it to Duke.

"It's rare," Duke muttered.

He raised his head and took a sip. The cold feeling dispelled the sultry summer heat. Duke burped comfortably. When he put down the beer can, he found that Scarlett was still looking at him.

"What happened, Scarlett?" Duke asked.

"That..." Scarlett rolled her eyes and pointed to the beer can, "Can I taste it?"

"Wait until you're sixteen!" Duke glared at her, and Scarlett pouted and muttered, "Stingy, I knew it would be like this, it's not like I haven't drunk before."

"What did you say?" Duke frowned.

"nothing."

Scarlett put her hands behind her back, shook her upper body, returned to her beach chair, and continued to mutter, "Stingy, cheap..."

Hearing the voice of a wizard casting a spell, Duke almost laughed and pointed to Scarlett's cup, "Just one sip!"

"Um……"

The little girl nodded hastily, waited for Duke to pour a beer from the bottom of the glass, and drank it directly, looking at Duke eagerly, "Can you do it again?"

Duke would not be deceived by her disguise, and shook his head just as the phone rang again, and simply ignored the poor looking little girl.

Duke is in a good mood here, and the pressure brought by the huge investment has mostly dissipated with the record-breaking midnight box office performance.

From Santa Monica to the east, in a mansion in Beverly Hills, considered to be one of the most luxurious residential areas in the world, the atmosphere was extremely depressing. Several servants acted lightly, for fear of causing them to sit on the living room sofa The rage of the old man above.

The old man is none other than Sean Connery. Since he made a phone call, he seems to have become a beast who chooses people to eat.

$7.75 million!

A number that amazes and angers him!

Even Sean Connery has no doubt that when today's single-day box office is released, it will be a number that will make him furious, even if he did something last night!

"Brave to the Dead Island" was a big hit at the box office. At that time, he was deep in the mud and couldn't make a strong response, but now he can't watch the guy who once did something to him continue to succeed and offend him. , must pay the price, this is the most simple truth.

But, can professional film critics really stop "Independence Day"?

Sean Connery's eyebrows were furrowed. Although he didn't go to see "Independence Day," the news from Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox showed that after the midnight box office release, both companies had A high-level meeting was held that was said to raise the launch cost of Independence Day from $25 million to $35 million!

These film companies will never let go if they see no profit. Obviously, the market has given them great confidence.

Indeed, 93% of the audience's A-grade rating in the midnight show deserves it!

Even if Sean Connery can't wait to see "Independence Day" lose money completely, he has to admit that such audience word-of-mouth is terrifying. If there is another word-of-mouth box office conversion rate like "Brave to the Dead Island", this film The movie's final box office will definitely stop at a scary number.

If all the things he deduced come true, Duke Rosenberg will stand in the position of the first-class director in Hollywood, and will become the target of many companies in the future, and what will be used against him in the future for an outdated character like him? Take revenge for the deep hatred that has been insulted and destroyed!

"It's just a midnight box office! What if it makes $20 million on the first day? It's never uncommon for a movie to go high and go low! You won't make it!"

Sean Connery's gloomy voice showed his inner anger. He really didn't have any evidence, but these bad things that happened to him don't need evidence at all!

"You will never succeed!"

He picked up his phone and dialed Jack, the publicist. The news from the phone calmed Sean Connery a little, and according to Jack's words, he asked the servant to quickly deliver today's newspaper with freshly baked Critics, the three million dollars he threw out made a huge difference!

The servant hurried to the gatehouse of the manor to get the newspaper. Sean Connery's thoughts turned to the other side. It's not that he didn't ask for help from the CAA behind him, but CAA didn't pay much attention to him. CAA's big-name brokers all Busy vying for the position of outgoing Michael Ovitz, where is there too much energy to take care of other things?

What's more, in Hollywood, which is chasing successful people, he is already an out-of-date character.

The servant brought a large stack of newspapers and magazines, and Sean Connery turned to the entertainment section, his eyes showing a hint of joy.