Kapitel 470: Chapter 471: Documentary
[Chapter 471: Documentary]
Perhaps to drive away the fear caused by the Los Angeles riots, when the crime action film Lethal Weapon 3 premiered on May 15, audiences flocked to theaters. The third installment of Warner Bros.' classic series earned over $40 million in its opening weekend, setting a positive tone for the summer box office of 1992. This eased the concerns of several Hollywood studios that feared the riots would negatively impact summer ticket sales.
On May 22, yet another classic series released its third installment, but Alien 3 did not enjoy the same fortune. Its opening weekend grossed just over $20 million, barely half of Lethal Weapon 3's earnings, despite this sequel's budget being one and a half times that of Lethal Weapon 3.
Although Eric Williams had some recollection, he still made time to see Alien 3 in the theater. Like the previous two films, it had a famous director, David Fincher. Transitioning from music videos to feature films, David seemed to transform into a vastly different person, and despite it being his first film, Alien 3 showcased his characteristic dark thriller style.
The $20 million opening was far below Fox's expectations, and given the film's reception, it seemed very likely that it would struggle to even recoup its costs at the North American box office. If there were no external disruptions, David Fincher would surely need to return to music videos to earn a living for a few more years. Only a week after the film's release, Eric heard that Fox had terminated David Fincher's contract, and a high-level executive who had recommended Fincher for the directing role was also let go.
While Eric was intrigued by David Fincher, he didn't rush to make contact. After all, no studio would be looking to hire a rookie director who had just mismanaged a well-known franchise.
Originally, Disney had planned to release Sister Act in the last week of May. However, after Eric's advice to avoid clashing with major releases in June, Disney rescheduled the film for July 10.
Starting from late May, Eric began the final promotional push for Twister with the film's production team. Although Eric's films didn't follow a fixed style, the consistent high quality had cultivated a substantial fanbase. Coupled with the film being released after a two-year hiatus and the visual impact of a trailer aired during the Super Bowl, anticipation for Twister was high among fans.
By the end of May, following several advance screenings, reviews for Twister began appearing in the media. While many critics dismissed it as a formulaic popcorn flick devoid of substance, the film's stunning and realistic CGI effects were undeniably impressive. With the help of Firefly's public relations, Twister garnered a very positive reception.
...
With everything in place, May finally came to an end, and the tumult of the Los Angeles riots seemed to dissipate. Both newspapers and television media rarely mentioned this shocking global event anymore, as it was undeniably an embarrassing situation, both domestically and internationally.
However, forgetting an event that had occurred was never an easy task. In fact, some individuals sought to deepen the understanding of these issues, hoping for some reflective conclusions.
For instance, sitting in Eric's office was a woman who embodied that mission.
She was tall, with a straight back, and her beautiful face exuded a certain confidence. Dressed in a fitted black jacket and dark blue jeans, her hard-soled boots suggested she was always impeccably put together.
"This was a heartbreaking upheaval. If we had paid a little more attention to many aspects before it happened, this tragedy could have been avoided. However, it seems that no one is willing to reflect on the roots of this tragedy, which is why I want to turn this matter into a documentary. All the materials are right here," Kathryn Bigelow stated, pushing a thick folder across the desk to Eric. Retracting her hand, she hesitated slightly before adding, "This documentary will not interfere with the production of Saving Private Ryan. I can complete it by the end of the year, and all I need is a budget of just... $5 million."
Eric nodded, opening the folder and digging into the thick stack of printed materials.
Unable to see Eric's expression as he looked down, Kathryn shifted her attention to his hand flipping through the pages. He turned the pages neither too fast nor too slow, and after a moment of silence, Kathryn couldn't hold back any longer: "You wouldn't happen to already know, would you?"
Eric glanced up at her, closed the project materials in front of him, and opened a nearby file cabinet, soon pulling out two similar folders.
For some reason, seeing those made Kathryn feel a surge of guilt, and she was oddly tempted to lower her gaze to avoid Eric's eyes.
"This one is from a week ago when I got it from Warner Bros. President Robert Daly, and this one is from Fox. It's quite disheartening, Kathryn; I can't believe I'm your last choice. I always thought we were good friends," he remarked, deliberately expressing a faux look of sorrow upon noticing the slight changes in her expression.
"It's not like that. I initially contacted Warner and Fox because they had ample news material available," Kathryn quickly explained, though she soon noticed the hint of a mischievous smile on Eric's face and realized he was teasing her again. Immediately, she schooled her expression and replied, "Eric, you're doing it again, you..."
Before she could awkwardly find an appropriate reprimand, Eric raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, Kathryn. No more jokes. Let's discuss the documentary."
Kathryn hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit helpless, but then put on an invitation-to-speak expression. "Okay."
As Eric adjusted his grip on the papers in front of him, he spoke more seriously, "Although some media blame the recent high unemployment rates or the large immigrant population in Los Angeles, we all know the root of the Los Angeles riots lies in deep-seated racial tensions. This issue is so delicate that even the President hesitated to address it directly in his televised speech. So, how do you plan to tackle it?"
"I'm not planning to express any opinions. I just want to tell the story from the perspective of a complete observer," Kathryn replied, recalling the initial spark of this idea, which stemmed from something Eric had once said about her films. The thought made her glance up at the young man across from her, but she quickly averted her gaze again.
Eric didn't seem to catch this detail and continued, "Now is not the right time. With the presidential election on the horizon, neither side wants to overly address this issue. Everyone is trying to downplay it."
"Eric, I'm not a politician," Kathryn stated earnestly.
Eric met her unwavering gaze, sighed inwardly, and replied, "Kathryn, you should know that there are always people who are eager to ascribe the most malevolent motives to certain events."
Kathryn shook her head, "I don't care."
"Okay, then go for it," Eric said, stuffing the documents back into the folder. "I'll help you reach out to Fox News to grant you access to the news footage they've accumulated recently. If that's not enough, I can try to arrange something from my end."
"Thank you, Eric," Kathryn said, feeling touched. This month had mostly involved her preparing materials while trying to engage with Warner and Fox, but she had constantly hit walls. Both studios were indifferent to her documentary plans. Warner was cautious about the aftermath, and since they were the first to release incomplete footage of the incident, they faced immense pressure and desperately wanted people to forget. Meanwhile, Fox failed to see the financial prospects of the documentary. Though $5 million wasn't a large sum, they weren't about to throw money away.
Eric sorted the materials with a grin, "So just a verbal thank you? I thought you might at least treat me to dinner. It's almost quitting time."
Kathryn thought for a moment before nodding, "Well... okay."
Eric placed the materials back in the cabinet and, on a whim, pulled out two movie tickets. "As a return favor, how about you join me for a screening of Twister after dinner?"
"Oh, that's not necessary," Kathryn said, surprised and grasping for an excuse. "I don't like coming home too late."
"I know that. I won't keep you from resting. I can drive you home," Eric offered.
"I have a car; I can get back myself," Kathryn insisted, her tone bordering on panic.
Eric glanced at his watch. "Alright. Where would you like to eat? I'll leave it to your preference."
Kathryn stood up with Eric and suggested, "A friend recommended a nearby Italian restaurant. We can go there."
...
Together, they left the Firefly headquarters and arrived at a charmingly decorated Italian restaurant. However, despite Eric noticing that the number of diners was sparse, it took a long while for their meals to arrive after ordering.
As he looked at the small plate of risotto and a somewhat underwhelming serving of spaghetti with tomato sauce, Eric couldn't help but comment, "Kathryn, I have to question your friend's motives for recommending this place."
Kathryn felt a tinge of embarrassment too, recalling that last year in New York, she had specifically brought Eric here because he liked Italian food. Now she felt somewhat deceived.
"Maybe we just didn't order correctly? Isn't it said that many Italian restaurants have signature dishes while everything else is rather mundane? Would you want to order something else?"
Eric scanned the surroundings. During the evening rush, if the food here was truly delicious, the place should've been bustling, yet they were barely half-filled.
"Why don't we just skip it?" Eric shrugged, seeing Kathryn's discomfort. He expertly twirled some spaghetti with his fork and took a bite, "It's decent enough; I could easily eat a second helping."
"Then let's order another round," Kathryn said, waving down a rather awkwardly dressed waiter in a formal black suit and making the request, adding, "I haven't been here myself before. Next time, I'll take you to a restaurant I'm more familiar with."
"Of course, that's fine. Just don't forget; I have a great memory," Eric replied with a smile.
"I won't forget," Kathryn remarked.
Perhaps the awkward dinner distracted them from certain thoughts, as the two slowly found themselves chatting comfortably. Over the past year, Kathryn had led a team to compile data related to World War II, regularly submitting her findings to Eric. However, they had mostly avoided each other; she had deliberately kept her distance.
Eric attributed their limited interaction to her inscrutable nature. He sensed that Kathryn didn't harbor any aversion toward him, but perhaps the age difference contributed to some emotional distance.
....
After dinner, Eric drove Kathryn to a theater located on Hollywood Boulevard. Their tickets were for the 8 p.m. showing, and upon their arrival, it was already a quarter past eight. They hastily purchased some popcorn and headed inside.
Although Twister was still a few days away from its official release, the confidence in its quality led to advance screenings beginning a week prior to the public release. For a film that might be lackluster, this could result in a buzz-killing early reception. However, for a good movie, limited screenings could build excitement among the audience. Twister, while lacking depth or substance, was regarded as a prime example of a quality popcorn flick.
"The official release is June 5," Eric casually announced as they found their seats. "So far, Twister has grossed over $2 million in just three days across fewer than fifty theaters."
*****
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