Capítulo 429: before time
Arnon Milchan was juggling many projects, but among the most critical was convincing Al Pacino to come on board and allow the collaboration of two prominent actors. One of them was Johnny Depp, and the other was the man he was visiting. They had sent the script to Pacino's agent, along with a modest monetary gift of a few thousand dollars, possibly some favors, which seemed to touch the agent's heart. It didn't take long for this to have an effect—the agent recommended the script over the others that were being considered.
But this was Hollywood.
A juicy paycheck and a meeting were key steps, and if they could get the famous actor, securing a stable cast would be much easier. The filming locations, mostly in New York, Chicago, and Miami, were nearly complete and readily available from the production companies. For this reason, Arnon Milchan hadn't had time to sit down and talk. He had recently met a young writer who claimed to have a great script, which Arnon ignored, unaware that Billy was in the lobby for the script and that the author, Charles Michael "Chuck" Palahniuk, was losing confidence after facing numerous rejections. The companies had offered a maximum of $10,000, but then set his work aside, leaving him with restrained frustration that soon turned into disappointment and a touch of fury toward the industry.
Arnon Milchan arrived at Al Pacino's house, parked his car on the curb, and waited at the door for 10 minutes until Pacino came down, his black hair tousled and a cigarette in hand. He invited Arnon inside, dressed casually in an open pink shirt. Arnon remained calm—his main strategy was to let people ask their questions.
-The script has a touch of a movie I just worked on, Casino, - commented Pacino.
Arnon smiled, knowing that Pacino's agent understood his way of thinking perfectly.
-I can't deny there are similarities, but there's a key difference. In this, you're not the sharp, quick-witted guy you were before. Instead, you're more the shoot-first-ask-questions-later type. But age has dulled that edge, changed that impulsive nature. This time, we explore the bond between two people—a seasoned mentor and someone who sees you as their master. I'd say you're playing a washed-up gangster, with a lot on his mind.- Arnon took a sip of water. - What's fascinating here is the human side, the sensitive, vulnerable elements. It's not just about bullets and betrayals; this mafia follows a code, and moral dilemmas come into play. -
The conversation covered many points, especially around the character's role. Arnon, having spent time studying the script, provided several well-founded opinions, particularly his favorite—about the fate of men who end up dying. He shared a real-life case study with Pacino, detailing the guilt and other complex emotions that are hard to grasp when life hangs in the balance.
-Who will be my co-stars? - asked the veteran actor.
-We have a few options, but Johnny Depp is a strong favorite. He has an excellent perspective on how to portray his role. You could meet with him, or whoever is chosen—we can work around your schedule. - Arnon replied.
-Thanks for the insight. You've given me a lot to think about. I'll talk to Hall and carefully consider how to approach this role.- - Pacino commented, closing the deal.
-I'll travel soon, but feel free to discuss details with Danny DeVito or Mark Johnson. We're working together on this through Lux Films, Baltimore Pictures, and Mark Johnson Productions. - Arnon concluded with a handshake, securing a crucial point for moving the project forward.
***
Billy was organizing everything, but his involvement in Gattaca was still pending—his participation in a few scenes was just a matter of necessity. The most important thing now was balancing all the matters concerning his companies, which demanded his attention.
For instance, he held a 78% stake in Apple, and his businesses were moving at a breakneck pace. The cash flow from Warner couldn't have come at a better time—a tough blow for the board and two co-presidents who were now under his financial control, forced to follow orders. Being a CEO requires a deeper vision than merely managing meetings and sticking to a set schedule.
Steve Jobs secured his share in the company, and they made significant production cuts, slashing at least 45 products. Now, the company was left with just six: headphones, computers, Macintosh, laptops, recorders, and walkie-talkies. To Steve, it seemed like a complete waste of time when it came to product decisions.
-I've made the necessary adjustments, and we need to let go of this number of employees. - Gil Amelio remarked, surprising the room. The reduction of 500 employees wasn't expected initially, but under Billy's proposal, it became easier to offer employees the choice to either take a six-month salary cut or receive a generous severance package.
Some opted for transfers to Billy's other companies, like the one responsible for web development. The Lux Animation project was still up in the air, along with the development of Messenger—a private chat service that required more staff. Other gaming companies under Billy's umbrella, such as Blizzard, also needed more people for administrative tasks and site maintenance.
-The next item on the agenda is the decision to cut either the recorders or the walkie-talkies. - commented Gil Amelio.
The board voted as expected, eliminating some obsolete models. The next step was to present the motion to the general shareholders' meeting, leading to the company's delisting from the stock market.
-Billy's proposals are as follows... - Anne began, standing in for Billy. - Let's improve the processors, and build computers that can handle faster information processing—graphic rendering, computation, and memory. We need to implement USB to replace diskettes. The company is already beginning to take different approaches, and the Universal Serial Bus is likely the most important technology in the coming years. If we can adjust our computers year by year to meet these demands, that would be fantastic. -
-That's quite a challenge.- muttered the head of the technology department.
-He wants it by next year, and that's why you get paid. - Anne growled. Her fierce personality fascinated Steve for two reasons—it was exactly what was needed, someone who could push.
-Better processors, chips... for what purpose? - Steve Jobs inquired, as part of a pre-arranged conversation.
-Development of web applications, and Mac-specific applications.- Anne replied, seeing hesitation. - We'll handle that. Just make sure you build a powerful system. One more thing: the computer screen has to change. It's cumbersome to work with the current design. I want it to look like this. -
She handed over a series of sketches—a large screen, a mock-up of an iBook, portable computers, and miniatures, with ideas on battery life, design, and functionality.
-These are some designs we'd like to consider. We want a sleek, flat, and regular shape—something different from the typical boxy design.- Anne remarked.
Demand after demand, Coll Bernard had a headache and was unable to explain the technicalities to them. They just wanted results. Anne, however, was content with half measures, leaving the rest to the experts. Steve's eyes gleamed—he couldn't be the bad guy... not yet!
...
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
rollo1019to
rollo1019to Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Capítulo 430: video.
The numerous titles were, at first glance, unsatisfactory for the video game company. Nintendo 64's sales were simply remarkable, far surpassing its competitors, but the idea of the Game Boy wasn't breaking the general rules anymore, and after six years of sales, it was starting to flounder. The budget for the game was set for July 21st, simplifying the problems, and the failure could be boiled down to two simple reasons: better games were needed.
Game Boy Pocket required exceptional games, and while they did arrive, it came at the risk of something Nintendo hadn't anticipated. Partnering with Sega was a proposal they never wanted. Sega had been a fierce rival… one that had suffered significant setbacks since the start of the decade.
-Sharing games?- Hiroshi Yamauchi scoffed. - That's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard from Sega as a value proposition. They must be desperate after the Sega Saturn fiasco.-
Video game history often sounds logical in hindsight, but Sega had already failed with the Sega CD due to its high price, and secondly, the simultaneous promotion of two products—the Sega 32X, an add-on that boosts 32-bit capabilities, alongside the promotion of the Sega Saturn—was out of bounds. They couldn't sell anything effectively amid competition with Sony, which dominated large markets like Europe and the United States, bolstered by the arrival of ID Software. This company had shaken Nintendo by imposing restrictions on games, prompting partnerships with Sony, who only aimed to sell CDs to promote DVDs and the use of this new technology.
-It might be an interesting idea. The American market has been consumed by ID Software, which, according to sources, has partnered with Microsoft to create its gaming console, along with Silicon Graphics and Dell. They're working on what's being called the next big competition,- remarked Minoru Arakawa, President of Nintendo of America.
-Are they really that strong?- Minoru asked, having preconceived notions about the video game development company. - I believe they're using 64-bit technology to its full potential, making their games visually stunning.-
Howard Lincoln, Vice President of Nintendo America and a steadfast advocate of the company's legal and commercial interests, observed.
-They're brilliant and have many innovative ideas, but their primary strength is creativity. In recent months, the company has grown intelligently. ID Software is just a minor branch of Lux Animation, a successful film production company that has made waves this past year,- explained Howard.
-What sets them apart?- asked the Nintendo director.
-Their creativity in launching games. They have a library of 30 games that, in my opinion, qualify as triple-A or double-A games according to our conventions. They've developed their engine, courtesy of Autodesk, one of the largest animation development systems in the world,- Howard noted.
Their catalog includes critically acclaimed games like two Doom titles, three Wolfenstein games, two Quake games, two Pokémon games, two Fate series games, Baldur's Gate, Tomb Raider, two Crash Bandicoot games, Lux Party, Forza Horizon, and their series in partnership with Capcom.
Games developed by Raven Software, Parallax Software, and Blizzard form a powerful collection of titles with intricate details that have shaken the video game industry.
-We'll make the necessary adjustments,- Hiroshi concluded, storing his thoughts but already gaining valuable insights into the reactions of these companies.
***
Billy was controlling his breathing as he worked out at the gym—two hours a day, every day, without rest, with an intensity he thought was right to improve his still-developing physique. He wasn't a natural athlete.
Monica, not far away, watched him with her large eyes as she ran on the treadmill. For her, it was good, but the exercise routines were intense. The beauty of Beverly Hills was its privacy. Even the gym was a well-kept secret, owned by a retired actor who decided to make a living from such ventures. It was often full, with instructors of all kinds available if needed.
-Three more reps,- urged the trainer nearby, a man with a somewhat stocky build, not exactly resembling an athlete. But he was reputed to be the best, according to the gym's director, and while sports science hadn't evolved as much as it would by 2030, it was still considerably different from what Billy expected.
Billy groaned, his face flushed. Monica noticed the glances of a few women and merely smiled. They were all within their rights to use their charm… the risk of dating someone so successful. One of them was even a colleague, Shalom Harlow, a woman with lovely green eyes and a stunning figure that could easily turn heads.
Billy completed more exercises and then took a spot next to Monica on the treadmill. She was drenched in sweat after hours of running, followed by an hour of ab workouts.
-This weekend we're going to San Jose. I need to meet with some people,- Billy said, aware that many deadlines for productions were fast approaching. The season for promotional campaigns, particularly for the musician and Star Wars, was already in full swing. Although mostly just interviews and minor details for the musician, Star Wars involved a full-scale campaign across multiple levels—from America, London, Paris, Lyon, Manchester, to Japan. It was simply exhausting for participants and producers, who were just starting to mobilize. Billy hoped that delivering a deep, focused story would improve the audience's reception.
-Sure, we can go. I'm free until March 15th, and then again until March 24th when the gala ceremonies happen. But during that time, we'll be filming Liar, Liar, - Monica panted, still catching her breath.
…
-You're seriously annoying, - Monica teased as Billy leaned in to smell her sweat.
-You're beautiful, darling, - Billy replied as they headed toward the exit, ready for a long shower.
She seemed slightly annoyed, but a few glances were directed their way, and she couldn't help but feel proud inside. It was almost as fabulous as the silent rejection of those looks.
-Jim Waiit is waiting for us at home, and he's got something to discuss with you. It's about the next step in your career, - Billy whispered.
-A new movie? - Monica asked, surprised by what she'd just heard. It was incredible how fast things moved in this country—people were making films left and right. If she was lucky, she'd land a role in one or two.
-It is, but we have to be careful about which role you want to take,- Billy cautioned. - All of them are potential game-changers for your career.-
...
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES
rollo1019to
rollo1019to
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Estado de energía semanal
200+ Ranking de
Poder 
30 Piedra de
Poder 
Comentario de párrafo