บท 57: Chapter-57: FC Picture's Meeting

Fresh off the set of his latest film, Ric wasted no time getting down to business. Within hours, he was seated in the meeting room of RC Pictures, eagerly participating in a discussion about the company's upcoming projects.

These meetings are held regularly every month. So he doesn't always attend them. He usually checks the annual report, gets the summary of the meeting from Amy over the phone, and if he wants the firm to do something, he either meets her at the office or over the phone. And for any important decision, either she calls or comes in person to meet him.

But he was a kid at the time, so something could be overlooked. But as he slowly grows older, he has to become more responsible. So, showing his face at the company from time to time is necessary for the business to run smoothly. Besides, this year is very important for the company.

This year is a big deal for RC Pictures, with a slate of highly anticipated films set to hit theaters. Ric's return to the big screen with "High School Musical" is just the beginning. The company is also gearing up for the release of their biggest-budget film yet, "Jurassic Park," as well as star-studded projects like "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Philadelphia," featuring none other than Tom Hanks. But that's not all—there are even more films already complete or in post-production, all set to be released this year.

While a few movies had already hit theaters in January and February, the upcoming months were crucial. The films set to be released were of better quality, had a higher budget, and had the potential for massive profits.

It's clear that RC Pictures has a lot on their plate, but they're more than up to the challenge. With such an incredible lineup of films, they're going to need to come up with some seriously impressive plans to make sure they're maximizing their profits.

The stakes were high, and the pressure was on. But the team at RC Pictures was determined to rise to the challenge and make this year their best yet. With their eyes fixed firmly on the prize, they set to work, ready to take the film industry by storm.

The meeting commenced with a discussion about the current films playing in theaters. The team analyzed their performance, sales, and audience reception, as well as their future prospects. As the conversation progressed, they shifted their focus to the upcoming releases for the month, analyzing their marketing and merchandise budgets, and strategizing for their premieres.

As a result of the discussion, several movies were deemed unfit for theatrical release and were instead directed towards home video distribution. The team made informed decisions based on the data presented and the overall goals of the company.

Sometime later, the meeting finally reached its crucial point. All eyes were on Ric as he posed the question that was on everyone's mind: "What's the situation in Jurassic Park?"

Amy Pascal, the president of FC Pictures, responded with enthusiasm. "Its proceeding went not just as planned but better. The pre-production phase was executed flawlessly, and the shooting went so smoothly that even Mr. Spielberg was surprised. Currently, it has entered the post-production phase."

But Ric wasn't done yet. "And what about Tom's work?" he asked, eager for more updates.

"The shooting for Sleepless in Seattle was completed last year, and it is now entering the final phase of post-production. As for the film Philadelphia, it is in its last stage of shooting," replied the production manager.

As the meeting progressed, the marketing and sales head made some bold suggestions. "After seeing some of the films that are set to release this month, I would say they need some budget cuts from marketing, like 10–15 percent, as they don't have very high profit potential. On the other hand, the marketing budget needs to be increased by 20% for Groundhog Day, which was released on February 2, as it is still going strong. The movie is expected to run this full month before it reaches its final potential."

Groundhog Day is a timeless classic film starring the talented Bill Murray. Despite being released during a less popular time of year, the film still managed to captivate audiences and eventually became a beloved classic. However, many in the future believed that, with a bit more attention, the film could have been even more successful.

To ensure that the film received the attention it deserved, in this timeline, Ric himself took on the task of writing the script, resulting in a more polished and refined final product. This caught the attention of the production team, who were eager to see the film succeed.

Groundhog Day was given a wide release in North America on February 12, 1993, across 1,680 theaters with a budget of $23 million. The film earned an impressive $18.5 million, averaging $8,232 per theater. The film's release was strategically timed to coincide with the President's Day holiday, resulting in a four-day weekend that boosted its weekend total to $16.6 million and increased the theater average to $9,133. This made it the second-biggest opening for a winter release, behind Wayne's World, which was released the year before and earned $18 million.

The film finished as the number one film of the weekend, surpassing romantic drama Sommersby ($9.9 million) and adventure comedy Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey ($8.1 million), both in their second week of release. Screenings of the film were approximately 80% sold out, and 65% of audiences polled said they would definitely recommend it.

By the time March arrived, the film had already earned over $40 million and was still counting, with a healthy decline. In just a few short weeks, it would be released worldwide and would remain in theaters until April before being shelved.

As the film continued its run, it was projected to gross over $90 million in North America alone and an additional $50 million worldwide, bringing its grand total to an impressive $140 million. This would make it one of the highest grossing films of 1993.

"Get it done," Ric replied confidently, after thoroughly reviewing the report and proposal presented by the marketing head. He then turned to the head of Marvel and inquired, "Do we have any plans for this year?"

The response was disappointing. "No, sir, besides The Punisher sequel, we don't have any other franchises in the works. However, we do plan on releasing films for Daredevil and Blade next year, as per your instructions."

Ric pondered for a moment before responding, "Well, let's stick to the plan. Regardless of the success or failure of subsequent films, Marvel will stay the course without deviation."

The head of Marvel nodded in agreement, and Ric scanned the room, asking if anyone had anything else to add.

One person piped up, "Sir, regarding the announcement of the Toy Story sequel..."

But before they could finish their sentence, Ric cut them off. "Let's not talk about the sequel right now," he said dismissively. "Yes, it's a new market and has good potential, but the technology is still in its infancy. It will take time before a new film of this caliber can be produced. Besides, not many people understand it yet, and these types of films have major flaws that need to be handled with great care to make them good."

Despite the skepticism on some people's faces, Ric continued, "Still can't understand? Don't worry; just look at other studios in the future when they release their own 3D animation movie. Then you will understand what the major issue is."

But Amy wasn't convinced. "Sir, it's imperative to announce a sequel, whether we film it or not, to boost the profit of the film even more," she argued.

"By all means, proceed. However, it's important to note that the actual filing process will require some time," Ric stated before turning to the head of the Pixar animation studio. "Isn't it right?"

"Without a doubt, sir. You've articulated precisely what I was thinking," the studio head responded with a confident nod.

Ric nodded again. "Great news. Go ahead with it," he said. "Is there anything else?" Seeing no response, he stated, "Then let's end the meeting here. For the finer details, please discuss it among yourselves."

As he stood up and left the room at a brisk pace, Ric couldn't help but think about all the other places he had to be. After all, time is money.

After bidding farewell to all the members in the meeting room, Ric settled into his car and instructed David to head towards FNGA's office. As they began their journey, Sofie, who had taken a seat in the front, suddenly spoke up.

"Ric, Ari called," she said.

Ric raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Did he?" he asked. "Is he on the line?"

Sofie nodded and handed over the phone to Ric. "Hey Ari, what's up?" he greeted.

"Hey Ric, are you busy in the near future?" Ari asked.

Ric shook his head. "No, why do you ask?"

"I've got a script that I think you'll love," Ari replied.