章節 97: Chapter 97: The Rocketeer
While Jack Brady went to negotiate with Orion's creditors, Arthur directly focused his attention on his movie, Scream.
Arthur did not worry too much about Orion's current situation because, after chatting with Michael Ovitz, the chairman of CAA, several investment funds and banks were willing to provide Arthur with loans.
The success of Sleepless in Seattle, American Pie, and Sleeping with the Enemy was the confidence Arthur had to secure loans!
Los Angeles, Hollywood, at the Griffith Park set where Disney's movie The Rocketeer was being filmed, Jennifer Connelly finished a day's shooting and was ready to leave.
"Jennifer, it's Christmas Eve tonight, let's enjoy a Christmas feast together?" The Rocketeer lead actor Billy Campbell walked over and extended an invitation.
Jennifer Connelly shook her head, "Sorry, Billy, my friend is coming to pick me up!"
Just after she spoke, she saw Arthur walking towards her, waving.
"Arthur, you're here," she hurried over to his side, hugging him and giving him a kiss.
"Yes, I came from the company. You're shooting at the Griffith Observatory now, right?" Arthur looked around. Indeed, they were near the Griffith Park Observatory!
"Yes, the shooting for The Rocketeer was supposed to be finished, but Disney seems to have added a lot to the budget, extending the shoot at least until the end of January next year."
Originally, The Rocketeer had a production budget of $25 million, overseen by one of Disney's leaders, Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Due to the success of another low-budget project Katzenberg oversaw, Pretty Woman, he directly increased the budget for The Rocketeer to $40 million!
31-year-old actor Billy Campbell, seeing Jennifer Connelly flirting with Arthur, awkwardly left.
"Has that guy been bothering you?" Arthur asked, pointing to Billy Campbell's departing figure as he put his arm around Jennifer Connelly.
Jennifer Connelly smiled, "He's been trying to ask me out for a while now, and just now he asked me to dinner."
Arthur shook his head, "Johnny Depp was the first choice for the lead role in The Rocketeer. That guy is a nobody who got the part because the previous candidates weren't interested in playing a comic book superhero.
Dave Stevens only created The Rocketeer comic a few years ago. It's not like Batman or Superman, which are hugely popular. Timothy Dalton, the movie's main villain, is probably the biggest star."
Well, Timothy Dalton was the fourth James Bond. He played Bond in The Living Daylights in 1987 and last year's License to Kill.
"Alright, let's go," Jennifer Connelly grabbed Arthur's arm, "How about we go to my place? I'll make you something delicious."
"Sure," Arthur had no objections.
In the car, "Arthur!" Jennifer Connelly immediately leaned in and kissed him.
Arthur responded for a while, then gently patted Jennifer Connelly, smiling, "Can't wait, huh? Let's go home first."
"Mmm," Jennifer Connelly nodded and buckled her seatbelt, "Disney seems to be paying a lot of attention to The Rocketeer, the budget increased significantly. A few days ago, just as I returned to Los Angeles with the crew, both Disney Chairman Michael Eisner and COO Jeffrey Katzenberg visited the set!"
Arthur was puzzled, "Did you say Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg visited together?"
"Not together," Jennifer Connelly shook her head, "They came separately, three days apart."
"Oh, that makes sense. Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg don't get along well now," Arthur laughed.
Michael Eisner, the chairman of Disney, was unquestionably the top leader in the group, and President Frank Wells was the second-in-command, making Jeffrey Katzenberg at most third-in-command.
However, Jeffrey Katzenberg had overseen Disney Animation, producing a string of hits like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and The Little Mermaid over the past few years.
Michael Eisner, who had a strong desire for power, was always worried that Jeffrey Katzenberg might threaten his reign. Unlike the good-natured Frank Wells, Katzenberg had both the capability and intent to replace him.
After all, Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg both worked as assistants to Barry Diller at Paramount and had known each other for many years!
Especially last year, Michael Eisner led the star-studded movie The Bonfire of the Vanities with a $47 million budget, resulting in $100 million in North America and a similar amount worldwide.
Yet, Jeffrey Katzenberg's Pretty Woman faced obstacles, with the original lead actor getting injured, but its total costs were under $20 million, bringing in $100 million in North America and over $400 million globally. Such a comparison was undeniably damaging!
"It's no wonder they visited the set at different times," Jennifer Connelly realized, "Arthur, you really know a lot."
Arthur smiled and placed his hand on Jennifer Connelly's thigh, "Now, Michael Eisner is trying in every way to undermine Jeffrey Katzenberg to protect his position. Jeffrey Katzenberg isn't an easy person to deal with.
Without the President Frank Wells mediating their conflicts, Disney wouldn't have developed so well in recent years.
Jeffrey Katzenberg is behind The Rocketeer too. Considering how successful his Pretty Woman was this year, no one would oppose increasing the budget for The Rocketeer."
The greater the profits Katzenberg created, the more pressure Eisner felt. Disney's rapid growth in recent years couldn't be separated from the contributions of both Eisner and Katzenberg.
"The Rocketeer is set to release in the summer. Hopefully, the final product is good. Last year, the film I was in, Career Opportunities, flopped, and I have no confidence in the upcoming The Hot Spot," Jennifer Connelly sighed as she spoke.
Arthur pursed his lips, "Before The Rocketeer releases, don't take any new role. Either take some time for yourself or join a short-term acting workshop."
There's no way around it; Jennifer Connelly's acting was too immature. For now, she could only play trophy roles.
*****
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