Superman, New Employees and New Film

April 1978

San Fernando

California

Edward Newgate MC POV

A week has been passed after the release of the 'Tron'. It was a massive hit. A box office explosion!

Disney and Newgate Productions spent $5-6 million on marketing the film, making the total production cost of $26 million.

The game 'Tron' was also a massive success.

The arcade owners also ordered another 40,000 more arcade units.

With the marketing done for the film, the game also rubbed off its presence.

It further heightened the anticipation for the film.

Just like that, the film was also well received and also got rave reviews from the critics.

Uncle Robert and the Disney's executives also very happy to see such results.

It grossed a three-day weekend of $7.3 million. After a screening for a month, it also set a record of 18 days gross of $42.7 million.

It is estimated to gross over $120 million for sure based on the audience reception.

The production of the film 'Grease' has been completed and was set to be released for June.

The game 'Pac-Man' was also set be released for June too.

Uncle Robert has been working on getting the approval on rating system for the comics.

It was said to be done in June too. So many things are in motion for the June.

The Games 'Frogger', 'Doodle Jump', 'Load runner', 'Monster truck' copyrights have been settled.

The GALAXY Games now can start the preparation for these games.

The game 'Pac-Man' is the one getting more attention now. If the game performs well enough, the GALAXY games can have a good stand against competitors.

I for sure can say, it is the one that made sensation in the games industry by introducing the A.I. applications.

Because of the special effects produced in the film 'Tron', the IL&M is also gaining more attention.

IL&M was getting more and more orders. It was now considering to get more employees.

I want to see if there are any talents in the people applying for.

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After I reached to the IL&M company, they are already doing the interviews.

I too spent some time with my Uncle Robert, who was also screening the people.

Then a man, who was getting interviewed presented us with his idea of using the cables for flying sequences. By combining the system with wire work and other techniques.

He also presented his ideas and experiences. Then the interview was now a full-blown discussion between my people and him.

Then I looked into his profile, his name is Zoran Perisic. He was a Serbian-American, a Visual Effects Artist. Now he got a chance to work in the 'Superman' film by Warner Bros as a visual effect' artist.

His main team consists of Roy Field -Optical effects; Colin Chilvers -Onset Special effects and flying sequences and Les Bowie -Matte Paintings.

These people were selected for the 'Superman' film's special effects. He has come for the interview after learning that we were the one who has done special effects for 'Tron' and 'Star Wars'.

Uncle Roberts too looking at this man and asked if the people from the Warner Bros know about this.

Zoran replied that they knew. In fact, they wanted to collaborate with the IL&M team to produce the special effects sequences for 'Superman' film.

His team also said that special effects for the film will be costly. If the IL&M and them works together can reduce some cost and do the work smoothly.

In fact, he is a fan for the 'Star Wars' and 'Tron' special effects and also wanted to work with IL&M.

After the productive interviews, we selected his team along with others. A total of 15 more people was selected.

Uncle Robert asked me go to home with his driver and walked towards Zoran Perisic.

I understood that he wants to know more about the deal with the Warner Bros 'Superman'. Because Warner Bros has announced that they will spend $50 million on the 'Superman' production.

I then went to the car with the driver.

At home, I was still thinking about the 'Superman' film's special effects, to see if I can remember anything about it.

I only know that it was a massive hit and had sequels. The second part was also a hit but the third and fourth were a let-down.

The 'Supergirl' was also a box office bomb, it made the warner to cancel the fifth Superman film production.

I then spent my time reading the books, waiting for my Uncle Robert to come home.

Uncle Robert came home along with another man whom I felt like I have seen him before.

Then he took him to the living room and asked me to come and sit beside him.

Uncle asked him to explain the story. The that man started to tell the story.

He almost told the story verbally and in a suspenseful way, almost frame to frame.

When he was telling me the story, it made me recalled the film 'Halloween' and its series.

Because the characters and story are almost same, looking at him again reminded me of John Carpenter, the master of the horror genre.

After he finished the story, it made us remember that almost two hours because of him.

Uncle Robert looked at him and signalled me with eyes, enquiring about the story.

I smiled at him with my eyes saying this was good.

Then Uncle Robert asked him about the project plan and budget.

He replied that he didn't want to take any fees and that he has confidence in the project.

With that Uncle and him started to have a discussion and reached an initial agreement of assigning a budget of $1-1.2 million and six-week schedule.

After that the man smiled happily and greeted us, and left.

I was confused because Uncle has gone to Warner Bros for "superman' film and all, but now he returned with 'Halloween' film.

I looked at Uncle Robert and asked about that man who told us the story.

Uncle Robert looked at me and said "That man's name is John Carpenter. He has been trying to get my attention for his script 'Halloween'. I have read the script and wanted to talk to him about the production and all. But because of Warner Bros thing, I went to them and rescheduled his appointment to now. With you present and your sense for picking right scripts, I made him tell his story."

"That man was surely talented and the way he expressed his views is also good enough to give him a chance. I also wanted to double check with your opinion. Now it seems, that I also a have a knack for picking good scripts."

It seems what I thought was right. That man is John Carpenter, the master of horror.

Then I looked at him and asked "What happened to 'Superman' film then?"

Uncle Robert looked at me and said.

-----Uncle Robert's POV----

A few hours before…

When I heard that Warner Bros was interested in collaborating with the IL&M team for the special effects in the 'Superman' film, I was surprised because it was a true high budget film with a production cost of $50 million.

I know the inside details of Warner Bros that $50 million was for two films.

Now I was able to get to participate with them in such a high cost production.

Damn!!! My nephew really has an eye for business in the film industry. His decision to get involved in the Special Effects was now proven correct. With this business, I am sure we will have more contacts and connections with various insiders in the film industry.

Now with more talented people entering the company, the company will now be a step ahead of the curve.

With this thought, I and Zoran went to the Warner Bros executives and had a meeting with them.

It went with us IL&M providing the special effects for the two Superman films and also with their people monitoring the project.

While discussions are going, I know for sure it will take at least a week to get a satisfying result.

I also sent my people to get an understanding of the project. So, that I can be aware of any pits in the project.

With an initial discussion, the meeting has been postponed to next day.

----POV end----

"Warner Bros seems have some issues with the Superman Project. Don't worry, kid. I will know about all the details of this project in few days. Then I will decide or not to finalize the deal with them."

After saying this, Uncle Robert went to his room to freshen up and I to my room to complete todays Pakkins Land comic issue pages.

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A week has passed after meeting with John carpenter and Zoran Perisic.

Both of them have proven their strengths.

John Carpenter has started the production with the help of my Uncle and doing his job well enough.

They selected new actors from the Actors guild and also his childhood friend Tommy Lee Wallace as his production designer, art director, location scout and co-editor.

Wallace has also proven that this decision was right with his work.

With a budget of $1.2 million of which $700 thousand was set a limit for the production and remaining $500 thousand were allocated for the marketing expenses.

Uncle Robert was also pleased to know about their decisions through his assistant producers.

Because John Carpenter has decided to have only 10% rights for the film along with 5% North America box office.

The deal with the Warne Bros also has been concluded. With Uncle providing the special effects for two films for half the industry price and a stake of 10% box office.

Because of the high production cost, along with high quality special effects, the production team behind the 'Superman' films facing difficulties. They can't complete both films with in the budget.

Warner Bros Share holders are also thinking that it was affecting their normal operations.

Only because of Warner Bros parent company, Warner Communications, Founder Steve Ross; that they didn't stop the production.

Steve Ross also helped the deal to facilitate and the production to go smoothly.

With that, Warner and Uncle Robert has decided to complete the first film as soon as possible and continue the second one.

After the first film shooting done, the director and the Warner Bros team should spend time with the IL&M to complete the special effects. The first film was also decided to be on screen in December.

Because of the tight budget and schedule, the IL&M made progress in developing a new system.

The new system called Zoptic system was developed by IL&M new employees Zoran Perisic and his team.

First being 'Front Projection Refinement', which allows for the combination of live-action footage with pre-filmed backgrounds.

Second 'Synchronized Zoom Lenses', which helps in creating the illusion of depth and movement, making it appear as if the actor was moving towards or away from the camera, even if they were relatively stationary.

Third 'Illusion of Flight', which helps in combining the system with wire work and other techniques to create remarkably convincing shots of soaring through the sky.

Especially, the third one, that was discussed during the interview was created by using the first two.

They were able to develop this only because of the resources presented in the IL&M.

This further helped in the special effects involved in the 'Superman' film.

Warner Bros were also pleased with the development.

After a month of 'Tron' film release, it has grossed over $65 million which has made Disney's wish of producing a blockbuster live-action film.

I have also completed the second volume of Pakkins Land consisting of 108 pages, which are about 6 issues similarly to first volume.

With the first volume experience, the second volume was done quickly. Also because of me growing, the drawing was becoming easy.

The season two of Care Bears and My Little Pony were also completed.

I am pretty sure they will earn more money for us.

Just like this I pretty much passed the May month with drawing the Pakkins Land volume three and participating in the game production of GALAXY Games.

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