Chapter-63: James Cameron

Pariz Kalman, a dedicated employee of FC Pictures, eagerly waited outside the screen room for the movie-goers to exit. As soon as he heard the sound of people shouting and clapping, he knew that the film had been a hit. For Pariz, a successful movie meant a good bonus, and he was thrilled to see the audience's positive reaction.

With renewed enthusiasm, Pariz approached the first family he saw, a group of four who had just watched the movie. He could tell from their expressions that they had thoroughly enjoyed the film. "Excuse me, could I take a bit of your time?" he asked, holding out a questionnaire. The man nodded, and Pariz handed him the pages.

As the family filled out the questionnaire, Pariz asked the children what they thought of the movie. The boy was hyperactive with excitement, exclaiming, "Ya! It was awesome. The dinosaurs were so cool that I asked my dad to buy one for me!" The shy girl was a bit scared but still thought it was a great movie. The woman agreed that the second part of the film was scary but loved seeing the prehistoric creatures come to life. The man was equally impressed and handed back the questionnaire, saying he would watch it again and recommend others watch it.

Pariz thanked the family and moved on to the next group, eager to hear their thoughts on the movie. He was not alone; other FC Pictures employees were also going from group to group, asking about the film and handing out questionnaires. The excitement was palpable, and Pariz couldn't wait to see the final results. It was clear that this movie was going to be a hit, and he was proud to be a part of the team that made it happen.

Meanwhile, within the confines of the room, the VIPs were gracefully escorted to a separate area of the theater hall. A delightful spread of refreshments awaited them, allowing them to relax and unwind while the bustling crowd outside gradually dissipated, ensuring a hassle-free departure.

Amidst the crowd, Ric gracefully navigated his way around, engaging in conversations with those he held dear. Unlike his gregarious counterpart, Drew, Ric was more reserved, preferring to prioritize those closest to him and their social circle. However, he was not one to shy away from those who piqued his interest.

As most of the attendees fell within his comfort zone, Ric was actively socializing, and it was during one of these interactions that he found himself face-to-face with the legendary director, James Cameron.

Ric and Cameron are both industry legends, but this is their first face-to-face meeting. Although FC Pictures has worked with Cameron on numerous occasions, their most recent collaboration was on Terminator 2 back in 1991.

As they shake hands, Ric greets Cameron with enthusiasm. "Hello, Mr. Cameron! It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Cameron returns the sentiment, taking Ric's hand in a firm handshake. "Ah, Richard Jackson. I've been looking forward to this."

Ric humbly thanks him and compliments his work on Terminator 2. "And if I'm not mistaken, we have a film ready to be released this year," he adds.

Cameron confirms that The Last Action Hero is set to premiere on June 28 and invites Ric to attend. "Of course, I'll make sure to keep my schedule open," Ric replies with a smile.

James chimes in, noting that Ric is one of the busiest people in the industry. "Not all of us run multi-billion-dollar companies," Ric quips.

Cameron laughs at the response, then turns to Ric with a serious expression. "Man, we should do a film together."

Ric was taken aback but thrilled at the prospect of working with the master filmmaker.

"Sure, Mr. Cameron," Ric replied, but then he couldn't resist adding with a sly grin, "I will get in a lead role, right?"

The two men chuckled heartily, their laughter echoing through the room. "Dam! You've got a sense of humor, Ric. Can I call you Ric?" James asked, still grinning from ear to ear.

"Sure thing, Mr. Cameron. After all, we'll be working together in the future," Ric replied his smile still firmly in place.

"Call me James," he said, pointing at himself. "Speaking of working together, you own Marvel, right?"

"Hmm-mm. With all the IPs," Ric nodded.

"Excellent!" James exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "There's an opportunity for us to collaborate. I've always wanted to direct Spider-Man," he said, pausing for effect.

Ric waited patiently for James to finish his thought, and sure enough, he continued, "Let's make a Spider-Man trilogy with you as the Spider-Man."

Ric didn't say anything, choosing to let James' proposal hang in the air for a moment. "Let's not talk about that right now," he deflected smoothly. "Don't you have a film scheduled for next year? Why don't you clear your schedule, and we'll take care of that in the future?"

James nodded, understanding Ric's point. "Hmm, right. Sorry, I just got carried away. But you're right; let's talk about that in the future."

"To future cooperation," Ric proposed, raising his glass in a toast.

"To future cooperation," James confirmed, clinking his glass against Ric's.

As James made his exit, Ric couldn't resist asking him to keep any female teenager roles open in his next film. James agreed but couldn't help but wonder how Ric knew about the role.

Ric's smile widened as he pondered the proposal, seeing James Cameron mingle with others. However, he couldn't help but feel hesitant about bringing such a massive Marvel IP to the forefront so soon. Ric was well aware of Cameron's love for Spider-Man, having written the original script for Sony's Spider-Man trilogy, which was heavily edited by the studio.

Despite his previous success, Ric had his sights set on a grander future. He was determined to climb to the top of the Hollywood food chain and become the king of the industry. As part of his plan, he had his heart set on playing the iconic role of Jack in Titanic. However, taking on the role of Spider-Man could potentially complicate matters.

In Hollywood, superhero films can make or break an actor's career. While some have seen positive effects, most have suffered negative consequences. Ric knew that a person's future in the industry depended on his popularity with the audience. Without viewers, there was no value for even the most talented of actors.

Despite the potential risks, Ric couldn't deny the allure of playing Peter Parker. It's not like paying Jack is safe. The enormous success might bring popularity but for his face rather than his acting. This would harm his reputation at the Academy Awards, like what happened to Leonardo di Caprio in his previous life.

Perhaps taking on the role of Peter Parker would bring balance to the unstable foundation that will be laid for his acting career when he plays Jack. Only time would tell if he was ready to take on the challenge and become the next Spider-Man.

Getting out of the theater, Ric went straight to the FC Pictures branch in New York. While at it, he sent Drew to his penthouse in New York.

The pressure in the meeting room of FC Pictures was noticeable as a group of executives, including Ric and Amy, waited with bated breath for the final verdict on their latest film. The premiere had already given them a glimpse of what was to come, but this was the moment of truth. The initial reaction had been positive, but they needed to know if it was enough to secure a wide release.

Suddenly, the door of the room burst open, and a man rushed in, clutching a stack of papers. The results were in. Amy wasted no time in urging the man to reveal the outcome.

With a deep breath, the man began to speak. "A total of 300 questionnaires were given to the audience. And we received all of them," he said, his voice trembling with anticipation. "95% of people said the film was excellent; 3 percent said it was very good, and the rest said it was good."

The room erupted in cheers and applause, but the man wasn't finished yet. "When asked if they would see it again, 90% said yes," he continued. "And when asked if they would recommend others watch it, 98% said yes."

The tension in the room dissipated as the executives let out a collective sigh of relief. The man finished with one final piece of information. "Counting all the complaints, almost everyone liked the film. Among them, 40 were adults. The main reason is they don't like thrillers and horror in general."

The executives exchanged knowing glances, realizing that they had a hit on their hands.

"Please, Amy, speak with all cinema theater owners. I am determined to have over 4,000 screens available for the public release of our film on June 11th," Ric ordered.

"Of course, sir. You can count on me. I will work diligently to secure as many screens as possible for our film," replied Amy with a confident and professional tone.