Counterattack

[Looks like I forgot to upload a chapter yesterday. I am uploading 2 today.]

***

Sitting in his office, watching the news in the newspaper that Levi had returned to Hollywood, Carter, the editor-in-chief of the Hollywood Reporter, let out a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on his face.

This smile was a mocking smile because he knew very well that Levi's return to Hollywood meant that he also had to go to war with Soderbergh.

Every time he saw this kind of battle, he found it interesting. Who will win the battle between The Departed and Traffic this time? This is what he wanted to see, too.

In fact, although Traffic has not been released, the media already has some knowledge of the movie: this movie is adapted from a British TV series, and everyone knows what the story is like. 

As far as the script's story is concerned, compared to The Departed, this story is slightly inferior.

However, people still have expectations for Soderbergh: As a rare director who came out of independent films, Soderbergh's ability is also recognized by people. His film directing level is worthy of belief, and perhaps his movies can satisfy people.

The Departed is indeed a good film, but what if Soderbergh can produce a classic that can be compared with Levi's film?

He doesn't need to be better than Levi; he just needs to produce the same level: he has two masterpieces this year, and Levi just won the Oscar last year. 

As long as the level is similar, Soderbergh will likely overwhelm Levi and win the Oscar.

After all, Gladiator has been reviled, and now it's Soderbergh and Levi's fight.

And this battle is more interesting than the last one.

In the summer's battle, Universal's methods were still insufficient in the eyes of the media. Relying on two comedies, they wanted to stop Levi's gangster movie, but the two of them themselves were killed, which was obviously due to insufficient preparation by the enemy. 

In contrast, the battle this winter is different. 

Soderbergh obviously had more brains: he forced Levi to compare the box office with him with the thing that was shot in two months. 

This is fun.

Who doesn't know that Levi's movie was basically made for Theron? As a great director, how long does it take to make a movie for his favorite actress? And does a film like this need to consider the box office?

However, now, Levi is forced to go to war with Soderbergh.

"It's such an interesting battle... I've seen so many battles between these guys for word of mouth, box office, and reputation. Sometimes, I really think it's much more interesting than the movie." Sitting in his office, Carter waited comfortably. 

New news: Levi is back, so how will he face it?

"Sir, we now have the reporter's interview with Levi."

While he was still thinking, his assistant Walter had already run over. Carter snatched the notebook from his hand and looked at the words on it.

"The movies I shoot are not for the box office. During this Christmas period, we have other commercial movies to launch."

Is this the explanation given by Levi? 

Not a commercial film? 

Does this mean Levi has given in at the box office? 

This attitude made the media feel that Levi had indeed been plotted. However, Levi doesn't seem to have completely given in yet, saying he has another movie in mind. It's going to be released at this time, and it's a commercial film?

In other words, does he have another movie to thwart Soderbergh's Traffic?

This also interested Carter: I initially thought the media's hype was to attack Levi, but who would have thought Levi was really preparing to stop Soderbergh?

This guy is really brave.

"Any news on how he wants to stop Soderbergh?" Carter asked immediately.

"I've already heard about it: he hopes to release his other movie, The Grudge, ahead of schedule."

The Grudge? Hearing the name, Carter was slightly disappointed.

He remembered this movie. It is a horror film with a low production cost, shot by a Japanese and starring an unknown actress, Vera Farmiga.

"Levi wants to use a horror film to block Soderbergh's film. This approach is really not very smart." Walter spoke again beside him, expressing his opinion.

Although the box office of horror films has always been decent enough, this one is hard to believe in. This movie is made by a new Japanese director. It is said that the movie is also a Japanese horror story.

The media lacks knowledge about the name Shimizu Takashi, but it is said that several Japanese horror film masters are very optimistic about him.

However, can Japanese-style horror be popular in the United States? There is no blood flowing and broken bodies. Do Americans buy it? These are all questions. 

Moreover, this movie is directed by a newbie; it is just a Japanese horror movie, and the investment is only 10 million. What kind of movie can be made with an investment of 10 million this year? 

Now is the era of blockbusters. If you don't have more than 50 million in investment, do you have the nerve to say you're making a commercial movie?

Could it be that Levi wants to create something like The Blair Witch to stop others? However, the promotional cost of Blair Witch was 20 million, and the promotion lasted for a whole year. There is no such kind of publicity for this movie. 

How high can the quality of a horror movie thrown out in a hurry be?

How could a movie like this possibly compete with Soderbergh's Traffic?

In fact, not to mention that the media has no confidence; even the distributors probably have no confidence either, right? 

If you were confident, it would have been distributed by Columbia. With Levi and Columbia's consistent cooperative attitude, how could they not be given a good movie? 

But this movie is the work of Lionsgate. Doesn't this already explain the problem? How could Columbia not want it if it was really a good thing?

Of course, it is said that this movie is Levi's favorite. It is said that Levi personally discussed this movie with Takashi Shimizu. It is said that Takashi Shimizu has been preparing and filming this movie for a long time, but can this reverse the investment problems of this movie?

Carter did not object to Walter's judgment but still snorted coldly. Why does he always pretend to be smart in front of himself?

"So what if Levi loses? He has avoided pitting his own film against Soderbergh's film. Isn't that already a victory?"

Even if this film is not well received, he thinks this approach is quite smart: in any case, he avoided a head-on confrontation with Soderbergh, and what's more, he threw out a new Japanese director as a victim. 

Of course, after the failure, it is estimated that this Japanese person may have to go back to Japan and cannot stay in Hollywood.

But, so what? He came to Hollywood and took part in the Christmas schedule battle, which is enough for him to show off for a lifetime, right?

Levi did something very smart. When others used comedies to block him, he responded with horror movies.

In Carter's view, this may be the truth of the struggle.

"It seems that Levi is not stupid. He hastily accepted the challenge. He is smart enough to make such a decision and abandon a Japanese in exchange for his movie to be released safely." Carter shook his head and praised, "But, for us, there is no need to entangle with him anymore. Focus our attention on Traffic and pay close attention to this movie. This movie is the highlight of this year."

***

Universal has also seen Levi's move and made the arrangements appropriately.

Amidst the discussion, the release date of the movie was also announced. On December 13th, the two films "Traffic" and "The Grudge" will be released, while Levi's other movie "Lost in Translation" will be released on December 27th.

The film's release date is approaching, and Carter is ready and waiting to report related news. Carter also made a point of attending the premiere of Traffic when the movie was released and then waited to see the box office numbers.

"Head, the box office is out." Walter knocked on his door again, this time with an impatient look. 

Carter waved his hand and spoke first, "What is the box office of the Traffic?"

"Traffic? 25.5 million." Walter was stunned for a moment and then said, "That's not what I want to say..." 

"It doesn't matter what you want to say; this movie is the focus this week. 25.5 million at the box office? That's quite a lot. Not bad." Carter interrupted him. 

He strode out of the office, walked to the editors, and spoke to everyone, "I'm afraid that Lost in Translation won't be half as good as this movie in six weeks!"

Lost in Translation is a small-investment literary film. It cannot compete with Traffic in terms of box office. It would have to be good since Traffic has Douglas and Zeta-Jones joining the franchise. Now, the box office figures are also good, so it is certain that he succeeded.

"Start writing a movie review immediately. Highlight Soderbergh's use of filters and the 1970s-like nuclear explosion style in the movie. This is something that The Departed does not have. It needs to highlight the difference. It's so controversial..."

Thinking about the movie, Carter immediately made a judgment. He kept talking, completely ignoring Walter's anxious look behind him. This guy is too ignorant, always confused about priorities, and really inexperienced.

It wasn't until everyone around him nodded that he turned his head and looked at Walter.

"What else do you want to say? Just say it."

"Among the movies released in the same week, this movie is not the first at the box office." Walter spoke, and his words stunned Carter, "That movie, The Grudge, had a box office of over 40 million in its first week!"

In its first week, 40 million? Carter stood blankly, unable to say a word. He really couldn't imagine that the movie he didn't even bother to watch had a box office of more than 40 million?

In other words, was Levi's operation to disrupt Traffic successful?

How can this be?

*****

Thanks and kudos for my patreons 

Scott DePaepe

MMMCMXCIX, or 3,999

Britanna

Mandy G

Marcelo Maia

Danny York

DragonEz

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