Chapter 51: Looking For a Distributor

[Chapter 51: Looking For a Distributor]

It took three days for Link to wrap up the final touches on Version 3.

During this time, he gathered Daniel DeVito, Michael Leeson, and others to discuss how to promote and distribute this movie.

Now that a company had funding, they didn't need to beg for favors or run around trying to secure a release date.

Additionally, as the box office for Buried continued to rise, Link's reputation within the industry grew as well. The movie had drawn a lot of attention during production, and many studios were interested in collaboration.

In this context, Paranormal Activity had two choices: either distribute it through Guess Picturs or partner with a strong film company. The difference lay in the efficiency of distribution.

The most critical aspects of releasing a movie were promotion and channels. In Hollywood, the seven major film companies wielded the most powerful promotional capabilities.

The reason is that the seven major film studios all have parent companies, and most of the parent companies are media groups.

For instance, Paramount Pictures was backed by Paramount Communications.

Time-Warner Group behind Warner Bros. Pictures.

News Corp., the company behind 20th Century Fox.

The Panasonic Group behind Universal Pictures.

Walt Disney owns the Disney Channel.

Columbia-TriStar was backed by the Sony Corporation.

Except for MGM, all six studios had parent companies with numerous media and promotional outlets, including newspapers, radio stations, cable channels, television networks, or broadband networks, providing a substantial boost for movie promotions.

This represented one reason why the six major studios had an upper hand over independent companies. They controlled the channels for movie promotion and distribution, ensuring that even if their in-house films didn't turn a profit, they could still earn substantial publicity funds yearly from releasing independent films.

If Paranormal Activity were to be distributed by one of the seven majors, the efficiency would be higher. However, this came with the drawback of the production team receiving a smaller cut of the box office.

If Guess Pictures handled the distribution, Link would need to allocate a considerable amount of cash for marketing, close to self-funding it. The downside would be a lower promotional efficiency, but the upside was keeping a larger share of box office earnings.

Ultimately, the choice would depend on how receptive the seven majors were to the film and whether they showed genuine interest during negotiations.

...

"Michael, print out the movie's basic details and distribute them to the major Hollywood studios. Let them know we are looking for a distributor, and interested companies can register for a test screening this weekend at the company."

"Got it, boss!"

Michael Leeson headed off to make arrangements.

...

Link then called Lily, asking her to reach out to Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh to notify them about the test screening time and invite them to come check it out if they had time.

...

He went home after get off work in the afternoon. After returning from San Diego, he spent all his time in the editing room and hadn't even returned home in days.

However, with Monica Bellucci temporarily residing at Golden Oak Apartments, the place had a warm ambiance upon his arrival.

"I'm back."

Monica walked out from the kitchen. Wearing a cream-colored dress with her dark brown hair cascading in curls, she seemed to be without a bra. The dress clung to her, highlighting her curves, her figure looking undeniably appealing.

Link pulled her in for a kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist as his hand gradually drifted down.

"You haven't showered for a few days, you smell," Monica teased, playfully pushing him away, her finger pinching her nose.

"Is it really that bad? I shower often at the studio," Link replied, sniffing himself and not detecting any odor.

"There's smoke, sweat, and oil on you. Just look at your hair; it looks like it could produce oil! You call that showering every day?"

"I just came from a meeting; someone was smoking, and I must have picked up their scent. Tomorrow, I'll have Michael set up a designated smoking area in the office. No smoking allowed in other areas."

"You're the boss, so you run the show. Just go clean up; dinner will be ready soon."

Monica nudged his shoulder smilingly.

"You cook?"

"I can order some food. But I can also make pasta, seafood risotto, Milanese salads, and fruit salads. If you want, I can make something for you next time."

"I'm kind of looking forward to that."

...

Link headed into the bathroom for a shower. With dinner on the line, he didn't lounge in the big bathtub but instead stepped under the shower, letting the warm water wash away the tensions of the day.

"Monica?"

"What's up?" Monica replied from outside, walking in with a glass of red wine, leaning against the doorframe, her smile bright.

"Looking good there, handsome!"

"Want to join me for a shower?"

"No thanks! I just put on my makeup; I don't want to ruin it. I'll play with you after dinner."

"If you ruin your makeup, just redo it. When we were in San Diego, you went without makeup every day, and I didn't mind."

"You are such an impatient fellow!"

Unable to resist his persistence, Monica finally gave in. They indulged in a little play by the sink for a while.

....

After emerging from the shower, the two donned bathrobes and headed to the dining room for a feast.

This triangle of Beverly Hills, just six square miles, boasted eight Michelin-starred restaurants.

Four were on Rodeo Drive, two on Beverly Boulevard, and another on Wilshire Boulevard, right outside the Golden Oak Apartments.

The restaurant, Spago, specialized in French cuisine, helmed by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, who had been invited by the Academy for three consecutive years to cook for Oscar Night. His culinary prowess was undeniable, and the menu was diverse, featuring dishes from land, sea, and air.

Today Monica likely wanted him to indulge a bit more, as the table was adorned with various meat dishes.

There was charcoal-grilled steak made from snowflake beef sourced from Hokkaido.

Prepared with professional seasoning and grilled with applewood and charcoal, it was served with a special sauce, making every juicy bite a blend of rich beef and sauce flavors.

There was also braised abalone, sourced from Southern California. The largest hunk of abalone on the plate was over four inches long, weighing more than a pound, while the remaining six pieces each nearly half a pound.

The texture of this abalone was tender and rich, offering a firm chew. Each bite was as complex as Monica herself.

Other table offerings included Maryland crab cakes, creamy apple tart for dessert, and Hawaiian fruit salad, all delightful.

After finishing the lavish meal, feeling a particular warmth coursing through him, he and Monica exchanged glances and simultaneously rose to head into the bedroom.

*****

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