Chapter 75: No One Saw It Coming

[Chapter 75: No One Saw It Coming]

"After just ten days in theaters, the box office revenue hit over 700 times the production cost."

"Link really is an incredible person," Robert Shay sighed as he stared at the newspaper in his office at New Line Cinema.

"The box office results for this film are indeed astonishing. With the numbers coming in this week, everyone in the industry is in disbelief. No one expected a low-budget film like this to sell so many tickets during the competitive summer season; it's practically a miracle," said Simon Fels, the vice president of New Line Cinema.

"It's hard to believe. I watched the film, and while it was decent and original, it felt too rough around the edges compared to mainstream Hollywood. It didn't seem particularly commercial or artistic, and I expected it to earn between two to three million. The video sales might do alright, but who could have guessed?" Robert Shay shook his head with a rueful smile.

After seeing the box office numbers for Paranormal Activity that week, he had to admit he had underestimated both Link and the film itself. He hadn't grasped the audience's enthusiasm for it. Since Buried, it seemed he couldn't quite understand the audience or the movie market anymore. Without understanding the market and failing to recognize the trends, profits slipped through his fingers.

"Exactly. No one saw it coming. Many are now analyzing why this film became such a hit, and we're also looking into it," Simon Fels replied.

"What's the verdict?" Robert asked.

"Our research indicates there are three main reasons for the film's success. Firstly, the style of filming was quite innovative. Link shot the daily lives of the leads in a sort of live-stream format. It seemed rough, but the immersion was incredible, especially appealing to the younger audience who loved this fresh approach.

Secondly, the plot itself was compelling -- it not only offered sensory thrills but psychological tension as well. Horror fans found it exhilarating and supported it wholeheartedly. From these first two points, it's clear Link targeted the audience with precision; this was a film aimed squarely at young people.

Third, Guess Pictures executed a fantastic and bold marketing campaign. A month before the release of Paranormal Activity, they invested over $2 million to create a buzz in the media by generating a sense of terror around ghostly phenomena.

They literally created the market. After the film's release, Guess Pictures spent a hefty sum to air viewing highlights on three major networks during prime time. This novel marketing method quickly captured the attention of young audiences, compelling them to rush to theaters.

As per our information, Guess Pictures has spent more than $4 million promoting the movie. For a film with a production budget of only $20,000, Link's willingness to invest $4 million in marketing was incredibly audacious and is one of the main reasons we believe this film will be a massive success." Simon concluded.

"$4 million is certainly bold," Robert noted. Reports stated Link had earned around $12 million from Buried, meaning that $4 million represented a third of his total worth.

Here was a guy who came from humble beginnings, unafraid to spend money and take a gamble when necessary; it was a rare quality. Link was not just stubborn and determined; he was extraordinarily talented, had a keen eye, and exuded a strong gambler's spirit. Someone like him, if all went well, was destined for great things in the future.

Robert Shay stared silently at the box office figures in the newspaper for a moment before picking up the phone to call Link, hoping for an opportunity to collaborate with him. If the chance arose, he wouldn't hesitate to offer Link maximum support.

----

"Go fetch David for me," Mario Casal, president of Calrock Pictures, glared at the box office numbers for Paranormal Activity in the newspaper, his fists clenched, veins throbbing on his forehead.

Before the film's screening, Guess Pictures had sent an invitation, asking them to check out Link's new movie and discuss potential collaboration. At the time, he had been busy and sent producer David Rothman to attend the screening.

When David Rothman returned from the screening, he scoffed at Link's new film, deeming it terrible, claiming it was the sort of project that anyone with a camera could produce. He and other producers had watched for three minutes before feeling insulted and exited the theater early.

Mario Casal noticed the overwhelmingly negative reviews in the newspapers and assumed Link's new film was indeed terrible -- he didn't think much of it. Later, when Guess Pictures sent someone to apologize and mentioned David Casal leaving early, he brushed it off.

But who could have predicted that the "terrible film" David Rothman described would end up amassing such a staggering box office, surpassing even Buried?

With the current numbers and trends, media outlets predicted this film had a strong chance to break $100 million at the North American box office.

$100 million in revenue!

Last year, 253 films were released in North America, and only six crossed the $100 million mark -- all without exception major blockbusters. Meanwhile, Link's film had a production budget of merely $20,000 and was poised to achieve $100 million at the box office.

If the predictions were accurate, it would mean an astounding 5,000 times return on investment. Taking into account video sales and overseas earnings, the overall revenue could exceed 10,000 times that, a figure surpassing any gains from a sizzling stock market investment.

What a pity!

"Sir, you called for me?" David Rothman walked in, interrupting Mario's thoughts.

Just as Mario was about to speak, he caught a whiff of alcohol, who exploded with rage, tossing the newspaper at David.

"Get out! Get out of here! Right now!"

---

As Mario Casal, Robert Shay, Harvey Weinstein, and others looked at the box office figures for Paranormal Activity, top executives from Hollywood's major studios, leading talent agencies, and a slew of prominent stars and directors were equally astonished by the numbers.

After just ten days, the North American box office for Paranormal Activity had hit $14.77 million with a production cost of only $20,000; that's more than 700 times return on the investment.

The media predicted that the film's return could exceed 5,000 times, eclipsing Link's debut film, Buried.

Top executives from major studios lamented not accepting Link's proposal at the screening to give him 25% of the North American box office. If they had secured distribution rights, they could have faced shareholders with more confidence during board meetings.

Desiring Link's potential, executives from CAA, WMA, ICM, and UTA noted his name in their files for future follow-ups. Meanwhile, directors and actors in the industry were either envious of Link's earning potential or eager to head to theaters to learn from his filmmaking style, some even seeking ways to ingratiate themselves with him for potential collaboration.

During this time, Link found himself inundated with phone calls, hundreds of them daily, causing his phone to overheat against his ear.

*****

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