Chapter 82: The Box Office Continues to Explode

[Chapter 82: The Box Office Continues to Explode]

In the sixth week of its release, Paranormal Activity made headlines across the media. Tina Worthington, a suspect in the murder case in Murrieta, accused director Link of using her case as inspiration for the film. She claimed the plot closely mirrored her story and subsequently was refused any adaptation fees, citing violations of her privacy rights and copyright.

Her attorney demanded $100 million in compensation from Guess Pictures. As the news spread, it sparked heated discussions nationwide. People debated the case, the film itself, the existence of ghosts, and whether Guess Pictures was simply using the scandal for publicity.

No matter the angle of discussion, Paranormal Activity remained the elephant in the room. To get to the bottom of the situation, fit in with the crowd, or simply satisfy their curiosity, many who hadn't yet seen the film flocked to theaters to catch up. As a result, box office numbers for Paranormal Activity soared.

According to data collected by AMC, the film's attendance rate jumped dramatically from 25% to 80% on Thursday, prompting AMC to increase the number of screenings from six a day to over twelve. Projections for the weekend indicated even higher numbers, and theaters like AMC and Regal considered expanding the film's release even further.

The Hollywood Reporter predicted that Paranormal Activity could gross over $40 million this week. If it hit that number, it was likely to surpass $200 million in just seven weeks, becoming the first film of the year in North America to achieve that milestone.

...

As the box office numbers surged, negative comments about Link and Paranormal Activity flooded media outlets -- more than in previous weeks. Many prominent film critics openly criticized Guess Pictures for their marketing tactics, claiming that the film had been excessively promoted before its release, irritating many in the film community.

Despite the backlash, Link and Guess Pictures ramped up their marketing efforts, leveraging the criminal case to create a social conversation that captured national attention. The relentless media coverage of Paranormal Activity monopolized public resources, overshadowing significant news like the upcoming elections, the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the division of Czechoslovakia, and the Barcelona Olympics.

This was considered excessive. Film critic Sean Soph used emotive language like "despicable,"outrageous,"unprincipled," and "disgusting" to express his feelings towards the situation.

Rob Reiner, director of A Few Good Men, publicly lamented that he'd accept defeat at the box office to films like Batman Returns and Unforgiven, but losing to a B-movie like Paranormal Activity was simply unacceptable.

During a film forum in New York, Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson discussed the issue of movie marketing, stating that a film's box office performance primarily relied on its quality. A high-quality production that increased its marketing efforts upon release would attract viewer support. In contrast, a low-budget film overwhelmed with aggressive marketing strategies disrupted the market, which they deemed inappropriate.

Simply put, a film's promotional budget needed to reflect its production quality. Given that Paranormal Activity was made with only $20,000, it hardly warranted the extensive promotional campaign surrounding it.

The New York Times described Paranormal Activity as a disruptive catfish in the film market, and Link was also implicated in this chaos.

---

"Ha ha, Link, looks like you've become public enemy number one," Sofia Coppola exclaimed, holding up a newspaper and laughing.

"Public enemy?" Link set down the script he was reading, puzzled.

"Didn't you see today's paper? Many well-known filmmakers have come out condemning your excessive marketing of Paranormal Activity, claiming it's unfairly overshadowed the attention other films should be receiving and reflects poorly on the industry."

Sofia chuckled.

"It's true, Link; your promotional efforts for Paranormal Activity have gone overboard! Switch on the TV and it's all about Paranormal Activity; flip through the paper, and it's still Paranormal Activity. The saturation is overwhelming and can easily become tiresome," Quentin Tarantino chimed in.

"The promotional budget for this film was only $6 million, significantly less than the campaigns for A Few Good Men or Batman Returns. How can anyone say it's excessive marketing? We won't take the blame for it," Link waved off.

"That's not really excessive; it's just that Link's promotional strategy was ingeniously effective. A few million invested yielded results in the tens of millions. This can't fall solely on Link and Guess Pictures; it highlights a lack of effort from others in the industry," Jim Carrey chuckled.

"Jim knows what he's talking about," Link added, nodding at him.

"Alright, I'll admit your initial marketing was spot on. Weekly screening highlights? Brilliant! But linking the murder case to the film was a stretch. My dad always said if everyone starts focusing on marketing instead of making good films, the industry will be a mess," Sofia giggled.

Link shook his head. "You guys are misplacing blame on me. I had nothing to do with the murder case's publicity. My reputation is already shaky; it doesn't benefit me to be associated with this. What, just to earn a few extra million at the box office?"

"Are you suggesting you had no hand in this and that Tina Worthington is just making false accusations?" Quentin raised an eyebrow.

"Clearly, I'm a serious director focused on making money through films, not by adopting the label of plagiary. That hardly seems worth it," Link stated firmly.

"It sounds like you're claiming innocence. Why not defend yourself then?" Sofia said, feeling a bit sympathetic.

"When everyone's pointing fingers at me, my protests would hardly matter. Besides, as directors, whether we're infamous or praised, our true value lies in our films. As long as I keep making good movies, I don't need to worry about others' opinions," Link replied with a calm smile.

Clapping her hands, Sofia announced, "You're genuinely a gentle soul, and in time, people will recognize the predicament you're in."

"Thank you!" Link grinned.

Quentin wasn't entirely convinced of Link's innocence. Even if he hadn't orchestrated anything, the situation still heavily benefited him, raking in millions more because of it.

"Link, what are you looking at? That looks like a script," Sofia asked.

"It is -- a new screenplay," Link confirmed.

"What? Paranormal Activity hasn't even wrapped up its run, and you're already prepping for a new project?! How many films do you plan to shoot this year? Why are you making me feel bad?" Quentin exclaimed, rising in agitation, red-faced.

He and Link had both debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, yet Link had released two consecutive box office hits, while Quentin's second film remained stuck in development. How could he not be frustrated when Link was onto his third film, and his second was still in limbo?

"Quentin, don't raise your voice like that; you sound like you're arguing," Steven Soderbergh interjected, tugging at Quentin's shirt.

"Link, is it true you're gearing up for your third film? Are you taking no breaks?" Sofia asked.

"Not quite; Jim brought me this script to get my thoughts on it; it's not my next film project," Link clarified.

"Oh, I see!" Quentin exhaled in relief.

"When are you shooting your next film, Link?" Steven asked.

"Probably next year. Shooting two films this year has been exhausting; I plan to take a break," Link replied.

"You're correct; as directors, we aren't factory workers. One or two films a year is more than enough; balance is key," Quentin advised.

Link chuckled at the thought.

"What's your next film about, Link? Any plans yet?" Sofia asked.

"I submitted four scripts to production companies last year, including Buried. They didn't go for it, so I'll be working on the remaining three scripts next," Link explained.

"Does that mean the third film project is confirmed and just needs preparation before filming?" Quentin perked up.

"The third film is a big project with a longer prep time; it won't start shooting right away," Link smiled.

"Alright then!" Quentin nodded approvingly.

At least the third film wasn't about to start right away; if it did, he felt Link might drive him insane as his fellow filmmaker.

*****

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