Chapter 87: The Beautiful Encounter

[Chapter 87: The Beautiful Encounter]

Paranormal Activity premiered overseas in its second week, raking in $53.07 million at the box office across 67 countries and regions. This broke the record for the highest single-week box office for a Hollywood horror film internationally.

In the same week, the North American box office results for Paranormal Activity in its seventh week were released. Compared to the sixth week, the drop was substantial. With revenues of $31.27 million from 1,831 theaters, the film experienced a 43% decline.

The primary reason for the box office drop was the end of the summer blockbuster season, leading to a decrease in the film's buzz. The American public's attention had shifted to other news, such as the political battle between George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

...

Additionally, the court in Murrieta, after reviewing a video submitted by Tina Worthington's defense lawyer, stated that it was merely a regular family video and could not be admitted as evidence, issuing a warning to the defense attorney. The defendant, Tina Worthington, suffered from severe mental illness and had also been a victim of domestic abuse.

After a vote by the jury, the court ruled that Tina Worthington was not guilty, but she had to undergo strict mental health treatment. The Murrieta case had come to a close.

...

With no more promotional stunts left, the buzz for Paranormal Activity continued to wane. This was another reason for the film's decline at the box office that week. Despite earning only $31.27 million, it still claimed the top spot as the weekend box office champion.

The North American box office total reached $231 million, making it the first film of 1992 to surpass the $200 million mark. Its global earnings hit $320 million.

---

Knock, knock, knock--

"Come in!"

"Boss, Renee Zellweger is here."

Lily pushed open the door, and a woman in a blue sundress walked in. With gray-blue eyes, blonde hair, and fair skin, she had a pleasant appearance. Though she didn't possess the striking beauty of top stars like Monica Bellucci or Nicole Kidman, at 23, she was still youthful, with a rosy face full of collagen and a body that was more voluptuous than the current Hollywood slim trend.

The woman was Renee Zellweger, the second female lead in Paranormal Activity. In reality, she had less than three minutes of screen time and only six or seven lines, so her presence in the film was minimal.

At that moment, Renee was just a recently debuted actress, but her future looked bright, having starred in several hit films, including Jerry Maguire, Cold Mountain, and Bridget Jones's Diary. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe for Best Actress, establishing herself as a promising actress.

"Renee, welcome to Guess Pictures. What do you think?" Link stood up to greet Renee Zellweger.

"Well, it feels a bit smaller than I expected, definitely smaller than Big Seven. But it's amazing that films from Guess Pictures can outperform those from Big Seven at the box office; that's quite impressive," Renee replied with a slight smile.

"Paranormal Activity's success is also partly due to you."

"Director Link, Paranormal Activity is your work. If you say I have a part in its success, I won't argue," Renee said with a bright smile.

When she smiled, her cheeks lifted, and her eyes narrowed slightly, radiating a joyful energy. This genuine smile was infectious, a refreshing change from the polished, stiff smiles often seen in the industry.

Maybe it was because she was from Texas, the home of cowboys, but she carried a certain down-to-earth charm.

Lily entered, placed two glasses of water on the table, and then quietly stepped out, closing the door behind her.

...

"Renee, what brings you here?" Link asked.

"Director Link, I came to apply for a job. I saw that Guess Pictures was hiring, and I wondered if you needed any actors? I majored in English and minored in Drama and Theatre. I've acted in stage plays, and I promise that if I get a chance to join Guess Pictures, I will work diligently to create greater value for the company."

Renee placed her hands on her knees, sitting up straight as she looked at him, her expression still cheerful but laced with a hint of nervousness.

Link smiled gently. "Renee, you're a talented actress. If I have talent agency open, I'd gladly sign you. However, Guess Pictures primarily focuses on film production and distribution, and we don't have an acting agency."

"I can apply for other positions such as director's assistant or writer's assistant. I have experience in directing stage plays at school, and I'm confident I can handle the job."

"You've studied directing?"

"Yes, I have. While I'm not an expert, I feel confident I could learn quickly."

Renee appeared visibly excited, clearly invested in the opportunity. Link couldn't help but admire her enthusiasm; her education wasn't for nothing.

...

In Hollywood, being an actor was undoubtedly one of the most competitive industries.

Compared to roles like directors and producers, acting had the lowest barriers to entry. Even those without looks or height could have a shot in Hollywood, provided they worked hard.

But low barriers also meant a vast pool of actors -- approximately 230,000 registered actors in Hollywood, with around 250 films produced each year. Each film usually required about 3,000 lead and supporting actors, leading many productions to reuse the same actors.

This data reflected just how fierce the competition was among actors.

Typically, new actors arriving in Hollywood without connections or representation from major agencies had to struggle at the bottom for at least two to three years. Those lucky enough to land a hit movie could advance more quickly, while others might have to fight longer.

Renee was among those new actors without resources or particularly standout looks. She had serendipitously landed a role in the hit movie Paranormal Activity. However, due to the film's narrative, it garnered minimal media attention for her, and even the lead actress Monica received little coverage after the film's success.

In this scenario, Renee had two paths ahead of her.

The first was to continue her climb from the bottom as an actress, auditioning tirelessly with hopes of landing a significant role that could attract media attention and recognition from industry professionals.

That choice was heavily reliant on luck.

The second option was to leverage her acquaintance with Director Link and find ways to deepen their relationship.

Link was not just the director of a successful film; he was also a producer, film company owner, and a newly minted multi-millionaire. With only around 700 multi-millionaires in America, knowing one and having the chance to chat with him in his office was a rare opportunity.

Renee was determined not to let this chance slip by.

...

As Link listened to Renee speak, he quietly assessed her -- she was a recent college graduate with blonde hair and a nice appearance, with a solid body type.

Maybe it was worth a shot.

"Director Link, if I have the privilege of working beside you, I'd give my all."

Under his gaze, Renee's face flushed, and her voice trembled with excitement.

"Give your all?" Link chuckled, shaking his head as he walked to his desk, searching through a cabinet for a script.

"Renee, take a look at this."

As he turned, his eyes momentarily dazzled. He wasn't sure if the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling window was too bright or if it was Renee's strikingly pale skin.

He only caught a glimpse of her blue dress lying on the floor, her golden hair cascading over, and her cheeks blushing redder than an apple.

"You have a great figure, which suits my taste. But let's get dressed first; it's hard to focus on work without clothes."

Link seated himself back on the sofa, script in hand.

Renee lowered her head, her face still flushed as she slipped back into her dress.

"This is a script I rewrote after seeing the Blair Witch Incident in Illinois. It's shot in a similar style to Paranormal Activity, a documentary-style film filmed with handheld cameras. You can take a look at it."

"Link, is this your third film?"

After the earlier awkwardness, Renee relaxed a bit more around him, finding a spot beside him to sit and examine the script. As she leaned in, the scent of her perfume wafted through, and he felt the warmth emanating from her.

"Yes and no. I'll be serving as producer, writer, and editor on this project, but I won't be directing.

This film is more focused on realism than Paranormal Activity, making it less suitable for my direction. The director is the female lead in the movie. If you're not concerned about how this role might impact your career, you should definitely consider it."

"I'm all in," Renee stated without hesitation.

"You can review the script first and take a few days to think it over. The current climate towards documentary films is not friendly. After the success of Paranormal Activity, I faced considerable criticism. This film will likely receive similar backlash. If you decide to join this project, you must be prepared for that."

"I understand. I stated that as long as I have the opportunity to work by your side, I'm willing to give everything."

Renee said this seriously.

"Alright then. You can take the script with you, but please keep it confidential. The company is currently preparing for this project, and if all goes well, filming will likely begin next month."

"Okay, Link, thank you."

Renee happily hugged his arm and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

*****

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