Chapter 263: The Sixth Sense
[Chapter 263: The Sixth Sense]
In early September, Guess Pictures released its sixth film, Leon: The Professional, in North America. The film grossed $18.58 million after four weeks release.
Back in May, during the Cannes Film Festival, Link had paid $4.5 million to Gaumont for the North American distribution rights. The marketing costs ahead of the film's release totaled $3.5 million.
It had already recouped its costs, with expectations of around $10 million in profit, though this figure was lower than Link had anticipated. Initially, he believed this globally popular film would perform significantly better, but forecasted ticket sales in North America were less than $25 million, a far cry from expectations.
Nevertheless, the film received excellent reviews, garnering praise from numerous filmmakers. The Los Angeles Times and other mainstream media outlets hailed Guess Pictures for releasing another great movie.
...
By the fourth week of leon: The Professional's run, Guess Pictures released their seventh film, Before Sunrise. This film was a pure art piece that won the Golden Lion for Best Film at the 51st Venice International Film Festival, earning a notable place in international cinema. It collected $920,000 in its opening weekend across 42 art theaters in North America, performing well and with hopes of recouping costs within five weeks.
The reception for this film was equally strong, with director Richard Linklater receiving high acclaim from Hollywood critics, being labeled as a postmodern "movie poet."
...
This week, Se7en officially crossed $750 million in global box office earnings, with $320 million from North America and $430 million overseas. Additionally, VHS copies of Se7en were released and sold quite well.
Entertainment Weekly projected that Guess Pictures would profit over $400 million from this movie.
---
"Link, sometimes I really envy you independent filmmakers. As long as you make one good film a year, you can rake in tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, while we at the agency hustle all year to earn far less," Jay Moloney said from the bar booth, holding a magazine.
Link chuckled. "You must be joking. Hundreds of independent film companies go bankrupt each year; there's hardly a handful that actually make a profit. Compared to agencies, the risks are enormous. Investing in independent films feels more like gambling."
"But Guess Pictures has consistently been profitable. Last year, it ranked sixth in total box office earnings in the industry, and this year, it firmly positioned itself in the top three. It's impressive for a company that's not even three years old -- all while having higher total earnings and profits than the major studios," Jay Moloney countered.
Link smiled at the remark.
...
"Hey, Link, what are you doing here?" Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez shouted from across the crowded aisle as they approached.
"Come sit down," Link beckoned, holding up his beer bottle.
Quentin glanced into the booth and saw Jay Moloney and Tom Hanks. He greeted them before turning back to Link with a puzzled expression. "What's up? No ladies with you at the bar? That's not like you."
"Just talking business."
"Business?" Quentin looked at the script Tom Hanks was holding. "Is that the sequel to Batman? Are you really thinking of casting Tom Hanks as Batman?"
"Link, that can't be true!" Robert Rodriguez cast a skeptical glance at Tom Hanks, searching for anything resembling the caped crusader. He found nothing.
"It's not Batman; it's a different film. We won't start shooting Batman until early next year, and I have some time to occupy before then. So I'm focusing on this project," Link explained with a chuckle.
"That's more like it," Quentin replied.
"You could be out picking up girls or playing poker or doing anything else. Why on earth decide to make a movie?" Quentin asked as they sat down.
"I'm a director; what else would I do?" Link responded.
"But didn't you consider how I might feel? We started out together, and you're already preparing for your seventh film while I'm still writing the script for my third. Don't you think that makes me look like I'm dragging my feet?" Quentin challenged.
"You were slow to begin with; did you need me to tell you that?" Link teased.
"Humph!" Quentin pouted, glancing at the cover of Tom Hanks's script. "The Sixth Sense? Is that your next movie? I don't think that's a good idea -- this script seems pretty average."
"Average?" Tom Hanks looked up, his eyes reddened, clearly moved by the story.
"This script is fantastic! It's one of the most touching drafts I've ever read -- how could it be average?"
"Uh, Tom, are you exaggerating? I read this script over at Harvey's. While the storyline is warm and the characters are well-developed, the plot lacks intensity -- it doesn't hit hard enough. By my standards, it's at most a second-rate script," Quentin shrugged.
"How does it not hit hard enough? The doctor, Malcolm Crowe, ultimately discovers he's dead. He becomes a ghost, and everything he went through, including helping Cole with his psychological issues, being late for his anniversary, talking to his wife, and even witnessing her infidelity, is because he died. She can't see him, but he still loves her, and she loves him back. A pair in love unable to be together? Isn't that touching?" Tom Hanks argued.
"Wait! Malcolm Crowe dies? How did I miss that? Are we looking at the same script?" Quentin flipped through the pages, finding that the first 85% of the content mirrored the version he had seen, but the last 15% took a dramatic turn. The script transformed from a heartwarming drama to a thrilling mystery, delivering a much more emotional story. The scene where Malcolm Crowe's spirit gently dissipates after kissing his sleeping wife was particularly tear-jerking.
"How did that happen?" Quentin wiped the corner of his eye. "Did you make changes to the latter part?"
"Yes, I did." Link chuckled, knowing he had done it intentionally.
...
The Sixth Sense told the story of child psychologist Dr. Malcolm Crowe, who spent over a decade helping troubled kids find their way and earned commendations from the city government. On the night he was honored, a young man who had once been treated by him but hadn't been cured broke into his home and shot him before taking his own life.
A year later, Malcolm Crowe encountered a case similar to the young man who had taken his life -- a nine-year-old boy named Cole. Malcolm Crowe decided to help Cole escape his struggles and prevent another tragedy.
Cole possessed the ability to see ghosts, which terrified him. He didn't believe anyone could help him and resisted Dr. Malcolm Crowe's assistance. However, with Malcolm's persistence, Cole slowly lowered his guard and began accepting help.
As they worked together, Malcolm started to sense issues in his own life; his wife was growing colder and was increasingly unresponsive to him. During his time with Cole, Malcolm realized an astonishing truth: he was, in fact, dead, transformed into a ghost. His wife was ignoring him because she couldn't see him; Cole could see him only because of his ability.
Ultimately, Dr. Malcolm Crowe accepted his fate and, after sharing a final kiss with his wife, faded into stardust, departing from the world.
*****
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