Chapter 442: The Rock Released
[Chapter 442: The Rock Released]
After leaving Miami, Link returned to Los Angeles to continue managing his company and film projects. Occasionally, he flew to Seattle to visit Monica and other pregnant women, doing his best to take on the responsibilities of a father.
---
By May, the summer movie season of 1997 arrived.
Guess Pictures had six films releasing this summer, including The Rock, The Devil's Advocate, My Best Friend's Wedding, Out of Sight, Primal Fear, and Final Destination 3.
Additionally, Guess Pictures collaborated with Columbia on L.A. Confidential and 12 Monkeys, and with New Line Cinema on Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and The Long Kiss Goodnight.
...
Due to rumors circulating in the industry about Michael Ovitz's deceptive plan against Guess Pictures, The Rock attracted a lot of attention before its release. Everyone was curious about what it would bring.
"Lose money! Lose money! It must lose money!" Harvey shouted in his office.
"It's said The Rock was a script carefully selected by Michael Ovitz over two years. Hopefully, his plan will succeed," Barry Diller laughed.
"Who knows if it will work, but hopefully God is on our side," Ron Meyer devoutly looked up at the sky.
"Guess Pictures has grown too fast these past few years. If we can make them lose tens of millions, it will slow their growth," Sherry Lansing said.
"It's about to be released, I hope my two million investment was not wasted," Michael Ovitz squinted and spoke.
...
"Link, do you think our movie will lose money? I've heard a lot of bad rumors. Some say this movie is a trap by Michael Ovitz against you, and it will definitely lose money after release. Have you heard?" At the premiere, Nicolas Cage nervously asked.
"Don't worry, this will be a good movie," Link assured.
...
Amid great anticipation from everyone, The Rock was released. The distribution went smoothly, and in its first week, across 2,847 theaters, it grossed $51.33 million, easily topping the weekly box office.
Second place went to Fox's disaster film Volcano, which opened in 2,774 theaters with $18.45 million. Despite a $90 million production budget, the opening was considered poor compared to costs.
Third place was New Line Cinema's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, earning $13.55 million with a modest $17 million budget. This was a decent start.
Fourth place went to Liar Liar, making $6.15 million this week and accumulating $172 million in North America.
Fifth was Fight Club, with $3.24 million, totaling $25.07 million in box office receipts.
...
"$51.33 million?"
"How is this possible?"
"Wasn't The Rock supposed to be a garbage script carefully selected by Michael Ovitz? Why is the opening so high?"
"Haha, $51.33 million opening? This isn't a trap; it's a gift."
"All this anticipation for nothing. Ovitz is really unreliable."
"Link got lucky with this one."
When the weekly box office results came out, many were stunned, their faces showing disbelief.
...
"Damn! How did it make so much?"
Harvey's face turned dark as he saw the first week box office for The Rock. He cursed for over ten minutes in his office until exhausted.
When initially choosing investment projects, Link had invited him to invest in The Rock. But having heard from Ovitz in advance that there were issues with the film, Harvey declined, instead choosing to invest in Fight Club.
Now, The Rock was a huge box office success while Fight Club's box office was growing slowly.
If he had chosen the former, he would probably be happily accepting congratulations now.
Too bad!
...
"Link is such a cunning bastard," Michael Ovitz muttered as his expression changed repeatedly upon receiving the box office data.
The Rock had a production cost of $75 million, grossed $51.33 million in its first week, with an expected North American box office of over $200 million and global box office at least $400 million. Link and Guess Pictures would earn over $100 million from this film.
Ovitz was actually the biggest contributor to this success; Link and Guess Pictures should have been grateful to him.
But before the box office results came out, Link had forced him to donate $2 million.
Link was too ruthless.
Ovitz clenched his teeth in anger.
...
Ring ring~~
With a dark face, Ovitz answered the phone. It was Michael Eisner, scolding him for not keeping such a great movie project within the company but instead giving it to Guess Pictures. It was a pity.
Ovitz's expression grew even worse.
Eisner wasn't calling to mock but to remind him to congratulate Link and not to take the matter personally.
Ovitz reluctantly agreed.
...
Link was at a celebratory party at a hotel when he received the call. Hearing Ovitz reluctantly offer congratulations, he just smiled and didn't mind.
Guess Pictures secured a profitable project with The Rock, and Ovitz had some credit for it. Link didn't mind giving credit where it was due.
"Link! You here!"
At the party, Steve Jobs came over to greet.
"Steve, congrats on your return to Apple. The king's return in novels should be someone like you," Link joked.
After Pixar went public last year, he and Jobs controlled over half of Apple's shares. However, due to personal reasons, Jobs was reluctant to return to Apple.
By April, Apple's situation worsened, with market value dropping to about $1.8 billion. The original board was nearly hopeless and strongly urged Jobs to return.
Later, with Link's arrangement, Apple acquired Jobs's NeXT Computer for $300 million. After the acquisition, Jobs officially announced his return as chairman and CEO.
Though Apple didn't immediately improve, its stock price stopped falling.
Today, Jobs hosted a party at Apple's headquarters to announce company plans. Link attended to listen.
Not very versed in computer tech or market sales, Link mostly listened during meetings and chats, rarely voicing opinions. But he shared more when talking alone with Jobs, especially on Apple's mobile phone research.
In the past decade, Apple's computer sales plummeted, market share dropping from 18% in 1987 to 3%. After losing the computer market, overtaking giants like IBM, HP, and Dell was very difficult.
But with mobile communications growing, mobile phone penetration was increasing and might become ubiquitous decades later.
From a sci-fi writer's perspective, Link suggested combining personal computers and mobile phones research, designing a more elegant mobile phone or mini-computer that was easier to carry and had better signal reception.
If Apple succeeded, it could make a leap forward to lead the global mobile communication market.
Jobs was interested and promised to invest in this area, though he didn't intend to give up on the laptop market, confident in surpassing Microsoft and others.
*****
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