Chapter 99: Pressure of Momentum and Packaged Actor
[Chapter 99: Pressure of Momentum and Packaged Actor]
Jason Trumm was so kind-hearted that Charlie certainly couldn't ignore him. Fortunately, Corleone Studios had recently recruited many talented industry professionals. The production and operations teams kept discussing, while Charlie occasionally chimed in. With Patrick's involvement, they finally came up with a basic bidding proposal. All of this was still a learning process for the Corleone Entertainment Group executives, including Charlie.
Etto put down his pen, leaning back in his chair with a frustrated look. He asked uncertainly, "Guys, the plan looks pretty rough. We don't have clear target audience goals or advertising effects specified, and we haven't nailed down when the ads will appear during the movie. Do you think the advertisers are going to be happy with this?"
James Gunn, representing the screenwriting team that had written Wrong Turn, having gotten familiar with the company pace, joked, "Hell, we don't even have a pool party! Who will make the advertisers happy?"
This guy, glasses perched on his nose, often looked like a nerdy college kid, but privately, like the other two male writers Jon Favreau and Garen Sali, he was actually a bit of a sly joker. Now and then, he'd throw out some sly double entendres.
James finished and grinned while sizing up the production and operations colleagues.
"Oh, enough James. You look so delicate and pale -- you're perfect company for that!" a large, bearded man joked.
"Heh, that's right!"
Everyone laughed and teased each other.
Charlie looked on with a smile but didn't stop them.
A newcomer to the company also joined in but cautiously glanced at the big boss.
Charlie sternly snapped, "Don't look at me like that." Then, breaking the tension with a joke, "You're not seriously planning to have me entertain those crappy advertisers, right?"
Amid the ruckus, Charlie pondered for a moment, then laughed. "I get it now. Looks like we really need to hire more women? You guys are just bored. Also, I might have to throw a pool party after all."
"To the boss!" everyone clapped and cheered excitedly.
"Charlie, you've got to let me arrange that -- I'm good at it now!" Etto said eagerly.
Seeing the cheerful atmosphere, Patrick felt even more inclined to join Corleone.
After a while, everyone packed up their documents and went to nearby sofas to rest.
Charlie stood up holding a kitten, patted Etto on the shoulder, and said to him and Patrick, "Don't worry, our ad plan may be simple, but the people involved were introduced by Jason Trumm. As long as it's not a scam, they won't mind."
...
Just as Charlie said.
After a more than one-hour break, everyone reconvened in the cleaned-up conference room.
Charlie personally led the team to greet the representatives from various companies arriving from far away. The companies were mostly local Canadian firms, especially from the Calgary area. There was a hamburger joint from Vancouver, Maple Leaf Soda, Clean Shampoo, Anatole Furniture, and so on. The biggest was just a small, relatively unknown Perth-based internet news platform owned by the Globe and Mail.
"Hi, Mr. Corleone."
"Hello, Mr. Corleone -- you look really young!"
"We're very glad to cooperate with Corleone Entertainment Group. We look forward to having our products featured in Hollywood films."
The business reps were very friendly. Besides expressing surprise at Charlie's youth, their conversation showed real willingness for cooperation.
Members of Corleone Studios felt both happy and a bit disappointed.
These companies didn't seem very powerful.
Their doubts were justified, but it didn't really matter. As long as they paid for advertising, for a project like Wrong Turn, it was a significant success!
Both sides quickly got to the point and started discussing collaboration details.
The deeper into the talks, the more the other side's uncertainties came to light.
They didn't fuss over whether the ads had close-up shots or how long the ads would appear in the film. Beyond requesting that their products appear a few times for several seconds each, the biggest concern among advertisers was --
The deputy editor of the Perth News platform, flipping through the plan that had just been printed, asked gravely, "Mr. Corleone, we have never marketed a film before, but we know that big hits usually start promotion several months in advance. Your film Wrong Turn plans to release November 15th, which is just one month away!"
Other advertisers nodded in agreement.
That was indeed a problem.
Etto said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I can answer that. Trust me, we've considered everything. Wrong Turn is adapted from a novel by Charlie himself, published two months ago with steadily rising sales. Also, we will tie in with the Park City homicide case for publicity. Jason Trumm will get support from local officers, citizens, and media. It's a nationwide sensational social story, but its peak is fading. We must seize the moment. If we wait until next year, it'll be too late."
Patrick Whitesell added, "So, actually, our film promotion started alongside the Park City homicide, which has been going on for about half a year."
"But just one month of production time?" the deputy editor still hesitated.
Charlie held the kitten in his arms and smiled, "Corleone Entertainment Group is new, but please trust that we have very complete production and distribution capabilities. We cooperate not only with Miramax but also get excellent talent from CAA.
With a solid shooting plan, one month is enough for a low-budget thriller like this. The few special effects, makeup, and props were prepared well in advance.
Likewise, the horror film Scream, releasing in December this year, was actually filmed in only one month. I was involved with that film."
Corleone's professional statement finally convinced the advertisers.
Of course, the crucial factors were the finished film guarantees and professional contracts.
Having a third-party major insurance company -- the Firefighters Fund -- on board, plus Jason Trumm's connections, was the real reason for their trust.
"Well then, cheers to our cooperation, Mr. Corleone! Don't forget to send me an invitation for the premiere on November 12!" the Maple Leaf beverage sales director said with a smile.
"Of course!" Charlie led his side to stand, shaking hands, embracing, and raising champagne glasses again to celebrate.
...
"Wow!"
"To the boss!"
"Man, a small unknown low-budget thriller, a little startup film company -- and we got $3.12 million in product placement money!"
After sending off the advertisers, the Corleone team in the conference room shouted excitedly, celebrating enthusiastically!
Yes, this was clearly a huge triumph for Corleone Entertainment Group, which was a big encouragement for the startup!
At the same time, it brought enormous pressure.
The film had to be released by early December at the latest.
Such a short production cycle demanded a successful movie!
No company outside of the Big Six studios would dare to guarantee that.
While everyone celebrated, Patrick Whitesell looked at Charlie with a wry smile. This guy always liked to push himself to the edge.
And in fact, Charlie wasn't just busy with this film -- he had countless other tasks to handle.
People only saw a shameless, brilliant young man rising miraculously.
They didn't see his extremely hard work.
Charlie had no time to care about Patrick's concern; otherwise, with his wild imagination, who knows what ridiculous things he'd imagine.
...
After the celebrations died down a bit, Charlie looked quite relaxed, clapped his hands, and said, "Guys, the pool party will have to wait until Christmas break. For now, you all need to get some rest at home. Starting tomorrow, everyone has to get going -- promotion, production, and countless tasks awaiting us! I'll personally participate in the actor auditions as well!"
"Yes sir!"
Etto beamed, straightened up, and led everyone in a gentlemanly bow, "At your command, my Godfather!"
Everyone else joined in the playful banter.
Patrick looked a bit strange, helped scoop up the kitten from the table, and handed it to Charlie, leaning in to whisper, "By the way, boss, there's some news. CAA provided a candidate actor for this packager project."
"Who?" Charlie looked puzzled. Was this actor someone big, or did they have a strange background?
"Uh, her name is Rachel Weisz!"
"Wait, what?" Charlie froze.
*****
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