"Hey, darling, you're up so early?" Dunn was awakened by the sound of the door closing, and in a daze, she saw Kate Winslet walking over in a rose-red low-cut nightgown, holding a document in her hand.
Kate frowned, "Dunn , we're friends, call me Kate."
"Okay, Kate, what's in your hand?" Dunn yawned and stretched. Last night was a bit crazy.
A smile crossed Kate's face, "It's a fax and newspaper delivered by the maid. Fox sent them over early in the morning."
"Oh?" Dunn became a little interested, "How much is the advance screening box office?"
"$6.15 million."
"Ah? That little?" Dunn was slightly startled. This was quite a gap from the tens of millions of advance screening box office figures in later generations.
Kate said angrily, "That's still little? It's only a little less than 'Jurassic Park'..."
"Okay, Kate!" Dunn was a bit displeased, "'Jurassic Park' can't be compared to my movie at all! Forget it, you wouldn't understand anyway. Don't worry, just wait and see the box office."
Kate pouted, not annoyed. The movie she starred in was about to succeed, and she was feeling happy, "Do you want to read the newspaper? All the newspapers have good reviews!"
Dunn smiled, "Come on, Kate! Do you think Fox would send someone to deliver newspapers with bad reviews? Okay, you read, I'll listen."
Kate rolled her eyes playfully. She enjoyed the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of being with Dunn . "'Los Angeles Times' film critic Kenneth Turan's column says this movie is a love story that transcends its time."
"'Before this, whether it was 'Lolita' or 'Before Sunrise', the love themes expressed in those movies were subtle and hazy. Only in 'Titanic', the male and female protagonists boldly express their love, chase, and kiss, expressing their love unrestrainedly.'"
"'The love depicted in the film has no gap between rich and poor, no barriers of status, pursues love at first sight, and longs for a momentary burning passion. This is a universal concept of love that applies globally. I believe that with the emergence of 'Titanic', Hollywood romance films will experience a significant change in direction.'"
Dunn smiled, "This guy has a good eye. He's right. Future Hollywood romance films will definitely use me as the standard!"
"Shameless!"
Kate scolded playfully and continued reading, "This is Andrew O'Hehir's review in 'The Washington Post'. He says 'Titanic' adheres to two beliefs: business on the left, love on the right. Love and disaster are the two major themes of the film, but the cruel disaster becomes so insignificant in the face of great love. This is a fairy tale about love, courage, faith, and sacrifice, and it will surely move the tears of people all over the world.'"
"That short?"
"No, I just picked a small paragraph. Do you still want to listen?"
"Yes! Continue!"
Kate pursed her lips and smiled, flipping through a few newspapers. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she showed expressions of surprise and amazement, "I can't believe Mr. Joe Morgenstern also published a review!"
"Joe Morgenstern? Who's that?" Dunn had never heard of this person.
Kate glanced at him with a bit of disdain, "You don't even know him? He was one of the greatest film critics from the sixties to the eighties! Do you know that back then, many independent films could only be shown in theaters if they received a word of praise from him!"
"That impressive?" Dunn knew that film critics held great power in Hollywood in the past few decades, "What did he say?"
Kate cleared her throat, "'Hollywood has a short history, from silent to sound, from black and white to color. Hollywood has driven the development of film art. This is definitely not the achievement of one or two individuals, but the joint effort of a large group of entrepreneurs, inventors, producers, directors, and actors.'"
Just from the beginning, Dunn was excited.
The tone was so high!
"'Past films, if artistic, were full of implicitness, and if commercial, were bold and direct. It was difficult to achieve an ideal balance, which is also the reason why many film critics sneer at Hollywood movies today. After the nineties, the commercialization of Hollywood movies gradually rose, and a series of box office hits such as 'The Rock' and 'Independence Day' were born. However, upon closer inspection, one always feels that there is more shock than reflection.'"
"'If Hollywood continues to develop in this direction, then Hollywood, which leads the global film trend, will inevitably exist in name only. It wasn't until last night when I watched 'Titanic', produced by James Cameron and directed by Dunn Walker, that I finally had an epiphany.'"
"'Commerce and art are definitely not mutually exclusive! Special effects and huge investments cannot change the core that a film should have. Having advanced computer technology to create magnificent scenes is something that was unimaginable in the past few decades, but now it has been realized. However, Hollywood cannot develop unilaterally; diversity, inclusivity, and seeking common ground while reserving differences are the laws of survival for Hollywood.'"
"'Titanic' is a landmark. I can't confirm the final box office numbers, but I'm certain that the era of special effects and blockbusters has arrived. I just hope that filmmakers can keep a clear head, not be swayed by capital, and make works that truly align with the Hollywood spirit."
"'I'm grateful to James Cameron and Dunn Walker, as well as Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. They've ushered in a new era for Hollywood. I hold onto the hope that even though the past is gone, the Hollywood spirit needs to be carried forward. The era of special effects is inevitable, but films like 'Titanic' are enough to make every Hollywood film enthusiast feel deep respect.'"
Seeing Dunn 's silence, Kate whispered, "Dunn ? Are you okay?"
Dunn was startled and shook his head with a wry smile.
Undoubtedly, this older generation film critic had deep feelings for film and Hollywood, fearing that Hollywood movies would go down a path of superficial visuals.
But the future... wasn't it the world of popcorn movies?
The trend was irreversible, or rather, the power of capital was too strong.
"Capital!"
Dunn narrowed his eyes, realizing a profound truth.
Everyone said that the landscape of Hollywood couldn't be changed, with the six major film companies dividing the world, but was that really the case?
Even the Hollywood spirit could be gradually eroded by powerful capital, let alone the film companies controlled by capital?
Dunn laughed. Perhaps the ideal wasn't so far out of reach!
...
Fox's president, Tom Rothman, was in a bad mood. He had severely underestimated the power of 'Titanic.'
His assistant had just reported that in major theaters across the US, 'Titanic' had become the most sensational film. Not only were tickets hard to come by, but even the booking phone lines were tied up for the next two or three days.
Such a situation wasn't unprecedented.
'Jurassic Park'!
Back then, Steven Spielberg's film caused a worldwide sensation, and now 'Titanic' seemed to be its replica.
"A long and boring disaster movie, how can it be so popular?" Tom Rothman angrily slammed the table, his eyes darting around darkly. "No! We can't let Bill Mechanic make a comeback!"
If 'Titanic' succeeded, then Bill Mechanic's unique vision and keen judgment would surely shine throughout Fox, earning him the appreciation of the group's headquarters. At that point, it would be difficult to remove him from his position.
But Spielberg's 'Jurassic Park 2' wouldn't be released for another month, and Luc Besson's 'The Fifth Element' simply couldn't compete with the power of 'Titanic.'
"Perhaps... it's time for a scandal to erupt." As a high-ranking executive at Fox, Tom Rothman naturally couldn't directly sabotage his own company's film. However, as a figure at the top of the Hollywood pyramid, who didn't have a few connections?
"Henry, do me a favor..."
Tom Rothman dialed his private phone.