Chapter Forty-Four: Hollywood in Low Spirits

Although being swindled by White Pictures was infuriating, putting oneself in their shoes made it easy to understand—they had every reason to be angry. They had already swallowed the bitter pill of a hefty revenue split; what truly enraged them was his attitude toward the film. If he’d simply refused outright, that would have been one thing, but to halfheartedly take on the project and then brush it aside—why provoke such a figure if you didn’t believe in the movie in the first place?

And now, the Big Seven in Hollywood looked like a bunch of fools, with his own company topping the list as chief fool. The film hadn’t even left theaters yet, breaking new records every day, and every day more people spat on their name. The shareholders, those cursed shareholders, were eager to tear Albert to pieces—the losses this debacle had brought were staggering. Their own productions were underwhelming, and without others to distribute, the company might well collapse.

They were the unluckiest of the lot, but the others didn’t fare much better. Envy, jealousy, and resentment were inevitable. How could a film with a production budget of just a few million amount to anything? Did they really believe today’s audience was made up of fools?

And then there were the damned reporters, who actually asked them to guess the box office of William White’s next film.

Would you dare? I certainly wouldn’t.

Three million for a production budget—how could anyone venture a guess? Films of this scale weren’t even within his purview; at best, a project manager might take a look.

Having reviewed the cast, William White was reasonably satisfied, and the Home Alone crew was officially launched.

This time, the operation was much more professional. Though still a makeshift troupe in spirit, the staffing was becoming increasingly standardized.

“Boss, Jason’s on the line.” This was Linda, the company’s secretary. Though her features were pleasant enough, she was far too slender for his taste. Still, she brewed a decent cup of coffee, so William White let it slide.

In America, never get involved with someone at the office—it’s a risky move. If you need close personal attention, hire a personal assistant instead.

Assistants were a different story entirely. They were usually selected with great care, lacking in complicated family or social backgrounds, and only after signing countless lopsided agreements would anything else transpire.

Of course, the pay for such a job was extremely high, and many people clamored for it. William White had no need for one at the moment—he could still take care of himself, but who knew about the future.

“Alright, Linda, put him through for me and bring me a cup of coffee.”

“Yes, sir.” The pretty secretary swayed her way out.

“Damn it, Jason, I asked for a German Shepherd, not a Husky.”

“Huh? Did I say it wrong? Impossible! My German is excellent!”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, are you planning to get a shepherd straight from Germany?” William White was speechless as the little pup sent to him continued to act adorable.

“Fine, fine, bad luck for me. You didn’t do this on purpose, did you?”

“Boss, what’s a Husky?”

“It’s a very mischievous creature. From now on, he’ll be called Jason,” William White grinned wickedly.

“No, boss, give him back to me. I’ll keep him at the farm.”

“Alright, alright, I give in. He’ll be called Jerry, and the cat will be Jason.”

“No, the cat’s breed is perfect—a classic American shorthair, very lively.”

“Sigh, fine, he’ll be Tommy then.”

“Boss, do you still want your German Shepherd? I can ask my German friends again.”

“No, one Husky is enough trouble. If I had a pack, they’d tear my villa to pieces.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“This little guy can’t be left alone. Otherwise, he’ll destroy everything.”

“Haha, come on, my friend said he’s very obedient.”

William White could only shake his head as the Husky rubbed against him relentlessly. He was reluctant to send it away.

Pets are all about that first impression. If you find one adorable, even the ugliest will seem wonderful.

“Jerry, come on, go clean yourself up.”

Huskies are truly adorable as puppies, pulling every kind of antic. But as they grow, they start wrecking the house.

If you’re home all day, their mischief is just a protest at not being included in your activities—they really are like children. Only, their destructive power far exceeds that of any child; nothing is safe from their jaws.

The little one in his arms was also well-behaved, even purring contentedly. Normally, a kitten in a strange environment would struggle to adjust, needing several days to settle in. But this cat showed no such signs, perfectly at ease in his presence.

After a few days’ rest, William White took the crew to Toronto. The two little ones had to stay behind—it was much better for them here. They were simply too young to endure a long flight. If only he had his own plane, it would be much simpler; as long as the owner was nearby, everything would be fine.

Police Academy had been screening for over a month. Though the box office was starting to dip, it was already a phenomenal success, having surpassed a hundred million—a level even Superman had only just managed.

If the final box office topped one hundred and fifty million, the film’s return on investment would be nothing short of miraculous.

Even adding in the promotional costs, the total wouldn’t surpass ten million, giving a fifteen-hundred percent return, not to mention the considerable profits still to come from overseas markets and merchandise.

American film revenues are complex. In the first week, movie theaters typically take ten to fifteen percent, depending on attendance rates—the lower the attendance, the higher the cut for the theater.

Overseas box office returns are not as lucrative. Achieving a thirty percent return is already impressive, and in many cases, the rights are simply bought out, leaving profit or loss unrelated to the producers.

But for a blockbuster, it’s a different story; buyouts are out of the question—such talk is pure fantasy.

When it comes to consumer power, Americans are indeed unrivaled, and North America is naturally the biggest source of profit.

What’s certain now is that Police Academy will ultimately net over a hundred million dollars. If luck holds, one hundred and twenty million isn’t out of the question.

For Hollywood, video rentals are also a significant income stream. If you reach the heights of Star Wars, subsequent income can even surpass box office takings.

William White had no intention of competing with Star Wars—and he couldn’t, even if he tried. Nevertheless, he had every reason to be proud. After all, Star Wars was in a league of its own—there might not be another like it for decades.

He knew full well that Lucas had lived off that one film for a lifetime—his achievements needed no further explanation. Only Marvel International could be considered a peer.

In fact, for many, Police Academy was even more appealing. Star Wars was extraordinary, but its investment was equally massive—if you didn’t have a hundred million, you’d best not even think about it.

Hollywood’s frustrations were none of William White’s concern. For now, he needed to keep working to fatten his own wallet. Despite rampant inflation, the dollar’s purchasing power was still formidable.