[Shout out to Roberto Morse D, Jack A, Sean S, and Kevaughn C!]
Hollywood What If Chapter 116
"I apologize, it looks like Kazir Grey never inteo work with us."
Michael Ovitz faced the chairman.
"That's okay. I expected this. From the moment we didn't agree to his terms, I knew Kazir wouldn't choose us. Although it's a waste that Paramount got the Meet The Parents script. I'm very ied in the script. I think it has potential."
"It's written by Kazir Grey, so you're probably right."
The two old men chuckled. Even though their iations with Kazir had failed, it did not affect them. This was business, after all. Kazir Grey might be a talented director, but there were many talented directors in this industry.
Walt Disney could find another director to work with. Maybe they could work with Kazir Grey ime.
'Although I heard that Paramount signed a three-movies deal with Grey Pictures. It's a North Ameri distribution, so we still tact Grey Pictures regarding iional distribution of the film.'
They didn't lose. They didn't even fight. They used Touchstone as a proxy to tact Kazir, but in the end it was futile.
"Ovitz, you saw Taken. What do you think of the movie?"
"It's good. I cheered for the father, it's eaining, and it has a lot of good points, although there are some bad ones. But I think it will not do well, especially if it has the same release date as Air Fore".
Between Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson, Harrison Ford had more fans.
Han Solo of Star Wars.
Rick Deckard from Bde Runner.
Indiana Jones of the Indiana Jones series.
Harrison Ford had more box office appeal than Liam Neeson. Harrison Ford erstar, while Liam Neeson was at best a first-rate actor.
With these facts, the two Michaels believe that Taken had already lost the edge. Maybe Paramount just fucked with Taken by pitting it against Air Fore. Who knows?
The two old men ughed about it.
"Kazir's tant this time. He tried to vince us to dump Harvey Weinstein."
Kazir was too weak to ask for such a thing. Of course, Chairman Eisner would disagree.
"Chairman, don't be like that. I think Kazir is right. We really do o kick the Weinstein brothers out of Miramax and Disney."
"Indeed. But it's not the right time."
They firmed that Harvey Weinstein was siding with the Disney family, and that was bad for Michael Eisner. He wao retain as much authority as possible.
He was the one whht Walt Diso its current status. He is the tyrant Michael Eisner. He even stopped the produ of hand-drawn animation and fired Jeffrey Katzenberg.
From now on, he focused his attention on luring Pixar. He tried to vieve Jobs to sell his Pixar's shares to Walt Disney.
In the middle of their versation, Michael Ovitz received a message from his secretary.
"Chairman, we have a TV here, right?"
"Hm, here's the remote."
Chairman Eisner was fused as to why Ovitz was ied in watg television.
Michael Ovitz ged the el to a news el... As the two Michaels watched the news, they immediately realized they had made a mistake.
[Breaking news: An underage girl missing fht months has been found in Mexico. She had been kidnapped by human traffickers and sold to the Mafia... They found dozens of young Ameri girls in an underground facilities.]
As they watched the news, the two old men were stunned.
"Ovitz, is this a Paramount movie promotion for Taken?"
"I'm afraid not. This is ABC. Our own televisiowork. Paramount has no trol over it. This is real news... I heard that even the President is going to address this problem in his speech."
"Shit."
Chairman Michael Eisner rubbed his forehead. This was a fug ce, a good ce for Paramount!
"Ovitz, when is the release date for Taken again?"
"July 24th, midnight. Three days from now."
Michael Eisner sighed.
"I think we made a mistake."
"..."
This time the two agreed. This news alone was covered by every news el. The missing girl had already bee famous a few months ago, because her disappearance had already beeed by news els.
And now this topic was revived again. The pirl was caught in a crime of human traffig!
That day, the whole of North America dealt with the news reted about the missing girl and the other kidnapped underaged girls.
While this was happening, the movie panies were sighing i. They had lost a big fish!
Who would have thought that the missing girl was actually kidnapped by human traffickers? Moreover, she was rescued along with many underage girls! The news attracted the people of Ameribsp;
This is unfair! The will of heaven was on Kazir's side!
Just like ichael Eishe shots gritted their teeth.
Well, except for the executives at Paramount. They were too busy. This was their ce to cash in!
Three days before the release of Taken, Paramount unched an all-out attack! They used the news of human traffig while promoting Taken.
Paramount's parent pany was Via.
Via was a big media pany and their influence was strong. With their help, the promotion of Taken had a positive response.
Now everyone was ied in seeing the movie!
..........
.......
...
As for Kazir...
"Huh? Did this happen in my past life?"
He was fused because he could not remember if news about human traffig came out at this time of the year. He had no idea.
'Is this part of the butterfly effect? Man, I don't know anymore.'
He just wao start the tial ematiiverse. He was not even hoping for a huge box office for Taken.
But with this... The movie might exceed his expectations.
[Author's his is the reason why having advanced chapters is the best, you easily add foreshadows.]