Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 335: Sandra Bullock's Unspeakable Secret]

After a week of being in theaters, the box office numbers were out.

This week's box office champion was Waterworld, which earned a disappointing $31.38 million in its first week across 2,547 theaters -- a far cry from the expected $50 million. The film received poor reviews, as many critics pointed out its flawed plot design. It lacked the entertainment value typical of commercial films, feeling more like an art piece along the lines of Dances with Wolves, which made it difficult for general audiences to digest.

Many film critics admitted they had high hopes before its release, only to walk away disappointed. The Shawshank Redemption ranked second at the box office, bringing in $18.27 million. In stark contrast to Waterworld, this film garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews. In its first week, it earned over a 95 from 27 media outlets, widely being viewed as a must-see for men and touted as the best film of the summer.

Famed critic Roger Ebert publicly endorsed the film, declaring it the best of the year and a classic that would go down in cinema history. He had previously supported The Butterfly Effect and was now backing Shawshank. There were whispers that his support was influenced by his connection with Guess Pictures, leading some to question his objectivity.

Despite the rumors, Ebert maintained that his recommendation came from a place of genuine belief in the film's quality, insisting it deserved recognition. Alongside him, other notable critics like Rudin Batchelor, Justin, and Will Rogers expressed their admiration for Shawshank, calling it the best of the year. Thanks to its glowing reviews, Shawshank saw a modest increase in its second week, raking in $24.19 million and reclaiming the top spot at the box office.

Waterworld, meanwhile, dropped to second place with a disappointing $19.06 million, suffering a staggering 42% decline.

...

"How could it drop this much?" asked Ron Meyer of Universal Pictures as he glanced at the reports, his face a mask of concern. The company had projected Waterworld to score around $200 million in North America, but with current trends, hitting even $100 million seemed unlikely. If that happened, the losses on the project would exceed $100 million -- a grim prospect indeed.

"The main issue is the intense competition this summer," said Kathy Seymour, Universal's Vice President. "Shawshank Redemption has received high praise, and its box office performance has been stable. Plus, films like The Bridges of Madison County, Apollo 13, The Butterfly Effect, and Die Hard with a Vengeance are still performing strong, putting immense pressure on our film."

Ron understood her implication -- that all the current films were good, and the subpar performance of Waterworld was inevitable given its quality.

"Can we ramp up the advertising to boost the numbers?" he asked.

"It's going to be tough," Kathy replied. "The competition is strong, and there are more blockbusters set to release soon. Even if we increase our promotional efforts, the chances of recouping losses are slim, and it could end up costing us more."

Sighing, Ron regretted the decision to push for a summer release against Guess Pictures' films. Had he not made that choice, there may not have been such overwhelming competition, allowing Waterworld to perform better at the box office. Unfortunately, the die had been cast, and there was no turning back now.

---

"Cut!"

In a downtown Washington filming location, Link stood behind the monitor, scrutinizing the footage of the just-completed take. Once he confirmed it was good, he waved his hand, signifying it was a wrap.

"Yay!!" cheered dozens of crew members in response to his call.

After over a month of travel through six cities and over a hundred locations, their hard work and Link's demanding standards had left everyone feeling the pressure. With the last set of shots completed, the crew finally had a chance to unwind and rest.

...

"Finally done!" Matt Damon exclaimed as he flopped to the ground, grinning at his sun-kissed skin and calloused hands.

"Here, have a beer." Mark Wahlberg handed him a can.

"Thanks!" Matt took a swig, burping long before saying, "Last time Ben Affleck finished filming Batman Forever, he was down for days. I didn't get why back then, but now I totally get it -- working with Link is no walk in the park."

Mark chuckled. "I felt that when I was on The Butterfly Effect. Wait, you shot The Blair Witch Project with Link."

"Not the same. With Blair Witch, Link wanted us to just be ourselves -- minimal acting, no pressure. This time, every shot, every performance, every little nuance had to be perfect. It's a whole different ballgame," Matt shook his head. "It's so hard."

Mark smiled and took a hearty gulp of his beer as he noticed Sandra approaching Link with a water bottle.

...

"Link, the film's done, you should really take a break," Sandra said. "You've shot two movies already this year -- it's exhausting."

Sandra walked up to Link, gazing at him with affection. Originally, he hadn't planned on directing this film; she had convinced him to take on the project after much persuasion. Link's busy schedule was entirely because of her.

"You've been working hard too. Once the editing is done, we should take a vacation in Hawaii," he suggested, wiping the sweat from his brow with a towel after removing his cap.

"I think I'll pass. I don't want to take the chance away from them. I've been with you every day this month; they're already jealous. If I tagged along with you to the island, they might throw me overboard!" she joked, laughter lighting up her face.

"I didn't know you were such a good sport. That's quite a nice quality," Link replied.

"Of course! We're all friends here; I wouldn't want to feast while they starve," she said, playfully patting her chest with a confident smile.

...

Nearby, Milla Jovovich listened to their exchange, secretly rolling her eyes. Sandra's reason for skipping the vacation had little to do with being gracious. She had been receiving a lot of Link's attention lately and was self-conscious as her body underwent noticeable changes. Concerned that gaining weight might hinder her performances, she resolved to find time to slim down.

Milla glanced at Sandra's curvy figure -- one of the most eye-catching among her friends. But she wasn't envious. Since moving into Link's villa, her previously thin frame had also started filling out thanks to his care; she was sure it wouldn't be long before she felt as confident as Sandra.

...

"Hey, Milla, The Fifth Element starts filming soon. There's a lot of action in that movie, so keep up with your training. It'll make things a lot smoother when we shoot," Link said.

"I got it, I'll train hard," Milla replied with a smile.

The Fifth Element was a collaborative project between Guess Pictures and Columbia Pictures, officially in the works. Directed by Luc Besson, it was set to star Bruce Willis, with seasoned actors Gary Oldman and Ian Holm in supporting roles. And Milla would be the film's leading lady.

This was her first time stepping into the lead role of an action blockbuster, and the pressure was substantial. Thankfully, with Link's guidance, she found herself feeling more confident about nailing the character.

As the crew wrapped up filming for The Net, Link led them back to Los Angeles.

*****

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