Redoing My Life (Modern Family)

BATMAN BEGINS TRAILER

Duration: 2:00 minutes

For Stardust Board

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[0:00 – 0:15]

The screen fades from black to a dimly lit corridor. Bruce Wayne (Jensen Ackles) steps into what looks like a Buddhist temple. The sound of creaking wooden doors echoes ominously through the darkness. A haunting melody from a single string instrument begins to play softly, atmospheric and eerie.

[0:16 – 0:25]

As Bruce steps further inside, the massive doors slam shut behind him with a thunderous boom, reverberating in the silence. 

The screen fades to black, and the logos for Stardust Studios and DC Studios appear faintly, glowing softly before dissolving into darkness.

[0:26 – 0:40]

Bruce walks through a dimly lit corridor, his silhouette framed by faint torchlight. Jensen Ackles' voice cuts in:

Voiceover (Jensen Ackles):

"I seek the means to fight injustice. To turn fear against those who prey on the fearful."

[0:41 – 0:55]

A rapid montage of Bruce's journey:

Bruce trekking through snow-covered mountain landscapes.

The bustling streets of a foreign city, where Bruce watches, unseen from the shadows.

The music builds, transitioning to a deeper, rhythmic tempo.

[0:56 – 1:10]

The screen darkens. Glimpses of Bruce in a Bhutan prison appear, his breath visible in the cold. A shadowy figure looms—a hint of Ra's al Ghul—but his face remains hidden. Bruce spars against multiple opponents in the League's training grounds, each move precise and brutal.

Voiceover (Liam Neeson):

"If you make yourself more than just a man, you become something else entirely."

[1:11 – 1:25]

The screen fades to black again, punctuated by Jenson's voice:

Voiceover (Jensen Ackles):

"What is that?"

A close-up of Ra's al Ghul stepping forward, still obscured in shadow.

Voiceover (Liam Neeson):

"A legend, Mr. Wayne."

[1:26 – 1:45]

Explosions erupt in the Narrows as chaos engulfs Gotham. The Tumbler roars through the city streets, its tires kicking up debris. A close-up shows Batman's gloved hand gripping a grappling hook launcher. The music swells dramatically, blending with the roar of the Tumbler and distant explosions.

[1:46 – 1:55]

The music crescendos as the screen reveals a breathtaking shot of Batman standing atop Wayne Tower, his cape billowing in the wind. Gotham City sprawls below, illuminated by the glow of countless lights. Batman's silhouette is striking against the dark, star-filled sky.

[1:56 – 2:00]

The release date flashes in bold white letters:

MAY 3, 2013

====

I turned away from the large TV to face the rest of the table where the board members of Stardust Studios sat. "And that's it—the trailer for Batman Begins," I said, clasping my hands together.

There was polite applause around the room, with murmurs of approval rippling through the group. I took my seat next to Dave, leaning back slightly as I gauged their reactions.

"Looks great, Mr. Adler," one of the board members said, nodding. A chorus of agreement followed.

Becky Thompson, the CFO, was the next to speak. "I have to say, the most impressive part is that the movie was finished well within budget. That's no small feat."

Dave nodded, giving a tight-lipped smile. "Well, we did promise. And just to add to the excitement, we'll be holding a private screening for all of you next month."

Chris Henderson, the CEO, sat at the head of the table. He folded his hands and spoke with a measured tone. "It's been quite a profitable year, especially with Toy Story 3 exceeding expectations. The increased revenue has significantly boosted our profit margin…"

I felt my attention waning as Chris launched into a detailed breakdown of numbers and charts. While important, the specifics about quarterly earnings and cost allocations weren't exactly riveting. My mind wandered back to the trailer—it looked fantastic, and with the public release tomorrow, I could barely contain my excitement. I hadn't been sleeping much—too anxious and too thrilled about the potential response.

"Daniel," a voice called, pulling me back into the room. It was Victor, who was talking about the animated projects.

"Mr. Adler," Victor continued, "as you know, you've been instrumental in forging our partnership with Netflix."

Before I could respond, one of the older board members, a man whose age seemed to predate TVs themselves, scoffed slightly. "This streaming thing… I don't see it taking off. DVDs have been our bread and butter for years. Why shift focus?"

I rolled my eyes subtly, maintaining a diplomatic tone. "We're not abandoning DVDs," I began. "The plan is to release on Netflix earlier to capitalize on the streaming trend while maintaining traditional releases. It's a good deal. Netflix and streaming in general are the future."

The man waved a dismissive hand. "People have been saying that about every so-called innovation in the last few years. It's just a passing fad."

I leaned forward, fixing him with a steady gaze. "With respect, whether it's a fad or not, we stand to make money either way. And we'd be foolish to ignore the direction the market is heading."

Chris chimed in, his voice firm. "Mr. Adler is correct. Diversifying our distribution ensures we're prepared for whatever direction the industry takes. Netflix is a partner, not a replacement for our existing model."

The board murmured again, with a few nodding in agreement. The older member still looked skeptical, but he didn't press further.

One of the board members leaned forward, clearing his throat. "Let's talk about more important matters. We've spent $150 million on Batman Begins. The question is, how much are we expecting to return?"

Dave leaned back, his calm demeanor steady. "Well," he began, "the last Marvel movie made around $500 million globally. Given the strength of the Batman IP, we're conservatively expecting about $700 million."

I turned to Dave, trying not to look too incredulous. Conservative was an understatement—he was lowballing it, hard.

"Gentlemen, ladies," I said, straightening up in my seat. "I think Dave is… being cautious."

Becky raised an eyebrow. "And what do you think, Mr. Adler?"

I let a slight smile cross my face. "I think we'll easily cross a billion."

A ripple of gasps spread through the room. Some exchanged surprised glances, while others leaned in with interest.

"A billion?" Becky repeated, her tone skeptical.

"Why not?" I countered. "The last movies to hit that mark were the Harry Potter movie and Alice in Wonderland. If they can do it, you think Batman—a globally recognized and beloved character—can't?"

Victor spoke up, nodding in agreement. "Mr. Adler is correct. We've seen reports showing even casual moviegoers are excited about this film. The recent Marvel movies have reignited the public's interest in superhero films."

The room hummed with murmurs of excitement.

I took the momentum and ran with it. "We've made a great movie," I said, leaning forward slightly. "And you fine gentlemen and ladies will see that for yourselves next month. And we have two more in the works—Wonder Woman and, of course, the big one: Superman."

I paused, letting my words hang in the air for a moment. "This is going to be bigger than the superhero boom of the '80s. We're on the cusp of something massive, and we'd be fools not to seize it. When it's all said and done, we'll all be swimming in dollars." I spread my hands, a confident grin on my face. "Isn't that what we all want?"

The murmurs grew louder, this time with an even greater sense of excitement.

Chris, Dave, and Victor exchanged smiles, clearly pleased with how I'd roused the room.

I turned my attention to Becky, whose cautious demeanor had softened. "I know our CFO has been concerned about the money situation after next year. But I assure you, Becky—this will be a thing of the past."

Becky tilted her head, still skeptical but visibly intrigued. "Let's hope you're right, Mr. Adler," she said.

"Oh, I know I am," I replied, sitting down, earning some laughs.

There was more discussion on current projects—Sam gave an update on the big project which was it, and The Revenant was mentioned, though Stardust's role in it had been reduced. Soon the meeting wound down, but there was one more matter on the agenda, something I was looking forward to.

"There's been a suggestion by Mr. Steele and Mr. Adler to consider opening a new division within the company," Chris said.

Victor picked up the thread. "We've been discussing the idea of opening a gaming studio," he said, his voice steady and confident.

One of the older board members, Mr. Samson, raised an eyebrow. "Ah yes, but can we make a game before the movie comes out?"

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes slightly. Was this guy really suggesting one of those low-budget, throwaway games that usually got slapped together to coincide with a movie release? That trend was becoming popular, but it was exactly what I wanted to avoid.

"No, Mr. Samson," I said, keeping my tone polite but firm. "Victor and I aren't talking about some rushed knockoff game. We're talking about creating a proper gaming studio—one that can make high-quality games capable of generating significant revenue, not just a quick cash grab tied to a movie."

I wanted to make games like Batman: Arkham and also with other characters who i thought had potential to be in fun games.

Victor nodded in agreement. "The gaming market is booming. If we establish a team capable of delivering excellent content, the returns could be substantial."

I continued, "We could make an incredible game based on our DC IPs—especially Batman. As a young person who enjoys gaming, I know many my age would basically throw money our way if we make a proper, fun game. It might take a few years to develop, but the current market—where superheroes are becoming cool again—combined with the upcoming new console generation, presents an enormous opportunity for profit."

The room fell into murmurs of discussion. Some board members nodded, their interest clearly piqued, while others looked more skeptical.

The discussion wrapped up with a general agreement to revisit the idea at the next meeting. The seed had been planted, and with Victor's support, I was confident it would happen.

As the meeting officially ended, handshakes and congratulatory comments followed, and I finally found myself alone with Dave and Victor in the boardroom.

"I'm going to be a bit busy for the next three months," I said, loosening my tie and leaning against the table.

"What's the movie called again? John Wick?" Dave asked.

I nodded. "Yep."

Victor smirked. "And the one you pissed off Weinstein for?"

"That would be The Revenant," I replied. "Both of them kinda need my attention, not to mention the two books I still have to finish."

Dave chuckled. "Danny, you've done so much already. Wonder Woman is on schedule, the script for Superman is done—"

"Still need to cast Lois, though," I interjected, cutting him off mid-praise.

Dave waved it off. "We can handle that. You focus on your thing."

"And don't forget about the deal," Victor said, reminding me of the animated projects I promised to work on with him in exchange for his help with Harvey.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, brushing it off with a wave of my hand. "We'll handle that next year."

Victor narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he'd caught me slacking. "Next year is next month," he pointed out, his tone matter-of-fact.

Dave stepped in with a grin. "Cut the kid some slack, Victor. Now let's get something to drink," he said, patting me on the back before heading for the door. Victor followed him out, leaving me alone in the room.

Now alone, I turned the TV back on and replayed the trailer. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen, my thoughts turning to the movie's sequel. A question loomed in my mind, almost taunting me:

'Who the fuck is going to play the Joker?'

'Or should the joker be even in the next one?'