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Chapter 25: The Nature of Thick Skin
🕑 Added 2024-10-03 09:15:15 +0000 UTCEntertainment gossip has always been a favorite topic among the public.
"Keanu Reeves is charming and handsome, and Uma Thurman is stunningly beautiful. The two play an on-screen couple in *Speed*, and off-screen they are an equally perfect match…"
"Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman turned their on-screen romance in *Speed* into reality, making them Hollywood's latest golden couple…"
Thanks to Fox's public relations efforts, there were numerous articles in the media about this 'couple' and their new movie. Particularly in tabloids under News Corporation, this piece of gossip was blown up to its fullest extent.
All of this had one clear goal—to attract viewers to the theaters!
Thus, when the new North American box office rankings were released, both Duke and 20th Century Fox were all smiles.
With 500 theaters, *Speed* grossed $7.55 million over its opening weekend, not only securing a spot in the top ten box office rankings but also achieving the highest per-theater average of over $15,000, making it the best per-theater performer of the weekend.
At this point, even if a divine intervention occurred, it couldn't stop Fox from expanding its marketing and screening efforts to reap more profits.
On April 27th, during *Speed*'s third week in theaters and the last Monday of April, 20th Century Fox finally expanded the film's release to 2,385 theaters and invested heavily in a bombastic promotional campaign that spread the movie's name across all of North America.
Duke, along with the cast, began a press tour across major North American cities. Wherever they went, Keanu Reeves and Uma Thurman, Hollywood's new golden couple, were the center of attention for both fans and the media. As time passed, Duke also started receiving media attention, being referred to as the 'young Rosenberg director' and occasionally appearing in entertainment sections of the press.
However, Duke wasn't too enthusiastic about promoting himself. A director ultimately speaks through their work, and right now, no one would focus too much on the director. It wouldn't be until a more open era that directors would step fully into the spotlight.
After the cumulative effect of test screenings, limited releases, and a slow build-up of momentum, combined with full support from 20th Century Fox, *Speed* finally erupted like a young talent with a strong background, experiencing a complete breakthrough.
As Duke and the cast made their way through cities like San Francisco and Salt Lake City, heading east, *Speed* grossed $22.5 million in the first four weekdays of the new week. By the time they finished promoting in Pittsburgh over the weekend, the movie raked in $34.75 million during the weekend alone!
This weekend box office also helped *Speed* claim the number one spot on the North American box office rankings, edging out Mel Gibson's *Lethal Weapon 3* by less than $1 million!
This was the first time *Speed* had topped the box office and Duke's first box office victory as a director!
Moreover, the film's total North American box office had surpassed $66 million. After a long period of buildup, the movie had finally unleashed its full potential!
Although this number wasn't enough to recoup his mother's investment, it was safe to say that the film was already a success. Duke now had enough capital to ensure that even if the movie's earnings dropped sharply from here, his second project wouldn't go unnoticed.
"Have you heard, Duke?"
As soon as he entered the hotel, Naomi Watts approached him.
For the new week, the cast had arrived on the East Coast for the final and most important promotional stop in New York. Due to the film's explosive box office performance, Fox had brought more actors to join the New York promotional tour. Those looking to ride the movie's success were competing through their agents, with some making it to New York while others could only watch from the sidelines.
Naomi Watts had clearly secured her ticket. "I heard from Nancy that Mel Gibson is very upset about *Lethal Weapon 3* losing to *Speed*. You know, right? He has a terrible temper and a serious drinking problem. He not only hit his assistant while drunk but also fired his agent and is planning to switch to CAA."
"Well, CAA is about to gain another A-list star."
Having grown cautious about Hollywood women, Duke simply gave a short reply to Naomi's comment before walking into the elevator, heading to his room, and entering his suite.
After closing the door and putting down his luggage, the calm expression on Duke's face finally faded. He clenched his right fist and punched the air twice, throwing the immense pressure he had been under this past year to the ground with those punches!
"Well done, Duke!"
Standing in front of the full-length mirror by the door, Duke pointed at the tall, handsome young man in the reflection. "But don't relax! Remember, this is just the beginning!"
Taking off his jacket and organizing his luggage, Duke had just sat down to rest when there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
Duke opened the door to find Naomi Watts standing outside, smiling and waving at him. "Hi, Duke."
"Something you need?" Duke asked.
"Not really…"
Perhaps noticing the frown on Duke's face, Naomi quickly put on a serious expression and said earnestly, "I just wanted to apologize for last time..."
She gestured towards the door. "Can we talk inside?"
Walking back into the room, Duke gestured for Naomi to sit wherever she liked. "Water or coffee?"
"Oh, no need."
The blonde woman quickly waved her hands and then said, "I really didn't know what to do. I'm very sorry."
She wasn't stupid. Last time, they had been chatting and laughing, but this time Duke's attitude was clearly more distant. After a brief moment of thought, she quickly realized what was going on.
"If it's okay…" Naomi hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "As an apology, can I treat you to dinner?"
"I accept your apology, but let's skip dinner."
No matter what, the way Duke had been raised didn't allow him to be rude to a lady. "I'm really tired from all the promotion lately, and I need some rest."
"Well… I won't disturb you, then."
Standing up, Naomi Watts headed for the door. Hearing Duke's footsteps behind her, she suddenly turned around and asked, "Duke, you don't have an agent yet, do you?"
"That's right."
Duke nodded casually and saw her off.
Just as Duke was finishing his shower and getting ready for bed, Naomi Watts was on the phone in a room diagonally across from his.
"Nancy, I've confirmed—he doesn't have an agent."
"Stay close to him, Naomi," came a professional voice over the phone. "I see potential in him…"
Hearing this, Naomi couldn't help but roll her eyes. The box office and reviews for *Speed* were plain to see. In Hollywood, where results speak for themselves, who wouldn't recognize what that meant? The last time Nancy met Duke, she hadn't seen any potential in him.
"This will be good for both of us," the agent continued. "You know the importance of aligning yourself with a rising director, right? As long as he's not just a flash in the pan…"
"I understand." Naomi Watts lowered her rolling eyes.
She knew she had the talent and looks, so why hadn't she made it big yet? Naomi Watts wasn't a newcomer to the industry, so she understood that in Hollywood, opportunities often mattered more than talent.
Meanwhile, at CAA's headquarters in Century City, Los Angeles, there was also a discussion related to Duke.
"*Alien 3* is set to release this weekend."
Martin Bob, the agent in charge of the package deal, seemed confident. "Fox has already signed a distribution agreement with 2,450 theaters."
"Martin…"
Michael Ovitz, sitting at the head of the conference table, spoke up. "I heard Fox invested a lot of resources in *Speed*?"
"I've already urged them to refocus on *Alien 3*."
Martin Bob rubbed his temples. That Rosenberg kid had just teamed up with Fox to slap him in the face. Still, as a talent agent, having a thick skin was essential. He maintained a neutral expression as he continued, "*Speed* has been in theaters for three weeks now. Last weekend's box office surge exhausted the film's momentum. The movie has essentially peaked. With the upcoming competitive summer season, it won't perform well in the face of tough competition. The Fox management would have to be crazy not to prioritize *Alien 3*."
Most people in the room nodded in agreement. In their minds, *Speed* had suddenly become a hit mainly due to the gap between the spring and summer releases, when there were no strong competitors.
"How are the negotiations with Mel Gibson going?" Ovitz asked.
"We've reached a verbal agreement with him," an agent replied. "The written contract will be signed on Thursday."
"Who was Duke Rosenberg's client manager before?" Ovitz's tone was authoritative. "How did CAA let such a talent slip through the cracks?"
"He… he was my client," Lovett admitted weakly.
"How do you assess your clients?" Ovitz's voice was stern. "Are your eyes on the wrong side of your face?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ovitz…"
"I don't want to hear apologies." Ovitz shot Lovett a cold glance. "Sign him back, no matter what it takes!"
"Yes, sir."
in order to succeed in this business. Pride was a luxury that could only be afforded once success had been secured. Lovett knew this better than anyone. He could see the potential in Duke now, the same potential he had overlooked before. Re-signing Duke could open doors to more opportunities, and Lovett wasn't about to let his ego get in the way of that.
He stood up from his desk, determined to track down Duke's current contact information and make things right, no matter what it took
