Kyle was waiting.
He was waiting for Netflix, the future streaming media giant, to face a financial shortage and present an opportunity. However... things often don't go as planned.
Kyle misjudged!
A few days later.
Netflix Company's management borrowed 40 million U.S. dollars from several commercial banks on Wall Street, using shares as collateral, for the company's development.
By the time Kyle received the news, it was already too late.
"Boss, if you still want to invest in Netflix Company, there's absolutely no chance this year," Alexander said.
Kyle nodded with a solemn expression, but a few seconds later, he relaxed.
"No hurry."
"As long as Netflix hasn't completely turned a profit, I'll have a chance."
Kyle is a transmigrator. Among other things, he knows that Netflix truly turned a profit and began to seriously compete with Blockbuster in 2003.
"Hmm, as long as it's before early 2003, I still have a chance," Kyle thought to himself.
The next day.
Page Pictures.
In President Mr. McNickle's office.
Mr. Bill, nearing retirement, arrived at the company early today to meet with the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon crew, who had just returned from the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada.
The three were director Ang Lee, producer James Wong, and music master Tan Dun.
Ang Lee, needless to say, can be called the top Chinese film director in Hollywood;
James Wong is also well-known; he is a famous film producer, one of the few who can bring Eastern films to the U.S.. He was even the primary promoter for the overseas distribution of Zhang Yimou, Grandmaster Zhang's Hero and House of Flying Daggers, and has close ties with Sony Columbia;
Tan Dun is an even more renowned music master in the Chinese community, having won countless awards at home and abroad. He also participated in the creation of the emblem logo music and award ceremony music for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
All three are famous Chinese figures!
At this moment, the expressions of Ang Lee and the other two were not good.
"I've seen the data report for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Since its completion in April 2000, the film has participated in the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Jakarta Film Festival in Indonesia, and the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. However, this still cannot hide the film's failure in the China market," Mr. McNickle said in a deep voice.
That's right, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon flopped at the box office!
Yes, the kind that lost a lot of money!
The film was released in the China market and Taiwan market in early July.
However, what was the result?
After three weeks of screening, it only garnered just over 70 million New Taiwan Dollars in the Taiwan market, less than 2 million U.S. dollars;
What about the mainland film market in China?
After three weeks of screening, the box office did not exceed 1 million U.S. dollars, and many cinemas had forcibly removed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
There was nothing they could do; it just wasn't good!
Even many viewers who bought tickets because of Ang Lee's reputation were greatly disappointed.
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a wuxia film with an Eastern exterior but a completely Western core, different from traditional wuxia films. In other words, it is a non-mainstream wuxia film." - China Film Weekly.
"It cannot be said that it is bad, only that it is a product catering to the West, which contradicts the traditional values of Eastern Netizens. Therefore, it is reasonable, or even inevitable, that it failed to please Eastern audiences." - Oriental Time.
In a word, the current situation of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is very unfavorable.
"The U.S. market is director Ang Lee's last straw. If it fails again, he will completely lose his chance to establish himself in Hollywood," producer James Wong thought to himself.
After a long while.
Director Ang Lee looked intently at Mr. Bill and gritted his teeth, saying, "Mr. McNickle, according to the original plan, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will be released in the U.S. in December 2000. This won't change, will it?"
There was no other way; the box office performance in the U.S. market would be his only chance.
"That won't change."
Mr. Bill said in a deep voice, "The release date won't change, and the opening number of 200 cinemas won't change, but... I don't have high expectations for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's box office."
Hearing this, Ang Lee and the other two instantly tensed up.
Given the current situation, even if Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is released in the U.S., the situation will not be optimistic.
Throughout Hollywood's film history, there have genuinely been few "foreign films" that achieved high box office in the U.S., and only one, Life Is Beautiful, managed to exceed 50 million U.S. dollars.
As the saying goes: 'An elder in the family is like a treasure.'
Although Mr. Bill was nearing retirement and his mind wasn't as sharp as before, his decades of experience in Hollywood were an invaluable asset. Facing the predicament of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, he naturally had a feasible plan.
"Take a look at this," Mr. Bill said, pulling out a stack of documents from his drawer.
The three took them.
[Documents]
September 29, 2000, Reykjavik Film Festival, Iceland;
October 7, 2000, Huge International Film Festival, Hungary;
October 9, 2000, New York Film Festival, U.S.;
October 12, 2000, Austin Film Festival, U.S.;
...Flanders International Film Festival, Vienna International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Hawaii Film Festival... By the end of December 2000 alone, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would participate in as many as 27 film festivals across various countries and regions.
The sheer number was astonishing.
"Mr. McNickle, won't this be too much?" music master Tan Dun exclaimed.
"Too much?"
Mr. Bill looked at the three of them, spreading his hands: "Participating in so many film festivals is all to build momentum for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Don't forget, our goal is next March's Oscar! As long as we can get Oscar nominations and awards, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will surely soar to success."
...Afternoon.
After meeting with Ang Lee and the two others in the morning, Mr. Bill immediately convened a Page Pictures executive meeting in the afternoon.
"Kevin, has the finance department given the required publicity amount for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?" Mr. Bill asked.
Hearing this, Kevin Feige nodded, "After calculations by the finance and publicity departments, to complete publicity for so many film festivals, an estimated minimum of 8 million U.S. dollars will be needed."
Mr. Bill said loudly, "Allocate 10 million U.S. dollars directly. We need to create a buzz."
An extra 2 million U.S. dollars?
Kevin Feige had no reason to object.
After a moment, Mr. Bill's gaze fell upon Zack Snyder.
Zack was not only a director but also held a position at Page Pictures as the head of the production department.
"Zack, the overseas film festival promotion for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon will be your responsibility, OK?" Mr. Bill said seriously.
Zack Snyder knew this was a tough assignment, but he still braced himself and agreed.
Mr. Bill wanted to turn the tide for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and create a box office miracle.
However, in the eyes of other film companies, this was an extremely bad decision.