[Chapter 280: Success in the First Battle]
Isaac Perlmutter rubbed his temples and shook his head. "My feelings are really complicated right now. Part of me hopes he fails so we can take the opportunity to buy back some copyrights. But another part hopes he succeeds, because that would prove his vision is extraordinary. And our chances of success would be much greater."
The two men exchanged glances, both seeing the anxiety deep in the other's eyes...
...
March 28th, Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
The streets on both sides were packed to the brim. Hundreds of security personnel had set up barricades to hold back the frenzied fans and reporters.
This was the global premiere of The Pursuit of Happyness.
It was also Daniel's first real "sword-drawing" moment as a producer.
A sleek black Lincoln slowly pulled up to the start of the red carpet. The door opened, and Denzel Washington was the first to step out.
The Oscar-winning actor wore a deep gray suit tonight. His expression was reserved, yet he radiated an undeniable aura of authority.
Almost immediately, Daniel stepped out from the other side.
He didn't bring a female companion, walking the red carpet alone. Despite that, as soon as he appeared, the frequency of the reporters' camera flashes instantly spiked.
"Mr. Cross! Over here!"
"Mr. Cross, what are your box office expectations for your debut production?"
"There are rumors you're close with several actresses. Will any of them be attending tonight?"
Daniel's expression was cold and stern. His pace was steady. He offered no response to the noisy questions.
Not far behind him, one production van after another arrived.
Rachel McAdams, recently crowned Best Actress at the Oscars, wore a dark green gown, looking noble and elegant.
Amanda Seyfried, with her blonde hair shining under the lights, exuded an invincible youthful energy.
Jessica Alba, in a stunning red dress, was breathtakingly beautiful.
And Anne Hathaway carried the sharp temperament of a true "Fashion Queen."
These current popular actresses all appeared at the premiere together.
The media at the scene went wild.
"My God, this is practically a mini-Oscar ceremony!"
"That man's influence is terrifying -- they're all here for him."
...
Inside the theater, wine flowed freely, and elegant figures mingled.
Brad Grey from Paramount was all smiles, weaving through the crowd and constantly introducing Daniel to his peers.
"This is a great work, guys." Brad raised his glass, his tone exaggerated. "I bet after tonight, Hollywood will never forget the name Daniel Cross."
Daniel sat quietly on a sofa in a corner, holding a glass of plain water, his eyes cold as he observed all the commotion.
Denzel Washington walked over and sat beside him.
"Boss, you don't look very excited," Denzel said quietly.
Daniel smiled. "Save the excitement for the box office. Right now, I just need to watch the show."
...
Meanwhile, in a private villa in Malibu.
Will Smith sat on a large sectional sofa with a laptop resting on his lap.
The screen was live-streaming the grand premiere.
Seeing Daniel's calm and composed demeanor while surrounded by stars, Will's lip twitched.
Thud!
He slammed down the glass of whiskey in his hand.
"He's really playing the part."
Will snorted coldly, his finger sliding across the trackpad as he scrolled through comments on social media.
His agent James sat opposite him with a complex expression.
"Will, the buzz on-site seems very positive. Many film critics are saying this is the peak of Denzel's career."
"Film critics?" Will sneered. "What do those paid-off hacks know? They just regurgitate whatever the studio tells them."
He turned his head, eyes cold as he stared at Daniel's face on the screen.
"The higher he climbs now, the harder he'll fall later."
...
Back inside the theater, the lights went dark.
The film officially began.
There were no flashy special effects, no sweeping musical scores. Just Denzel Washington's weathered face portraying a man struggling to survive the streets of San Francisco.
As the story unfolded, the theater grew quiet.
The executives and stars who had come in with cynical attitudes gradually shed their playfulness.
When the scene focused on Chris Gardner sleeping in a subway restroom with his son, the soft knocking sounds outside...
Denzel pressed his back firmly against the door, tears silently streaming as he covered his son's ears.
At that moment,
clear sobbing filled the theater.
Sitting in the front row, Amanda and Rachel's eyes were already red from crying.
Even the hardesthearted producers couldn't help but be moved.
Daniel sat in the darkness, his gaze deep and unblinking.
He knew this was more than just a movie. This was the first lasting mark he had carved into the world through cultural export.
...
Two hours later, the lights came on.
The entire theater was dead silent.
Then, no one knew who stood first and began to clap.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The applause spread rapidly and erupted into a thunderous roar.
Denzel stood and bowed deeply in Daniel's direction.
Daniel nodded slightly and slowly rose to his feet.
He understood.
From this moment forward, many would be disappointed...
...
In the middle of the night.
Will Smith was jolted awake by the urgent sound of his phone ringing.
He sat up and grabbed it. It was his agent, James.
"Will, something's come up." James's tone was heavy. "The opening day box office numbers are in."
Will's heart skipped a beat. "How much? Did it bomb?"
There was a pause of three seconds before James's voice trembled as he delivered the news: "North American opening day... $14.5 million. Because the word of mouth exploded, screenings are skyrocketing."
Will felt struck by lightning. The phone slipped from his fingers and hit the pricey carpet.
Fourteen point five million.
That meant over the three-day opening weekend, this movie could easily break $40 million.
For a realistic drama with a $50 million budget, this was a miracle.
Will turned to look at himself in the mirror.
Suddenly, he realized he looked like a clown.
...
In Los Angeles, the end of March, the early morning air already carried a hint of warmth.
Daniel sat in the villa's dining room, a freshly delivered copy of Variety resting before him.
The front-page headline was bold and eye-catching: [The Pursuit of Happyness Rakes in $42.5 Million Opening Weekend; Denzel Washington Reserved for Next Year's Oscar Nomination!]
The subtitle was even more direct: [The Golden Midas: Daniel Cross's Hollywood Debut Wins a Grand Slam.]
Succubus Chris walked over carrying coffee.
Her finger swiped through the Sky interface.
"Master, besides the North American boom, pre-sales overseas have also gone crazy. Paramount has called several times asking if they can renegotiate the distribution split."
Daniel took a sip of coffee, his tone flat.
"Once a contract is signed, it's signed. Tell them to follow the rules."
This week, at every party in Hollywood and every studio breakroom, everyone was talking about the man named Daniel.
Denzel Washington had returned to the center of power once again.
In an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he praised without reservation: "Daniel Cross is the most intuitive producer I've ever worked with. He understands the pain of that character even better than I do."
*****
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