Hollywood:Starting out as an MV director

Chapter 143: Meeting James Wan

"In fact, MGM is also optimistic about this script." As a qualified producer, raising the value of one's work is a basic skill.

Ethan suddenly realized. No wonder Jack Wilson sat so calmly—considering how nervous he was when submitting the script to the company before.

It seems the flapping of my butterfly wings has caused events to deviate from their original trajectory.

In the original timeline, only Lionsgate was interested in this script. Perhaps Jack Wilson had never approached MGM before?

Regardless, Ethan couldn't let this golden opportunity slip away. He added more contractual details and increased the dividends.

Jack Wilson didn't sign the contract with Ethan on the spot. He seemed hesitant. After returning to his car, he called James Wan.

"Wan, what are you doing?"

When the call connected, Jack Wilson heard noise in the background, as if the other party was outside in a busy place.

He guessed correctly. At that moment, James Wan was handing out pizza shop flyers to passersby in a park. Next to him was a small saxophone band, which had just performed a fantastic piece, earning cheers from the crowd.

After James Wan found a quieter spot, Jack Wilson immediately explained that the script had been chosen by two companies.

"OMG! Really? That's amazing!" James Wan leaned against a tree, feeling like his long wait had finally paid off.

"But which company do you plan to choose?" Jack Wilson threw the question back at him.

"Honestly, I really want to direct this film because it's my idea, and I know exactly how to shoot it." James Wan cared about nothing more than securing the director's chair.

"But you're still a newcomer, Wan. MGM prefers experienced horror film directors, while Norton's Eye will be directed by Ethan himself. However, he said you could work as the cinematographer. They'll also need an assistant director to oversee overall planning. If you're willing, you can take on this role."

Jack Wilson paused before continuing, "He also mentioned that if the film grosses tens of millions at the box office, you'd have the chance to fully direct the sequel."

James Wan pondered this. He'd waited years for this opportunity, and he couldn't let it slip away. Being an assistant director wasn't bad—certainly better than struggling to pay rent or buy food.

"Alright, I'll choose Norton's Eye."

"You're not considering MGM?"

James Wan shrugged. "They're not paying as much as Norton's Eye... Haha, just kidding. Honestly, I think the budget there will be better."

"Well, why not talk to Ethan in person? Maybe you can work something out."

"No problem!" James Wan hung up, looked at the tree canopy above him, and then glanced at his red pizza shop vest. After a brief pause, he threw the flyers into the air with excitement.

A week later, Ethan looked at the scripts in front of him and said to Jimmy, "Alright, let's decide on the awards."

"Why? Why did this script The Avenger win the bronze award?" Jimmy stared at Ethan in disbelief. "Do you really think audiences will buy into this plot? What if someone storms into the company with a gun because of this nonsense?"

Ethan laughed. "I understand your doubts. Honestly, the plot is outrageous. But the concept is fantastic—a retired killer hunts down a murderer across thousands of miles because of a dog's death. Isn't that cool?"

"So what? But the guy ends up losing his arms and legs later!" Jimmy acknowledged the script's brilliance up to the midpoint, but he found the rest downright garbage.

"Exactly. That's why we won't shoot it as written." Ethan explained. His real reason for awarding this script was its resemblance to the John Wick series. The initial premise was identical—a retired assassin driven by vengeance over a dog's death, but without the frustrating twists.

Ethan planned to buy the script rights and have professional screenwriters modify it to fit his vision.

"Fine, fine. You're the boss. What about this one?" Jimmy picked up the silver medal entry. "This? Little Miss Sunshine? Don't you think the story is too plain? A family of losers? What's so special about that?"

Ethan took the script from him. This was another surprise from the script competition, alongside Saw. He'd seen the film as a child, though he barely remembered the details. Still, he had fond memories of its heartwarming story about a family of misfits.

"You'll only appreciate this script's charm after it's filmed." Ethan patted Jimmy's shoulder. "Despite their shattered dreams, the family ultimately reconciles in warmth. Writing good family comedies requires sharp observation and exceptional skill."

"Hmm... I still don't get it." Jimmy frowned, confused by Ethan's decisions. Of all the scripts he liked, only Saw—which he hadn't taken seriously—won the gold award.

On the other hand, Greta's picks performed significantly better, with four of her ten entries receiving awards.

"Alright, announce the final results. The Saw team will be here this afternoon. Then we'll start prepping for the shoot."

"I didn't expect us to begin filming so soon!" Jimmy grinned.

"Soon? It feels slow to me. I bet audiences are getting impatient," Ethan quipped.

"Haha, what audience? The movie isn't even out yet." Jimmy left the office smiling, leaving Ethan alone to review the scripts.

Not long after, there was a knock on the door. Cindy walked in.

Her newly dyed red hair gave her a striking resemblance to the future Scarlet Witch. After starring in Bikini Destination, she and Lilina became instant sensations, now busy with magazine shoots.

Kaiden had also officially entered the fashion world, becoming a favorite of several brands, particularly those specializing in body-centric clothing.

Cindy refilled Ethan's teapot before going behind him to massage his shoulders.

"Boss, it seems like you've been very busy recently."

"Yes." Ethan closed his eyes and enjoyed Cindy's gentle massage. "Right now, not only do I have the plan to prepare for this movie, but I also have to shoot a music video for Beyoncé."

This was something he had previously agreed to, and of course, he had to follow through with it now. However, Ethan's purpose wasn't for awards or fame—it was for money.

Ethan estimated the budget for Saw to be around three million dollars, more than double the budget in the previous timeline, with an additional six hundred thousand. Since Ethan already knew the film would be a massive success, he naturally wanted to push its potential beyond its original limits.

The original Saw grossed over $100 million at the box office, and that was without a summer release during a season packed with horror movies. If the viewing experience were slightly improved and combined with Supreme Creative's advertising efforts, this movie's box office could explode faster and reach greater heights.

Supreme Creative had settled payments with its clients for the year, netting a total profit of $3 million. After distributing dividends to Henry and Jimmy and setting aside funds for next year's advertising, Ethan was left with about $1 million.

That money had been invested in Loren's Black Umbrella Consulting Company, which had returned $600,000 to him as payment for advertising fees.

Angel Declaration, on the other hand, had performed well this year. The photo albums were selling briskly, and with the appearances of Kayden, Cindy, and Lilina, the company had managed to break even.

However, the idol training camp required significant ongoing costs. It was considered fortunate if Ethan didn't need to inject more money into Angel Declaration.

As for the newly established Norton's Eye, it was a bottomless pit. The script competition alone had cost $500,000 in advertising expenses, not to mention the subsequent movie production plans.

Although Ethan earned money quickly, he spent it even faster. Now, he was in a state where his expenses exceeded his income—even after controlling the scale of the company.

But Ethan had already planned for this. He intended to take out a loan from the bank. After all, in America, no one does business with their own money.

Loren was already handling the relevant procedures for him. Ethan's target was a $20 million loan. His identity and the several companies under his name should be sufficient to secure the loan.

Once he had that money, he could proceed smoothly with movie production and wait for the box office profits to roll in!

Just as he was thinking about this, there was a knock at the door. It was Carl, who had come to remind him that the main creative team of Saw had arrived at the door.

"Let them in." Ethan straightened his clothes, gave Cindy's small hand a gentle squeeze, and then looked toward the door.

Two minutes later, a young man with short hair and a face that showed clear Asian ancestry walked into the office, led by Jack Wilson.

"Welcome to Norton's Eye." Ethan stood up to greet them. James Wan immediately smiled, extended his hand, and responded, "Hello, my name is James Wan. Just call me Wan."

The brown-haired young man standing beside him, who looked a bit reserved, also responded cautiously, "My name is Leigh Whannell. I'm... uh... the screenwriter for Saw."

"We're all the same age here; no need to be so formal. Come on, have a seat! Let's talk about the movie."

....

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