Hollywood starts with a broker

“Give me five to seven weeks to adapt this script, and it'll be done!”

In the conference room of Dawn Pictures, Nora Ephron spoke quickly after reading the script for "Sleepless in Seattle."

After screenwriters Jeff Arch and David Ward, it was Nora Ephron's turn.

Gary Foster and Aaron Anderson exchanged a look, of course, there was no problem.

Nora Ephron excels at adapting romantic comedy scripts; "Heartburn" and "When Harry Met Sally..." have already proven her ability!

Aaron looked at her, "Actually, Ms. Ephron also wants to direct the movie, right?"

Nora Ephron nodded, "Having written several scripts, and worked as an assistant director and producer, I am indeed preparing to start my directing career."

Aaron is never afraid to use new directors, "If the directing plan you come up with can impress us, then this "Sleepless in Seattle" can become your directorial debut!"

There was no problem finding Nora Ephron to adapt "Sleepless in Seattle," but Gary Foster suggested letting her direct it directly.

Aaron was open to the suggestion.

Nora Ephron's eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately.

In mid-March, "Boyz n the Hood" officially opened in 829 theaters!

"Bang..."

"Ouch, that really hurts!" On a sports center's ring, Jake Welles was sent flying by a punch from Aaron.

"Hahaha, see that? This punch, the power of twenty years, how can you block it?"

Aaron said, taking off his gloves and picking up a towel to wipe the sweat.

Jake Welles stood up, constantly rubbing his chest, and smiled wryly, "As expected!"

He could be knocked flying even through the gear.

"The day before "Boyz n the Hood" was released, those dozens of theaters temporarily withdrew. What was the reason?"

Aaron took a sip of water and asked.

Columbia prepared nearly 850 theaters for the opening of "Boyz n the Hood," but suddenly, more than twenty theaters said that screening the film would cause violent incidents, so they canceled the screening plan?

Aaron didn't believe it for a second. Someone was deliberately using this to damage the reputation of "Boyz n the Hood." It didn't matter that dozens of theaters canceled the screening plan, after all, some theater chains had refused to screen it before.

It's just that the temporary cancellation of screenings now has caused some newspapers to follow suit, making it seem as if "Boyz n the Hood" really would cause violent incidents!

"Last week, Warner Bros. released a similar black film, "New Jack City," which mainly depicts gangs in the black communities of New York;"

""New Jack City" and "Boyz n the Hood" are the most direct competitors, with roughly the same opening scale. It's probably their doing."

Aaron shook his head, they were both genre films, so why bother?

Originally, Aaron had always felt that the competitor for his "Boyz n the Hood" should be the New Line sequel "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze," which was to be released a week later.

"Alright, it's not a big problem. The theme of our movie is to oppose violence and care about the growth of black teenagers!"

Aaron said, smiling, "Moreover, this time is just right to connect the movie with the recent Rodney King incident."

At the beginning of the month, a black parolee, Rodney King, was beaten by four white police officers after being caught drunk driving and speeding. The video, with the beginning and end cut off, was repeatedly broadcast on television, triggering protests from all black people against police brutality.

Even if the full version of the video was released, the protests that had been triggered before could not be calmed down, and the four white police officers had been detained!

Currently, this incident has not subsided, and there are many protests and demonstrations by black people, especially in Los Angeles.

""New Jack City"'s opening result was 8.6 million US dollars. I heard Brad say that Warner Bros. specifically arranged for this movie to be released after the Rodney King incident."

Jake Welles also smiled. Columbia's arrangement to release "Boyz n the Hood" was indeed a good time to choose.

"Yes, it obviously has a promoting effect!"

The Rodney King beating video definitely had a significant promoting effect on "New Jack City" and "Boyz n the Hood."

The movie's box office has always been closely related to the social context at the time of its release. It had the right timing and location.

"By the way, Jake, you need to pay attention to the Angel Theater. Don't let those black people come to our theater for 'zero-dollar shopping'?"

Jake Welles' eyes widened, "F*ck, if they dare to make trouble in our theater, it won't just be beatings;"

"I will send them directly to see God!"

Soon, the opening weekend box office for "Boyz n the Hood" was $10.2 million, and its word-of-mouth was higher than that of "New Jack City."

The media commented that "Boyz n the Hood" is an American film with great practical significance, and it presents the aesthetics of black realist cinema.

The following weekend, the number of theaters showing "Boyz n the Hood" exceeded 900, with a box office of $7.3 million, bringing the cumulative ten-day box office to $22.5 million!

New Line's sequel "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze" opened in 2,868 theaters in North America, with a weekend box office of $20.3 million.

At the same time, the 63rd Academy Awards in 1991 were also held at the Shrine Auditorium near USC.

No mistake, one first, one hair, one inside, one appearance, one inside, one look, one look!

Jennifer Connelly, who was on spring break, also came to Los Angeles!

""Boyz n the Hood"'s box office has exceeded 20 million US dollars, it looks very good."

In the hotel room, Jennifer Connelly leaned in Aaron's arms, and the two sat on the sofa watching the Oscars live together.

"It's okay, it also has a bit of luck. Recently, the African Americans in the United States have been making a lot of noise," Aaron said, thinking of the riots between Korean Americans and black people in Los Angeles in the 1990s in his memory!

In the past, Aaron lived in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, which had many Korean Americans and black people.

Many black people like 'zero-dollar shopping', and I don't know when there will be riots?

"The sensational Rodney King incident!"

Jennifer Connelly understood as soon as she thought about it, after all, many black people are criticizing white people's violent law enforcement and racial discrimination.

Aaron nodded and then said: "What I am looking forward to now is "The Silence of the Lambs," which will be released next month!"

The box office ceiling of "Boyz n the Hood" is only about 50 to 60 million US dollars, and the international distribution rights have long been sold out.

But "The Silence of the Lambs" is different. This is a work that Aaron values and is expected to break 100 million in North America.

And the contemporary opponent of "The Silence of the Lambs" is just a low-cost black action film "Out for Justice" starring Steven Seagal from Warner Bros.

"The Silence of the Lambs" does not seem to have any powerful competitors!

"Really? That's a horror movie, right? Are you so confident?"

Jennifer Connelly didn't quite understand, and although the heroine, Jodie Foster, is famous and holds the title of Oscar winner, she really doesn't have any commercial masterpieces.

"Hehe, horror movies, horror movies can also have very high box office..."