Chapter 175: Hong Kong Movies

In the evening, Arthur drove Jennifer Aniston to El Segundo, a small city located on the Santa Monica Bay, bordered by Los Angeles International Airport to the north and Manhattan Beach to the south.

The streets of El Segundo's quaint Arcadia Avenue were now brightly lit for the festival, with the entire neighborhood filled with a Christmas atmosphere. Each house around had a unique display.

Jennifer Aniston and Arthur strolled along the street. Local carolers mingled with the crowd, singing festive songs, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Arthur held Jennifer Aniston close and said, "From now until Christmas, the lights will be on every night!"

Suddenly, Jennifer Aniston remembered something and said, "By the way, Arthur, did you know that Sam Raimi is going to shoot a sequel to Evil Dead?"

"Hmm? Are you talking about Evil Dead 3? He's currently filming Scream 2 in Georgia!"

"Evil Dead 2 was released in '87, six years after the first Evil Dead; New Line must have seen the good box office numbers for this year's Scream and thought of having Sam Raimi direct Evil Dead 3."

Arthur could understand. After all, Evil Dead was written and directed by Sam Raimi himself, shot with $350,000 and picked up by New Line.

There had already been two movies in the Evil Dead series. A third one was normal!

Jennifer Aniston explained, "My agent told me that Sam Raimi plans to invite me to play the female lead in Evil Dead 3."

"However, it definitely has to wait until Scream 2 is finished. Evil Dead 3 is scheduled for release the year after next!" Arthur smiled, "That way, you'll gain more experience. Come on, let's grab a drink at that little pub up ahead..."

Meanwhile, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Stan Lee and Carolco Chairman Mario Kassar, along with the famous director James Cameron, were discussing an adaptation of the live-action Spider-Man.

"Spider-Man?" Mario Kassar looked at James Cameron. "Are you really interested?"

James Cameron nodded. "I need to create a proposal first, consider the plot direction, and the budget for the film cannot be small."

Mario Kassar made a grand gesture. "If you're interested, Carolco is certainly willing. Besides, we still have the Galaxy collaboration."

Given the massive success of James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, what reason did Mario Kassar have not to support him?

Stan Lee smiled as well. "The Galaxy side has indicated that as long as the script is suitable, they will cover the promotion costs and invest a portion of the production funds. The rights to Spider-Man will soon enter the authorization period with the Galaxy company. With Carolco and Galaxy developing it together, it is bound to succeed."

Stan Lee had always been committed to bringing Marvel characters to the big screen. Look at DC's Superman series.

And Batman, the sequel Batman Returns had already finished shooting this year and was set for release next summer.

Spider-Man, being Marvel's flagship character, certainly needed its own big-screen adaptation!

Arthur was not very concerned about Stan Lee, Mario Kassar, and James Cameron's discussions regarding the live-action Spider-Man movie.

After all, James Cameron wasn't exactly a prolific director. Terminator 2: Judgment Day had just been released; the next project wouldn't be anytime soon.

In Hollywood, Century City, inside the Orion office, Amy Pascal told Arthur that they had signed an agreement for the North American rights to The Crying Game with the UK's Palace Productions.

"1.7 million pounds. This film should pay attention to its release strategy. It still holds some promise," Arthur needed to pay attention to such characteristic films; independent film companies must sometimes pursue artistic goals.

"By the way, Patrick Crowley, the producer of RoboCop 3, handed in the script. The story is about the protagonist fighting against a violent eviction special forces group from a Japanese conglomerate. Our team analyzed it. What do you think?"

Amy Pascal reported, as this was an Orion series movie.

"Last year's RoboCop 2 grossed only $45 million globally," Arthur shook his head. "This script doesn't work. If there is no good script, stop developing the sequel. Even if RoboCop 3 goes forward, the budget will definitely not be less than $25 million. It's hard to turn a profit!"

Amy Pascal nodded. Compared to other films from Galaxy, the RoboCop series indeed seemed less prominent.

The company had enough projects now; it was not advisable to develop such less noticeable sequels.

"By the way, Sam Raimi recommended a Hong Kong movie, more accurately, from a Hong Kong director. It's a Hong Kong urban crime movie, primarily featuring gunfight action scenes. He's quite fond of it and suggested you might be interested."

Arthur got interested. "Some Hong Kong action movies are appearing in the videotape market now!"

"Send it to me later. I will take a look," Arthur said with a smile.

Amy Pascal also smiled. "I guess Sam knows young people like you would appreciate this kind of violent aesthetic style!"

Before long, Arthur received the Hong Kong movie recommended by Sam Raimi, The Killer. It was a crime action movie directed by John Woo!

It was shown at the Saint Denis Film Festival last year and had a limited release in Los Angeles this year.

Rainy night, church, white dove, bullet; John Woo's work indeed had a strong personal style, a well-crafted and violence-aesthetic crime film.

In the mansion of Bel Air, Arthur hugged Jennifer Aniston on the couch as they finished watching The Killer.

"Oh, do you like this type?" Jennifer Aniston asked, slightly blushing.

"I think it's not bad. This style is very characteristic of Hong Kong films," Arthur said as he kissed Jennifer Aniston on her half-unbuttoned shirt.

"Go ahead, I need to make a call," Arthur said, giving Jennifer Aniston's buttocks a rub.

Jackie Chan had not yet released Rumble in the Bronx and wasn't well-known in the United States, so some of his martial arts films hadn't been widely screened. When Rumble in the Bronx released later, some of his older films would become valuable, and the price for a movie's North American rights would skyrocket!

Arthur sat down on the couch and dialed a long-distance call to Hong Kong to reach Vivian Chow.

"This is Vivian!"

"Hey Vivian, how are you? You're busy now, right?" Arthur's teasing voice came through the phone.

"Yes, it's morning in Hong Kong. It must be late night there for you, right?" Vivian Chow was happy. "How do you have time to call me? Haven't you rested?"

"Not yet. I plan to come to Asia and see you!"

"Really?" Vivian Chow laughed. "When are you planning to come?"

"Sometime this week. I'm planning to buy a few martial arts movies in Hong Kong to release in the US, like Jackie Chan's films," Arthur intended to buy some martial arts films at a low price now. After a few years, once Jackie Chan became well-known in the US with Rumble in the Bronx, these films would gain some box office value.

"Jackie Chan, no wonder. He is currently filming Police Story 3: Super Cop, which is set to release next year. Also, Jackie Chan released Operation Condor this year, which swept across the Asian market," Vivian Chow reminded.

"It seems Jackie Chan is indeed unbeatable in Asia at the moment," Arthur smiled.

"Arthur, what can I do to help?" Vivian asked.

"Keep an eye on Jackie Chan's new movies."

John Woo's style was too distinctly Hong Kong, and he needed to immerse himself in Hollywood for a few years first. The price of trial and error could be left to other film companies. Once John Woo adapted to Hollywood's style, they could directly develop Face/Off!

"I need to go shoot now. We'll stay in touch!"

"Okay, bye."

In the international market, besides Europe, Galaxy placed great importance on Japan. Releasing The Addams Family internationally made Japan a crucial stop.

Setting up a branch office in Japan had become an urgent task to handle the promotion and marketing of Galaxy's films in Japan.

Moments later, Arthur went to the bathroom and saw Jennifer Aniston comfortably soaking in the hot bath.

"Arthur, you," Jennifer Aniston was about to say something when Arthur quickly stripped and got into the tub.

"Mm," without a word, Arthur hugged and kissed Aniston, and she responded passionately.

"Arthur, I plan to spend Christmas with my dad. I haven't seen him in a long time," Jennifer Aniston breathlessly explained while pressed against the bathtub by Arthur.

"Mm, I plan to go to Asia and probably return after the new year," Arthur said and then kissed her again.

*****

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