Chapter 277: Breaking Two Records

Dressed in a fitted beige business suit and towering four-inch heels, with her golden hair flowing like silk behind her, Kara Faith strode confidently along the corridor of Fox Building's production department floor. She made no effort to hide her mood, determined to show everyone her success and strength, signaling that this department would soon have a new female director.

This demeanor was not just part of her personality but also a strategic move, especially since she knew Dave Scolari, who shared the floor with her, would see this.

She was pressuring him, knowing that only under significant pressure might Scolari make more mistakes.

Walking past Scolari's office, Kara Faith continued to the end of the corridor and into her own office.

"Good morning, Miss Faith."

Her secretary greeted her outside the suite office. She could tell her boss was in an exceptionally good mood today as they walked into the inner office. Kara Faith sat behind her desk and sipped from her water cup, which was at the perfect temperature, as usual.

The secretary pulled an A4 paper from a folder and placed it on Kara Faith's desk, announcing, "Here's your schedule for today."

Kara Faith picked up the schedule and began to review it as her secretary continued, "Director Stanton's agent, Bill Roscis, just called. He requested that we continue to press the PR department to further hype up the issue with DC."

"Got it," Kara Faith nodded, "I'll communicate with the folks at CAA."

The phone suddenly rang with an internal company number. Kara Faith answered, "Hello, this is Kara Faith."

"It's me, Lee," the caller was the head of the market research department, "Congratulations, Kara. Your first big project at the company has hit the mark."

"Thank you," Kara Faith replied with a modest smile, "Murphy did well."

"It's a good collaboration," the caller added before hanging up. This call seemed to signal the start of something; soon, Kara Faith's desk phone was ringing off the hook with congratulations from nearly every department head in the company.

In a nearby office, the atmosphere was starkly different. In another suite office, the sitting secretary felt as though she was in an ice cellar. The chill seemed to freeze anyone in place, discouraging anyone from entering the inner office without being summoned, to avoid becoming a target for venting frustrations.

In his office, Dave Scolari's face was expressionless. He was fully aware that he might truly face strong competition from a woman. He had known Kara Faith was a formidable woman; otherwise, she wouldn't have reached her current position. However, she was new to the film industry, and the idea of her displacing him as the head of the production department seemed ludicrous.

Despite the trouble Kara Faith had caused on the "Kingdom of Heaven" project, causing trouble doesn't necessarily translate to making a successful movie. Moreover, Deadpool was a second-tier comic hero with limited influence, and the film's total investment was only $60 million, hardly notable.

A few months ago, Scolari had learned that due to budget constraints, Murphy Stanton and Kara Faith had humorously left Deadpool's ammunition-filled backpack in a taxi to avoid filming an expensive large-scale action scene, opting instead for close-quarters combat.

At the time, he almost laughed out loud, tempted to ask them if they were making a movie or playing house.

Yet, this supposed joke didn't negatively impact "Deadpool's" reputation among audiences; instead, it became a popular internet meme.

On Scolari's computer screen, a conspicuous viewer comment read, "The biggest joke of the movie is actually Deadpool forgetting his weapon and ammunition in the taxi, saving the production from spending on big action scenes. Murphy Stanton is too clever; you can't help but admire him!"

"Agreed!"

"Murphy Stanton epitomizes doing more with less."

The comment was met with widespread agreement, as if all "Deadpool" fans had been brainwashed by Murphy Stanton and Kara Faith.

Even this clear cost-cutting move became a source of entertainment. Were "Deadpool" fans all out of their minds? Had they been hit by a pig or walked in the rain without an umbrella?

Scolari was baffled. Was this the same North American movie market he knew?

He closed the page, revealing the "Los Angeles Times" entertainment blog beneath, with the most prominent piece being the weekend's box office statistics.

Despite suspecting that the audience had lost its mind, the fact they paid for "Deadpool" tickets was indisputable.

"'Deadpool' tops North American box office on Friday, breaking records for the highest April Friday gross and the highest opening day in April for a North American film!"

In just one day, Murphy Stanton and Kara Faith had broken two North American cinematic records!

The company's executives couldn't ignore this success, which would become part of Kara Faith's competitive arsenal.

The specific box office figures were something Scolari didn't want to see, yet he forced himself to look, understanding that knowing his competition was crucial to maintaining his position.

"The North American movie market this weekend finally welcomed a blockbuster, 'Deadpool,' directed by the distinctively styled young director Murphy Stanton and produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The film easily garnered $7.52 million in Thursday's previews and added $20.08 million on Friday. Including the preview screenings in the opening day's tally, 'Deadpool' achieved a $27.60 million box office on its premiere day, setting a new record for April Friday earnings and breaking the North American market's opening day record for April..."

The figure was a sore sight for Scolari, especially since it was just Friday's earnings, typically expected to rise on Saturday.

"The Los Angeles Times" also made a prediction that was not just eye-opening but heart-wrenching for Scolari.

"The paper predicts that 'Deadpool' could easily reach $75 million by the weekend's end, far exceeding 20th Century Fox's initial forecast of $30 million to $45 million."

This prediction nearly matched the opening weekend box office of "X-Men 2," a sequel in a successful series, whereas "Deadpool" had no pre-existing fan base!

Scolari's greatest hope was for "Deadpool's" Saturday earnings to plummet, turning it into a high-opening, low-following joke.

However, the subsequent statistics made clear that this "hope" was merely wishful thinking. Since entering Hollywood, which of Stanton's films hadn't simultaneously blown up in both audience and critical acclaim?

"'Deadpool' not only boasts high box office numbers but also strong reviews, with a Cinemascore rating of A+ and a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 86%. With such strong backing, Deadpool's future earnings are expected to continue rising..."

"Continue rising!" These words cut through Scolari like a knife, imprinting deep into his mind. The Rotten Tomatoes rating was one thing, but the A+ Cinemascore indicated that "Deadpool" was set for a strong opening weekend and likely sustained success.

Scolari felt a turmoil within. "Deadpool's" final North American earnings wouldn't just stop at $150 million. How much higher could it go? $200 million? Or more?

For the first time, Scolari felt threatened. One film's success might not mean much, but what if Kara Faith continued to succeed? It could definitely pose a threat to his position.

His gaze, fixed on the computer screen, eventually settled on Murphy Stanton's name. With Stanton's help, Kara Faith's chances of continuing success were incredibly high.

Scolari closed his eyes, Stanton's impressive track record vividly playing in his mind. This young director, barely in his mid-twenties, had not only made every film he directed a hit but had done so with relatively low budgets, achieving substantial returns.

Kara Faith had the advantage of Murphy Stanton's support...

"'Deadpool's' success isn't without its benefits," Scolari mused as he shut down his computer. "At least it has made clear where Kara Faith's strength and most lethal weapon lie."

"Murphy Stanton!" he muttered, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk, "Murphy Stanton..."

If he could somehow break up the partnership between Kara Faith and Murphy Stanton, the future landscape would definitely shift in his favor.

Gradually regaining his confidence, Scolari thought, "A single successful film doesn't mean much. As long as I can continue to succeed, the position of director will still be mine!"

He glanced at a meticulously crafted poster on the office wall featuring Orlando Bloom and Eva Green in medieval attire. Though he didn't have a blockbuster under his belt this year, next year's "Kingdom of Heaven" promised to be a major hit, likely to turn the tables in his favor.

"To prevent any accidents," Scolari decided, "I need to get more involved in the production process."

His decision was a testament to the newfound urgency he felt in the face of Kara Faith's rising success. Understanding that his position was at risk, Scolari was ready to take whatever steps necessary to secure his future within the company.

This scenario laid bare the competitive and often ruthless nature of the film industry, where success can come from not just the quality of one's work, but also the alliances formed behind the scenes. Scolari's realization about the importance of Murphy Stanton to Kara Faith's triumph underscored the strategic nature of their relationship, suggesting that in the battle for dominance within Fox, the real key to victory might lie not on the screen, but in the power dynamics off it.

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