Chapter 10: Eric's Advantage

Judy: "Oh my God! What a profit! I've never seen such a profitable business."

"Thirty million, and after just one game, it's already three hundred and thirty million, an elevenfold profit! If gambling were a woman, I'd definitely fall in love with her."

Warren couldn't stop laughing: "Eleven times, I can't believe it! I should have bet more, bet everything I had!"

Eric: "Wasn't that your last $1,000?"

Warren: "Well, actually, I saved a little, afraid I'd lose it all. Now I see I worried for nothing. Eric, you're amazing!"

Seeing his friends getting carried away with money, Eric decided to cool them down a bit. He knew how dangerous gambling and drugs could be.

Gambling and drugs can destroy a person. As for women, for the rich, that's not a problem, as they have enough time and money to take care of themselves. That's why he always said, "Gambling and drugs are my enemies."

Eric: "Guys, cool it. Gambling is not the way out. Even if you win sometimes, no one can guarantee constant wins."

"This is the first and last time because I need to quickly accumulate start-up capital, but remember: continuous gambling leads to losses."

"After this World Cup, if any of you continue to gamble, you will no longer be my friend!"

Eric was serious, and he always kept his promises.

However, his friends were not ordinary people, and Eric believed they knew how to act right.

Two games, just one week, and Eric's fortune reached a staggering $500 million, which seemed incredible.

$500 million in 2002 is more than the net worth of most Hollywood stars. Even twenty years later, $500 million is enough to invest in two Hollywood blockbusters with major stars and big budgets.

For example, Sony's film "Spider-Man," which, although released a month ago, is still showing in some theaters. The cost of this superhero movie was less than $140 million.

MGM's film "Windtalkers," a war drama, cost about $130 million.

Although these budgets are somewhat inflated, the exaggeration is minimal since these companies are public, and they are monitored by shareholders and the tax authorities. If the costs were falsely inflated three to five times, when the IRS comes to check, all that's left is to cry bitterly. In America, you can't joke with the tax authorities. Hollywood can deceive Wall Street, but not the IRS.

Besides production costs, there are also marketing and promotion expenses, which constitute a significant part of the film's budget.

Eric estimated that the total budget for "Spider-Man" and "Windtalkers" should hover around $180 million.

However, if Eric were involved in production, the budget could be reduced by $30-40 million.

This is because a lot of material is wasted during filming. For instance, for a 120-minute film, over 1,000 minutes are shot, which are then edited into the final version.

As a time traveler, Eric knew exactly what the final version of each film would look like, so unnecessary filming could be eliminated. This would significantly shorten the production cycle, reduce costs, and allow for earlier film releases. This was his advantage.

However, despite $500 million being enough to shoot several major films, it still wasn't enough to buy MGM. He needed more money.

But he couldn't overburden the betting companies too much.

Last time, he won $190 million, cutting the profits of many small bookmakers in half.

This time, he won $330 million, and even major companies like Pinnacle and Ladbrokes would likely face reduced profits.

As for the smaller companies, their profits would be minimal.

It was necessary to give these companies a break; otherwise, the game couldn't continue.

Eric: "As usual, no bets in the coming days. All your entertainment expenses are on me."

"But we need to be careful. We've had two big wins, and I'm afraid it might have attracted the attention of the bookmakers. So, caution is advised."

Time flew by, and soon it was June 14, an important day with two significant events.

First, the premiere of "Windtalkers." Eric was planning to go to the theater to watch it for pleasure.

Second, today was the crucial match between Korea and Portugal.

Yes, the Koreans were finally entering the game, and the biggest scandal of the 2002 World Cup was about to begin.

At the cinema, Eric bought popcorn and a soda and waited for the movie to start.

He observed the audience and noticed that most of them were men, many in groups. Couples and women were rare.

Nearby, a black guy was telling his friend: "I like John Woo's style. Soon Nicholas Cage will become a god of war on the battlefield and send all enemies to hell."

Another black guy exclaimed: "Bullets, explosions, blood, bang-bang-bang!"

Not far away, a white office worker was discussing John Woo's films with his colleague: "I've seen 'Face/Off,' 'Mission: Impossible 2,' and 'Hard Boiled.' I like his movies. I hope this one turns out to be a great action flick. Work is exhausting, I need to unwind."

Everyone around him shared similar thoughts, but Eric knew they were in for disappointment. The audience expected to see a film about personal heroism, which was John Woo's image, but "Windtalkers" was far from that.

It was a film with an Eastern spirit wrapped in a Hollywood package, emphasizing loyalty to the country rather than personal heroism.

Moreover, it was about Native Americans sacrificing themselves for America, which in 2002 was clearly premature.

Not to mention in 2002, even in 2022, the most one could expect is the self-sacrifice of black people. When will it be the turn of the Native Americans?

Do they have the right to "free shopping"? Do they have a Black Lives Matter movement? No, not even close!

Note: "Free shopping" = looting

Eric entered the theater, the lights went out, and the movie started.

He alternated between watching the screen and observing the audience. Although Nicholas Cage's performance was still good, the plot was full of flaws.

By the middle of the film, many viewers were already frowning; it was far from their expectations. Some began to leave for the restroom and did not return, indicating the film's weak appeal.

Obviously, the next day, the film would face widespread criticism in the media.

Amid the noise of disgruntled viewers, Eric left the theater with a smile. "Windtalkers" had flopped, and it was time for the next "shearing of the sheep."

When he got home, the match between Korea and Portugal had already ended. As in his memories, Portugal received two red cards.

The Korean team of 12 defeated the Portuguese team of 9, and Portugal's golden generation did not advance from the group stage, suffering a bitter defeat.

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