Chapter 754: Horrible Loss!

As Jon Berg winced, McDonald held his tongue, awaiting the president's next move with bated breath.

"Doesn't faze me. Early box office doesn't dictate our fate. We're not riding on sequels or adaptations of popular franchises. This is just the norm," Jon Berg remarked, more to himself than to McDonald.

Uncertain whether the president's words were meant for him or just muttered thoughts, McDonald hesitated to respond.

With a dismissive wave, Jon Berg declared, "That's all for today. Let's call it an early night."

Exiting the president's office, McDonald promptly notified the assistant team to wrap up for the day.

Meanwhile, Jon Berg remained seated, a sense of unease creeping over him. However, he quickly shook off the feeling, reminding himself that it was premature to judge the success of "Jack the Giant Catcher" solely based on early box office numbers.

Dismissing the negative thoughts, Jon Berg left the office, appearing outwardly relaxed as he headed home for some rest.

As the North American release of the film commenced, the reviews embargo lifted, and accolades poured in from major media outlets the following morning.

"An exhilarating blend of dazzling effects and timeless fantasy, a May must-see!" raved the "Roger Ebert Watching Movies" column in the "Chicago Sun," awarding the film an impressive 88 points.

Variety's film review column also lauded the film with a solid 80 points, praising its thrilling and original storyline.

Yet, despite the critical acclaim, "Jack the Giant Slayer" faced harsh criticism from audiences online. IMDB ratings plummeted from 5.5 to 5.3 by noon, while Twitter became a battleground of discontent.

While traditional media praised the film, the internet echoed with scathing reviews from disillusioned moviegoers, leaving Warner Bros.' attempts at damage control futile in the face of overwhelming backlash.

Warner Bros. wasted no time in crafting a response strategy.

Taking the forefront, Jon Berg faced the cameras, addressing the onslaught of negative online reviews head-on. "Every film has its critics. 'Jack the Giant Slayer may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's garnered praise from numerous reputable sources. It's unfair to dismiss its quality based solely on the polarized opinions circulating online."

Feeling the weight of the backlash, Jon Berg didn't mince words, criticizing those behind the scathing reviews and insinuating ulterior motives. "Some may not resonate with our film, and that's valid. Constructive criticism is welcome, but the vitriolic attacks are uncalled for."

The interview struck a chord, resonating with many who had initially joined the chorus of criticism.

However, not all fans were swayed. Some questioned their own right to critique having paid for admission, while others bombarded the film's Twitter account with accusations of review manipulation.

"Is this some kind of PR stunt? Paid reviews boosting your scores while we're left with a lackluster film?"

"Warner, what were you thinking? This is a disaster!"

"Seriously, who wrote this mess? The protagonist's psyche is all over the place. Is Warner's president ghostwriting now?"

As negative reviews flooded platforms like IMDB, Cinemascore's live audience ratings painted a grim picture with an average grade of just C, aligning with Warner Bros.' previous high-budget flops like "Pharaohs and Gods," "Green Lantern," and "Dark Places."

With decades of data to back it up, a C rating on Cinemascore typically spelled financial doom for films, and "Jack the Giant Slayer" was no exception. Its lackluster North American debut of $5.59 million across 3,855 theaters confirmed the dire situation.

Upon receiving the dismal figures, Nolan wasted no time in contacting Martin, hinting at impending catastrophe. Martin, undeterred, calmly responded, "Chris, are you prepared?"

"We'll initiate once we have the North American opening weekend numbers," Nolan confirmed.

"Understood," Martin acknowledged. "I'll be awaiting your cue."

Before ending the call, Nolan remembered, "And what about Bryan Singer?"

"He's on standby," Nolan assured. "Just waiting for the right moment."

Martin nodded in understanding. "I'll orchestrate a fitting opportunity for Bryan Singer."

Nolan interjected, "I'm heading to DreamWorks and Paramount to meet Spielberg and Bob in person. The 'Interstellar' project has been on hold for too long. Wish me luck."

"Good luck to you," Martin replied with a supportive tone.

With the call ended, Martin placed the phone down.

Beside him, Louise emerged from under the covers, slipping on black-rimmed glasses before striding over to the table, her attire still minimal.

Martin reclined against the soft pillows, admiring her. "You're quite the temptress."

Louise, now holding an address book, addressed Martin solemnly, "Internal power struggles are ingrained in Warner Brothers' DNA, even throughout Time Warner's history. Kevin Tsujihara's rise to power was fueled by such conflicts. There are many within Warner Bros. eyeing the president's seat at Warner Pictures."

Perching herself on a chair in an odd posture, Louise continued, "Our old friend Daniel is a prime example. Reports suggest that Warner Pictures' initial failures were pinned on him by Jon Berg, leading to Daniel's growing resentment towards him."

Martin nodded thoughtfully. "Daniel's moment has arrived."

"I'll reach out to Daniel myself," Louise declared with determination.

Martin chuckled. "Excellent."

"Don't forget to foot the bill for this call!" Louise quipped, adjusting her glasses.

Without hesitation, Martin promptly recharged and covered the expense.

---

As the North American box office figures for "Jack the Giant Slayer" surfaced, Jon Berg's efforts to salvage its reputation faltered.

The facade of "polarized reception" crumbled entirely.

Kenneth Turan, renowned film critic for the Los Angeles Times, minced no words in his scathing column, lambasting the film's lackluster execution. "A mere patchwork of two classic tales, stitched together with flashy visuals to conceal its mediocrity! Despite Bryan Singer's experience, the film's numerous blunders are simply unforgivable."

In response, Bryan Singer, unwilling to shoulder the blame, took matters into his own hands. Following a friend's advice, he reached out to TMZ, granting a candid video interview revealing the truth behind the scenes of "Jack the Giant Slayer."

The interview swiftly made headlines on TMZ's homepage:

"Those who followed 'Jack the Giant Slayer promotion know I distanced myself from it. This film isn't my work!"

The film's disastrous quality took a toll on the lead actor's mental well-being. Bryan Singer vehemently disowned any responsibility, declaring, "I solemnly declare that 'Jack the Giant Slayer' is not my work!"

Explaining further, he recounted the tumultuous production process. "While I shot most of the scenes on location, many weren't as I intended. Initially smooth filming in Atlanta turned chaotic when Jon Berg, Warner Bros. Pictures' president, introduced multiple new producers."

"In a crew of six influential producers, each dictated instructions to the director, leading to endless conflicts and delays," Singer revealed. "Scenes couldn't commence until they reached a consensus, leaving me tormented for a month."

As he recounted his ordeal in a video interview, viewers cringed at his anguish. "Upon returning to Los Angeles, I suffered severe psychological trauma and heart issues, requiring hospitalization," Singer admitted. "Jon Berg seized the opportunity to exclude me from post-production, a blessing in disguise given his chaotic editing methods."

Berg's unconventional approach involved having each producer edit a version of the film, then amalgamating disparate parts into the final cut, resulting in erratic shifts in tone and narrative. Singer deflected blame back to Berg, stating, " 'Jack the Giant Slayer is the brainchild of Jon Berg and his producers, not me."

Taking decisive action, Singer sought to disassociate himself from the project, instructing his agent to petition Warner Pictures, the Directors Guild, and the Producers Alliance to remove his directorial credit.

The damning revelation sent shockwaves through the industry, causing the film's reputation to plummet. Box office returns dwindled, with a mere $5.24 million earned on its debut day and a lackluster $14.22 million over the opening weekend in North America, surpassing even the abysmal performances of "Pharaoh and the Gods" and "Green Lantern."