Chapter 367 - Do Movies Make That Much Money?

"Probably a few hundred million dollars," she estimated in her mind.

Several movies and their associated ventures had brought her a substantial income, but that money couldn't just be left in the bank. She needed to pay her employees' salaries, invest in set designs, purchase props, upgrade equipment and technology, collaborate with special effects companies, and invest in emerging projects for new directors and screenwriters.

When she considered all these expenses, coming up with two to three hundred million dollars was already her limit. She did have a significant stake in Victoria's Secret, but selling those shares for cash would be foolish. After the Super Bowl campaign, Victoria's Secret had become a top-quality stock.

At this moment, the movie had just ended, and Janet heard her daughter's words, looking at her in surprise. "Do movies make that much money?" She thought she was already doing well, but in comparison to her daughter, she felt incredibly poor. Even coming up with tens of millions in cash was challenging for her; all her capital was tied up in the company's operations.

Quentin also showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. He couldn't ask such a simple question as Janet did because he had thoroughly researched all profitable ventures. He had never considered investing in movies because the industry lacked certainty.

"No, making money in the movie industry isn't easy. You never know what type of movies the audience wants to see. The recent movie, 'The 13th Warrior,' used people who had previously made successful movies and written bestselling scripts. They even hired many A-list actors, but it performed poorly at the box office. Unless they can make over $400 million in overseas box office revenue, it's considered a loss."

The question was whether such a possibility existed.

In the future, it might be possible because, as time progressed, the demand for entertainment in the Eastern ancient country had been increasing, with movies playing a significant role.

For example, the Warcraft movie had only earned $24.17 million in its opening week in North America, but it made $90 million in just two days in Eastern countries. It not only saved the struggling movie but also pushed forward plans for a sequel.

However, that was a future development. For the current market, once a movie flopped in North America, there was little hope of making it up elsewhere. Quentin was well aware of this.

"I had a client who wanted to invest in movies. He saw the huge success of 'Titanic' and was tempted. Indeed, that movie brought in substantial profits, but in the entire history of cinema, there has been only one like it. I had my team thoroughly analyze Hollywood before dissuading my client from the idea."

Laila smirked, "That's right, Hollywood isn't a place where anyone with money can succeed. It's not short of wealthy people; what it lacks is the discerning eye to identify profitable opportunities."

Janet playfully wrapped her arm around Laila's shoulder. "Are you talking about yourself? Dear. Even if you don't emphasize it, I already know how impressive you are." She kissed Laila's cheek and stood up. "Let's not talk about those boring topics anymore. Where's my little Roy? I bought a lot of gifts for him."

The three of them left the viewing room, and when they came out, they saw Roy and Abel having a great time chatting with Grandma. When they approached, Grandma wasn't too pleased. "Did you just leave these two lovely children here?"

"Don't say that, Grandma!" Roy grinned. "I enjoy talking to you. You've told me a lot about the East, and I've been very interested."

Grandma smiled and patted his hand. "You're a good kid, Grandma knows."

Laila pinched her slightly flushed forehead. She never doubted this guy's ability to make friends, but had he managed to charm Grandma this quickly? She remembered Grandma usually kept her distance and maintained her dignity around strangers.

Just as they were talking, Mr. Oswald Moran returned home.

As soon as he entered the house, his eyes first swept over Roy before shifting to Quentin. He stared deeply at Quentin.

Being a tycoon of his caliber, who had been at the pinnacle of power for a long time, his aura was undoubtedly intimidating. At least Roy felt a sudden stiffness in his body just from that one glance, as if he had been petrified.

But soon, his eyes lit up. This was his first time seeing such a big shot in person, and it turned out to be just like the novels described, with the aura of an upper-class figure. If he were to play such a character, how far would he need to go in his performance?

While everyone's attention was focused on the wordless showdown between the old man and Quentin, Roy was thinking about how to improve his acting skills.

It was probably because the old man had been staring for too long that the people in the Moran family couldn't stand it anymore. Grandma was a kind-hearted person, and she couldn't stand it when the old man was being a "bully," especially to someone who might become her son-in-law.

"Why are you staring at people like that? Go change your clothes; dinner will be ready soon," she pushed the old man's arm.

"Alright," the old man grunted and then headed upstairs.

"Are you okay?" Janet wanted to see Quentin embarrassed, but what she saw was a face without any unusual expression. He still smiled and maintained his elegant demeanor, showing the mature charm of middle-aged Quentin Sanders.

"Of course, I'm fine," he replied gracefully.

Janet felt a bit disappointed. "How can you be fine? When I brought friends home before, they would get weak in the legs from just one glance from my dad." She was really hoping to see this arrogant man defeated by her father's gaze. Every time he bullied her, she had been holding in a lot of anger.

Laila didn't want to listen to the lovey-dovey banter between the two, so she turned and saw Roy still deep in thought.

"What are you thinking?" she asked curiously.

"I'm thinking about how I would portray a character like Mr. Oswald," he said.

Laila smiled, "That's a good habit. You'll benefit from it in the future."

Frequently delving into a character's inner world and carefully observing the people around you is a very good habit. She had always said that opportunities come to those who are prepared, and if one day he really had to play such a character, then today's efforts would come in handy.

"But trying to portray someone like Grandfather from the start would be too challenging for you. First of all, no matter how talented you are, you can never surpass the accumulation brought by age. It takes time for the wisdom accumulated over the years to become part of your understanding."

Influenced by Roy, she was also bringing out her filmmaking spirit and helping him "rehearse" for a role.

"First, let's talk about posture. Did you notice how Grandfather stood just now?"

Roy nodded. "Very upright, with a sense of unwavering stability, as if he could stand firm against any strong wind."