Oppressive Odds

"W-what do you mean?! Shouldn't you be shocked and appalled?!" Old Kirk was too surprised and was even voicing out his assumptions about what should have happened. "Shouldn't you be begging me to help you? Why are you laughing at me? Those are the Oscars and prestigious awards, you fool!"

Sullivan was just looking at the older man like he was crazed. Kirk Douglas was flashing mud pie like it was some delicious cake in front of people whose goals were on five-star gourmet dishes.

"It is what it is, old man Douglas!" Sullivan felt a bit of pity for him and explained. "The Oscars and awards must have some lifetime worth for an old-school Hollywood veteran like you. Unfortunately, you showed off to the wrong people. You see, we are in the film industry for the business and money, not to please some jury."

Sullivan's smiling gloat as he explained was enough to enlighten the older man.

It was too late to realize that he appeared like a boastful child who wanted adults to be jealous of his fake robot.

He was clearly the oldest in his 70s but even the young 12-year-old felt much more maturer than him throughout the confrontation.

Old Kirk Douglas was crept up upon by shame and his old body was clearly spasming from the shock.

It was definitely an overreaction for an embarrassed person but it was a bit serious for someone of old age.

His acquaintances, that were eavesdropping not far from him, were quick on their feet and helped the old man with his necessary medicine.

When the situation stabilized, they didn't have many faces to stay with and obediently led the old man out of the auditorium.

Sullivan had to sprinkle some more salt on the wounded and hollered to them. "I hope there isn't some mental abuse lawsuit coming my way. It is clear for you to see that the old Mr. Douglas was imagining things like crazy and I was just talking him out of it."

The stabilized Mr. Douglas heard his words and had spasms of aftershock on his way out.

Sullivan just laughed at the poor display. Although he said that he considers old Kirk insignificant, it still can't be hidden that he held a grudge for repeatedly delaying his directorial debut.

Alexander had his curiosity appeased and just indifferently turned away. His bashful innocent look all throughout was quick to shift to his stoic usualness.

The boy was indifferent but he knew that he solved one of his grandfather's biggest regret. If everything was just as in the past timeline, old Kirk Douglas would have won out and old Sullivan would disappear in repressed silence.

If it wasn't for old Douglas, old Sullivan would have long flourished into the level he reached at present. Old Sullivan was too skilled that he might have long been a major studio executive without hassle.

If Douglas hadn't intervened, Sullivan would have flourished.

If Alexander hadn't intervened, Sullivan would have been buried along with his abilities.

Now, that Alexander intervened, Sullivan ultimately flourished.

Fate and oppression just work out in weird ways. Possibilities made happen by decisions just like Lola's altered runs.

In any case, the entire interaction put an end to the Run Lola Run premiere and it was up to the upcoming battles and decisions to decide its final fate.

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The end of the premiere meant the start of the midnight screenings. Aside from the long-running 'Rain Man' and the notable release of the previous month, 'The Three Fugitives'. Run Lola Run has to compete against Warner Bros.' 'Who's Harry Crumb?' and Tristar Pictures' 'Her Alibi'.

The two new releases had obvious advantages over Creed Films with their ratings, good budget, and theaters.

Warner and Tristar are confident with crushing the new low-cost film under their newest competitor company.

They were too confident that a 750,000-dollar film should be a trashy fad and couldn't be the next Home Alone, which made them collaborate on the entire premiere upgrade, media reporter increase, and critic inviting.

Their final goal for such an arrangement is to balloon the Run Lola Run's reputation and ruin the Creed band in the long run.

The plan would deal a big blow and produce severe repercussions for the Creeds. Unfortunately, they had overlooked a crucial part and might have been too overconfident.

The head office might not have been informed by their rating committee representatives or they haven't made enough investigations.

Run Lola Run isn't anything near a shoddy film or a rushed production at all. In fact, Director Ed Williams (AD1) had started preparations and the actors had already started memorizing their lines on the first week of November 1989.

It had enough pre-production and control from the Creeds to guarantee its quality and cost control.

With Alexander's multi-movie insight from being a stay-at-home binge-watcher, ensuring an enjoyable, interesting, and endearing movie is just a matter of time and brainpower.

This 1989 Americanized version isn't too detached from the core of the 1998 German version, however, it was improved on what needed to be improved and stamped on its fatal flaw.

The edgy animated parts were among the first to go out.

Lola's run had catchy but appropriate music. Her interaction with her father and father's mistress was much more grounded. Her being shot by the police and Manni's ambulance death had the appropriateness surprise plot it needed. The final scene of being the overall winner was there to perfectly tie the whole film together.

As a producer, one must consider what the audience wants. Alexander considered that while taking into account what he likes as well.

The late 80s moviegoers had their own movie viewing rhythm while Alexander and Sullivan just had to temper a bit of that rhythm to give the audience something new and exciting.

Friday's viewing was silent. Saturday screenings had some theater number adjustments. Sunday was the official end of tallying of that week's box office.

Home Alone perfectly ended its overseas run with 484 million dollars as its finale, surprising everybody! But what surprised those more well-informed even more was Run Lola Run earning 4 million dollars on its opening weekend.

4 million dollars wasn't anything groundbreaking for a film but given the major studios' animosity to the Creed film company, it was an achievement for a low-cost film to earn that much against all odds.