Chapter 291: Cold Market

Arthur valued Jim Carrey highly, and with The Mask about to start filming, Arthur felt a sense of relief.

Of course, another blockbuster, Forrest Gump, was also in Arthur's focus. The $60 million production cost was a new record for Galaxy!

"Arthur, I'm heading over to the The Mask crew for rehearsals. Call me if you miss me," Elizabeth Hurley kissed Arthur, who was still in bed, in the Bel-Air mansion.

"Yeah, go ahead, and give it your best!"

After spending a wonderful weekend with Arthur, Elizabeth Hurley quickly joined the Galaxy's new film crew for The Mask, as it was already nearing September.

Culver City, Yu Feihong's apartment.

"Rumble in the Bronx is finished?" Arthur asked in surprise. It had only been two months!

"Yes," Yu Feihong seemed quite satisfied with her internship experience. "Vivian Chow invited me to Vancouver to stay at her place for a few days. Unfortunately, I had to come back to prepare for school."

"It's fine; there will be more opportunities," said Arthur, sitting with Yu Feihong on the sofa. "Rumble in the Bronx is expected to be released in the U.S. next April."

"I know." 

"By the way, I'll take you to see a newly released movie later," Arthur whispered into Yu Feihong's ear.

"Oh, what movie?"

Arthur smiled, "Well, a movie about freedom and redemption, The Shawshank Redemption. It just released last weekend, but it's not doing well. However, it has received high praise in the film circle. I also really like it!"

Indeed, The Shawshank Redemption starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman had been released, opening in 120 theaters in North America, grossing less than $3 million in its first weekend.

Although Arthur was prepared for the film to lose money, the market's indifference made Arthur truly feel the audience preferences.

"Is it your movie?"

"Yes, it's an art film. There's no grand spectacle, just a story of an inmate wrongly imprisoned in a place called Shawshank who takes 19 years to escape and regain freedom," Arthur briefly introduced.

"Alright, let's go see it tonight. If it's a movie you like, it won't be a bad one," Yu Feihong knew Arthur well enough to know that The Shawshank Redemption wouldn't be a mediocre film.

After all, in Arthur's eyes, movies like Sleepless in Seattle and The Piano were considered morally wrong and pointless!

After speaking, Arthur nodded and kissed Yu Feihong while unbuttoning her shirt.

Soon, Arthur pressed Yu Feihong onto the sofa, nibbling at her chest.

Holding Arthur's head, Yu Feihong teased, "The Shawshank Redemption might make Galaxy lose money, huh? It's hard to imagine!"

"After watching the movie tonight, I'm sure you'll have a different opinion," Arthur said, silencing her with a kiss and feeling the softness beneath his hand.

"Mm..."

In the evening, Arthur drove his Honda NSX with Yu Feihong to a theater near USC and bought tickets for The Shawshank Redemption.

"Wow, so few people?" Yu Feihong noticed that only about one-fifth of the seats were filled as they entered the theater.

Arthur shrugged and sat with Yu Feihong in a quiet spot, "Nothing we can do. Although critics praised the movie, the general audience is very indifferent to it. It's like an ice cream that won't melt, no word-of-mouth boost, and theater expansion is slow."

Shortly after, the movie began, and Arthur explained to Yu Feihong, "At its release, many critics gave it high praise, calling it a masterpiece comparable to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but such claims only circulated within certain professional circles.

General audiences' attitude was like this: a prison movie? No romance, no exciting fights or action scenes, no big commercial stars. People don't want to watch it!"

Arthur could now understand the shock felt by producer Liz Glotzer and director Frank Darabont when they visited a big theater on Sunset Boulevard on premiere night.

They expected to see audiences moved to tears, but there were barely any people in the theater.

Arthur even heard that Liz Glotzer and Frank Darabont had stopped two young women at the theater entrance and invited them to watch The Shawshank Redemption with the promise of a refund if they didn't like it.

Arthur had specifically renamed The Shawshank Redemption to Redemption and held numerous preview events before its release to gain good word-of-mouth in film circles and among critics.

Unfortunately, the market was cold. This year, there was no Forrest Gump release, and Schindler's List was released last year. Who knew if The Shawshank Redemption would achieve good results at the Oscar next year?

*****

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