Major producers

interlude.

July 11.

Armand Millester embarked on a journey throughout California, preferring car trips over anything else. His title as distribution director is not in vain, but it still stands as a great show of support given his current age. Now, he's doing what's called fieldwork—checking theaters, observing people entering, and noting other empirical matters.

Every day, he monitors the changes and advancements in "The Lion King" statistics, ensuring that the advertising hasn't been removed. Now, in San Diego, he's focusing entirely on different cinemas, with the cardboard poster on one side, smaller than the grand poster of "The Last King," a Disney production. It contrasts in profiles, but money could only secure a certain number of posters of a particular size.

He saw two children running with "The Lion King" masks and sighed, "How will the weekend turn out for us?" Armand murmured.

He adjusted a press badge, a recorder, along with a small microphone—an ensemble that allowed him to carry out certain activities. He had given $10 to the young man at the entrance before arriving, who offered him a cap from the establishment, and now, he was just another employee, conducting interviews.

"Good morning," Armand Millester said as he exited the theater, to a family of four, interested in both the parents' and children's opinions.

"I'm surveying the movie 'The Lion King.' Would you like to participate in a Lion King-themed pencil?" Armand Millester asked.

"Of course, sir," said the lady, perhaps in her forties.

The husband simply nodded.

"First question: What rating would you give the movie you just watched? The minimum rating is 1, and the maximum rating is 5," Armand said, pointing the recorder at the lady.

"4," the lady said quickly.

"You, sir, and young ones," Armand said.

"5," the little boy said.

Armand passed the microphone to the other, slightly younger child, who raised his hands in a five. The older adult responded with a 3.

"3 and 5," Armand said into the microphone.

"Would you watch the movie again?" Armand asked.

He received two affirmations from both children, who enjoyed the movie, and two denials from both adults, who only saw "The Lion King" with passing eyes. The mother added that she would take the kids to the cinema if asked, but she preferred buying the DVD.

"What's your favorite character in the movie you just watched?" Armand asked.

"Simba," the older child said.

Interestingly, the mother responded, "Pumbaa," for the character's charm, and emphasized that the music and the movie were perfect for children.

"Thank you very much for your responses. As promised, two Lion King-themed pencils for these young ones," Armand said, lifting two pencils with Lion King designs. The little boy smiled and grabbed the pencil with his hands.

The following interviews proceeded in the same manner. He received good reviews; the children enjoyed the movie, and the parents approved of its child-friendly scope, with some even understanding the hidden messages and depth not captured by children who cried at some touching scenes.

*******************************************************************************

July 12.

Jeffrey Katzenberg just wanted to say "I told you so" to Michael Eisner. He knew very well that when animated movies are well-made, they are beloved by the public. Even his younger son enjoyed the movie in theaters. He couldn't deny that the kid could make great animated films. The third one in two years—a great skill, considered Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The financial reports brought to his office were satisfactory. On one hand, his movie reached $113 million at the domestic box office, and its international premiere was held a week ago. Ticket sales only keep rising. And everything earned from here on is money that will enter the company.

-Fatefully, the alliance between Lux Animation and Sony-Columbia has benefited them. They recorded $49 million, adding up to a total of $72 million at the box office. A very good profit, considering they're competing against us, - said Jeffrey Katzenberg.

-I had no doubts. At most, I expected them to reach $52 million. Our paradisiacal counterparts on the other side of the world have given great reviews about 'The Lion King,' and it may continue to grow relentlessly. It's not a lost movie, - said Phil Lader, a key figure in creating Disney animated movies.

The $72 million is indeed a big applause for Lux Animation. Their first goal is to cover losses; beyond that, it's to earn enough money to invest in the movie. The Disney board is unaware that Lux Animation, being a private company, uses cross-accounting tactics. In the production of the movie, expenses for trying to improve computer animation programs and investment in software are added, only comparable to animation costs.

-You usually follow the company more closely, - Jeffrey questioned.

Phil Lader just smiled and opened his desk drawer, where there were several volumes of comics, including Slam Dunk, Evangelion, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Hellboy.

-I like their comics. I'm a devoted fan of all the comics the company releases. I firmly believe they will continue to provide us with wonderful stories. Part of the script overlapped with an idea from Hellboy about Lovecraftian myths, - said Phil Lader.

-How wonderful, - said Jeffrey Katzenberg, who was also a Lux Comics fan.

********************************************************************************

Betty Cohen hurried down the hallway. That's what some members said, but it was quite the opposite—she hastened her steps, something she only did when she was in a critical situation. People in the company started saying that Betty was running.

She entered the room of her former Entertainment Director, Bob Daily, with whom she had an outstanding relationship, now shared command with what they called the unofficial triangle, Ted Turner, Terry Semel, and Bob Daily. For now, she was just looking for Bob, who seemed the calmest of the three, as she had a better relationship with him.

-Did you see the news? - Betty asked.

-I'm a vice president now, Betty. I don't have much time to devote to watching the news. Is there something I should know? - Bob Daily asked, yawning at Betty's words, unable to avoid succumbing to sleep. His work was heavy, and long, and had little rest for all his extracurricular activities.

-Well, it's about our dear Billy Carson, the head of the company I mentioned would be Hollywood's worst nightmare, a detail I don't regret, but one that has been taken to a greater extent, - said Betty Cohen.

-Yes, I saw it. 'The Lion King' has risen from the ashes, - said Bob Daily.

-Well, it's more interesting. I never took the time to investigate in detail, but you know I usually read all the newspapers related to film, television, and entertainment. I came across a particular and interesting piece of news. It took me a while, of course, but I haven't had much time in these past few weeks, -- Betty said, picturing Billy at the "Stargate" premiere, hand in hand with a Mili Avital. -- It seems our common competitor is using the name Bill Darwin to present himself in the movies. He's very prominent now, there's no doubt about that, but now he's also acting as the lead and an actor, which I considered impossible until now, - Betty Cohen concluded.

-An interesting piece of news, - said Bob Daily, considering the news. Attacking the private life of a public figure is much easier than that of a businessman hidden behind the shadows. However, publicity can have the opposite effect they intend to achieve.

....

hello everyone, this is chapter 207, interlude.

we are on chapter 250, but I will upload 251 and 252 between today and tomorrow on Patreon, good week.

patreon.com/vin_modeus12