The Best Director

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: Scary (Request for Monthly Ticket)

After the weekend of October 29-31 had passed, the time quietly entered November, and the North American weekend box office chart also had a new set of results. “Saw II” triumphed over the American version of “The Grudge,” “Soul Men,” and other films, seizing the weekend crown with a box office haul of $35.72 million. In contrast to its $5 million production budget, Firefly Films had recouped its investment in North America in just three days, while also reaping substantial profits. According to predictions from The-Numbers website, the global box office for “SAW2” is expected to exceed $150 million US Dollars.

The first installment had a budget of $3 million and grossed $145 million; the second cost $5 million to make and, with its successful opening, it is normally estimated to ultimately reach $150 million! That equates to $8 million crazily raking in nearly $300 million in revenue! And the inevitable releases of “SAW3,” “SAW4″…

A gold mine, an absolute gold mine! This kind of near-zero risk low-budget horror series is what film producers dream of. In recent years, there have been series like “Scream,” “Final Destination,” however, by 2000 the production budget of “Scream 3” had risen to $40 million, and by 2003 “Final Destination 2” went up to $26 million. The pattern of storytelling seen in “Saw,” which can indeed be compressed to a $1 million+ budget and half a month’s time to complete, is truly enviable.

The “High School Musical” series, “Ice Age” series, “The Hangover” series, and “Saw” series; the not-yet-debuted “Furious Cars” and the sequel series to “Step Up”… Then there’s next year’s fully Chinese-themed “Kung Fu Panda” and the East-West fusion “Firefly.” Everyone may question if Wang Yang can reclaim his status as a darling of the film critic world, whether he will be stripped of the title of genius or create a new peak; yet few doubt his promotional methods, his business acumen, even if it were a total flop.

However, such a flop has never occurred; instead, Firefly Films’ enviable assets only seem to be growing, to the point where film producers and the media have become somewhat numb to it: “Oh, it’s another Firefly Films production!” Now, whenever Firefly Films releases a movie on a large scale, it seems almost certain to secure the first-week box office crown.

Following Justin Lin and Paul Feig, the Australian duo of James Wan and Leigh Whannell, through two works described as “insanely brilliant,” have shown the world their sparkle and potential. Major and minor film companies, including Universal, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Lionsgate, and Summit, are all interested in inviting them to produce horror films for them. However, the two are still devoted to pouring their all into the production of “Saw III” for next year’s release, completing a complete “SAW” trilogy, and are temporarily unwilling to be distracted; of course, the high box office revenue shares from the previous two films support them in this pace.

“I’m really grateful to Wang Yang, not just for Firefly’s investment in ‘SAW.'” A long time ago, in an interview with “Variety” magazine, Leigh Whannell said with a smile, “He almost saved my life, trying acupuncture treatment improved and stabilized my headache condition, I got the restful sleep I wanted the most, before that was a period I’d rather not recall.” Looking towards the future, James Wan said with a smile, “We don’t want to let down magical Yang’s expectations, nor all the fans of ‘SAW.’ ‘SAW’ is not our lifetime’s work, but doing it well is what we hope for right now.”

Knowing that they wouldn’t be able to secure James Wan and Leigh Whannell in the short term, Lionsgate had other ideas. Aside from “Fahrenheit 9/11,” they hadn’t had any success for several years, and the desired “Crash” was snatched up by Firefly Films. Four years later, Jon Feltheimer felt it was time to reboot “Paranormal Activity 3.” The fame of magical Yang since the Halloween release of “Paranormal Activity 2” in 1999 had increased manyfold; had he not married early, the “idol director” would have been even more charming now.

Although Wang Yang’s appeal to thousands of young girls has waned, Lionsgate had no reason to pass up on such a bright marquee, this vivid banner: “Magical Yang’s latest sequel,” “Best Director’s newest installment of his DV film debut,” “Dare you watch it? Be careful, it might paralyze you with fear!”…

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The producer of “Paranormal Activity” was Wang Yang, and it was only “Paranormal Activity 2” that was done by Lionsgate. Negotiations about the rights to the third sequel were still in progress, but Jon Feil Timur was confident. Not to mention his years of relentlessly sniping at Lionsgate in the acquisition market, which might be seen as normal industry competition, Flame & Lionsgate still maintained an alliance, cooperating on distribution channels and other facets. Rationally, emotionally, and commercially, Wang Yang would most likely not deliberately make things difficult for Lionsgate.

“Invite Wang Yang to direct? He’s unlikely to agree.” Hearing this suggestion from production department manager Michael Parsonac, Jon Feil Timur was naturally very tempted. Skipping the dreadful second installment, moving the primary setting of the story from offices and schools back to an apartment, having the name “YOUNG-WANG” on any of the three key positions—writer, producer, and director—or even a non-productive “Executive-producer,” would allow one to “forget the past” and revive the “Paranormal Activity” series as a legitimate successor, and relaunch this goldmine that was no less lucrative than “Saw.”

Set to premiere next Halloween, if there are any issues because of “Saw III,” it could easily be moved to another date. The mere presence of “Amazing Yang” could guarantee a hundred million in box office. The idea was attractive, but Jon Feil Timur lacked confidence. Although the shooting and postproduction cycle for mockumentaries such as DV and high-definition videos are short—so much so that, in the style of the high-speed and highly productive “Amazing Yang,” it might even be completed in one or two weeks—times had changed. Warner Brothers’ “Batman” had been rejected, Paramount had extended invitations for years without a response, not to mention DreamWorks, Universal, MGM…

That summer, six years ago, Wang Yang had run his legs off in Hollywood with a DVD in hand, everyone thought the guy was out of his depth; now he’s the most popular producer, director, and writer, with everyone eager to have this “magic halo.”

Thinking of all this, Jon Feil Timur couldn’t help but sigh and reflect. Even if Wang Yang had been invited to direct “Paranormal Activity 2,” that “everything is under control” guy might not have agreed, let alone now. It was virtually impossible to invite the “Amazing Yang” to participate in the production. Would Wang Yang, now a super-director, still be found holding a DV camera and shooting stuff? Despite this, Jon Feil Timur still said to Michael Parsonac, “Let’s both ask, remember not to upset him! Hopefully Yang will remember some of our old ties.”

“Shh!” The DV camera showed Wang Yang with a mischievous smirk. He put a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture, then sneakily hid under the dining table. Covered in a carpet of the same color as the floorboards, and shielded by chairs facing the door, it was very difficult for someone to notice anything unusual when walking into this dimly lit kitchen and dining room, especially if someone was careless or their attention was drawn away by something else.

It was Halloween that day. Unlike the previous year when it fell on a Saturday, it was Monday. After working all day, Wang Yang went out to play with Jessica until nearly midnight before they returned home, breaking her recent record for the latest time to bed. And he had made some preparations long before—the essential Halloween activity of scaring people. The DV camera, recording the event, was placed on the counter opposite the refrigerator, similarly hidden by a cloth. Now, the lens captured a silent, blue-toned dining room.

“Yang? Where are you? Darling? What’s wrong?” Jessica, wearing a plaid nightgown and a coat, walked into the dining room puzzled. Just before she took a shower, he said he was going to the kitchen to find something to eat. She came out from the shower but couldn’t find him anywhere, his cellphone was in the living room, where could he have gone? On the car ride home, he had told her several chilling ghost stories. The dimly lit ambience of the dining room made her furrow her brows even more. Danny was nowhere to be found; had he gone to walk the dog?

Jessica thought this was not far-fetched at all. Could it be one of his scary tricks again? She looked around the dining room and kitchen but he wasn’t there. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she noticed the dripping faucet in the sink making a “drip-drip” sound, noticeably loud in the silent early hours, “Why didn’t you turn it off after using it!” she muttered as she walked over to the sink. There, she found a sink full of what looked like fresh blood, not the aromatic smell of red wine, but emanating a faint scent of blood. She turned off the faucet, staring at the sinkful of red water, too frightened to touch it, and shouted, “Darling! Honey! Yang!”

“What is this… Where did he go?” The more Jessica looked at the basin of red water, the more uncomfortable she felt, yet she knew it was mostly likely one of his Halloween pranks! Being with him, there was never a shortage of surprises and romance, nor of these playful pranks, which sometimes literally scared her to death! While considering this, Jessica suddenly noticed several red handprints on the fridge and then saw that red droplets were leaking from it, creating a large puddle on the floor. She laughed, “What are you up to…” But her heart was a little hairy. She slowly opened the refrigerator and immediately let out a brief scream, “Ah!”

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A bloody severed hand lay in the bottom of the fridge, wearing a silver ring on its ring finger—a very familiar silver ring!

“Aaaaah!” Wang Yang suddenly bolted from under the dining table, screaming at the top of his lungs. The chair he knocked over crashed to the ground with a bang. Jessica, who was already a bit spellbound and in a state of nervous suspicion, was immediately like the final corpse-throwing scene in “Paranormal Activity.” Startled, she leapt up on the spot, her heart instantly tightening, and she screamed uncontrollably, “Aaaaah—” She couldn’t even stand straight and, in a reflexive panic, turned around to punch, flailing her fists wildly, only to see Wang Yang not far away, laughing uncontrollably at the table’s side, thoroughly amused by his prank. She had been scared!

“Hahaha! Jess, Jess…” Wang Yang, almost clutching his stomach from laughter, approached her. He lifted his left hand and waggled it, showing the wedding ring on his ring finger; and, of course, the bloody water, severed hand, and silver ring were all props. He happened to be good friends with James Wan, so getting these items was no trouble at all. Jessica, who had nearly fainted from fright, hadn’t caught her breath yet, her hands over her mouth: “Oh my god, oh my god! You, you…” She suddenly burst into relieved laughter and scolded loudly, “You pest! Dummy!”

Wang Yang hugged Jessica, who was struggling a bit, and planted a fierce kiss on her lips before laughing again: “Haha, you’re hilarious!” He pointed to the opposite cabinet: “The camera is over there! There’s another one on the chair for a panoramic shot, no NG! It was perfect in one take!” He then pointed towards the dining room door, and of course, if it were to be uploaded to YOUTUBE later, the subsequent intimate footage would be cut out, but the whole process of how she was scared was very clear.

“Hahahaha!” Jessica also couldn’t help but laugh loudly. He was her bane, and she was powerless against him! She punched his chest fiercely as she giggled, “Idiot! You scared me to death, oh gosh! I thought you had hidden inside the refrigerator, and I was wondering, how on earth can someone your size fit in there?” Suddenly, Wang Yang shrieked again, “There’s a ghost behind you!” Jessica rolled her eyes with a smile: “No, I’m not scared. And…” she said sternly, “You’re not uploading this video!”

“What!?” Wang Yang’s eyes widened in dismay, why not! Such a hilarious and interesting video, he couldn’t not upload it! He protested, “Your Honor, this is my carefully directed ‘Paranormal Activity 3’! It might start a trend of scary wife/girlfriend DV shorts.” Jessica shook her head, leaving no room for negotiation: “I don’t care.” Despite fearing his wife, Wang Yang still didn’t want to give up, “Hey! Why be so serious? It’s not like it’s something from Paris Hilton or…”

Jessica seemed to have an idea already and cut him off, “Where’s Danny?” Wang Yang made an ‘oh’ sound: “I’m sorry, I left him in the garden.” Jessica was surprised: “How could you do that, it’s not even summer! Danny must have been scared too.”…

Time flew by, and when October 29 to November 4 came to a close, leading into a new weekend, “The Big Bang Theory’s” seventh episode on Thursday night drew 21.56 million viewers, while “Joey” continued its decline, receiving only 11.69 million; on the big screen, the latest North American box office rankings were out, with “Saw” unsurprisingly taking the championship with a significant lead, raking in an insane 49.26 million in ticket sales in its first week at 3235 theaters, continuing its run exhibiting the beauty of a dark horse to the fullest.

The critically panned American version of “The Grudge” took second place, earning 21.81 million in its second week across 3348 theaters, with its North American gross reaching 70.68 million. Given its 10 million production budget, Sony/Columbia had reason to celebrate; likewise, the newly released biopic “Soul Men” took in 20.03 million across 2006 theaters, securing third place this week; and the animated film “Shark Tale,” featuring voices of star actors like Will Smith and Angelina Jolie, ranked fourth with 7.5 million…

Besides “The Incredibles” set to hit 3933 theaters across North America this week, the trailer for “Firefly” is what movie buffs have been buzzing about in recent days. As the fourth quarter begins, many movies slated for year-end release and a few big films coming out next year have started to unveil their trailers, delivering a visual feast that reveals their mystery. Some bring anticipation and shock, some are more of the same, and some are simply disappointing. The trailer for “Firefly” undoubtedly stands out, with its top-tier soundtrack, selected stunning visuals, and streamlined dialogue perfectly combined, compelling many fans to watch and rewatch.

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This was also thanks to the trailer video being posted on Yahoo, allowing netizens from all over the world who didn’t need to go to the theater to see it. And how was the effect?

One could tell from the surge in traffic on the Firefly official website and the eager voices on the forum’s message board. Esteban wrote, “This is one of the most spectacular movie trailers I’ve ever seen. The beautiful cinematography, intense battles, and flavorful space cowboys all left a deep impression on me. I hope the movie is just as spectacular and meets all my expectations!” Roshan-C wrote, “The special effects are stunning; those warships and spaceships ignited my friends and me! I believe Firefly will be next year’s top visual treat, competing with Star Wars: Episode III, Batman, War of the Worlds, and Fantastic Four.” Talbot-Nice also praised the spectacular visuals, “A foreseeable summer box office blockbuster. The IMAX camera brings crazy effects, and the imaginative scenes are unbelievable. However, the only thing I’m worried about is whether it will have a thought-provoking story?”…

Even hardcore fans took screenshots of each scene from the 2.5-minute trailer and analyzed and speculated on their plot, role, and meaning. The scene of the Serenity gliding over the grasslands and herds of wild horses galloping gave them hope for a fusion of Western cowboys and space sci-fi. Streets of the future cities with Chinese and English signs also seem to suggest that the world could indeed develop in such a way; however, the questions kept piling up. Will Top-Captain die? What does the recognized Tai Chi City represent? And what does it mean when the blue-gloved person smashes the little girl’s teddy bear?

Hardcore fans were having a blast discussing and guessing these topics, not minding rewatching the trailer several times. However, what they weren’t quite aware of was that Firefly’s post-production special effects were far from complete, especially the IMAX film parts. The essence of the trailer was just made ahead of time according to storyboards.

Despite this, Flame Films initiated a “strike while the iron is hot” promotional scheme, as if they weren’t worried about running out of fresh ideas. The official Firefly website grandly released the first vintage hand-drawn poster. Captain Mal and the crew’s cowboy attire suited the vintage vibe perfectly. Their half-length portraits holding long pistols were placed at the top of the poster, with the spaceship Serenity in the middle. Information such as the title FIREFLY, director YOUNG-WANG, and others, while at the bottom were the faces of the bad guys like the blue gloves and marauders. The entire poster was exquisitely designed and drawn, seeming like it was a movie from the 60s or 70s.

This move once again successfully caught the attention of the media and fans. Fans eagerly collected the images and suggested turning them into physical posters. However, many people doubted whether the viral marketing of the $200 million Firefly was just this. Didn’t Best Director Wang have any more tricks up his sleeve?

“Phew, phew…” After a busy week of editing Firefly, reviewing scripts for TV series like The Big Bang Theory and Prison Break, and dealing with the setup of YouTube, Wang Yang looked forward to a new weekend where he could get some well-deserved rest. He wasn’t one to sleep in, but he wasn’t an early riser either, always keeping to a regular schedule. Now, with some time still left before getting up, he turned over but grabbed at empty air. Why was Jessica up so early today? Sometimes women are just like that; he didn’t mind and continued to sleep soundly…

“HELLO.” In the DV camera’s view was Jessica, greeting with a smile. She turned the camera towards the sleeping Wang Yang, her pretty face suppressing a chuckle. She pressed the MP3 player connected to a loudspeaker in her hand, and suddenly the bedroom was filled with a “booming booming booming” of rapid, startling loud noises… Half asleep, Wang Yang reflexively rolled out of bed and thumped onto the floor. He then quickly jumped up, eyes wide, looking around in confusion and shouting, “Damn it! What the hell is going on!?”

“Hahaha!” Jessica bent over in fits of laughter, struggling to keep the DV focused on his disheveled appearance. “This will definitely start a trend of DV shorts for scaring husbands and boyfriends!” (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes on qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation.)