Ronald was in a particularly good mood. He had just concluded discussions about Naughty Boys 3, and, more importantly, Sony had agreed to a 25% distribution deal for his personal project. This was a significant win, as he didn't want his passion project to be entirely under Sony's creative control.
He immediately began writing the script for this personal project.
It took considerable time because he was embarking on an ambitious endeavor: creating an Action Cinematic Universe (ACU). His vision was to craft a series of interconnected films dedicated solely to the action genre, imagining a world where legendary stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Keanu Reeves, and Leonardo DiCaprio (among other big names) could potentially come together for movies. The thought alone was exhilarating.
Meanwhile, Sony Columbia initiated pre-production for Naughty Boys 3. Ronald called Jared to tell him about his ambitious ACU plan.
"Bro, are you out of your mind?" Jared exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice. "It's impossible!"
Ronald calmly replied, "Bro, first we shoot this movie. If it's a hit, then we'll proceed." Jared, ever the loyal partner, seemed to accept this reasoning.
Next, Ronald called Paul Jackson. Paul arrived at Ronald's house, a knowing look on his face.
"Hey, Ron," Paul began. "I wanted to talk about your fee for Sony. I'm thinking of asking for $10 million." He then added, "And we should register a film company: Ronald Smith Pictures."
"Okay," Ronald agreed, unsurprised. "It's normal for a director to have their own film company."
In the first week of October 1996, shooting began for Naughty Boys 3. Its budget had soared to $55 million. Ronald's director's fee was $8 million, and the four lead actors' fees had climbed to $5 million each.
If it hadn't been for Sony Columbia's involvement and the fact that the film already had four protagonists, their fees might have been even higher. The movie took only three and a half months to complete shooting, after which Ronald once again left the rest of the production process to Sony Columbia.
While Naughty Boys 3 was in post-production, Ronald focused on his ACU.
He called three scriptwriters to develop ideas for his action movie. He also rented an entire floor for his new studio, complete with a receptionist and cleaning staff, beginning to build his own creative hub.
His plan for the ACU was to take inspiration from films like John Wick and Speed, among other classic action movies.
He envisioned creating a hidden society for elite assassins, similar to the one in John Wick, but he also wanted to infuse his films with original "hits" – unique action sequences and memorable characters.
His first ACU story centered on a father and his five-year-old daughter. The father lived a quiet life in the countryside until a villain, the son of a mafia lord and a secret member of a powerful killing society, tragically killed the father's dog in an accident that left his daughter in a coma.
The dog, a last gift from his late wife, had belonged to the father, a retired, highly experienced killer. While similar in premise to John Wick, Ronald planned to add new characters, including "super killers", and expand the lore. He gave this film the working title "Unstoppable."
Ronald contacted his production manager, Robert, to begin preparations for "Unstoppable." The film's budget was set at $50 million.
In the last week of February 1997, Naughty Boys 3 was released. It opened with $22 million on its first weekend and collected $62 million in its first month in North America.
Sony then released it worldwide, and in two and a half months, it had garnered a total of $170 million at the global box office. It looked set to surpass the second film's record of $194 million.
Ronald held auditions for "Unstoppable" even as Naughty Boys 3 continued its successful run. He also actively sought brand placements for his new movie, securing $8 million in total.
He knew that if he were shooting for a major studio, he could easily get tax rebates in some countries, but for his independent venture, direct brand deals were key.
He further enhanced his action vision by hiring an action team from Hong Kong and specialized firearms experts for "Unstoppable," aiming for unparalleled realism and spectacle.
This chapter really showcases Ronald's ambition and expanding influence! What's next for "Unstoppable" and his burgeoning ACU?