[TL/N: Clippings? This chapter ain't about jew ain't it? pls dont.]
For every 200 Power stone = 1 extra chapter
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After dinner, Simon took Janet straight back to Palisades.
In the Chevrolet SUV, driver Neil Bennett kept the ride exceptionally smooth. Simon leaned against the window, seriously mulling over tonight's meeting with Mike Medavoy.
Mike Medavoy's reaction to Pulp Fiction was even more negative than Simon had anticipated, leaving him somewhat worried.
The original Pulp Fiction's massive fame stemmed not just from its quality but crucially from the Weinstein brothers' relentless PR push.
From this year's 18 Oscar noms, Orion's awards PR prowess was no less than later Miramax's—but if Orion execs soured on Pulp Fiction, getting them to promote it like the Weinsteins once did seemed unrealistic.
Moreover, Simon's age remained the biggest wildcard limiting Pulp Fiction's awards recognition.
No matter what, he was still under 20.
Speaking of which, Simon didn't lack other options. But per his prior deal with Orion, this second film didn't warrant pulling out certain ideas.
To push Run Lola Run's distribution, Simon's contract with Orion set his base director and writer pay combined at just $500,000.
Though Simon retained renegotiation rights for shares, this new film couldn't yield him much anyway—the best might mirror Final Destination terms.
But compared to Final Destination, Simon would invest far more energy in a film he directed himself.
Since he couldn't reap enough rewards, Simon decided on a film that interested him more, one that could also solidify his stylized director buzz.
The specific Pulp Fiction share deal would naturally be handled by Jonathan with Orion, but next up, Run Lola Run's outright distribution sales negotiations were a time-sink drudgery.
Additionally.
Whether The Butterfly Effect, Final Destination, Pulp Fiction, or When Harry Met Sally—all these projects had heaps of work needing urgent push.
Even considering the schedules for Final Destination, Pulp Fiction, and When Harry Met Sally, Simon realized this year's year-end slot and next Easter were perfect for slotting in at least one more film.
Time was money.
But Simon now lacked either cash or time.
And.
These were just the film-related matters.
The U.S. stock crash in the second half—Simon remembered the date clearly: October 19th, Black Monday. To reap enough from that financial turmoil, beyond amassing hefty funds early, plenty of other preperation was needed—demanding time and energy too.
Simon pondered the whole ride, brow furrowed; Janet leaned quietly against him, not disturbing him.
Back at the Palisades mansion, it was already nine p.m.
Simon entered the villa, spotting the blinking message light on the living room phone, and walked over to hit play.
Janet trailed close behind.
The message was from Amy Pascal.
Amy expressed concern over Simon's afternoon meeting with the Wells Fargo exec, then mentioned another matter: Today, a Mattel VP contacted her, hoping to discuss Run Lola Run toy merchandising development.
Mattel was one of the world's largest toy designers, producers, and sellers, best known for all types of Barbie dolls.
Hearing Amy's message, Simon immediately perked up again.
Merchandising.
For a film nearly locked as North American yearly box office champ—merchandising.
Definitely another big revenue stream.
Simon had personally designed Run Lola Run's clock, ring, and other props with this in mind. Since most were original—including Lola's image—per copyright's creation-equals-ownership rule, the props and characters' rights belonged to Daenerys Films.
Lately, amid the tangle of affairs, Simon had no energy for these.
Now.
Someone came knocking.
He couldn't miss it—and needed proper planning.
Standing by the phone, quickly scheming, Simon turned toward the study—only to find Janet right at his side. His abrupt spin clearly startled her.
Seeing Janet's look, Simon smiled apologetically, cupped her tender cheeks for a kiss. "Babe, you shower first—I've got some things to handle."
All day today—or really all these recent days—watching Simon hustle nonstop, Janet had been mulling some things.
Now.
Seeing Simon hurry upstairs, Janet followed.
In the bedroom, Janet shed her evening dress, absentmindedly showered—but skipped her usual silk robe, opting for a slightly OL-style blouse and white slacks.
Checking herself in the full-length mirror, Janet headed to Simon's study.
Unlike the large downstairs study used for the afternoon Wells Fargo VP meeting, this was another small one on the second floor beside the bedroom—very private.
Janet rarely came here usually.
She always felt many of Simon's secrets might hide in this study. Though intensely curious about her boyfriend's everything, if he didn't volunteer, Janet never pried.
The study door wasn't shut.
Janet knocked on the panel and entered.
Simon stood by a wall with a full whiteboard, one hand holding a marker, the other a phone receiver, discussing something with the other end.
The whiteboard already bore a long string of nouns.
Soundtrack, poster books, video games, character figures, butterfly clock, T-shirts, rings, magazines, licensing...
Clearly Run Lola Run's potential merch options.
Below the scattered nouns, a few names and contact numbers.
Seeing Simon busy on the call, he just nodded to her, gesturing casually—so Janet wandered to the bookshelf on the other side, eyes scanning a full row of folders. She randomly pulled a blue one and flipped it open.
This was a stack of clippings.
Hand-bound on 16mo draft paper, each page pasted with brick sized newspaper articles.
The first page's news from Los Angeles Times, titled "New World Entertainment Acquires Marvel Entertainment."
Curiously, she read on.
"New World Entertainment formally reached an acquisition deal with Marvel Entertainment on Thursday; a spokesperson stated this aims to expand the company's comic publishing and TV animation business."
"Marvel Entertainment is one of North America's largest comic producers; assets include Marvel Comics in New York, Marvel Comics UK, Marvel Productions, and an animation studio in California's San Fernando Valley—home to popular superheroes like Spider-Man, Hulk, X-Men beloved by comic fans."
"In 1985, Marvel Entertainment's full-year revenue was $72 million, with $5.1 million profit."
"Previously, Marvel Entertainment Group's parent Cadence Industries Holdings entered bankruptcy liquidation; both sides didn't disclose deal details, but industry rumors peg Marvel Entertainment Group's sale price at roughly $40-50 million."
"The transaction is expected to finalize by year-end."
Knowing Simon for over half a year, Janet had never seen him read comics and wondered why the boy would clip such news.
Tilting her head, she reread carefully—still no clue. The page blank bore only a handwritten "November 21, 1986" date mark, nothing else.
So she flipped on.
The next pages mostly held just simple news with basic date marks, rarely any notes.
After flipping most through, another clipping caught Janet's eye.
This was last December's late-month 59th Oscar noms list.
But the clip was just a small section: three Best Animated Short noms, a red oil pen circling one called Luxo Jr., beside the routine "December 20, 1986" mark, an added word: Pixar.
Pixar.
Janet recalled this time: Run Lola Run's opening animation was by this studio—seemingly a rare 3D animation outfit.
Marvel Comics, 3D animation.
Heh.
Was the boy into cartoons?
Pondering it quietly, Janet casually flipped another page.
This time, a piece on a software company called "Microsoft" undergoing internal testing for a new OS version, ending with an assessment of Microsoft's recent stock: amid North America's hot market, Microsoft's valuation officially topped $1 billion.
Rereading this news earnestly—still no thread.
All these clippings seemed random, east-west with no rhyme or focus. Janet even racked her little brain thinking or connecting the dots, still grasping no connections.
She carefully replaced the folder in its spot and turned back to the man.
Simon's latest call was wrapping; he listened to the other end while jotting a name and phone number on the whiteboard.
Hanging up the receiver aside, Janet pushed him to sit on the study sofa, taking the opposite seat herself, seriously saying, "Simon, I've said before—I'll help you. So next, for Run Lola Run's follow-up distribution talks, I'll handle them. And this merch too—leave it to me; you just do what you want."
Simon had worn a smile, but hearing Janet's utterly serious words, he sobered. "Janet, it'll be exhausting."
Janet shook her head, firm. "I've decided."
Simon met Janet's gaze a moment, finally nodding. "Alright. But if you ever feel like stopping, tell me anytime."
Janet's usual languid laziness had left too deep an impression on Simon. Deep down a bit chauvinistic, he saw nothing wrong with that and held low expectations for her helping with work.
Perhaps due to those low expectations, in the following days, Simon was genuinely surprised—and experienced the Columbia high-achiever level that Kathryn had once casually mentioned could that leave Buffett speechless.
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