"Boss, the first week's box office results for Titanic are out." Inside the luxurious King's Building, King Agency supervisor Jessie reported to her boss, Mike: "According to summaries from various cinemas, the Titanic movie has already raked in over 620 million dollars to date. There might be some omissions, but the total is roughly this much."
It had been one week since the Titanic movie was released, bolstered by strong early promotions and a successful premiere.
Within a couple of days, cinemas from various regions, having heard the news, came to King Agency to discuss movie distribution and screening rates.
Like a snowball effect, the Titanic movie even created a myth of earning over 100 million dollars in a single day.
This even dropped the jaws of many film critics.
Mike, who had been staying in King's Building, might not have known that he had already been given the title of a seasoned film investor outside, due to the success of his investment in Titanic.
In other words, Mike established his transcendent position in the film industry with just one movie.
"Jessie, these are all our own people here, you don't need to be so formal." Mike looked at Jessie, dressed as a female elite, and motioned for her to sit beside him to report on work.
The top floor of Mike's King's Building main building had a large glass sunlit swimming pool, with a row of comfortable waterbeds next to it.
It was now mid-June, the perfect time for a cool dip.
Mike was currently lying flat in the center of the waterbed, surrounded by the three scantily clad The Plastics girls, plus Jessie in her formal attire; there was no one else in the room.
Therefore, Jessie could be completely relaxed.
"This is work time for me now, please respect my professional ethics." Jessie pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and glared at her ridiculous man, not complying with his wishes.
Among the many girls close to Mike, Jessie was arguably the most career-driven.
"I understand, use titles during work..." Mike teased, "So, Supervisor Jessie, do you have anything else to report?"
"There are two more things to report." Perhaps she was too deep into her role-play, Jessie pulled out her portable notebook and said, "One is about the new Titanic movie. The agency and Director Cameron discussed preparing to use this market-tested movie to open up the international market..."
"On one hand, it can earn more at the box office, and on the other hand, it helps to build the international reputation of the agency and Director Cameron."
"However, whether the movie will ultimately expand overseas still requires your decision as the investor."
According to the movie's box office revenue model, the first week's box office accounts for about half of the movie's total box office, and the next month accounts for the other half of the revenue.
As for after a month, the movie would pretty much be out of theaters.
If a movie wants to make money after its theatrical run, it either sells DVDs or goes overseas.
The Titanic movie's current box office is over 600 million, so in a month, it should reach a total box office of 1.2 to 1.3 billion.
This achievement far surpassed all previous movie total box office records.
Therefore, King Agency and Director Cameron felt that this historic movie still had much potential to explore.
"Export overseas? I have no objections. Let the agency and Director Cameron handle it." Mike quickly agreed to the proposal.
Exporting the movie overseas was merely doing another round of promotion abroad.
If handled properly, the new Titanic movie should be able to earn another two or three hundred million at the box office overseas.
With both money to be made and reputation to be gained, Mike had no reason to object.
"Okay, I will convey your wishes to Director Cameron and the company." Jessie took out her pen and made two notes in her notebook, then continued: "The remaining matter is about the sales of The Plastics' collaborative album."
With the previous popularity of the new Titanic movie, The Plastics' album "eternal love" had also been released.
Although it had been on sale for less than a week, it was expected to perform well.
And upon hearing Jessie mention the new album, the three The Plastics girls on the waterbed unconsciously perked up their ears.
"The Plastics' collaborative album, thanks to the popularity of the Titanic movie, sold over 90,000 copies within four days of its release. At this rate, in another week, this album should reach the standard for a Silver Record..." Jessie announced the data for The Plastics' new album.
RIAA certification: An album selling 200,000 copies is a Silver Record, and 500,000 copies is a Gold Record.
Above that, there are Platinum Records at 1 million copies, and Diamond Records at 10 million copies.
However, now, with the development of radios, tape recorders, broadcasting, and the internet, it is becoming increasingly difficult for singers to achieve Diamond Record honors based solely on vinyl record sales.
This is the current situation caused by the development of the times.
"Given the potential of The Plastics' collaborative album, the agency has decided to continue expanding the album's promotion. While a Platinum Record is not guaranteed, this album will definitely become a Gold Record within six months." Jessie gave a professional assessment of the new album by the three The Plastics girls.
New album sales are different from movie box office sales, because after buying an album and listening to the new songs, the record can still be kept as a collectible.
Therefore, the album's sales period will be very long, generally lasting about six months to a year.
Some albums with good word-of-mouth even see a surge in sales later on.
"Gold Record!!! Is this a dream?! Pinch me quickly..."
Upon hearing the projected sales of the new album, the three The Plastics members immediately cheered.
As mentioned earlier, due to the shrinking record market, it is now difficult for many singers' album sales to reach Gold and Platinum Record status.
As for Diamond Records, it's even unimaginable.
Even superstar MJ, who once released Diamond Records, would likely only achieve Gold to Platinum Record status if he released a new album now.
The three The Plastics girls were not overly ambitious; they were already very happy to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with a superstar.
"Gold Record? That doesn't seem like much of an achievement." Mike said, dissatisfied: "How about this, for the next period, arrange for Regina and the others to also join the publicity team. I don't care about the process, but within six months, I need their new album to reach at least Platinum Record level."
King Agency was currently on a strong momentum, so there was no reason not to give The Plastics a push, allowing them to hold a Platinum Record and establish their position in the music industry.
"Okay, I will arrange for your instruction later." Jessie said, making two more notes in her notebook.
"All work has been reported. Do you have anything else now?" Mike looked at the professional elite Jessie, and secretly winked at the three The Plastics girls.
On such a hot day, by the pool, how could one not take a dip?
And the three The Plastics girls, in terms of "pranks," were perfectly in sync with Mike's wavelength.
So the three girls pretended to get up, subtly encircling Jessie.
As for Jessie, she hadn't reacted at all and was still thinking about work: "Oh, Mr. Lundy asked me to tell you that most of the Titanic crew members were willing to join King Agency. The only regrettable thing is that the male lead, Leonardo, already has an agency. So he declined Mr. Lundy's invitation..."
Leonardo, being so young and able to secure the male lead role for Director Cameron, was partly due to his handsome appearance, and partly because he also had a powerful agency team behind him.
Moreover, the strength of that agency was no less than that of King Agency.
Therefore, from the current perspective, Leonardo had no reason to switch agencies.
"I know, if he doesn't come, he doesn't come. That's his loss. My King Agency doesn't lack any single star, even if he is Leonardo, so what..." After Mike's overbearing statement, he looked at Jessie again and asked, "Is there anything else to report?"
"Not for now." Jessie, unaware that she was already surrounded by the three The Plastics girls, shook her head.
"Good that there's nothing else." Mike smiled and nodded at the three The Plastics girls.
Then, amidst startled cries, Regina and Gretchen controlled Jessie's arms, while big-wavy Karen directly charged in like a human cannonball, ultimately sending herself and the other three girls crashing into the giant swimming pool.
For a moment, the entire pool was filled with waves surging and frothing.
"You jerk..." Jessie, now completely devoid of her workplace elite demeanor, squatted in the pool and glared at Mike, complaining, "How am I supposed to go back to work later?"
"Still thinking about work?" Mike laughed, got up, and jumped into the pool, swimming to the middle of the girls. He said to Jessie alone, "I'm the boss, I approve, you're off today—"
"Also, your previous reaction made me very dissatisfied, so now I'm very angry!!!"
Then, amidst gurgling bubbles, Ms. Jessie's entire face submerged into the pool.