[Chapter 169: MV Casting: Charlize Theron and Monica Bellucci]
After the premiere, Lou Wasserman and Spielberg asked Linton to stay behind and invited him to the VIP lounge.
"Linton, were you sincere in what you just said?" Spielberg asked with some doubt.
"Of course, I never lie."
"Do you really think Jurassic Park's global box office can break $900 million?" Lou Wasserman asked curiously.
"Absolutely. The box office potential is definitely there, but the key is a strong overseas distribution strategy. I think you can assemble an elite team to focus on markets we haven't penetrated before. Trust me, it will pay off big time."
"Can Jurassic Park really have such a huge impact?"
"Definitely. Director Spielberg really did a great job, and this film faces no political, racial, cultural, or ideological barriers. Those obstacles that usually hamper a film's reach are completely absent. It's suitable for audiences all over the world.
More importantly, apart from Hollywood, no other place in the world can pull off a film like this -- it's impossible to imitate."
"Why?"
"Because they don't have the strong film industry support that we do. You could ask the folks at Industrial Light & Magic how they built the models for Jurassic Park, how many servers, algorithms, and specialized personnel were involved, and how much rendering power was used in post-production."
"I don't know all the details, but Linton makes a solid point. The most important part of Jurassic Park is definitely ILM's special effects," Spielberg agreed.
"Such capabilities only Hollywood currently possesses worldwide. Other countries can't develop that level for at least a decade."
"Alright, I'll immediately organize a team to tackle the overseas markets and use Jurassic Park's dinosaurs to tear open the global box office."
"Here's a tip: for markets with stricter controls, you could partner with the MPAA to break through them."
"You really are a genius, seeing through everything so clearly. How can we thank you?"
"No need. The more markets you conquer, the more I benefit. Speed will be released next month, and Step Up 2 will follow."
"Haha, don't worry. We will give Speed and Step Up 2 top-tier promotional support."
---
As expected, Linton gained fame again. That night, some TV channels reported on his evaluation and box office prediction of Jurassic Park at its premiere.
The next day, almost all media covered Linton's opinions and box office forecasts from the premiere, mostly front-page headlines -- even the Los Angeles Times placed it atop its entertainment section.
These reports included editorials and sparked widespread discussions. Experts weighed in, though most saw Linton's views as attention-seeking. Still, Linton benefited from the buzz and his abilities advanced faster.
...
The biggest beneficiary was Jurassic Park, which unexpectedly gained free promotional buzz, becoming a household name and exciting Universal.
Universal seized the opportunity to contact major theater chains and expanded the opening scale.
The Friday opening day grossed $19 million; the first weekend hit $59 million; the full week smashed $100 million.
It was a genuine blockbuster that broke all box office records, impacting other movies released simultaneously.
Seeing Jurassic Park's explosive success, more people acknowledged Linton's insight, praising his market acumen.
---
Moving on to Linton's second album, it became the top priority for Universal Records.
President Daniel personally supervised, and Lisa's team efficiently arranged and prepared the 10 songs.
The day after attending Jurassic Park's premiere, Linton went to Universal to start recording.
Under Daniel's plan, the album was slated for late August release, after Speed's promotion wrapped up, allowing full attention to the album.
Linton agreed but planned a 10-day break from September 8 to 17 to oversee the setup of the farm's Lightning Protection System starting September 11, asking Daniel to adjust the promo schedule.
Universal gave the album an A+ rating, believing every song had the potential to top the Billboard charts, confident sales would surpass his first album, promising a high-standard production.
...
Naturally, each song required an MV. The crew was the same as the previous two songs: producer Carson, director Jack, and choreographer Axe.
Jack's MV scripts featured handsome men and beautiful women. Besides Hall of Fame, the other songs included two rock numbers full of energetic dance and seven blues tracks with intimate romantic scenes.
It fit the current era perfectly, and Linton didn't bother changing it.
Considering the women around him no longer needed his MV to boost their fame, Linton asked Carson to hold open auditions for the MV to find one or two rising stars.
He wouldn't attend the first two rounds but might join the final round depending on circumstances.
...
Next, Linton focused on recording. Thanks to Lisa's thorough preparation and his improving vocal skills, particularly with his enhanced control of his body and vocal cords due to his rising abilities, the recording process was swift.
They expected to finish the 10 songs in 7 days, which amazed Lisa.
...
The crew completed the first audition round. The assistant said over 200 actresses and models auditioned, all young and stunning, making the competition fierce -- highlighting Linton's current popularity.
With role models like Cameron, Naomi, Cristiana, and Heidi Klum, many talent agencies were eager to join.
...
On June 15, after leaving the recording studio, Carson sent Linton a thick packet with materials of 50-plus actresses and models who passed the first audition.
"So many?" Linton was surprised seeing the hefty file.
"Competition was intense, all with solid qualifications. There are two more rounds, so the standards weren't too harsh this time. We rejected over 170."
Linton browsed through, noticing all beautiful, tall, and slender women -- no wonder so many were retained.
Unexpectedly, he saw two familiar names.
One was Charlize Theron, future Oscar Queen, affectionately called the Queen C.
The other, Monica Bellucci, a true top-tier beauty, often mentioned alongside Cristiana.
*****
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