Behind The Spotlight Chapter 101
November 17, 1997.
Trapping the Parents was released in theaters across North America.
Lawrence, the cast, and the movie's team attended a red carpet event filled with flashing cameras, cheering fans, and well-dressed celebrities from all over Hollywood. The movie was financed and distributed by Fair Amount Pictures, one of the six major studios in Hollywood. It was directed by Director Alvarez.
Director Alvarez was also the director of Romea and Julieta, a film praised by critics for its stunning visuals. Although it underperformed at the box office, critics agreed that Romea and Julieta showcased the director's remarkable eye for beauty and atmosphere.
This time, Director Alvarez teamed up with Lawrence Terrence for Trapping the Parents. Even though the main characters were twins played by a child actress, Alvarez admitted that Lawrence's involvement elevated the film in both performance and emotional depth.
He no longer regretted passing on Lawrence in an earlier project, as they had now found themselves working together. However, the director also admitted to feeling nervous about the film's reception and box office performance.
His last movie had flopped financially, and he hoped this one wouldn't meet the same fate, fearing it could further damage his career.
Fair Amount Pictures and Director Alvarez placed their hopes on Lawrence's box office appeal to attract audiences and give life to the film's theatrical run. Especially this year, Lawrence had become the face of Hollywood, particularly in the romance genre.
Even though Passionate Island had ended its theatrical run worldwide, the film continued gaining fans through VHS releases, TV replays, and magazine features. For many viewers, the movie was unforgettable.
The red carpet event was extravagant, with the studio spending generously on promoting Trapping the Parents through banners, media coverage, and press features across both TV and print.
Soon, the premiere began with a packed theater and enthusiastic fans who had lined up hours in advance.
Although Lawrence wasn't the lead character, his performance captivated the audience from the moment he appeared on screen. His portrayal of the twins' father was heartfelt and grounded, making viewers feel the sincerity in his character.
When his character reunited with his ex-wife, Lawrence's performance reached new heights, drawing all eyes toward him.
And when he proposed to his ex-wife again, completing the family, the theater erupted in applause.
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November 17, 1997. Friday.
On its opening day, Trapping the Parents grossed over $15 million at the North American box office, a figure that sent shockwaves through the industry. It was 40% higher than Fair Amount Pictures' projections, which had only predicted around $9 million.
They were dumbfounded. A $15 million opening was a knockout result.
They had underestimated Lawrence's box office power, despite his growing popularity.
Lawrence Terrence had officially proven himself as a Romance Box Office Hit Actor.
His golden talent had now manifested results, supported by a huge fan base.
November 18, 1997. Saturday.
On the second day, the movie earned an astounding $22 million, a staggering amount, especially for a film in this genre. It was 50% more than anyone had expected!
The result left executives and rival studios speechless.
With $15 million on Friday and $22 million on Saturday, Trapping the Parents had grossed $37 million in just two days and was showing no signs of slowing down.
By Sunday, the film reached a $55 million total, marking one of the strongest opening weekends for a romance/family movie that year.
The first-weekend gross of over $55 million was double Fair Amount Pictures' best-case scenario. Naturally, the studio was ecstatic. They quickly recalibrated their long-term marketing strategy and decided to ramp up promotion by airing more TV ads and radio features to maintain the film's momentum.
From November 17 to November 30, Lawrence Terrence promoted the movie across multiple cities and talk shows from coast to coast. He had already informed the Bride Runaway production team about his two-week absence.
Fortunately, Bride Runaway was still in the script reading and rehearsal stage, so his absence didn't disrupt the schedule. The production approved his leave.
Lawrence had also informed Fair Amount Pictures that he could only commit to two weeks of promotion, and the studio agreed.
At this point, Lawrence Terrence was no longer a small-time actor. He was a rising A-lister with negotiating power and proven box office results. He had reached the status where he could negotiate with studios confidently, and his success with Trapping the Parents reinforced that.
Undoubtedly, the movie was a box office hit and a major milestone in Lawrence's career.
Days passed.
By November 30, after 15 days in theaters, Trapping the Parents had grossed over $144 million at the North American box office, surpassing expectations and entering blockbuster territory.
When this news broke, many studios became interested in Lawrence. His influence expanded beyond film enthusiasts to the general public. Even the six major studios began taking him seriously and adjusted their casting wish lists accordingly.
While all of this was happening, Lawrence completed his promotional commitments and returned to work on Bride Runaway, which was now entering its principal filming phase.
Soon, filming would officially begin, and Lawrence had to get busy once again.
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"I guess I have to wait for the result of Face: Swap before looking for another project." Axel smiled with calm acceptance. He didn't mind the consequences of his actions.
"We'll eventually find a role for you. If we can't, I'll ask Wyatt to cast you in his next film again," Collin said, feeling guilty for not doing more to protect Axel's career.
"No, it's fine. I knew this would happen after the scandal."
Although Axel's scandal didn't make a huge scene, the studios still heard about it and avoided casting him, afraid of attracting unwanted public attention or controversy.
As a result, Axel couldn't find work despite his growing talent as an actor.
Worse, most of the money he earned from his previous films had gone to court fees, legal expenses, and PR fees. Still, he had no regrets. He was happy that he and John were now living as a real family. Axel enrolled the kid in kindergarten, gave him fun afternoons with field trips, and made sure there were always snacks at home.
If there was one lingering disappointment, it was the unpaid balance from Touchpebbles Pictures. Their team contacted the studio, but the company firmly refused to release the remaining payment, stating that Axel broke the contract.
"I hope Face: Swap will be successful... That's the only way for me to find another job again."
If Face: Swap turned out to be a box office success, then Axel's profitability could outweigh the scandal. In the end, the industry valued profitability above all else.
If his movie succeeded, studios would cast him again, knowing he could bring in revenue.
If not, then Axel would have to rely on Wyatt again. The comedy director was done taking a break and had personally called Collin to express interest in making a new film.
This time, Wyatt wanted to do a parody of horror movies, an "original" concept that was definitely not borrowed from a certain movie called Scary Movie from a parallel universe, wink wink.
Wyatt had already titled the project The Frightening Movie.
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[Author's Note: There are still remaining 8 slots for the 50% discount. Check out my Pa treon if you're interested. Another chapter will be posted later in a few hours to attract more readers from different timezones.]