Behind The Spotlight Chapter 103
December 21, 1997, arrived.
After 35 days of screening, Trapping the Parents had grossed over $229 million at the North American box office. The film maintained a strong audience presence across major cities. On top of that, its international release had occurred two weeks earlier, and the overseas box office had now reached $27 million. More countries were scheduled to release the film next month.
This meant the worldwide box office for Trapping the Parents had surpassed $256 million. A massive success, especially considering the initial doubts surrounding the project.
Fair Amount Pictures sent the cast on a global promotional tour to maximize momentum while the film was still hot in theaters. However, Lawrence could only promote the movie in Europe for three days, as he had to return to the United States to begin filming Bride Runaway and spend the holidays with his parents and relatives. The studio tried to negotiate for more time, but his schedule was packed.
Fair Amount Pictures had no choice but to let Lawrence go after three days.
Director Alvarez reclaimed his status now that Trapping the Parents was a success. He breathed a sigh of relief after months of uncertainty. He thought he was going to be kicked out as an A-lister after Romea and Julieta had been a box office failure.
Fortunately, Trapping the Parents saved him. Reviews praised not only the acting but also his direction. He also understood that Lawrence had helped elevate the film, as the actor's box office appeal significantly boosted its performance. Without Lawrence, the film might not have become such a hit.
While the promotion for Trapping the Parents continued, Collin took a vacation in Bora Bora with his family. It was their first international trip in a long time, and everyone was excited.
"Wow, this place is really amazing!" Aida's eyes sparkled as she admired the tropical paradise.
She happily stepped onto the white sand, which tickled her feet. The fine grains slipped between her toes.
Because of the massive success of Passionate Island, Bora Bora had become a top vacation destination, something that made Hawaii a bit jealous.
Some of Aida's friends had vacationed in Bora Bora and even took pictures at the filming locations from Passionate Island. Aida admitted she was jealous, so she talked to her brother about it.
Being someone who loved pampering his loved ones, Collin readily agreed and promised Aida they would vacation in Bora Bora. He wanted a break too.
He filed for a long vacation two months in advance, knowing the year-end would be ideal. So now, they were enjoying their time in Bora Bora, although they admitted it would've been better to go during the summer instead of Christmas. It wasn't that cold, but the vibe felt different.
Still, they had fun. They went on boat rides, snorkeled, and explored nearby islands.
"I heard the seafood tastes amazing. I saw it in Passionate Island. Maybe I can learn how they cook their seafood," Evelyn said, scanning the beachfront restaurants with excitement.
"Mom, let's eat at a nice restaurant later. Collin will treat us," Aida teased, her grin mischievous.
"Of course. Do whatever you want. But don't blame me if you eat too much and get fat," Collin teased back, reaching over to ruffle her hair.
"Don't jinx it!" Aida glared at him, and Collin chuckled. Their mother simply smiled at their lively sibling banter.
The family spent a whole week on the island before returning to the United States. The days passed quickly as they enjoyed each other's company. Aida did gain a little weight from all the delicious food and she blamed Collin for it. Her defense was that her brother let her buy whatever she wanted.
She brought back souvenirs for her college friends, who were thrilled. Some even said they were jealous of her for having an amazing. A few became curious about Collin, especially when they found out he was an agent. Some even asked if he was single and requested a photo of him.
Aida didn't introduce them to Collin because she didn't want to meddle in his love life. She knew he probably had no intention of getting into a relationship again. His last one had left him wounded, after all.
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Collin's clients also took time off during the final days of the year. It was a rare period of calm before the next wave of projects in the coming year.
Axel Gunner and John decided to go camping and fishing. The fresh air and peaceful environment helped them reconnect. They were now closer and had built a stronger relationship. Johnny had also reverted to his original name, John Gunner. It was a symbolic gesture that meant a lot to Axel.
Jennifer Randon had a few days off from hosting The Singing Voice and enjoyed a pleasant Christmas Eve with her parents. The show's ratings were high, and the network executives were already considering a second season.
Wyatt also spent Christmas with his parents and family. He was still single and couldn't find time for romance, something his parents subtly teased him about. This month, he was planning to convince Henry to be the producer of his next project.
Lawrence spent Christmas with his parents as well. He brought back gifts from Europe and shared stories from the promotional tour. The holidays were always a time for families to come together. Especially Christmas and Thanksgiving, when relatives loved gathering and catching up.
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"Looks like the filming is going great."
"That's right. At this pace, we'll wrap up in a month or two."
Director Esteban was replying to Producer Henry. The two were currently working together on a drama project.
Esteban and Henry had collaborated for years and shared great chemistry on set.
"Once filming is done, I probably won't need you that much," Esteban added.
"Okay… What are you implying then?" Henry asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. I heard Wyatt wants to work with you, but you're worried you can't handle two projects. Our production will be done in about three months, so don't worry. Go talk to Wyatt and stop making him anxious. The kid needs someone responsible like you to manage production," the old fat man said as he lit a cigarette. He took a long puff, then exhaled with a grunt.
"Okay, I understand… But I thought you didn't like Wyatt?"
"When did I say I liked him? I just hate that you've been acting strange lately. Just shut up and help the kid so everything can go smoothly. What does it matter if I like him or not?"
"Esteban… I think I know what kind of man you are. In Japan, people like you are called tsundere."
"D-Don't misunderstand, you stupid!" Director Esteban lightly blushed and threw his cigarette at Henry.
"Hey! Don't throw your cigarette at me! What if something flammable is around? Things could go south fast if a fire started!"
"Then shut up and take the deal. You'll probably earn a lot if you work with Wyatt."
"Aww, are you jealous or something?"
"S-Shut up."
Somehow, this interaction seemed gay as fuck.
It was true that Henry had been hesitant about accepting the job. He still had a few doubts, but Esteban's words gave him something to think about.
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[The PDF of Chapters 1 to 50 has been posted in the Discord server under the BSL Chapters channel. For some reason, the spacing got messed up when converted into PDF, so I'll probably post a better version later. It's exclusive content over there. Also, I want to say thank you guys for all your support.]