Billy was writing in his notebook the story he needed to submit in a few days, barely paying attention to the two n walking briskly by. Jas Caron, just like before, was a bit older this ti, while Billy’s features were now more mature, reflecting adulthood, enhanced by a tailored suit.
-Billy.-
-Allow to introduce you to one of the people I value most in the production world, Mr. John Landau. He has been a breath of fresh air throughout the Titanic process,- Caron remarked.
The young man lifted his gaze, still lost among the lines of fantasy. The writing was often a perpetual struggle of ideas; the information in his head, filled with multiple stories, felt like a river of knowledge, flowing with various topics and allegories that intertwined with Billy’s ti. He used to study these ideas, but sotis it was simply complicated to organize a world and break it down into a refreshed starting point.
-It’s great to see you! We have so much to discuss, and I fear so of it will catch your attention, Mr. Caron,” Billy said, shaking the director's hand. - For now, the production system and the Titanic movie are frankly the top priority of the day. A pleasure to et you, Mr. Landau.-
-Well, if that’s the case, this eting is more interesting than I expected. Whenever I have to discuss sothing with you, I end up making quite a bit of money, - Jas joked.
-Gold, no matter how hidden or tarnished, remains gold, - Billy comnted.
The three n took coffee in silence, their ideas and expressions starting to organize themselves. The casual conversation, accompanied by a notebook designed to express the past achievents of each person, was the perfect mont to address certain topics.
-Speaking of the top priority of the day, you’re competing for the role in Titanic. Do you believe you have what it takes to be part of a film of that caliber?- Jas Caron asked.
-I do, - he replied firmly. -I’m an actor, and I either do my job well or not at all. In the coming months, success will prove right.-
-We're betting a lot of money and my reputation. I can’t take on anyone who isn’t qualified enough for this, -Jas responded.
-I inquired about purchasing Paramount’s position for 65 million dollars... that should be enough to prove my commitnt to the role. I’ve been in various productions, and my work speaks for itself,- Billy stated.
-You would bet that much money… why? We haven't made the script public,- John Landau asked.
-But the production is underway, and I’ve read part of the script; it’s simply magnificent. I believe a story like this is what cinema needs—proposing a concept elevated to the sky, without worrying about anything else but telling a story, slow-paced but not too much, with great actors, an incredible cast, and remarkable people in the saga who will mark this film as a cinematic property for perpetuity,- Billy explained.
It was Titanic; its success was an avalanche of flavors, enjoyable or not. The two protagonists had the ti and space to do whatever they pleased in the coming years. The actors’ appeal was evident, illuminated by their performances. While it was true they could be typecast... he had already thought about that; after all, he could invest in his movie anyti. As many tis as he wanted, he just needed to earn money.
-You’ve improved your wording,- Jas comnted suddenly, calm, his eyes bright and sowhat cheerful. He wanted to burst into laughter at the young man’s audacity; it was that energy, that force of doing things with such interest.
-Growing is part of the business… Plus, I’m an artist,- Billy replied. Jas’s gaze was strong, but the young man didn’t falter; he held his own serene identity.
-You would buy Paramount's stake, even if you lost the role? - John Landau asked.
-I would,- Billy answered. - I don’t want to soften people with ideas that aren’t true. I’m betting on cinema, and cinema has to be risky. It’s the joint venture that makes think… what if I fail? Can I grow again? I can, and that’s why I believe Hollywood has grown the way it has. The best ti to invest in such things is now, - Billy stated, surprising both n.
-I’ll take note. But now I like that challenge, - Jas replied, gaining a clearer idea of what his new film represented. - What would the second priority be?-
-Terminator. I want to create an animated series… I think you know my production company, Lux Animation. I’ve been working on so comic deliveries, but I believe the next step for the series is to tell another type of story, perhaps one about the aftermath, or life, or create a series that discusses deeper scientific issues, - Billy responded.
-I had forgotten about Terminator,- Jas sighed. -Of course, go ahead, just like before; once you have everything ready, we can carry the discussion forward. I think it’s also a good excuse for this eting.-
-It is, and that’s why I propose a third priority of the day. I want to delve into special effects, and a special effects company could be a great asset for the coming years. I want to buy 33% of the distributed stake from your three partners. I’m willing to invest 45 million dollars and establish a headquarters,- Billy remarked.
From his backpack, he pulled out a small black portfolio with a contract outlining the terms drafted by his lawyers and approved by Anne. Nothing passed him by without Anne's approval.
***
Raimon finished making progress with nurous distribution companies, pulling strings and working nearly around the clock. He executed three business promotions in three major contracts, the first with the NBA, for which he had long wanted another card brand. Using Billy's connections, he got Michael Jordan’s phone number and called him.
-Mr. Jordan, this is Raimon from Lux Animation… Lux Comics, you must know this better than I do,- said the young operations director.
-Why didn’t you speak to my agent? He handles these types of matters,- Jordan said, not wanting to hang up.
-Well, I tried to do that… but I thought, is that really what I should do? If it were just a simple contract or a regular business deal, I’d do that, but what I want to propose to you is sothing better,-Raimon replied.
“What could be so important that you need to call ? Jimmy is great at that,” Jordan said.
-He is, he is, it’s just that I thought you’d want to be a promoter for the Lux Animation brand. You know, when Billy ntioned that you’re a huge fan and the best basketball player in history, I just thought you’d want to be a promoter for our comics. There will be details about the Slam Dunk movie, of course, the second part of Slam Dunk, which is based on the NBA, our new real manga… I know what you’re going to say; don’t think about money… money is very banal for a superstar like you. The money is already included in the deal; I’m talking about sothing more important—status,- Raimon plotted his sches like a slippery underling.
Jordan listened intently on the line.
-The story is tough, and many greats are forgotten, Mr. Jordan. Can you na the best golfers of the 1920s, the best baseball players of the 1960s, or perhaps hockey players? Oblivion is a terrible mistress. What I’m proposing is eternity—a story beyond basketball. Being an Arican idol not for basketball but for who you are, from your fierce deanor to your discipline, is to create a Jordan that parents tell their children about before bed. That’s why I believe you could be the first promoter,- Raimon declared.
-Hahahaha, so who is truly rembered... it’s just words or...-
-Who is truly rembered? Martin Luther King. When you do sothing for an ideal, that’s when people admire you. Look at Nelson Mandela; I plan to include him in my network, but that’s a topic for another discussion, - Raimon said with strength.
What did he want to do? Why was he doing this?
The next call was to Anne.
It seed sowhat difficult to grasp, but for Raimon, it was as clear as water; he needed to use his cartridges in the sky to cover the disproportionate expenses of Star Wars cards and to implent a new idea that had erged in his mind. A brand concept, even hiring Jordan for the Golden Warriors, was sothing Raimon wouldn’t hesitate to pursue if given the opportunity.
Thus, he contacted the NBA, secured a contract for cards over five years, charged 5 million, spoke with Nike, and subtly added another 2 million for including the Nike brand on the cards. After that, he aid to convince Jordan to step in as a promoter for Lux Comics and started drafting plans with Nike for a five-on-five basketball tournant—Jordan versus the World. Anywhere would do; you just need a team of five, and the best team would compete against Jordan in sothing akin to the All-Stars.
But he didn’t stop there; promoting real change, he talked with the NBA to support disabled sports and create a cup for disabled athletes. He spoke with such conviction about the NBA’s image and the ISMGF (Wheelchair Basketball Federation) that he proposed they would only need to handle the event while he would secure the sponsorships—Lux Animation being one, Nike another, alongside Pepsi and Arican Airlines.
He made multiple calls ran all over the country, and the event was scheduled for July 1996, he even got Brad Parks to join the campaign, Brad is a tennis player who has been playing in a wheelchair since an accident in 1977, he did not stop there, and talked to the international paralympic committee, to promote sports for the disabled, and will have a eting in Vonn Germany where it is headquartered. He will present a report, with the possible tax gains for the promotion of the underprivileged classes of 3% and 2% respectively.
If he wanted to fill a gap, he had to do it properly, and in doing so, he needed a connection, and a precise ti to activate the Lux animation page to the public, the web portal of the Lux company started to be built to be promoted by June 1996, but he had to and needed another promoter, with no clear idea of it, he used what he had at his disposal, talked to universities he had affiliations with, Stanford, a slight investnt to improve prosthetics for people with disabilities and help him set up the lux animatión web site, a wellness portal.
-You've done a lot, and I think it's for so reason that you ignore in conversation, the costs of all this work, how much are they? - Anne asked.
-That's the surprising thing, nothing. - Raimon comnted, -with the NBA sponsorships, it's enough, sure and I owe Philip Knigt a favor, but I think it's worth it, we will save 4.5% in taxes next year on our issues, talk to organizations that deal with these guys, and they will help us in so other way.
-Did you check the video ga companies?- Anne asked.
-I did, we will buy electronic Arts, that's my final decision. Video gas have brought us a lot of money, in the last few months, we made more than we should have, I even think the Forza Horizon ga will be the best-selling ga ever, I made a contract with Volkswagen, the brand that sponsors Billy, and Chevrolet, they gave us funds, to cover a lot of expenses, the promotion sells itself - comnted Raimon.
-The cost of Electronic Arts is not sothing we can afford, -- comnted Anne.
....
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