HOLLYWOOD WHAT IF

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 439


Liam Neeson and Christian Bale were standing on a frozen lake. The strong breeze of snow blew by. The two were holding swords, ready to strike.

They both had serious expressions, not caring about the fragile ice beneath their feet.

Suddenly, Christian made the first move, and Liam Neeson went on defense. The two… the two were not really fighting.

Even their swordfight looked mediocre if you watched it in person. They were moving slowly, obviously because the swords they carried were made of real metal.

The swords were not sharp, to make sure they wouldn't injure each other. Grey Pictures had so many weapon props in their storage that the crew could reuse them repeatedly.

Despite their slow movement, it was true that Christian and Liam's battle looked nice. They had trained in this exact choreography for weeks, taught by professionals.

So even though it looked meh, the cameras that were capturing the scene made it look epic. This scene would also undergo editing to make it more action-packed, with captivating background music and the sound of swords clashing added.
A
Even the ice lake they were fighting on was 100% safe. The crew had checked it twice and confirmed that it could be used for filming... Also, a few meters away from the scene, some crew members were fishing on the frozen lake by drilling a hole.

As for the soft snow breeze that lasted for three seconds, it was real. They didn't use artificial snow. They were just lucky to capture that moment while Christian and Liam were fighting. Of course, Kazir decided to include it in the movie to make it more authentic.

"Okay, cut--! That's all for today!"

When Kazir said the job was done, both Christian and Liam stopped fighting.

Then, their assistants gave them hot towels and tea or coffee to warm their stomachs.

It was cold, after all. Liam dropped all of the serious acting and started shivering once the cameras stopped rolling.

"It's really cold," the veteran actor muttered.

"Yeah, it is."

Christian replied. Even though Christian was cold, he still maintained his serious vibe, probably still in the zone of being Bruce Wayne, a person undergoing training under an organization. Bruce Wayne would feel cold, but he wouldn't act weak.

The two actors went to their respective trailers. Their trailers had heaters.

Having a trailer and a heater in this cold place in Iceland was really a privilege.

Kazir made sure that his actors would always be comfortable, no matter what the circumstances. He didn't want them to feel any stress while on the filming set.

Besides, Warner Brothers were rich, and they could send dozens of trailers with heaters for the crew to use.

The crew cleaned the set while some prepared the tents. They were in the middle of nowhere, and the nearest city was a four-hour drive if the road wasn't covered in snow. Thankfully, the production crew had everything they needed.

Kazir looked around and saw a few people around the fishing hole, trying to catch fish.

"I really have no idea what's happening here."

He approached them.

"You don't have any scenes to film here, so why are you here?" He stared at Scarlett Johansson, who was sitting next to her fishing rod while sipping hot chocolate.

"I'm having a vacation. I'm tired of going to warm countries, so I decided to take a vacation in white snow this time."

"You're having a vacation in Iceland, very close to our filming set."

"Nope. I'm part of the crew, so of course I'm going to stay with you guys."

"..."

He sighed.

He sat on the unoccupied seat next to Scarlett. The woman was wearing a thick jacket and a beanie hat.

"You're fishing while the others are working. Don't you know that you're affecting our job right now?"

"It's not my fault. I'm just fishing. Look at Enrico, he's also having fun."

Scarlett and Kazir looked at Enrico Pusi, who was waiting for his fishing rod to move.

"I'm having fun," the producer muttered. He already had five fish in his bucket.

Kazir curiously looked at Scarlett's bucket and found nothing. He couldn't control himself and laughed.

"You said you're fishing, but you haven't even caught one, haha!"

The woman pouted.

"This is my first time doing this!"

"Yeah, right. Here, let me help you."

"But what about your job?"

Scarlett handed the fishing rod to Kazir, and the man checked if it had bait. Sure enough, there was none.

"Today's job is done. It's not that bad to take a rest once in a while."

"That's great to hear."

Scarlett passed him a cup of hot chocolate.

"Thanks."

A few minutes later, Kazir caught a fish.

"We got one!"

Scarlett was so happy that her bucket had a fish at last. This also made Kazir smile.

More people arrived and looked at what they were doing. The crew decided to build a tent around the fishing hole to fend off the snow.

Just like that, some people who were interested in fishing copied what they did and also tried to catch fish.

Unfortunately, they only had a few fishing rods to use.

When the sky turned dark, Enrico Pusi had caught the most fish, with 14 fish.

Second was Liam Neeson, who also joined the fun, with 11 fish.

Third was Kazir, who had 7 fish.

Fourth was Christian Bale, who caught 6 fish.

The crew decided to roast fish that night. The atmosphere was lively despite the cold. It felt like they were having a camp instead of working. Well, their two bosses were having fun, so they were going with the flow.

This was a rare moment where the crew took advantage of the situation and had fun.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 440


The filming in Iceland went smoothly. They took some background shots and also took advantage of the situation to fish more.

Kazir was consistent and never forgot any scenes. If he had an idea, he would talk to the crew and shoot it within their capabilities.

"I didn't know you could cook?"

"Don't underestimate me. Of course I can cook."

It had been two weeks since the crew stepped foot in Iceland... Honestly, they were getting tired of the cold weather. It was a good thing that they never overextended, since Kazir was fast with his job as a director. Two days from now, they would return to the United States.

While staying in Iceland, the crew members developed a hobby of fishing.

So right now, on the table, Kazir was looking at freshly fried fish and chips. He was amazed by the woman who cooked the dish because he didn't expect it at all.

Scarlett remarked that she could cook, and Kazir unconsciously chuckled when he heard it.

'She was probably talking about microwaving some stuff.' Kazir believed so.

Scarlett was recognized as one of the most beautiful and hottest celebrities in Hollywood. Surely, she could hire someone to cook her food.

Besides, actresses in Hollywood usually maintain their weight to ensure that their facial features wouldn't change. She wouldn't have the luxury of indulging in homemade cooking.

When Scarlett heard his mocking laugh, she clicked her tongue and made a bet.

"Let's make a bet. You will do whatever I want once I show you that I can cook."

"Okay, if you can really cook, I will do whatever you want."

He grinned.

'She'll probably ask me to increase her screen time in the movie.'

He had heard this favor so many times from actors and agents. Some even tried to bribe him.

"Don't try to escape once I prove myself to you."

Scarlett was beaming with anger. This man dared her to cook. He didn't know what he was stepping into.

Believing that this bet was simple, Kazir was invited to a cookout. The production had hired a group of cooks to prepare food whenever the crew members were busy. Most of the time, people in the production crew didn't have time to cook, so they owed a lot to these cooks.

In front of witnesses, Scarlett entered the kitchen and started cooking.

Kazir's face was smiling at first, but his expression slowly turned into a frown as he saw how Scarlett cooked meals.

Let her cook.

A few minutes later, a plate of food was delivered right in front of him.

The people around him were looking at Kazir, waiting for his response. Some of them also wanted to have a taste of Scarlett's dish.

He sighed and decided to taste it… It was actually delicious. It wasn't Michelin restaurant-level, but it was definitely delicious.

"Don't try to make an excuse and say that fish and chips are simple dishes. If you want, I can also cook another meal. We have fettuccine pasta. I can cook Fettuccine Alfredo for you."

"Nah, I'm not that petty. I admit that you can cook… Also, I have no idea what Fettuccine Alfredo is."

Some Italians in the crew gasped when Kazir said that.

"Okay, fine. You win. So what do you want me to do?"

"..."

Scarlett glanced at the people who were enjoying the scene.

"I'll tell you later."

"All right."

Kazir agreed. He also knew that it would be uncomfortable if Scarlett said she wanted more screen time in front of many people, especially when Christian Bale and Liam Neeson were also there.

As for keeping his promise of increasing her screen time... Kazir would try his best to do so while not destroying the movie.

After all, Batman Begins was about a superhero fighting crime, not a romance story...

"Ah, I remember, there was no romance, only tragedy."

Rachel Dawes died in The Dark Knight... Even Romeo and Juliet didn't have an intense scene like that, where Batman had to choose which person he had to save.

The filming in Iceland ended. For some reason, Scarlett never talked about the bet, and Kazir also forgot about it since he had a job to do.

Despite staying in Iceland for more than two weeks, the crew didn't have time to see the Aurora Borealis. Perhaps they might have a chance later.

The crew returned to the United States, and many of them were happy to experience the warm weather of Los Angeles. Despite the winter, Los Angeles was still warmer than Iceland.

November was a busy month for Hollywood, as six big movies were released that month.

The Polar Express, from Warner Brothers.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, from Universal Pictures.

Finding Neverland, from Miramax.

National Treasure, from Walt Disney.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie, from Paramount Pictures.

Alexander, from Warner Brothers.

Some of these movies surpassed $200 million, while others stayed in the usual $100 million box office range.

By the way, Angelina Jolie actually starred in Alexander. The actress was questioned about the reason why she and Kazir were no longer dating, and the woman just smiled and didn't answer.

Even though Warner Brothers was working with Kazir, they didn't hesitate to use his past relationship as a way of promoting their movie.

Kazir didn't like it. But he didn't have a say in this regard. He was also working under Warner Brothers, after all. Besides, it was too late when he heard the news, so he just let it go.

He decided to focus more on his project. He also had to attend the premiere of La La Land this week. He was the screenwriter of that movie.

[Second chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 441


[Author's Note: After looking at it again, I found that the distributor of La La Land was actually Lionsgate. I made a mistake last time, but I'm too lazy to edit.]

La La Land was first released on November 25 at the American Film Institute Festival in Los Angeles as a small premiere.

The movie didn't win any awards, so the film crew had to settle for seven days of small screenings in Los Angeles, only having 5 theaters to release the movie on December 9.

This was one of the requirements to get a nomination for the Academy Awards. The movie should have a theatrical release that must last at least seven consecutive days, with at least three screenings per day.

So seven days passed by, and the movie grossed $1 million. For a movie that only had 5 theaters screening it for seven days, that result was not that bad.

Lionsgate fought for more theaters. The Cinema Alliance was trying to assess the profitability of La La Land. They knew that the director of this movie was Fremont Smith. Fremont was known for making action movies, and this musical was definitely not his forte. Still, they decided to give the movie 200 theaters at the start of December 16.

When the 200 theaters were announced, Lionsgate officially planned a red carpet.

The cast of La La Land obviously attended the event despite the not-so-good publicity. After all, Lionsgate was just a second-tier studio. The company didn't have much power to move the media.

Thankfully, Lionsgate was gaining confidence in its business decisions, especially after the success of Saw at the box office.

They spent money on La La Land, that was for sure.

Kazir attended the red carpet but didn't stay long. It was not his movie, and he was not part of the cast. He didn't want the audience to focus their attention on him. Once the movie was done, Kazir congratulated Fremont, Brianna, and even Ryan Gosling. After that, he left the theater.

Sixteen days after the screening of La La Land, the movie grossed $9 million at the box office with 200 theaters.

The Cinema Alliance saw the profitability, so they decided to give it more theaters. They felt that the movie would do better compared to the other movies released in the same month.

In December, the only movies that could compete with La La Land were Blade: Trinity, Ocean's Twelve, Million Dollar Baby, and The Aviator.

The matchups for December 2004 were kind of weak. There was no Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings to dominate the month. Most of the time, those two would be released in December.

Well, the Lord of the Rings trilogy was completed, while Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was already released in May.

Since the Cinema Alliance couldn't find promising gems in the releases this month, they decided to assign more theaters to La La Land.

When Christmas arrived, the number of theaters screening La La Land went up to over 700.

That was the start of La La Land's smooth sailing. Lionsgate was so happy when they saw the numbers going up. They were the investor and distributor of La La Land, so they would have suffered the most if the movie had failed.

Thankfully, that didn't happen. Even Fremont and the cast sighed in relief when they saw that their movie was doing well.

Nobody wanted to see their hard work and art piece fail.

While La La Land was having its screening, Fremont and the cast also promoted the movie. Not only that, but Fremont and Brianna also attended many parties in Los Angeles. Even Ryan Gosling joined the campaign in the hope that he would also get a nomination.

God knows how hard it was to get a nomination. Most of the time, it was about how much money you were willing to spend.

The Academy Awards were not about performing arts anymore. It was about who was going to spoil them.

Kazir experienced it once and had no intention of trying again. Sure, the award was prestigious, but the Academy Awards were never fair. It was the money and politics behind the votes.

.........

......

...

January arrived, obviously.

Kazir didn't have much time to spend on vacation. His vacation was making movies, that was the happiest moment of his life. But of course, he visited his family in New York.

The filming of Batman restarted, and their schedule was moving forward at a fast but expected pace.

While in that process, Enrico Pusi actually asked him about the possibility of adding Constantine to their DC Cinematic Universe.

"What?"

Kazir was confused at first. Yes, he knew about their so-called Cinematic Universe, but he didn't take it seriously because he knew that Warner Brothers would have a hard time making one. The official start of the DCEU was in 2013, using Man of Steel.

He chuckled.

"Enrico, before thinking about a Cinematic Universe, you should make sure that the movies are profitable first. If the initial movies don't make money, then the Cinematic Universe you guys are planning might not happen at all."

"..."

Enrico was speechless.

Constantine.

Superman Returns.

Green Lantern.

Catwoman.

They all had similarities.

One, they were all from DC Comics. Second, they flopped.

They had huge production costs, but the box office they generated couldn't return the investment. This is also the reason why they didn't get sequels…

Although there were rumors that Keanu Reeves was interested in Constantine 2, well, that movie might happen around two decades later.

[Third chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 442


Warner Brothers released so many DC movies, but most of them never had sequels due to obvious failure. This was different from Marvel Comics, which had successful superhero franchises.

Heck, even Fantastic Four had two movies. This franchise had mixed reviews, yet it was still more profitable compared to Green Lantern and Catwoman.

Perhaps the difference between the two comic companies lay in their investments.

Unlike DC Comics, Marvel Comics was poorer, so they rarely invested much in their movies in the 2000s. So even if the box office wasn't high, it was still profitable because the production cost was low.

Unlike Superman Returns, which had an investment of more than $400 million including promotion, the worldwide box office was only $390 million… Warner Brothers were really confident that Superman would save them, huh?

Let's not even talk about Green Lantern. That was the definition of DC and Warner Brothers making a clear mistake. The production budget was $200 million, but the box office was only $220 million.

Even Ryan Reynolds fucking hated the movie. The uncanny CGI, weak storyline, poor visual effects, and failure to establish Green Lantern as a character...

Batman v Superman… The only people who could understand this movie were the comic fans. It didn't make sense at all.

Suicide Squad (2016). It had a confusing plot and inconsistent tone, and they completely messed up Joker's portrayal. The fans didn't like it, and the critics didn't like it either.

Birds of Prey.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

The Flash... Such a disappointment.

Yeah, Warner Brothers and DC Comics didn't know how to handle their projects.

They had so much content that they could farm, yet they failed half of the time. Bruh, you have established superhero comics, and millions of people know them. How could you fuck up this much?

"If Warner Brothers had bought shares in Grey Pictures and we became partners, I might have found a way to save the DCEU. Unfortunately, the DCEU is my enemy, and I don't have any intention of helping them."

In the first place, the reason why he took on the Dark Knight Trilogy was because he was doxxed last year. He decided to ally with Warner Brothers for the time being to receive protection.

Whenever Warner Brothers and DC Comics tried to talk to him about possible cooperation regarding their Cinematic Universe, Kazir always said no.

"If I were Warner Brothers, they should focus on making their superhero characters more solid and give them proper character development. Also, they should respect the source material. Keep the consistency of the theme and tone of the whole DCEU."

Find better villains and flesh them out.

Don't chase Marvel… This was probably the biggest reason why the DCEU failed. They tried to copy Marvel's blueprint.

.........

.....

...

"Haa... I think I need a little stretching."

Liam Neeson said, and people around him chuckled. The man was doing an action stunt.

This was the set of Taken 3.

The project was already approved in October before Kazir went to Germany. Stella Willow quickly contacted Christopher Nolan and signed him with a contract worth $10 million, this was Nolan's biggest contract so far.

The Batman Begins crew only stayed for three weeks in Iceland.

So when the filming was done, Liam Neeson immediately joined the set of Taken 3 to practice his choreography.

In November and December were Taken 3's pre-production, and their filming would start in the third week of January.

As for Liam Neeson's role in Batman Begins, as expected, he had already finished filming.

Kazir knew that Liam was needed in Taken 3 the most, so he finished all of his scenes before Taken 3 started production.

In fact, Batman Begins was now close to completion. The project officially started filming in September. In just four months, Kazir was almost done filming Batman Begins. This was the kind of talent many studios were craving.

Fast yet profitable.

Being an executive producer of Taken 3, of course, Kazir decided to check the progress of the movie. He also spoke with Christopher Nolan, and the two started sharing their ideas and thoughts regarding filmmaking.

Kazir watched from the sidelines while the cast was training.

He saw Scarlett Johansson sweating and holding two bottles of water. Just like Liam Neeson, Scarlett was also in Taken 3. This time, she had some tough stunts to do… They were probably done by professional stunt performers.

Anyway, the woman approached Kazir and gave him a bottle. She wiped the sweat off her forehead. She was only wearing a tank top, and Kazir subconsciously glanced at her figure before quickly averting his gaze.

Scarlett was hot. She was so sexy that many of the men on the set were glancing at her body. It was no surprise that Kazir also glanced at her.

"Thanks for the water."

"You're welcome. You don't look fine, so I decided to give you one. You probably need sleep," the woman muttered while gasping.

Kazir lacked sleep. Well, most directors working on their projects lacked sleep. This was standard procedure at this point.

"You too. I think you also need rest."

Kazir replied.

Because Scarlett jumped from Batman Begins to Taken 3, she was also tired from working.

"Rest, huh? I know the best way to quickly fall asleep." She smirked, playfully staring at him.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"It's se—"

"Sigh—!!!!"

Before Scarlett could say it, Harold Witsend showed up with a haggard face.

If Kazir and Scarlett looked tired, then the producer looked devastated… His balding was getting obvious.

"Sigh—!!!"

Harold let out a long sigh. He seemed to be facing some problems.

[Fourth chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 443


"Sigh, I don't know what to do."

Harold weakly muttered and leaned against the wall next to Kazir and Scarlett.

He looked like a young teenager suffering from puppy love. He glanced at Kazir.

"Kazir, tell me what to do."

He looked at Kazir and Scarlett. Kazir was confused, while Scarlett was just staring. The woman was actually disappointed at Harold.

Harold had just shown up while Scarlett was flirting with Kazir, shooting her shot. Of course, she didn't like it when the balding producer disturbed their conversation.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Harold. Can you please elaborate? Are you talking about the production budget of Taken 3? I thought we all agreed that the budget should be $80 million. Is it not enough?"

For a second, Kazir thought that Grey Pictures didn't have money. But that should be impossible because they generated more than $1 billion every year... Although around 30% of that was their profit. Anyway, it was still a huge amount of money.

"No, it's not about Taken 3. The production is going great. It's about my wife. She believes I'm cheating."

"Damn, that's tough," Kazir replied. He didn't have a good experience with the term cheating... No one ever had a good experience with cheating spouses.

"But are you though?" Scarlett joined in.

"Of course not. She doesn't even have any evidence because I'm really innocent. I'm not cheating."

"Then why does she think you're cheating?" Realizing that the topic was about relationships, Scarlett became interested.

"I don't know. She said I was acting strange last year. And now that I've returned to being normal, she thinks I ended my relationship with my mistress."

"What were you doing last year that made your wife think you were cheating?" Scarlett was basically interrogating Harold at this point.

"I just did what I normally do. Which is my job. I was just busy, that's all."

Harold wasn't insane enough to explain that he had been entangled with Elizabeth Cohen, Kazir's mom. That would never be a comfortable topic to talk about.

"…I see."

Perhaps Kazir had an idea of what happened last year, so he decided to give advice.

"Why don't you tell her that you love her and that you're not cheating at all? Maybe take her on a date or something," Kazir said.

"I did that, but she's still grumpy."

"I don't know, man, I've never cheated in my entire life." Kazir shook his head, and Scarlett glanced at him.

This time, it was Scarlett who sighed.

"What about you and Cameron Diaz? You cheated on Reese with her, right?"

"Huh? Reese and I never dated. Neither of us ever made it official. We also ended on good terms."

"Aha, so you need a label to make sure that you'll never cheat."

"Of course. If I have a girlfriend, I'll never cheat."

Kazir felt bad about what he did. He was vulnerable at that time and fell for his own mistake. He knew that he wasn't a perfect person, but he would make sure never to make the same mistake again.

"I see, I see… I guess I have to make it clear."

She whispered that last sentence.

The two looked at Harold, who was slumping against the wall.

"What I don't understand is that she said I'm not her type. I'm not her type anymore. God, I don't know what to do."

Well, Harold had gained weight. He also had a receding hairline. He was so busy with his job that he probably didn't have much time for his wife and children.

"You should probably communicate with your wife more. Oh, and buy her some chocolate and flowers. Maybe she'll like it." Kazir was just offering some common techniques at this point.

"You should apologize. It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong, you should apologize to your wife. Go to the gym and lose weight. Oh, you should also cut your hair and go bald instead. It's better to be bald than to have an obvious receding hairline and bald spots," Scarlett added.

"I'll take note of that... I'm not sure if I'll look good bald though."

The producer sighed for the fourth time before excusing himself.

Spoiler alert: Harold and his wife didn't divorce. They had another child instead. Harold's wife was just looking for excuses and reasons so that Harold would work hard for their relationship. It worked, but it was manipulative though.

"I hope his relationship with his wife gets better," Kazir said while looking at Harold walking away.

He didn't want to see his friends getting depressed because of heartbreak. After all, Kazir had also experienced it, and it was painful.

"Speaking of type, what about you, Kazir? What's your type in a woman?"

Scarlett curiously asked. She'd probably take note of it.

"Me? Hmm, let me think. I don't have high standards. I just want a woman who will love me and support me. Someone who can give me peace."

"That's it? What about her looks and appearance? Vital statistics?"

"Scarlett, at this point in my life, I'm done looking for beautiful women. As long as I love her, it doesn't matter if she's beautiful or not."

"That's… That's romantic."

"Thanks, I guess." Kazir chuckled.

"What about me? Are you not going to ask me what my type is?"

"Nah, I know your type. I read it in Vogue magazine."

"…"

When Scarlett heard it, she blushed and fanned her face.

"Scarlett, are you okay? You're getting red. Do you need water?"

"I- I'm fine." She replied, then drank from her water bottle. She didn't know why, but Kazir's answer made her blush.

[Fifth and the last chapter of the day.]

[Also, if you want to read the complete story, you can check out my Patr eon.]

P@treon link: https: //www .patre on .com /Puji_maki

 

[FallenMetal]

Thank you, and it appears that filming for Taken three is underway. I am curious to see everyone's reaction, and especially what Nolan will do with it. Great job as always, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

 

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the the chapters
Continue on
Cheers!

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 444


Scarlett cupped her cheeks. She was embarrassed because she knew that her face was blushing red right now.

She kept glancing at Kazir, who was looking at her worriedly...

As expected. He's really handsome. She hated to admit it, but she wanted to squeeze his cheeks. He's so cute and handsome.

The corners of her lips curled up without her knowing. She had been facing this feeling for years now. She had to admit it.

At first, it was just a crush, but the attraction grew stronger the more she got to know him. Kazir was probably the best man she had ever met. And it would be such a waste if other women acquired him.

You know, even finding love was a competition. Since you're going to look for a life partner, why not settle for the best out there?

Scarlett had met so many men in the industry, but no one could compare to Kazir and the achievements he had under his belt. That was super attractive, and there was nothing wrong with that.

"Scarlett? Are you okay?"

Perhaps being curious, Kazir decided to touch the woman's forehead, and Scarlett felt like she was struck by lightning. Her already red face turned even redder. She looked like a tomato at this point.

"I- I'm fine."

She took a step back, afraid of what she might do.

She took a deep breath. She was an actress, for god's sake. Her blushing face returned to normal, and her demeanor also returned to its usual calm.

Now, she was staring at Kazir normally. Although she knew deep inside that her heart was beating so fast.

"If you know my type, then you probably know that I like men who are older than me."

"Yeah, I know about that," Kazir replied without hesitation. He had already read the article, and he respected people's preferences.

People are allowed to have preferences, after all.

"Hm, that's good."

She smiled and passed him the half-empty bottle she had been drinking earlier.

"Huh? Why are you giving me your bottle? I have mine."

"Nothing. That's my gift to you. You pass."

She giggled and returned to the training. She was noticeably more cheerful and energetic.

"… I have no idea what's going on in her mind. But I'm happy that she's happy."

Taken 3 would continue their training this month. They would start filming in February.

.........
......
...

The list of the highest-grossing movies of 2004 was a bit surprising. Who would have thought that the Green Ogre would actually dominate the worldwide box office?

1. Shrek 2. The movie almost surpassed $1 billion! It grossed $935 million. DreamWorks Animation was surely celebrating right now. And Jeffrey Katzenberg was probably giving the middle finger to Walt Disney.

2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with $795 million. Well, there's nothing to be surprised about here. Harry Potter had been a strong franchise from the start. The Prisoner of Azkaban was the third movie in the franchise, and it had a solid fanbase who watched the films every year. Warner Brothers was surely happy.

3. Spider-Man 2. Compared to the first movie, which created history, the second movie had a slightly lower box office, with $783 million. Well, the movie suffered from scandal. Both Tobey Maguire and Kazir Grey received criticism because of fake allegations. But overall, the result was still positive since $783 million was never a small amount. Also, the biggest profit came from merchandise sales, so Sony-Columbia was not disappointed at all.

4. 2 Fast 2 Furious. As always, Grey Pictures solidified its position in the industry. The studio kept releasing blockbusters every year. 2 Fast 2 Furious grossed $751 million at the worldwide box office.

5. The Incredibles. Created by Pixar Animation Studio, this movie grossed $631 million at the box office.

6. Mr. and Mrs. Smith 2. This was the second Continental Cinematic Universe movie on the list. The movie just ended its screening with $624 million. Now that the CCU was becoming more relevant, studios were seriously studying the business structure of the cinematic universe as a whole.

7. The Passion of the Christ. Directed by Mel Gibson, this movie about Jesus Christ's crucifixion garnered mixed reviews all over the globe due to controversies. Overall, the movie grossed $612 million.

8. The Day After Tomorrow was a disaster movie about climate change that caused a second ice age and covered the world in snow. This science fiction film caught people's interest and grossed $552 million.

9. Troy was produced by Warner Brothers. A historical epic starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom, it grossed $497 million. This was Brad Pitt's second movie to reach the top 10 this year. The actor's popularity surged, along with his salary.

10. Shark Tale was another DreamWorks Animation film. It grossed $374 million. Again, DreamWorks Animation was going to have a celebration, and Jeffrey Katzenberg was probably giving the middle finger to Walt Disney.

This was the top 10 highest-grossing list created by Forbes Magazine. However, this list was still incomplete since some movies released late in the year still hadn't completed their screening, such as Ocean's Twelve and La La Land.

The top 10 movies this year were occupied by:

DreamWorks Animation: 2 movies (Shrek 2, Shark Tale)

Warner Brothers: 2 movies (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Troy)

Sony-Columbia: 1 movie (Spider-Man 2)

Grey Pictures: 2 movies (2 Fast 2 Furious, Mr. and Mrs. Smith 2)

Pixar/Walt Disney: 1 movie (The Incredibles)

Newmarket Films: 1 movie (The Passion of the Christ)

20th Century Fox: 1 movie (The Day After Tomorrow)

++++++

[First chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 445


January was in its last week, and several things had happened such as Batman Begins finishing its filming. Now, Kazir had to spend most of his time in the editing room. Another tiring month for Kazir, but it was something he loved to do.

The 31st People's Choice Awards also took place, with Johnny Depp and Julia Roberts winning as the Most Favorite Motion Picture Actor and Actress, respectively.

In the same month, the 62nd Golden Globes Awards were held. Leonardo DiCaprio won Best Actor in a Motion Picture, while Hilary Swank won Best Actress in a Motion Picture.

A lot of people kind of expected these results at the Golden Globes Awards. Some were sad, while others were happy. However, the most devastated were probably Leonardo DiCaprio and Hilary Swank, because most of the time, the winners of the Golden Globes don't end up winning the Academy Awards.

It was considered a curse, though not a foolproof one. There were exceptions, like Cate Blanchett, who won both the Golden Globes and the Academy Award for her leading role in Blue Jasmine. Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Lawrence, and Natalie Portman had similar experiences.

Anyway, Leonardo DiCaprio and Hilary Swank still had a chance… Erm, Leonardo might have a lower chance though, because for some reason, the Academy Awards just didn't like the idea of Leonardo winning.

Aside from awards shows, La La Land was also one of the most promising movies released late last year.

As of January 28, La La Land had already surpassed $100 million, grossing $103.26 million. Lionsgate was so confident in the movie's future that they had already contacted their international distributors to prepare for global screenings.

Lionsgate wasn't confident enough to say they had a worldwide distribution system, but they did have solid distribution lines in Europe, Australia, South America, parts of Africa, and major regions of Asia. So yeah, they had the capability to release movies internationally.

With the success of La La Land, a certain studio couldn't help but be grumpy. That studio was none other than 20th Century Fox. La La Land was initially pitched by Salvatore to 20th Century Fox, but the studio wasn't confident in the genre that Fremont wanted to explore. He had many genres to choose from, yet he decided to go with a musical.

Even though the script was written by Kazir Grey, 20th Century Fox still wasn't sure about it.

And now, they regretted it so much. They even approached Kazir to ask if he had another musical script in his arsenal. They were willing to buy it at a high price. Kazir simply shook his head.

"I can't believe we have the chance to promote here. I thought Warner Brothers wouldn't agree."

Ryan Gosling whispered under his breath. Kazir heard what he said and chuckled. They were at the party hosted by Warner Brothers to celebrate the success of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

The actor and the director had nice conversation. Both Ryan and Kazir were approachable and good people, so the two became close after just one conversation.

Ryan Gosling had been in the industry since 1996, but he only got the biggest break in his career when he starred in The Notebook last year. That was his biggest role so far, aside from La La Land.

"You have to understand politics. Warner Brothers agreed to let Fremont promote the movie on their turf because of me and Salvatore. The network we built is so wide that we have connections with every studio. Fremont's purpose is to talk to Academy members at the party in hopes of getting their votes. Brianna is doing the same thing."

Ryan nodded. He was still new to this game.

"Another thing. You have to understand that there are no eternal enemies in this industry. Everyone might be enemies tomorrow but can be friends today. Warner Brothers understood that Fremont had potential. They're using this small favor to make an impression, hoping Fremont will sign a movie contract with them. I'll tell you this, Fremont is in demand."

"Just like you, Kazir."

"Nah, don't flatter me. It won't work."

The two laughed.

"By the way, why aren't you trying to introduce yourself to them? Maybe some members will give their votes to you."

Ryan gave a weak smile.

"My agent determined that we might have a hard time winning Best Actor this year. I'm still a nobody, after all."

"But there's still a chance though."

"Yeah, but I probably can't beat Leonardo DiCaprio or Clint Eastwood."

"There's nothing wrong with trying."

Ryan shook his head, and Kazir didn't push the topic further.

After all, he had an idea why Ryan Gosling wasn't trying his best. It was probably because of his agent and PR team. They felt it would be a lost cause to promote Ryan since his chances of winning were low.

Doing PR (Public Relations) costs money, especially when it comes to bribing Academy members. Yes, they had to bribe those old farts in many ways just to get their votes.

Ryan was still new to the limelight and didn't have many resources.

"Ah, I just remembered, is it true that you and Rachel McAdams are dating?"

Since the topic of "Enemy Tomorrow, Friends Today" was mentioned, Kazir decided to ask about Ryan's relationship with Rachel McAdams.

Kazir had heard that Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' relationship was nothing but pure publicity. He had seen a lot of actors and actresses getting into relationships to promote their movies.

Kazir looked at Ryan Gosling's expression and realized that the actor was actually blushing!

"I'm sorry, I overstepped my boundaries."

Realizing his mistake, Kazir apologized.

"N– No, it's fine. I do like Rachel, but I'm not sure about her feelings."

"…"

'So they're still not dating? I guess the tabloids and magazines are hyping their relationship, huh? But it's strange because I thought they hated each other. I guess some rumors are fake after all.'

He realized that rumors couldn't be trusted. He had to believe in what he saw.

[Second chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 446


The Academy Awards... well, was this award show really relevant? Like, does it even matter if it exists or not?

After so many dramas that the Academy Awards created, it could be said that the Academy Awards were indeed relevant, because it was entertaining. Seeing a host get slapped in the face and being made fun of was probably the most devious thing that happened at the Academy Awards.

Furthermore, instead of berating the perpetrator, the Academy Awards decided to give the Best Actor Award to the said slapper instead.

You know, Will Smith had a fucking run at the Academy Awards. And everyone in that building was insane for sympathizing with him. Clearly, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were the wrong ones, yet they received a massive standing ovation from the fucking audience.

Bruh, bruh, bruh, I'll repeat it till you cringe. Hollywood is downright insane, and people are slowly realizing that.

Anyway, despite the dramas that the Academy Awards created, it didn't change the fact that for most actors, this award show meant everything in their career.

At the end of the day, earning that golden statue proved that they were recognized as one of the best actors or actresses in the industry. It means that they made a name for themselves.

It was not surprising that the Academy Awards became the most prestigious award show in the world. Gaining recognition on this platform was something to be proud of.

.........

......

...

It was February 3rd. Frank Pierson and Adrien Brody stood on the stage of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California.

They announced the nominations for the upcoming 77th Academy Awards.

The people who attended this small party were interested in these nominations because most of them were competing at the Oscars.

Fremont Smith, Brianna Evans, and the cast of La La Land were at their tables, waiting for the announcement.

One by one, the names of movies and people were announced. Some were sad, some were happy, and some were happier because they had received many nominations.

Brianna and Fremont sighed in relief when they heard their names. Their hard work paid off after socializing for months. They were nominated for Best Actress and Best Director, respectively. Even Ryan Gosling was a bit surprised when he heard his name. He thought the Academy Awards would disregard him.

Well, in the original timeline, Ryan Gosling was indeed nominated for the Best Actor Award for starring in La La Land.

La La Land got five nominations: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Original Song.

The Aviator got 11 nominations.

Finding Neverland and Million Dollar Baby both got 7 nominations.

Ray got 6 nominations.

Sideways and La La Land both got 5 nominations.

Surprisingly, Spider-Man 2 received 3 nominations despite being a mainstream movie. Although the three nominations were all minor awards.

Spider-Man 2 received nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.

The news quickly spread.

.........

......

...

"Is that so? I didn't expect that Spider-Man 2 would get nominated. Congratulations on getting a nomination. Please congratulate Brianna for me. Nah, you don't have to thank me. What I did was just give you the script. You did all of the hard work. You deserve every achievement because you earned it. Yeah, if you need help, you can contact me or Salvatore."

Kazir ended the call. Fremont had just called him to tell him the good news.

Indeed, Kazir was surprised that Spider-Man 2 received 3 nominations. However, he kind of expected that they would be minor awards at best.

After all, he knew that the Academy Awards had extreme disgust for mainstream movies, even though mainstream movies were the reason why Hollywood was still relevant.

Hollywood was not built to spread art. Hollywood was built because there was profit to be earned.

Kazir rubbed his eyes and looked at the dimmed monitors in front of him.

The editor that Warner Brothers sent to help him was already on the cold floor, sleeping without a care. They had been editing the footage for two weeks straight now.

He yawned and checked his phone. It was 9 p.m.

Before sleeping, he decided to take a walk to calm his nerves. He had a lot of stuff to do, and he hadn't had much rest.

He was happy that everyone around him had a good life. Even Harold Witsend, who was depressed a month ago, was now beaming with happiness after he found out that his wife was pregnant again, for the third time...

Anyway, Harold decided to go bald and take some time for his family. He was also training in the gym to lose weight.

Even Salvatore, who was still single for some reason, was having a great time at CAA. Yes, Salvatore was now a Co-Chairman of CAA after Bryan Lourd stepped out of the company.

Once Bryan Lourd was gone, Kevin Huvane got the CEO position. Now, Kevin was the CEO and Co-Chairman of CAA, while Salvatore became the new Co-Chairman. It took more than a year for this inside politics to end.

Kazir's family was also doing well. The new business endeavor that Victor and Aaron promoted was making money. Their company was responsible for the online marketing of Batman Begins... Kazir recommended their company to Warner Brothers.

Kazir was happy that everyone around him was happy.

He took the elevator to reach the ground floor.

Being alone in the elevator, Kazir's mind was in deep thought.

"This is not bad. I've been alone my entire life. At least this time, the people around me are happy." He smiled at the thought.

Then, the elevator opened, and Kazir was surprised when he saw Scarlett holding a lunch box. She was wearing sunglasses despite it being nighttime. She was in her loose T-shirt and baggy pants.

"Scarlett?"

"K-Kazir?"

The woman stuttered for some reason, as if her mind stopped working when she saw Kazir.

+++++++

[This is a note I posted in Patreon a year ago.]

[Author's Note:]

You've been reading this novel since Chapter 1, and you know how the plot usually advances, except for the love interest.

You see, I've given you, my Patrons, the power to choose which actress you want Kazir to be with through polls.

At first, I was really interested in Jennifer Connelly, since you know she is my crush. I even wanted to insert Kate Beckinsale because she's also my crush.

However, through polls and comments, I realized that the majority of you here like Scarlett Johansson, which I'm not surprised about. She is Scarlett Johansson after all, one of the most gorgeous actresses in Hollywood. Of course, since you helped me and my family improved our lives, I decided to write the best that I can do regarding Kazir's romance.

[For the nth time, I want to thank you for all of your support. I hope you will continue supporting me.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 447


"I cooked too much..."

Scarlett muttered to herself while looking at the dish she had prepared. She made Fettuccine Alfredo because she remembered that she had promised Kazir she would cook it for him later... Well, she didn't exactly promise anything, but she just wanted to prove to Kazir that she could cook.

She had decided to practice making the dish to ensure she wouldn't mess it up later. However, she didn't expect that the amount she prepared would be far too much for her to eat alone.

Scarlett was an actress, and she had to maintain her weight. That was one of the many curses actresses usually suffered from. Hollywood was cruel to women and had so many expectations regarding their appearance.

"Geez, what to do? I already ate my share, and I can't eat everything on my own... It'd be a waste to throw it out."

She touched her flat stomach... She had to brainwash herself into thinking she was full. Otherwise, she might gain a few pounds if she ate any more.

She recalled the times when Kazir took her to restaurants. She smiled. Even though Kazir was serious most of the time, he encouraged Scarlett to eat whatever she wanted. He said eating a delicious meal was a luxury that everyone should experience.

In fact, while filming Batman Begins, Kazir had told Scarlett that she didn't need to worry about eating because she would still look beautiful no matter what.

"...That guy. He just said it without any hesitation. He didn't even know I was blushing the whole time." She sighed, feeling a bit happy.

Anyway, she kept thinking about Kazir and couldn't help herself. Perhaps she was love-struck. Kazir was a caring person, the only man who told her that eating until she was full was totally fine.

"I wonder what he's doing right now?"

Scarlett sat down, looking at the Fettuccine Alfredo that was getting colder by the minute.

"Knowing Kazir, he's probably in the editing room at Warner Brothers. He's been spending most of his time editing the movie. He probably eats instant noodles and pizza all the time... That's so unhealthy."

Scarlett was spot on. She wasn't wrong. The whole time Kazir was in the editing room, he had been editing the movie and eating instant noodles and pizza. He even ate donuts for sugar.

"Hm."

She bit her lip and looked at her watch. It was 8:20 p.m.

"He's still awake, right?"

She asked herself.

"Should I? I mean... I have kind intentions, but... Really? Should I go there? Like, I know he needs nutritious food. So..."

After a few minutes of inner monologue, Scarlett was in turmoil.

In the end, she decided to follow her heart. She reheated the pasta, grabbed her car key, wore sunglasses, and drove to Warner Brothers.

She knew what room Kazir stayed in since she had visited there thrice for dubbing lines.

As expected, rush hour traffic hit when Scarlett got in her car.

She was so sad when she finally reached Warner Brothers because the pasta had already gone cold.

Anyway, there might be a microwave she could use.

She spoke to the receptionist, and the receptionist let her in. She stopped in front of the elevator and pressed the button.

"Gosh, Scarlett, what are you doing to yourself?"

While waiting for the elevator, embarrassment struck her, and she started questioning herself about what she was doing.

She touched her cheeks... Then the elevator doors opened, and Kazir was inside.

"Scarlett?"

"K-Kazir?"

She stiffened and squealed.

"Why are you here?"

"I—uh, I cooked too much pasta, so I decided to give you the remaining share so it won't go to waste!" she said quickly, like she was rapping. She shoved the lunch box into Kazir's hands.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." Kazir was surprised at first. He accepted the lunch box and took a look at it.

There was an awkward silence for a moment.

"Then, I guess I'll leave now—"

Growl~

It was a long stomach grumble. The sound came from Scarlett's stomach, revealing the truth that she was still hungry.

Fortunately, there was no one else in the elevator except the two of them.

Still, it was embarrassing for Scarlett.

Kazir remained silent and looked at Scarlett, who was blushing and pouting. Her sunglasses couldn't hide it. She looked like she was going to cry at any moment and she looked adorable... She wanted to slap herself, though, because what happened was just too embarrassing.

"How about we share? This food is too much for one person."

Kazir offered, trying to stop himself from laughing.

"Yes, let's eat together," she replied, her face still blushing.

Warner Brothers had a cafeteria downstairs. Kazir asked for plates and utensils from the canteen. The two of them found a microwave and reheated the pasta.

"You need to eat to maintain a healthy body."

"Thanks."

"Nah, I should be the one thanking you. This dish is delicious. I've only been eating noodles and pizza this week, so this whatever Alfredo is a game changer."

"Fettuccine Alfredo."

"Yeah, yeah."

The two laughed and finished eating. They chatted for a while before wrapping up their meeting.

"It's cold outside, use my jacket."

Scarlett was surprised when Kazir put his jacket around her shoulders. She glanced at Kazir, who acted as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"You really know how to make a woman's heart beat faster," she whispered under her breath.

"Did you say something?"

"Nope."

She sighed.

The two walked to the parking lot, where Scarlett's car was parked.

"Have a safe drive."

"I will... Hey," Scarlett stopped walking and turned around. She looked at Kazir seriously.

"Do you remember the bet we made in Iceland?"

"...Yeah, I remember that." Kazir lied. He didn't remember it at all, he just recalled it now.

"Since I won that bet, you have to do what I say, right?"

"Yeah, I promised."

Scarlett smirked.

"I want you to take me seriously. Don't act like you don't know what's going on. Kazir, you're better than this."

"..."

Kazir didn't know what to say.

Scarlett got in her car and drove away, leaving Kazir speechless.

"...She got me."

+++++

[Fourth chapter of the day.]

[Now that I'm reading this chapter, I fucking cringed... God, why did I make it like a Shoujo manga or something?]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 448


Kazir was stunned as Scarlett's car left the building. A few seconds later, he chuckled and shook his head.

It was true that he had forgotten he owed Scarlett regarding the bet in Iceland. He had actually thought Scarlett would use that bet to increase her screen time in the movie.

Oh boy, he was wrong.

He didn't expect that she would use it like this.

"I guess I have to be honest as well."

Kazir was not stupid. He knew what was happening. He had an idea why Scarlett was doing all this. Although he was oblivious when it came to complimenting her, he was simply stating his honest thoughts.

"...Yeah, I should move on now."

Kazir had no reason to mourn a dead relationship. He had to move forward and build his future.

"Since that's what you want..."

He opened his phone and called Erica, his assistant.

"Erica, I want you to cancel my plans on February 14. Hm, yeah, tell Lionsgate to adjust the schedule. I have a date that day."

.........

......

...

January and February didn't have much of a lineup of heavy movies. Only Hitch, starring Will Smith, had been released during those two months and made money. Hitch was actually a romance movie despite its title. It was released on February 11, very close to Valentine's Day.

There wasn't much to look at in the box office during these weeks. Even La La Land had lost almost half of its theaters after more than two months of screening.

So far, the movie had grossed $124 million domestically and $67 million internationally. The movie was actually in a great spot despite the slow progression.

Because once February 27 arrived and La La Land won awards at the Academy Awards, the movie would get a second run at the box office.

People would become more interested in La La Land once they found out the movie had won at the Oscars. Cinema Alliance would probably increase its number of theaters since it would never turn down more profits.

Of course, this scenario would only happen if La La Land won awards at the 77th Academy Awards. If not, then they would have to be happy with what they got.

The movie would probably surpass $300 million worldwide, so it was still a successful film.

"I'm really happy to meet you today, Director."

A man was beaming, grinning as he looked at the star-studded director across the table.

"Yeah, me too."

Kazir thought he wouldn't be meeting anyone from Lionsgate this week. He had moved the schedule, rather, Erica had spoken to Lionsgate to move the schedule. But instead of postponing it, Lionsgate decided to advance the meeting instead.

So today, on February 11, Kazir had to meet one of the producers from Lionsgate. The guy responsible for Now You See Me.

Now You See Me was a script that Lionsgate had purchased from Kazir. They knew that to start a big franchise, they needed a script that had a strong chance of winning at the box office.

Everyone in Hollywood knew that only Kazir Grey had that in his arsenal. Kazir never failed to deliver a good product to his customers. That was the reason he was in such high demand.

"Um, before we start the meeting, can I get an autograph, please?"

The producer, Mason Aiden, who would be forgotten a few chapters later since he was not relevant, pulled out a DVD case from his suitcase. The title of the movie was Zombie Pajama Dance Party.

Kazir almost cringed.

'Out of all my movies, he wants me to sign an autograph on this corny horror movie of mine...'

He smiled, or at least tried to. He pulled out a pen and signed his signature... He didn't even know this movie had a DVD version.

He had sold the rights to this movie to a small studio.

Well, the royalties from his horror movies were sent to his bank account, but he never looked at them because they were insignificant compared to the millions he made every year.

After that cringe-worthy signing, the two parties began talking about Now You See Me. Kazir was the executive producer on paper, but he never attended the filming at all. He had been busy.

Yet the fact that Lionsgate still paid him $1 million as his salary was mind-boggling. Lionsgate was probably trying to make a good impression so they could get more scripts from Kazir. This was a bribe.

As for how Now You See Me would perform at the box office, it would probably do well.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Congratulations on La La Land. Thanks for investing in this movie. Please help Fremont and Brianna to win the Academy Awards."

Fremont and Brianna were his friends. He wanted to see them win.

All of them were clients of Salvatore Barlowe. If the three of them won, then Salvatore would have three award-winning clients. Even though this agent was in demand, he never accepted any new clients anymore, because he didn't have to.

Some celebrities would love to become Salvatore's client because of the intensive network he had, but the agent had stopped accepting anyone new.

"You don't have to thank us, Director. If La La Land wins at the Academy Awards, it'll also be a good thing for us. Lionsgate will make more money if La La Land wins at the Academy. Besides, you're the scriptwriter of La La Land. We should be the ones thanking you instead. Thanks for writing La La Land."

Mason Aiden, a nameless producer, shyly replied. He was shy because his idol was asking him for a favor.


[Fifth and the last chapter of the day.]

[Also, if you want to read the complete story, you can check out my Patreon.]

P@treon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_maki

 

[FallenMetal]

Thank you, and it looks like things are going swimmingly, which is good. I agree with you on the comment about Kate Beckinsale's comment. I would have liked Angelina Jolie and Kazir to stay together as well. Great job as always, and I look forward to seeing how things unfold with CCU and the continued movies.

 

[Lillie Jones]

Thanks for the chapters
Kate Beckinsale was my British crush too, but not in Pearl Harbor, but as Selene in Underworld and Underworld 2 , things she does into those corsets and guns does something to me ( Dommy mommy)HAHA!
Regarding, Scarlet Johansson is a revelations for me , especially since debuting in Black Widow in the Avengers, but Scarlet is a great actress with almost every character she plays
Besides the new Jurassic Park Rebirth sequel.
Looking forward to more of CCU Universe phase 2 updates

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 449


Kazir couldn't deny that. He was the writer of La La Land and a major factor in its success.

However, the box office already made a clear statement, and Kazir was confident that La La Land was profitable.

What he needed from Lionsgate was their influence. Despite being a second-rate studio, they had the power to help Fremont and Brianna win their respective awards.

"If Fremont and Brianna win the Best Director and Best Actress Awards, I don't mind working with you... I might even direct a movie for Lionsgate."

Kazir smiled, trying to increase the benefits.

The benefits of winning at the Academy Awards were significant. It could boost the box office performance of La La Land, and it could also increase its DVD sales.

However, what Kazir offered was a benefit that Lionsgate would have a hard time achieving on their own. They had tried multiple times to hire Kazir to direct their films.

God knows how many times they had tried and how much money they had offered to convince the director, but Kazir was no longer moved by money.

At this point in his career, what he sought was fun and the joy of directing movies. It didn't matter which studio he worked with.

"...Gulp."

Mason Aiden, the producer who might play a role in this novel, swallowed hard. He couldn't help but gulp down the saliva stuck in his throat, or else he might suffocate from sheer shock.

He had heard it clearly and understood what Kazir was saying, but his mind took a second to fully process it.

"...We will do our best."

Winning an Academy Award was not simple. So many movies and celebrities were fighting for those honors. Lionsgate would have a tough time winning even one.

They were supporting La La Land and hoped it would win, but Lionsgate had not been going all out. They were still relatively new in the industry, and their social network was not as vast as Miramax's.

But now, Lionsgate had a reason to go all in. Just like the lottery, despite the low odds, the prize was well worth it.

"I'm glad to hear that."

The two shook hands.

Despite being a verbal agreement, Mason knew that this was the best outcome they could hope for from Kazir. The director had a strong reputation and wouldn't back out of his promise.

"You don't have to worry, I won't break my promise. I can either sell another script to Lionsgate or direct a movie for Lionsgate."

"Of course, of course."

Mason nodded twice, wiping his sweaty forehead. He didn't expect this small meeting to end up like this. He felt like his seat was on fire from all the pressure.

Actually, Kazir's next movie was already planned for 2006. It was none other than Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

The props had long been prepared, and even the cast had signed their contracts. They were, in fact, undergoing training at that moment, particularly Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

This was also the reason why Grey Pictures only had one CCU movie. They would overextend their resources if they attempted to produce three movie projects and a TV series in a single year.

That was a problem Grey Pictures had faced two years ago. Back when they believed they could handle four projects per year. God, that had been a bit of a nightmare, even for Stella Willow.

In 2003, Grey Pictures arrogantly released Wanted 2, The Equalizer, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and their TV series Game of Thrones.

Thankfully, despite their overconfidence, all four projects were successful. Each one had generated millions in profit.

So now, Grey Pictures returned to their usual two-movie-per-year strategy. As for Game of Thrones, Fox TV was taking care of the series. They had no intention of letting it jump to another network.

'If both Fremont and Brianna win, I have no problem working with Lionsgate. But they'll have to wait. Of course, I'll pick the movie I direct. Maybe the script will come from me too.'

.........

......

...

The Cinefamily. A nonprofit cinema exhibition. A silent movie theatre on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. The Cinefamily mostly featured silent films and old, obscure cult classics that didn't receive much attention.

The Cinefamily also held live score screenings, where silent films were accompanied by live musicians.

Tonight, on Valentine's Day, Scarlett was smiling ear to ear while sitting next to Kazir. Of course, she was happy that the man had finally made the first move and invited her on a date.

And now, she was having fun because the silent film they were watching was The Circus (1928), starring Charlie Chaplin. Despite being almost a century old, the movie still made her laugh.

The musicians accompanying the silent film made it even livelier. At first, she had been skeptical about the venue Kazir chose, but she didn't expect it to be this enjoyable.

Even Kazir, who was serious most of the time, was laughing. The two had a great night. They had dinner at an expensive restaurant and shared interesting conversations.

"I had fun."

"Me too." Scarlett blushed.

They agreed to go on another date next week. Scarlett was so happy. Now, she didn't regret pushing Kazir to take her seriously, because she liked being taken seriously.

++++

[I know it's not relevant, but do you want Fremont and Brianna to win the Oscar, or only one of them? I'll make it a poll so you can vote.]

[First chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 450


Wearing a light blue suit, Ryan Gosling stepped out of the limousine and extended his hand to Brianna Evans. The woman placed her hand in Ryan's and gracefully stepped out of the limousine.

Brianna was wearing a sleeveless silver sequin A-line dress that reached below her knees. She looked gorgeous. Brianna was known for her exceptional acting talent, not necessarily her looks, but tonight, she was truly stunning.

Brianna and Ryan had chemistry in the movie La La Land, and some fans even shipped them in real life. However, Ryan was dating Rachel McAdams, so that scenario was impossible.

Ryan was simply Brianna's partner for the Academy Awards tonight. Nothing deeper was happening between them.

Both of them received nominations at the Oscars, so they were doing great. Even Ryan's PR team was surprised when the actor secured a nomination.

The two walked along the red carpet, posed for cameras, and were then interviewed by the reporters.

These scenes would be repeated by countless celebrities tonight. It was the standard procedure whenever a red carpet event took place.

1.) A celebrity would step out of an expensive car, usually a limousine.

2.) He or she would wave at the fans, and the fans would go crazy, screaming their name.

3.) He or she would pose for cameras, despite the blinding flashes that never stopped.

4.) A reporter would ask questions about the event, the celebrity would respond, and then head into the theater.

However, unlike movie premieres, the pressure of stepping onto the red carpet at the Academy Awards was on another level.

The 77th Academy Awards was broadcast live by ABC. So not only the fans present could witness the event, but millions of people across America were watching it live.

If someone made an embarrassing mistake, millions would see it. Unless the network was airing a commercial break. Still, reporters hoped for such slip-ups. They loved writing juicy articles. Some even went as far as fabricating stories.

Thousands of celebrities attended the 77th Academy Awards. Some were invited by the Academy and received tickets, while others were there to compete for awards.

By the way, if someone got nominated or won an Oscar, they became eligible to be a member of the Academy (AMPAS) without needing a sponsor.

If Ryan Gosling applied to be a member, he would easily be accepted.

With Brianna Evans holding Ryan's arm, showing their closeness, the two entered the Kodak Theater.

"Aww, they look sweet."

Scarlett "aww'd" as she watched Ryan and Brianna wave to fans before entering the theater. She was watching the program on television.

She hadn't attended because she wasn't invited.

"You think so?" Kazir asked, sipping a beer.

"Of course. Brianna is my friend, and I want her to find happiness... I haven't seen her dating anyone, and I'm worried."

The two were watching the 77th Academy Awards in Scarlett's apartment.

This was their third date, and Scarlett had offered to cook dinner for the two of them at her place.

Kazir wasn't sure if this invitation carried a deeper meaning, but he happily accepted. Her cooking was amazing and delicious.

They had just finished dinner, which Kazir thoroughly enjoyed. Lately, he'd mostly been eating junk food. A home-cooked meal was heaven-sent.

They both knew tonight was the 77th Academy Awards, so the TV had been on the whole time.

Kazir was friends with Fremont and Brianna, and so was Scarlett. All four of them were clients of Salvatore Barlowe, so they had met on occasion.

If Fremont and Brianna won their respective awards, it would be a great boost for Salvatore. It would also help Scarlett indirectly, as people would start taking her more seriously once they realized she was one of Salvatore's clients.

As for Kazir, well, he didn't need a boost anymore. In fact, he was the one providing the boost at this point. He was the writer of La La Land, after all. The script had secured Academy Award nominations for Fremont, Brianna, and Ryan.

Scarlett offered him a beer, and Kazir thanked her. Since then, they had been watching the program, drinking, and munching on snacks.

Scarlett decided to forget about dieting tonight, not when she and Kazir were having such a fun time. The two of them were talking and laughing.

They were seated close to each other, their skin occasionally brushing, sending sparks through them.

While commercials aired, they remained in their own little world.

"I'm having fun. Thanks, Scarlett."

"Hm, me too." The woman nodded, blushing. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the lack of space between them, but Scarlett was definitely blushing.

Then, they looked into each other's eyes. A quiet moment passed between them. Alcohol can make a person brave, and this time, it did.

Scarlett leaned in and kissed Kazir on the lips. The man responded and kissed her back. He gently placed a hand behind her head while Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Mmm~"

They shared a passionate kiss that lasted over a minute. When they finally parted, they were breathless and intoxicated.

Scarlett giggled and bit her lip. The sensation of the kiss still lingered.

Then, the 77th Academy Awards resumed. Kazir and Scarlett giggled again and turned their attention back to the screen. This time, Scarlett leaned her head on Kazir's shoulder as they watched. They held hands while the show introduced Chris Rock as the host of the Oscars.

This year's Academy Awards didn't have many heavy hitters, so most of the buzz revolved around La La Land, The Incredibles, and Spider-Man 2.

[Second chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 451


Despite having few heavy hitters, the 77th Academy Awards still received a good reception. Every year, millions of people watched this show.

The Academy Awards were about rich celebrities receiving accolades, and for some reason, ordinary people loved watching it. Perhaps they just wanted to see the celebrities they supported win awards.

The ratings of the program, telecast by ABC, averaged 42.14 million viewers. It was 3% lower than the previous year. Well, The Lord of the Rings trilogy had ended last year.

LOTR fans had supported the movie passionately, hoping that The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King would win multiple awards. Their hard work paid off because the film won 11 awards. It took home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing.

Honestly, it looked like someone from The Lord of the Rings had bribed the Academy to shower the film with awards.

But considering how The Lord of the Rings lost many awards in the past, it was fitting that it won last year… Sort of like the Academy (AMPAS) pity-fucked the movie out of guilt.

The show went on, and more awards were presented and announced. So far, most of the awards were being won by The Aviator and Million Dollar Baby.

"The Best Visual Effects Award goes to..."

Jake Gyllenhaal, the presenter of the Best Visual Effects Award, opened the envelope to announce the winner.

As the award for Best Visual Effects was being revealed, Kazir, who was sitting on the couch next to Scarlett, sat up slightly straighter. He wanted to hear which movie would win the award.

Spider-Man 2 received a nomination for Best Visual Effects, so he became interested. The Best Visual Effects Award was given to films that delivered stunning visuals. Spider-Man 2 was one of the frontrunners of visual effects in the early 2000s and deserved appreciation.

You couldn't deny that Spider-Man 2, a movie released in 2004, had better CGI than most films in the 2020s. The Spider-Man trilogy undoubtedly had better CGI than MCU Phase 4.

So yeah, Kazir had a good idea which movie would win. Spider-Man 2 only had two real competitors in this category: Harry Potter and I, Robot.

"The Best Visual Effects Award goes to... Spider-Man 2!"

Just as he expected, Jake Gyllenhaal announced Spider-Man 2 as the winner of Best Visual Effects.

"Woohoo! Yeah—!"

Kazir celebrated by punching his fist in the air. Winning this relatively small award was still a major victory. Scarlett giggled as she watched him. She thought he resembled a small child sometimes.

Most of the time, Kazir was a serious person, so it was entertaining to see the director act so joyfully.

The people responsible for the film's visual effects stood on stage and thanked the Academy for acknowledging their work.

Kazir was proud of them. They truly deserved to win that award.

The show moved on to the major awards.

Morgan Freeman won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Million Dollar Baby.

Cate Blanchett won Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Aviator.

Then came the announcement for Best Actress. Brianna Evans faced tough competition. She had to compete against Hilary Swank, Kate Winslet, Annette Bening, and Imelda Staunton.

Sean Penn was the presenter of the Best Actress Award.

"Congratulations, Brianna Evans, for winning the Best Actress Award!"

The camera focused on Brianna's expression. From shock to joy to excitement, she glowed as she accepted the award and held the golden statue.

"I want to thank everyone who supports me. Thank you to Director Fremont Smith for creating an amazing musical. Thank you to Ryan Gosling for being such a great partner on set. To my agent, Salvatore, thank you. And to Director Grey, for writing a masterpiece!"

The audience clapped.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

If Kazir had been happy earlier and raised his fist, then Scarlett was practically bouncing around the room. She was celebrating joyfully. She was thrilled that Brianna had won the Best Actress Award.

Kazir smiled, finding her absolutely adorable.

When Scarlett came back to her senses, she realized how childish she had just acted. She glanced at Kazir, who was grinning at her.

"...Don't make fun of me."

She was blushing, clearly embarrassed by her excitement.

"Of course I won't. You're adorable."

She pouted and returned to her seat which happened to be Kazir's lap... Then, she kissed him on the lip before turning her attention back to the show.

The award show continued, and the Best Actor Award was about to be announced.

Ryan Gosling's facial expression was being closely monitored by the cameras, waiting to catch his reaction when the winner was announced. Of course, all the nominees were being filmed the same way. They were all under scrutiny.

Charlize Theron, last year's Best Actress for her role in Monster, was the presenter for the Best Actor Award.

"Congratulations, Jamie Foxx!"

Another standing ovation erupted.

The actors who didn't win still clapped respectfully. Ryan Gosling kept his composure despite the disappointment.

There were five nominees, but only one winner. The four actors who didn't win were clearly not happy, even if they smiled.

Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle, Johnny Depp, and Leonardo DiCaprio, none of them looked genuinely pleased.

And now came the final two major awards: Best Director and Best Picture.

Julia Roberts held the envelope. Inside it was the name of the Best Director winner.

Fremont was nervous, and so was Kazir. As Fremont's mentor, Kazir wanted nothing more than to see him succeed.

Unfortunately, Fremont's competition was tough. He was up against veteran directors like Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Taylor Hackford, and Alexander Payne.

Julia Roberts opened the envelope, smiled at the audience, and announced the winner.

"The winner of the Best Director Award is... Fremont Smith!"

The Black director stood up, shook hands with Ryan Gosling, and hugged Brianna before heading to the stage.

"Yes!"

This time, both Kazir and Scarlett cheered together. They both said "Yes!" at the same time.

+++++

The result of the poll was that both Fremont and Brianna would win their respective awards, so here it is. By the way, I'll post a poll tomorrow about a possible new movie franchise for the CCU. I feel like the CCU needs another movie injection or something. You can comment on which action movies you want me to include in the poll.

[Third chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 452


A moment that deserved celebration. Two awards were won by La La Land, Best Director Award and Best Actress Award. These two awards were both important honors in the industry.

Gaining this recognition would give Brianna and Fremont a massive boost to their careers. Their salaries would undoubtedly increase.

These awards might look simple, but the importance they carried in the industry couldn't be measured by money.

Winning an award at the Academy Awards meant that your name would be forever remembered in history. Whenever people thought about the best actresses or the best directors, Brianna and Fremont would become part of the conversation.

One thing was clear, there would be a party for the cast and crew members of La La Land tonight. Champagne would pop... and probably some drugs as well.

The last segment of the show was the Best Picture Award. The movie that won Best Picture was Million Dollar Baby.

With that, the show ended, and the credits rolled.

"They're going to have a party tonight," Kazir thought.

"They sure are."

"Well, they won two important awards, so they're going to celebrate. I'm sure Fremont and Brianna won't act cheap tonight. They'll go all out and spend a lot of money."

Having experienced this kind of celebration, Kazir had an idea of what would happen tonight... a lot of people would get drunk.

"We can also celebrate their success in our own way," Scarlett teased.

"Oh sure, we will."

"Yeah, we will."

Scarlett, who was sitting on Kazir's lap, purred and leaned closer, sniffing Kazir's neck. She tried to kiss his neck, but a phone rang and disturbed their peace.

It was Kazir's phone.

"..."

The two were silent for a second. Kazir sighed and put down the beer. He reached for his phone and answered the call.

"Salvatore? Ah, yeah, it depends. I'll answer you later," Kazir said with a bitter smile.

"What did he say?"

"He invited me to go to the party."

"You're the scriptwriter, so I'm not surprised he invited you… So, what's your decision?"

"Salvatore or Brianna will probably call you later."

"You didn't answer my question," she said firmly, pressing her weight down on his lap, obviously teasing him.

"Above that..."

Scarlett giggled because she could tell Kazir was conflicted.

"I'll tell you this, if you don't make a move tonight, I'll hate you. So make sure you don't regret your decision," she said with a seductive smile.

"I think we should turn off our phones."

"Good idea."

Scarlett yelped playfully as Kazir carried her to the bedroom.

Well, let's just say that they didn't get much rest when the sunshine came around.

.........

......

...

Vance Goodhood. He was a stockbroker who worked for Goldman Sachs.

After working in the stock industry for years, he was confident enough to say that he knew how to be a millionaire. To be fair, he was indeed a millionaire.

In his opinion, the best way to become a millionaire in this industry was to not be greedy. You had to understand when to pull out your investment. The second important factor was to understand the stocks you were buying. Other than that, don't be stupid.

Vance was going to meet one of his most important clients. In fact, this client had helped him further his career at Goldman Sachs.

When Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox had their agreement, Goldman Sachs had played a part in that $3 billion worth of transactions between the two studios. Of course, Goldman Sachs made money, and so did Vance.

Because of that, Vance was noticed by upper management, which gave him a better position.

"Kazir, these are the documents."

Vance passed a thick stack of papers to Kazir.

Kazir yawned and rubbed his eyes. He stretched his arms, which had been hugging a soft, tiny waist earlier. He glanced at the documents and shook his head.

He had no patience nor intention to read documents that weren't related to movies.

"Vance, this document is too thick for me to read. Can you tell me the important contents instead?"

"Of course."

Vance wasn't surprised. Most of his clients preferred it this way. His clients were rich, and they usually handed these documents to their financial advisors and accountants to calculate the numbers.
(Note: I have no idea what I'm writing. I'm not rich, so I don't know how they settle their finances. Heck, I don't even know how they calculate their taxes. They probably hire people.)

Vance started explaining.

"So basically, my stocks are worth more than $4.3 billion now?"

"That's correct. These past few years, you've invested in Amazon, Apple, eBay, and Google. Furthermore, you're one of the shareholders of Facebook. Facebook's valuation this year is $180 million."

In addition to that, Kazir also invested in Nvidia, Intel, and Microsoft. He had also been buying public shares of 20th Century Fox. Kazir was the second individual shareholder of 20th Century Fox, the first being Rupert Murdoch.

It was an understatement to say that Kazir was rich. He was wealthy. His descendants would have a great life for three to five generations... unless some of them screwed up and squandered everything.

"...Wow."

That was the best response Kazir could give. He hadn't expected that he would reach this point in life. He was damn wealthy.

He wasn't poor in his past life, since he had residual income from his movies and had also inherited money from his father. But this amount, $4.3 billion, was something that had always been out of reach.

[Fourth chapter of the day.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 453


Kazir invested almost all of his money in stocks, so it was not a surprise that his wealth increased to over $4 billion.

Still, this amount of money was terrifying. He had no idea how to spend it. He was not a materialistic type. Except for his library of videotapes and DVDs in his house, he was never interested in material things... For a moment, Kazir thought of buying another house and a car.

"Speaking of cars, Lamborghini gave me a replica of the Batmobile last week... I should probably try it once Batman Begins is released."

The Batmobile was still not allowed to be shown to the public... unless Warner Brothers agreed to use it as a way of promoting the movie.

Lamborghini had been one of the sponsors of CCU, and Grey Pictures had a close relationship with the brand. Because of the popularity of CCU, the cars that were advertised in the movies were easily sold.

The cars that were sold were all limited editions, with only a few units circulating in the entire world. Meaning that each car cost more than $1 million minimum.

Especially when the Fast and Furious franchise was released, so many car enthusiasts became interested in CCU. Kazir wanted The Fast and the Furious to have at least one street racing scene in every movie. Because that was the initial essence of the movie, street racing. The first three movies of Fast and Furious revolved around that.

"Batmobile... Yeah, I should probably buy a car this year. I want to drive Scarlett around L.A."

Lamborghini decided to give one of their limited editions to Kazir as a way of improving their relationship. Lamborghini had actually heard that Ferrari was trying to get a spot in the advertising lineup of CCU, and Lamborghini didn't like that, hence the gift.

"Thank you, Vance."

"I should be the one thanking you, Kazir. You helped me so much in my career. I owe a lot to you. I'll make sure to never give you up, and never let you down."

"You know the rules, and so do I," Kazir nodded.

If not for the warning that Kazir had given to Vance in 1999, perhaps the stockbroker might have also been one of the people who jumped off the building.

The two shook hands, and Vance bid farewell.

"...Looks like I have to consult my financial advisor this month. God, taxes will probably haunt me again this year."

Kazir used every legal method to lessen his taxes, such as charities, business deductions, and many more.

However, taxes still cut him millions every year. People were mad and jealous of the rich, but it was true that rich people were the ones who paid the most taxes... Well, yeah, it was obvious why.

.........

......

...

After that meeting with Vance, Kazir returned to Warner Brothers to edit Batman Begins. The movie was near completion, and Kazir had time to take a rest.

February was a great month for many people. Brianna Evans and Fremont Smith got the awards they had been dreaming about. Kazir had already called Fremont and apologized for not attending the party last night.

Fremont just laughed it off. His voice was hoarse because he had been partying all night. The Black director was not mad. He even invited Kazir to a barbeque party next week.

.........

......

...

On the streets of Los Angeles, a Bugatti Veyron was vrooming. It was making a noise that caught the attention of the people walking down the street.

Some of them shook their heads because it looked childish. Some were looking at the car with jealousy, hoping that they would also have one.

Some women were staring at the man who was driving the car. The man was wearing sunglasses to hide his identity, but it was obvious that he was handsome.

Kazir decided to buy a Bugatti Veyron just because he had money. When you have so much money, it feels like spending a million on a car is not that expensive anymore.

By the way, Kazir could have bought a sports car in his past life, but he never did because he was not the type who wanted attention. He was a director, not an actor.

Besides, he had a Dad bod in his past life. That meant he had a fat belly and looked unhealthy.

But now, Kazir, who was holding the steering wheel, looked like a hunk. The description of an alpha male fit him. He was tall, handsome, fit, and rich. He was oozing with confidence, and the women who were staring at him became attracted to him.

One of them even had the courage to approach him. The woman had blonde hair, thick pouty lips, a thin waist, huge boobs, and was wearing a short skirt... She looked like a bimbo, not going to lie.

"Hey baby, what are you looking for? Are you looking for fun? How about you take me for a ride?"

Called it. She might be a hooker.

Perhaps she was interested in Kazir because he looked rich. He was also handsome and tall. It was not a surprise that she wanted him.

"I can help you touch your gearshift. Or should I call it a gear shaft?" she giggled, leaning closer to show her huge tits.

"Can you step aside? You're blocking my way."

A cold voice came from behind. The bimbo turned around and found a gorgeous woman. Just like Kazir, Scarlett was also wearing sunglasses, but that didn't stop her beauty from showing.

"Huh?"

The bimbo tried to say something, but she stopped when she saw that Kazir had opened his car door for Scarlett.

"You're looking gorgeous as always."

"Of course," she scoffed.

"..."

Kazir realized that the woman was in a bad mood. It seemed that he had to make her feel good today.

The Bugatti left the place, leaving the dumbfounded bimbo behind.

"...Wait a fucking minute? Is that Kazir Grey and Scarlett Johansson?"

Kazir and Scarlett were both famous, so it was not surprising that they were recognized. The sunglasses didn't do a damn thing.

+++++

[Fifth and last chapter of the day.]

[If you want to read the complete story, you can check out my Patreon.]

P@treon link: https://www.patreon.com/Puji_maki

 

[Lillie Jones]

thanks for the chapters

 

[FallenMetal]

Thank you, and happy that they got the rewards, which is always a great thing. I sort of hope that Ryan Gosling won, too. Anyway, great job, but as for the movie, I think the idea of 355 would work well within the CCU; maybe a vision of Atomic Blonde or Polar could work too.