HOLLYWOOD WHAT IF

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 562

Rupert Murdoch. The emperor behind the conglomerate of News Corporation. In his hands, he held influence over countless media outlets in the world.

Some of the famous companies under News Corporation were:

1. Television & Broadcasting

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) – Major U.S. TV network

Fox News Channel – 24-hour cable news network

Fox Business Network – Financial news network

Fox Sports Networks – Regional sports channels in the U.S.

National Geographic Channel (joint venture)

FX Networks – Cable entertainment channel

MyNetworkTV – Syndicated TV network

STAR TV – Satellite television network in Asia

Sky (BSkyB, Sky Italia, Sky Deutschland) – Pay-TV services in the UK, Italy, and Germany


2. Film & Entertainment

20th Century Fox – One of Hollywood's "Big Six" studios

Fox Searchlight Pictures – Independent and arthouse film division

Blue Sky Studios – Animation studio (Ice Age series)

20th Century Fox Television – TV production studio

Fox Home Entertainment – DVD and digital distribution


3. Newspapers & Print Media

The Wall Street Journal (U.S.) – Business newspaper

New York Post (U.S.) – Tabloid newspaper

The Times (UK) – British daily newspaper

The Sunday Times (UK) – Weekend edition

The Sun (UK) – British tabloid

The Australian – National newspaper in Australia

Herald Sun (Australia)

The Daily Telegraph (Australia)


4. Book Publishing


HarperCollins – One of the largest book publishers in the world


5. Digital Media & Other Ventures


Myspace – Once-dominant social media platform (declined by 2008)

IGN Entertainment – Gaming and entertainment website network

Dow Jones & Company – Financial news and data provider


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And now, Rupert Murdoch, one of the most influential people in the world, was asking Kazir a question.

"Tell me, Kazir. Are you a time traveler or something?"

"Time traveler? Rupert, what are you talking about?" Kazir smirked.

However, deep inside, Kazir was actually shocked. If he had been drinking his champagne, he might have coughed hard. Thankfully, Kazir knew how to maintain his poker face because of the business dealings he had experienced throughout his entire life.

Rupert also laughed.

"That's right, that's right. I'm just joking. If there's such a thing as a time traveler, he would probably use his future knowledge to become rich."

"Yeah, haha." Kazir awkwardly laughed. He was deeply uncomfortable.

Rupert took a sip of his drink, his sharp eyes studying Kazir.

"But you have to admit, your success is… unusual. Every movie you touch turns to gold. Even the way you film, it's like you already know what to do."

Kazir shrugged, keeping his expression neutral.

"It's just a matter of understanding the industry, trends, and audience preferences. Luck plays a role too."

Rupert chuckled.

"Luck, huh? Well, whatever it is, it's working."

He leaned forward.

"Tell me, Kazir, how did you know about the wiretapping scandal?"

Rupert became serious.

"Wiretapping?"

Kazir was clueless at first. But then, he suddenly recalled their conversation five years ago... The scene was not written by the author because he forgot about it.

However, it was true that Kazir and Rupert had a conversation five years ago.

It was the time when 20th Century Fox recently bought 30% shares of Grey Pictures. To celebrate that success, Kazir attended a party and also met Rupert.

Kazir and Rupert had a nice conversation.

Since Kazir was now part of the family, he didn't want News Corporation to get tangled up in a devastating scandal.

The scandal he was talking about was the wiretapping scandal.

Back then, Kazir casually mentioned that media companies should be careful about their journalistic methods, especially concerning privacy laws. He subtly hinted that illegal wiretapping could bring devastating consequences if exposed.

Rupert was intrigued by what he said and recalled something. Being the head of the hegemonic conglomerate, Rupert had an idea of how some of his companies acquired news.

He agreed with Kazir's opinion. Since then, Rupert decided to talk to his underlings and tell them to be more secretive about their dealings and made sure that if the scandal happened, News Corporation would not be dragged into it.

Yes, instead of completely stopping this illegal way of acquiring news, Rupert decided to be more discreet.

Unfortunately, the scandal still happened.

The News of the World phone hacking scandal was a major media scandal that erupted in mid-2008 in a British tabloid owned by News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

Journalists and private investigators working for the newspaper were found to have illegally hacked into the voicemails of celebrities, politicians, members of the royal family, and even crime victims to gather private information for sensational news stories.

Thankfully, Rupert Murdoch prevented the scandal from getting bigger. The matter was also not taken with much importance because News Corporation wasn't caught in the scandal. Rupert found a scapegoat to take all of the damages.

Because of this, News Corporation survived the biggest problem they experienced that could have weakened their organization, and the trajectory changed. News Corporation didn't have to sell 20th Century Fox anymore.

Now, Rupert was staring at Kazir with a knowing look.

"You warned me, Kazir. How did you know?"

"Rupert. You're right, I remember our conversation at that time. But it's just a coincidence. I swear on my mother's soul, it's just a coincidence. May the God strike her with lightning if I'm lying."

Kazir secretly sighed in relief. So it was about the wiretapping scandal. He thought Rupert knew that he was a time traveler.

As for their conversation five years ago, Kazir could defend that it was a coincidence.

"You know there's a scene in Wanted 2 where Wesley Gibson wiretapped a government agency, that's the reason why we started talking about wiretapping. You remember that, right?"

"Yeah, I do remember that."

Rupert nodded.

"Indeed, maybe it's just a coincidence."

"Besides, do you really believe that I'm a time traveler?"

"Well, time traveler or not, I'm happy that you're now a part of News Corporation."

Rupert was convinced. He knew that time travel was just a myth, and he didn't believe it at all. He was just curious about their conversation five years ago and how it helped him avoid a disaster.

Kazir smiled, raising his champagne glass.

"I'm glad to be part of the family, Rupert. Here's to more successful years ahead."

Rupert chuckled and clinked his glass against Kazir's.

"To success," Rupert said, taking a sip.

The tension in the air eased, but Kazir knew he had to be more careful. If someone as sharp as Rupert Murdoch was suspicious, then others might start asking questions too.

"By the way, Kazir," Rupert continued, his tone casual.

"What's your next big project?"

Kazir smirked.

"I have a few ideas... but I have to relax for a year first. Maybe I'll contribute to the MCU as my next project."

"That's good to hear. I'm looking forward to your next project."

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 563


Fan-Expo New Orleans, 2009.

The massive hall was packed with many fans. Fans dressed in fanciful medieval outfits, some females even had white wigs as they cosplayed a certain character from a TV show.

Banners of Game of Thrones hung on the walls, and a giant screen played highlights from Season 3.

The moment George R.R. Martin stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted into cheers.

The author smiled widely as he waved his hand. Who would have thought that five years ago, he was just a simple author with no worldwide influence?

George R.R. Martin was actually a TV writer in the '80s and early '90s before pursuing his author career again in 1996. Basically, George experienced how hard it was to break through in Hollywood, so he decided to return to being a novelist.

Before he published the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, George had written novels such as Dying of the Light, Windhaven (co-writer), Fevre Dream, and The Armageddon Rag.

Out of all the novels he had written, A Song of Ice and Fire was the most successful. Of course, the influence of Game of Thrones was one of the reasons why he achieved his status now.

The fans went crazy as the famous author stepped onto the podium. Today, he attended this Comic-Con to associate with his fans.

George adjusted his cap and grinned as he leaned into the microphone.

"Well, well," he said, scanning the enthusiastic crowd.

"I see a lot of Targaryens out here. Should I be worried?"

The audience laughed, some waving their banners.

The host smiled beside him.

"George, Season 3 of Game of Thrones has been a massive success. Did you ever expect your books to become this big?"

"I always dreamed of it, but Hollywood is unpredictable. Yet here we are." George chuckled and nodded.

Of course, every author dreams of their novels getting a movie adaptation. Even Lord of the Rings, which was 55 years old as of 2009, miraculously had an adaptation after so many decades. Even Harry Potter's massive success was an inspiration to many authors.

Naturally, George thought of his novels getting adapted. However, instead of getting a movie adaptation, his novels got a TV show adaptation, which was not a bad thing. In fact, he knew that a TV show was the better option since his books were quite dark and hard to get a PG-13 rating.

He smiled and reminisced about the past.

Back in 2004, George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series was already a success. After all, he had three volumes published, which meant readers loved the series. He was satisfied, but he couldn't deny that he envied authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King.

The sure way to become a successful author was by having your novels adapted into movies. Because once that happened, your books would receive a sales boost, especially if the movie was a box office hit.

Anyway, George was stunned when he received a call from someone from Grey Pictures.

Grey Pictures!

Despite being a second-tier studio without a distribution channel, Grey Pictures was recognized as one of the best studios in Hollywood. Furthermore, Grey Pictures produced movies such as The Bourne series and The Revenant, which were adapted from novels. Of course, George was happily surprised.

He made sure the call wasn't a scam before agreeing to meet the representative.

He had a hard time sleeping the night before the meeting.

When he met the person who called him, George was surprised that it was Harold Witsend, one of the best producers from Grey Pictures. This showed that they truly took an interest in his novels.

George was a bit disappointed when he realized that Grey Pictures wanted a TV show based on his current series, which was A Song of Ice and Fire instead of a movie.

At that time, they still hadn't made a decision about the title of the show.

George talked to his agent. His agent was actually against the idea of selling the adaptation rights since Grey Pictures was only interested in turning it into a TV show. However, based on how dark the series was, both George and his agent knew that it would be difficult for it to be successful at the box office.

After negotiations that gave him a good amount of profit shares, George R.R. Martin signed the contract.

The reason that convinced him was that Kazir Grey personally called him and promised that he would direct the first five episodes.

George decided to trust the talented director.

And now, his trust in Kazir had turned him into what he is now. A millionaire. He earned a lot after the success of Game of Thrones.

For that, he was thankful to Kazir.

After the introduction and a few comments, the question and answer portion started.

Fans who wanted to ask George some questions lined up.

"Um, first of all, I just want to say I'm a huge fan. Before Game of Thrones became successful, I'd already read A Song of Ice and Fire. I just want to ask, when will the next book get published?"

George smiled...

The last book, which was A Feast for Crows, was released in 2005, which was four years ago. It was understandable why fans of the novel were eagerly asking him the question. After all, four years of waiting was quite painful.

"Haha, I also don't know... I'm just joking. So far, I'm already writing the next book, but it needs further improvement. If I'm right, the next book will be published in 2011, which is two years from now."

"Can we know the title?"

"The title is A Dance with Dragons, unless I decide to change it."

When the fans heard the title of the next book, ideas started playing in their heads. Perhaps dragons would have a battle, or maybe the dragons would dance?

By the way, A Dance with Dragons was also currently the last book of the series because George didn't publish any volume after that. After A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin wouldn't write a continuation for the next 15 years.

The next fan asked a question.

"Can I know why you write slowly?"

"Well, I have two answers. The first is procrastination, and the second is perfection. I want my novels to be perfect with no flaws, so I can't force myself to publish an imperfect novel."

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 564


In January 2009, some movies grossed over $100 million.

In the second week:

Bride Wars grossed $148 million. The movie was a romantic comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox.

In the third week:

Hotel for Dogs grossed $156 million. The movie was also a comedy, and it was distributed by Paramount Pictures.

My Bloody Valentine grossed $125 million. The movie was a slasher horror film starring Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, and Kerr Smith. The film was distributed by Lionsgate.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop grossed $244 million. The movie was a comedy film starring Kevin James, Jayma Mays, and Keir O'Donnell. The film was distributed by Sony-Columbia.

In the fourth week:

Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans grossed $138 million. Despite not casting the absolutely gorgeous, glorious goddess Kate Beckinsale, this action/horror movie about vampires and werewolves performed well. The movie was distributed by Sony-Columbia.

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Kazir Grey and Scarlett Johansson enjoyed the luxury of a relaxing life in January and February. Since Scarlett was pregnant, the couple decided to take things slow and relax more. Although once in a while, they went to places to have some fun.

Heck, they almost visited every expensive place in Los Angeles in their leisure. Kazir was so rich that he didn't mind spending once in a while.

With no major projects demanding their immediate attention, the two spent their days in comfort. They even took a short vacation in New York to visit Kazir's family. They also attended private gatherings and celebration parties. Overall, they simply enjoyed each other's company.

Kazir talked about the idea of marriage and Scarlett said that should happen once her pregnancy was done. She didn't want to be busy while in her pregnancy.

Despite his break from full-time work, Kazir still made time to visit Blue Sky Studios. He was checking in on the progress of Wall-E.

20th Century Fox was positive about this project since it had the complete combo of Kazir Grey and Christopher Nolan. Furthermore, they were preparing for a strong PR campaign because they knew that Wall-E had a strong chance of competing in the Academy Awards.

Now that Wall-E was under the direction of Christopher Nolan in this timeline, its creation was affected by his style.

Christopher Nolan was shaping it up to be a unique blend of heartfelt storytelling and his signature cinematic depth.

Kazir and Nolan had several discussions about the film's tone, pacing, and visual storytelling. Two of the best directors were in tandem with this animated film.

While Kazir wasn't directly involved in the production, he was happy and interested in providing insights. He occasionally brainstormed with Christopher Nolan on how to balance the film's emotional weight with its sci-fi elements.

Aside from these brief consultations once or twice a week, Kazir was content to step back and let the industry move on its own, at least for now.

He knew that his roots in Hollywood were now deeper, and even his influence was strong. His name alone could determine whether the audience would buy movie tickets or not.

He wanted to take a year's rest, but it didn't mean that he would retire, obviously. This industry still needed him, and he also needed Hollywood. After all, his love for filmmaking was so strong that he didn't find it stressful.

Furthermore, now that there were two babies incoming, Kazir had to work hard to make sure that the kids wouldn't grow up poor. At least he wanted to provide everything for them… Perhaps he felt like being a billionaire was not enough to satisfy his kids?

As the weeks passed, Kazir found himself settling into a comfortable routine. His mornings often started with a quiet breakfast alongside Scarlett, who was now doing well in her pregnancy.

Sometimes, Kazir spent his time reviewing scripts and taking occasional meetings at Grey Pictures. The pre-production of Modern Family was doing well, and he read the improved scripts for each episode…

Stella Willow actually talked to him about filming at least two episodes of Modern Family as a method of promotion. Besides, Kazir was also famous for being a comedy director, so it was not a bad idea if he directed a few episodes.

Kazir didn't give any assurance. Modern Family was still in pre-production, and even the cast was not completed.

Although he remained firm in his decision to avoid directing any project for a while. He had to keep his promise of resting this year.

He was enjoying this rare period of peace, something he rarely experienced since his rise in Hollywood.

Still, the industry never stopped pestering him. Paramount Pictures may have been done irritating him about filming Transformers, but it didn't mean that other studios were not asking him. Particularly Walt Disney, this studio had been eagerly trying to hire him as a director. Walt Disney even said that Kazir could choose whatever project he wanted to do, and Walt Disney would support him.

After all, Kazir had already proved himself by filming comedy, action, and horror blockbusters. Walt Disney was confident that his chosen project would make money.

So yeah, studios continued talking to him, eager for his next move/movie.

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On February 22, 2009.

The 81st Academy Awards happened.

Many huge films were given the chance to compete at the Academy Awards. Directors, actors, actresses, screenwriters, and many professionals were given the chance to acquire the golden statues. The symbol that signified their status in Hollywood and showed that they were recognized as one of the best in their respective careers.

Movies such as Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, The Reader, and The Dark Knight received many nominations.

The Dark Knight, particularly, received 8 nominations. Some were major categories, while some were minor categories. Still, the influence of The Dark Knight in 2008 was hard to beat. Especially when The Dark Knight itself was the highest-grossing movie last year, earning $1.01 billion at the box office.

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[First of all, I just want to apologize for the past chapters that are filled with box office numbers of other movies. This is the part when I lost ideas and topics to write so I just searched Google to fill up word counts. I think this is also the moment when I realized that I have to end this novel.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 565


The Dark Knight was nominated in 8 categories.

Best Supporting Actor

Best Sound Editing

Best Cinematography

Best Film Editing

Best Art Direction

Best Makeup

Best Sound Mixing

Best Visual Effects

Two of these eight categories were major categories, while the remaining were minor categories. The two major categories were Best Supporting Actor and Best Cinematography.

The 81st Academy Awards was held on February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. It was one of the most anticipated events of the year.

Hosted by the charismatic Hugh Jackman, the ceremony promised a night of celebration and cinematic excellence.

As Hollywood's biggest stars walked the red carpet, anticipation buzzed around the nominees and fans. Especially The Dark Knight, which had made history with its commercial success.

Kazir Grey and his girlfriend Scarlett Johansson stepped on the red carpet. The actress's baby bump was prominent, and the interviewers were interested in talking about their relationship and their upcoming baby.

Kazir had been famous, so it was obvious why people were interested in his life. Furthermore, being the director of The Dark Knight, he had to attend the Academy Awards this year.

The movie had been nominated for Best Cinematography, and Kazir had to accept the award if they won… Too bad, Kazir knew that The Dark Knight wouldn't win, so he felt that his attendance was useless.

But since he signed a contract that required him to attend an award ceremony in case the movie got nominated, he had to stay true to the contract.

Thankfully, he was not the main character tonight.

The most anticipated person at the 81st Academy Awards was none other than Heath Ledger. The actor was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Award after his amazing performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight.

It was an understatement to say that Heath Ledger's presence was the reason why so many people were watching the award show tonight.

Heath Ledger captivated the hearts of the audience after his amazing performance. He was praised by movie critics, who acknowledged that his acting capability was vast. Imagine, he was acting as a gay man in 2005, then a psychotic serial killer in 2008. His range of acting was indeed wide.

The cameras pointed at him every few minutes to capture his expressions. The director of the 81st Academy Awards knew that the star of the show was Heath Ledger and that people watched the show to see the actor.

Heath Ledger's current appearance was far better than his thin body back when he was comatose. He was far healthier, and he had also stopped depending on prescribed medications. Overall, he was a better man now.

Some actors and actresses already congratulated Heath because they were sure the actor would probably earn the Best Supporting Actor Award.

Even his competitors in the same category admitted that Heath deserved the golden statue, but of course, it was still a hard pill to swallow. After all, every actor poured their soul into their performance just to get a nomination, only for the winner to be decided without a fight, which would be painful to acknowledge.

Kazir Grey, sitting beside Scarlett, quietly watched the show. He knew that Heath would win the award… unless Kazir messed up the timeline and caused another change.

Regardless of the outcome, Heath Ledger had already left an unforgettable mark in the history of cinema. Furthermore, he received quite a lot of job offers. In fact, James Cameron offered Heath a role in his untitled project about blue alien people...

As the night progressed, the Academy awarded the people who won in their respective categories.

Kate Winslet won Best Actress for The Reader, finally earning her long-awaited Oscar after multiple nominations. She had been nominated six times before winning one award.

She was overwhelmed with emotion. She held back tears as she thanked her family and dedicated the award to her parents.

Danny Boyle took the stage for the Best Director Award, celebrating Slumdog Millionaire's sweeping success. The movie dominated the 81st Academy Awards by winning eight awards.

Then, the biggest moment of the night approached, the Best Supporting Actor. The audience fell silent as the envelope was opened.

The presenter took a deep breath, smiling as she opened the envelope.

"And the Best Supporting Actor Award goes to… Heath Ledger, as The Joker, in the movie The Dark Knight!"

The room erupted in applause, a standing ovation sweeping across the Kodak Theatre. Heath Ledger was visibly emotional. He rose from his seat as the cameras focused on him.

He shook hands with the nominees seated nearby. Some gave him genuine smiles despite their own disappointment.

As he made his way to the stage, the audience continued to cheer. They knew how much he had suffered last year.

Kazir Grey watched with a small smile, nodding in approval. It was a well-deserved win.

Heath Ledger had poured his heart and soul into his portrayal of The Joker, and the world recognized it. As the actor reached the podium, he took a moment to collect himself, gripping the golden statue tightly.

"Wow… this is, this is incredible," Heath said, his voice slightly shaky. He had gone through a lot last year. He thought he wouldn't survive.

"I never thought that playing such a chaotic, unpredictable character would lead me here. But The Dark Knight was more than just a movie. It is a masterpiece, and I am lucky to be a part of it."

He took a deep breath, then continued.

"I want to thank Kazir Grey for trusting me with the role, my fellow cast members for their amazing performances, and of course, my family… I owe them a lot. Also, Kazir, Scarlett, and Christian, if not for you guys, I wouldn't be standing here."

The crowd applauded again, and Kazir gave a respectful nod. He was proud of Heath.

But as the ceremony continued, his mood slightly soured when Best Cinematography was announced.

The Dark Knight lost to Slumdog Millionaire.

Kazir sighed. He had expected it, but it was still quite sad. He accepted that Hollywood wasn't ready to reward a superhero movie the Best Cinematography.

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[Author's Note: I want to promote this novel one last time, I got bills to pay in the first week of the month so I apologize if this promotion offended you.]

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