As the most influential newspaper on the West Coast of the United States, the non-Sunday news and information sections of the Los Angeles Times usually exceed 50 pages.
Compared to the previously hidden and easily overlooked review of Run Lola Run in an inconspicuous corner, Peter Butler's article about Simon this time directly landed on the newspaper's front-page navigation.
Although it wasn't front-page news, as a prominently featured navigation piece, this content was practically a must-read for most subscribers.
In this era, newspapers were arguably the primary source of information for ordinary people, and powerful print media like the Los Angeles Times played a role in guiding public opinion.
Furthermore...
A young man who escaped from a mental hospital.
A madman?
A unique surname.
Earned $200,000 from one screenplay.
Produced a critically acclaimed independent film at 18.
A teenage genius.
Peter Butler listed this series of personal labels for Simon in his article, and for Americans who revere miracles, adventure, and individualism, it was simply the perfect embodiment of the American Dream.
Thus, with this article in the Los Angeles Times, the attention Simon had been accumulating in various media outlets in bits and pieces since signing the screenwriting contract for The Butterfly Effect with Fox Pictures last year, completely erupted.
It was as if, all of a sudden, many people started discussing, who is Simon Westeros?
And then...
All the news about Simon since he first emerged last year was dug up again by the ubiquitous media, and every detail mentioned in Peter Butler's article also became the subject of discussion for some media outlets.
In fact, a local Los Angeles tabloid even broke the news on its front page about Simon's assault late at night in Santa Monica last year.
Although it stated that this was a real case confirmed by the Santa Monica Police Department, the tabloid adopted a sensational and dramatic tone, describing as if it had witnessed Simon single-handedly fighting five attackers, bravely smashing the right legs of all five thugs, and even knocking out seven of one thug's teeth with an elbow, as if Bruce Lee had been reborn.
Subsequently, due to its proximity, the equally influential San Francisco Chronicle in San Francisco also published a short biography of Simon, completing his experiences before the age of 18.
Raised in a children's welfare home in San Jose.
His original surname.
The only high-achieving student from a community public high school to be admitted to Stanford in many years.
Suffered a sudden onset of schizophrenia less than two months after entering Stanford.
The San Francisco Chronicle recounted Simon's upbringing from childhood in a very sympathetic tone, and questioned the San Jose children's welfare home based on Simon's history of self-reliance since he was 13, also speculating that the root of Simon's mental illness was very likely due to the immense pressure caused by years of difficult living conditions.
As for why such a young man from the bottom could suddenly produce a critically acclaimed independent film, the San Francisco Chronicle failed to find the root cause.
However, the newspaper also didn't appear too surprised, instead quoting a remark from Simon's middle school teacher who was interviewed by the paper: Simon is a very hardworking child, and I wouldn't be surprised if he created any miracle.
This view was almost identical to the arguments in Peter Butler's article, and it inadvertently created a factual basis for Simon's sudden emergence as a film genius.
Of course, amidst the clamour, there was no shortage of dissenting voices.
After the Los Angeles Times published its article about Simon, among the countless related calls to the newspaper's editorial department, many people found Peter Butler's effusive praise for a young man exaggerated, even feeling that the Los Angeles Times was sensationalizing.
Regarding the news published by that tabloid about Simon fighting five people, the host of a local TV late-night talk show even sarcastically mocked it without reservation.
As public opinion continuously accumulated and brewed, the public's ultimate attention gradually shifted to one thing: Simon's film, 'Run Lola Run'.
Since you speak so highly of that boy, then bring out the movie and let us see it!
Thus, as Simon's most direct collaborator in Hollywood, many calls also went to Fox Pictures, inquiring about the release date of 'Run Lola Run'.
Many newspapers, still in a state of watching the excitement and not yet joining the discussion, also urged Hollywood film companies, either sincerely or teasingly, to release Run Lola Run in theatres as soon as possible.
Los Angeles.
Since the public opinion campaign had been successful, after Simon returned from Park City, he simply asked his agent, Jonathan Friedman, to help arrange a small test screening for various Hollywood film companies in a screening room in Century City.
For the next few days, Simon was frequently in direct negotiations with executives from major film companies.
However, the results were not satisfactory.
January 30th, Friday.
Nearing quitting time, returning from Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, the Chevrolet SUV pulled up in front of the villa in the Montana area.
Janette opened the door and got out, looking at her boyfriend, who was once again empty-handed on the other side of the car.
The woman walked over and hooked Simon's arm, leaning her head against his shoulder and saying, "One day, film companies will be chasing you for collaborations, just like Spielberg".
Simon led the woman to the door, took out his keys to open it, and said with a smile, "Only like Spielberg? Why can't we be the bosses ourselves and have those executives work for us?"
"Mhmm, mhmm, mhmm," Janette nodded like a pecking chick, stating with certainty, "Daenerys Pictures will definitely develop into a big company like Fox or Warner in the future."
Simon pushed open the door, saw Janette still clinging to him, reached out, picked up her light body, and gently tossed her onto the living room sofa, then laughed, "Your imagination isn't enough. In the future, I want to be the master of all Hollywood, just like Morgan and Rockefeller were back then".
He remembered once seeing a corporate family tree diagram of major Hollywood film companies in the early 20th century.
The Big Eight film companies back then, tracing upwards, half belonged to Morgan and half to Rockefeller.
That was truly a golden age for capital.
Janette was tossed onto the sofa by Simon, listening to what he had just said.
Her body was soft, and she barely managed to prop herself up, her face flushed as she looked at the man hanging his satchel on the coat rack: "Simon, I'll help you".
"Okay," Simon replied, seeing a message on the living room phone.
He walked over, pressed it casually, and said, "How about you start by helping me make dinner?"
"Mmm-hmm". Janette nodded, but she hugged a pillow and lay lazily on the sofa, not moving.
On the other end, the phone message was from Mike Medavoy, president of Orion Pictures, asking if Simon was free tonight and hoping they could have dinner together.
Simon naturally understood Mike Medavoy's intentions and couldn't help but ponder.
In the past few days, Simon had basically contacted all seven major Hollywood film companies.
However, the terms offered by the Big Seven were all difficult to satisfy him.
Simon knew he wasn't being overly greedy.
The enthusiastic media discussion currently surrounding his age in making 'Run Lola Run', much like how 'The Blair Witch Project' had such successful viral marketing in the original timeline, might only be usable once in this life.
If operated properly and with enough luck, 'Run Lola Run' could potentially create a small box office miracle.
Simon could also use this opportunity to accumulate a decent amount of initial capital.
However...
The long-standing industry advantage made the Big Seven film companies very domineering in cooperation negotiations.
Coupled with Run Lola Run's lack of standard commercial film attributes, the terms offered by each company were generally lower than Simon's expectations, and Simon clearly didn't have much room for bargaining.
Leaving Warner Bros. Studios that afternoon, Simon had already confirmed a reality in his mind.
At least for now...
The Big Seven film companies were not ideal partners.
After reorganizing his thoughts, Simon looked at Janette, who was still lounging on the sofa, and said with a smile, "Get up, you don't have to make dinner. Let's go grab a free meal together".
Having made his decision, Simon no longer placed his hopes on the Big Seven film companies.
Mike Medavoy, president of Orion Pictures, had been very interested in this project ever since he read the script and saw the storyboards for Run Lola Run.
Compared to the Big Seven film companies, Orion Pictures could also negotiate a partnership with Simon from a relatively equal position.
Both sides were inclined to cooperate, so they hit it off immediately during the subsequent dinner.
After two days of intense negotiations over the weekend, Simon quickly reached a distribution agreement with Orion Pictures.
February 2nd, Monday.
An announcement in The Hollywood Reporter quickly caught the attention of many people.
"Orion Pictures and Simon Westeros Reach Agreement, Run Lola Run to Officially Open in North American Theatres on February 13th".