Evening.
Outside a mansion on the hillside of Palisades, the narrow mountain road was almost impassable due to the crowd of media reporters, and dense camera flashes frequently lit up without interruption.
Before the party, many media outlets offered exorbitant prices hoping to enter and film, but all were rejected. However, Simon's refusal attracted even more reporters to join the fun, and some TV stations even drove their live broadcast vehicles over.
Compared to the thank-you party at the end of June last year, this birthday party was also much larger in scale.
Many projects initiated by Daenerys Pictures were in the early stages of preparation, and for reasons that were all too obvious, Simon's agent, Jonathan Friedman, managed to wangle 100 invitations. Calculating two guests per invitation, the number of guests from WMA alone reached the scale of the previous party.
Due to his change in status, Simon's social circle had unknowingly expanded rapidly over the past six months. Many guests from New York, San Francisco, and other places specifically travelled to attend the party, and Simon was not stingy, specially chartering two business jets for transportation.
Coupled with numerous Hollywood natives, the total number of guests at this party exceeded 700, and the number of service staff, including security, waiters, and a band, reached a hundred. As a result, the originally spacious one-acre estate immediately felt crowded.
When Sandra Bullock arrived, the party hadn't officially started, but the estate was already bustling with people. After searching through the crowd for a while, she finally found Simon, who was talking to Terry Semel, CEO of Warner Bros. Pictures, and the atmosphere seemed a little tense.
"Terry, I didn't mean to catch Warner off guard. I want to make 'Batman', and I also like 'Superman,' it's that simple".
"You must have started contacting Salkind while you were negotiating 'Batman' with us. Simon, Warner only found out at the last minute".
"You should understand why I did that, Terry. If I'm interested in anything now, its value suddenly skyrockets. I don't like being taken for a ride all the time, so I had to handle this discreetly. Besides, even though I got the rights to 'Superman,' the terms in the contract won't change; Warner still retains the rights you are entitled to".
"Simon, I know you want to buy DC, and I'm sure you have other ideas now. But in any case, I hope we can maintain very frank communication for a win-win situation", Terry Semel said, looking at Simon, then softened his tone, extended his hand to him, and said, "And, happy birthday".
Simon shook Semel's hand and said, "Thanks, Terry, have fun tonight".
Sandra Bullock waited patiently for Terry Semel to leave before walking over. Simon had already turned around and hugged her, saying, "Sandy, you look really beautiful tonight".
"Thanks," Sandra separated from Simon, stepped back a little to look at him, and said, "Happy birthday".
Simon said, "So, where's the gift?"
Sandra took a box out of her handbag and handed it over: "Here".
Simon took the exquisitely packaged mini box, less than two centimetres square, examined it in his palm for a few seconds, and pretended to be dissatisfied: "So small?"
Sandra said, "If you like big ones, I'll get you one next time".
Simon looked at Sandra, and nodded solemnly: "The bigger, the better".
Sandra felt a little embarrassed by Simon's gaze: "Can you not stare at me when you say things like that?"
Simon chuckled, "I didn't mean anything else".
Sandra rolled her eyes at Simon and said, "You wouldn't dare mean anything else, coward".
"Isn't that a bit provocative?"
Sandra repeated without hesitation: "Coward".
Simon immediately conceded: "Alright, I'm a coward".
Sandra made a disdainful expression, as if to say, "You have no backbone," then casually scanned the surrounding crowd, and continued to stand beside Simon, asking, "With so many projects greenlit by your company, there must be a suitable role for me this time, right? I still have half a year before 'Back to the Future' starts filming".
Simon said, "Will you act in 'Scream'?"
Sandra immediately shook her head, smiling as she refused: "No, that script is so silly".
Simon then said, "What about Kathryn's 'Blue Steel'?"
Sandra remembered the ambiguous relationship between Simon and Kathryn, and felt strange, shaking her head again: "I, I still don't think it's quite suitable."
"Both of those are female-led films. If you don't want to be in them, then there's nothing suitable for now", Simon shrugged and said, "You've probably seen the other projects, right? These are all commercial films, and it's impossible for you to play a supporting role".
Sandra thought back carefully, then glared at Simon: "It's all your fault, I can't even find a suitable role now. Paramount had originally agreed to let me play the female lead in Tom Cruise's 'Cocktail' last time, but then they inexplicably changed their mind. Jonathan heard that Cruise thought I was too famous".
"That's just how Cruise is, what does that have to do with me?" Simon said innocently, "Besides, that movie I recommended to you, 'A Fish Called Wanda', was also very good. If I hadn't had enough funds last year, I definitely would have snatched up the script".
After the box office success of 'Run Lola Run', although she signed for two 'Back to the Future' series, this movie wouldn't start filming until the second half of this year, so Sandra naturally couldn't stay idle and began looking for other projects.
There were no suitable roles for her in 'Pulp Fiction', and after some deliberation, Sandra finally took on a very interesting black comedy, 'A Fish Called Wanda', based on Simon's recommendation.
In Simon's memory, 'A Fish Called Wanda' tells the story of four clumsy thieves stealing a diamond worth several million dollars, using absurd and coincidental narrative techniques and the dry humour of various Anglo-American cultural clashes. The film was not only a box office success but also received many awards, including an Oscar.
When Sandra heard Simon mention the movie, she complained half-jokingly, "Don't even get me started. It's such a low-budget movie, a million dollars plus 10% of net profits. I don't even know if I'll get any profit share. I only took it because of your advice. If it bombs, you owe me compensation".
After Sandra confirmed her participation, the production cost of 'A Fish Called Wanda' ultimately amounted to only $8 million. Due to the success of 'Run Lola Run', Sandra's bundled price for starring in two 'Back to the Future' series was $5 million. For a standalone commercial film, her salary would certainly be higher, which the 'A Fish Called Wanda' crew clearly couldn't afford.
Jonathan was also initially reluctant for Sandra to take on this film; he had hoped the girl would star in Cruise's new film, 'Cocktail'. After 'Cocktail' fell through, coupled with Sandra's insistence, Jonathan then negotiated a profit-sharing contract with the production company, MGM, which involved a reduction in her salary.
In Simon's memory, 'A Fish Called Wanda' grossed over $60 million at the North American box office alone. Just the net profit share from that aspect would exceed Sandra's worth, not to mention that she had signed an all-channel profit-sharing contract.
Combining box office, video sales, and television broadcasts, although it would take several years to recoup all the various revenues, the cumulative total income could even exceed $10 million.
In the 1980s, the number of actresses whose salaries could reach $10 million could definitely be counted on one hand.
When Sandra signed the contract, 'Run Lola Run' had already surpassed $200 million, almost certainly securing the year's top spot. She had single-handedly supported a North American box office champion. Therefore, MGM now also attaches great importance to this film, in which Sandra stars after 'Run Lola Run', and has set its release for the upcoming hot summer season. It is expected to be another easy success.
Simon, of course, couldn't tell Sandra all this now. Listening to the girl's complaints, he just smiled and said, "Hmm, if it really fails, I'll compensate you".
Sandra looked at Simon's somewhat inscrutable smile and couldn't help but say, "Then, compensate me with yourself".
Simon's expression immediately became serious: "Do you want me cooked? Janette will definitely boil me alive".
Sandra burst out laughing, and noticing many people around looking over, she quickly composed herself and nodded 'fiercely,' saying, "Yes".