The Best Director

Chapter 413: Chapter 413 Double Happiness

“It’s so exciting! ‘Twilight’ will bring immense energy to Firefly, and Firefly won’t disappoint the readers and fans. This is a win-win choice for both parties; without a doubt, the ‘Twilight’ series is an important plan for our future.”

Having successfully acquired the movie rights to ‘Twilight’, Firefly Films no longer had to conceal its confidence and emphasis on the project, treating it to a grand welcoming ceremony. Spokesperson Fiona Hassan excitedly announced the news on the official website, YouTube channel, and other platforms. Soon after, Stephenie Meyer also expressed to fans on her personal website: “Handing ‘Twilight’ over to Firefly was a well-considered decision. I had a very good conversation with the amazing Wang Yang, who assured me of many things. This moved me. I believe that Firefly will do a good job with the adaptation. Let’s all look forward to it together.”

“This is a day to remember,” Wang Yang personally came out to celebrate, showing FF’s excitement, barely stopping short of holding a special press conference. In a press release on FF’s official website, he said, “The ‘Twilight’ franchise has incredible potential. We only know it will achieve great things, but as for how exactly, let’s wait and watch!”

Yet they still couldn’t win against Firefly Films! I didn’t realize Wang Yang valued it so much! Seeing this, large and small companies like Paramount and Lionsgate inevitably felt some disappointment, but there wasn’t much of a reaction; they couldn’t possibly stop Firefly from pursuing new projects, especially since the industry felt the “incredible potential” was just so-so. Wang Yang just likes to make a scene, unless he’s directing and producing. Otherwise, a box office of 200 million? Probably about the same as ‘Marley & Me.’ Let’s wait and see how it turns out in the future!

The general response from movie fans was also fairly lukewarm, except for a small portion of young female readers who were already fans of ‘Twilight’ and were very excited. They eagerly discussed casting choices: “Firefly + Twilight = perfect! BTW, who will play Bella?” “Will the amazing Wang Yang be directing? So looking forward to it!” “If they just choose some ugly guy to ruin my Edward, that would be an unforgivable crime!” … The majority of Firefly’s movie fans didn’t even know what ‘Twilight’ was—a supernatural romance novel? Well, they might check it out. But the movie wouldn’t be out until Christmas 2008, and it wouldn’t be directed by Wang Yang, so they weren’t interested right now.

Regardless, all of Firefly Group’s numerous movie projects were steadily progressing on track, and time gradually brought us to the end of October amidst a mix of busyness and leisure.

In North America, the box office champion for the week of October 21-27 was won by the new sci-fi horror film ‘Doom’, adapted from the classic video game. Despite this, with a single theater average of $6,178, a total of $18.8 million in box office earnings across 3,044 theaters in its opening week, and Rotten Tomatoes scores of 20%/17%/47%, this R-rated movie with a production budget of $60 million was clearly not going to have a good outcome, resulting in a considerable financial loss for Universal Studios.

In fact, including films with an apocalyptic theme, the sci-fi horror genre has been bleak for a while. Since 1979, the highest-grossing film has been ‘War of the Worlds’ released this summer, with a production cost of $132 million/North American box office of $200 million/global box office of $500 million, and a freshness rating of 74%, but its audience likability rating was 45%. Ranked second was ‘Signs’ directed in 2002 by M. Night Shyamalan, with a production cost of $72 million/North American box office of $137 million/global box office of $250 million, and a freshness rating of 56%, likability rating 58%. Third place went to ‘Aliens’ directed in 1986 by James Cameron, now with a high evaluation of 100% freshness and 90% likability, North American box office of $85 million and global box office of $131 million—but that was nearly 20 years ago. In fourth place, 1979’s ‘Alien’ directed by Ridley Scott with 96% freshness/90% likability, box office of $80 million North American/$104 million global—27 years ago. ‘Alien vs. Predator’ directed in 2004 by Paul Anderson with a box office of $80 million North American/$172 million global, 22% freshness and 51% likability…

As for the ‘Resident Evil’ series, 2002’s ‘Resident Evil’ had a North American box office of $40 million/global box office of $102 million, 34% freshness, and 73% likability; ‘Resident Evil: Apocalypse’ in 2004 had a North American box office of $51 million/global box office of $129 million, 21% freshness, and 70% likability.

Since 1979, 42 films have been released, with an average North American box office of $29.69 million; of these, the 33 that were widely distributed averaged $37.51 million, and the top 10 averaged $80.26 million. The reception has either been criticized by film critics or panned by the audience, excluding the two historically significant “Aliens” films, not a single one has managed to garner thumbs-up from both film critics and audiences! How could Warner Bros. not consider “I Am Legend” a project akin to chicken ribs, almost a dead end!

As for Wang Yang, his nine films have averaged over $278 million at the North American box office, with “District 9” and “Firefly”, both having production budgets over $100 million, averaging $486 million. If “I Am Legend” doesn’t hit $300 million or $400 million in the North American box office, it would be considered a failure! Would it really fare worse than “Paranormal Activity” with its $163 million?

Even if “I Am Legend” were to become the champion of its genre with just over $200 million, it still wouldn’t meet his average standard. Moreover, the super demanding film critic community and audience are both glaring with intent. The critics of Yang haven’t perished; they’re just biding their time, waiting for an opportunity to ferociously bite into Wang Yang. The longer his magical run, the harsher that bite will be, and “I Am Legend” seems to offer them just such an opportunity—only waiting for the confirmed news…

However, Wang Yang just didn’t take the plunge this time! There was no news about “I Am Legend”, completely out of character for the swift and outspoken Yang. Look at “Twilight”, even with a few years ahead, there was “incredible potential”. Outsiders couldn’t help but speculate—was he thinking of backing out? After all, he has never said, “I’m going to direct ‘I Am Legend’,” in public. If he played dumb and pretended the whole thing never happened, simply saying, “Your imaginations run wild,” no one could call him out on it.

Fans who were looking forward to this project started to become anxious and worried, and there were increasing discussions in fan circles and social networks about what Wang Yang might be thinking.

On the Friday of October 28th, just after noon, Wang Yang returned to the editing room to continue the fine-cutting work on “500 Days of Summer” after lunch. His phone received a message from Heath Ledger: “Matilda is born, mother and daughter safe! I’m a dad now, haha!” Wang Yang exclaimed aloud, his heart filled with joy and excitement—it was his first time experiencing the joy of a close friend having a baby. He excitedly shared the news with Margaret and others while he couldn’t resist calling back immediately. As soon as the call connected, he heard Heath’s joyful voice, “She’s born, she’s born, haha!”

Michelle Williams had given birth to a healthy baby girl earlier in the day, named Matilda Rose Ledger. The new father, Heath Ledger, was busy sharing the good news with his best friends, seeming a bit incoherent with happiness: “She’s so cute! Haha, she looks like me, chubby, Yang, it’s fantastic!” Wang Yang, laughing, repeatedly congratulated him: “Wow, congratulations! How does it feel?” Heath laughed incessantly on the other end: “I can’t express my feelings, I’m just… happier than I’ve ever been! I must thank ‘Brokeback Mountain’ for letting me meet Michelle; my life is different, I like this, I love this…”

“Save those words for the Oscars stage,” Wang Yang said with a laugh, and Heath burst out laughing. Thinking how his baby would arrive in December, Wang Yang eagerly anticipated the same joy, wishing time could move faster, yet he wasn’t sure if he could complete the editing of “500 Days of Summer.” He happily said, “I don’t need you to express it, I’ll know soon enough.” Heath chuckled, “You will.” Wang Yang continued, “How much does Matilda weigh?”…

The long-awaited “Saw III” also premiered nationwide that day! Fans flocked to the cinemas to see the ending of the Jigsaw killer’s story, and to catch the theatrical trailer of “500 Days of Summer.”

In the dimly lit theater, with every seat occupied, it was surprisingly quiet even during the commercial break as the audience concentrated on the big screen. Accompanied by serene and beautiful music, the screen showed Joseph Gordon Levitt and Natalie Portman’s characters, Tom and Summer, running hand-in-hand on the beach with the Golden Gate Bridge bathed in sunset’s glow. Quick cuts to the two laughing joyfully as they take a streetcar ride and picnic in the park, exuding warmth and romance. Suddenly, the music changes, and at the dinner table, Summer says calmly, “We shouldn’t do this anymore.”

San Francisco, Evelyn watched these scenes in one of the theaters, grateful that she also attended the Lincoln High School reunion in September, when Wang Yang had taken Jessica there. The scene at the time was insane, the entire school was chanting his name, and it was her first time witnessing such power at school. Truly, a pride of the Bay Area! Now, admiring the beautiful views of San Francisco, Evelyn couldn’t help being in awe, feeling a surprisingly stunning beauty from the city she had grown up in!

After “The Pursuit of Happyness,” this was another film by Wang Yang bringing San Francisco to the big screen. However, “500 Days of Summer” showed a totally different image of the Fog City, with none of the early ’80s vibes of the former. The film’s soft, fresh color palette and bright sunlight made it pleasing to the eyes. Just the cinematography, composition, and visual effects alone said a lot, behind it was a team who handled their craft with remarkable ease.

The indifferent tone of Summer’s voice involuntarily tightened the audience’s hearts. Were they breaking up? What had happened? On the big screen, Tom was stunned, wandering through his company. In disarray, he walked the streets in his pajamas, shouting at passersby. His friends and colleague, looking concerned, asked, “What happened between you two?” Tom looked utterly lost, “I don’t know, suddenly… it’s over.” Scenes of romance and heartbreak continued to alternate, while asynchronous dialogue echoed through the theater: “I can’t lose her, how is that possible?” “Tom, I don’t want our relationship to be so complicated, you know that.”…

“WRITTEN-AND-DIRECTED-BY: YOUNG-WANG,” “DEC. 23RD-2005, ” As the last frame with this information flashed by, the 2.5-minute trailer came to an end, and there was immediate discussion in theaters across North America. It left many mysteries: why did Tom and Summer break up? What was the deal with Summer’s wedding ring? Could Tom win Summer back?…

“What is it really about?” Clair, sitting among the audience, wondered. The people around her seat praised the beautiful imagery, speculated about the story, and some said “it doesn’t seem to have big scenes.” The trailer didn’t reveal much, but she felt sure it had to be a very interesting and beautiful story.

Although not as thrilling or emotionally stirring as the “Firefly” trailer, “500 Days of Summer” projected a different kind of beauty. If “Firefly” was a sexy vixen that made your heart race and adrenaline pump, “500 Days of Summer” was the mysterious, artsy girl with an elusive charm. A large part of the audience was entirely captivated. Undoubtedly, the magic of Wang Yang added an effect that transcended black and white, but regardless, the audience’s anticipation grew and grew!

“The trailer feels good! I don’t believe Wang Yang doesn’t understand romance films, at least he’s doing fine now,” Gondie praised on Yahoo. “I just want to ask, is this a story about healing from a breakup, or about getting a girlfriend back?” Russell voiced a question many shared, “I’m really looking forward to this Christmas, I will take my girlfriend to watch it,” said Cheetah; “Supporting Magic Yang! I won’t miss any of his movies, no matter the genre or story, but I hope it won’t be too sad,” Lydia, clearly a Yang fan…

The news of Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams’ baby daughter was a hot topic of recent days, with countless entertainment gossip media trying to dig up details. Reportedly, Ledger’s friend, Jake Gyllenhaal, would be one of the godfathers, marking a delightful episode from the “Brokeback Mountain” crew. As Wang Yang was not a Christian, he couldn’t take on the cool-sounding role of godfather. Watching others happily become parents, Wang Yang and Jessica looked forward even more to the baby’s arrival and had long prepared their gifts for little Matilda, while he conveyed his congratulations and best wishes on his blog and elsewhere: “Wishing Matilda grows up healthy and happy.”

Matilda! The media got hold of Ledger’s daughter’s name thanks to Wang Yang’s big mouth. However, Ledger wasn’t upset by Wang Yang’s blunder, since the name would have been released sooner or later. He even revealed on his blog that the name “Matilda” was chosen by Wang Yang and humorously mentioned his debt to Wang Yang for a name, which of course referred to the incident with the blue gloves. But why did Wang Yang choose “Matilda”? It was a busy time for gossip enthusiasts.

Last Halloween, Wang Yang scared Jessica so much she jumped three feet in the air on the spot, but this year he didn’t dare to scare her, not a single fright was worth it to him. However, ‘siblings pay each other’s debts,’ and Joshua became the tragic figure. He had no idea that after the party, Wang Yang, bored enough to ditch his wife and child to cosplay as Totoro, hid in his apartment to scare him. And that’s exactly what Wang Yang did. Why miss out on the annual fun?

“Ah, ah, ah—Oh God, what the hell is this?!” In the not-so-spacious living room, Joshua, frightened out of his wits, frantically swung his fists. The dragon cat doll was fat and tall, with two erect ears and a buck-toothed grin. It let out a coarse, strange laugh, “Oh, ho ho ho,” constantly pouncing on him, relentlessly hugging him.

October 28 to November 3 quickly passed, and it didn’t disappoint Fire Flame Movies and Saw fans—the debut week of “Saw III” powerfully seized the North American weekly box office crown! With 3,240 theaters, an average of $16,553 per cinema, the opening week’s box office hit a series high of $53.63 million, which was already a super gold mine!

Ignore its 29% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Disregard the critics’ grumbling reviews labeling it as “stupid,” “bloody,” “brutally savage.” This was a perfect trilogy, with an audience approval rating of a high 86%!

User film critic Carlos M. gave it four stars, “This is really great. As a die-hard fan of the series, I want to say that this movie really surpassed the previous two! Although not as novel, it still has a surprising end. The upright saw in the final scene really shocked me; I totally did not see that coming!” Everett J. said, “Saw is becoming more brutal, and there are more and more killing games. Saw III is very exciting, but the crisis lies in the plot becoming predictable and repetitive, which is a downward trend.” Lebowski said, “Saw III is incredible! The first one is the best; the second is the scariest, and the third is the most exciting.”…

Now, looking at this week’s second place, “The Legend of Zorro,” with an opening weekend box office of $20.28 million across 3,520 theaters, an average of $5,764 per theater. Sony might have a headache with the $75 million production cost; third place goes to “Prime” with an opening weekend box office of $8.19 million across 1,827 theaters, an average of $4,485 per theater. The producer, Focus Features, and distributor, Universal Studios, could only sigh helplessly that Ben Younger is no miracle maker after all, and even Meryl Streep starring isn’t enough. Thankfully, the production cost of $22 million is only considered moderate.

This year’s tenth North American box office champion! Fire Flame Movies is so cool. “Saw III” is sprinting toward $100 million in North American ticket sales, $200 million in global ticket sales!

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PS: Wow, I highly recommend a fun and light urban school novel, “The Campus Belle’s Personal Ghost King,” Book ID: 2256786. (