Coolidge, Arizona.

When "Lola Run" was just released, in the face of praise in the media, most of the crew still just thought that Simon was a slightly more talented young man.

However, with the release of the film's box office data, in recent days, everyone's eyes on Simon have been noticeably different, even Catherine.

The first-week box office was $6.97 million.

Such data, twenty years later, may not even be as good as a fraction of the box office of a super blockbuster in the first week. But in the 80s, especially when the number of screens on which the film was released was only 207, it was enough to surprise many people's eyes.

You must know that in the past 1986, among the 451 films released in North American theaters, less than 90 films with a total box office of more than $6.97 million were released. In other words, in this era, more than 80% of Hollywood's movies every year, the total box office in North America has not been more than a week of "Lola Run".

Moreover, for "Lola Run", the box office in the first week is obviously just the beginning.

Judging from the film's current word-of-mouth and media popularity, "Lola Run" has successfully advanced to a standard 'event movie', which is Hollywood's umbrella term for films that have achieved far more than expected box office figures.

Before "Lola Run", only films such as "The Exorcist", "Star Wars", "Jaws", "Alien ET" and other films can be called event movies, but films such as "Star Wars" still belong to Hollywood standard commercial films.

Although Hollywood also has the same low-cost successful films such as "Mad Max", the total box office of "Mad Max" in North America was only more than 8 million US dollars, which is eye-catching, but it is far less than the miracle of "Lola Run", which has exceeded the production cost by 10 times in the first week.

Now, "Lola Run" is equivalent to creating a precedent similar to the low-cost and high-grossing films such as "Blair the Witch" and "Ghost Record" in the original time and space.

In addition, what makes some people even more frightened is the prediction of some media about the box office prospects of "Lola Run".

$150 million to $200 million.

It's still a box office figure that doesn't seem too special twenty years later.

However, in the whole of North America, even if you count "Field Platoon", which is only expected to break 100 million and has not actually broken 100 million, in the whole of 1986, only five Hollywood movies have achieved a North American box office of more than 100 million.

Among them, "Top Gun", which made Tom Cruise a world-class superstar, ended up with only $176 million at the North American box office.

So, at this time, let's watch "Lola Run".

The total box office expectation of $150 million to $200 million in North America means that if the Hollywood films released next in the year are a little less competitive, the 1987 North American box office champion is likely to be taken by a solo film with a production cost of only $650,000.

18 years old.

$650,000.

The first movie in my life.

North American box office champion.

Many people seem to be watching a legend being born.

The hotel where the crew of "Night of the Blood Corpse" stayed.

It's Saturday, February 21.

In the screening room, which has been simply remodeled, several of the film's main creators are watching the sample footage that was just shot this week.

As a director's assistant with a fixed weekly salary, Simon originally did not have to and was not qualified to appear on such occasions.

Last week, though, Catherine took him with her to see the dailies. It's just that Simon didn't have much say at that time, and was basically just a bystander.

This week, it was producer Edward Feldman who spoke up at noon, hoping that Simon would be involved in the job, and offered to mention that he might want to change his position as assistant director to assistant director, as Catherine did in "Lola Run".

Simon naturally didn't mind helping, but he also understood Edward Feldman's desire to use his name in the future release of the film, and although he agreed to watch the sample film together and participate in the discussion, he did not accept the other party's suggestion to re-sign the contract.

In the screening room, after a shot of Callebo kneeling in front of May to suck her blood, Catherine pressed pause and subconsciously looked at Simon, who was sitting on the other side of the camera.

"There are still some minor issues with the lighting, but they can be adjusted in post," Simon said, adding: "It's just that I think the mood of the two people in this shot changes too often, and it's hard for the audience to understand what kind of emotion you want to show." ”

After listening to this, Catherine said: "This is a progressive and sublimation of the relationship between Kalebo and May. ”

Simon recalled, "Then it is even more necessary to convey a strong emotion to the audience. Maybe you can do this, add an intimate scene. ”

Catherine heard this Simon's Nth 'maybe it can be like this' after joining the group, and she had some inexplicable emotions in her heart, but said: "I'm afraid this won't work, Adrian and Jenny's contract does not involve an intimacy clause." ”

Catherine said, looking at producer Edward Feldman.

Edward Feldman also shook his head regretfully, and said: "Simon, the crew's funds are very tight, and it will definitely cost more money to modify the contract, and the two of them should not agree easily." ”

Simon smiled and said, "I don't mean the kind that needs to be undressed, just the back, kissing, hugging, feeling the scorching sun in the rising sun, like a couple about to be martyred, until the last moment to hide themselves into the darkness." ”

With that, Simon picked up his pen and quickly drew a simple sketch in his notebook.

Catherine and Edward Feldman listened carefully, and quickly agreed to Simon's plan and decided to shoot the scene just now.

The discussion continued until the evening, when there was a sudden knock on the door of the screening room, and Janet appeared in the doorway.

Simon was a little surprised, Janet hadn't said that she was coming over, and quickly got up to greet her. Katherine and Edward Feldman, among others, also stood up.

Simon and Janet hugged each other and asked with a smile, "Why do you suddenly want to come over here?"

Janet blinked and looked at Simon, "Don't you know?"

Simon was also a little puzzled: "What do I know?"

Janet stared at Simon for a moment to make sure he didn't know why, and then with a flash of cunning, she changed the subject and said, "It's not just me, Mr. Peter Sanders from Fox is also here." ”

With that, Jenny gestured behind her, let go of Simon, and went to greet Catherine and the others.

Simon was not as surprised by the arrival of Fox Vice President Peter Sanders as Jenny, and it was easy to guess the other party's intentions, so he just stepped forward and shook hands with the other party with a smile.