HOLLYWOOD WHAT IF

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 585

In the second week of May, only Star Trek performed amazingly. Star Trek had been a famous TV show before it was even a movie. It was comparable to Star Wars. Or perhaps it followed the fame of Star Wars and became successful... Well, history had to say no.

Because Star Trek was a powerful opponent, the Big Six didn't release their blockbusters in the same week as Star Trek. That would be a disaster for both sides, and they didn't want that.

Imagine if Star Trek and Fast & Furious 3 were released in the same week. The box office sales for both movies would be affected. The two movies would have to divide the market, which was bad. Naturally, to avoid that situation, the Big Six would have some talks and announce the release dates of their top movies. If the other studios were not confident in facing it, then they would let it be and allow the dominant film to take over that week.

As for Star Trek, the movie grossed $579 million.

For reference, Star Trek was released before Star Wars.

The Star Trek franchise began as a television series that premiered in 1966 on NBC, while Star Wars was released in 1977. It was easier to say that Star Trek paved the path for space-type science fiction to become popular.

The original Star Trek only had three seasons. It was canceled because it was not profitable. But in 1979, after the huge success of Star Wars, the series was revived. Perhaps NBC saw the potential, so they revived the series. In the '80s, '90s, and early '00s, Star Trek had a stable run and it had a cult following. It was famous for almost three decades. The franchise had movies and spin-offs.

In fact, the estimated value of Star Trek was $10–15 billion. Anyone would agree that it was a huge amount of money.

Unfortunately, Star Trek: Enterprise, the last TV show of the franchise, ended in 2005 because of lower ratings.

Then, four years after that, the franchise was revived as a film trilogy by Paramount Pictures. Star Trek (2009) was the first movie of the trilogy. Based on its performance, Paramount Pictures was confident that they could film the two remaining sequels with profit on the line.

In the third week, Angels & Demons was released. This thriller/suspense film grossed over $541 million. Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code were actually connected. Both were starred by Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. The Da Vinci Code was a controversial movie, and so was Angels & Demons. Perhaps this was the reason why it performed well.

Also, these movies were actually part of a trilogy called the Robert Langdon trilogy. They were adapted from the novels that Dan Brown wrote. The trilogy starred Tom Hanks and was directed by Ron Howard.

The movies were:

The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Angels & Demons (2009)
Inferno (2016)

Around the same week as Angels & Demons, Terminator Salvation was released.

Unlike the other Terminator movies, Terminator Salvation was based on the future, where Skynet was the ruling entity and humans were being killed. Sadly, Terminator Salvation didn't have its iconic robot, the T-800, which meant that Arnold Schwarzenegger was also missing. But hey, we had Christian Bale to fill in the missing spot as John Connor. Despite lacking Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie still grossed $420 million. The movie was distributed by Warner Brothers (international) and Sony-Columbia (domestic).

In the last week of May, Night at the Museum and Up were released.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian grossed $468 million. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, this sequel of a successful franchise did well at the box office. Also, Night at the Museum was a trilogy, but the third movie would be released in 2014.

As for Up... The first ten minutes of this animated movie were heartbreaking. Walt Disney captured the essence of life by giving us Up. It was not surprising that this movie grossed $1 billion. The movie was just magnificent, majestic, amazing, any kind of adjective you could describe. Overall, Up was a great movie, almost as if you were watching a story about a house flying in the sky using thousands of balloons... Ahem.

May was just the start of the summer schedule, yet Hollywood had already shown their cards. The fact that most of these blockbusters grossed at least $400 million showed the power of the summer. You really earned a lot of money around this season.

.........

......

...

Speaking of Walt Disney, the company was happy that Up was performing well at the box office. However, they were also sad about a certain fact.

"Why is this always happening to us!?" Robert Iger slammed his fists against the table as he glared at the executives of ABC.

They had been doing their best just to collaborate with Grey Pictures. They contacted the studio, they communicated peacefully, they promised them a good timeslot, they promised intense promotion, and they even sent gifts. In fact, they tried to bribe some people just to get the contract regarding Modern Family.

Everyone in ABC did their best, but they still failed. Today, Grey Pictures and 20th Century Fox signed a contract. Modern Family would be broadcast by Fox TV.

"Tell me, are there fourth-dimension entities that stopped us from getting a collaboration with Grey Pictures? Are they voting and determining whether we have a chance to work with Grey Pictures? Tell me-! Speak, or else I might say something that could break the fourth wall."

The executives from NBC shut their mouths as they looked down. They also didn't know. For some reason, even though they did their best, the outcome was still against them. Perhaps Robert Iger was right, there might be entities that voted in a poll to stop them from collaborating with Grey Pictures.

+++++

[Three more days and this series will be done.]

 

[FallenMetal]

Thank you, and I have to say I enjoy it when Kazir speaks plainly to the students. I feel like they will get more out of it and remember that moment. It appears that Modern Family will be shown on Fox. I am curious to see how that will go. Great job, as always, and I look forward to seeing what else happens.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 586

The executives from ABC were quiet. Honestly, they couldn't help but feel mad. They believed that they had given Grey Pictures every incentive possible such as licensing fees, co-production funding, primetime slots, rerun opportunities, marketing/promotion, and profit sharing on backend deals.

Unfortunately, Grey Pictures was not enticed. The studio could fund their own projects and didn't like sharing profits. As for licensing fees, Grey Pictures was not stupid enough to sell its licensing rights to other networks. They wanted to keep their copyrights within themselves.

As for backend deals such as distribution, Grey Pictures could find a partnership that was better for them without much hassle. Their products were profitable, after all.

As for other incentives, Grey Pictures was not interested.

The executives from ABC couldn't see that what they offered was also being offered by other TV networks. Even though some parts of the deal were interesting, Grey Pictures decided to work with Fox TV. The two already had a collaboration, and they both had no problems. So they stuck with the TV network they were used to working with. Besides, Fox TV also offered the same deals as the others.

The executives still looked at the floor. They were not brave enough to stare at Robert Iger, who was fuming in anger.

Robert Iger took a deep breath, trying to calm his frustration. He knew that these people were innocent; they did their best. It was just that Grey Pictures was too arrogant. Fuck them!

Once in a while, Robert felt like Kazir should've died three years ago. If that had happened, the playing field would be equal again. Someone like Kazir was a game changer, and Robert Iger couldn't accept that he couldn't control Kazir.

So it was understandable why he wished Kazir had died. Unfortunately, some things didn't happen, and now he had to face the reality that their company might be in danger.

Robert looked at the executives and sighed. He couldn't blame them for every misfortune they encountered.

"Alright, listen up," he finally said, his voice heavier and more serious.

"We lost Modern Family, but that doesn't mean we've lost the game." His sharp gaze swept across the room, looking at the executives one by one.

"We still have Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy. They're pulling strong ratings on ABC. And don't forget, Walt Disney has Pixar to milk." The latter part was for his own assurance. He wanted to believe that Pixar would remain the best computer animation studio in the market.

"We should focus on what we have and make it shine."

The executives nodded, reassured. But in the back of their minds, they all knew that missing Modern Family was a painful, strategic blow. They knew in their hearts that they had lost a billion-dollar business deal. They couldn't recover from that fact.

.........

......

...

While others were going crazy over the decision that Grey Pictures made, the one responsible for the craziness was having the time of his life. Some people might want him dead, but Kazir was still alive and kicking.

"What do you think? Isn't it cute?"

Scarlett showed baby clothes to Kazir, and the tall man nodded. Scarlett was already six months pregnant, and her pregnancy was prominent. She smiled as she looked at the baby's clothes. The clothes were for baby boys.

A month ago, the ultrasound confirmed that the twins were a boy and a girl. A boy and a girl. It was a blessing and a miracle that in just one pregnancy, they already had a boy and a girl. Honestly, Kazir sometimes thought that he was in a novel or something.

Anyway, the couple was shopping for baby clothes and other necessities for the babies. They had been shopping so many times that a whole room was filled with baby products.

But to satisfy Scarlett and keep her entertained, Kazir had no problem going to different shopping malls with her to buy baby products. He knew that the stuff they bought was more than sufficient for the babies, but since money was not an issue, Kazir let Scarlett buy anything she wanted. It was clear that Scarlett was excited and happy to have kids.

Kazir also felt the same. He even created a bank account and trust funds for the twins. He also contacted his lawyer to update his will.

As for the paternity test, they already did it. Scarlett was the one who offered to do it. She wanted to give Kazir assurance. The twins were Kazir's.

Kazir smiled softly as he watched Scarlett put baby clothes into the cart... This was the ninth outfit she grabbed today. For her next intention, she went to the girls' section. Even though the twins were still not born, she had already prepared clothes for two to three-year-old babies. She was happily exploring the place, and Kazir followed her with a smile.

Her excitement was contagious, and he couldn't help but feel the warmth in his chest. He placed a gentle hand on her growing belly. He felt the subtle kicks of their children inside. He was surprised, then smiled further. He didn't expect the babies to react.

"...For some reason, I feel like the kids will probably be too active and mischievous."

Kazir murmured, his voice filled with awe. Kids were meant to be mischievous, and he already expected it.

Scarlett turned to him. It was obvious in her eyes that she was happy. She rubbed her stomach.

"Being mischievous is fine. It shows that they are healthy."

"I can already see the future where they will run around the house and perhaps destroy a few appliances."

Kazir chuckled. He was just joking... but what he said was not far from the future.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 587

After shopping for baby products, Kazir and Scarlett went to the parking lot. There were four bodyguards following behind them, but the couple had already forgotten their presence.

This time, Kazir took the driver's seat while Scarlett sat in the front passenger seat. In the back seats were the baby products that couldn't fit in the trunk. The couple had bought a lot. In fact, the bodyguards' car that followed them a few meters away also had its trunk full to the brim with baby products.

In this case, before the twins could even be born, the couple had probably already filled two rooms in their house with baby products. Some were toys, some were gear, and some were essentials.

While Kazir was driving and having conversations with Scarlett, they passed by a filming location.

Hollywood, being the city where showbiz was prominent, had a lot of locations that could be used for filming. Some landlords and hotels even let studios rent their properties to film shows or movies.

While passing by, Kazir caught a glimpse of Mel Gibson lighting up a cigarette. The actor's appearance didn't look good, and it was understandable why.

Mel Gibson had been blacklisted in Hollywood. The major factor behind that was the things he said when he was arrested for DUI. He made some anti-Semitic and misogynistic comments. That happened in 2002.

Despite being a talented and famous actor, Mel Gibson disappeared from Hollywood just like that. If you looked at it carefully, it was scary. It was actually possible to destroy a person's career because they offended a group of people.

Of course, no one could defend what Mel Gibson said as right. Did he deserve to lose his job, though? At the end of the day, it depends on how people look at him. Some people said Mel Gibson deserved it, while others said he deserved a second chance.

Kazir returned his focus to driving. Mel Gibson's appearance showed that the actor was stressed and haggard.

'If I remember it right, Mel Gibson's wife of 28 years will file for divorce this month. Perhaps it already happened, which explains Mel's haggard face,' Kazir recalled.

The divorce cost around $400 million, probably paid by Mel Gibson. The further details were not disclosed, but $400 million was surely a huge amount of money.

Mel Gibson had a hard time these past few years. A successful and famous actor was now a nobody. Truly terrifying, Hollywood ran deep.

Suddenly, Kazir realized that what happened to Mel Gibson could also happen to him.

In fact, Kazir had also suffered from scandals just like Mel Gibson. His scandal was even downright malicious, aimed to destroy his career and image.

But unlike Mel Gibson, Kazir bounced back quickly. After so many scandals were thrown at him, Kazir remained innocent. Perhaps that was also the reason why he didn't disappear from the limelight.

Even when Kazir was in the hospital after the assassination attempt, some studios still blamed him for things he didn't do.

If his enemies had won, he might have been gone by now. He might be just like Mel Gibson, trying his best to live despite the cruel setbacks.

'Mel helped me and reminded me to stay away from disgusting people here in Hollywood, and I followed his opinion. I owe him that.'

Kazir could also relate to Mel Gibson because he had experienced what it meant to live at the lowest point of his life. It wasn't easy at all. Some people did hurtful things to him, and even now, Kazir was still fighting it in his mind.

So, was Mel Gibson a good or bad person? Only people who knew him could decide. But that didn't stop strangers from forming opinions about him. After all, Mel Gibson was an actor, basically a public figure. People were allowed to say the shittiest or kindest opinions about him, simple as that.

Scarlett noticed Kazir's distant look and gently placed her hand on his.

"You okay?" she asked softly.

Kazir glanced at her, then gave a faint smile.

"Yeah, just thinking. I saw Mel Gibson earlier, and it reminded me how fast things can change. One wrong move… and everything you've built can vanish."

Scarlett nodded. She had also seen Mel Gibson, but she didn't think much of it. However, after hearing Kazir, she understood what he was talking about.

"But you're not alone, Kazir. You have me, the kids, and people who believe in you."

He tightened his grip on the wheel and smiled.

"I know. And that's what keeps me going."

They drove past the filming location, leaving Mel Gibson behind in the rearview mirror. But the image lingered in Kazir's mind. This was a reminder of both the darkness of Hollywood and the strength it took to survive it.

'...Should I help Mel or not?' he thought to himself.

Kazir knew that Mel Gibson would make a comeback, but that would be around 2016. Mel Gibson would direct Hacksaw Ridge, and the movie would be successful. It would take years, but Mel would return.

As for the current movie that Mel Gibson starred in, it would be a failure. Mel Gibson thought Edge of Darkness would help him return to Hollywood, but he was wrong. When the movie was released next year (2010), scandals about him resurfaced again. At that time, his conversation with his girlfriend was recorded, where Mel Gibson said some derogatory stuff.

So yeah, Mel Gibson might not be a good person, as some people believed.

So Kazir asked himself again:

'Should I help him?'

+++++

[Yeah, I might make a poll tomorrow.]

[Note: The poll ended. Patrons made a decision not to help Mel Gibson.]

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 588

June 2009 was eventful. Some important things happened this month such as:

Barack Obama's first international trip as President. Obama attended a summit in London and also visited several European countries.

Somali pirates hijacked a ship and kidnapped a captain. The U.S. Navy SEALs rescued the captain. This event inspired a movie that was released in 2013 titled Captain Phillips.

North Korea launched missiles...

The economic recession was still ongoing. The aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis was still happening, and many people lost their jobs.

These were just some of the events that happened.

Out of all of these, Kazir was concerned about one thing. There was a reported case of H1N1 in the U.S. and Mexico. The H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu, was a new strain of influenza.

Kazir was concerned that this virus would affect Scarlett's pregnancy. The couple decided not to travel around this time to stay away from the virus. Kazir knew that H1N1 would spread and that the World Health Organization would declare a pandemic in June.

Thankfully, Kazir now had few things to do and he rarely left home.

Instead, Kazir focused on spending quality time with Scarlett and preparing for the twins' arrival. He also took the opportunity to work from home, finalizing scripts and checking on the progress of other projects through phone calls. He also put some time into farming Bitcoin. So far, the computers were doing well and could handle the computations. He had already earned a few hundred Bitcoins.

The home had become a sanctuary, filled with the soft scent of baby lotion and stacks of unopened packages. Even though these products were in separate rooms, Scarlett opened them at least once a day to see the treasure she had collected. Kazir followed suit and checked the baby gear, such as the crib, stroller, carrier, baby walker, bottle sterilizer, and many more...

By the way, he had already checked them a week ago, but since he had nothing to do, he might as well double-check them. If he found malfunctions or faulty products, he wouldn't return them to the store since it was a hassle and time-consuming. He could just buy another one, fast and easy. Money was not a problem for him.

Scarlett appreciated Kazir's presence, especially now that her pregnancy was entering a delicate stage. Every night, Kazir would read to her, hand on her belly, feeling the subtle kicks of their unborn children. Doctors recommended that parents talk to their babies in the womb. It helped develop the babies' auditory systems, exposed them to language, calmed them, and was a form of bonding.

Though the world outside was uncertain, inside their home, there was warmth, laughter, and the joy of being a family.

Not going to lie, Kazir had already forgotten about his plan regarding Mel Gibson. He was still not sure if he would help the actor or not.

.........

......

...

Even though the world was going through tough times, people were still looking for excitement and entertainment. Around this time, the internet was already a strong form of entertainment, but internet speed was still in its infancy. Watching movies or TV shows would take time.

So of course, people were still interested in watching movies in theaters. Especially now in summer, there were some huge movies released in June.

The Taking of Pelham 123 grossed $187 million. It was an action movie.

The Proposal, a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, grossed $429 million. The movie was distributed by Walt Disney.

The Hurt Locker, starring Jeremy Renner, grossed $100 million. The movie won the Best Picture Award, the Best Director Award, and many more at the Oscars. Kathryn Bigelow, the director of this movie, was the first female director to win the Best Director Award at the Oscars/Academy Awards.

My Sister's Keeper, a drama starring Cameron Diaz and distributed by Warner Brothers, grossed over $121 million.

The performance of the movies this month was lackluster. Only The Proposal by Walt Disney did well at the box office.

The answer to this oddity was that Kazir changed the timeline. Hence, some major movies that were supposed to be released this month didn't happen.

The first was The Hangover. Kazir had already filmed this movie in 1995, and the movie was released in 1996. Because of this, The Hangover trilogy was released and ended earlier than in the original timeline.

The second was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This was the second movie of the Transformers franchise. It was supposed to be released this month. But because of Kazir's interference, Transformers was still in production, and the second movie still did not exist. Honestly, the Transformers franchise in this timeline might never become successful because it was so late. Transformers was supposed to be released in 2007, yet Michael Bay was still filming the movie as of this year. A huge time difference.

As for Fast & Furious 3, this movie, produced by Grey Pictures and released in April, currently grossed $614 million worldwide. The movie had been in theaters for 84 days, and its theater count in North America went down to 1,400 theaters. The theaters that screened this movie would further decrease every week until Cinema Alliance deemed it unworthy and ended its screening.

But overall, the performance of Fast & Furious 3 was satisfying, especially when its budget was only around $100 million.

For a movie to be considered profitable, it should earn 2.5 times its production cost.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 589

Angels & Demons was a movie distributed by Sony-Columbia. Sony-Columbia was also part of the production of the movie, together with Imagine Entertainment, Skylark Productions, and other production studios. The whole Robert Langdon trilogy was produced with the cooperation of these production studios.

There were reasons why some movies were involved with multiple production companies. Some movies wanted to lessen the burden of financial risks by having two or more studios investing. Some production companies also had specialties such as marketing, funding, and distribution.

In this case, Sony-Columbia probably took the job of distributing the movie and perhaps invested a share of the overall budget. As for the specifics, it was unsure.

The film Angels & Demons, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, was the much-anticipated sequel to The Da Vinci Code. The two movies were recognized as controversial because of the topics they tackled. Perhaps it was one of the factors why The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons were successful at the box office.

The Da Vinci Code grossed over $760 million.

Angels & Demons grossed over $541 million.

Obviously, Sony-Columbia had a reason to celebrate the success.

"... So here I am, attending a celebration of an open-air party," Kazir muttered to himself while looking around.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, and the party was glamorous. Champagne, fancy dishes, and ambient lighting set the tone.

Kazir recognized some celebrities, such as Tom Hanks and many more... Tom Hanks was famous, so it was not surprising that Kazir easily recognized him. However, Kazir decided to stay in the corner of this open-space party and let the others have fun. He knew that he was not the star of this party. He greeted Tom Hanks but didn't strike up a conversation. The two were not close.

Kazir Grey received a personal invitation, courtesy of Sony-Columbia. Sony-Columbia had been trying to talk to him about a possible collaboration regarding 21 Jump Street. Kazir was the one who wrote the script for this upcoming project.

Though Kazir's main focus had been family and home recently, Sony-Columbia valued him as both a director and scriptwriter. Of course, they sent an invitation with the hopes of rekindling their relationship... Sounds gay, to be honest.

Kazir's films continued to bring in profit, and Spider-Man alone was still earning money from DVDs and merchandise. No wonder Sony-Columbia was interested.

Walking through the open-space event, Kazir exchanged polite smiles with executives and offered firm handshakes to fellow directors who also attended the party.

He wasn't here to network, but it never hurt to be seen. Scarlett had stayed home to rest, and he promised not to stay out too late.

As he moved toward the refreshment table, he suddenly noticed a strong, majestic presence.

Surrounded by a few bodyguards stood none other than Michael Jackson. The King of Pop looked thinner than Kazir expected. Michael was in formal attire, a suit with his hands covered in gloves.

Kazir was surprised as he didn't expect to meet this legendary figure at this party. In fact, this was the first time Kazir met Michael Jackson in person. He then realized that Sony and Michael Jackson entered a joint venture and created Sony/ATV Music Publishing a few years ago.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing owned catalogs of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Akon, Shakira, and many more.

In a way, Michael Jackson attending a party managed by Sony was not surprising, even though Michael Jackson was more active in the music industry than the movie industry.

The movie industry and music industry were two different things, and only a few times did they collaborate. These two industries had their own circles, and it wasn't surprising if actors and music artists rarely interacted with each other... Perhaps they could interact at certain parties, such as the freak-offs and island paradise... You know what I mean.

Anyway, Kazir was surprised to see Michael Jackson. It was an understatement that he was star-struck.

He recalled that in many concerts that Michael Jackson did, the audience would faint and lose consciousness because of his presence alone. Now Kazir understood why.

Kazir wanted to introduce himself. This was a rare opportunity.

Michael Jackson saw Kazir approaching and extended a gloved hand. He offered a soft smile.

"Kazir Grey, right? I've seen your movies. My favorite is Napoleon Dynamite."

Kazir blinked.

"I'm honored. I grew up listening to your music."

Michael nodded slowly.

The two had a conversation. It lasted half an hour before Michael excused himself to talk to one of the executives of Sony.

Kazir realized that he might have overstepped, but he couldn't help it. He was happy to meet Michael Jackson. He liked Michael's music, so he wanted to talk to him, simple as that. No one could deny that Michael Jackson was an amazing music artist. Even his voice had strong originality. Almost anyone could recognize his voice because he was super famous.

In fact, many people in the whole world might know Michael Jackson but not Michael Jordan. His worldwide fame was out of this world.

People might not know who the current president of their country was, but they surely knew who Michael Jackson was.

I'm happy to meet Michael Jackson in this life.

Contemplating, Kazir suddenly realized a shocking truth.

"Wait a minute, today is July 2, 2009."

In his past life, Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. It meant that Michael Jackson was supposed to die eight days ago, yet the King of Pop was still alive and kicking.

"...Did I just save Michael without knowing?" he asked himself and was elated by the fact. It seemed that his interference in the timeline changed another person's fate. This time, a positive one.

He recalled their conversation earlier.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 590

In their conversation, Michael Jackson talked about a physician who was hired fifteen days ago. Michael was looking for a different way to treat his insomnia instead of using prescription drugs. So far, the treatment had been going well. Kazir gave him some tips, such as being active, doing exercises, and going to the gym, hoping to help.

It was just a short bit of information, but Kazir found the answer. He realized that Michael had stopped depending on prescription drugs in this timeline.

Michael probably thought that relying on drugs might not be a good thing. Perhaps the news about Heath Ledger's overdose affected him.

After thinking about it, Kazir deduced that Heath Ledger's overdose was the reason why Michael Jackson looked for an alternative to treating his insomnia. Of course, Kazir's deduction might be wrong. Perhaps Michael just didn't want to use prescription drugs again.

What happened with Heath Ledger reminded people that using prescription drugs might be bad if used too much.

Kazir sighed in relief. He had done a direct intervention to save Heath Ledger. Perhaps this action caused some events to divert or never happen.

If he was right, that meant that Michael Jackson wouldn't die from an administered propofol. That was the cause of his death, acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. As for what these drugs were exactly, Kazir had no fucking idea. He just knew that propofol was a surgical anesthetic used to treat chronic insomnia.

The doctor who administered the drugs to Michael Jackson was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison after three years of trial.

Now that Michael Jackson had stopped relying on drugs, Kazir felt great. He recalled that he didn't have a chance to watch Michael's live concert in this regression. Kazir had been too busy to enjoy life itself. If Michael Jackson had a concert this year, Kazir would buy tickets for himself and Scarlett. The couple were not that busy this year.

Perhaps after Scarlett's pregnancy...

'I can't believe that directly helping Heath Ledger indirectly helped Michael Jackson... I saved two lives. Although I'm the only one who knows about it.'

It felt great to know that you did the right thing, even if only Kazir recognized it.

Kazir's thoughts stepped away from the unexpected encounter with Michael Jackson. It was a surprising one and something that he would remember forever. He was happy that he had helped the King of Pop.

'I should have asked for a picture or autograph,' Kazir thought.

Kind of ironic, because Kazir was a famous director. Most of the time, people would ask for his autograph instead of the other way around. It meant that Kazir was a fan of Michael Jackson.

Well, almost everyone was a fan of Michael Jackson. At least, Kazir had never heard of anyone who wasn't a fan of Michael Jackson.

"Still, Michael Jackson attending a party initiated by Sony-Columbia is unexpected. I heard Michael and Sony are fighting over the shares of Sony/ATV Music Publishing," he weakly murmured while looking around. It would be awkward if someone heard what he said.

Kazir had heard some rumors that Sony had a hand in the scandal that Michael Jackson was accused of. The two were not on good terms. Michael also accused Sony of sabotaging his album that was released in 2001 (Invincible).

Sony and Michael had a strained relationship despite the initial good impression. And now, they were trying to tear each other apart.

As for the results... Michael Jackson lost. Michael Jackson was isolated in the music industry. His later albums lacked promotion and support. He faced cash flow issues and debt.

Sony was a powerful titan in the music industry. Even though Michael Jackson was an icon, it was tough to face a hegemony such as Sony. Any music artist would fold against Sony.

Suddenly, Kazir felt like Michael Jackson was just like him. Their respective industries were trying to kick them out.

After Michael Jackson's death, Sony completely acquired Sony/ATV, including Michael Jackson's catalog. It was quite sad.

It showed that catalogs of famous musicians had importance. There were many reasons why:

Royalties. Whenever a song was played on the radio, streamed online, used in movies and commercials, or used by other artists, the owner would get a royalty.

Licensing. The owner could decide who could use the songs and under what terms.

Long-term income. Catalogs could generate steady income for decades. This was probably the biggest factor.

These three were just some of the reasons why Sony and other record labels were eager to buy catalogs of famous musicians.

After Michael Jackson's death, his catalog earned $100 to $300 million. Imagine, you're already dead, but a company is still milking you...

Kazir stopped his inner monologue regarding Michael Jackson and Sony. This timeline was different from what he knew, so his knowledge might not be relevant anymore.

Kazir was soon approached by a well-dressed executive from Sony-Columbia. The woman, wearing a comfortable dress that didn't reveal much skin, extended her hand.

"Mr. Grey, I'm Jezebel Salome. Vice President of Sony-Columbia. I'm glad you made it tonight," she said, her tone both respectful and hopeful.

"...Huh?" Kazir was confused.

He was confused about why Jezebel extended her hand for a handshake like they had just met for the first time.

Kazir was also confused that Jezebel was wearing a dress. Most of the time, this serious woman wore formal office attire.

Also, Kazir was confused that she introduced herself as the Vice President.

"Jezebel, are you bragging? You want to brag about your promotion?"

"As expected of you, director. That's right, I'm bragging." Jezebel said flatly and nodded. As expected, talking to talented people was easier. That was why she respected Kazir.

Kazir was surprised by her honesty and shook her hand. Based on this promotion, Jezebel had done a great job these past few years. The Spider-Man trilogy probably helped a lot.

"We're moving forward with 21 Jump Street," Jezebel said without hesitation.

"Your script is brilliant, funny, and fresh. We think it has real box office potential. We'd like you to come and help us. Ideally, as director or at least executive producer."

No reason for sugarcoating. She went straight to the point.

Kazir raised an eyebrow. He had written the screenplay years ago, more as a side project. He didn't expect Sony to greenlight it so quickly.

+++++

[Author's Note: Before the completion of HWI, I just want to say thank you guys for all of your support. I want to say that I never regret writing this novel.]

 

[FallenMetal]

Thank you, and it seems like small acts do have huge ripples. I do hope Kazir does help Mel. Great job, as always, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 591

"I'm flattered," Kazir replied. His voice was calm but firm.

"But I'm not sure I want to direct a movie right now. My hands are kind of full with… well, life."

The mention of Scarlett's pregnancy and his newfound appreciation for a quieter lifestyle was on his mind.

He had done the nonstop grind before. He wrote, shot, edited, and attended red carpets. While it brought him success, it also stole time, moments, and energy. He spent so many years grinding on work like he was a non-stop machine.

Now that he had a year of rest, he realized the allure of working less... In fact, he realized the allure of not working at all. Kazir was at the point in his life where money didn't matter. People would die of jealousy just to experience the life that he had, excluding the scandals, attempted assassination, getting cheated on, having his baby aborted, having no mother, and many more.

On second thought, Kazir's life was not easy at all. Because of that, he didn't want his children to experience the hardships he faced. He now wanted to give everything to his growing family.

Across from him, Jezebel Salome, the current Vice President of Sony-Colombia, gave a nod of understanding. She had read the room well and came prepared. She had created many scenarios in her head just for this conversation. She had Plan A, Plan B, and up to Plan F.

Actually, she was already happy that Kazir was even considering the idea of working with Sony-Colombia again.

"We know your time is valuable," she said with a business smile, adjusting her thick glasses.

"That's why we believe executive producer might be a better fit. You can express your opinion regarding the project since you're also the scriptwriter. Sony-Colombia and the production crew will respect your vision for the film. You don't have to worry about the opinion of the director... Your opinion matters the most," Jezebel said.

"That's... that's assuring." Kazir suddenly felt bad for the director who would take this project.

However, Kazir would probably not interfere much with the production, unless needed. He knew that creative freedom was the situation all directors loved.

"You wouldn't need to be on set every day. We already have a list of directors if you choose to pass on the director's position," Jezebel added.

Kazir tilted his head slightly. That did sound more manageable.

He could offer some opinions during pre-production. He could participate in casting decisions, help guide the tone of the filming, and still be at home for Scarlett's prenatal appointments.

"Executive producer," Kazir repeated. He was thinking about it seriously.

"That depends on the negotiation," he smirked.

He wasn't naive. He knew how studios operated. Offering a big title like 'executive producer' didn't always come with a big paycheck. Sometimes it was symbolic.

But Kazir Grey was not a nobody. He was a proven writer, director, and the man behind billion-dollar franchises. Sony-Colombia had to offer him some bling bling to convince him to work with them.

Although to be fair, his position in this production would probably be symbolic. Still, money was needed to convince him.

"The least I could earn by being an executive producer is $5 million," Kazir added plainly. He was not trying to be arrogant, he was just speaking the truth.

Jezebel's smile widened, although her eyes narrowed behind her glasses. Of course, she knew about Kazir's usual salary as an executive producer. She did her research.

She was a negotiator, and the game had begun.

"That's fair," she said smoothly.

"We'll discuss it further with your agent. There's flexibility in the contract. Percentage shares from merchandising, DVD and digital sales, perhaps a small cut of the box office depending on the agreement."

Kazir nodded, signaling that he was open to it but not fully committed. He was a bit surprised that Sony-Colombia would offer him a profit share, but he wouldn't say no to that.

"I'll consider it and contact my agent," he finally said.

"My team will handle the setup and negotiation."

Jezebel extended a hand, which Kazir shook firmly.

"It's a pleasure, Kazir. We'll make this one a hit. I really believe in it."

Kazir offered a slight grin.

"So do I."

'Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum... We might have to look for them. But once they hear that I'm the one who wrote the script and will also participate in the production, the two will probably introduce themselves with enthusiasm.'

Both actors were already in Hollywood and had starred in movies. They could easily contact them.

As Jezebel walked away to mingle with another group of executives, Kazir glanced up at the starry night sky.

The open-air party was still in full swing. He watched guests laugh and glasses clink. There were hired photographers snapping shots from the perimeter.

21 Jump Street was officially on track. It was surreal. A script he had written based on an old TV show would have its time in theaters.

Thankfully, Kazir wouldn't have to participate much in this project, so he wouldn't feel exhausted. He was behind the scenes... probably not most of the time.

Anyway, he might make more than $5 million this time. With just a small participation, he would make that amount of money, truly incomprehensible to the eyes of ordinary people.

He sipped his drink and smiled. Hollywood kept moving, but Kazir Grey learned how to sail on his own without following the trend. He could make his own decisions, and people would respect him no matter what. He solidly created his foundation, and people wouldn't easily topple him, unlike before.

As the music shifted to a smoother jazz tune, Kazir took another sip of the alcohol, savoring the moment. He had built this life, brick by brick, script by script, film by film.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 592

On the first day of July, 20th Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios started with a bang.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs was released. The movie was well-received by both kids and adults. They liked the movie so much that it grossed over $1 billion. This was the first time Blue Sky Studios performed so well at the box office that they were congratulated by Rupert Murdoch himself. It was a great achievement.

20th Century Fox realized that they might stand equal against Walt Disney if they kept their performance strong. Especially with next year's release of Wall-E. This animated movie was written by Kazir Grey and directed by Christopher Nolan. It would further enhance Blue Sky Studios' reputation.

On the same day, July 1, Public Enemies was released. It was a drama movie distributed by Universal Pictures. Starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, the movie grossed over $266 million.

On July 10, a comedy movie titled Brüno was released and grossed $151 million. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, this mockumentary comedy was distributed by Universal Pictures.

On July 15, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released. Obviously, Warner Brothers was confident in this franchise. After all, Harry Potter would remain one of the biggest movie franchises in the world, despite many fans hating J.K. Rowling. Just as Warner Brothers and many others expected, Harry Potter performed. Half-Blood Prince grossed over $1.1 billion. This is proof that Harry Potter will stay relevant for a long time.

On July 24, G-Force was released. This movie was about talking guinea pigs trying to save the world. Distributed by Walt Disney, it grossed $357 million.

On the same day, The Ugly Truth was released. This romantic comedy starred Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler. Distributed by Sony-Colombia, the movie grossed over $245 million.

These were the movies that performed well at the box office this month. Out of all of them, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince dominated the month of July.

Kazir didn't do much in July. He spent most of his time at home with Scarlett. The couple was just waiting for the days to pass in leisure. Then August arrived, and Scarlett's delivery was getting close. The couple agreed that they would go to the hospital three days before the due date just to be safe.

.........

......

...

The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway hummed softly, but Kazir barely registered the sound.

His legs bounced restlessly. His fingers interlocked, then unclasped, then interlocked again. He was sweating despite the cold atmosphere. He glanced at the wall clock, reading the time. He had done this so many times in just an hour.

Every tick-tock of the wall clock felt like an eternity. The white walls of the maternity ward felt suffocating. Kazir was deeply nervous.

"She's been in there for almost two hours…" Kazir muttered. His voice was low and barely audible.

Beside him, his father, Victor Grey, sat silently. His arms were crossed, trying to keep himself calm.

Despite the distance, Kazir's family flew from New York to Los Angeles just to show support. They knew that today was important to Kazir. In fact, Victor had a camera ready to take pictures of this important event. He had done the same thing for the birth of Aaron's children.

The elder Grey might not have been blessed in love, but he was blessed with two sons. They were now successful and could stand on their own. And now, his youngest son would have little lives to take care of, a sign that Kazir had taken another step in the stages of life: fatherhood.

Kazir's older brother, Aaron, leaned forward and glanced at the doors of the delivery room.

"It's normal, right? Twins take time. They told us it could take longer, remember?" he said.

Kazir gave a stiff nod, but his eyes remained locked on the red sign above the doors.

DELIVERY IN PROGRESS.

His eyes moved back and forth between the clock and the doors.

In the hallway, Scarlett's relatives whispered among themselves. They were also waiting for the results.

They weren't loud, but Kazir could feel their presence. Every time they looked his way, he felt more pressure to stay calm. But it was impossible.

He now realized why men were on the edge of their seats whenever their partners gave birth. This was suffocating.

"She's going to be fine," Aaron said again, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

Kazir exhaled shakily.

"I know. I know that. But knowing it doesn't stop me from—"

The doors clicked open. A nurse stepped out, visibly exhausted.

"Is Scarlett okay?!" Kazir jumped to his feet.

The nurse gave a warm smile behind her mask and removed her gloves.

"Mr. Grey… everything went smoothly. Congratulations. You're the father of two healthy babies—a boy and a girl... Also, can I get an autograph and pictures? I'm a fan. Can I also get an autograph on my cleavage? I want to make a tattoo out of it, if that's fine with you, of course."

Kazir didn't register what the nurse said in the latter part.

"Uh... Okay."

For a second, Kazir just blinked. The words hit him like a wave. Indeed, boy, girl... He was now a father.

"She… is Scarlett okay?" he asked again, needing to hear it.

"She's resting. A bit exhausted, which is natural, but she's doing great. You can see her in a few minutes."

Kazir exhaled. All of his stress disappeared. His father stood up and steadied Kazir with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Aaron grinned wide. "You did it, bro."

Kazir looked around.

His family, Scarlett's relatives, and the nurse were all smiling.

He felt his heart swelling. For the first time tonight, he didn't feel fear, or stress, or pressure. Just pure, raw gratitude.

"They're really here," he whispered.

"I'm… a dad."

He wiped his eyes quickly, but he didn't care if they noticed the tears.

When the nurse finally gave the go-ahead after hearing the promised autograph (except the cleavage one), Kazir walked toward the delivery room like a man stepping into a new world.

Behind those doors waited his partner, his future, and the two little lives they created together.

And as the doors closed behind him, the hallway erupted in gentle applause and laughter. A new chapter had begun.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 593

The door closed behind Kazir with a soft hiss. It shut out the noise of the hallway. Inside, the world seemed still, quiet, warm, and white. Except for the nurses who were moving, the place was tranquil.

The lights were dimmer and softer. They cast a golden hue over everything.

Kazir's eyes immediately found Scarlett.

She was lying on the hospital bed. Her head rested against the raised pillow. She looked exhausted—her face pale and covered with sweat.

But her eyes were beautiful. They were gleaming, they were alive. She turned to him as Kazir stepped forward. Her lips curled into a small, tired smile.

"I did it," she whispered, her voice weak but full of emotion.

Kazir hurried to her side. There was a lump in his throat that he couldn't explain. He was emotional, a rare occurrence, even for him.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then another kiss to her hand, gripping it gently but firmly.

"You did it," he murmured.

"You're incredible, Scarlett. Thank you. Thank you so much."

She gave a soft laugh, breathy and faint.

"It wasn't exactly a walk in the park. Looks like these kids will be a handful to take care of. They were crying loudly earlier." Scarlett glanced at the baby cribs next to her bed.

She could already predict the future: endless headaches because of two brats... They might have to hire a helper or a nanny.

Kazir followed her gaze to the bassinets beside the bed.

Two tiny bundles. One wrapped in a pink blanket, the other in blue. A nurse was quietly adjusting the clothes around them, but she stepped back when she saw Kazir approach.

He moved slowly and carefully. He was afraid that a sudden movement might shatter the moment and wake the kids, making them cry. He looked down at them...

His children.

The little girl was sleeping soundly, her tiny chest rising and falling. The boy, on the other hand, was awake.

His eyes, barely open, stared ahead, his mouth making the smallest movements.

"Can I…?" Kazir asked the nurse, his voice cracking.

The nurse nodded and gently lifted the baby boy into his arms. Kazir's hands trembled as he took his son, holding him close to his chest.

The baby was so light and yet, in that moment, Kazir felt like he was holding the entire universe. He couldn't explain it. He felt like this little life was so heavy and fragile that he was careful with his movements.

Kazir raised his hand to touch the kid's face.

Then it happened.

The baby reached out and wrapped his tiny fingers around Kazir's pinky.

Kazir froze. He felt like everything in the room stopped moving. His breath stuck in his throat, and before he could stop himself, tears welled in his eyes.

He sniffled, then laughed softly as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

"He's… he's holding my finger. Scarlett, he's…"

"I see it," Scarlett whispered, smiling weakly. She watched the father and son with affection. This moment should be recorded, she thought. This was a rare moment where Kazir showed true happiness.

"He knows you're his dad," Scarlett added.

Kazir looked at her, then down at his son. Kazir could barely see through the blur in his eyes.

"I swear," he said quietly, to the baby, to Scarlett, and to himself,

"I'll protect you. All of you. I'll be the kind of father and partner you'll be proud of."

The baby let out a tiny yawn, still clinging to his finger.

Kazir stepped closer to the bassinet and carefully returned the baby boy. He leaned forward to kiss the baby's forehead. Then he looked at the little girl, still sleeping peacefully. He couldn't wait to hold her too.

Behind him, Scarlett closed her eyes, resting. She had finally completed her mission, and she was happy as she fell asleep.

As for Kazir, he stood there between his partner and his children. He knew without a doubt that this was the greatest moment of his life.

Not a premiere. Not an award. Not a box office number.

This.

This was everything. It took him two lifetimes to realize that this was what he was looking for. The will to live for the people around him. He didn't feel alone anymore. He now had something to protect.

He didn't want to kill himself anymore.

.........

......

...

Scarlett gave birth to twins on August 18, 2009. Two days later, the couple returned to their home with a baby in each of their arms.

They decided to stay in the house the whole month. Even Kazir rarely left the place. They took care of the two babies. They fell in love with them, although the couple admitted that it was tough sleeping at night because the twins usually had a duet of crying.

Kazir sacrificed his night's sleep and changed their diapers and even fed them baby milk formula because he didn't want to disturb Scarlett, who needed rest after a hard pregnancy.

While Kazir was taking care of the twins, Hollywood didn't stop moving.

News of Scarlett's delivery made waves in the entertainment world, though the couple declined any interviews or public appearances.

Paparazzi tried to catch a glimpse of the newborns, but the house remained tightly secured, protected by guards.

Inside their quiet home, Kazir found joy in the little things, such as bathing the twins, rocking them to sleep, and humming lullabies. Heck, he probably memorized almost all of the baby lullabies.

His day and night were repetitive, but he didn't complain. Every yawn, every diaper change, every tiny smile made it all worth it.

As Scarlett recovered, she often caught Kazir sleeping on the couch with a baby on each arm. Her heart melted every time.

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 594

August, despite being the last month of the summer schedule, still released some of the big movies this year. Some kids and teenagers might already be attending school this month, but it didn't stop Hollywood from releasing box office hits.

On August 7, G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra was released. This movie was based on the action figure toyline of Hasbro. Kazir received an invitation to direct this franchise, but the director declined, he didn't even bother to entertain it. Starring Channing Tatum and distributed by Paramount Pictures, the movie grossed $391 million.

On the same day, August 7, the film Julie and Julia was released. Starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, this comedy film grossed $185 million. The movie was distributed by Sony-Colombia.

On August 14, District 9 was released. Distributed by Sony-Colombia, the sci-fi suspense/thriller grossed $269 million.

On the same day, August 14, The Time Traveler's Wife was released. This sci-fi drama starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana grossed over $138 million. The movie was produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Brothers.

On August 21, Inglourious Basterds was released. Starring Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz and directed by the amazing director Quentin Tarantino, this movie was produced by The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures. The movie was also distributed by The Weinstein Company (United States) and Universal Pictures (International). The movie grossed over $416 million. It was the highest-grossing movie released in August 2009.

Aside from movie releases, Hollywood also tackled some problems, particularly the wildfire that happened in Los Angeles, California, on August 26. Wildfires were common in Los Angeles.

.........

......

...

Harold Witsend was driving his expensive car. Being a producer of many box office hits, Harold was considered rich. In every movie he worked on, he earned at least $1 million per project. It all depended on how much profit the movie earned. Harold might not have had a share in the profits, but it didn't mean he was earning less. Many people would commit crimes just to get Harold's position.

Besides, he knew that most of his success was because of Grey Pictures. To be precise, he owed everything to Kazir. His friend was the reason he reached this status.

Harold knew that if he worked on other projects, the chances of success were not guaranteed. Only Grey Pictures had a high assurance of box office hits. So even though many studios were eager to hire Harold, he didn't leave Grey Pictures, because he knew that most of his success was because of the company.

So yeah, he was rich now. It explained why he was driving a Lexus LS 600h L... Harold had no idea what the name really implied, but it sounded good, so he decided to buy it. He didn't know much about the specifications since he was not a car enthusiast. He just knew that he had to buy a luxury car to impress people, since he was now a top star producer. He bought the car at the price of $105 thousand... Yes, spending $100 thousand on a car was considered a rich move. Only people who earned millions were comfortable spending that amount on a car.

While driving, some people looked at his car with envy and interest. Some women who were basically nothing even tried to flirt with him, but Harold was a married man, so he didn't entertain the idea of cheating. He wanted to maintain the peace.

He visited Kazir a few days ago and found his friend enthralled with taking care of the twins. It was something that Harold didn't expect to witness in his life. It seemed that Kazir could genuinely smile. He was happy for him.

This further strengthened his idea of protecting his family and providing for them.

In his line of work, it was tough to stay loyal because this industry was filled with sexy women who could seduce him. Furthermore, a few years ago, Elizabeth Cohen almost made him fold.

Even though Elizabeth was in her 50s, she was still a bombshell, and she could seduce any man as long as she wanted to. Harold did his best to fight the seduction, and he was successful. In the end, he kicked Elizabeth and Mara Cohen out of Hollywood. As for where these mother and daughter were, Harold didn't give a fuck.

"Man, I can't imagine that I almost fucked my mom's friend. That sounds disturbing if you didn't know the context."

Even if you know the context, it was still disturbing.

This just showed that Elizabeth was a dangerous woman, and she deserved every hardship that was thrown at her.

"I just hope that she will not appear in front of Kazir with the excuse of meeting her grandchildren. Elizabeth didn't even meet Aaron's children, so she doesn't have the right to meet Kazir's twins."

Was this a foreshadowing or not? Nah.

While drinking, Harold recalled the meeting that executives had today. Kazir didn't attend the meeting, so Harold and Stella led the discussion.

In this meeting, they talked about the release date of Ninja Assassin and its possible results. 20th Century Fox and Grey Pictures agreed to release this CCU movie in November, a less popular schedule compared to summer.

But despite being less popular, many huge movies would be released that month. This was the topic that their meeting tackled, what might happen in November regarding the box office of Ninja Assassin?

 

[Pujimaki]

Hollywood What If Chapter 595

Harold tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he thought about the meeting. Stella brought up concerns about 2012, the apocalyptic disaster movie scheduled for November 13. It had a massive budget and global appeal.

People loved disaster movies. It had been proven so many times, such as Armageddon and Independence Day. Even Godzilla and Jurassic Park were considered disaster movies... Perhaps people loved to see the world burn.

It was not surprising that Stella would be concerned. Even the executives from the Big Six were thinking about 2012 seriously.

On top of that, Stella was also thinking about The Twilight Saga: New Moon. This romance movie would hit theaters just a week later on November 20, targeting the teen demographic. This movie was about a love triangle between a werewolf, a vampire, and a woman...

For some reason, females loved this genre. So much so that they became addicted to reading smut stories about werewolves... Something something Alpha, something something Beta, something something knotting. Twilight might be one of the biggest factors why this genre became so famous with young female demographics. Heck, even adult women loved reading this genre.

Anyway, both 2012 and The Twilight Saga: New Moon were two of the toughest opponents of Ninja Assassin in November.

Both could threaten Ninja Assassin's performance. However, Harold remained optimistic.

"We're offering something different," he said during the meeting. He trusted Kazir. His friend never let him down.

"Raw, bloody martial arts. Pure adrenaline." Stella nodded in agreement, adding that Kazir's name alone would bring in curious viewers. They had strong marketing.

Ninja Assassin was part of the Continental Cinematic Universe. That alone was enough to attract more people. CCU was now a household name that even kids knew about. Grey Pictures even created trading game cards, and it was a success that made a lot of money.

"Instead of 2012 and Twilight, we should think about fighting The Princess and the Frog. Walt Disney probably has the same thoughts as us," Stella added, and the people in the meeting room nodded.

They started thinking about the plan.

Ninja Assassin was set to be released on November 25, the same day as The Princess and the Frog. This Disney animated movie was the direct opponent of Ninja Assassin in the same week.

Harold stopped thinking about the meeting. They still had three months to think of a contingency plan in case Walt Disney attacked them or something.

After all, Walt Disney had been holding a grudge against Grey Pictures for quite a while now. Their 3D animation department was having trouble competing with Blue Sky Studio, and Kazir Grey was one of the reasons why that was happening.

Walt Disney felt threatened and might do something.

'If we can't find a solution, perhaps Kazir has one. That guy might not have the motivation for managing a company, but he knows what to do.'

Harold parked the Lexus in the driveway. The engine hummed, dying as he pulled the key out. The sun was already dipping low, casting a golden hue over the suburban neighborhood.

He sat in the car for a moment, staring at his house. Despite his wealth and status in Hollywood, it was this, his family, his home, that gave him true peace.

He was thankful and happy that he didn't throw away his family in exchange for having sex with Elizabeth. He acknowledged that Elizabeth was a bombshell of a sex woman, and he was proud of himself for overcoming his lust.

As soon as he opened the door, two boys came charging toward him.

"Dad!" his oldest son shouted, a toothy grin spreading across his face.

"Dad's home!" the younger one echoed, clinging to Harold's leg with his tiny arms.

Behind them, his daughter showed up. She smiled warmly.

"Hi, Dad. Mom made chicken parmesan."

"Nice."

Harold chuckled, ruffling his two sons' hair.

"You guys miss me already? I was only gone for a few hours."

The kids nodded vigorously.

Harold laughed. This was what mattered. The stress of studio meetings, the mind games of Hollywood politics, none of that could compare to this feeling... His job was absolutely stressful.

He entered the living room, the kids trailing behind. His wife was on the couch with a book. She looked up as he entered, and a smile lit up her face.

"Welcome home," she said, setting the book down.

Harold walked over and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Thanks. Smells like heaven in here. Chicken parmesan, right?"

She nodded, patting the seat next to her. He sat, letting out a long breath.

"Rough day?"

"Not really. Just a lot of strategizing. The executives and I went over the November schedule. You know, trying to predict the future like we're prophets or something."

"Is everything going to be alright?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"It will be fine. I believe in my boss. Ah, Kazir actually has twins now."

Harold smiled gently.

"Twins, huh? That's amazing."

"I saw him the other day. He looked… different," Harold said, his voice soft.

"He was smiling. Genuinely happy. It was like the weight of the world had lifted off of him."

"You think fatherhood changed him?"

"No doubt," Harold replied.

"I never thought I would see Kazir Grey willingly change diapers, but he did. The guy was up all night feeding them so Scarlett could rest. You could see the exhaustion in his eyes. It's crazy. The guy who was once afraid of love is now loving a family wholeheartedly."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Harold's wife teased.

Harold laughed.

"Maybe. I guess seeing him like that just reminded me of how lucky I am to have this… to have you and the kids."

"You don't have to. You show it every day." She squeezed his hand.

Harold kissed her again. For a while, the two simply sat in silence, grateful for everything they had.

 

[FallenMetal]

Thank you, and it looks like things are going well. I feel like things will either come crashing down sooner or later. I do hope Ninja Assassin does well, though, as well as all the other Projects Gray Studios are producing. Great job, as always, and I look forward to seeing what happens next.

 

[GodOfHeroes]

Can't believe this will end tomorrow... Thank you for this amazing journey!