351 - Hollywood: Blueprint (Patreon)

351 - The Year's Box Office Champion

The Batman march on the Hollywood Walk of Fame started something its organizers had not expected. One line from their banner traveled far beyond the crowd that had carried it.

"Justice born in darkness isn't afraid of an attack from it."

Adults with jobs and families might have heard it and moved on. For children and teenagers still in school, it had a different pull.

After the news coverage, schools around greater Los Angeles began seeing Batman-themed gatherings. Children from eight to sixteen put on whatever capes and masks they could find and called out the line with pride.

More gatherings followed. Before long, the slogan had become a way for students to speak out against bullying.

Even Warner Bros. had not anticipated that. The studio had hoped the march would shift the conversation away from the stories damaging Evan Rosenberg. It had not planned a movement in the schools.

By January, most entertainment reporters were turning toward awards season. The talk about Evan's private life began to recede.

His name, however, kept appearing in the press. Even with the awards race underway, major outlets had not forgotten the director working in Boston.

As they did every new year, entertainment papers and magazines published their accounts of the previous year's North American box office. Evan appeared near the top of every list that mattered.

"Warner Bros. again led the major studios in North American ticket sales. Its successes ranged from the Ace Ventura sequel to Batman Begins, the film that launched its new DC superhero franchise, while its investment in titles such as Se7en added to an extraordinary year..."

Jennifer Connelly read softly from the latest issue of Premiere. She sat in the production trailer with the magazine raised in both hands, her expression harder to read than her voice. Across from her, three men listened while making the most of their lunch break.

"Skip the studio summary, Jennifer," producer Hector Henry said between bites of his sandwich. "Get to the year-end rankings."

With principal photography nearing its end, Hector had finally begun to relax. Even on a production where much of his usual job had been delegated, the responsibility had weighed on him.

The shoot had run smoothly. Boston's more contained working routine had kept the principals focused on the film, far from the distractions of Los Angeles. No major disruption had derailed the schedule.

"Okay." Jennifer gave him a playful look and turned to the rankings.

"At number ten is 20th Century Fox's Die Hard with a Vengeance, directed by John McTiernan. It made just over $100 million in North America and $366.1 million worldwide."

"New Line's Se7en and Universal's Casper also crossed $100 million domestically..." Jennifer skipped through the remaining entries and turned to the top of the list.

"At number one: Batman Begins, directed by Evan Rosenberg and released by Warner Bros. North American gross: $313.2 million. Worldwide gross: $790 million."

"It was the only film this year to clear $300 million domestically, and the only one to pass $200 million. Its nearest rival, Toy Story, finished around $190 million."

"Rosenberg returned to the summer season without a serious challenger and took his first annual box-office crown. Recent rumors aside, he is still young and at the height of his creative energy. Hollywood's most unconventional blockbuster director looks unlikely to slow down."

Clap. Clap. Clap.

When Jennifer finished, Guillermo and Hector applauded the man beside them. Evan kept eating.

Everyone had expected the result before October. Hearing those totals again still gave the crew a lift.

"The first Batman film has had its moment." Evan drank some lemonade, though a smile showed despite his words. "This shoot is going better than I expected. Hector, let Dawn Scott know we may be ready for him to start the edit earlier than planned."

"Will do."

Hector nodded. "Can we set a release date yet? The studio has asked me twice. If we finish early, distribution wants time to talk dates with exhibitors. They're waiting for word on The Matrix too."

Rosenberg Pictures had put up half the money for both The Matrix and The Departed, and Evan had initiated both projects. Warner needed his decision before it could settle their schedules.

Zack Snyder had returned to Los Angeles a few days earlier. Hector had heard that Zack skipped his own crew's wrap party and went straight to the post-production facility.

"Not yet," Evan said. "I'll see where things stand when I get back to LA. Then we can pick a date." He had his own reasons for waiting. The timing did not feel right.

"Same goes for The Matrix. Give it a little longer. Anything else?"

"Yes."

Hector glanced around the trailer. "Batman Begins is almost ready for its home-video release. Warner wants you to work with distribution and publicity on the campaign. They're planning to sell it alongside a collector's edition of your director's cut of Joker."

On paper, the Batman merchandise, licensing, and videocassettes would not pay Evan a direct royalty. The revenue belonged to Warner.

But he was also a Warner shareholder. A strong release helped a company in which he owned a stake, and his interests had long since become tied to the studio's.

"When?" Evan asked. The Boston shoot was almost finished; leaving in the middle of its last stretch would cost them time.

"The studio would like you back as soon as possible." Hector spread his hands. He understood the problem, but delivering the request was his job. The choice was Evan's.

Evan lit a cigarette. Hector fell quiet while he worked through the remaining schedule.

Jennifer had eaten nothing. Since lunch began, her attention had kept drifting back to him.

The box-office list was only one part of the coverage. She had skipped other rankings in Premiere and elsewhere.

The latest Vanity Fair placed him fourth on its Hollywood power list. More astonishingly, one earnings estimate put him first among directors: his fee and back-end participation from Batman Begins alone could bring in more than $100 million.

That was an extraordinary amount of cash, not just a paper valuation.

Jennifer knew wealthy people who looked impressive on a balance sheet but had little money they could reach quickly. Evan had a bank loan, but she saw no comparable pile of troubled assets behind it.

To her, he was a billionaire in more than name: a net worth above a billion dollars and access to substantial liquid funds.

Money on that scale seemed to buy a freedom ordinary people never had. At moments, Jennifer thought the law itself served men who could afford to fight through it.

Put his playboy habits aside, and he looked to her like an enviable partner. Reading those lists had made her envy Naomi Watts. Jennifer found herself wondering who would turn down the chance to have his child.

"Talk to Warner for me," Evan told Hector. He put out his cigarette in the ashtray. "I'll try to finish the principal scenes within a week. Guillermo can stay for the inserts and establishing shots. I'll head back to Los Angeles ahead of the rest of the crew."

"All right."

Hector nodded. For now he was a messenger and a buffer, and he knew it. "Publicity has something more specific in mind. Before The Departed opens, they want to repair some of the damage to your reputation from the last few weeks."

"That's their field. I'm fine with it."

Outside, the crew began preparing to resume work. Evan checked the time, rose, and headed for the trailer door.