Los Angeles.
It's Monday, March 27.
Right after the Easter weekend, another new release from Daenerys Entertainment, 'Hellraiser II', officially opened across North America on 1,117 screens.
Amy Pascal had the opening-weekend grosses in hand before dawn.
Over three days the sequel, rushed out to ride the coattails of New Line Cinema's 'A Nightmare On Elm Street', drummed up $4.61 million, roughly matching the first 'Hellraiser' and pointing to a domestic haul around $15 million.
With a production budget of only $3 million, triple the $1 million of its predecessor, and a matching $3 million P&A spend, a projected $15 million North American gross leaves Daenerys looking at a healthy profit on theatrical alone.
As soon as the numbers landed, development on 'Hellraiser III' was rubber-stamped in the morning meeting with New World Pictures execs.
The 61st Academy Awards Ceremony will be held March 29.
Right after that session Amy convened a second meeting in the same boardroom, huddling with Ira Deutchman's team about Oscar-night logistics.
The Oscars generate hundreds of millions in yearly revenue because every stakeholder gets a slice.
Beyond 'Rain Man', Daenerys is sending Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro and even Valeria Golino, flown in from Australia, to boost visibility for upcoming titles such as 'The Bodyguard' and 'The Sixth Sense'.
Valeria is the leading lady of awards darling 'Rain Man' and also stars in December's 'Batman'; either credential makes her presence essential.
In the Burbank branch boardroom of Daenerys Entertainment.
Near noon Amy checked her notes once more and asked across the table, "Final item, Ira, how confident are we about Simon's Best Score shot?"
"I've done everything I can, but Simon's chances are slim", Deutchman said. "Beyond him, the nominees are David Gresham for 'The Beans of Egypt, Maine', John Williams for 'The Accidental Tourist', George Fenton for 'Dangerous Liaisons' and Maurice Jarre for 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. Each has at least three prior Oscar music nods; Gresham with five and Fenton with four have never won".
Amy scanned the list: four veteran heavyweights and Simon, the rookie with his first nod.
Even with 'Rain Man's momentum she had to agree Simon's odds were long.
Setting the pages aside, she said, "I told Simon; he just shrugged and said to handle as we see fit. Still, we prep for the long shot".
"Usually a colleague accepts on the nominee's behalf. In the 'Rain Man' camp that leaves Valeria Golino."
"Valeria it is", Amy ruled. "Talk to her at minimum she needs an acceptance speech".
That settled, she ran through her checklist, found nothing else, and closed the morning meeting.
Casting sessions for 'Pretty Woman' were scheduled in Santa Monica that afternoon; filming had to start by early May. Amy had a lunch date with Gucci USA president Angela Ahrendts and didn't plan to linger in Burbank.
She had barely stepped out with her assistant when Deutchman caught up in the stairwell. "I hear pretty woman still needs a leading man?"
"Simon has already picked several candidates", Amy replied, amused. "If you're pushing someone, they'd better be exceptional".
Deutschman didn't hesitate: "We screened 'My Left Foot' last week, Daniel Day-Lewis. Thoughts?"
Amy pictured Day-Lewis's flawless turn as Christy Brown in 'My Left Foot', he'd cut his teeth on romance, Deutchman's own 'A Room with a View' and 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. "The 'Pretty Woman' hero is a corporate shark; Daniel radiates bohemian intensity, wrong fit".
Still, Deutschman pressed: "He's in town. Could we at least let him read?"
The 'My Left Foot' performance lingered in Amy's mind. "Santa Monica starts at four. I can give Daniel twenty minutes, tops. And Simon has final word".
Deutschman brightened. "Thanks, Amy. He'll be there".
She nodded. "Is Robert Altman finished adapting that Raymond Carver script?"
"He's delivered an outline; title will be 'Short Cuts'. It won't shoot this year".
After awards-season chores and the release of last year's 'Heathers', Deutchman's slate for the year boiled down to 'My Left Foot', 'Driving Miss Daisy' and the Gucci documentary, plus scouting art-house titles out of Cannes, though Daenerys's visibility keeps prices high and deals scarce.
As they pulled away, assistant Vanessa at the wheel, Amy in the back seat devoured another script.
This is a sequel to a horror film from the original New World Pictures library, adapted from Stephen King's novel 'Children of the Corn.' The first instalment was released in 1984 with a production cost of only $800,000, yet it grossed nearly $15 million in North America—performance comparable to the 'Hellraiser' series.
During the recent release of 'Hellraiser II,' New World Pictures president Danny Morris green-lit this project.
'Children of the Corn' had no real foundation for a follow-up; to continue, the story would basically have to reboot, lacking the through-line elements, nightmares or the puzzle box, found in franchises like 'a nightmare on elm street' or 'Hellraiser'.
In Hollywood, however, if a film can still turn a profit, such concerns are rarely obstacles.
As a Stephen King adaptation whose first entry delivered an impressive box-office return on its cost, a sequel was inevitable.
Absorbed in the script, jotting marginal notes as she read, she realized the car had stopped outside a restaurant in Santa Monica, a short distance from Daenerys Entertainment headquarters.
Amy stepped out with Vanessa; Angela Ahrendts had arrived early, and Valeria Golino was unexpectedly waiting inside.
Noticing Amy's puzzlement, Angela offered, "I was helping Valeria try on outfits at the Gucci boutique this morning, so we came together".
Amy didn't mind the extra guest, she'd planned to lunch with Valeria anyway, to discuss the Australia-based production of 'Batman' in detail.
The four women took their seats, ordered, and Amy asked Angela, "How are things on your end?"
Since starting the job at the beginning of the month Angela had been living out of suitcases, touring North America; she had already visited most Gucci boutiques on the East Coast, yet auditing every store in North America would take at least another month or two.
Her abrupt stop in Los Angeles was for a Gucci publicity push.
The Academy Awards Ceremony is always a prime showcase for luxury brands; Gucci had previously ignored this arena and lacked Hollywood contacts. Now that everyone shares one boss, the brand would no longer miss out.
"Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, Melanie Griffith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Madonna, Valeria and Bruce Willis's wife, Demi Moore, seven women will wear Gucci gowns", Angela said excitedly. "Plus, Iger has spoken with ABC; we'll get plenty of close-ups".
Amy was about to nod when she remembered, "No Nicole Kidman? She's presenting Best Production Design".
"No. I spoke with Mr. Friedman at WMA, Miss Kidman had already committed to Dior. He offered other names, but you know their profile, so we settled on seven".
Amy certainly didn't consider seven women too few; in fact, it was a large number, and all but Bruce Willis's relatively unknown wife are major names.
Demi Moore is also on the short list for 'Ghost', this move is an olive branch.
Without Bruce Willis's recent breakout from 'Die Hard', few would notice his model wife.
Privately, Amy favoured Michelle Pfeiffer or Julia Roberts for 'Ghost'.
Julia is locked into 'Pretty Woman', so she's unavailable. Had relations not soured, Meg Ryan would be a fit, or Nicole Kidman fresh from 'Pulp Fiction', though she seems a handful.
On balance, Michelle Pfeiffer is the first choice.
As for Demi Moore, Amy won't be swayed by such gestures. As Angela implied, many lower-profile attendees would love to wear Gucci, Daenerys Entertainment is not short of such overtures.
"Seven is enough. Over-exposure isn't good for a brand".
"I agree", Angela nodded. 'I'm actually looking to pull back some of our concessions. If a luxury brand is everywhere, it ceases to be luxury".
After small talk, Amy and Angela turned to business, the official Daenerys Entertainment after-party following the Oscars.
Last year the company had few nominations; Simon won Best Editing unexpectedly, but there was no celebration.
This year is different.
Given last year's string of hits, Daenerys Entertainment will host a lavish party to thank cast and crew and cement future relationships.
Amy has already spoken with Sophia several times; this year's post-Oscar bash will be dubbed 'Gucci Night', with heavy media coverage.
Although Angela argues that luxury should remain scarce, Gucci has been quiet for years and is overshadowed by Dior, LV, etc, this is a chance to break through.
The current strategy is to rebuild awareness first, then refine the brand image.
After a frantic final two days, the 61st Academy Awards arrived on March 29.
5 p.m. sharp, the red carpet began as stars converged on the Shrine Auditorium.