"Starting a film company?"
Anson looked at Lucas in surprise, his expression betraying his disbelief.
Lucas gave a slight nod. "This is just the first step. It has nothing to do with Sony-Columbia; it's about securing more autonomy for yourself and taking control of your own destiny."
"However, we must not repeat the mistakes of DreamWorks. We need to seize the initiative right from the start."
Anson sighed deeply.
Although he'd lived two lives, in his past life, he had always been a pitiful corporate worker. Particularly after what happened with his father, he developed a psychological aversion to entrepreneurship and business ventures. The idea of starting a company and bearing the responsibility for others' livelihoods and futures felt almost unimaginable.
"Are you sure about this?" Anson hesitated.
Lucas, however, remained calm and confident, exuding an air of quiet dominance. "I thought you liked adventures, just like when you were a kid."
Anson froze, then unexpectedly found himself smiling as the corners of his mouth lifted. "Alright, let's embark on another adventure. You pave the way, and I'll be the brains? Wait, no—that's wrong. You're the brains, and the muscle too. I'm just hitching a ride, aren't I?"
He burst out laughing at his own joke.
Lucas shook his head. "No, you're the brains."
Anson grinned even more brightly. "Right, I am."
The expression on his face made it clear he didn't believe Lucas. But Lucas was serious. "When it comes to films, I know very little. I can pull together a billion dollars from Wall Street, but I wouldn't know which film projects to invest in."
"This is where your confidence comes in, right?"
Anson realized Lucas wasn't joking.
"Up to now, every single one of your projects has been 100% successful. I mean, profitable. Do you know how rare that is for a company? For every project to be profitable?"
"In business, some projects are about building reputation; others are about maintaining connections. Not every project can make money. Sometimes, companies even take on losses to prepare for the long term. Look at DreamWorks; they're a classic case of idealists."
"But so far, every single one of your projects has been profitable. That's the foundation of our confidence."
"We just need to wait for The Butterfly Effect's box office results, and then I'll go to Wall Street to secure the investments."
"This is your first project as a producer, and there's nothing more convincing than that."
It was clear Lucas had already planned everything out.
The Butterfly Effect was set to release at the end of the year.
Anson grew curious. "What if The Butterfly Effect fails? I mean, what if it doesn't turn a profit or falls short of expectations?"
Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "Then I'll tell those hyenas on Wall Street it was just a fluke. We can wait and see the final results of your Elephant."
Anson laughed outright. "So, you're planning to fool them?"
Lucas replied, "Everyone assumes that Wall Street elites are the epitome of intelligence, or that Silicon Valley venture capitalists are all geniuses. But that's just a stereotype. They're simply better at playing the numbers game, relying on data and models to analyze. That's it."
"Convincing them to invest is a game in itself, and in the end, it's about who can make their case more persuasively."
"Otherwise, how do you explain all the terrible blockbuster flops in the market? It's because the studio executives were sweet-talked by producers into greenlighting those projects."
"The same goes for companies. We only see the success stories, but behind them are countless failures, a graveyard of dashed dreams."
"That's what investment is."
"Right now, you're our star player. I'm confident I can secure funding and use other people's money to make us money. If you can convince other directors or actors to join our projects, even better—say, someone like Tom Hanks."
"Of course, that's just an example. I know Hanks has his own production company and often works with DreamWorks. My point is, if you can leverage your network to enhance our company's image, we'll get off to a flying start."
Four months ago, when Brad Pitt came knocking and John Quinn tried to seize the opportunity, they were aiming for something similar.
Now, Lucas had stepped in to stand by Anson's side and show what he could do.
Things were progressing faster than expected.
Anson seemed a bit confused. "But where do we even start looking for projects?"
Putting everything else aside, take Anson himself as an example. So far, only The Butterfly Effect and Walk the Line had come his way—and even then, the people involved were partially banking on Anson's ability to sway the studios into investing.
In other words, Anson was being used as a tool, a pretty face for the posters.
Realistically, it wasn't surprising. People rarely expect a decorative vase to serve any practical purpose. That's the harsh reality.
This was why Edgar had been pushing for Anson to transition into something more substantial, just like Matthew McConaughey, Adam Sandler, Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio had done.
Lucas remained calm.
"In Hollywood, there's no shortage of projects. Every year, Hollywood produces about 400 films, but there are over 3,000 projects waiting to be made."
"They're all waiting for opportunities, all looking for funding."
"As soon as word gets out that we're funding, they'll come flocking to us. No need to worry."
"Plus, for an ordinary production company, there might be concerns about scams. But with you at the helm, it's much simpler."
Anson raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried about being scammed?"
Lucas looked over.
Anson clarified, "What I mean is, you're going to Wall Street to convince them to invest, but then here in Hollywood, the producers will be trying to convince you to invest."
"Sure, Hollywood is full of projects, but 99% of them are worthless junk."
Lucas nodded. "I know. That's why we see so many terrible films on the big screen every year."
Anson: ???
Lucas looked him in the eye. "That's why we need you."
After a roundabout explanation, the focus returned to Anson.
Honestly, Anson wasn't worried. Even though The Butterfly Effect had already started to ripple, this was still a parallel universe. With his memories of the previous world, selecting a few standout projects wouldn't be difficult. The truly valuable thing was Lucas's trust—an unwavering, unconditional trust.
That weight, both light and heavy, pressed on his heart.
Anson blinked, finally reacting, and smiled wryly. "So all the pressure is on me?"
Lucas remained expressionless. "I told you, we're in this adventure together."
Anson shook his head, the motion comically exaggerated. "In the end, dealing with Sony-Columbia still falls on me, doesn't it?"
Lucas smirked. "Revenge is sweeter when delivered personally."
Anson laughed. "Was that a joke? I never thought you had it in you, Lucas. But, honestly, I don't think comedy is your strong suit."
Lucas: "…Shut up."
"Don't be like that. Lucas-style humor has its charm, you know."
"…"
"Haha, hahaha."
(Chapter End)