"And... CUT! That's a wrap on Hard Candy!"
With director Zack Snyder's final command, the set erupted with an unprecedented wave of joy and exhaustion.
"We did it!" "Another feature film in the can!" "Fifty-six days from the first script meeting to the final shot." "Don't celebrate yet, man, we still have post-production!"
The crew's enthusiasm was infectious. Zane felt it too. While Static was his first film, Hard Candy was the first he had nurtured from a mere concept as a hands-on producer. He had poured his sweat and capital into it, and its completion felt like a monumental victory.
He walked over to his director. "Zack, congratulations. You did an incredible job."
"Mr. Blackwood, I should be thanking you," Snyder said, his voice thick with emotion. He was a 31-year-old man, but tears welled in his eyes. "You know, I've been directing music videos since 1990, always dreaming of making a real movie. I pitched to countless studios. They all said the same thing: 'You're a music video guy. Why would we trust you with millions of dollars?' You were the only one who gave me a shot."
"It's all in the past now, my friend," Zane said, patting him on the shoulder.
At that moment, Mark Ruffalo, the film's lead, approached them, his own face streaked with tears. "I... I also want to thank you, Mr. Blackwood," he managed to say.
For Ruffalo, who was 30 years old, this was his first-ever leading role. After nearly a decade of bartending to pay the rent and suffering through an estimated 800 failed auditions, he had been on the verge of giving up. The opportunity Zane had given him wasn't just a job; it was the validation of a lifetime of struggle.
"Alright, Mark, you're a grown man," Zane teased gently. "If you keep crying, you're going to make your co-star laugh at you."
As if on cue, Scarlett Johansson, looking far more mature than her thirteen years, chimed in with a playful smirk. "He's right, Mark. The way you and Zack are crying is really quite ugly!"
As the good-natured laughter subsided, Zane held up a hand for attention. "Everyone!" he shouted over the din. "Tonight, at my villa, we're holding a wrap party for Hard Candy! It will also be a celebration for Static officially crossing the sixteen-million-dollar box office mark! Everyone's invited!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the crew. Zane had bought the luxurious villa in Burbank as an investment, but using it to host a lavish party for his team was a calculated move to build loyalty and morale. It's amazing what a little generosity can do, he thought with a cynical smile.
That night, Zane's villa was alive with music and celebration. The party was a grand affair, costing him over $100,000, but it was worth every penny. The crews and casts of Static and Hard Candy mingled with the directors of his upcoming projects. Zane had also invited his key allies: John Lasseter from Pixar, the cantankerous retailer "Old Billy" Jarder from Utah, and, most importantly, the founder and CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, who had flown in from Seattle at Zane's personal request.
After the party wound down, Zane asked three guests to stay behind: his CEO Victor, Old Billy, and a curious Jeff Bezos.
"Alright, Zane, my boy," Old Billy said gruffly. "I'm not a young man. If you're going to keep me up this late, it had better be for a good reason."
"Don't worry, Billy, it is," Zane said with a laugh. He then nodded to Victor. "Victor, if you would, please show Mr. Bezos the proposal."
Bezos accepted the folder, his expression unreadable.
"Mr. Bezos," Victor began professionally, "my boss asked you here tonight to discuss a business partnership. Specifically, we're proposing a joint venture to bring the sale of movie merchandise to your online platform."
Bezos's eyebrows raised, intrigued. "Online merchandise sales... that's an interesting idea." Amazon was still known primarily as an "online bookstore," but he was already looking for the next big market.
Zane slapped his thigh, jumping in with the hard sell. "Look at the three of us, Jeff! I own a film company with a growing library of IP. Old Billy here has decades of retail experience. And, as it happens, his son owns one of the largest logistics and shipping companies in the Southwest, covering California, Nevada, and Utah. The three of us together have the products, the retail know-how, and the delivery infrastructure. We can partner with you to create a whole new sales vertical for Amazon, moving beyond just books."
Bezos and Billy were both silent for a moment, contemplating the powerful synergy Zane had just laid out.
Finally, Bezos closed the folder, a small, shrewd smile on his face. He looked at Zane and said, "It's a compelling pitch, Mr. Blackwood. The logistics partnership with Mr. Jarder's son is logical. But... with all due respect, why would I partner with you? Wald Pictures is a promising upstart, but you're still an unknown. If I'm going to enter this market, it would make more sense to partner with a major studio, like Disney or Warner Bros."
The challenge hung in the air. Zane simply smiled back, his expression calm and confident. He said nothing. But Old Billy, who had been watching the exchange, fell silent, a slow, dawning realization spreading across his face.
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