American Entertainment: Starting with playing the role of Little Beaver

Chapter 81 I'll be waiting for you in the summer

The summer movie season was actually created by Steven Spielberg.

On June 20, 1975, Jaws was officially released in North America. It raked in $6 million at the box office in its opening weekend, and reached $700 million in 10 days. In 59 days, it broke $2100 million in North America.

After the astonishing results were announced, the media asked Spielberg for his thoughts. At the time, the young Spielberg said:
"I am most grateful to the American students, because it was they who went to the cinema during the hot summer and watched the movie that enabled 'Jaws' to create a legend and ascend to its pedestal..."

Thus, the concept of the summer movie season officially came into being.

Because Spielberg showed capitalists the purchasing power of students.

Uh……

A box office of 700 million in its opening week is already quite impressive, especially considering that in 1975, there was no such thing as a nationwide theatrical release in North America.

When Jaws premiered, only 409 theaters across the United States had a copy.
At its peak, there were only 954 cinemas showing the film at the same time.

So if you really calculate based on the opening weekend attendance of "Jaws", even without considering inflation, if "Jaws" could be released simultaneously in theaters across the United States, its opening weekend box office could reach more than 50 million.

More than 50 million in 1975.

They are truly divine beings.

Furthermore, since summer vacation in North America generally begins in mid-to-late May—and the last Monday of May each year is Memorial Day, a federal public holiday, schools are required to close. With summer vacation starting at the end of May, how many students would be willing to return to school in early June to continue their studies? Therefore, summer vacation in the United States typically begins before Memorial Day.

After this change, the summer movie season in North America became different from other markets, starting on May 15 and ending on August 31.

Since the definition of the summer movie season is exceptionally clear, the film that kicked off the summer movie season in 2003 was "The Matrix Reloaded," which grossed over 2 in North America in just 11 days, outperforming all its competitors.

However, even so, there are still experts who can achieve success under its high pressure.

That's Jim Carrey's "Bruce Almighty".

It was officially released on Memorial Day and grossed over 100 million yuan in just seven days!
This achievement left people both inside and outside the industry speechless with astonishment!

At the time, everyone was speculating that this might be Jim Carrey's most successful film.
The global box office could even reach 5.

But unfortunately...

Eight days after the release of "Bruce Almighty", "Finding Nemo" was released.

Pixar's crowning achievement directly dampened the high momentum of "Bruce Almighty".

From then on, there was only one voice in the vast North American market.

That is-

"Nemo—"

"Hahaha—this dad is so silly—"

In a movie theater in Los Angeles.

Peter Hernandez was laughing so hard at Marlin, the clownfish father in "Under the Sea".

His timid nature and tendency to jump around in surprise make his behavior seem incredibly comical.

However, his deep love for children adds a lot of warmth to the film.

"Wow—Pixar is truly amazing—they manage to make every movie both funny and touching—"

"Yes, Pixar has never disappointed us since Toy Story, unlike Disney, which hasn't had any watchable movies since The Lion King. After the new century, they have completely fallen into decline."

"Uh...you can't really say that, can you? After all, last year's Lilo & Stitch was pretty good, and they're releasing a pirate movie this year, right? I saw the trailer, and it looks great."

"Hey, I didn't like the Lilo & Stitch movie, but as for the pirate movie you mentioned... it's really great?"

"Of course! If you don't believe me, let's sit a little longer after 'Under the Sea' ends and watch the trailer."

"Okay, no problem."

The guy Hernandez was chatting with was his roommate.

He was also the first friend Hernandez made after arriving in Los Angeles.

Like Hernandez, this guy also came to Los Angeles at the invitation of Dr. Dre, about two and a half years ago.

However, the trials and tribulations of the year did not allow him to soar to new heights.

He is currently still an assistant at Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment.

And this position...

Hernandez, who was new to the area, also held this identity.

In the context of "Journey to the West," he wouldn't even be as good as the little mountain-patrolling demon, Xiao Zuanfeng.

Because the days of doing odd jobs were so boring, all they did every day was make someone a cup of coffee, run errands for someone, clean the company, or accompany people to drink and sing karaoke. They couldn't even record songs, let alone release an album.

So, feeling bored, they decided to go to the movies together.

Pixar suited their tastes, so they chose it.

The 100-minute underwater adventure also brought them relaxation and joy.

As the movie ended and the lights came on, instead of getting up like the others, they sat there watching the commercials during the intermission—a common practice in Western cinemas…

The management of cinemas in Europe and America is very chaotic. Because there is so little information on movie tickets, it is very troublesome to check them. So, under normal circumstances, cinema staff will not make things difficult for themselves and will not check the situation in the theater.

In other words, if you're brave enough, you can even buy a ticket and watch movies all day.

I went into the cinema as soon as it opened in the morning, and then kept changing theaters.

Of course, Hernandez and his team wouldn't do something like that.

Because California didn't have any laws allowing free purchases at that time, if you were caught, you would be charged with burglary.

A movie ticket only costs a few dollars! Why risk a minor offense for such a small amount? That's just plain stupid.
They sat for a while and then left, while trailers for various films began to appear one after another—

The first character to appear is a handsome young man driving a Nissan GT and racing against others; this looks just like something out of "Fast & Furious".
Next up was another handsome young man, who was extremely angry on screen, and then he transformed—yes, the Hulk;
Following closely behind are three pairs of black leather pants, with stunningly beautiful women fighting criminals; this is Charlie's Angels.
Then came handsome men and beautiful women, who fell in love on screen, and this...

"Oh, Fox really knows how to make money. Putting Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini in a movie? That's really..."

"Haha, I also think Fox's behavior is pretty crazy. These two are singers, how can they act in movies!"

"Yeah, I think this will be the worst movie of the year."

"I think so too. Singers should just focus on singing. Does Fox think everyone is Isabella? That's hilarious!"

As soon as romantic movies appeared, Hernandez and his friends felt their inner fire of吐槽 (tu cao, meaning to roast or criticize) burning fiercely.

Well, what can you do when the movie is called "Dance Frenzy"?

This is a movie that Fox made specifically for the winners and runners-up of "American Idol".

During the promotion, Fox stated that this was a reward for the winners of "American Idol" and a sincere way for them to give back to their fans. But in reality... anyone with a brain knows that this is just a money-grabbing scheme.

Nobody had high hopes for it, including the lead actress, Kelly Clarkson.

This is not only because the reasons for the film's approval have already been thoroughly investigated by the media—

Seeing that Universal made a lot of money from Eminem's "8 Mile", Fox thought it was possible to get involved in idol movies as well. To that end, they created the "Dance Fever" project in just three weeks.
Furthermore, the entire project only took six weeks to produce.

This also includes the actors' rehearsals.

It taught people who couldn't dance to dance.

When everyone knows these things, will "Dance Frenzy" become a hit?
So they would defecate upside down and then catch it with their mouths!
Amidst the two's complaints, the trailer for "Pirates of the Caribbean" finally appeared.

Then, in the very first scene, Hernandez's companions emitted a sharp, explosive sound.

The young female protagonist was looking in the mirror and discovered a pirate gold coin hanging around her neck—

"Isn't that the girl from 'The Voice'? Lily's sister?" The friend suddenly turned around.

He stared at Hernandez in disbelief.

"Yeah~"

Hernandez laughed and nodded, "That's her. Her name is Keira Knightley, and she's also a British actress."

"Oh—so she's the female lead in 'The Pirates'? I remember she acted pretty well in 'The Voice'!"

"Yeah! I only started watching 'The Pirates' because of her! I was really impressed by her on 'The Voice,' and the scene where she gave Isabella the painting was hilarious. Then, the part at the end of the movie where she was making support outfits really touched me, so... I personally think she probably won't act in a bad movie..."

The film industry relies heavily on reputation.

If you have a good reputation, that's why people go to the cinema to see you.

Your reputation is bad...

How about a murder mystery game for weight loss?
That's why when Keira Knightley landed the role of the older sister on The Voice and then encountered Isabella, who was making a meme about herself, specifically her own beaver meme, she left an exceptionally deep impression on moviegoers worldwide.

So……

Is she the female lead in "Pirates of the Caribbean"?
So, paying some attention to it seems like there's nothing wrong with that, right?

"I think this movie is worth watching—"

The two-minute preview was over in the blink of an eye.

The beautiful girl, the hilarious fight scenes, and the realistic special effects piqued the interest of Hernandez's friends!

"Shall we go together then?"

Hernandez invited his friends to team up.

"Good~"

My friend nodded decisively.

While his friends were happy about discovering a new movie, and Hernandez was pleased with the success of his recommendation,

As the trailer for "Pirates" disappeared, new images appeared on the dark screen.

It was a light and cheerful string melody—

Even more so—

"Huh? Isn't this the prelude to 'Love Story'?"

The sudden sound made the two people, who had already gotten up and were preparing to leave, pause in their tracks.

He looked at the screen with a puzzled expression.

Under their gaze, a bright room suddenly appeared on the screen.

It was a music room, with Isabella in the center.

Holding a guitar, eyes slightly closed, he was enjoying the music...

“Ohhhhhhh——”

The sudden appearance of the scene surprised the friends.

"I-I-I-I-I-Sabella?"

He doubted his eyes.

"Wait—she's got a new movie out? How come I didn't know about that?"

The friend wondered if he was dreaming.

Hernandez, however, frowned and narrowed his eyes, because he didn't know either. But he was a loyal Coypu fan!
So……

'What's happening here? ’

Amid Hernandez's bewilderment, Miss Beaver on the screen finished playing the prelude to "Love Story".

Just when everyone thought she was about to burst into song, she stopped singing in the music room.

He put down the guitar and began to stroke the piano beside him.

The moment the piano keys were struck, a narrative filled with memories also emerged from the theater's sound system—

"I became fascinated with music when I was very, very young."

"I think that rhythmic and melodic sound is very pleasant to listen to."

"I wanted to listen to it forever, and I wanted to try to recreate it, but... I didn't succeed..."

"Even so, I am lucky because after my family learned about my idea, they sent me to study music and piano. My family supports me in pursuing my dream and is willing to help me pursue it."

"I am very grateful to my family."

"when--"

At this point, Isabella, who had been gently touching the piano keys, suddenly touched on an accented note.

It seems like a mistake was made, but it also seems more like it was intentional.

As the accented note sounded, the image on the screen suddenly ripped apart.

If I had to describe it, it would be like an invisible giant hand that took the huge screen as a photograph and then ripped it apart, instantly splitting the image in two. But as the image separated, a new world appeared.

It was a rainy day.

Isabella sat quietly in a glass-enclosed sunroom.

Large raindrops fell from the sky, hitting the glass hard and making a crackling sound.

Water, flowing like a waterfall, cascaded down the roof, distorting the view of the world outside the glass.

Isabella stared blankly at the blurry image, then—

The melody of "Tears In Heaven" began to play.

As the film camera started up, a slightly nostalgic voice drifted into everyone's ears—

"However, an unexpected accident brought my journey of pursuing my dreams to an end."

“My family suffered a tragedy; my father left me forever.”

"With his departure, my musical dreams have come to an end."

"My father's passing has deeply saddened me; the harsh reality is suffocating me, but—"

"I am very lucky."

"Because I met her..."

As the rain fell, the torrential downpour vanished instantly.

The sky suddenly cleared up.

The warm sunlight dispelled the gloom, a sight that surprised Isabella, who got up.

As she moved, a clear figure appeared on the transparent glass of the sunroom.

However, the figure was not Isabella herself.

But -

"Hermione Granger?"

Besides Hernandez and his friends, there were other people in the theater.

After all, it's summer vacation right now.

There were many people watching the movie.

Hernandez and his friends could quietly enjoy what appeared to be a trailer for a movie, but others...

When the blonde girl in her Hogwarts uniform appeared, there were many gasps in the theater.

This contains a question—

Because at that moment, no one knew what Isabella was actually saying.

This contains joy—

Because Miss Beaver is currently a top influencer.

As long as her works have never been criticized, no matter what she releases now, there will always be people blindly rushing to criticize it.

But none of the above matters.

As the gasps of surprise rang out, the little girl on the screen had already reached out her hand.

Isabella and Miss Beaver touched fingertips through the glass, and the next second, a special effect like ripples on water suddenly appeared.

As if traveling through time and space, it drew everyone's attention to Hogwarts—

Scenes from "The Philosopher's Stone" and "The Chamber of Secrets" flashed by continuously!
The memories, like turning the pages of a book, only stopped when the filming of "Azkaban" was brought to a close!

Beside the Black Lake, a petite figure stood playfully with her hands behind her back, smiling at everyone outside the camera's view—

"Harry Potter changed my destiny and gave me a new life."

"I am truly grateful to Aunt Rowling for her recognition, and I am also very grateful for your support."

"Of course, I would also like to thank Chris Columbus, the director of Harry Potter, and Warner Bros., because it was with their help that The Voice was able to be made."

"The Voice of China is a projection of my personal musical dreams."

"Its success and your appreciation for it have surprised and delighted me."

"And now..."

"I also want to share another surprise with you."

At this point, Isabella lifted her magic robe and took out her wand.

With a simple wave, the world around you instantly changes.

The unfathomable black lake has vanished, replaced by a magnificent stage.

The Hogwarts school uniform was quickly removed, and a sparkling princess dress was put on in its place.

At the same time, the melody of "The Climb" began to play from the theater's sound system—

"Your support has allowed my musical dreams to continue."

"It also allowed Warner to see the power of dreams and hear the voice of pursuing dreams."

"Therefore, after a long discussion, we decided to bring the stage of 'The Voice' from the screen to reality."

"As long as you love music, enjoy singing, and have dreams."

"Then you can participate in the upcoming 'The Voice'."

"but me……"

"We'll be waiting for you on this stage this summer."

"Shh-"

As soon as the words were spoken, the stage lights turned on simultaneously!
The gleaming white light made Isabella, standing in the center of the stage, look incredibly holy!

It made the vast stage even more magnificent!

After a two-second pause, the image on the screen blurred.

Then, the logo of "The Voice" slowly appeared.

Below the sign, two rows of logos are also displayed:

The first row features Disney, Warner Bros., and Beaver.

The second row features Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and more...

The sudden news was like a heavy hammer, leaving everyone in the theater completely bewildered!
Because they had never heard of the news that was currently circulating!
Because the news that is currently emerging has not been reported by any media outlets!
but--

As the screen disappeared and a new showing began, a tremendous murmur of discussion erupted in the vast theater—

"WWWWWhat—Is 'The Voice' going to be turned into a variety show?"

"Oh my god—when did this happen? How come I had no idea?"

"What did Isabella just say? Did she say she was here too?"

"Yes, yes, yes! She said she'd wait for me this summer! So if I participate in the competition, I'll be able to see her?"

"Wowwww—really?!"

"So how do I register? Did they mention the registration method at the end? I don't think I noticed!"

The sound soaring into the sky was enough to blow the roof off the theater!
The sudden sound was like a bomb, making everyone's eardrums hurt terribly!

But at this moment, no one cares about any of this!
Because the sudden news was just too explosive!

Because Isabella is just too popular!

Because of Miss Beaver...

Good reputation!
Hey.

The commotion brought Hernandez's friends back to their senses.

His eyes widened, his breathing became heavier, and his head slowly turned...

Although the lighting in the theater was poor at that moment, his eyes shone brightly.

"Peter, it seems we don't have time to watch 'Pirates of the Caribbean'."

He pursed his lips, his voice trembling as he spoke his thoughts.

Hernandez, who had been staring at the screen in disbelief, also turned around stiffly.

After noticing the excitement in his friends' eyes—

Understanding the other person's meaning, and thinking the same thing, he smiled, his cheeks twitching.