Back when Blood Diamond was predicted by so many to flop at the box office and break her winning streak, it was Laila's fans who turned the tide, pulling the film across the finish line with a solid 400 million gross.
Just imagine the kind of influence that represents.
So many film studios are eager to work with Laila—not just because her films tend to perform well, but because she herself has become a box office guarantee. As long as her name appears on a project, people are willing to buy in.
This was clearly evident from the perspective of the Phoenix Company. Any film by a new director, as long as it carried the words "Produced by Laila Moran," could sell several times more DVDs than other films without that credit.
People trust in her abilities. Even if she didn't write the script or direct the movie, just having her name listed as a producer was enough to earn the audience's confidence.
The recent small spike in box office numbers was exactly the result of this—fans organizing efforts on their own. They wanted the film to succeed even more than Laila did, and they took action by calling up friends and family and heading back to the theaters for another round of ticket-buying.
What shocked the media the most was that this wasn't just a local phenomenon. The U.S. saw it, sure—but international fans were doing it too. Especially in the East, a newly emerging box office powerhouse, the potential that exploded was beyond anyone's imagination.
Avatar's record there had already been surpassed by several hundred million, no less. Even measured in local currency, it was still an awe-inspiring achievement. With the film's extended release period, who could even guess what the final number might end up being?
Laila had plenty of fans in the East as well. When they saw news that American fans were organizing viewing groups to boost the numbers, they couldn't just sit back either. What's a little money? Let's keep going!
Unlike the original version of the film, Laila had gone all out for the most spectacular visual experience—not just 3D, but also an IMAX version. And don't forget, she controlled the largest number of IMAX giant screens in the world—most of them located in the East.
After watching the film in 3D, people couldn't help but wonder—If 3D already looks this amazing, what kind of experience would IMAX be? So those who could afford it went back to watch the IMAX version.
Meanwhile, those who saw it in IMAX for the first time found the visual effects so stunning they couldn't resist watching it again. This was the perfect fusion of technology and visual spectacle.
It's common knowledge that IMAX tickets are significantly more expensive than 3D. The more IMAX showings sold, the higher the box office gross. Wasn't that exactly how Avatar pulled ahead?
Whatever the case, the box office numbers continued to climb.
However, Hollywood's professional forecasters weren't amateurs. Before making their predictions, they had already factored in the loyalty and dedication of Laila's fanbase. So this recent slight uptick in box office was accounted for in their projections from the beginning.
Maybe the real numbers would end up higher than predicted—but that still wouldn't affect the final result much.
Whether it was 2.8 billion or 2.85 billion, the gap to 3 billion still loomed like a chasm.
Is a 200 million difference a lot?
Not exactly—but it's not a small amount either. After all, the third installment of Laila's Lord of the Rings series had once missed beating Titanic by exactly two hundred million, which left it stuck at #2 in global box office history.
So when the film's box office finally began its inevitable decline, it became clear that this downturn was unavoidable. The only question was whether it would taper off slowly or sharply.
Laila stared at the latest weekly box office trends, her brows furrowed from the start—never once easing.
It felt like running 9,990 miles of a 10,000-mile journey, only to be blocked right before the finish line. Anyone in that situation would feel frustrated beyond words.
Laila was no exception.
She was truly satisfied with what the film had achieved so far. Really, she was. This was something she had only dreamed about in her past life—and now she had actually done it. But still, failing to meet that final challenge… it left her deeply unwilling to accept it.
"There has to be something I can do. There must be another way!" she muttered, standing up and gazing down at the bustling street through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Her office had a prime location, offering a direct view of Hollywood's most vibrant district. Every year, countless people came to this place chasing their dreams—but the odds of succeeding were less than one in a thousand.
Some people stayed, working while studying and looking for opportunities; some gave up and returned to their hometowns, taking on jobs they once rejected and starting new paths in life. Others, like Demi, chose to stay involved in the film industry in other ways, dedicating themselves behind the scenes to the craft they loved.
Did those people not know how difficult it would be to break into this circle before they came?
No—they knew. Most of them were fully aware of what kind of life this was. Out of ten thousand people, maybe only ten would become actors. And of those ten, the odds of one becoming a star were painfully low.
Over the years, Hollywood's dazzling lights and glitz had blinded many. All people saw were the glamorous lives of celebrities. But how many actually noticed the dreamers struggling beneath the surface?
Laila's mind was a mess. Her thoughts wandered to the streets below, to all of Hollywood, to her past life. She felt such unwillingness—Just a little more! Just a little bit more! She had already used every advantage she could find, and the results were fantastic. So why, why couldn't she break Avatar's record?
Was it because she really wasn't good enough? Even after being reborn, even with all her so-called cheat codes, she still couldn't change her fate?
The door knocked softly, and Demi walked in, only to find her boss standing silently by the window, lost in thought. She didn't know if it was just her imagination, but from Laila's back, she seemed to feel a hint of melancholy.
Why would she be downcast? The film's box office was doing spectacularly. Her relationship with Roy didn't seem to be in any trouble. So what exactly was weighing on her mind?
Demi had come in to get a signature on some documents, but now she couldn't bring herself to speak. It just didn't feel like the right time. She didn't want to disturb her boss.
So she quietly closed the door again, leaving the room in peace for Laila.
The entire building was owned by DragonSoul Studios, and if one looked around, they'd see that everyone wore smiles. People were genuinely happy at work—because their company had a bright future, one that no other film studio could even come close to matching.
As long as Laila remained their boss, no one had to worry about becoming like those other shaky companies—wondering if they'd lose the generous salary and benefits they currently enjoyed.
To a movie studio, films were its products. And right now, The Avengers was about to hit 2.6 billion, with a guaranteed additional two hundred million in future revenue. Their product had become a massive hit, generating huge profits—and that was good news for every single employee.