Saturday, August 13, 2022
It had been three days since Owen returned home after wrapping up filming for The Hunger Games.
Sophie was still shooting Boogeyman and wouldn't be back until August 19, just six days away.
The official premiere of Paranormal Activity was getting closer, scheduled for Thursday, September 1.
The premiere would take place at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles, a historic venue often used by A24 for its major events. With a capacity of 600 people.
The trailer, released in July, had surpassed 500,000 views within its first few days, and now, more than twenty days later, had reached 2.4 million views on A24's official YouTube channel.
According to Cristian Méndez, A24's creative executive and a professional friend of Owen, the combined total across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter exceeded 3.5 million views, with a high engagement rate.
Horror critics and independent film channels that had seen the movie at Palm Springs spoke positively about it, further fueling interest. The reception was so strong that A24 decided to invest the maximum planned budget in promotion: $500,000.
The initial release would cover 500 theaters across the U.S., including key cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, and Miami. The goal was to keep the film in theaters for at least four weeks throughout September, then capitalize on October and the Halloween season.
A24's most optimistic plan aimed for a 6- to 8-week theatrical run, unusual for an independent film, but attainable if word of mouth was strong. On average, an indie film stays in theaters between 3 and 5 weeks; reaching 6 to 8 would already be considered a major success. If that happened, A24 planned to roll out an international release in October, targeting markets such as the UK, Australia, and select countries in Latin America and Asia.
Internal projections estimated an opening weekend gross of $1.5 to $2.5 million. That alone would cover the marketing investment and yield a profit. If momentum continued, the film could close its domestic run between $8 and $10 million, which would be more than satisfactory for A24.
In that scenario, with a $10 million box office run, Owen, who retained 20% of post-theatrical profits, would earn $1 million.
Not bad, considering he had invested only $20,000, and when Blumhouse tried to buy the film, they had offered $300,000.
Still, for Owen, those numbers were modest. He aspired to something much greater, inspired by the precedent of the original Paranormal Activity from his previous world, which had grossed $193 million worldwide.
Though the circumstances were different, he believed his version could far surpass $10 million and possibly reach $50 million. In that case, his share would be around $5 million, enough to finance his next film with full creative control.
Since both Owen and Sophie were busy with their shoots, A24 focused its promotion on pre-recorded material and scheduled social media posts.
Starting August 20, once Sophie was free, the two would begin an intense week-and-a-half promotional tour in Los Angeles and New York, leading up to the premiere.
Since returning from North Carolina, with no fixed work until August 20 and no plans to seek auditions on Backstage, Owen hadn't been idle.
He decided to invest part of his savings in things that would make his life easier and help prepare for the future.
The first thing he bought was a car. He was tired of relying on public transportation or spending money on Uber every time he had to get around Los Angeles.
He debated between an Audi A4 Premium and a BMW 3 Series 330i, both brand new. In the end, he went with the BMW. The base price was $42,000, but with taxes, it came out to $45,000.
Next, he turned his attention to what would become his production company. He wasn't planning to buy everything at once, but he did want to assemble a solid and professional starter kit. Among his purchases were:
-Two field monitors, one primary and one secondary: $4,000.
These monitors act as external screens that allow the crew, especially the director and the director of photography, to view the image captured by the camera more clearly and at a larger size than through the camera's built-in viewfinder. This makes decision-making easier, among other things.
-Shotgun microphone (MKH 416): $2,500.
Named for its barrel-like design, it's the ideal choice for capturing focused, high-quality audio of dialogue and sound effects in film, video, and television productions.
-Portable lights and LED lighting kit: $5,000 total.
-Professional sound recorder: $2,000.
-Three cinema lenses: $10,000.
-Supports and grip gear: $1,500.
-40TB storage system: $3,000, valued for its large capacity and high transfer speeds, allowing smooth handling and editing of massive 4K and 8K video projects.
Total: $28,000. Adding the car, he had spent $73,000, leaving his balance at $101,000.
It was a good starting point, but he still lacked the most expensive pieces: cameras, a broader set of high-end lenses, and some essential accessories.
Previously, while filming The Hunger Games in his spare time, Owen had stayed in touch with Matt, his best friend and trusted director.
With Matt's help, he drew up two possible budgets:
-Mid/indie budget: complete what he was missing with mid-to-high-end gear for around $150,000 more.
-High/top-tier budget: buy the best equipment available, flagship main and secondary cameras, Master Prime lens sets, camera-motion systems, professional-grade sound, cinematic lighting for large sets, carts, and transport logistics. A full arsenal valued between $500,000 and $550,000.
Matt didn't understand why Owen would want something so excessive. With that kind of setup, he could shoot several high-end feature films without renting anything, but it would also fill a grip truck and require at least two full-time camera techs and two lighting techs to operate.
Owen knew that. He also knew that his next film, if everything went as planned, would have a budget of $6 to $10 million. For that range, he didn't need such an extreme setup, just a consistent, upper-mid-tier one.
And he was almost certain he could afford it. With a conservative box-office projection of $10 million, that meant $1 million for him. He could even spend half a million on top-tier equipment and still have more than half a million left in the bank.
Though he didn't plan to go that far unless his earnings exceeded that figure.
That's why he had no hesitation buying the car and the preliminary gear, he knew that, within a few months, he'd have at least a million. In the meantime, he still had $100,000 available, enough to live comfortably without taking on auditions or other jobs.
"Owen?"
Owen, lost in thought, lifted his gaze from the table and met his mother's warm eyes.
"Two sugar cubes, as always?" Elizabeth asked, holding the spoon above the cup.
"Yes, Mom. Thanks," he replied, carefully taking the tea she handed him.
Elizabeth smiled. "You're welcome, honey," she said, dropping in the cubes and stirring gently.
Lately, Elizabeth had been living in a state of happiness she hadn't felt in years. Ever since Owen had gotten his life back on track, the house had been filled with a different kind of light. Not just because she could see him again and spend time with him, but because she saw him succeeding in a world she had always loved.
As a film enthusiast, she had supported every step Owen took in that direction, even during his darkest years, except for the incident.
But now everything was different. Her son hadn't just come back; he had forgiven her, even though she and the whole family had let go of him at one of the lowest points of his life.
Owen, with a maturity she didn't remember seeing before, even joked about it, saying it was exactly what he needed to wake up and straighten himself out.
Elizabeth saw him differently now, more focused and disciplined. His talent wasn't being wasted anymore, he was using it to its fullest.
As a mother, she could tell something deep within him had changed. It wasn't just that he'd hit rock bottom, been expelled from college and from the house, it was the way he now approached them. He spent more time with them, showed affection, and was more attentive.
He had reconnected with Sarah in a way Elizabeth thought was lost forever. They'd regained that sharp humor and sibling bond they used to have, only now he treated her with a patience and maturity he'd never shown before.
The old Owen could spend hours joking with her, but he'd been a mess when it came to discipline and commitment. The new Owen combined that same wit with iron determination and a work ethic that amazed the whole family.
Elizabeth and her husband attributed it to a natural process of maturity. After all, crises often forged character. In her mind, Owen hadn't completely changed: he had refined the best parts of himself and left behind what once dragged him down. He was still her son, with his sarcasm and his unwavering love for film and acting.
Sarah, on the other hand, had begun following the same path. She wanted to become an actress.
Elizabeth, still marked by what had happened with Owen in the past, had been far more cautious with her daughter. But over time, she realized that such overprotection might have been a mistake. So she decided to support her wholeheartedly.
Since the Palm Springs Festival, where Sarah seemed to take acting seriously, Elizabeth had been helping her rehearse lines, giving her advice, recalling her own brief and distant experience as an actress, and working alongside Owen to guide her. The two of them corrected her, motivated her, and, most importantly, gave her confidence.
Just a few minutes earlier, they had finished another practice session.
"So?" Sarah asked, leaning toward the table, elbows propped up, eyes fixed on her brother, who was sipping his tea with his usual calm.
"So what?" Owen replied, raising an eyebrow as he set the cup back on the saucer.
"Today marks exactly thirty days since we started acting lessons," she said, crossing her arms.
Thirty days during which Sarah hadn't missed a single session. At first, Owen and their mother had been present for each one. Later, when he left to film The Hunger Games, they switched to half-hour or hour-long video calls whenever he had a break.
The rest of the time, Sarah practiced alone or with her mother: monologues, facial expressions in front of the mirror, emotional control, body coordination, everything Owen had taught her.
She knew her brother was talented, she'd seen him act in school plays and now in his own projects. But discovering that he also had the gift of teaching, and could do it so clearly, had been a surprise.
"And you said that after a month, you'd give me an evaluation," Sarah continued, playing with a strand of her hair. "To tell me if I have talent… or if I don't stand a chance in the acting world."
"Oh, really? Was I that strict?" Owen asked with a small smile.
"Yes, you were," Sarah replied, trying to sound confident, though her right foot fidgeted nervously under the table.
Owen tilted his head, amused. "I said that to make you work harder. And yes, I remember. Mom and I have talked about your progress, and… well, today's the evaluation."
"And?" she pressed, leaning further forward.
Elizabeth, who had been listening with a smile, spoke up.
"Sarah, this month has been amazing. You dedicated yourself completely during your vacation, when you could've been hanging out with your friends or just relaxing. You practiced every single day, and that says a lot about you. You've got discipline, consistency, and a genuine desire to improve. That's a huge plus."
Sarah gave a shy smile, something rare for her. "Thanks, Mom."
"Now me," Owen said. "You've got something very important: presence. Even without saying a word, you can capture people's attention. Your voice has improved, your expressions feel much more natural. You pass."
Sarah looked at him carefully, searching for any hint of teasing in his tone. "So… I have talent?"
Owen smiled to the side. "You have talent and potential. And if you keep working like this, you could go far. But…" he pointed a finger, "don't chase fame. If you truly love acting, your focus should be on playing roles you genuinely care about. Fame is secondary."
Sarah nodded. "I'll keep working hard."
Owen raised his cup as if to toast. "That's the spirit, little star."
Sarah immediately frowned.
"Little star?" she repeated, her tone making it clear she didn't like the nickname at all.
"You're not exactly a big star yourself, brother. You're not Timothée Chalamet, Tom Holland… and let's not even talk about the real big ones: Brad Pitt, DiCaprio…" Sarah added.
"I know," Owen said, smiling like someone who already had the upper hand. "But still, with Paranormal Activity, I'm guaranteed at least a million dollars once it premieres. With some luck, a few million more. How much money do you have in your account?"
Sarah opened her mouth to fire back, but Owen, anticipating her retort and wanting to stop the conversation before it turned into a sibling argument, stood up.
"Better yet, before you start, let's get to the important part."
He walked over to his backpack, unzipped it, and rummaged around for a few seconds before pulling out a small bound booklet. Returning to the table, he set it in front of Sarah and patted it twice.
"Since you passed your evaluation, this is your next step."
Sarah and Elizabeth read the title on the cover:
One-Minute Time Machine by Owen Ashford.
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