Coolidge, Arizona.
When 'Run Lola Run' first premiered, despite the media's widespread praise, most of the crew still only thought Simon was a slightly more talented young man.
However, with the release of the film's box office data, everyone's gaze towards Simon has been noticeably different in the past few days, even Catherine's.
First-week box office: $6.97 million.
Such figures, twenty years later, might not even amount to a fraction of a blockbuster's opening week box office. But in the 1980s, especially with the film only showing on 207 screens, it was enough to drop many jaws.
It's worth noting that in the recently concluded year of 1986, out of the 451 films released in North American cinemas, fewer than 90 grossed over $6.97 million. This means that in this era, over 80% of Hollywood films each year had a total North American box office that was less than 'Run Lola Run' in just over a week.
Moreover, for 'Run Lola Run', the first-week box office was clearly just the beginning.
Judging from the film's current reputation and media buzz, 'Run Lola Run' has successfully become a standard event film, which is Hollywood's collective term for films that achieve social impact and box office results far exceeding expectations.
Before 'Run Lola Run', only films like 'The Exorcist', 'Star Wars', 'Jaws', and 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' could be called event films. However, 'Star Wars' and similar films were still considered standard Hollywood commercial films.
Although Hollywood also had successful low-budget films like 'Mad Max', the total North American box office for 'Mad Max' back then was only $8 million, which was impressive, but far from the miracle of 'Run Lola Run', which grossed more than 10 times its production cost in its opening week.
Now, 'Run Lola Run' has, in a sense, pioneered a genre similar to low-budget, high-grossing films like 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Paranormal Activity' in the original timeline.
Furthermore, what startled some people even more were certain media predictions regarding 'Run Lola Run's' box office prospects.
150 million to 200 million dollars.
These box office figures would still not be considered particularly special twenty years later.
However, in all of North America, even including 'Platoon', which was projected to break a hundred million but hadn't yet, only five Hollywood films achieved a North American box office of over a hundred million in the entire year of 1986.
Among them, 'Top Gun', which propelled Tom Cruise to world stardom, only had a final North American box office of $176 million.
So, looking at 'Run Lola Run' now...
A projected total North American box office of $150 million to $200 million means that if the Hollywood films released later this year are slightly underperforming, the 1987 North American box office champion could very likely be taken by an independent film with a production cost of only $650,000.
18 years old.
650,000 dollars.
First film of his life.
North American box office champion.
Many people seemed to be watching a legend being born before their very eyes.
The hotel where the 'Near Dark' crew was staying.
The date was Saturday, February 21st.
In the simply modified screening room, the film's principal creators were watching the dailies of the footage shot this week.
As a director's assistant on a fixed weekly salary, Simon originally did not need to be, nor was he qualified to be, present at such an occasion.
However, last week, Kathryn personally brought him along to watch the dailies. But at that time, Simon had no say and was basically just an observer.
This week, it was producer Edward Feldman who personally spoke up at noon, hoping Simon could participate in this work, and even proactively mentioned that his director's assistant position could perhaps be changed to assistant director, similar to Kathryn's role in 'Run Lola Run'.
Simon naturally didn't mind helping, but he also understood Edward Feldman's intention to use his name during the film's future release. Although he agreed to watch the dailies and participate in discussions, he did not accept the other party's suggestion to re-sign the contract.
In the screening room, after a scene played where Caleb knelt before Mae and drank her blood, Kathryn pressed pause and subconsciously looked at Simon, who was sitting on the other side of the editing machine.
"The lighting still has some minor issues, but it can be adjusted in post-production," Simon said, then added, "However, I feel that the emotional changes between the two in this scene are too frequent; it's difficult for the audience to grasp which emotion you ultimately want to convey".
After listening, Kathryn said, "This is a progression and sublimation of the relationship between Caleb and Mae".
Simon considered for a moment and said, "Then, this part needs to convey a strong emotion to the audience even more. Perhaps it could be done this way: shoot an additional intimate scene".
Listening to Simon's nth 'perhaps it could be done this way' since joining the crew, Kathryn felt a strange emotion, but said, "I'm afraid that won't work. Adrian and Jenny's contracts don't include clauses about intimate scenes".
As Kathryn spoke, she also looked at producer Edward Feldman.
Edward Feldman also shook his head regretfully and said, "Simon, the crew's funds are very tight, and modifying the contract would definitely require more money. They probably wouldn't agree easily either".
Simon smiled and said, "I'm not talking about the kind that requires taking off clothes. Just later, kissing, embracing, feeling the scorching sun in the rising morning sun, like lovers about to sacrifice themselves, only hiding themselves in the darkness at the very last moment".
As he said this, Simon picked up a pen and quickly sketched a draft in his notebook.
Kathryn and Edward Feldman listened carefully and quickly agreed to Simon's plan, deciding to reshoot the scene they had just discussed.
They continued discussing until evening when a knock suddenly came at the screening room door. Then, Janette's figure appeared in the doorway.
Simon was a little surprised; Janette hadn't mentioned she was coming. He quickly stood up to greet her. Kathryn, Edward Feldman, and the others also stood up.
Simon and Janette hugged, and he asked with a smile, "Why did you suddenly decide to come here?"
Janette blinked and looked at Simon: "Don't you know?"
Simon was also a little puzzled: "Know what?"
Janette stared at Simon for a moment, confirming that he indeed didn't know why, then with a fleeting hint of slyness, she changed the subject, saying, "I'm not the only one. Mr. Peter Sanders from Fox is also here".
As she spoke, Janette gestured behind her, released Simon, and went to greet Kathryn and the others.
Simon was less surprised by the arrival of Peter Sanders, Vice President of Fox, than Janette was. The other party's intention was easy to guess, so he simply stepped forward, smiled, and shook hands with him, exchanging pleasantries.