Hollywood was a social industry which meant that no matter who you are, the only way to move forward was to make connections.
Even if you are not moving forward, knowing more people was something that everyone followed.
For filmmakers like Zavier, they will know all sorts of people. Producers, writers, actors, actresses, CEOs, animators and especially other filmmakers.
Filmmakers would often try to get along with each other while trying to have a good rivalry at the same time. Though, it was inevitable that a few of them would not like each other.
Maybe it would be due to them not liking the other person's work or because of something personal like having a beef on some topic.
Anyway, at their core, filmmakers were people who were proud of their work and viewpoints. Almost at an arrogant level.
So, arguments between them weren't something uncommon. Zavier also had a few of them with other filmmakers but in the end, most of them would come to a common point and stop fighting.
After all, as people grow, they become more mature.
But there was still someone who Zavier only had rivalry with and not the good kind of rivalry.
The person he had a bad rivalry with was Arno Laurent, a French filmmaker who had transitioned to Hollywood early on in his career.
Apparently, his first movie in Hollywood had clashed with the first movie of Zavier and he had lost out to him in box office results. Although they have tried to have a good relationship in parties, their styles and philosophical viewpoint were exactly opposite.
It made them natural rivals.
Arno was invited to the private screening of [The Black Saint] too and in his heart, he hoped that Zavier's movie won't be as good.
When he entered the screening theatre, he looked around to see a lot of familiar faces there but he headed straight for Zavier.
He was talking to a person who Arno recognised as Aiden Silvereye, the lead. And an actor he found very promising but he looked too close to Zavier.
"So, you are writing a web novel? Is that some online novel?"
"Yeah, it's sort of. Just a fun, little novel people read for free. Web novels are growing in popularity these days. I feel like filmmakers are going to adapt them one day too."
"If they are good, I'm sure they will."
Zavier stopped talking when he saw Arno moving towards him. With a reserved smile, he waved at him.
"Hey, Arno. Glad you could find time to see my movie."
"I would have made time even if I had something important. After all, I heard a lot of good things about it being the best project to come out from Granite films." He then turned towards Aiden. "Arno Laurent."
"Aiden Silvereye, a pleasure to meet you."
For the record, Aiden had seen a lot of Arno movies. He was purely a commercial filmmaker who had made giant action movies, even having super soldiers fighting in them. In one of them, he broke an actual bridge while filming.
Zavier was someone who had directed more critical stuff, ranging from TV shows to movies.
"I heard that [The Black Saint] had a lot of violence. I didn't think you would go such a route."
Arno said, looking at Zavier who just smiled.
"You are not the only one who likes violence and I did try delving more into it with [The Black Saint]. Just it wasn't like this. It's much, much more graphic."
"Ah, then are you going for an adult rating? R-18?"
"I'm not going for it but I'm pretty sure the censor board won't let kids watch it."
Getting an adult rating means that the prospects of a box office success goes way down because a lot of families go to movies with their kids. Reason why kid friendly movies are always at the top of box office charts.
An adult movie had only become a box office beast a few times. Most are happy with breaking even and getting critical recognition.
"Then, I'm glad we are not clashing at the box office this time. My movie won't be released till Christmas. I hope you break even this time." Arno said casually.
"I don't think it would be a problem even if we have clashed and the movie would do much more than break even."
"Oh, you never seem that confident before."
Arno was a bit surprised as he had never seen that level of confidence on Zavier. A filmmaker would be very confident in his movies but they would mostly be about the quality as he only the quality in his control.
But here, Zavier looked like he had seen a future where his movie had shattered box office records.
"Good luck to you then. I hope the movie is as strong as your confidence."
Arno simply said that and nodded towards Aiden before leaving.
'Ah, let's see if this movie would actually do something good at the box office.'
He thought in his mind.
As a commercial filmmaker, he felt like he had the best sense of the market and which movie would attract more people.
Even though he makes action movies, he doesn't do too much violence for it to stay kid friendly.
But it seems like Zavier hadn't learnt that lesson yet.
***
Three hours later, the movie was over and Arno, who had been watching it, didn't have any words to say because of the fact that he was stunned.
'The movie… how the heck did Zavier make something like that. No, he was always good with the human mind but he never made charismatic characters before.'
He thought in his mind.
Even though he hates to admit it, the movie was the best work of Zavier. He would even say that it had given him a bit more inspiration for his next movie and what direction he wanted to go.
But when he thought about it clearly, he doubted this movie would go on to be a commercial success.
After all, he had too many gore scenes.
One in which Kai smashes a guy's head in the railing of a terrace and throws him from there. There were disturbing scenes of a man falling into the bottomless pit of life and changing in a demonic way from there.
Arno took a sigh of relief when those thoughts entered his mind.
If [The Black Saint] would have been a commercial hit, then as Zavier's rival, he would be in pressure as his movie was also going to release a few months later.
But it seems not.
He approached Zavier who was with Aiden after a while. They were talking to a few production employees with smiles on their faces. The reception of the screening has been extremely positive.
So, they were content.
"Zavier, the movie truly surprised me. You really hit it out of the park this time. Never expected such a story from you."
He praised and Zavier looked at the genuine look on his rival's face before nodding.
"Thank you. This story took away a lot from me personally."
"I can sense that. I really hope you win some awards in the season. You deserve at least that much."
Aiden found some of his words strange and tilted his head in confusion.
"What do you mean by at least that much?" He asked.
"I mean, with that much gore and things that made me, an adult in my 40s feel a bit scared, I doubt it will get wide appeal. Even R-18 movies have a limit and this goes way past that."
"So, you mean it won't be commercially viable?"
"I personally don't think so." Arno said confidently, then added.
"Speaking from experience."
Arno felt like Aiden would take the words of a commercial filmmaker like him. After all, he had two 300 million dollars movies in his career.
But Aiden shook his head.
"I feel like it would earn a lot though."
"Obviously because you are the actor. If you are not confident in your project, then it will never work."
"No, I'm confident enough that I can make a bet."
Aiden said, making the heated discussion more interesting. Zavier looked at him wondering what he was saying. Even other people gathered to see what was going on with amusement on their faces.
"What kind of bet and how much do you think [The Black Saint] will do?"
"500 million dollars."
When that number came out of Aiden's mouth, everyone looked at him like he was a narcissistic lunatic. After all, only those types of actors would think their movie would earn half a million dollars.
That was a mark even many Oscar winners haven't crossed in their lives.
Even Zavier wondered if Aiden was going too overconfident. He felt like the movie would earn double its budget. Around 120-150 million dollars but 500 million dollars was something reserved only for superhero and big franchise movies.
"That's a number even I have not crossed." Arno smirked. "So, what kind of bet we talking about here?"
