Chapter 229: Replacing Cameron

Inside the Duke Studio editing room, the atmosphere was significantly lighter than it had been for the past month. Post-production on Chicago was gradually winding down. Neither Duke nor Mike Dawson's editing team felt the crushing pressure of the previous weeks, though they maintained a serious, rigorous focus as they tackled the final fine cut.

"Mike, re-edit this part."

Pointing at the footage playing on the monitor, Duke told the editor, "The narrative rhythm between the scenes is disconnected. Change it to a Parallel Montage."

For the sequence where the female inmate Catherine is hanged, Mike Dawson re-edited the scene using a Parallel Montage, just as Duke had requested.

Anna Printz had been standing nearby, observing the process. When she saw the re-edited footage play back, she immediately understood the intent behind the change.

It was a classic Parallel Montage. On one side, a performance unfolded on a glamorous stage, with the announcer introducing Catherine for her Hungarian Vanishing Act. On the other, reporters broadcast live under a bleak sky as she was marched to the gallows—the first woman to be executed in Illinois.

She climbed the tall diving platform on stage while being escorted up the gallows at the execution ground. The same rope dropped down, the same noose slipped around her body. The only difference was the entirely divergent ending.

The synchronized cuts stood in stark contrast yet echoed each other perfectly. The stage was left with only an empty rope, while the audience's roaring applause played over a shot of lifeless feet dangling at the execution ground—a sharply satirical and biting juxtaposition.

Watching the sequence, Anna felt as if life itself were nothing more than a gorgeous performance. A death that should have been cruel and gruesome had been rendered exceptionally beautiful by the director.

With that, post-production came to an end. Although it had lasted over a month, it was hardly anything compared to the grueling, lengthy shoot.

Leaving the editing room, Duke returned to his office. Robin Grande, Penny Kalis, and Warner Brothers' Jamie Jensen were already waiting for him. The three parties were still discussing the film, primarily focusing on promotion and distribution.

"Warner has been using your collaboration with Tom Cruise as a major selling point."

Only a fool would pass up the marketing hook of a blockbuster director teaming up with a megastar for the first time. Jamie Jensen continued, "We're also running campaigns targeting the nostalgia crowd and theater enthusiasts. Based on our current feedback, roughly sixty percent of musical theater fans have indicated they plan to watch the movie to see how it differs from the stage version."

Duke knew very well that the promotional strategy laid out by Warner Brothers was highly targeted.

Penny Kalis chimed in, "From what I've seen, this targeted marketing is showing good results. Now that the film is finished, we still have a little over two months before the release. Duke, you need to follow up on your end at the right moments."

"I'll let you control the exact pacing, Penny," Duke replied, knowing she was referring to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

"I already have a detailed plan in place," Kalis said without elaborating further.

Duke turned his attention to Jamie Jensen and asked, "What about distribution?"

"Given the film's genre, the initial theater count definitely won't be high." Jamie Jensen thought for a moment before explaining. "Theaters won't allocate too many resources to this kind of movie right out of the gate. Therefore, we'll target the core demographic and open with limited screenings before gradually expanding the release scale. We're going to push for Oscar nominations. Once the nomination list is announced, the film will roll out in overseas markets."

As long as it benefited the film's profitability, Duke was more than willing to cooperate with Warner Brothers. He was also well aware that this was the most standard theatrical treatment for a musical.

Jamie Jensen didn't stay much longer before heading back to Warner. After he left, Penny Kalis said, "You'll be taking the film to the Toronto Film Festival soon. Don't forget to give Kate a heads-up in advance."

The Toronto Film Festival did not currently have a competition section. Chicago would be participating in the film exhibition segment, purely for the sake of drumming up publicity.

Compared to the simple, brute-force blockbusters of the Summer Season, a film like Chicago—with its inherent genre limitations—required a massively complex promotional campaign filled with all sorts of varied elements to achieve success.

Elements like Tom Cruise performing in his first-ever musical, personally singing and dancing. Or the fact that ever since July, the tabloid media had been hyping up a romance between Duke and his new leading lady sparked during the filming of Chicago, even though they lacked concrete evidence and the parties involved had never made a public response.

"According to the plan, during the final phase of pre-release promotion, you and Kate will publicly hold hands and kiss, officially confirming your relationship to the world."

Leaving Duke Studio and walking toward the parking lot, Penny Kalis was still outlining her plan. "Right around the time the movie opens, Vivian and I will arrange the perfect opportunity for Kate to officially move into your mansion. The two of you will walk the premiere red carpet with your fingers intertwined."

"I have no problem with any of that."

Ever since Duke agreed to use himself as a major promotional hook, he had been fully mentally prepared.

"You can coordinate the specific details with Tina," he added.

Seeing how cooperative Duke was, Penny Kalis sighed before adding, "If Tom Cruise could also drop some heavyweight news right around the time the film hits theaters, Chicago would draw even more eyeballs."

'Get David Beckham to have a gay affair with him?'

The moment the thought popped into his head, Duke quickly shook it off. Regardless of whether that old rumor was true or false, Tom Cruise himself wasn't foolish enough to agree to use something like that for publicity.

'Besides, David Beckham doesn't seem to hold much PR value right now anyway, does he?'

After calling her own driver, Penny Kalis slipped into Duke's car. "Where are you heading?"

"To the dealership!" Duke started the engine and steered out of the parking lot. "Tina is waiting for me. I'm planning to buy a few cars to fill up the garage."

That was a joke, of course. With his new film coming out, he would inevitably be attending various events over the next few months and hosting timely parties at home. Having multiple luxury cars was a necessity.

Duke had already picked out the cars beforehand; bringing Tina Fey along was purely for her haggling skills. It didn't take long after arriving at the dealership to finalize the purchase of an RV, an SUV, and a station wagon. The dealership would ship the vehicles directly to Duke Manor afterward.

Upon returning home, Duke found Catherine Zeta-Jones waiting in the living room. She was sipping black tea and chatting with the housekeeper, looking so relaxed and comfortable that she perfectly resembled the lady of the house enjoying afternoon tea.

Seeing Duke walk through the door, housekeeper Emma stepped forward, taking his briefcase and murmuring, "Miss Jones has been here for two hours."

Duke nodded and walked over to the sofas. Zeta-Jones stood up and greeted him affectionately.

"Darling, you're finally back!"

Hearing this, Duke asked smoothly, "What brings you by, Kate?"

"I heard our yacht arrived." Zeta-Jones looked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean. "I came over specifically to see it, and I want to take it for a spin."

The small coastal yacht had been delivered three days ago and had been docked at the manor's seaside pier ever since. The Princess Company had even left behind a short-term instructor, but Duke had been so busy with the movie lately that he hadn't found the time to try it out.

"Let me go change."

Heading toward the stairs, Duke turned to the housekeeper. "Emma, notify the instructor from the Princess Company. Tell him we're preparing to head out to sea."

The red-hot Summer Season hadn't been over for long, yet for the film studios, another crucial release window was already opening. New promotional and distribution plans were being drawn up in full swing.

Miramax was a film company established in the 1970s. They rarely engaged in massive-budget blockbusters, preferring instead to focus on alternative and relatively niche subjects. Through over a decade of hard work by the Weinstein Brothers, along with their acquisition by the industry titan Walt Disney, Miramax had grown into one of the most important independent distributors in the country. In fact, after Carolco Pictures went bankrupt last year due to Cutthroat Island, Miramax had faintly emerged as the leader of the second-tier film companies.

"Anthony, starting in October, you need to move to Los Angeles!"

Squeezing his obese frame into the sofa, Harvey Weinstein spoke to the British director beside him. "You need to cooperate with Miramax's promotional campaign. If you want to make an impact during the awards season, you have to attend every single public event we arrange for you."

"I'll cooperate."

Anthony Minghella had no objections. "Is it confirmed that The English Patient will be released in November, Harvey?"

"November 22nd." Harvey Weinstein nodded. "Thanksgiving weekend. We'll roll the film out with a limited release in independent theaters, using a standard awards-season push strategy."

Hearing Harvey Weinstein's words, Anthony Minghella pondered for a moment before saying, "I heard Zeta-Jones mention a while back that Chicago is also premiering that same weekend."

"Don't worry about it. That's not Duke Rosenberg's forte," Harvey said. "I have reliable intelligence that their distribution strategy is similar to ours for The English Patient, so it won't create fierce competition in the market."

At the mention of Chicago, Harvey Weinstein felt somewhat conflicted. It was an adaptation property he had been highly optimistic about, but when he went to negotiate for it, he discovered that the film rights had long been snatched away by someone else.

"So you're saying Chicago is also targeting the awards season?"

Recalling the mess that had erupted during the previous awards season, Anthony Minghella frowned deeply. "Will that interfere with our plans?"

"Nobody knows for sure what kind of musical Duke Rosenberg is going to produce, but I'll prepare for the worst-case scenario."

Having clawed his way up from the bottom rung by rung, Harvey Weinstein refused to underestimate anyone. Besides, everyone who had underestimated Duke Rosenberg in the past was now a laughingstock in Hollywood. "Rumor has it that Warner Brothers has already laid out a comprehensive awards strategy for Chicago. If it achieves massive success, it will inevitably impact our own awards push."

He turned to look at the British director. "Anthony, don't worry too much. Miramax will devise the appropriate countermeasures!"