Chapter 159: Superman II

Words : 1169 Updated : Oct 4th, 2025

While William White was busy producing MVs, Warner basked in the glow of a victorious dawn. Superman II, released at the end of April, performed well and was estimated to have over one hundred million dollars at the box office. Shall we celebrate? Hmm, let's keep it low-key. Is over a hundred million dollars that amazing? Every film from White Films hits that mark. It's a baffling statistic. Based on the promotions from White Films, their movies are indeed intriguing. Those who love comedies wouldn't want to miss them for anything. ... "Hey, who is that girl? What's the name of this song?" With the release of three new songs, an unknown record company suddenly became popular. Many people were curious to know where they could purchase the album. What? It's just a demo; the single hasn't been recorded yet. As for that handsome guy, he's none other than William White himself. The girl, on the other hand, is someone he discovered. The company will promptly help her record a single. The debut wasn't even a single; it was straight up an MV. How bold is that! You shouldn't be surprised -- this boldness really isn't just talk. It's quickly climbing up the charts, and you got nothing to complain about. Of course, there are complaints. Can you believe it? A top ten chart song with no album for sale, only on the radio or in MV form. A bunch of record companies are scratching their heads. What's up with this approach? Based on current data, this single's sales won't disappoint. MV, hmm, can't seem to do without it. Even at MJ's house, the TV kept playing MVs on repeat. He loved this form of artistic expression. It was practically made for him. Dang it, shouldn't have listened to that old man's advice. Now what? Where to find someone to shoot the video? If it doesn't come out well, it'll be a disaster. This is fundamentally different from stuff from a while back. The editing is so sharp without any drag. The folks at USC were watching too. Initially thinking there wouldn't be much difference, they now realized how incredibly distinct it was. Okay, William White's MV won't compete. When they first heard this, they thought it was for fairness. Now it seems there's more to it -- different league altogether. Thankfully, they've genuinely grasped something this time. They might not beat William White, but they're definitely better than the current bunch. Some smart students realized learning this could earn them good money. Many record companies were already knocking on their doors. These students charged lower fees and weren't too shabby, skill-wise. As for not being a big director, come on, firstly, you can't afford one; secondly, they don't want to shoot for you. It looks simple from the outside, but if you mess it up, it'll be quite embarrassing. ... When Lemon Tree aired, critics were quick to say the guy was just handsome, but his singing was awful. Then someone told him, "Dummy, he wrote the song, shot the MV himself, and owns both the record company and the TV station. Keep talking, let's see what you can say." Alright, nobody said anything more after that. He was just doing it for fun, adding some new tricks. Folks from formal education, why don't you try writing a song too? All three songs climbed the charts almost daily. It was a sensation in America, and other English-speaking areas took notice as well. Madonna seemed a bit off, held back from topping the charts because of one of the boss's songs. The record company was beyond frustrated. Without even recording it, they're already topping the chart -- is there no sense of justice? Geez, the broadcast frequency is ridiculous. Is this some sort of ad? Crap, must be it. Better hurry and make our own MV. If this keeps up, we'll be on the breadline soon. "Tut, recommendations come with a fee." "Damn it, I knew it. At least the price is reasonable." "Boss, if the singer participates in some talk shows, the fee rate might drop a few tiers." "Get it arranged pronto. This is a good deal. In that case, the TV station seems pretty decent." ... Johnny English was also ramping up promotions. Rowan Atkinson and Sharon Stone were on the move. Fortunately, the boss had his own TV station, so they weren't hassled. White Films' marketing always caught eyes. They would release some behind-the-scenes footage and even some forced cut scenes. It's unavoidable. A movie is just over an hour long -- you can't fit every scene in. But those cuts aren't without value. Many video tapes are director's cuts. They might not look better than the original but have more content. As for the well-performing Superman II, William White just offered congratulations, with no further comment. That indifferent attitude left some top execs twitching. Yeah, is a hundred million dollars a lot? His team had already reported to him that Superman II received average reviews. If they kept on like this, the franchise would lose its value. William White realized that audiences had grown jaded. If they kept using the same old tricks, audiences wouldn't buy it. You're not protecting America but fighting gangs in Paris?! That plot doesn't connect. Trying to please European audiences? Well, you missed the mark. The French critics were exceptionally harsh. You'd figure it out -- French audiences won't buy what Americans are selling. The Brits might be cousins, but they're not. ... The arrogant Warner couldn't enjoy their triumph for long. News of poor box office performance in Europe came out, and it wasn't much better in America. The consensus was that Warner was too lazy. You're simply shooting straight from comic books to movies without a script change. If that works, we'd be watching thousands of Superman films. The crux is that you have money to spare. As for us, not so much. Can't keep up with this, so goodbye Superman. I'm done watching. Of course, there were die-hards dressed head-to-toe in gear, showing up for screenings. Those were real fans. If there were twice as many of them, Warner might be drowning in cash. But alas, there was a long period in American history when comics were shunned by mainstream society. The "comics are harmful" era lasted long and caused a break in comic lovers. Why was Marvel so successful later on? Because it amassed many fans in the '80s, who would be about thirty by 2008. Whether nostalgic or longing for the past, these formed the base. The most endearing part is they could afford to do what they loved. ***** https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.

Chapter 159: Superman II

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