Hollywood:Starting out as an MV director

At noon on the 18th, The Hollywood Reporter journalist Kerry was conducting random interviews outside a theater.

"May I ask which movie tickets you purchased?" he asked a couple at the counter.

The couple pulled out their tickets. "We bought tickets for Saw."

"Why did you choose this movie?"

"I heard from friends that it has lots of twists and is really intense," the couple honestly replied to Kerry's question.

Next, he interviewed a white man wearing a baseball cap.

"I plan to watch Saw. Why? Because it's the coolest movie for Halloween! Aren't you curious about those terrifying traps? Plus, my friends said the movie is fantastic!"

Then, a young woman was interviewed.

"Saw. I like Jigsaw. I've been following his website for a while, and everyone around me who's seen it says it's great and full of suspense!"

"Alright." After interviewing several people, all of whom were there for Saw, Kerry's expression began to falter.

Previously, The Hollywood Reporter had predicted the box office results quite differently. They thought Saw would be the underdog, but judging by the current momentum, it seemed like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the one falling behind.

This discrepancy became even more apparent when interviewing audience members about their viewing experiences.

"What did you think of Saw?"

"It was amazing! The final twist was shocking! When Jigsaw appeared, I was stunned! Incredible!"

"Anyone who enjoys horror and thrillers has to watch it. This movie is so innovative."

"I love Jigsaw. His philosophy is amazing! And Billy the puppet—I have to buy one to take home!"

"Which do you think is better, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Saw?" Kerry asked, trying to compare the two movies.

"Isn't it obvious? Saw, of course."

"No doubt, Saw is better."

"I'm tired of those old, clichéd serial killer chase movies. Jigsaw is the new god!"

Once again, Saw came out on top. By the afternoon of the 18th, critics from newspapers and websites had also begun publishing their opinions about the film.

Renowned critic Matthew wrote in his column:

"After watching Saw this morning, I left the theater filled with amazement.

"First, I must say this is not your average R-rated film. While it appears to be a thriller-horror movie on the surface, at its core, it's a deep exploration of human choices.

"The director and screenwriter attempt to examine how human nature responds when faced with death and the choice to violate one's morals. This is the heart of the entire movie.

"Jigsaw is not a traditional serial killer. As a cancer patient, he merely seeks to punish those who take life for granted.

"Now, let's talk about the cinematography. Despite the film's low budget, its visual presentation surpasses larger productions like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This is thanks to Ethan, an Oscar-winning cinematographer.

"From the long take establishing the setting and characters at the beginning to the seamless transitions between fast and slow motion, every scene keeps the audience on edge. But the most stunning shot is undoubtedly the final one when Jigsaw appears.

"The camera starts with Adam's eyes, where you can see the bathroom reflected in his shocked pupils. Then, the shot slowly moves, accompanied by the music, raising the tension to its peak. Finally, it pans behind Adam, revealing Jigsaw's movements.

"The entire sequence is flawless. I noticed the audience was completely tense, no one looked away, and when Jigsaw appeared, everyone was as shocked as the characters in the film.

"I believe this shot will go down in the history of horror films, becoming a memory cherished by all fans."

In addition to such professional critiques, many other critics posted shorter reviews:

Critic Fernando: "I think Saw has launched a whole new series. The director smartly created a complex villain with principles. Combined with excellent cinematography and art direction, as long as the sequels maintain this level, audiences will continue to support it."

Critic Emma: "Film score: 7/10. Visuals: 8.5/10. Story: 6/10. A solid film that breaks new ground in character design. Ethan's directorial debut is barely passable but worth watching."

Critic Phoebe Sona: "I love the character of Jigsaw and the oppressive atmosphere created by the visuals, reminiscent of Hitchcock's suspense films. However, the story feels a bit rough, and Jigsaw's brilliance makes the other characters look foolish. I can only give it 7/10. But within the R-rated horror genre, I'd rate it 8/10 because it's much better than The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

These reviews encouraged more people to decide to watch Saw, further boosting its box office performance.

By the 19th, Ethan and his team received a call from Lionsgate while in the office.

"Well? How did it do?" James Wan asked Ethan impatiently after he hung up.

Ethan turned to the group, spread his hands, and said, "The first-day box office numbers are in. Unfortunately…"

"What?" James Wan frowned. "Did it underperform?"

"No way!" Jimmy shook his head. "Ethan, stop teasing!"

Carl shrugged. "I bet it's over $10 million."

Among them, only James Wan couldn't tell Ethan was joking and looked genuinely worried.

"Hahaha!" Seeing James Wan's concerned expression, Ethan laughed. "Unfortunately, our first-day box office is only $15 million!"

"Fifteen million?!" James Wan's eyes widened as he clutched his head in mock shock.

Jimmy and Carl were also astonished.

"Good heavens, $15 million!"

"How much can it make today? I can't even imagine!"

Due to the film's strong performance on its first day, theaters increased Saw's screen count to 3,000. If things continued as expected, with the film's growing reputation, its second-day box office would surpass the opening day.

"What about The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?" Carl asked.

Ethan shrugged. "$9.67 million."

"Only $9.67 million? Two days combined, it hasn't even reached $20 million!" In New Line Cinema's office, studio head Shaye was furious.

Despite a high screen count, the box office results were disappointing. Even with the weekend numbers, it wouldn't exceed $30 million, putting it far behind Saw.

Not to mention comparing it to Scary Movie 3.

While The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was likely to turn a profit, it had clearly lost the Halloween battle.

If Saw hadn't existed, New Line had predicted Texas Chainsaw Massacre would gross at least $80 million.

Now, however, it seemed like $50 or $60 million would be the ceiling.

After venting, Shay sighed, tapped his desk, and said, "Do you think we have a chance to collaborate with Ethan?"

"What?" Willson from the production department was surprised.

"I've seen Saw," Shay explained, deep in thought. "I think Ethan's directing skills are incredibly mature. Whether it's visuals or storytelling, he's very skilled. And this is his first film—the cost isn't high. We should assess whether there are any suitable projects to work on together."

Although Saw's success had frustrated Shay, a competent businessman sees the essence beyond appearances.

Since Ethan demonstrated such impressive ability in this film, why not consider collaboration?

While New Line Cinema was deliberating over working with Ethan, the news of Saw's $15 million opening day had reached those familiar with him.

Renée Zellweger, upon hearing the news, praised Ethan in interviews.

"I think Ethan deserves this success. He has an extraordinary mastery of visual storytelling. He should've been directing long ago."

While promoting Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino also spoke to the media about his good relationship with Ethan.

"Ethan and I are very close. The iconic tavern massacre scene in Kill Bill? That was Ethan's work as art director! He's a genius, an absolute genius. So, I'll be heading to the theater to support his film. But at the same time, I encourage everyone to check out Kill Bill! You won't be disappointed!"

When Ethan heard this, he immediately booked out a theater for his entire team to watch Kill Bill and invited the media to cover the event.

The next day, the revelation that Ethan had served as art director for Kill Bill sparked widespread interest among moviegoers.

Fans of both films flocked to forums, expressing goodwill toward each other. Some who had previously been uninterested in the other film even decided to buy tickets.

By the third day of release, Saw's first-weekend box office numbers were in.

The first day grossed $15 million, followed by $21 million on the second day, for a total of $36 million in just two days!

Suddenly, Saw became the talk of Hollywood, with media outlets, companies, and celebrities all taking note.

Although box office numbers exceeding $100 million in a release window were no longer rare, it was unheard of for a debut film by a rookie director—especially an R-rated horror film—to achieve this in the North American market. Industry insiders couldn't help but gasp.

This indicated that Saw could evolve into a long-running franchise, creating a new horror series that could generate revenue for decades to come.

Just like the Scary Movie series!

It was a veritable money tree.

Then, something even more jaw-dropping emerged.

A media outlet specializing in film analytics revealed the production budget for Saw.

The report also calculated a jaw-dropping box office-to-budget return ratio that left every film studio green with envy:

20 times!

....

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