[Chapter 530: The Nutty Professor Premiere, an Excited Halle Berry]
Linton's shooting schedule at the set went smoothly, maintaining a steady pace of roughly one song every two days. Caron Diaz, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Kate Winslet, Charlize Theron, and others all joined the crew, each completing the filming of one song performance.
...
On the afternoon of June 26th, Universal Pictures held the premiere for The Nutty Professor, starring Halle Berry as the female lead. As the head of Universal's parent company, Linton was expected to attend the premiere of such a major film under his studio's banner and help promote it.
Halle Berry had even invited Linton personally, showing up at the set by 3 p.m. after makeup was done, urging him to join her for the premiere. Linton had to wrap up his shooting early and accompany Halle to the event.
Charlize Theron, who was shooting a music video with Linton that day, had initially planned to attend the premiere alongside him. However, Charlize's strong-willed nature made her unwilling to play second fiddle to Halle Berry or watch Linton walk the red carpet with another woman. Refusing the invitation, she instead seized the mont to charm Linton with playful affection, coaxing him into granting several intimate favors that promised private delight later.
...
The Nutty Professor was a sci-fi cody centered on African-Arican culture, with Eddie Murphy starring as the male lead. The story followed Julius, a biology professor at Wells University who was overweight and spent his days developing a weight-loss drug. One day, the experint succeeded, altering the DNA of lab mice and drastically reducing their weight in a short ti. Julius eagerly tested the drug on himself, transforming into a beloved, confident heartthrob who quickly mastered witty banter, even besting professional codians.
His beautiful colleague, Professor Carla, who had only dared to dream of closeness before, unexpectedly agreed to go on a date with him. Yet, the drug's effects were unstable, and each ti a happy mont neared, Julius risked reverting to his original appearance.
Carla, young and warm-hearted, was well-liked by students. She soon developed feelings for a charming man nad Buddy, only to discover that Buddy was actually Julius. Rather than bla him, kind-hearted Carla encouraged Julius to live seriously.
The film's fresh concept brimd with humor and clever jokes. Thanks to advanced makeup and special effects, Eddie Murphy showcased his codic gifts fully, portraying the stark contrast between the two personas with impeccable skill.
Obesity was portrayed as a significant life struggle, with the film reflecting the real challenges overweight individuals faced socially. However, it tackled the the with an uplifting tone about aning and self-worth, elevating its appeal to mainstream audiences.
...
After the screening, as laughter and applause filled the theater, Linton confidently anticipated a strong box office run.
During the post-premiere press Q&A -- an expected routine -- reporters asked Linton to predict the movie's box office. He boldly forecasted $120 million for the North Arican market, causing a stir among attendees.
This was notable since the film featured an entirely African-Arican lead cast. Though racial equality movents had advanced in North Arica, realistically, African-Arican contributions to box office revenue were still comparatively low. Hollywood had never seen a primarily black-led film surpass $100 million.
Eddie Murphy's Beverly Hills Cop trilogy had all crossed that mark, but those films' lead casts were mostly white stars besides him.
Linton didn't elaborate much but said his judgnt was based on personal taste and reactions from the audience during the screening.
...
After the premiere, Halle Berry made sure to cling to Linton's arm, unwilling to let go. She led him to the nearby Ritz-Carlton, where she had already secured a room.
Following an intense, passionate encounter, Halle lay relaxed against Linton. "Linton, do you really think The Nutty Professor's box office will hit $120 million?"
"Of course. The film's genuinely good. You and Eddie's performances were spot-on, plus Universal's distribution capabilities guarantee success."
Indeed, Universal's distribution was top-notch; Levitt had given Linton a brief report on the film's marketing and release plan. Since it was a film with a black cast, promotional efforts and theater bookings focused heavily on African-Arican communities, prioritizing cinemas in those neighborhoods.
Nonetheless, other markets weren't ignored. Eddie Murphy had amassed a sizable fan base through the Beverly Hills Cop series. The film's thes addressed obesity rather than racial issues, featuring a university professor as the protagonist, broadening its mainstream appeal.
With major dia groups pitching in alongside NBC's full support -- and key theaters backing the project -- the opening day planned for nearly 3,100 screens nationwide, with 14% of all screens allocated, over a third concentrated in predominantly black communities.
"Darling, if the movie really makes $120 million, I have a big surprise for you."
"What is it? Can you tell now?"
"Secret."
Although she claid it was a secret, Halle's excitent betrayed her. That very night, she shyly delivered the surprise, her last virginity, actively engaging Linton in an intimate ti that left no doubt of her enthusiasm.
...
As The Nutty Professor rolled out, it proved Linton's predictions accurate. The film grossed $26.41 million during its opening weekend, securing the top spot.
The box office breakdown differed from typical releases -- with over 30% of revenue coming from theaters in black communities.
Critics and audiences alike praised the movie. Third-party surveys gave it an "A" grade overall, signaling a strong likelihood it would pass the $100 million mark.
*****
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