Chapter 57

William White contemplated that if Detective Beverly had starred Stallone, it would have likely been an action film with no room for comedy, and certainly, no possibility of a sequel. A gritty, street-wise ending would have been inevitable.

It seemed that Hollywood's big productions were somewhat unpredictable. The success of Detective Beverly, much like Police School, stemmed from a stark contrast that generated a sense of comedy. The notion of someone unsuitable as a policeman taking on the role created a massive contradiction and contrast, a formula that worked well for Detective Beverly.

In contrast to the rugged atmosphere of Sin City's Detroit, Beverly's police force seemed more like gentlemen than law enforcers. Their daily duties might involve rescuing cats and puppies or helping forgetful individuals with their alarms.

Beverly's police density was the highest in the United States, wearing smart uniforms and maintaining a consistently polite demeanor. However, assuming that all U.S. police were like this would be naïve.

The peculiar property tax system played a crucial role in this contrast. Different blocks had exclusive rights to their tax revenues, resulting in varying public facilities. Beverly, with its high property prices and increasing annual property tax, enjoyed excellent public services, including well-equipped police stations.

The contrast between a supercop in Sin City and one in Beverly was significant. The movie artistry exaggerated this disparity, creating a humorous effect.

This film's essence lay in its contrast. In its previous incarnation, it wasn't a comedy. Converting an action movie into a comedy was a puzzle to William White. It wasn't until the second episode that the director woke up to this potential, turning the movie into a box office hit.

William White had no intentions of portraying Beverly's police force as straight-laced from the start. He turned them into gentlemen, a stark contrast to the Detroit police, who, in his mind, were better off pulling out their guns without a word.

William White even thought that this movie should have a Texas cowboy, as the Detroit police weren't as deadly as portrayed. They preferred waiting until an incident concluded before intervening, especially during fights involving Black individuals, whom they would avoid.

The film's setting reflected the times. While Texans might carry guns openly, their police were often idle. The futures market continued to thrive, and William White needed to distract himself. With silver prices approaching twenty dollars, it presented a highly profitable opportunity.

The world was reducing leverage, attempting to combat inflation, making silver futures seem somewhat out of place. Futures brokers were demanding increased margins due to the heightened risk. A 1% fluctuation could lead to liquidation, a rare occurrence in the futures market.

"Master, we've completed 50% of the profit settlement," reported Forber, his face beaming with excitement. The past few months had been a dream-like experience, where making money seemed remarkably simple.

William White, however, remained focused on the task at hand. If silver exceeded twenty dollars, they planned to expedite the selling process, aiming to sell all within October.

"Master, what about the London paper? The price doesn't seem stable here."

"The main concern in the U.S. is that the Hunt family might be up to something. They're behaving recklessly this time, and I don't believe they'll close in time."

William White remembered how this group of speculators had pushed silver to a high of fifty dollars during Mao's invasion of Afghanistan, causing gold to surge to nearly eight hundred dollars. Their reckless greed had caused numerous casualties.

The actors for the new movie had been chosen, and White Film was evolving rapidly. It was no longer a makeshift team but a force to be reckoned with.

In Hollywood, as long as one was willing to spend generously, talent was not an issue. The major challenge for Hollywood giants was the scarcity of suitable scripts.

White Pictures' scripts were written by the boss himself, a fact that baffled many. If these scripts were crafted by other screenwriters, they would undoubtedly be in high demand. The script editors of this era couldn't compare to those of the future, despite the latter's not-so-great reputation. In Hollywood, everyone, from taxi drivers to janitors, was trying their hand at scriptwriting, making it challenging to find a truly compelling script.

Annual incomes of $200,000 were considered top-tier for screenwriters. Best-selling authors earned significantly more, and those with real talent often ventured into novel writing.

Good scripts often came from unexpected sources. For instance, Terminator was born out of Cameron's feverish nightmares after watching Star Wars. This truck driver, not a taxi driver, crafted a brilliant script that would have been sold long ago if he hadn't insisted on directing it himself.