Robert Downey Jr.

Dean, standing nearby, looked just as delighted. He had approved the investment in this film. Though it was not a large sum, he would still be held responsible if it incurred losses.

And now, the screeners had actually rated it as a potential classic in film history. Based on that assessment, with an investment of $1.3 million, losses were practically impossible.

Dean turned to Shaye. The specific promotional plan still had to be decided by him, the boss and president.

But with the screeners' evaluations, the promotional effort surely would not be small.

Shaye considered his own impression of the film he had just watched, then weighed it against the opinions of the screeners present. He immediately made his decision.

Saw had the potential to become a massive hit. It was worth investing heavily in promotion.

Of course, "heavily" was relative to Saw.

"Dean, contact the publicity department immediately. I'll have Finance release three million dollars to blanket theaters near colleges across the United States with advertising."

"Also, contact print media and film critics from every outlet."

"I want to hold an advance screening and build up the film's reputation early. We'll do everything we can to make Saw a classic."

Shaye spoke decisively.

Clearly, he too had sensed from the audience feedback and his own viewing experience that Saw had the potential to become a classic.

For a film company, a classic film had an exceptionally long revenue lifespan.

Box office receipts often accounted for only 20 to 30 percent of total revenue.

Revenue from DVDs and other channels could continue for decades, steadily flowing in and rivaling even box office earnings.

But all of that was built on box office success.

No matter how classic a film was, the public would not recognize it if its box office performance was abysmal.

Shaye turned around, his Jewish face practically proclaiming that he intended to make a fortune. As it happened, Kevin was thinking the same thing. Though he only had a 5 percent share of the box office,

if it truly became a huge hit, it would still be no small amount.

And that share was not enough to make New Line Cinema fall out with him, its genius director.

Everything was proceeding according to his plan.

Facing Shaye's gaze, Kevin smiled as well.

With a smile, Shaye said warmly:

"Director Kevin, you'll need to cooperate with the advance screening for critics and traditional media. Your schedule won't be a problem, will it?"

Kevin nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll cooperate throughout the whole process. If there's anything, just tell me directly or contact my agent, Dawson."

Kevin's response pleased Shaye as well. Genius directors often had eccentricities, or were arrogant and unruly.

But Kevin showed none of those flaws.

At the same time, he had kept an excellent grip on the production budget and had even left some money over. Given that, Shaye had no objection to using the remaining funds for a party.

If every director could be like Kevin, that would be wonderful.

Saw had not even been released yet, but Shaye had already begun considering a second collaboration with him.

With nearly everything handled, Kevin, as the director, had little left to do aside from the upcoming advance screening.

The school break had not yet ended. Or rather, for a director about to graduate like him, his campus coursework had already been completely finished.

Even without Saw, he could have graduated smoothly.

Mitt and the others each had their own business to attend to. As Kevin reviewed the memories in his mind, he unknowingly arrived on Broadway.

As an orphan, he had grown up in an orphanage. But being smart, he had not fallen into ruin like the others. Instead, he understood that studying was his only chance to change his fate.

So he had studied desperately all along. Coupled with his intelligence, that was how he had managed to get into the University of Southern California despite such poor circumstances.

And his friend—or rather, the person who had guided him onto the path of becoming a director—was someone at a Broadway theater.

Kevin continued thinking. As time passed and the memories fused further, there were times when he could no longer tell whether he was Chen Daoxuan or Kevin.

Or perhaps they had always been the same person, merely connected as past and present lives.

Creak!

The sound of an iron door opening reached his ears, and a handsome young man with a square face stepped out.

"Kevin!"

"Come on, I'm buying you a drink!"

Robert Downey Jr. slung an arm around Kevin's shoulders and dragged him toward a nearby bar as though escorting a prisoner.

That was right. The guide who had appeared before Kevin was Robert Downey Jr.

They had met by chance in a library.

As a young man who had dropped out of school, if he wanted to go further in his acting career, studying was indispensable.

Everyone praised Downey as a genius, but only Kevin knew that geniuses had to work hard too.

They had met in the library. Kevin worked for his future, while Downey worked for his acting career.

In Downey's eyes, Kevin was an immature child.

Just like his younger brother.

Because of that, Downey had helped him quite a bit. He treated him to meals, subsidized some books, and helped Kevin better understand what a director needed, as well as some of Hollywood's inside workings. As for direct financial support, that was something Kevin could not accept.

Chen Daoxuan, the transmigrator, had accepted that as well and inherited the bond between them.

As for why he had not asked Downey to play Jigsaw, it was a matter of image.

Coulson... no, Gregg, naturally possessed a special, approachable air. Around him, one would never worry about being in danger.

When that aura was placed in the hands of a murderous maniac with faith, it created a stark contrast.

The killer did not think he was committing crimes. Instead, he believed he was helping God clear away the scum who did not cherish life, making him all the more terrifying.

In any case, judging from the footage, Kevin felt Gregg's performance was far stronger than Tobin Bell's, who had always played murderers, criminals, and serial killers.

That strange sense of contrast did not diminish Jigsaw's charm in the slightest. Instead, it further crowned him with the aura of a servant of God.

Led by Downey, the two quickly arrived at a bar.

As the sky gradually darkened, colorful lights lit up inside the bar, and the place instantly descended into wild chaos.

Through the dim lighting, Kevin could already see men and women hiding in corners, their shadowy silhouettes merging into one.

One word: chaos!

Kevin instinctively disliked places like this. Whether in his previous life or this one, he had never liked such venues.

Downey moved through the bar like a fish in water, looking thoroughly delighted. Only after a while did he remember Kevin, the younger brother three years his junior.