Recaps

Kevin turned Saw from a low-budget proposal into a major box-office hit, then sold its sequel rights and used the proceeds to establish himself in Beverly Hills. He chose Get Out as his next film, leaving Angelina Jolie waiting to learn whether she would star.

• Kevin broke up with Pera, partnered with Mitt on his graduation project, and decided to pursue box-office success by making Saw.
• Kevin secured CAA’s support, negotiated a $1.3 million budget with New Line Cinema, assembled his cast and crew, and filmed Saw in twenty-five days.
• Kevin completed Saw with Tyn, and New Line Cinema’s evaluators praised the film before arranging a broad promotional campaign and advance screening.
• After critics including Roger Ebert responded favorably, Kevin promoted Saw to students as the film opened around Halloween.
• Saw’s opening-day earnings reached $8.43 million, and CAA arranged Tom Cruise’s public praise as the film’s box office continued to climb.
• Kevin rejected Pera’s request to reunite, met Angelina Jolie and Harvey Weinstein at Ovitz’s party, and began discussions with New Line Cinema about Saw’s sequel rights.
• Kevin sold New Line Cinema the sequel rights for $30 million and secured financing for his next project, then chose Get Out after considering the Rodney King incident.
• Kevin bought a Beverly Hills villa with Jolie, Saw finished its North American run with $86.52 million, and Kevin completed the Get Out proposal while Jolie asked to play its female lead.

Kevin turned Get Out into a major success, then assembled a multi-studio production for Mission: Impossible. After filming and beginning post-production, he planned to use Get Out revenue to acquire MGM shares.

• Kevin secured funding for Get Out, hired Will Smith as Chris, and filmed the movie in Texas with Angelina Jolie as Ruth.
• Kevin completed Get Out and held screenings that impressed Black viewers and critics, while Jeff Robinov expanded promotion and secured a wide release.
• Get Out opened strongly and gained further attention during the Los Angeles riots, and its North American box office passed $100 million within a week.
• Harvey Weinstein and MGM president Rett Weinstein sought Kevin’s next film, and Kevin negotiated studio investment while planning to gain leverage with MGM.
• Kevin recruited Dawson to lead his film company and organized Paramount, MGM, and Warner Bros. to invest in Mission: Impossible.
• Kevin cast Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie, filmed the action movie in Prague and Hollywood, then began editing and arranging its special effects with George Lucas.
• Kevin planned to collect Get Out’s revenue and buy MGM shares, then met Dawnlight Films employees Helen and Emma.