253-255

Chapter 253: Memento 

For Michael Eisner, Dunn Films’ resilience and adaptability were way beyond what he’d expected. 

If the “portfolio investment plan” succeeded, it’d be a game-changer for all of Hollywood. 

And Dunn, the mastermind behind it, would earn some serious respect. 

Lately, Michael Ovitz had finished registering his new company, Legendary Pictures, and was busy schmoozing private equity funds and investment banks in Manhattan, trying to reel in big money. 

If he pulled it off, Legendary Pictures would shine bright in Hollywood, and the industry’s heavyweights would trip over themselves to partner up. 

This was Dunn’s ace in the hole—and the biggest roadblock to Eisner’s efforts to crush Dunn Films. 

If the portfolio plan flopped, it’d be smooth sailing. Eisner knew Hollywood’s giants well enough—they’d turn on Dunn Films in a heartbeat and grind it into the dirt. 

But if it worked? Sanctioning Dunn Films would be a tall order, even for a media titan like Disney. Treating it like they did DreamWorks wouldn’t even be on the table. 

So Eisner played it smart. He stepped back from the mess, paused the feud with Dunn Films, and slyly dragged Mattel into the fray. 

It eased Disney’s heat while keeping the pressure on Dunn Films. 

Mattel Toys? Eisner didn’t give them a second thought. 

Even if Dunn had some clever counter-move, hit Mattel back, or even took them down, it wouldn’t touch him. 

Big shots like him just dropped a word, and the little guys charged in. 

No need to get his hands dirty every time. 

Dunn was a tough nut to crack, and Eisner had to weigh the pros and cons of going head-to-head. 

… 

Cambridge, Massachusetts, was a famous college town, home to some of the world’s top universities with major clout. The American Association of University Women often held talks, forums, or events here, pushing women’s values and life goals. 

In plain terms: preaching feminism! 

A Beautiful Mind was shooting in the area, but Dunn’s head wasn’t in it. 

Mattel’s jab had him steamed. 

And Disney pulling strings behind it? He wasn’t letting that slide. 

He needed a way to hit back. 

Recently, a survey from the AAUW revealed that harassment was rampant for female college students—about 62% said they’d faced verbal or physical harassment when polled. 

So, on Sunday, September 17, the AAUW’s Harvard chapter was hosting a forum in the Sociology Building’s Lecture Hall 1, third floor. Big-name feminist Gloria Marie Steinem was set to speak. 

When Dunn heard about it, a light bulb went off. A feminist forum? Perfect chance! 

… 

On Friday, September 15, theaters got hit with a wave of new releases. 

Warner’s Bait, DreamWorks’ Almost Famous, Dunn Films’ Memento, Lionsgate’s Love Stinks, Disney’s Duets, and six others—11 films total—dropped that day. 

If Girl, Interrupted had Dunn’s producer credit to boost its box office a bit, Christopher Nolan’s Memento had to stand on its own, clawing its way through the pack of 11. 

Memento didn’t get much hype. To break out, it’d have to lean on its classic cult vibe. 

Good thing it only cost $5 million to make—Dunn wasn’t banking on it to slug it out with Warner’s Bait or DreamWorks’ Almost Famous at the box office. 

But at the very least… 

It had to outgross Disney’s Duets, right? 

Duets, with a $21 million budget, starred Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow in an upbeat musical comedy. 

From budget to buzz, genre to cast, Memento couldn’t hold a candle to Duets. 

Dunn’s only weapon? The director, Christopher Nolan! 

Nolan in the game—who could compete? 

Memento might’ve been low-budget with a weak lineup, but so what? 

Dunn was dead sure Nolan’s name alone could crush Duets! 

Another showdown between Disney and Dunn Films in the movie arena was about to kick off. 

That day, Warner’s Bait opened in 52 theaters, pulling in $40,000—second only to Universal’s crime thriller The Watcher. 

DreamWorks’ Almost Famous, a stellar music drama, cost a hefty $60 million. But instead of teaming up with Universal, DreamWorks went solo on distribution. 

Predictable result: they got squeezed. Almost Famous opened in just 131 theaters, but its quality shone through, raking in a surprising $1.18 million that day. 

$1.18 million wasn’t huge, but among the new releases, it landed second, just behind Warner’s action flick Bait. 

Better yet, the film hit the ground running with media and critics, who pegged it as a shoo-in for next year’s awards season. 

Next up: Dunn Films’ Memento. 

Thanks to Universal handling distribution, this cult flick—way less mainstream than Almost Famous—scored 427 opening theaters. It cleared $1 million that day, hitting $1.09 million. 

Not a blockbuster haul, but for a $5 million film, it was the kind of return any producer would envy. 

Fourth place brought Disney’s Duets. With 581 theaters, it managed just $860,000. 

Disney’s new release got overshadowed by Dunn Films again—and that wasn’t all. Critics raved about Memento, giving it near-universal praise and a box office edge. 

Duets? A total flop with reviewers! 

Even Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow’s performance got slammed—critics called her the weakest Best Actress ever, and she lived up to the title. 

Famed critic David Thomson, writing in The New Republic, basically danced on Disney’s grave while cheering Dunn Films— 

“Memento isn’t a big-budget affair, but this young British director weaves a tangled plot with cool, sharp visuals, blending violence, mystery, and more. It even digs into philosophy and psychology—a bold, exploratory gem.” 

“Duets, a musical comedy, boasts songs sung by its cast. But that can’t hide how trite, bland, clichéd, and dull it is. Compared to DreamWorks’ Almost Famous in the same genre, it’s got nothing going for it.” 

“Talking Memento and Duets means mentioning their studios—Dunn Films and Disney. Since this summer, these two have been duking it out in the movie game, and the outcome’s clear: old-school giant Disney’s lost again.” 

“From My Big Fat Greek Wedding to The Wedding Crashers, and this year’s Spider-Man, Girl, Interrupted, and Memento, Dunn Films’ output has nailed it in both buzz and box office.” 

“Disney, though? Maybe they’re spread too thin across too many industries and dropped the ball on filmmaking. Word is they’re banking everything on Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor. But can a guy who only knows explosions pull off a war flick like that? Dunn doesn’t think so.” 

“Old-school movie-making doesn’t cut it in the new era. Dunn’s undeniably the leader of this new wave. If Disney doesn’t adapt fast, they could get swept away by the tide—and that’s no exaggeration…” 

Chapter 254: A Feminist Speech In Europe and the U.S., overt gender discrimination has been wiped out at the institutional level. The goals of liberalism and feminism have largely been met. 

But as society evolved, new branches popped up—socialist feminism, radical feminism, postmodern feminism, and more. Each has its own theoretical footing, and they often clash or flat-out contradict each other. That’s why the fight for women’s rights struggles to muster the kind of widespread momentum the civil rights movement had back in the day. 

Gender discrimination still exists, no question. Hollywood’s a glaring example—actresses at the same level as their male counterparts always get paid less. 

Dunn’s no feminist. He’s got a big streak of old-school masculinity and loves the perks Hollywood’s entrenched rules give someone in his position of power. 

But for the sake of political correctness—especially in front of elite women in a college town like this—he’s got to put on a show of supporting the right, progressive values. 

Especially when feminism aligns with his own interests. 

With Dunn Walker and Natalie Portman, two Hollywood heavyweights, on board, the forum hosted by the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Women drew a huge crowd of students. Even multiple media outlets from the university town jumped in on the action. 

The event featured a keynote by Gloria Marie Steinem, a big name in American feminist advocacy. She dove into the harassment female students face on college campuses, sparking discussion, exploration, and some deep reflection. 

Her speech was electric—full of passion and persuasion. Even a guy like Dunn couldn’t help but feel moved. 

He even noticed Natalie’s eyes brimming with tears. 

“Hey, isn’t that a bit much?” Dunn, sitting in the front row, flinched and quickly pulled out a tissue to dab at her eyes. “It’s just a speech!” 

Natalie shot him a look. “What do you know?” 

Dunn smacked his forehead like he’d just figured it out. “Oh, right! Looking all teary and fragile like that—perfect for tugging at everyone’s heartstrings. Nice move, Nat. Pretty sly.” 

“Get lost!” Natalie glared at him, keeping her voice low. “You’re one to talk. You’re no feminist, and yet here you are at this forum. Don’t tell me you’re not up to something.” 

Dunn grinned sheepishly. “I’m just here to fight for the rights of women everywhere.” 

Natalie scoffed. “If you’d stop messing around with actresses, that’d be a bigger help!” 

Dunn’s face went red, and he squirmed a little. “Uh… that’s different. That’s just normal dating stuff. Nothing to do with feminism.” 

Natalie rolled her eyes hard. 

She was a feminist, but she was also practical. She could handle and accept the way things worked in society without going overboard with radical, domineering fixes. 

Right now, feminism’s push was mostly coming from the elite class. Among regular folks—or those even lower on the ladder—materialism ruled the day, driven by income gaps. 

That’s why the awakening, growth, and rise of feminism were happening in relatively women-friendly places like Europe and the U.S., not in regions like the Middle East or parts of Asia and Africa where women’s rights get trampled. 

Fifty minutes later, Gloria Marie Steinem wrapped up her speech. 

Next up: Dunn Walker’s turn to shine! 

He stood, straightened his tie, and waved to the teachers and students filling the lecture hall. The room erupted in thunderous applause. 

Sure, he hadn’t even finished high school, but he was a bona fide success story! 

Even these high-and-mighty Harvard kids had to give props to Dunn’s legendary rise. 

The organizers were over the moon. A guy showing up to speak on feminism? That was a win for the cause—a sign of progress! 

And not just any guy—Dunn Walker, Hollywood’s hotshot director and arguably the most influential figure in North America this year. Even President Clinton paled in comparison! 

No matter how deep or dazzling his speech was, with Dunn’s status and clout, it was guaranteed to make waves across the U.S. and beyond. 

And the feminist movement? It’d ride that wave worldwide. 

Of course, Dunn had his own agenda too! 

A feminist surge would shake up Hollywood movies, opening the door to new genres. More actresses would get the backing to carry films at the box office, and even female superheroes could finally step up. 

More importantly, he was out to smash Disney and Mattel’s little scheme! 

“Honored teachers, esteemed guests, and fellow students—hello, everyone! It’s a thrill to be part of this forum hosted by Harvard and the American Association of University Women, sharing my take on things. I’m grateful to the organizers for giving me this shot. After all… well, you know, I’m just a high school dropout.” 

Dunn shrugged with a self-deprecating grin, and the room burst into laughter. 

He was too big a deal to ignore. Everyone was locked in, even though they knew this was a speech—supposed to be serious, no interruptions, no throwing him off. 

But they couldn’t help it. From Titanic to Star Wars: Episode I, and now Spider-Man this year—people adored Dunn. 

“I don’t have the smarts or education to dive into anything as profound as Ms. Steinem did. So I’ll just stick to some personal experiences and toss out a few thoughts.” 

Dunn paused, scanning the crowd, choosing his words carefully. “As you all know, I’m a director—a Hollywood director. When it comes to casting, I’ve run into some stuff that’s laughable but also kind of frustrating. Let me give you an example.” 

“When we were shooting Wedding Crashers—you know, Reese Witherspoon was the lead, an amazing actress—I was the producer, and Danny Boyle was directing. There was this girl—I won’t name her—who didn’t get the part after auditioning. That same night, somehow, she tracked down our hotel.” 

“She knocked on Danny’s door first. Danny asked, ‘Who’s there?’ And she shouted, ‘Director, I love you!’ Danny turned her away, and then she showed up at my door.” 

Hollywood’s casting couch was infamous. After getting blasted by the media in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it’d mostly faded from view. 

But everyone knew the entertainment biz was still riddled with unspoken rules! 

As a big-name Hollywood director, Dunn’s story instantly hooked the crowd—especially the media folks who’d snuck in. Their eyes lit up. This was gold! 

Straight from Walker’s mouth, way juicier than tabloid gossip—readers would eat it up. 

Dunn glanced down at the audience and took a deep breath. 

The story was true, but as a Hollywood power player, he had to keep the industry’s dignity intact. Digging up dirt or trashing it? Not happening. 

“So this girl’s at my door yelling, ‘I love you!’ I freaked out. Back then, I was still new to Hollywood—didn’t know how to handle something like that. Lucky for me, I happened to know her mom, a higher-up at some internet company.” 

“I called her mom right away and told her what her daughter was up to. Guess what happened?” 

Dunn paused for a few seconds as whispers rippled through the room. He sighed, shaking his head. “My friend—her mom—said, ‘She wants to be an actress. Play by the rules—do what you’ve got to do!’” 

The room exploded! 

A mother saying that? 

Wasn’t that basically greenlighting the producer to exploit her daughter? Could a woman really toss aside dignity and honor for a dream? 

The raw reality hit hard, leaving even these elite college kids stunned. 

Dunn’s story cut deeper than any Women’s Association report or Gloria Steinem’s speech—straight to the gut, soul-shaking stuff! 

Chapter 255: Pushing Mattel into the Spotlight 

Dunn’s story was starting to paint Hollywood in a bad light, so to dodge any backlash from his peers, he quickly shifted gears— 

“I thought it was so weird back then. Rules? What rules? Was I supposed to sleep with that girl for a night and then hand her the lead role? I’ve made a ton of movies, and I’ve never heard of any rule like that!” 

“Sure, old Hollywood had its share of dirty habits, but times have changed. Society’s moved on. These days, that kind of unspoken rule doesn’t exist—at least not in my circle or among my friends. I’ve never run into anything like it.” 

“Hollywood movies answer to investors and fans alike! No producer or director worth their salt would gamble with a film’s quality!” 

Natalie rolled her eyes at his lofty speech. 

Others might buy it, but she knew better. 

Dunn and leading ladies? That was hardly a rare combo. 

From Titanic to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Wedding Crashers, Spider-Man, and Unsinkable—which heroine hadn’t he hooked up with? 

Still, she wasn’t about to call him out now. She clapped along with the crowd, her face lit up like she was totally on board with his spiel. 

The applause went on for ages. Dunn motioned for quiet, his tone turning serious. “What kind of messed-up reasoning makes a girl and her mom think giving up dignity is just part of chasing dreams? I’m no sociologist—I’m just a regular director—so let’s talk movies.” 

“Movies?” 

The reporters in the room perked up, eyes glinting. 

This speech wasn’t Dunn’s usual vibe. The guy was a walking scandal factory in Hollywood! 

The moment he mentioned “movies,” seasoned journalists started connecting dots. Was he about to take another swing at Disney? 

Sure enough, Dunn straightened up and said, “I don’t know when it started, but somehow our education’s been feeding us this idea that ‘women need men to survive.’ The Constitution’s clear: men and women are equal. Free, independent women—that’s the new standard for a new era!” 

“Education starts young, so let’s talk cartoons. What do little girls love most? Snow White, Cinderella—those princess tales where a prince swoops in to save the day. Isn’t that ridiculous?” 

“Those stories are a hundred years old—do they still fit today? Women need liberation! Why should princesses sit around waiting for a prince? Why are they always helpless, simple-minded, needing a guy to bail them out? Women hold up half the sky too!” 

The room erupted in applause again. 

Every woman there felt it—some even teared up. 

Thinking back to their own childhoods, hadn’t they been obsessed with Snow White and the like? 

“What should a modern woman be? She’s Rose from Titanic, Queen Amidala from The Phantom Menace, Nicole Kidman in My Big Fat Greek Wedding! They don’t compromise, don’t quit—they fight the system and chase their own happiness!” 

Dunn’s words hit hard. Even Natalie blinked, wondering if he was for real this time. 

The clapping kept cutting him off, wave after wave. He was loving the reaction, pressing down with his hands. “Disney’s fragile, dainty, pitiful princess lineup? It’s time the world left that behind. Did you know their princess doll sets are selling like crazy lately? How ironic is that?” 

A few reporters exchanged looks, nodding to themselves. 

There it was—Dunn still had it out for Disney! 

Before, it was just movies. Now he was going after their doll line too. 

Wait—dolls? 

Some journalists’ eyes lit up. 

Just days ago, Mattel held a press conference where their spokesperson kept kissing up to Disney and throwing shade at Dunn Films. 

Could this be… 

His counterpunch? 

And then, right on cue, Dunn name-dropped Mattel’s golden goose—Barbie. 

“Of course, there’s Barbie too! I think toy companies are seriously messed up with the male-centric, discriminatory designs they push on little girls!” 

That was a heavy accusation. 

“Look at Barbie’s look—it’s straight out of Disney’s princess playbook. They’ve locked women into this image: parted lips, big chest, tiny waist. How pathetic is that? Scaled to real life, a Barbie’s waist would be 20 inches!” 

“Does that even make sense for a human body? Bluntly put, it’s deformed! Not even a Victoria’s Secret Angel could pull off those curves! And that’s not all—Barbie’s decked out in gold, dripping with luxury. That’s blatant materialism, feeding kids all the wrong values!” 

“In slang, ‘Barbie’ means a ditzy woman. Should that really be the kind of toy kids play with? She even says stuff like ‘I love shopping,’ ‘I want new clothes,’ ‘Math class is hard’—isn’t that textbook sexism?” 

“I’ve heard tons of women end up with eating disorders trying to mimic Barbie’s figure. When a woman’s body fat drops below 17%, it screws up hormones and cycles. That’s wrecked countless women’s health—not to mention the ones risking plastic surgery, bone-shaving, or implants!” 

… 

The crowd broke into a cold sweat. 

Dunn’s attack was brutal. They’d thought his Disney jab was sharp, but Barbie? That was where the real fireworks landed. 

Debates about Barbie had been bubbling up for years. Mattel, with its deep pockets and slick PR, always managed to dodge the heat. 

But a public figure like Dunn tearing into it without mercy? That was a shockwave. 

His tone was fierce, and every word rang true! 

Barbie’s controversies were glaring—eating disorders, surgery, implants, bone-shaving—all to chase that “perfect” figure, hurting women left and right. 

And Barbie’s obsession with new clothes, hairstyles, and jewelry? It was relentlessly warping generation after generation of girls’ values. 

No doubt about it—Dunn’s speech was about to shove Mattel right into the storm!