The Friday evening sun was setting over the hills of Los Angeles, casting long, golden shadows across the Blackwood estate. Inside the massive house, the atmosphere was anything but quiet.
February was proving to be one of the busiest months in the studio's history. Between the final marketing push for Teen Wolf and the aggressive expansion of Rogue Entertainment into the Japanese market, Donovan barely had time to sit down.
He was currently in his private home office, a sleek room filled with high-end monitors and stacks of translated manga scripts.
Donovan sat behind his desk, staring at a high-definition video conferencing screen. In the year 2000, this kind of technology was practically science fiction for the average person, but for Blackwood Studios, it was a daily tool. On the screen, three high-ranking executives from Tokyo were bowing respectfully.
"The launch strategy for Naruto and Bleach is finalized, Blackwood-san," the lead executive said through a translator.
"The marketing campaign in Shonen Jump has exceeded all our initial projections. The Japanese audience is already calling them the next generation of legends. We are ready to dominate the spring season."
Donovan nodded slowly, leaning back in his chair. He looked completely professional, wearing a simple black sweater that made him look older and more focused.
"Good. I want the distribution of the first volumes to be flawless," Donovan replied, his voice calm and steady. "We aren't just selling comics; we are building a cultural monopoly. I want Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece to be the pillars of Rogue Entertainment. If any other publisher tries to compete, I want us to already own the shelf space."
The executives in Tokyo nodded frantically, scribbling notes as fast as humanly possible.
Suddenly, the heavy oak door of his office burst open with a loud, wooden bang.
"Donny! Apollo stole my shoe again!" Lily screamed, running into the room.
The eight-year-old was wearing a bright yellow sundress and was missing one of her small white sneakers. Right behind her, the massive, furry head of Apollo, the Saint Bernard, appeared in the doorway. The giant dog was happily wagging his tail, holding a tiny shoe in his mouth like it was a prize trophy.
Donovan didn't even flinch. He didn't look annoyed or embarrassed by the sudden interruption of his multi-million dollar international meeting.
"Lily, I'm in a meeting with Tokyo," Donovan said calmly, looking away from the screen for a brief second.
"But he won't give it back! And Buster is eating the rug in the living room!" she added, pointing toward the hallway where a series of loud, wet crunching sounds could be heard.
On the video screen, the Japanese executives were staring in complete silence. They didn't know how to react to the sight of a giant dog and a screaming little girl interrupting the most powerful teenager in the entertainment industry.
"Gentlemen, please excuse the domestic chaos," Donovan said to the screen, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. "We will finalize the budget numbers on Monday. Have a good evening in Tokyo."
He cut the connection before they could even bow.
Donovan stood up and walked over to Apollo, who was now drooling slightly on Lily's shoe. He gently grabbed the dog's large jowls and whispered something in his ear. Apollo immediately dropped the shoe, let out a huffing sound that seemed like a laugh, and trotted back into the hallway to find more trouble.
"There you go," Donovan said, handing the damp shoe back to his sister.
"Thanks, Donny! Oliver is trying to teach Bella how to play soccer in the kitchen, you should come see!" Lily cheered, spinning around and running back out before he could even answer.
Donovan let out a long breath and leaned against his desk. The house was a circus, but it was exactly what he needed to stay grounded.
A few minutes later, the door opened again, but this time it was a much more composed presence. Evelyn Blackwood walked in, holding a glass of iced tea and a thick stack of folders. She looked at the chaotic hallway, then back at her son, offering him a knowing, sympathetic smile.
"The kids are particularly energetic today," Evelyn noted, sitting in one of the leather chairs across from his desk. "I think they know the Teen Wolf premiere is coming up. The excitement is contagious."
"It's a madhouse, Mom," Donovan laughed, sitting back down. "But I actually wanted to talk to you about something important. Something huge."
Evelyn's expression shifted. She knew that tone. When Donovan spoke like that, it usually meant the industry was about to change again.
Donovan reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a heavy, leather-bound folder. On the cover, the title was embossed in gold: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE - PRODUCTION BIBLE.
"I've been thinking about the London project," Donovan began, his voice turning serious.
"I have too many things on my plate with the manga expansion and the television network. But Harry Potter... it can't just be another movie. It has to be a masterpiece. It needs someone who can protect the soul of the books and handle the creative pressure with a mother's touch and a producer's iron will."
He pushed the folder across the desk toward her.
"I want you to take over as the lead producer, Mom. I want this to be your project. I'll provide the technology, the funding, and the digital rendering tools, but I want you to run the show."
Evelyn looked at the folder, her eyes widening in surprise. She knew how much work Donovan had put into securing those rights.
"Donovan, this is the biggest franchise in the world," Evelyn said softly, her fingers tracing the gold letters on the cover. "Are you sure you want to hand the reins to me?"
"I don't trust anyone else to do it right," Donovan replied, leaning forward.
"The industry wants to make quick, cheap kids' movies. I don't want that. I want these movies to be 100% faithful to the books. I want the magic to feel ancient and real, not like cheap CGI. I want every wand, every potion bottle, and every stone of Hogwarts to be designed before we even start building."
Donovan stood up and walked over to a large white board on the wall, picking up a marker.
"I've already started the pre-visualization designs," he explained, drawing a quick diagram of the Great Hall.
"I want us to use the new rendering software I developed for Teen Wolf, but on a massive scale. We should pre-visualize every single magic spell and every creature before the actors even step on set. It needs to be the most technically advanced production in history, but with a classic, British heart."
Evelyn stood up and joined him at the board, her own creative mind starting to spark with ideas. She had always been the more artistic one in the family, the one who understood the emotional weight of a story.
"If we are going to do this, we need to secure the best British talent," Evelyn said, her voice growing more confident.
"Not just the actors, but the set designers and the costumers. We should film in real cathedrals and ancient castles in the UK. We shouldn't fake the history; we should use it."
"Exactly," Donovan agreed, smiling. "That's why I want you to lead it. You have the eye for that kind of detail. Dad and I will handle the business and the tech, but the heart of Harry Potter belongs to you."
Evelyn looked at her son, feeling a deep sense of pride. She realized he wasn't just giving her a job; he was trusting her with a legacy.
"I'll do it," Evelyn promised, her eyes shining with determination. "And I promise you, Donovan, these movies will be exactly what the fans want. We won't cut corners. We will build a world that people can live in for the next twenty years."
"I know you will," Donovan said warmly.
The two of them spent the next hour pouring over the initial casting tapes from London. Evelyn was much more critical than the previous casting directors. She looked at the children's faces, analyzing their expressions and their chemistry with a sharp, maternal intuition.
"This boy for Harry... he has the right eyes, but he needs to be more vulnerable," Evelyn noted, tapping a finger on the screen. "And this girl for Hermione is perfect, but we need to make sure the hair is exactly as bushy as the book describes. No Hollywood glamour. Just the character."
Donovan listened, feeling a massive weight lift off his shoulders. He knew he had made the right choice. With his mother at the helm, Harry Potter wouldn't just be a success; it would be a cinematic revolution.
Suddenly, a loud crash followed by the sound of breaking glass echoed from the kitchen downstairs.
"OLIVER! THE SOCCER BALL IS NOT FOR THE INDOORS!" Richard's voice boomed through the house, followed by the frantic barking of three different dogs.
Donovan and Evelyn looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Well," Evelyn said, picking up the Harry Potter folder and tucking it under her arm. "I better go save your father before the San Bernardos decide to eat the rest of the kitchen furniture."
"Good luck, Mom," Donovan grinned.
As she walked out of the office, Donovan sat back down at his desk. He looked at the quiet monitors, then at the empty room. For a brief moment, the silence was peaceful.
He knew the next few years were going to be absolute madness. The world was about to see the birth of the greatest magical franchise ever made, and his own show was about to premiere to millions of people.
But as he heard the distant sound of his siblings laughing and the heavy thud of giant paws running through the house, Donovan didn't feel any pressure.
He just felt like he was home.