CCA Net Gain

For at least one L.A. cinephile, playing the Hollywood Stock Exchange (https://www.hsx.com), a Web-based fantasy game in which players invest in movies and movie stars, proved a lot more entertaining this summer than seeing any of the new releases. Here is an excerpt from Jordan Raphael’s day-trading diary.

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Thursday, June 10, 12:15 p.m.

I sign up for HSX and receive my 2 million free Hollywood dollars, heretofore known as H$. The StarBonds, which reflect an actor’s star power, seem overvalued, so I stay away. Buy 10,000 shares of “Arlington Road” (ARLIN) at H$14.59. (Stock prices based on a film’s expected four-week gross.) Lose 1% on the commission.

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9:06 p.m.

ARLIN dropped 3/5. I’m down H$6,500. I liked the trailer, though, so I’ll hang on. Buy 10,000 shares of “South Park” (SOUTH) at H$34.96, a steal. Buy 5,000 shares of “The General’s Daughter” (GNRLS) at H$54.08. Want to short it, but it’s tough to bet against John Travolta, despite “Primary Colors.” Portfolio: Down 0.71%.

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Friday, June 11, 5:46 p.m.

ARLIN dropped again. What’s scaring people away? SOUTH and GNRLS both posted minor gains. Buy 10,000 shares of GNRLS. “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” (AUST2) shot up today (as did Heather Graham), so I avoid it. Buy 1,000 shares each of “Tarzan” (TRZAN) and “Big Daddy” (BDADY), at H$75.03 and H$90.86, respectively. Down 0.62%.

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Saturday, June 12, 9:59 a.m.

ARLIN, GNRLS and SOUTH all took major hits overnight. I’m down nearly H$100,000. Ouch. Sell all my ARLIN and GNRLS shares. Keep SOUTH. Short 15,000 shares of GNRLS at H$52.94. By the time the trade goes through, the price has dropped again, so I make a quick H$17,000. Take that, Travolta. Down 4.36%.

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Sunday, June 13, 11:57 a.m.

GNRLS is on the rebound, and I’m losing more money. Grrr . . . SOUTH is on an upswing, gains imminent. Buy another 10,000 shares at H$33.21. Down 4.35%.

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5:28 p.m.

GNRLS up again. Time to bail. Never. Bet. Against. Travolta. Buy 3,000 shares of BDADY and 10,000 of SOUTH. Down 4.08%.

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10:40 p.m.

Weekend receipts just posted: “Austin Powers” opened to a huge $54 million! Buy 1,000 shares of AUST2 at H$158.63. This is getting addictive. Down 3.21%.

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Tuesday, June 15, 2:19 p.m.

I’m in the black! SOUTH is climbing fast. BDADY posted modest gains, but AUST2 slowed down. Up 11.30%

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Friday, June 18, 9:08 a.m.

Read an article about a trader who made H$58 million in six months. At this rate, I could do that . . . if I quit my job and break up with my girlfriend. I’m cashing out.