Exploiting Hollywood 1980

  Chapter 835 Do you want to be the president of World Media Distribution Group?

  When Ronald heard the potential market of 25 billion US dollars per year, his mind couldn't help turning quickly. With such a big market, Kirklian will let me play together?

  What industry in America can have such a large annual revenue? car? retail? national defense?

   Certainly not the movie industry anyway. In the past 1986, in the North American market including Canada, the total box office of all movies in America for the whole year was just over 3 billion.

   "Mr. Kerkorian, I don't know what kind of picture you are talking about? The total box office of more than 300 films released in the United States last year was only 3 billion. I am just a film director, and I don't know anything else..."

"No, I'm talking about the film industry." Kerkorian shook his finger, and then stopped Ronald from continuing, "You know the box office figures for the whole of last year, but you know how many people walked into the cinema Want to see it?"

"Um..." Ronald began to calculate in his mind. In Los Angeles and New York, a movie ticket costs about four to five dollars in relatively new movie theaters. In small towns and old movie theaters, the ticket price is even lower. In this case On average...um...800 million..."

   "Only 820 million viewers went to the cinema to watch movies last year. Our great country has a population of 240 million. On average, each American only watches 2.4 movies a year."

  Kerkorian looked at Ronald's frown, and knew that these white people of Anglo-Saxon descent, especially artists like the director, were not good at mathematics, so they directly quoted the numbers.

   "But I don't understand. You said that there will be a market potential of 25 billion in the next ten years. I can't think of any way to make movie audiences go to movie theaters eight times more every year."

   "Do you know how many spectators were there each year before and after World War II?"

   "I don't know", Ronald shook his head, he didn't remember this kind of number.

"Before the war, 95 million viewers went to the cinema every week to watch movies. At that time, the population of America was only a little over 100 million. If we can restore the frequency of audiences going to the cinema before World War II, the total box office for the whole year will be Have…"

"It's 25 billion", Ronald answered with a smile. This year's movie ticket price has increased by 20%. If the average movie price is calculated at 5 US dollars, it can return to the frequency of audience watching movies before the invention of television. The box office in 2019 can indeed reach that figure.

   "But, Mr. Kerkorian, we all know that's impossible, unless you go back to the 1950s in a time machine from 'Back to the Future' and kill the inventor of television."

   Ronald laughed, this Kerkorian, is he old and a little out of his mind?

"Hehe," Kerkorian laughed too, he didn't mind the little joke, "if, I mean if, there is an America in the world, and their audience is still watching more than 20 movies a year habits, and the TV penetration there is negligible, do you think it is possible to reach a market potential of $25 billion?"

   "Of course it is possible, but there is no place in the world like this..."

  As Ronald spoke, he began to slow down his speech. As far as he knew, there was indeed such a place in the world with a population of more than one billion. The audience had good movie-watching habits, and ordinary families did not have TVs. Could Kerkorian have the idea there?

"It seems that you have thought of it. Huaguo is the next largest movie market. I have read the statistics there. There are more than 25 billion to 30 billion moviegoers every year. Movie ticket prices are constantly rising. Hollywood opened the door."

"The number of movie viewers there is indeed exaggerated, but we can't make any money." Ronald smiled. His "Breakdance" had just been released there, and the distributor "Cannon" Pictures sold copies. It was a "huge sum"—$20,000.

   "What if I say that MGM and the other two largest Hollywood producers want to jointly establish a joint venture company to develop the Chinese market, and then put pressure on trade to let them open up the film market and implement a sharing system?"

   "Can we do that?" Ronald felt that it was unlikely for the other party to open up the market... maybe.

"Of course we can. We are America, Fuxk. Now the trade agreement signed by the commander-in-chief and Dongying forces them to open up Dongying's film market. Next, they will start to attack the computer chip market. What do you think of Huaguo's bargaining power? , can it compare to Dongying?"

   "This..." The more Ronald heard, the more he felt that what Kerkorian said was not completely impossible. If the market can be opened up, and the copies of Hollywood studios, according to the previous method of selling copies in Hollywood, if each copy is charged a copy fee, it may account for one-fifth to one-third of the entire film's box office.

   "It can be seen that you have a good sense of business", Kerkorian smiled and looked at Ronald's eyes, from a casual chat to a hunting instinct that only a qualified businessman has.

   "Mr. Kerkorian," Ronald began to get really serious about the conversation.

"Ronald," Kerkorian nodded to him with a smile, "I bought MGM because I was a movie buff when I was a kid. I really like the artists, stars, and people who make movies on the screen. There are directors."

"After I chatted with you, you gave me a deep impression. I think you are not only an artist, but also have a qualified sense of business. I have always been generous to young people with ability and ambition, and I like to do business with them , which makes me feel young too…”

   Kerkorian only started to talk about his big plan after successfully arousing Ronald's interest.

"MGM, Paramount, and Universal, the three largest distributors in Hollywood, have been secretly discussing this matter for a long time. The three of us have decided to set up a world distribution company headquartered in New York, mainly for Huaguo market, and the rest of the world, unifies our overseas distribution business.”

   Ronald listened very carefully, this is quite an amazing plan. Are the three studios with the strongest tradition among the seven Hollywood studios and the most successful in the past decade interested in a joint venture? Unify the overseas distribution business and collectively attack the most populous market in the world?

"The name of the company is World Media Distribution Group. Not only are Hollywood movies, but the TV networks under the three companies will also cooperate with the other side of the Pacific Ocean to export our TV series. In the next ten years, if we can open up and occupy this market, we will It will be the biggest commercial venture in the history of Hollywood."

   "Mr. Kerkorian, I feel good about what you said, but..."

"But why are you looking for it?" Kerkorian laughed, "Because we need a young man who is familiar with both Hollywood production and the Chinese market to be the president. Universal and Paramount have their own plans. , but I think that this kind of pioneering work is to find a young man with great ambition and active thinking, and there is a certain relationship there."

   Ronald stood up, and suddenly felt that Kerkorian's ugly face looked so kind.

  Pioneering thinking, familiar with Hollywood, familiar with Huaguo movies, isn't this me?

"If you want, we can bring your daydreams and participate in the shares together. You don't need to give up your directing work completely, but in the first one or two years, you need to adjust the focus of your energy and time to this Work up.

   As long as you nod, I will do the persuasion work of Paramount and Universal. Presumably with your relationship with Ned (Tanin) and Tom (Pollack), it's not a tough job. "

   After listening to this passage, Ronald was completely unprepared and fell into deep thought.

   This pie is really too big, and it is not impossible.

  If you can become the president of overseas distribution that is essentially equivalent to the entire Hollywood, you can use the output of the entire Hollywood to impress the Ministry of Culture of Huaguo. With the good relationship between myself and the other side, it is definitely possible.

   Conversely, if you can win the entire Huaguo market, plus the markets of some other countries, with this market in hand, you can do whatever you want in your own film production business in the future?

  This is a much bigger platform than Cannon’s Minahan Golan, who raised 400 million yuan and bought theaters by himself.

   That is, I have to temporarily give up my identity as a director and producer and become a businessman for two years. After the market development is done successfully, we will have time to spare a few months to make movies again.

   "Why, do you have any doubts? You'd better ask them out while I'm here." Kerkorian said to Ronald with a smile when he saw Ronald's contemplation.

   "I want to ask, is your estimate of the potential of Huaguo's film market too high?" Ronald thought about it, and there was a factual error that he didn't quite recognize in the dream picture depicted by Kerkorian.

  The price of movie tickets in Huaguo is not expensive. The best one is Da Guangming Cinema near the Bund, the first-class seats downstairs, and the ticket price is only a little over RMB 1.

  Even if 25 billion people watch movies every year, it is still far from the per capita ticket price of one dollar. By the way, what is the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and that side?

   "In addition, how can you guarantee that the television industry on the other side of the Pacific Ocean will not develop rapidly and repeat the story of America?"

   Another hole in this dream story is the influence of the television industry. After World War II, it took ten years for television to quickly occupy the entertainment options of American housewives. Since then, the box office of movies has dropped rapidly, and the per capita watching of 20 or 30 movies a year is no longer the grand occasion.

   "Do you know? You have greatly exceeded my expectations by asking these two questions. Originally, I planned to form a consulting team for you, and then let you form a business development team with people rich in business development experience.

  Your business intuition may be better than your film art intuition. I now fully confirm that I am not wrong about what you think. "

   "Hey hey..." Ronald smiled happily. That's no, I'm not bragging, there are no movies I make that don't make money, they all have good vision.

   "We did a lot of investigation and research on these two issues in the early stage, and hired McKinsey Consulting to investigate the market conditions there in detail..."

  Kerkorian took out a copy of McKinsey's consulting application, which contained surveys and forecasts on the film and TV market there.

  First of all, the price of movie tickets over there is rising very fast.

  In the late 1970s, the ticket price for a wide-screen movie was twenty-five cents, and a normal screen was only one cent.

  But in 1984, movie theaters started market-oriented reforms, and popular movies with high attendance rates could increase ticket prices by 30 cents. For such a popular movie with a high attendance rate, the ticket price has exceeded 50 cents.

  By 1985, ticket prices had exceeded 80 cents, and movie theaters had applied for a policy to increase prices for various items, such as heating, air conditioning, decoration, seats, and so on.

  Last year in large cities, first-class movie theaters, the ticket price of popular movies has exceeded one yuan. And all kinds of new-style movie theaters are springing up like mushrooms after a spring rain, and a large number of them are being built in cities. These new theaters are larger in scale, better decorated, and can charge more expensive tickets.

  Estimates based on consulting reports. In five years, the ticket price will rise to three to five yuan, and according to the current exchange rate of one dollar to 2.8-3.2, the potential of a market of 25 billion dollars a year will soon be no longer out of reach.

   On the other hand, the TVs over there are quite expensive. A small black-and-white TV costs 300-500 yuan, and a large color TV costs 1,200 yuan. As for the TV imported from Japan, only a few coastal areas can freely buy it, and it costs an astonishing 1,800 yuan or more.

   You know, the wages of front-line workers there are no more than one hundred yuan a month. Even for cadres, senior engineers, doctors, university professors, etc., after the wage reform, they are only in the range of 150 to 200 yuan.

   Only a few senior technicians and managers of large and medium-sized enterprises have slightly higher bonuses after the reform.

   Judging from this price relationship, the speed of popularization of TVs over there will not be as fast as that in America in the 1950s.

   You know, even the big brother of the eastern camp, the Souville Alliance, only has a TV set of less than 20 million, and only one-third of the households have a TV.

Therefore, in the foreseeable future, ordinary people there will still use movies as their main means of entertainment. It is very likely that in the next ten years, the growth rate of the movie production and distribution market will outperform the growth of TV stations. speed.

"Mr. Kerkorian", Ronald became more and more excited the more he listened to it. His filmmaking is better than Minahan's, and he is more handsome than him. Actresses are also willing to cooperate with him. The reason why he is not as rich as Minahan is mainly because he missed it. This opportunity ah!

   It is rare to have such a good person as Kerkorian, who can make himself rich!

  No, it’s not that he’s a good guy, but that he has the unique advantage of understanding Hollywood and the other side of the Pacific, and is competitive in the market. This is his greatest capital!

   "I know you are very excited now, but before making a major decision, I will talk to someone I respect, think about it, and then sleep. The decision made after that is deliberate, not impulsive."

   Kerkorian saw that Ronald was eager to try, so he still told the young man not to be too eager.

   "However, you are not without competitors. Mr. Jack Valenti, the chairman of the American Film Association, has been recommended by someone. So when you choose who to chat with, you must choose carefully."

   "Ah, thank you for the reminder." Ronald thought to himself, Kerkorian is quite honest, and he doesn't hide it. I don't know why there are rumors of him doing things cunningly. Maybe it's a misunderstanding.

"I heard that you have some relationship with some people in the political circle... When you filmed Top Gun, the Navy cooperated very well, and the commander-in-chief also said that he liked it very much... World Media Distribution Group always needs to deal with the government departments over there to break through some policies. Negotiations are also needed."

  Kerkorian's point is over.

   Ronald left.

  …

  "Ronald, Mr. Michael Gray is the founder and president of Gray Film Promotion Consulting"

  Miss Chen, the secretary of Daydream, came to introduce Ronald to the publicity consulting company hired by "Moonlight Sultry". This was introduced by Susan Eakins herself.

   "Ah... ha... Hello, Mr. Gray, I was a little distracted just now." Ronald was still thinking about Kerkorian's affairs.

   "Nice to meet you, Director Ronald. My company has provided consulting advice on the distribution of many TV series and movies of Universal."

   "There is nothing wrong with the candidates recommended by Susan. Let's see what you think." Ronald crossed his hands and began to wait for Michael Gray to express his ideas.

"I think that the media package released by Hollywood to the media at this stage is not enough to reflect the wonderful content of the movie. So I invented the electronic media package, and changed the plot introduced on paper and photos into a video tape. So It's called an electronic media kit."

  Michael Gray came up and talked about an innovation in film promotion. Before each movie is released, it is necessary to send a media announcement package to major media and film critics, which contains a brief introduction of the movie, photos of exciting scenes, stills, etc.

  But just looking at these, the reporter is not enough to intuitively understand the excitement of the whole movie. Now that there are media forms such as video tapes, Gray intends to use short films to replace paper photos.

  "Simply put, here are some behind-the-scenes footage, plus an extended version of the trailer, and some thoughts from the creators about the film... The cost is actually not much more expensive than the traditional method, but the effect is much better.

  We can also send these short films to judges who have voting rights in some colleges..."

   "Ronald..."

  Ronald’s publishing director, Michelle Cannold looked at him and was a little distracted, and reminded him that Michael Gray’s speech was over.

"Ah...Mr. Gray, I was just thinking about how much your new method will bring about changes in publicity, and maybe it will become a common practice in the industry in the future." Ronald shifted his thinking from Kerkorian's position. Pull back.

   "I think so too, I hope I can do a good job of announcing this movie for you and Daydream."

   "Of course, Cannold will work with you to find MGM to solve the signing. I think your offer is very reasonable. I will wait for your preliminary proposal next time."

  …

   "Ronald, your favorite lead actor, Bruce Willis turned it down. He didn't want to do a movie part-time while he was filming the TV series 'Blue Moonlight.'"

  Joel Silver came to find Ronald, and his initial contact with Bruce Willis was not very successful.

   "Well, part-time job, I don't want to." Ronald was distracted again. Start repeating what the other person said.

   "I mean, he turned down the role in this movie." Silver wondered why Ronald seemed a little out of his mind.

"Ah... what? He turned it down? Why. Sorry, I just heard fork and thought he needed more flexible shooting time. Didn't you tell him that Michael J. Fox was filming family bonds TV series while filming There's nothing wrong with going back to the future."

  “He said that shooting like that would kill him, and he also set aside time to date his girlfriend.”

   "Oh, I'll talk to Demi, let her persuade." Ronald remembered that Bruce Willis's current girlfriend was Demi Moore.

   "..."

   "What?" Ronald saw Joel Silver's mouth move, but didn't hear what he said. Hearing about the $25 billion revenue market seemed to grab all of Ronald's attention.

   "I said, we have to have a backup."

   "Alternative... um, optional? Why is there an alternative? Can't I?" Ronald was a little annoyed when he heard the word alternative. Who could be more suitable for this job than me? Do you have my contacts in China? Do you guys have my familiarity with Hollywood?

"You want to be the protagonist?" Joel Silver looked at Ronald, looking up and down, "It's not impossible, but you are a bit too handsome, John McClane is a character who wants to resonate with ordinary people Role. If you are willing to audition, it’s okay, but you have to be assigned an executive director.”

   "What? I'm the protagonist, but I can't be." Ronald realized that he listened, "Do you have any alternatives?"

...

   "We're thinking about Schwarzenegger..."

   "Hmm, he's not bad, please let him talk." Ronald was a little absent-minded, and said casually, echoing Silver.

  At night, Ronald tossed and turned in his brand new California king-size bed, unable to sleep.

  Kerkorian's kindness is too great, and he has a chance to surpass Minahan Golan and become the most successful young producer in Hollywood.

  Golan approached Milken, the king of junk bonds, and used super high interest to raise 400 million US dollars. Sitting on the big markets on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, isn't he calling the wind and rain in the future? 400 million is nothing, maybe there are bankers begging for a loan for 4 billion.

  After thinking about it all night, Ronald got up in the morning and made up his mind to try his best to get this position.

   "Talk to someone with experience in politics, and don't have a direct conflict of interest."

   Ronald thought for a long time, and the people closest to him were the deputy commanders, George and Barbara. As deputy commanders, they actually have no real power, and unlike the chief commander, their every move involves too much.

   Moreover, Old George served as a director equivalent to the level of ambassador to China, and he has a better understanding of the situation in China.

  Thinking of this, Ronald called George Jr., the eldest son of the vice commander whom he hadn't contacted for a long time.

   "George, are you still in DC? I'm going back to New York soon, are you free? Let's get together and get some barbecue and beer."

   "Hahaha, we should have some barbecue. The barbecue here in DC is too small, not as satisfying as Texas. You set a good time, I will go there with Laura and the children, and now I have no real friends in DC."

"Then it's settled, my aunt has a house on Staten Island, and we can go there, yes, yes, by ferry, and there's a house on the island that Godfather had when he was filming .”

   "Wow, it's my first time to visit the filming location, I love that movie, I made him an offer that he can't refuse, I love this line..."

   Then, Ronald called Fa Xiao, Douglas Hansen Jr. again.

   "Doug, I received an invitation for a position..." Ronald said what Kerkorian said to Douglas Jr., "What do you think?"

   "Shxt, this is a once-in-a-hundred-year opportunity. What are you going to do? What help do you need from me? Just say it. This kind of thing needs boldness and meticulousness."

   "I'm going to invite the eldest son of the vice-commander, the director of the Screen Fund, Little George, to come to Staten Island with my aunt as a guest. They will have barbecue and beer, and his family will also come. You..."

"Don't talk about it, I will prepare everything. I know a chef who is good at barbecue. When you get to Staten Island, we are talking carefully. You have to talk to me about all the details..." Little Douglas I am also very interested in this huge business opportunity.

  Finally, Ronald called Aunt Karen.

   "Hello, Auntie? This is Ronald."

   "Ronnie, this is Donna. Why did you call when my mom just went out."

   "I should ask this question. Didn't you go to work for that company in Long Island? Why are you at home?"

   "I'm just doing some errand work (Legwork). Mr. Simmons asked me to start with some companies familiar with Wall Street and New York. I haven't obtained the qualifications to see his investment formula."

   "Legwork?" Ronald asked after hearing that, "Then what are you going to do on Wall Street?"

"It's just chatting with those bankers. Many things can't be seen from numbers, but first-hand experience. Mr. Simmons said, when I understand what numbers can tell us and what they can't tell me, I will Then you can start investing with the formula.”

   "Is that so..."

  Ronald felt that Donna's words touched him a little.

   "You haven't said it yet, why are you looking for my mother?"

   "I invited the son of the deputy commander and his family to eat barbecue. He helped me a lot. I always wanted to invite him to a family dinner."

   "Oh...then I'll tell her."

  Donna sees a lot of people now, the son of a deputy commander, and he does not hold public office, and there is nothing special about it. The son of the commander-in-chief and his ex-wife is still receiving relief money in Los Angeles.

   "Work in the field, talk to people, and understand what the numbers can tell us." Ronald heard what Donna's boss said, and thought it sounded reasonable.

   Indeed, I seem to be intimidated by that number, and then all the next actions are led by that super number.

   is to learn more about the numbers themselves before proceeding.

  Ronald took out his business card book, flipped through it for a long time, and found the business card of the Chinese actor Chao Li who had been to Huaguo with him.

   "Chaoli, I'm Ronald, Ronald Lee. I have something I want to talk to you about."

"I haven't heard of this, and I don't know much about the domestic TV market, but I can help you find someone in China to inquire about it. If this happens, it will be very good for us Chinese actors in Hollywood. matter."

   Chaoli was in the cafe, after listening to Ronald, after thinking about it, she still said the above words.

   "Is it possible? That would be great. I happen to have a lack of understanding of the film market over there."

"However, if the relevant departments know about it, they may seek your opinion. Are you willing to communicate with them the pros and cons of this matter frankly? It sounds like this matter will involve many departments, and it will not be that simple. According to my understanding " Zhao Li has a deeper understanding of domestic affairs than Ronald, a foreigner.

   "Of course, I am willing to talk about my thoughts at any time. How to say that sentence, I know everything and say everything."

  (end of this chapter)