Hollywood Hunter

There was no suspense. Early the next morning, the newspaper was full of headlines like "Simon Westero's new romance revealed."

In the apartment of Century Mansion.

Simon woke up when the phone rang, then held the microphone almost all the way until he had breakfast.

Jonathan Friedman and Pat Kingsley immediately called to ask what happened to Simon and Sandra, and how to deal with the media next. Simon's answer only made them vague. Sandra took the initiative to kiss herself last night, and if he immediately declared that the two had nothing to do the next day, it would definitely embarrass the girl.

Janet naturally called and complained bitterly about Simon Playboy **** ass, but then she diverted to the esoteric issue of kissing skills. Simon patiently accompany the woman to make a fuss, and finally tested whether the two had been'breaking up' for two weeks, whether they could start dating again, and was rejected again because of a serious face problem.

In a series of phone calls, Dennis O'Brien, the head of Handicraft Films, also called.

Handicraft Pictures agreed to participate in the production of "When Harry Meets Sally", Dennis O'Brien hopes to formally discuss the details of the contract with Simon. This kind of thing would have been more suitable for Amy to come forward. However, Amy has to rush to New York, Simon did not have too important work on the weekend, so he took it personally.

After two days of intensive negotiations, Daenerys Pictures and Handicraft Pictures formally signed a cooperation agreement on Monday. After Amy Pascal returned from New York, he began discussing distribution cooperation matters with several major film companies.

Subsequently, the big film company's strong monopoly on Hollywood film distribution channels and Daenerys's shallow roots were once again revealed.

Daenerys Pictures headquarters.

Simon and Amy sat on the sofa in the reception area of ​​his office together, discussing the results of Amy's recent contacts with several major film companies in a low voice, and the atmosphere was inevitably a bit heavy.

Due to the continuous success of "Lola Run" and "Butterfly Effect", the studios originally expressed interest in investing in "When Harry Meets Sally".

However, when Daenerys Films decided to make it alone and was only willing to cooperate with the Seven Majors in the distribution of local theaters, the attitude of all parties immediately changed significantly.

In the Seventh University, Paramount and Universal directly rejected Daenerys Pictures’ invitation to cooperate on the grounds that the film schedule was full.

There are five remaining.

Since Daenerys Pictures only wanted to authorize the North American theaters to distribute it separately, Colombia requested a buyout, but the price was only 3 million US dollars.

If it is divided into distribution, Hollywood independent producers usually get about 20% of the box office share from the distributor. According to this ratio, Columbia’s $3 million offer is only equivalent to an estimate of $15 million for the North American box office of "When Harry Meets Sally".

At the box office of $15 million, it's not really bad in this era. Films with the same production cost of 15 million US dollars get such a North American box office, and through subsequent distribution channels, they can basically pay back.

However, this number is far lower than Simon's memory of "When Harry Meets Sally" at the box office, and he naturally cannot agree.

The other four companies are willing to issue shares.

However, MGM and Disney both issue commissions as high as 15%, and the publicity fee is naturally extra. Moreover, the two companies not only asked Simon to sign the director and screenwriter with additional conditions, but also the number of screens and movie schedules that they could give were not satisfactory.

Next Fox and Warner.

Fox is willing to give the Easter schedule at the end of March next year, guaranteeing a minimum of 1,000 yuan to open the screen, and the issuance commission of 12%. However, Fox asked to take away the distribution rights of other North American channels for "When Harry Meets Sally".

The schedule given by Warner is the best among the seven companies. In November next year, Thanksgiving, we will guarantee a minimum of 1,000 yuan to open the screen and issue a commission of 10%. The additional condition is the agency distribution rights of "When Harry Meets Sally" in all other channels outside the North American theaters.

The biggest difference between agency issuance and pre-sale is the date of payment.

If Daenerys Pictures retains the distribution rights through other channels, after "When Harry Meets Sally" is released, if the market responds well, it will soon be able to release through subsequent channels like "Lola Run". The right to quickly withdraw funds.

However, if you choose agency distribution, you will need to wait for the film company to complete the distribution through various channels before you can continue to settle accounts.

Take the recent video tape release shown on theaters. After a movie is off-loaded, the video tape can be released after a three-month window period. Even if it is settled quarterly, at least another three months will be required.

Therefore, even if you choose agency distribution, even if you can recover more profits in the end, the payment cycle of several years is not something a small company like Daenerys Pictures can afford.

All in all, the five conditions that agreed to cooperate are basically not what Simon wants to see.

However, five of the seven major film companies are willing to cooperate with Daenerys Pictures, which is actually the result of the accumulation of two consecutive hot movies by Simon. For an independent movie, Simon wants to hold more distribution rights in his hands. The Seventh Congress obviously cannot give too good conditions. Don't even think about popular schedules like summer vacation.

Speaking of it, the situation facing "When Harry Meets Sally" is actually a true portrayal of what Hollywood independent filmmakers generally encounter.

Although Hollywood has never lacked second- and third-tier film companies that can conduct film distribution independently, the monopoly of film distribution channels by the seven major studios is definitely not empty talk. Only those who are present understand how terrible such a strong monopoly is.

Take New Line Films as an example. The founder of New Line Films, Robert Shea, established the company in 1967. But until 1984, when New Line Pictures launched its first independent production of "Most Ghost Street", it could only get 165 yuan for the film to open the screen, and it was still the unpopular schedule on November 9.

Even in the recent "Most Ghost Street 3", although the number of opening screens has finally expanded to more than 1,000 yuan, the schedule seems even more unpopular, February 27. For big studios, this kind of schedule is basically a movie graveyard, and only very unpopular films or movies of independent producers will be thrown into this unpopular schedule to fend for themselves.

So, why doesn't Newline Pictures choose the popular summer or Christmas time?

Because you can't get in.

Even after experiencing the ‘Paramount Act’ that forced the separation of terminal theaters from film companies in those years, the entangled interests of major film companies and North American theaters have not been broken.

What's more, in recent years, as the government continues to loosen control over the media industry, the Paramount Act has existed in name only.

Currently, the number of movie screens owned by North America as a whole is about 22,000, of which 7,500 screens in the core and prosperous area contribute up to 80% of the North American box office each year.

After the failure of the Paramount Act, companies such as Warner, Universal, and Columbia have resumed involvement in the theater projection business in recent years, and now they have once again controlled nearly half of the core 7,500 screens.

With direct control of 40% of North America’s total box office share, coupled with close interest ties with other theaters, second- and third-tier film companies are fine, but basically they cannot threaten the seven monopoly positions.

Due to his attention to various aspects of Hollywood, Simon is actually quite clear about these things, but he still has a strong unwillingness in his heart.

Regaining his glance at the memorandum recording the cooperation conditions of several major film companies, Simon looked up at Amy Pascal and asked, "Amy, how likely is it that we will release this film ourselves?"

Amy Pascal shook his head and said, "Simon, it's too risky. This is 15 million US dollars, not 1.8 million for "Most Ghost Street". The local box office data is the most important basis for the follow-up channel publishers' quotes. We do the distribution ourselves It's not impossible, but the box office won may not even have half of what the Seventh Congress did. This will have a serious impact on the income of all subsequent channels, and it will completely outweigh the loss."

Simon couldn't help being silent after listening to Amy. He naturally understood these principles.

Once again focusing on the memo in front of him, Simon quickly weighed the cooperation plan in front of him.

Colombia's $3 million buyout is certainly not considered.

Fox and Warner, even if the North American box office of "When Harry Meets Sally" can still reach 90 million US dollars, Daenerys Pictures’ share of the box office may hardly exceed 20 million.

Like "Lola Run", Simon is more concerned about the earnings of subsequent distribution channels.

These two are also excluded.

In the end, only MGM and Disney were left.

However, the schedules given by MGM and Disney are one at the beginning of October and the other at the end of February, all of which are cemetery-level schedules.

Moreover, Simon really doesn't want to sign any more directorial contracts.

Today is already Thursday.

Simon handed the story script of "The Lion King" to Jonathan on Monday. Although he hoped to cooperate with Disney, he had to pass Fox Pictures first. Because of the original contract, after "Butterfly Effect" and "Reaper Is Coming", he still owes Fox a script.

Although Fox Pictures does not make animated films now, the lawyers of both sides still tossed for a whole day and signed a formal agreement of understanding before Jonathan was able to promote the project to Disney.

Thinking of this, he secretly sighed, Simon knew that he still had to face the reality.

At the moment, the only sign that Daenerys Pictures can make the big movie company's heart is his own. If he wants to reach a cooperation, he can only sign another film contract with MGM or Disney.

Picking up a pen and drew a circle on the names of MGM and Disney, Simon handed the memo to Amy, saying: "Continue to contact these two, the Easter schedule in March, 1,000 guaranteed screens, this is us The bottom line. Everything else can be discussed."

Amy nodded, she was actually more inclined to these two.

As for Simon's signing of a supplementary contract again, it doesn't matter to Amy.

The fundamental reason why Spielberg can only direct the films of Universal, Warner and Paramount these years is also due to contract restrictions.

After the success of "Jaws" that year, Universal changed Spielberg's seven-year "selling contract" into a four-part contract. Until now, Spielberg still owes two.

Therefore, even though he publicly expressed his dislike of Universal Pictures President Frank Price and arrogantly wrote the terms of not working with each other in the contract, Spielberg had to continue working for Universal Pictures.

After confirming this, the two chatted a few more words, and the office door was knocked.

After Simon agreed, Susan opened the door and said, "Mr. Westeros, Miss Kidman's hair is dyed."

As Susan said, a tall girl with white skin but black hair came in, and it was Nicole Kidman who was just twenty years old at this time.

Nicole Kidman with black hair.