Hollywood Hunter

Simon heard Ronald Goldberg’s question and felt that Barry Diller looked at him in the same way, and explained with a smile: "Ronald, I reminded everyone before the filming started, the reputation of "Instinct" It may not be as good as last year’s "Butterfly Effect."

Ronald Goldberg was still a little worried, and motioned to the surrounding people without a trace, saying: "Simon, no one left early during the screening last year."

"This film does not have the sophisticated plot setting of "Butterfly Effect". Its selling point is actually controversial." Simon noticed that no one else came by, and slightly lowered his voice to Ronald Goldberg: "Ronald, what Fox has to do next is to control this controversial trend of public opinion. We will win until the film is released next month."

After many internal discussions on the strategy of "Instinct", Simon’s words did not give Ronald Goldberg much peace of mind: "Of course I understand, Simon, I’m just worried that we might not be able to Control the direction of the media."

"If it really messed up, then I can only say regret." Simon spread his hands, feeling helpless to Goldberg's indecisive character, and said: "Ronald, we all know that the movie business has never been All are full of risks."

Ronald Goldberg felt Simon’s emotions to some extent. He looked around and said, “Well, you guys, I’ll say hello to Garrett of Variety Show. I hope I can win more. Good reviews."

Simon watched Goldberg leave and asked Barry Diller: "Barry, has Fox found a replacement for Ronald?"

Barry Diller nodded and said, "I intend to make Joe Rose the president. Rupert is also satisfied with him, Simon, do you know Rose?"

"I've heard of it, but I haven't touched it."

Simon replied, saying that it was indeed Joe Rose.

In original time and space, the president of Fox during this period was Joe Rose. The biggest achievement of this well-known producer who started in the 1970s when he was in charge of Fox was to discover the best-selling comedy film "Home Alone" in Hollywood history.

Joe Rose has just turned forty this year, and currently runs a production company with several partners. He has participated in the production of films such as the hit movie "Bachelor Party" starring Tom Hanks in the early days. He is well-known in the industry. But not top-notch.

Therefore, Joe Rose is not eligible to join Hollywood's seven chair grabbing games. However, whether it is Rupert Murdoch, who is an outsider in Hollywood or Barry Diller, who is only forty-six years old this year but wants to strengthen his control of Fox Pictures, they do not want to find another one like Ronald Gold. A senior executive like Berg with a lot of seniority in Hollywood manages the company.

Joe Rose has been in the industry for more than ten years. He has good experience in both production and company management, but at the same time he does not have too deep roots in Hollywood. It seems just right to hire him to be in charge of Fox Pictures.

"Next time I will introduce you to you," Barry Diller said, before adding: "Simon, after "Instinct", I still hope that we can continue to cooperate. You have said that you hope to cooperate with Fox TV before. The network has started some cooperation, but in the few reality shows this time, Daenerys Pictures doesn’t seem to have much interest in cooperating with us?"

Simon said calmly, "Barry, this is because Fox's conditions are not ahead of other TV networks."

Although it is already the fourth largest national television network, Fox Television Network still has a big power gap compared with the traditional three major television networks ABC, NBC and CBS.

It is just the most basic number of franchise TV stations. The traditional three major TV networks have more than two hundred franchise TV stations across North America, but Fox TV Network now only has more than 100 franchise TV stations. Moreover, in order to save money, Fox Television Network currently only operates two hours of prime time programs, but the three major television networks are three hours from eight o'clock to eleven o'clock.

These factors limit the audience base of Fox Television Network.

Daenerys Pictures actually introduced several reality show plans to Fox Television Network. However, the conditions set by Fox Television Network were not sufficient to make Simon ignore its disadvantages in various aspects.

Barry Diller is definitely a very shrewd and visionary corporate manager. The original "Reaper is Coming" project, it was Barry Diller who persuaded the hesitant Ronald Goldberg to make Fox. Fox also benefited from the unprecedented contract between the film industry and Daenerys Pictures.

Out of the importance that Simon has created many box office miracles in succession, Barry Diller has carefully studied several reality show plans of Daenerys Pictures. In his opinion, "Survivor" is the most likely to cause a sensation, followed by It was the "Big Brother" plan. In fact, North America has never lacked variety shows with answering questions. Therefore, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" was ranked third. As for the last "Beverly Wife", Barry Diller felt that it was entirely the young man's "personal interest". He seemed to have just disturbed the marriage of the glamorous actress named Natasha Kinsky.

Barry Diller also knows that Daenerys Pictures has come up with four program plans at one time. The goal is the current four major television networks in North America, and Fox obviously only has one betting opportunity.

After thinking about it for a moment, Barry Diller said: "Simon, let's be honest, I want to get "Survivor", what kind of cooperation plan do you want?"

"Barry, the most important thing for Fox Television Network at the moment is to expand the audience. As for profit, this is obviously secondary, right?" Simon looked at Barry Diller, and continued before he could answer, "So, If Fox wants to get "Survivor", the cooperation plan is very simple. You get the audience and Daenerys Pictures gets the profit."

Barry Diller shook his head and said, "Simon, this is too demanding. The cost of running a TV network is very high. I can't allow my platform to become someone else's money-making tool, and Rupert will not agree."

"Barry, we regard Fox Television Network as a farm that is being developed. The program in Daenerys's hands happens to be the farmer who is in charge of pioneering. On the other hand, it must pay a higher salary. Only if the area of ​​the Fox Television Networks farm expands rapidly, you will be able to make more profits in the future."

"Of course I understand the truth," Barry Diller said. "But, Simon, I don't know the working ability of the'farmer' you recommended to me."

Simon also shook his head and said with a smile: "Actually, I don't know."

Barry Diller remembered the trial broadcast of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" next Monday. This show has been in close preparation for some time recently. He even went to the trial shooting site in New York to watch the recording effect in a low-key manner. "Who Will Be a Millionaire" did give him some special feelings that were completely different from traditional answering programs.

However, this show has already belonged to ABC, and it is obvious that Fox will never get involved.

The bleak TV fall season triggered by the screenwriter’s strike is an opportunity for Daenerys Pictures, and it is also an opportunity for the Fox Television Network, which is relatively weak compared to the other three. If one or two sensational TV shows can be launched this fall, the popularity of Fox Television Network among North American audiences will immediately increase.

Just as Internet companies burned money to expand their user base, Fox Television Network is currently in the money burning stage. If Simon’s several reality shows can be a big success, Barry Diller doesn’t mind giving up profits for ratings, but he doesn’t want to sign a deal with Daenerys Pictures and it may prove to be Big joke contract.

There are only three days left before the broadcast of "Who Will Be a Millionaire". After hesitating for a while, Barry Diller decided to wait another three days. At the same time, he was a little bit self-deprecating, and he persuaded Goldberg to boldly agree with "Death is Here" ", but it is his turn to hesitate.

However, Barry Diller also made up his mind that if the response from "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is good, he must win at least one of the two reality shows he fancy.

Although there is still the idea of ​​using several reality shows as a bargaining chip in exchange for New World Entertainment from General Electric, for Simon, in addition to the "Who Will Be a Millionaire" already handed over to ABC, "Survivor" It is undoubtedly the most valuable of the remaining three projects, but others definitely don't know this, and Simon has no plan to hand over "Survivor" to NBC.

On the contrary, if NBC's ratings for this fall season are made more bleak, General Electric may be more cooperative with itself. After all, no one would think that Daenerys Pictures would only have these four reality show plans.

The first issue of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" was officially recorded this weekend. Simon had to rush to the East Coast early tomorrow morning, so he did not stay too much at the reception. At ten o'clock, he took Jenny with him. Special return to Malibu.

Early the next morning, because it was Saturday, the major newspapers generally withdrew from the most informative issue of the week, and "Instinct", which had just gone through the trial screening, quickly became the focus of media discussion, as expected. That caused strong controversy.

In terms of the most basic film reviews, "Instinct" is actually better. In the past year, the "Butterfly Effect", which was also a collaboration between Simon and Brian de Palma, was generally around 5 points. It did not reach the pass, but it was not thorough. Collapse.

"Variety" gave a very positive evaluation: "A **** thriller with a sleek style, full of tension in the performance of the actors, and arousing of alternative thinking. It has a strange and strong appeal."

"Rolling Stone" praised the film as "a scarlet dream created by Simon Westero, and Linda Fiorentino's performance is impressive".

In addition, the "New York Times", "Seattle Times" and other important media also gave positive comments.

However, the negative comments caused by the film are even more violent.

Roger Albert relentlessly criticized the movie in the Chicago Sun for "except for a simple plot that is completely predictable like a character puzzle, all other elements are just useless garbage." Simon didn't know if he should feel honored to be able to let such a master film critic bluntly use the word ‘trash’.

"The New Yorker" film critic Terence Lafferty also criticized "Instinct" as ‘a boring story that uses **** and violence to divert the audience’s attention’.

Other newspapers such as "Time" and "Chicago Tribune" also published critical remarks.

Moreover, because of the subject matter of "Instinct", this polarized media reputation quickly broke away from the category of film reviews and quickly spread to the content of the film itself.

A film critic who claimed to be a loyal Simone fan published a critical article in the Los Angeles Times the next day, violently accusing Simon of selling violence through Pulp Fiction and selling **** love through Instinct. , And then publicly announced defaning.

In the period of "Lola Run", he publicly questioned Simon’s East Coast solo writer Mark Horrington, although he was not invited to participate in the screening, but this time he jumped out again, still with the New York Post "The opposing "Daily News" published an article criticizing "Instinct" for the excessive description of sex, and accused Simon of lack of social responsibility.

In the following days, the media controversy that began to rise gradually became more and more intense, and even developed to the extent of personal attacks.

A film critic of the "San Francisco Chronicle" published an open letter questioning that Simon, who produced the two extremely uncomfortable films "Pulp Fiction" and "Instinct" in succession, may have been insane again and should return to the mental hospital. After receiving treatment, the film critic also claimed in the open letter that "Instinct" should definitely belong to the NC-17 category, and asked the MPAA to re-rate "Instinct".

After the publication of the open letter, many film critics who criticized the film also spoke again, calling on the MPAA to re-rate "Instinct".

Before the trial screening, "Instinct" had already received the MPAA R rating.

The MPAA's rating committee is actually in the hands of the seven major players. Everyone checks and balances each other, and is occasionally used to suppress second- and third-tier film companies. Generally speaking, the film company believes that the rating of its film is too strict, and will appeal, or re-edit and submit the rating. It has not happened that the film with the confirmed rating has been reconfirmed as a more strict rating.

The media is noisy, but inside Hollywood, many people actually understand that unless they are disturbed by completely overwhelming public opinion pressure or other powerful factors, the rating of "Instinct" will not change. But if you want "Instinct" to have a greater social impact, you can only wait for the film to be released.

Obviously, once the film is released, the rating is even more irreversible.

Therefore, Daenerys Films and Fox were not disturbed by this kind of controversy. Instead, they secretly contributed to the increase in the controversy of "Instinct" in order to attract public attention. For this reason, Fox also deliberately suppressed the MPAA rating committee. An attempt to explain the statement.

On the other hand, in order to show that they do not lack a sense of social responsibility, Fox and Daenerys Pictures also issued a joint statement on a new Monday, urging theaters that screen "Instinct" to conduct stricter age checks to ensure that there will be no problems. Teenagers who meet the conditions for viewing the movie enter the theater.

Of course, will this arouse the curiosity of young people even more? This is beyond the control of film companies. Who makes young people inherently rebellious?