Hollywood Hunter

Los Angeles.

September 12th is another new week.

When I got up in the morning, Amy Pascal got the ratings data of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" after the relaunch last night.

On the first day of the official autumn show, the viewership of the first episode of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" rushed to 23.7 million. Not surprisingly, the average viewership of the first season will definitely exceed this number, and the highest viewership is even expected. Break through the 30 million mark.

There is news from Robert Iger that ABC is already considering raising the advertising price of this show again.

However, this matter has nothing to do with Daenerys Entertainment.

Daenerys Entertainment's next operation for "Who Will Be a Millionaire" focuses on the overseas syndicate distribution of the drama and the sale of remake copyrights. Although it is a very real-time reality show, this show still has very good syndicate potential. Some television stations in Canada are already contacting here. Iger said that each issue can talk about $250,000. Although there is a big difference in the purchase price compared to ABC, the packaged sales throughout the season are still a very substantial income, and there is almost no need to invest any more costs.

Now I just need to look forward to the ratings of the other three reality shows "Survivor", "Big Brother" and "The Beverly Wife" in the next few days.

Simon has been away for more than a week, and Amy has successfully negotiated a cooperation agreement with John Hughes on "Uncle Buck". However, there are some details about the cooperation with Warner on "Overflight of the Innocence" that need to be negotiated. The weekly meeting in the morning was held directly in Burbank’s company. After the meeting, Amy rushed to Warner Studios to meet with Terry Semel.

Near noon, the two chose a high-end restaurant near Warner Bros. Studios to eat and chat.

Because it is the gathering place of several major studios, many Hollywood big names will choose to eat in this restaurant. Just as Amy and Semel sat down in the predetermined positions, some people took the initiative to come over and say hello.

"Harry, I didn't expect you to be here. How was the shooting of "Indiana Jones 3"?"

"Hi, Jesse, your performance in "Steel Magnolia" is really good, I think you will definitely get another Oscar this time."

"The casting of "Batman", our boss can only start when we come back... "The Sixth Sense of Supernatural", Michel, your news is really well informed, maybe we can arrange a meeting, Simon has been looking forward to working with you Well... he should be back this week."

"..."

Although the people who came to say hello did not neglect themselves in the slightest, Terry Semel still clearly felt that Harrison Ford, Jessica Lange, and Michelle Pfeiffer were more like Amy Pascal. Be eager.

Hollywood has always been very realistic, and Terry Semel understands that Warner is not the only choice for these big names, so the partnership has always been equal. Although he is the leader of Warner Bros. Pictures, as a professional manager, Terry Semel's influence in Hollywood is not even as good as these first-line big names.

However, Daenerys Entertainment has become an odd number. There are consecutive North American box-office works that have exceeded 100 million yuan. Not only has this small company established only two years ago rise rapidly, but it also means that Daenerys Entertainment has Sufficient strength has allowed many even the top Hollywood big names to take their careers to the next level.

Just like Robert De Niro, the two-time Oscar actor has few stars in Hollywood that can match it, but in fact, before "Pulp Fiction," there hasn't been any work with a box office exceeding 100 million. Whether it is "The Godfather 2" or "Taxi Driver", although they are very famous, the box office is only tens of millions of dollars.

Even before this lunch, Terry Semel received some similar requests.

When the scene calmed down, Amy and Semel had chatted and ordered lunch, and then started talking about business.

"Terry, regarding "Flying Childhood", since Simon had negotiated with you on a film contract, Warner has no right to participate in the production of a possible sequel as long as the film can reach the North American box office of over 100 million yuan. I hope the two sides will continue to entangle on this issue."

Terry Semel shook his head and said: "But this is not in accordance with the convention. Amy, Warner and Daenerys are involved in the production of the film. We should own half of the copyright of this film. Participating in the sequel is the right we deserve. "

Amy did not make any concessions and said: "If you insist on this, Terry, we can only wait for Simon to come back and make a decision. You know his temper, Simon may even cancel this cooperation. Warner has already disclosed us. The news of the upcoming cooperation, and therefore the gains in the stock price, if things turn around, you may even carry the dishonorable accusations of deliberately announcing false news."

Terry Semel took a sip of the mineral water the waiter had just brought, and fell silent.

Although he wants to fight for more benefits for Warner, Terry Semel knows better that at the critical moment when Time and Warner Bros. are negotiating mergers, it is best not to go wrong on his side.

After a while, Semel finally nodded slightly and said, "Well, Amy, then, who do you plan to use as the hero and heroine of this film?"

Amy's face remained calm and said: "The heroine, we plan to let Meg Ryan play. Her style is very suitable for this film, and she happens to owe Daenerys Entertainment a film contract."

Meg Ryan made it to the top with "When Harry Meets Sally". Terry Semel recalled the script of "Flying Through the Innocence" and some information about the actress, nodded with satisfaction, and said: "Where is the actor?"

Amy said truthfully: "There are no candidates yet."

"So, what do you think of Mel Gibson?"

Amy thought for a while and said, "Is Mel's schedule coming over?"

Terry Semel saw the show and nodded: "Of course, Mel will finish the shooting of "Lethal Weapon 2" before the end of the year. The schedule for "Flying Through the Innocence" is the end of next year, and the film can start shooting early next year, right?"

Terry Semel’s request is from Mel Gibson. Like Robert De Niro, Mel Gibson’s reputation in Hollywood in the past few years has grown, but there is still no box office. A film that broke 100 million dollars. Last year, "Lethal Weapon", which reached more than 60 million US dollars at the box office last year, is already his most successful commercial film. Moreover, neither Warner nor Gibson himself has much confidence in the next summer's "Lethal Weapon 2". It’s hard to predict whether the audience will still like a sequel. Therefore, Mel Gibson desperately needs a film that can protect his position.

It just so happens that "Flying over Childlike Innocence" seems perfect.

This project was personally selected by Simon Westero. In addition to this, Mel Gibson also happened to know the general situation of Warner and Daenerys's cooperation. The two parties agreed that the contract would not be terminated until a film with a box office of more than 100 million yuan was produced, so Daenerys Entertainment obviously did not want to continue to entangle Warner.

As a result, the chances of "Flying Over Childlike Innocence" breaking the 100 million box office in North America will be very high.

As long as he can get this film contract, Mel Gibson can ensure that he has an extra layer of protection from the risks of "Lethal Weapon 2", everything goes smoothly, and even allows him to successfully rank among the leading role of the 100 million yuan box office club.

Amy heard Semel’s suggestion and said, “Last time you recommended Mel to play Bruce Wayne, but Simon rejected it?”

"That's because Simon wanted to pick a newcomer to play Bruce Wayne like in "Superman"," Terry Semel explained: "Amy, Mel is definitely suitable for the role in "Flying Through the Innocence", maybe everyone A meeting should be arranged to discuss this project in detail."

"This will have to wait after we sign the contract," Amy said without Semel's eagerness: "Moreover, Simon must decide on this matter."

"Simon will definitely agree," Terry Semel smiled, pointed to the west, and said, "He is in Australia now, and Mel is also Australian."

When Amy and Semel met, it was the early morning of September 13 in Melbourne, 18 hours earlier than Los Angeles.

The formal work of this trip has ended. Simon and Janet woke up in Brisbane, Queensland, northern Australia in the morning. They came to visit the class yesterday, produced by George Miller and starring Nicole Kidman. "Across the Horizon" was filmed near Brisbane.

Because the decision to win the Hollywood Australian Gang had been made long ago, Simone took a day to come here.

At breakfast, George Miller also mentioned the topic that Amy and Semel were discussing on the other side of the ocean, and he also received a similar call from Mel Gibson.

In addition to the two major action film series "Mad Max" and "Lethal Weapon", Mel Gibson has also appeared in a successful romantic comedy such as "Percent of Men". Since the character images are very suitable, he can still win a favor, Simon Without hesitation, he agreed very readily.

However, Nicole Kidman found Simon after breakfast and tactfully declined the invitation to "Rampaging Pretty Girl".

There are indeed too many problems with the script of "Rampaging Pretty Girl" starring Brooke Shields. Since Nicole refused, Simon did not force it.

After breakfast, Simon and Janet bid farewell to George Miller and others. However, they did not rush back to Melbourne directly, but flew to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, just south of Melbourne.

Simon has never forgotten his ambition to circle this super-large island at the end of the world, and Janet has been secretly eating various plots on the island in private.

With the help of the Johnston family, the shell company under Simon’s name bought a vast forest area of ​​more than 500 square kilometers in northern Tasmania for only US$7 million. There are various strict restrictions on logging and other matters, but Simon has never thought about logging these precious virgin forests, so these restrictions also seem irrelevant.

Counting some other farm woodland, Simon is already a large landlord with 150,000 acres of land.

Of course, this is far inferior to the Kidman family.

The Kidman family owns nearly 100,000 square kilometers of land across Australia, which translates to more than 24 million acres. This is the real super landlord.

However, compared to the relatively thin Johnston family, the Kidman family is very large. Starting from Nicole’s great-grandfather Sidney Kidman, the number of the Kidman family has exceeded the number of generations. For a hundred people, the Nicole family has deviated from the core of the Kidman family, and can only obtain certain rights and interests through the family trust, and does not have much right to speak. This is the main reason why Nicole rarely discloses the affairs of the Kidman family.

After spending a whole day in Tasmania, it was about time to return.

Back in Melbourne, the two drove back to Johnston’s house from the airport together. Simon leaned back in his chair to read the information on several places of his land, but Janet picked up the car phone and dialed out a series of numbers. Obviously no one answered, and the woman unwillingly broadcasted a few more calls before they were connected.

"What, Singapore, what did Bingberg go to Singapore to do...really, dad won't eat her, why do you keep hiding? She doesn't want to marry, and dad won't forcibly throw her to whom, you know Is her number in Singapore... Well, how long will it take to get from here to Singapore... Humph, just ask, I won't chase after her to see her, just hide if you want... Hang up, bye. "

When Janet hung up, Simon smiled and said, "Still not there?"

"I said that I went to Singapore temporarily for a business trip. I don't think we should come to Melbourne often in the future. Hehe, just come this time and my aunt will be tossed around," Janet was very smiling. He said helplessly, and then said again: "Actually, it is understandable. Don't look at Dad being so kind to you. In the past few years, I always kept my face every time I came back. I was forced to go on a blind date several times. Otherwise I won’t hide in Los Angeles and don’t want to come back."

Simon couldn’t help being curious about Aunt Janet. He suddenly discovered that although he had seen real people or photos of other Janet’s family members, he had never seen a picture of Veronica Johnston: "Your aunt and You should be different?"

"It's all the same, you know, my aunt is a few years younger than Tony. Although she is a sibling, but more often than not, dad treats her like a daughter. Aunt is also afraid of dad, haha, in fact, everyone in our family is very Afraid of Dad."

Simon listened to Janet and said with a smile: "Why didn't I feel it, your father is fine."

Janet leaned over, hugged Simon's face and kissed him, and said, "Daddy can't be satisfied with you anymore, how could he be aggressive to you. However, it may not be the same as time goes on. Wait, um, wait... ...You understand."

Simon shook his head: "I don't understand."

"little bastard."

Janet scolded, leaning over and leaning on Simon's shoulder. Maybe it was too tired to play all day. The woman quickly slid down softly and finally lay on Simon's lap.