Hollywood Hunter

"Ovitz meant that if he wants Steve to continue to guide the sequel, he must participate in profit sharing. The other party’s condition is 20%. I think the bottom line should be about 15%."

After the regular financial meeting, Simon and Daenerys Pictures director Tom Pollack discussed the sequel to "Jurassic Park".

In the original plan, "Jurassic Park" is a trilogy plan.

Now that the film has been a big success, the preparations for the sequel will naturally be put on the agenda soon.

In the original timeline, "Jurassic Park" is definitely the most successful project Spielberg has produced since the film. Relying on the omni-channel profit sharing contract signed with Universal Pictures, Spielberg only passed the first " "Jurassic Park" received an unprecedented salary of $250 million.

This time, Spielberg's remuneration plan is 10% of the North American box office share of the $8 million basic salary.

Compared with the risky profit sharing, this scheme of getting a rake directly from the box office is undoubtedly very secure. So far, Daenerys Entertainment has only issued similar contracts for two people.

According to the box office data of "Jurassic Park", Spielberg will receive more than $40 million in compensation through this project, which is also the top treatment among Hollywood filmmakers.

However, if you compare the income of Daenerys Entertainment, Spielberg will definitely feel that he has taken a little less.

In the original timeline, Spielberg's remuneration plan is not difficult to guess, it should be a 20% omni-channel net profit share. A "Jurassic Park", global box office, toy peripherals, video tape sales, TV broadcasts and other channels have brought Universal Pictures more than 1 billion US dollars in profits, and Spielberg's salary has reached 250 million US dollars.

Prior to cooperating with Columbia Pictures in "Captain Hawke", Spielberg and the two leading actors Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman received a total of 40% of the omni-channel net profit sharing contract. Spielberg himself took 20% of the big head.

It's a pity that "Captain Hawke" barely paid back, and Spielberg was paid only a basic director's salary.

It is precisely because of this that Spielberg agreed to Daenerys Entertainment's seemingly very profitable share clause on Jurassic Park.

As a result, when the film box office exploded, and the peripheral sales were even catching up with the DC Cinematic Universe series, Oldston realized that he had done a not-so-cost-effective business.

According to the long-term contract signed between Universal Pictures and Spielberg, after "Jurassic Park" and "Schindler's List", Spielberg still owes Universal a film contract.

In the original time and space, Spielberg, who always claimed to not like repetitive work, therefore filmed the sequel "Jurassic Park: The Lost World" of "Jurassic Park".

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that "Jurassic Park: The Lost World" is just a very insincere ticket. Although the special effects are more sophisticated and the scene is more grand, the core storyline is just a simple copy of the first one. This also resulted in a sharp drop in the box office and reputation of the second one compared to the first one.

This time, Old Si should also think that in the case of the first box office sales, the two sides have another film contract, Daenerys Entertainment will definitely be inclined to let him continue to direct the sequel.

Traditional Hollywood studio executives would certainly do this.

Because everyone is just a professional manager and dare not take too much risk, it is undoubtedly the safest to continue with Spielberg at the helm of the sequel.

Proposing a profit-sharing plan is just in accordance with Spielberg's own value convention.

However, Simon is not a person who likes to follow the rules.

Gently tapping the desk table top, carefully combing for a moment, Simon said to Tom Pollack: "In this case, let's start looking for other directors."

Tom Pollack froze, as if thinking he had heard it wrong.

After staying for two seconds, Pollack reacted, still a little uncertain: "Simon, you mean, substitution?"

"Yes, substitutions."

Tom Pollack didn't know what to say for a moment.

Jurassic Park’s current box office and surrounding sales figures show that this is a super-slot project that will bring Daenerys Entertainment no less than $1 billion in profits in the next few years.

Such a stunning start, for a traditional Hollywood filmmaker like him, of course, crying and begging Spielberg to continue directing the sequel to ensure the overall quality of the series.

As long as the sequel can be secured, a 15% net profit share is actually totally worth it.

What's more, it's not too much for a filmmaker who can bring $1 billion in revenue to the studio to take $150 million.

In fact, the traditional Hollywood masters actually make more money on many projects than the studios.

After hesitating for a moment, Tom Pollack finally said seriously: "Simon, I think this decision is a bit reckless, you know, with the current profits of "Jurassic Park", Steven's offer for the sequel is actually not high. ."

"Of course I understand that this is also my decision after serious consideration," Simon said in a serious tone, "Do you think this "Jurassic Park" is perfect?"

Tom Pollack was a little puzzled: "Just in North America we can get about 350 million US dollars in the box office, isn't it perfect?"

"Of course it's not perfect," Simon shook his head, but didn't comment carefully, and said: "So, I hope to change people, not because of Steven’s share payment plan. In fact, if the quality of the sequel can be ensured, I also think that Shi Even if Steven takes 20% of the profit share on the sequel, it is reasonable."

Tom Pollack understood, and was a little confused, and said: "But, in Hollywood, Simon, besides you, do you think there is anyone more suitable to direct a sequel than Steven?"

"So, Tom, first tell me, where is the most attractive place for the audience in "Jurassic Park"?"

Tom Pollack heard Simon say this, thought about it, and said, "Special effects."

"Yes, special effects," Simon continued: "It just so happens that the special effects team of "Jurassic Park" is completely in our hands, which is enough to ensure the quality of the sequel in terms of special effects. However, I want the audience to buy tickets for the sequel. Entering the scene is just special effects, certainly not enough. I hope that the film will have a breakthrough in the plot and even the connotation. At this point, do you think that Steven will spend a lot of energy on this project when the film has been so successful. It’s okay if Steven doesn’t want to think about it, we can come up with suggestions, but, do you think that with Steven’s character, will he accept our involvement in the creation of the film?"

Spielberg is a very strong desire to control, this matter is understood throughout Hollywood.

Relying on the rise of "Jaws", Spielberg's Ann Berlin Films not only produced projects directed by Spielberg himself, but also produced a large number of other films every year by the big movie star himself as the producer. . These projects are basically in the hands of Spielberg, and other film creators must be produced in full accordance with the will of Laos himself, otherwise they may be expelled.

There is nothing wrong with this one-word production mechanism.

If there are always different voices in a movie project, and there are always various people pointing fingers and feet, the result may be catastrophic. The most typical case is the DC movie universe series in which Simon Memories Zhonghua played a good hand to the pulpy. .

Daenerys Entertainment is also largely determined by Simon himself.

Now, "Jurassic Park" has a very amazing start, if Spielberg can ensure that the quality of the sequel is even higher, and even if the level of the first part is maintained, Simon will tend to let the other party continue to control the series. .

Although it is somewhat unfair to use what happened in the previous life to apply to Spielberg, Simon feels that if Spielberg continues to control the series, it is almost the same as the previous sequel. Kind of inevitable.

If Spielberg is a person who is willing to accept the opinions of others, this may not be a big problem.

Precisely, this is another person with a strong desire for control and will not allow film companies to point fingers at their projects. Especially when the first part is still so successful.

Therefore, Simon wants to change the director of the "Jurassic Park" series, not because Lao Si offered too high a salary, but to fundamentally take back the creative control of the "Jurassic Park" series.

After listening to Simon, Tom Pollack quickly understood his boss' intentions.

However, this is really risky.

Knowing that the young man in front of him was determined, Tom Pollack thought for a while, and instead of persuading him, he asked another question: "If this is the case, it will be very troublesome for Steven and the media."

"Jurassic Park" is still in theaters, and the overseas box office is also showing a trend of exploding.

Just made such a successful project for Daenerys Entertainment, and the sequel was expelled without much discussion. This hurts the face of a legendary Hollywood director.

If the media knows the news, it will definitely be more exciting.

Cross the river to demolish the bridge, go up the house and draw the ladder, the rabbits are cooked, the birds are hidden.

Well, the West does not have such a rich vocabulary of idioms, but when the time comes, the media and public opinion will definitely be more'rich and colorful' than this pile of idioms.

More serious, Daenerys Entertainment's doing so may also make other Hollywood filmmakers feel unhappy.

This was something Simon hadn't thought of just now, but as soon as Pollack reminded him, Simon also quickly sorted out an idea.

Daenerys Entertainment really must pay attention to this issue.

After tapping his finger on the table and thinking for a moment, Simon said: "So, the preparations for the sequel will not be too much for the time being. You continue to talk to that side, don't let go. Hmm...Wait until Steven completes "Schindler's List". Then they broke up on the grounds that the two sides could not agree on salary and creativity."

Obviously this can only be done.

After more than half a year, the heat of "Jurassic Park" will also cool down.

As long as the reasons are right, both sides will step down easily.

In any case, the consequences are much smaller than the immediate announcement of Spielberg's expulsion.

To finalize the matter, Tom Pollack was about to get up and leave, and Simon suddenly shouted at him again, staring into the eyes of this veteran Hollywood executive, and said: "Tom, there is one thing you have to understand. You are now Danny. Lisi Entertainment's executive, you are working for me. Therefore, I definitely don't want our conversation today to be known in advance by people who shouldn't know, understand?"

Tom Pollackton lived in shape, not dissatisfied with Simon's sudden questioning, but scared out a little cold sweat.

He did have some thoughts just now.

As a professional manager who has been in Hollywood for many years, he instinctively has some intimacy with Spielberg, and he is more inclined to think that they are his own.

In comparison, Simon's rise is too fast, for the native Hollywood, he still looks like an outsider.

Without Simon’s sudden reminder, it would be difficult for Tom Pollack to resist revealing something to Spielberg in advance. Although it may not be the entire content of the conversation between the two today, it is enough to let Spielberg know about Insider.

As for the result.

I just shot a super-best-selling movie, and the film hasn't been released yet, so I was fired. As long as people have a slight temper, they will definitely have resentment against those who fired them.

It is not difficult to see that Spielberg is definitely not a broad-minded person from the childish clauses of writing someone who has rejected him into every film contract.

In the face of Simon's gaze, Tom Pollack still did not quibble or express his dissatisfaction, but said: "I understand, Simon, I will definitely not do this."

Simon nodded with satisfaction and said, "Also, you will discuss this with Amy in private and come up with a detailed plan."

Tom Pollack nodded again, confirming that Simon had no other orders, and finally got up and left.

Walking out of Simon's office and shuttled in the breezy corridor of the office building, feeling the coolness on his body, and gradually calming down, Tom Pollack couldn't help but think of another thing.

A young man sitting in that office seemed to have a little too thorough understanding of many things in Hollywood.

If I remember correctly, my little boss will only turn 25 next month.

Even a young man from a Hollywood family, 25 years old, is unlikely to know so many twists and turns.

However, thinking about the miracles that the other party has created since his debut, Tom Pollack quickly relieved that his own boss is a strange existence.

Maybe it can be channeled.

Tom Pollack left, almost after get off work hours.

As usual, Simon didn't mean to leave work on time. Instead, according to the work schedule, he rushed to the post-production center to check the recent shots of the "Seven Deadly Sins" that had already started shooting.