Hollywood Hunter

"Because it dragged on for too long, the original actors withdrew, and they are currently re-casting. I will probably rush to Arizona on the 20th." In Fox Studios, the three of them walked side by side on the tidy tarmac, Katherine Talking about her schedule to Simon, inadvertently glanced at Janet, who was hanging on Simon's arm affectionately on the other side, after thinking for a while and then said: "I have talked with Mr. Feldman, Simon, if you come to help If you do, you can be my assistant to the director. However, if you are busy with other things, you don’t have to come. The announcement of "Lola Run" should be very troublesome."

After confirming the relationship with Janet, Simon did not have any special thoughts about Catherine. He also realized why Catherine said that, but when he heard that he shook his head and smiled: "I didn't plan to do "Lola Run" myself. As long as the release contract with the film company is settled for the announcement, I will not be too busy for the next few months after completing this. So, before the end of the month, I will definitely be able to rush to your crew."

When Catherine said what she had just said, she raised her mind inexplicably. Hearing what Simon said, the woman just nodded slightly, her eyes floated away, and said, "Then, okay."

It's not far from get off work time, and Catherine and Janet are going back to Malibu together.

Simon sent the two women to the fork in the parking lot, separated from them, and turned to the administration building where Peter Sanders was.

Walking towards the parking lot together, after seeing Janet separated from Simon, Catherine took her arm affectionately and said casually: "Aren't you going to move to live with Simon?"

Janet shook her head: "No, of course I live in my own big house by the sea. He is not comfortable at all."

Catherine couldn't help but joked: "You are so difficult to raise, Simon will definitely have to suffer in the future."

"Hehe, who made him a man."

Catherine also smiled, but instead said: "When the filming of "Blood Corpse Night" is finished, I will find a house in Los Angeles. At that time, you can ask Simon to move to Malibu."

"I've already told Simon about this. The Malibu house is so big, even if it's okay to live with the three of us, he doesn't want to," Janet said with a little depression in her tone, and finally exclaimed: "Machismo."

"You don't want to move over, and he doesn't want to move over, then what are you going to do?"

"Waiting for him to make money to buy a big house," Janet said, rubbing Catherine on her body, and smilingly said: "However, it's not bad to live separately. If you move together too soon, I think I will be taken. Dead, this animal."

Seeing that Janet was not covering her again, Catherine realized that her cheeks were slightly warm, raised her hand and knocked on her head, and said unceremoniously: "Shut up, I won't listen to you all these messy things."

"Woo, it hurts, hehe."

Simon came outside Peter Sanders' office. After the secretary notified him, he waited a moment before he could enter.

When the secretary opened the door, Simon vaguely saw Peter Sanders making a call. When he walked in, the other party had put down the phone, got up and shook his hand across the desk, and sat down again.

After greeting, Simon put the password box containing the copy of "Lola Run" by his feet and sat down opposite Peter Sanders.

"Simon, we will get off work soon, so let's get straight to the point," Peter Sanders said when Simon was seated, "For a young man like you, it is still better to make a film like "Lola Run" Very rare. However, the subject matter of this movie is too unpopular. It has a three-stage structure and the same settings as a video game. Although novel, the audience is definitely small. The probability of theater release is not high, and it is most likely to be directly promoted. To the video tape market."

Business is to be discussed.

Although Peter Sanders didn't like the tone of "Lola Run", Simon just listened quietly, waiting patiently for the other party to make an offer.

Peter Sanders talked and looked at the young man on the opposite side secretly. Seeing that he was listening and being taught, but his expression did not change much, he stopped doing useless work and said: "I just passed Mr. Goldberg. Call, because Brian and the others are named, and this movie can really help promote the concept of the'butterfly effect', so Fox is willing to buy it for $800,000. What do you think? "

Hearing the quotation of 800,000 US dollars, Simon did not feel much, but seriously asked: "Mr. Sanders, 800,000 US dollars, is it all copyright?"

Peter Sanders nodded and said: "Of course, for $800,000, Fox bought out all the copyrights of "Lola Run" for a period of 20 years. After 20 years, the copyright of the film will return to your hands."

There are very few permanent copyright transactions in Hollywood, but the contract period of decades is enough for a film company to drain every profit of a work.

Simon finally shook his head and said, "That won't work, Mr. Sanders, the price is too low."

Peter Sanders was not surprised by Simon’s refusal and said patiently: "Simon, US$800,000 is a very reasonable price. You should only spend US$650,000 to make this movie? A profit of US$150,000. , A profit margin of about 20%, which has far exceeded the average return level of Hollywood movies."

In fact, as of now, the final production budget of "Lola Run" is $597,000, and the remaining funds of about $53,000 are kept in Daenerys's account.

However, Simon naturally would not argue with Peter Sanders, but said: "Mr. Sanders, I think your calculation is problematic, the 20% profit margin of the $10 million budget movie, and the $650,000 budget movie The 20% profit margin is completely different concepts."

Peter Sanders smiled a little, and said: "Of course, you clearly know that a film with a budget of 10 million US dollars and a film with a budget of 650,000 US dollars are also two different concepts."

"Well," Simon shrugged and said, "Mr. Sanders, actually, I'm thinking, can we sign a share contract."

Peter Saunders simply refused: "Impossible, Simon, this is Fox. We don't have the energy to split and distribute a B-level film with a production cost of only a few hundred thousand dollars."

"Mr. Sanders, "Lola Run" is just a B-level film budget, but it is definitely not a shoddy B-level film."

"Perhaps, but, you have to understand, Simon, for a large company like ours, the cost of publicity is very high, maybe a little bit of operation, the investment in this area exceeds your budget for making "Rora Run". So, We can only give you a buyout contract for this movie."

Simon thought for a while and said, "Then, Mr. Sanders, it's okay to buy out. However, I hope that for the time being, I only sell out the North American theater distribution rights of "Lola Run"."

"I just said, Simon, this movie may not make it into the theater."

"This is the prerequisite for cooperation," Simon said with a slightly stronger attitude: "If Fox is unwilling to do theatrical release for "Lola Run", then no matter what conditions you offer, I will not agree."

"Fox will not give you this kind of guarantee," Peter Sanders said with a strong tone, "Simon, you are not qualified to ask Fox to give you this kind of guarantee. None of the other six companies will."

"Then," Simon stood up with a regretful expression on his face, "In any case, Mr. Sanders, thank you for taking the time this afternoon."

Peter Sanders saw that Simon had lifted the lockbox, with a somewhat difficult expression on his face, he hesitated a little, and then made a gesture of peace and quiet to Simon.

Simon didn't insist, and sat down again.

Peter Sanders said: "Simon, I know you will participate in the Sundance Film Festival next, but compared with Oscars or several major overseas film festivals, Sundance has almost no influence, even if you get it. The awards will not have much impact on the popularity of "Lola Run". So, $1 million, this is the highest offer I can give you."

In any case, Simon still very much hopes to cooperate with a large film company, and Peter Sanders in front of him is also the only senior executive of a large film company he has access to.

All the previous arrangements have been completed, and some things do not need to be concealed.

Simon pondered for a moment and did not accept Peter Sanders’ brand new offer, but said: “Mr. Sanders, Sundance may not have much influence. However, the gimmick of Hollywood’s youngest director should be able to attract some attention. ?"

Peter Sanders heard the words, looked at Simon for a moment, but laughed, and said: "Simon, if you are young, Spielberg started making movies at the age of 13, do you think he was young at that time?"

"Unfortunately, when I was 13 years old, I didn't have the chance to have access to an ultra-eight millimeter camera, otherwise I might be able to shoot a movie," Simon just smiled indifferently and said: "But if I remember correctly, Spielberg's A standard theatrical movie is "Rampage Escape", which was released in 1974 when he was 28 years old."

Peter Sanders still joked: "So, what about you? Simon, is it 18 years old?"

People who don't know Simon well, seeing what he did, tend to think about his age.

This is the case with Peter Sanders, especially after he just watched "Lola Run". He even felt that to make such an excellent movie, Simon is likely to be a graduate of a top art school such as the USC Film School. .

If so, Simon should be at least 22 years old.

A high-achieving student from a top academy made a movie at the age of 22. Although this situation is still rare in Hollywood, it is not too special news.

Facing Peter Sanders’ ridicule, Simon just took out his driver’s license slowly, handed it over, and said, “You’re right, Mr. Sanders, I’m 18 years old.”