Hollywood Hunter

Simon thought for a moment, and then said: "You can treat this as an alternative career experience, Amy. First of all, you only need to spend two years. I have three projects planned now, and there will be at least three next year. In the next two years, we will work together to complete these six projects. Relying on the popularity accumulated by "Rolla Run", I believe that among these six projects, it is not difficult for another work to appear in the top ten of the North American box office rankings."

Amy Pascal heard Simon say this and couldn't help but interrupt: "Simon, although "Rola Run" is very successful, in my opinion, there are too many accidental factors. The annual theater in North America There are about four to five hundred movies, and it is definitely not as simple as you think to get into the top ten of the box office. It is not only the quality of a movie itself that can be determined."

Simon listened patiently to Amy Pascal's interruption before saying: "Amy, "Lola Run", "Butterfly Effect", "Death Is Coming", these three scripts, I don't think you will deny them. They are all excellent, right?"

Amy Pascal hesitated slightly, but nodded.

Simon continued: "Since I can come up with these three very good scripts, I am confident that I will run six good enough projects in the next two years. These include "Death is Coming", in addition to My personal future two directing works, as for the other three, I will also be very cautious. Six opportunities to hit the top ten North American box office again, I don’t think there is too much of a problem. If you insist that this is impossible, then , We really don’t need to talk anymore."

Amy Pascal shrugged: "Well, Simon, I agree with your hypothesis for the time being, what's next? You don't seem to give me a reason to work for you?"

"If you didn't interrupt me just now," Simon spread his hands and pointed to a round table not far away. Amy did not refuse. The two went over and sat down together, and Simon continued: "So, the reason. Come to work for me. Compared with your current Fox Production VP, your participation in the next six projects will increase significantly. Even in the future, many people will take this as your credit because of Simon Weiss After all, Tello is just a little boy who is less than twenty years old. Moreover, as long as we hit the top ten of the box office again, this will become your qualification. With this qualification, two years later, if you plan to It’s easy to leave and find a job at the Seventh University. If you want to stay, then I naturally welcome it."

Amy Pascal heard Simon’s self-ridicule just now, with a smile on his lips. When he finished speaking, he quickly put away his expression and said: "Simon, I found a problem. If all of your six projects fail , Then the Seven Majority may never accept me again."

"Of course, everything is risky," Simon did not refute, "But what if it succeeds? Or even very successful? Your current position is Fox Production Vice President. As a woman, I miss you It should be understood that this has almost reached the professional ceiling in Hollywood. If you want to go further in the seven qualifications, you may have to wait until ten years later. But choose to work for me, the next two years, if the project in hand is very Success. Then the old-fashioned people at the top of Hollywood will probably think, oh, maybe that woman can try it."

After Simon said this, Amy Pascal's eyes finally flickered. Noting that the boy opposite was looking at herself seriously, the woman sipped the champagne in her hand and said, "Simon, you are sexist."

Simon said innocently: "Amy, this is Hollywood sexism and it has nothing to do with me. If I have sexism, you won't hear what I just said."

Amy Pascal hesitated slightly, but still said: "Simon, what you just described is just a very ideal result. Frankly speaking, I think I stay at Fox, and the chances of encountering the situation you describe are greater. ."

"Fox shouldn't have a movie with a box office of more than 100 million yuan for several years?" Simon asked rhetorically, and before Amy could answer, he continued: "I know what you are worried about, Amy. One has just made a splash in Hollywood. It’s crazy to think of a young director who wants to recruit a vice president of a big film company. However, there are so many great things in this world that start from a crazy idea. You are only this year At the age of 29, is it like those old men in their 50s and 60s have no sense of adventure?"

Amy Pascal finally did not answer quickly this time, and sipped the champagne in her hand in small sips.

Simon did not urge, but waited patiently.

After two or three minutes, Amy Pascal raised his head again and looked at the opposite young man until he finished drinking the champagne in the glass, saying: "Simon, it is not impossible to want me to work for you. However, I want to get 20% of Daenerys Pictures stock."

Simon immediately shook his head and said: "Amy, as long as your work is good enough, I will definitely give you a certain equity reward in the future, but definitely not now. However, in order to compensate you for switching from the seven vice presidents to an independent production company Crazy choice, for the next two years, I can give you a package of $500,000. Of course, the bonus is extra."

In this era, if the project commission is not included, the annual salary of the vice president of the big film company is not high, probably between 100,000 and 150,000 US dollars. Simon gave a package salary of $500,000 for two years at this time, which was absolutely sincere.

However, Amy Pascal was not impressed by Simon’s salary plan and insisted: “Simon, according to my current experience and connections, leaving Fox, I can also create my own production company. There is no need to cooperate with you. . So, if you want me to work for you, I have the right to ask for a certain shareholding. Of course, you can spin "Lola Run" from Daenerys Pictures, and I will not enjoy this part of the proceeds."

The high-level turnover of major Hollywood film companies has been very frequent, and the company's sales, contract expiration, project failure and other reasons will cause personnel changes.

Those who left the film company executives naturally cannot switch to other careers. They usually set up a production company, either under the umbrella of a major film company, or go it alone. The basic process is to select the project, while pulling investment, while selling and issuing. When the movie makes money, investors and distributors take the bulk and make a fortune on their own production costs; when the movie loses money, investors and distributors still bear the losses, and they can still earn a fortune on production costs.

At the same time, at the right time, these independent producers will be re-hired by major film companies.

Repeat this cycle.

This kind of production company is purely hard-earning, and the equity distribution among partners is usually very even. After all, everyone just puts in labor and does not need to inject much capital.

Simon has just negotiated with Fox for a "Reaper Coming" which is similar to the hard-earned money. Although the "hard cost" this time is a bit high, Amy Pascal obviously regarded Simon's Daenerys Pictures as a A similar production company just started asking for 20% of the company's equity.

Shaking his head again, Simon said, "Amy, Daenerys Pictures is definitely not just a production company backed by a big studio as you think. I will try to form a company if conditions permit. With its own distribution network, if possible in the future, this company will also be involved in the field of TV program production. Therefore, I cannot give you shares now, because I will put everything I own into this company, not just Simple personal labor."

Amy Pascal listened to the confident words full of juvenile spirit from the big boy opposite, but said: "Simon, I just remember that Orion only announced the establishment of his own TV production department last month. This company was founded in 1978. It’s been nine years. Moreover, the five founders of Orion were all senior industry executives who had been operating in Hollywood for many years, and they had to rely on Warner’s promotional channels for the first few years. Then, establish a distribution network and set up a TV department. , Do you think it will take several years for you to achieve this? Or do you think you can achieve this?"

"Last June, I saw my agent for the first time. Hearing that I was planning to direct my first film, he told me that Simon, Hollywood directors usually can only direct their first film after the age of 30. , You are still too young to be too anxious. Then, I did not wait from the age of eighteen to thirty. It was just over half a year before everyone saw "Lola Run"," Simon said, beckoning to a nearby A waiter came over, again served Amy Pascal with a glass of champagne, then smiled and got up and said, "Amy, I am looking forward to seeing you in person to see how I will finish the next few years. In other words, let's finish it together. By the way, this matter is more anxious. How about giving me a reply next Monday?"