Hollywood Hunter

After Simon's narration, Robert De Niro had a sudden sense of relief at this time.

Compared with those memorable films or characters in film history, the young people in front of them appear more ambitious.

He wants to create a complete fictional world. He wants to convince the audience that everyone in this world is alive. He wants to use an alternative plot structure, chattering dialogue and extremely rich details. Unconsciously drag the audience's attention into this world.

It is conceivable that if this goal is achieved, who would dare to say that this movie will not become a classic in film history.

Robert De Niro has had his most glorious years. Films such as "The Godfather", "Taxi Driver", "Deer Hunter", and "Angry Bull" have brought him too much honor. He originally thought It's hard to have a movie in this world that can make him much interested.

But at this time, the young man's ambitions once again aroused his desire to perform.

Moreover, as a standard experiential actor, Robert De Niro also realized that the role of Butch Coolidge was definitely an interesting challenge for him.

Butch Coolidge is a completely fictional character from the absurd world. If he wants to build this character, he cannot drive a taxi like he did when he was preparing for "Taxi Driver", nor can he fight like he did in "Angry Bull". . Moreover, he not only has to construct such a character out of thin air, but also needs to fully believe that he lives in an absurd world like Pulp Fiction.

Thinking about this in his mind, when Robert Redford disappeared, Robert De Niro no longer hesitated, and directly said: "Simon, talk about the pay."

Simon quickly replied: "The base salary of 2 million US dollars, plus 15% of the North American box office net profit share. Bob, "Pulp Fiction" budget is only 8 million US dollars, so this is the highest offer I can give."

Robert De Niro did not hide his emotions, and shook his head: "It's a bit low."

Over the years, although the box office performance ranked the lowest among the four major actors at the time, due to the fact that the coffee position is too strong, De Niro’s salary is at least 3 million US dollars, and his budget for participating in the film is rarely less than 1,000. Ten thousand U.S. dollars.

For example, "Angel Heart", which was previously released at the same time as Warner's "Lethal Weapon", cost as much as 17 million US dollars to produce.

As for profit sharing, due to the special accounting system that has never been profitable in Hollywood movies, current stars usually treat such promises as empty checks.

Simon started with "Lola Run", until now "Reaper is Coming" and "Pulp Fiction", insisting on asking for a direct box office share, just to avoid the "Hollywood Ledger" as much as possible.

Hearing De Niro’s answer, Simon explained earnestly: “Bob, the net profit share this time is calculated like this. Orion and the theater are divided into five to five. They will only take 15% of the publicity fee. 35% of the total box office in North America, minus 8 million U.S. dollars in production budget, and the remaining as the net profit sharing base, you can get 15% from it. According to this sharing formula, "Pulp Fiction" box office reached 50 million U.S. dollars, your total film pay It can reach 3.5 million U.S. dollars. The expected North American box office of "Lola Run" exceeds 200 million U.S. dollars. I can't guarantee that my next film will be so successful, but I think that 50 million U.S. dollars is definitely no problem."

Robert De Niro still shook his head slightly and said, "Simon, according to this formula, "Pulp Fiction" North American box office of 100 million US dollars, I can only get 6 million US dollars."

Simon said seriously: "It may be presumptuous to say that, but, Bob, you really need a blockbuster movie right now. So, if Pulp Fiction is really lucky enough to reach $100 million at the North American box office, you actually get It’s much more than a $6 million salary."

Robert De Niro finally fell silent.

He recently starred in several films, this year's "Angel Heart", the production cost of 17 million US dollars, is now close to the lower end, the North American box office is only more than 14 million US dollars; last year's "War on Fire", the production budget of 25 million US dollars, North America 17.21 million US dollars. The earlier "Once Upon a Time in America" ​​cost 30 million US dollars to produce, and the North American box office was only 5.32 million US dollars.

It can be said that in the 1980s, all the films he starred in in North America did not exceed US$20 million at the North American box office, but the production budgets of these movies all reached the level of tens of millions of dollars.

Hollywood is very realistic, no matter how high the status, no matter how many Oscars, if it fails to bring profit to the studio, the result is destined to be abandoned.

In fact, before this meeting, Robert De Niro had already suffered a setback.

He took a fancy to a project that Fox was preparing, called "Leaping the Future".

Director Penny Marshall also hopes that he can play the leading actor, and also actively recommend to the studio. However, due to his increasingly tepid box office results over the years, although Fox also deliberately let him appear, but the salary offered was more stingy than Simon's just now.

Now, that role has fallen on a rising star named Tom Hanks.

There is no doubt that Robert understands that he is indeed in an awkward situation where he desperately needs a hit movie to prove his box office appeal.

After thinking about it for a while, Robert De Niro finally made a decision, got up and stretched out his hand to Simon, and said: "Then, Simon, I hope we can cooperate happily."

Simon also got up, shook hands with Robert De Niro, smiled and said, "Happy cooperation."

Finished Robert De Niro, the two heavyweight actors in the "Pulp Fiction" project are all in place.

Before that, Amy had already talked about John Travolta.

After the North American box office champion "Grease" in 1978, John Travolta really enjoyed a few years. However, the disadvantage of young stars who are too shallow and easy to pass up also quickly emerged. Two years ago, "The Good To The Beautiful" failed again at the box office with a production cost of 20 million US dollars. Travolta, who is 33 years old, even went to participate in a TV movie last year in order to transform.

Therefore, after the two parties contacted, Travolta quickly accepted the terms of $1 million plus 5% of North American box office net profit.

Similar to "Reaper Is Coming", "Pulp Fiction" is still under the full control of Daenerys Pictures, and Orion is only responsible for investment and distribution. In addition to the $8 million budget, Orion also gave Simon a total of 20% of the net profit share for soliciting roles.

Having settled Travolta and De Niro, Simon has paid $3 million in remuneration and the entire net profit share.

According to the preliminary budget sheet, offline expenses for venue equipment rental and back-end staff salaries need at least US$3 million. For other roles in the film, Simon only has US$2 million available.

Although there are many roles, the money is actually enough for careful calculation.

Robert Redford promised to appear as Mr. Wolfe, but he made this matter again.

Unlike Travolta and De Niro, who are in a state of decline in their careers, Robert Redford is definitely a first-line actor who can earn a salary of more than $5 million. Even if it is a cameo, Simon is impossible. Too stingy.

This matter can only be communicated with Orion next week.

Simon continued to discuss some details with De Niro, and the two left the villa and went to the party in the courtyard.

PS: There will be before 12 o'clock.