Hollywood New Century

"Hey Simon, Quentin, what are you talking about?" Harvey Weinstein laughed as he swung his fat body over.

"It's nothing, I just talked about the style of Frank Miller's comics, the world presented by "Sin City", the **** killings in Sin City, the black and white pictures and the heavy soundtrack style, the three directors are not small," Simon said with a smile.

"Frank Miller's comics like these sensual killings, with a very strong metallic feel," Quentin Tarantino, a pervert, accepts this of course.

Quentin Tarantino gave Simon the impression that he was really ugly, he was really special, and he was really lustful, and it was a surprise to mix with Harvey Weinstein.

"Simon, let's go over there and have a chat alone!" Harvey Weinstein was about to get down to business.

"certainly!"

On the sofa in the corner of the hall, Simon and the two brothers from Weinstein Pictures sat together and chatted about movies.

"Simon, about Gormac McCarthy's novel No Country for Old Men, I heard that Xinghai Pictures is preparing to shoot, and the Coen brothers are already preparing for the director?" Harvey Weinstein asked.

"Yes, filming is expected to start in the second half of the year. This year, Xinghai Pictures cannot do without productions. Otherwise, my films will not be released next year." This is not a big secret, Simon admitted of course.

"Simon, we Weinstein Pictures want the North American distribution rights for this movie, at least the right to show it in theaters!" Bob Weinstein looked calm and direct enough!

"Oh, the movie is not ready, even the script is still being adapted, you want the distribution rights of this movie?" Simon looked at the fat brother and said lightly.

"Simon, I paid attention to this novel a few years ago, but it was delayed for two years. Scott Rudin also knew that this year Weinstein Pictures was also preparing to participate in the production, but Scott found it. Xinghai Pictures," Harvey said, took a sip of wine, and continued:

"Moreover, we brothers have a lot of experience in this type of film distribution, and I believe that the awards will be easier after the film is released in the future!"

"Also, Simon, we Weinstein Pictures still have a lot of liquidity. We will introduce our financial support. I believe this is also good for Xinghai Pictures!" Bob Weinstein continued.

"Oh, it seems that many people think that I have no money!" Simon smiled self-deprecatingly and asked, "So, how much does Weinstein Pictures plan to spend for North American distribution rights?"

"I heard that the budget of No Country for Old Men is $25 million, and we Weinstein Films decided to buy the North American rights of the film for $20 million!" Bob Weinstein offered their price.

20 million US dollars, North American copyright, is to buy out the distribution rights in North America, box office, DVD and TV media broadcast.

Simon looked up at the expressions of these two guys, a natural look, wouldn't the movie become Weinstein Pictures?

"Do you think "No Country for Old Men" will be successful in the future? I think the global box office should exceed 100 million, do you agree?" Simon smiled, taking a sip from his glass.

Simon's laugh is like a mockery in the eyes of the Weinstein brothers. For a movie plan without even a script, the budget is only 25 million US dollars. He directly said that the global box office should exceed 100 million!

"Simon, Xinghai Pictures is just a start-up independent production company. You have only one movie released. If the next movie fails, you should be able to imagine what the consequences will be?" Harvey Weinstein has not So happy.

"I know, but I have confidence in my own movies. I don't make a dozen movies every year like Weinstein Films and release thirty or forty movies. My funds can completely make my own movies independently. !" Simon's face was sincere!

Of course, this conversation was not happy, and Simon left the Weinstein brothers with the impression of blind confidence and arrogance.

"Harvey, wait, that "No Country for Old Men" may not be successful either. He refused to participate in our production, and he doesn't even want to talk about it directly. It's crazy!" Bob Weinstein was very unhappy, When have you ever been ignored by others like this?

"When our two brothers don't have Miramax, it will be impossible, hum, I will make Weinstein Pictures the second Miramax at the fastest speed!" Harvey Weinstein was angry After taking a pat on the table, I personally went to the front line to acquire movies last year, and a few popular ones are enough to make money.

"By the way, I heard that Nicole Kidman has been supporting him. Now Nicole's funds are a bit strong. Would you like to remind Nicole that Simon's financing will be a little more difficult?" Bob Weinstein reminded.

"Try it, but it should be of no use. Last year, he helped Nicole earn more than 100 million US dollars. Nicole is a smart person. He will not give up Simon Pike easily. If Simon Pike fails, she will I will give up on him as soon as possible," Harvey Weinstein can help Nicole get the trophy she wants, but Simon directly let her get huge profits, what is the purpose of getting the trophy, not just profit!

"It is also possible that Simon Parker will rise rapidly and become a Hollywood upstart, and then he will be the producer that actors like Nicole need to look up to!"

Harvey Weinstein, who has been in Hollywood for decades, sees too clearly that capital is the root of everything.

I can play Hollywood actresses in the palm of my hand, that is, I can bring benefits to many people, and I have never been an enemy of big capitalists. They don't care, they only want Hollywood cakes!

Although the cooperation between Simon and Weinstein Pictures failed, Simon didn't mind. The Weinstein brothers needed to consolidate their careers and used the old method to scour the low-grade B-movie market for a lot of non-mainstream movies. DVD is the big one.

High-definition DVD replaced DVD, just like DVD replaced VCD in those days, it is prosperous, which is the consensus of many filmmakers.

Simon knows that the winter of DVD and HD DVD is coming. Without this cake, the difficulties of independent film production companies will become more and more obvious.

Small-budget films are even less viable, and large-scale productions are the mainstream of various companies. After all, compared with small-scale productions, the success rate of large-scale productions is much higher! Whether it is innate conditions or acquired conditions, small productions cannot be compared.

In the office of Xinghai Pictures, Simon leaned on a chair and looked at the box office data of the North American market for the past two years.

The North American box office in 2004 was $9.36 billion;

In 2005, the North American box office grossed only $8.83 billion.

Last year, some film companies were really unhappy. This year is different. Sony is going to rise. Not surprisingly, this year's North American market share is Sony Columbia. As well as blockbusters such as "The Da Vinci Code", there are also several small and medium-cost small productions that will be successful, such as "Underworld 2", "Monster House" and so on.

Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Death Man" and "Cars" will also be released this year!

"Simon, don't you have a place to spend money recently?" Sonia Roman sat down and asked.

"Recently, I don't know? There should be nowhere, what's the matter, the company has no money now? Isn't that the follow-up of "Juno" divided into North America?" Simon wondered.

"Yeah, there are more than 5 million US dollars on the book after it came down. The company now has more than 20 employees, and the monthly salary has to spend more than 100,000. I bought the film and television adaptation of the novel "Gossip Girl" before. Quan also spent one hundred million in cash, and the preparation for No Country for Old Men also took out $1 million," Sonia Roman calculated the account,

"You said to spend some money on PR for "Juno". Nicole's Huaying producer generously paid a million dollars for public relations. We can't be too stingy. Several people from the advertising department found a newspaper to advertise!"

"Well, now it's only 2 million when you add the $500,000 advance you received from the "Queen Wears Prada" crew, so I ask you if you have any big moves."

Simon was stunned for a moment, then shook his head quickly and said: "No, I was still thinking about how I should cooperate with the promotion of "Little Sunshine"!"

"The Devil Wears Prada" was paid $1.5 million upfront, and it looks like the rest will have to wait for the movie to hit theaters.

"The money is spent too fast, you have to find a way to make money quickly," Simon held his forehead and thought for a while,

"Sonia, get me a set of that Frank Miller cartoon!"

Simon remembers that this guy's comic book adaptation is more than "Sin City", and he can't remember it for a while, so he has to read the comics.

"Well, I'll let Martha put it for you on your office desk. Do you like to read his cartoons?" Sonia Roman just thought it was Simon who wanted to read it.

"Well," Simon nodded, of course he didn't know what Sonya was thinking, and suddenly asked again,

"Sonia, what do you think of Marvel Entertainment? Spider-Man, Fantastic Four are very popular."

"Well, but didn't they all sell these characters? Marvel is now making money by selling superhero toy derivatives, and except for Spider-Man and X-Men, other Marvel hero adaptations have failed. And Batman and Superman are Americans' favorite superheroes!" Sonia Roman didn't know why Simon asked about Marvel, the company that is now dying.

Simon also noticed that Sony Columbia was about to start the movie "Soul Chariot", and suddenly asked Sonya Roman.

Simon never slackens his concern for Marvel!