Hollywood New Century

Los Angeles, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theatre, 5.7.

Simon and Jeff Zucker are chatting at Simon's mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side at the grand premiere of Marvel's sequel, Iron Man 2.

Jeff Zucker was the CEO of NBC Universal Entertainment Group before, and now after being acquired by Xinghai Entertainment, Simon is going to spin off Universal Pictures and NBC TV network.

Of course, Simon asked Jeff Zucker to still run the NBC network group, after all, he was in charge of the network before.

"There are many TV stations under the NBC TV network that have good ratings, and now the equity of the AMC cable network is also merged, which is of great value to us." Jeff Zucker is very much in favor of joining Xinghai Entertainment. , NBC Television Network has always been the largest revenue ratio in NBC Universal.

After all, for one of the three major wireless TV networks covering the United States, the revenue is certainly not comparable to that of Universal Pictures and other departments.

"AMC TV network, we have a part of the equity, but the high-rating TV it has broadcast in recent years is all produced by our Xinghai TV department. You are also clear about the development capabilities of the Xinghai TV department," Simon thought for a while. Then he said,

"When the time comes, I'll have the TV division help develop new high-ratings projects like our own USA cable network and Bravo pay-TV network."

"At this stage, the energy of the TV network is not comparable to other aspects."

In the United States, TV viewership has always been very high. TVB relies on advertising revenue and does not require subscriptions; cable TV relies on advertising and low subscriptions; pay TV has no advertising and relies entirely on user subscriptions.

Just pay attention to the scale of the broadcast TV.

"I understand that we can also continue to develop reality shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians, and news channels like CNBC and MSNBC." After all, Keeping Up With the Kardashians is owned by NBC The E! The entertainment channel, and of course Jeff Zucker knows the size of the NBC TV network. With the NBC TV network, Xinghai Entertainment has a different right to speak in the media.

Simon nodded and said: "In the next time, there will not be too many changes in the company system, mainly some things about splitting and reorganizing. At the same time, I now own the NBA Nets Club and the NFL Dolphins, in New York and Miami regional team broadcasts can also go directly to NBC Sports.”

"The Nets are going to sign from New Jersey to Brooklyn, New York this year?" Jeff Zucker asked with a smile.

"Yes, after the season is over, it will be relocated as a whole," Simon smiled. The Nets are second in the Eastern Conference this year, only one win away from the first-place Cavaliers, and they are now playing second in the playoffs. wheel.

Afterwards, the two chatted until more than ten o'clock in the evening before Jeff Zucker left. The NBC television network has a great business, and the relocation of the headquarters will take time.

"Iron Man 2" opened at the box office with a box office of 133 million and ranked second among the films that opened in May in North American film history, while the first place belongs to the "Spider-Man 3" released in 2007 with a box office of 155 million US dollars.

The release of "Iron Man 2" has made Marvel Studios hot on the side. In addition, Xinghai Entertainment has just successfully acquired Universal Pictures, and the whole Hollywood has obviously changed its direction.

The remake of the monster movie "The Werewolf" released by Universal Pictures in February only achieved a box office of more than 60 million US dollars in North America. For a film with a production budget of 150 million, it is indeed a serious loss.

At the same time, another legendary heroic epic "Robin Hood" directed by Ridley Scott of Universal Pictures will also be released on 5.14. Simon has no expectations. The production budget of 200 million US dollars is definitely a loss.

New York, Manhattan, in the General Electric Building at Rockefeller Center, in the offices of Universal's distribution department.

Simon, Jean Mayer and Adam Ferguson have been staying here for the past few days. Simon is basically not interested in Universal Pictures' release projects this year, except for "Meet My Father-in-law 3".

Universal Pictures also likes to develop some comedy and horror movies. After all, Universal Pictures has a lot of monster copyrights in its copyright.

"Iron Fist? Man of Tai Chi are all kung fu films cooperating with China, right?" Simon looked at the projects in his hands, all of which Universal Pictures intends to develop.

"Iron Fist", a Chinese and Western Kung Fu movie that a black hip-hop singer likes Chinese Kung Fu and wants to prepare? Man of Tai Chi, Keanu Reeves' first film?

It's all about what, and the schedule is set for the year after 2012.

Adam Ferguson nodded. He was in charge of the production department since last year, and Jean Mayer was mainly responsible for marketing and distribution management.

"Stop it, and "Super Battleship" has also been canceled. It can't be compared with Hasbro's "Transformers". If Relativity Entertainment wants to develop it, let them find Sony or Warner Bros. to develop it. As for "Snow White and the Huntsman" " and "Les Miserables", and also continue to discuss and talk, "Simon put the papers on the table, it's not over yet,

"I also know that you have been preparing for the project "The Bourne Bourne 4" for a long time. If Relativity Entertainment and overseas pre-sales reach 70% of the budget, it can be developed, otherwise it will be terminated!"

"Fast and Furious 5 I also know it's a good project, and now I know you're working on it, no problem. However, I don't want the actors to be too unruly, Vin Diesel is indeed the soul of the movie, but Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson are also good, the movie can't just highlight one person."

Jean Mayer and Adam Ferguson are really stunned. In just a few days, all the big projects that Universal Pictures was going to develop were basically rejected?

Every project, from the creative idea, to the preparation of the script, then to the production budget, to the selection of the main creative director and actors, to the start of filming, has to go through countless processes.

Simon's few words basically made the months or years of hard work of countless people all in vain. No wonder, with 1,200 layoffs in three months, almost most of them are NBC Universal staff.

The staff of Universal Pictures is the most important part of layoffs. Focus Pictures originally had few projects and was basically put on hold. A large number of people were laid off in the administrative department of Universal Pictures and the marketing department of the distribution department.

"Also, in the future, Universal Pictures will completely merge Xinghai Pictures, and there will be more good projects to support. Star Pictures will only keep one, and we will still focus on commercial blockbusters in the future!"

Simon's reform of Universal Pictures has also completely begun. It is necessary to control the number of movies released by Universal Pictures. N movies that are messy are not as good as a good commercial blockbuster.