Hollywood New Century

Simon certainly understands the situation of "Underworld 2". Compared with the first film, the budget has nearly doubled, and the box office is definitely not up to expectations.

In the future, the third film will replace the heroine. It must be that the film industry has reduced the production cost requirements. Then the heroine Kate Beckinsale and his director husband Len Wiseman both withdrew from the third part of the project. As a result, the third part changed the script and became the series prequel "Underworld Prequel: Rise of the Wolf Race".

After chatting with Tom Rosenberg for a while, Simon felt more and more that he had to have his own distribution network. Horror, bloody, violent B-level films cost less, and new directors generally like to take this type of film as their own. first movie.

It's easy to be small and big are all this kind of low-budget horror movies.

"Simon, good evening!" Scott Rudin with Mediterranean hairstyle came over and hugged Simon. As one of the producers of "No Country for Old Men", the two are friends.

"Scott, you also have a lot of movies this year. Has the movie "There Will Be Blood" filmed in Marfa already closed?" Simon asked.

"It was filmed half a month earlier than No Country for Old Men, but you and the Coen brothers were the main producers of No Country For Old Men. But you were able to reject Harvey Weinstein's threat and didn't give up the project, that's great!" Kurt Rudin was threatened in his early years by Miramax to take on another film project with a film in the works.

Simon smiled. Harvey Weinstein had a lot of glory in the years before, but he also offended many people. The famous producer in front of him made Nicole Kidman's film in 2002. Harvey Weinstein's collaboration on "The Moment" was a complete break.

The two powerful people, both core members of the film production, were arguing about finances, PR, and distribution.

How good is it like No Country For Old Men, Scott Rudin is just a titular producer! When "No Country For Old Men" wins the Oscar for best picture, he will not be eligible to be the recipient of the award, and his participation is not enough. Of course, it is possible to take the stage. At present, there are at most 3 producers who can receive the Oscar, but there is no limit to the number of people who can take the stage. Basically, most of the Oscar-winning filmmakers are most of the crew on the stage.

"By the way, Simon, I'll introduce you to a famous couple!" Scott Rudin said and took Simon to the other direction. Anyway, Scott Rudin was killed by Harvey Wayne Stan has been under pressure for many years, and now there is a producer who is equally capable but does not sell Harvey Weinstein's face, and it is necessary to make good friends.

Being pulled by Scott Rudin's arm, Simon was scared for a while, why? Because this guy likes men and is gay! Has come out publicly.

"Kate Winslet, Sam Mendes," Scott Rudin introduced Simon to the couple.

"Xinghai Pictures, Simon Parker, a newly-rising producer in the past two years!"

Simon Pike politely shook hands with the two of them, and the meat was right. Sam Mendes was also the best director at the Oscars, and "American Beauty" was very successful.

"It's also the youngest Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay," Sam Mendes said with a smile, who was familiar with the director.

"It's not as good as the Oscar for best director," Simon smiled, but Sam Mendes is not having a good time now. He is working on a new film "Revolutionary Road" with Scott Rudin, the heroine is his wife Kate Winslet, and the actor is now Matt Damon, but Simon knows that it won't be long before the male lead. The protagonist will be Leonardo DiCaprio.

It seems that Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio's **** scene in Revolutionary Road is the trigger for their future divorce.

"Simon, may I call you that? Your movie is really good," Kate Winslet laughed.

"Of course!" Simon responded, there are too many actresses called Kate.

Ruth in "Titanic" is also very old, and her figure is getting more and more bloated. Did James Cameron choose her because of his own preferences?

While Simon was chatting with the three of them, Nina Jacobson came over to discuss something.

"Excuse me!" Simon apologized to the three and walked away.

"What's the matter, Nina?" Simon asked suspiciously.

"The script for your adaptation of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button seems to have been picked up by Kathleen Kennedy, and Kennedy-Marshall Productions asked if we would sell the script, or co-develop?" Nina Jacobson was also just told , as for why not directly ask Xinghai Pictures but go through a third party, the reason is not important.

Kathleen Kennedy and her husband Frank Marshall were originally Steve Spielberg's production assistants, and in the 1980s, they created Amblin Entertainment with Spielberg, basically Spielberg was involved in the film, their husband and wife Both are producers.

The Raiders of the Lost Ark series, the Jurassic Park series, the Back to the Future series, etc. are all involved.

In the 1990s, Steve Spielberg, David Griffin and Jeffrey Katzenberg founded DreamWorks.

Katherine Kennedy and her husband Frank Marshall founded Kennedy Marshall Films, the independent film production company that produced The Sixth Sense and Bourne.

"He is indeed a heavyweight, but wait, hasn't our script been sent to David Fincher? Let's see what the director we chose said," Simon was actually willing to let Kathleen Kennedy participate. I made this movie so I don't have to worry too much about it.

"The answer I gave is that the script will not be sold, but for joint development, you must first listen to your opinion, Simon!" Nina Jacobson responded.

“Katherine Kennedy could be the producer of the film if she wanted to, but the producer of the project is Xinghai, and her Kennedy-Marshall co-produced with us. It’s impossible to sell the script and transfer the project to her. "Simon doesn't have any money now, but he can ask Roadshow, Theory of Relativity, and Legend for financing at any time.

Whether it is Xinghai Pictures or Kennedy-Marshall Pictures, of course, the party leading the project gets more benefits, while the other party is a part-time worker, with the company's signature and the producer's signature. After all, the two major constraints of investment and issuance are not constraints on the two companies. Both companies can attract investment and find issuance!

"Understood," Nina Jacobson nodded, meaning very clearly, that is, Xinghai Pictures can hire Katherine Kennedy as the executive producer of this film, and Xinghai Pictures will be approached by Xinghai Pictures for investment and distribution!

After Nina Jacobson walks away, Simon feels that Katherine Kennedy should not be hired. But I can't say for sure. After all, there are still too few outliers like Xinghai Films who paid for their own movies.

If Kathleen Kennedy really likes this movie, she can come over and be a second producer. Wouldn't the advance payment be lower and the share be lower?

Top filmmakers now get $2-3 million in advance, which is divided into the budget to see the movie, the genre, and of course, the negotiation with the company. Generally, it will not exceed 10% of the box office revenue, and some of them will of course add the revenue of DVD copyright. Of course, there are similarities with directors and actors, that is, the criteria for division, how to determine the balance point of filmmakers, and the level of level!

The important thing is to decide according to the type of movie. It is difficult for literary and artistic films to make a box office. The share can be very high, and the advance payment is reduced. The filmmakers who invest in it also like this. Good luck, the movie is a big hit, and everyone is happy.

The income of the producers is definitely not as good as those of the stars. The producers who earn more than 10 million yuan for a movie can count on their fingers.

Relatively speaking, the producer's income is linked to the success or failure of the film. The producer basically represents the film maker, reducing the movie budget, reducing the actor's remuneration, etc. Low costs can lead to higher profits and more income.

Relatively speaking, the main income of the vast majority of actors is advance payment, unless they encounter a big hit movie, the income shared is not worth mentioning.

"Hello, Mr. Pike!" A black couple came over to say hello.

"Good evening, just call me Simon, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith!" Mr. and Mrs. Will Smith came over, and the speaker was his wife, Jada Smith.

"I like all three movies you made, and I really hope there will be more of them in the future," Jada Smith and Simon laughed after shaking hands.

"Really, but I'm looking forward to your family's performance in "Knock on the Door with Happiness" that will be released at the end of the year!" Simon smiled and shook hands with Will Smith.

It is estimated that Jada Smith wants to know himself!

"I actually plan to adapt this biographical film of Chris Gardner. Unfortunately, when I found Chris Gardner, he said that it had been licensed to Columbia!" Simon added.

"Oh, what a coincidence!" Will Smith was first surprised, and then asked:

"When is it?"

Simon responded quickly: "I found Chris Gardner around June last year."

"At that time, "When Happiness Comes Knocking" has already started preparations, and we will start filming in San Francisco in September!" Will Smith smiled.

"Well, I'm also looking for an opportunity to work with you, Mr. Smith. Everyone is looking forward to the apocalyptic zombie movie "I Am Legend" that you're going to shoot in New York soon. It's almost a one-man one-man movie!" Simon Parker thought I want a good movie, but it's a lot slower.