Hollywood Hunter

Without any suspense, the next morning, the newspaper was full of headlines like'Simon Westeros' new romance exposure'.

Apartment in Century Building.

Simon woke up on the phone ringing and then held the microphone almost all the way until he had breakfast.

Jonathan Friedman and Pat Kingsley called immediately to ask Simon and Sandra what happened, and how to deal with the media next.Simon's reply only made them vague.Sandra took the initiative to kiss himself last night. If he immediately declared that the two had no relationship the next day, it would definitely embarrass the girl.

Janet naturally also called, complaining complaintly about Simon Playboy's little bastard and the like, but then went to the esoteric problem of kissing skills.Simon patiently escorted the woman around, and finally tried to see if the two had'broken up' for two weeks. Whether they could start dating again was rejected again because of serious face problems.

In a series of phone calls, Denis O'Brien, the head of craftsmanship, also called.

Handicraft Pictures agreed to participate in the production of "When Harry Meets Sally", and Dennis O'Brien hopes to formally discuss the contract details with Simon.This kind of thing was more suitable for Amy to come forward.However, Amy had to rush to New York, and Simon did not have much important work on the weekend, so she took it on herself.

After two days of intensive consultations, Daenerys Pictures and Crafts Pictures officially signed a cooperation agreement on Monday.After Amy Pascal returned from New York, she began discussing distribution cooperation with several major film companies.

Subsequently, the strong monopoly of Hollywood film distribution channels and the weak foundation of Daenerys film industry once again revealed no doubt.

Daenerys Pictures headquarters.

Simon and Amy sat on the sofa in the reception area of ​​his office together, whispering the results of Amy's recent contacts with several major film companies, and the atmosphere was inevitably heavy.

Due to the continuous success of "Rola Run" and "Butterfly Effect", the studio originally expressed interest in investing in "When Harry Meets Sally".

However, when Daenerys decided to make its own production and was only willing to cooperate with the Seventh Congress on the distribution of local cinemas, the attitudes of all parties immediately changed significantly.

In the Seventh National Congress, Paramount and Universal declined the invitation to cooperate with Daenerys directly on the grounds that the film layout plan was full.

Five are left.

Because Daenerys only wanted to authorize the North American theater to issue a separate release, Colombia demanded a buyout, but the price was only $3 million.

If it is a distribution, Hollywood independent producers usually get about 20% of the box office share from the distributors.Based on this ratio, the offer of $3 million in Colombia is only equivalent to an estimate of $15 million for the North American box office of "When Harry Meets Sally".

The $15 million box office is actually not too bad in this era.Films with an equivalent production cost of US$15 million can be obtained at the North American box office and distributed through subsequent channels.

However, this number is far below the box office of "When Harry Meets Sally" in Simon's memory, he naturally cannot agree.

The remaining four companies are willing to share and issue.

However, the commissions issued by MGM and Disney are both as high as 15%, and the advertising costs are naturally calculated separately.Moreover, the two not only asked Simon to sign the director, screenwriter and other ancillary conditions, the number of screens and movie schedules that could be given were also unsatisfactory.

The next Fox and Warner.

Fox is willing to give an Easter schedule at the end of March next year, guaranteeing a minimum of 1,000 screens and issuing a commission of 12%.However, Fox requested to take away the distribution rights of other North American channels for "When Harry Meets Sally".

Warner's schedule is the best among the seven. In November next year, Thanksgiving, a minimum of 1,000 screens will be guaranteed and a commission of 10% will be issued.

The biggest difference between agency issuance and buyout pre-sale is the date of payment.

If Daenerys Pictures retains the distribution rights of other channels, after the release of "When Harry Meets Sally", if the market responds well, it will soon be able to release through the follow-up channels like "Laura Run" Rights, quickly withdraw funds.

However, if you choose to distribute by agency, you need to wait for the film company to complete the distribution of various channels before you can settle the accounts one after another.

Take the release of the latest video tape with the theater screening.After a movie is downgraded, the videotape will not be available until after a three-month window period.Then, even if it is settled quarterly, it will have to wait at least three months.

Therefore, if you choose to issue an agent, even if you can finally recover more profits, the return period of several years is not affordable for a small company such as Daenerys.

All in all, the conditions given by the five major parties that agreed to cooperate are basically not what Simon wants to see.

However, five of the seven major film companies are willing to cooperate with Daenerys Films, which is actually the result of the accumulation of two consecutive hot films by Simon.For a single movie, Simon wants to hold more distribution rights in his hand. The Seventh Party obviously cannot give too good conditions.For example, the popular schedule such as the summer season, don't even think about it.

Speaking of which, the situation facing "When Harry Meets Sally" is actually a true portrayal commonly encountered by Hollywood independent filmmakers.

Although Hollywood has never lacked second- and third-tier film companies that can distribute movies alone, the monopoly of film distribution channels by the seven major studios is definitely not empty talk. Only those who are in it understand how terrible this powerful monopoly is.

In the case of New Line Pictures, the founder of New Line Pictures, Robert Shay, founded the company in 1967.But until 1984, when New Line Pictures launched its first independent production of "Meng Gui Street", it could only win 165 screens for the film, and it was still a popular period on November 9.

Even in the recent "Meng Gui Street 3", although the number of screens for drawing has finally been expanded to more than 1,000, the schedule has become even more unpopular, February 27.For large studios, this kind of schedule is basically equivalent to a movie cemetery. Only very unloved movies or movies by independent producers will be thrown into this unpopular schedule.

So, why didn't New Line Pictures choose the hot summer or Christmas season?

Because you can't get in.

Even after experiencing the “Paramon Act” that forced the separation of terminal theaters and film companies, the interrelated interests of big film companies and North American theaters have not been broken.

What's more, in recent years, as Li and the government have continued to loosen their control over the media industry, the Paramount Act has survived.

Right now, the total number of movie screens in North America is about 22,000, of which 7,500 are in the core prosperous area, contributing up to 80% of the North American box office annually.

After the Paramount Act lapsed, companies such as Warner, Global, and Columbia have re-introduced themselves in the theater projection business in recent years, and have now again controlled nearly half of the core 7,500 screens.

With a direct control of 40% of the total box office share in North America, coupled with a close interest relationship with other theaters, second- and third-tier film companies can do a little bit of trouble, but basically they cannot threaten the monopoly position of the seven major.

Because of his attention to all aspects of Hollywood, Simon is actually aware of these things, but he still has a strong unwillingness in his heart.

Revisiting the memo recording the cooperation conditions of several major film companies, Simon looked up at Amy Pascal and asked, "Amy, what do you think, how likely are we to personally release this movie?"

Amy Pascal shook her head: "Simon, it's too risky. This is $15 million, not 1.8 million in "Ghost Street". The local box office data is the most important basis for subsequent channel publisher quotes. We personally do the release, It's not impossible, but the box office won may not even be half of the 7th National Congress. This will have a serious impact on the revenue of all subsequent channels, and it will not be worth the loss."

Simon listened to Amy's words and couldn't help being silent. He naturally understood these truths.

Putting his eyes on the memo before him again, Simon quickly weighed the cooperation plans in front of him.

Columbia’s $3 million buyout is definitely not considered.

Fox and Warner, even though the North American box office of "When Harry Meets Sally" can still reach $90 million, the share of Daenerys Film from the box office may be difficult to exceed 20 million.

Like "Roller Run", Simon is more concerned about the proceeds of subsequent distribution channels.

These two are also excluded.

In the end, only MGM and Disney remained.

However, the schedules given by MGM and Disney, one is the beginning of October and the other is the end of February, all of which are cemetery grades.

Moreover, Simon really does not want to sign the director's film contract or the like.

Today is already Thursday.

Simon gave Jonathan the script of the story of "The Lion King" on Monday. Although he hopes to cooperate with Disney, he has to pass the Fox Films first.Because of the original contract, after "Butterfly Effect" and "Death Is Coming", he still owes Fox a script.

Although Fox Pictures does not currently make animated films, the lawyers of the two parties still struggled all day and signed a formal understanding agreement before Jonathan was able to promote the project to Disney.

Thinking this way, secretly sighing, Simon knew that he still had to face reality.

Right now, the only sign that Daenerys Pictures can make big movie companies heart is only him. If he wants to reach a cooperation, he can only sign another contract with MGM or Disney.

Putting a pen to draw a circle on the names of MGM and Disney, Simon handed the memo to Amy, saying: "Continue to contact these two, the Easter period in March, 1000 guaranteed screens, this is our The bottom line. Everything else can be discussed."

Amy nodded, and she actually preferred the two.

As for Simon's signing of the companion film contract again, it doesn't matter to Amy.

The main reason why Spielberg can only direct films from Universal, Warner and Paramount over the years is also due to contractual restrictions.

After the success of "Great White Shark" that year, Universal changed Spielberg's seven-year "deed of sale" into four film contracts.Until now, Spielberg still owes two.

Therefore, even though he publicly expressed his dislike for the president of Universal Pictures, Frank Price, and was arrogant to write the terms of not working with each other in the contract, Spielberg still had to continue to work for Universal Pictures.

Determined this matter, the two chatted a few more times, and the office door was knocked.

After Simon agreed, Susan pushed open the door and said, "Mr. Westeros, Miss Kidman's hair is dyed."

Susan said that a tall, fair-skinned girl with dark hair came in. It was Nicole Kidman who was just twenty years old at this time.

Nicole Kidman with black hair.