Hollywood Hunter

Simon heard Ronald Goldberg’s question and felt that Barry Diller looked over similarly and explained with a smile: “Ronald, I reminded everyone before the film started, the reputation of Instinct It may not be as good as last year's "Butterfly Effect."

Ronald Goldberg was still a little worried, and gestured to the surrounding people without trace, saying: "Simon, no one left early during the screening last year."

"This movie doesn't have the delicate plot setting like "Butterfly Effect", its selling point is actually controversial," Simon noticed that no one else came by, lowering his voice a little to Ronald Goldberg: "Ronald, what Fox will do next is to control this controversial trend of public opinion and insist that the film will be released next month and we will win."

After many internal discussions on the strategy for the publication of Instinct, Simon’s words did not give Ronald Goldberg much peace of mind: “Of course I understand, Simon, I’m just worried that we may not be able to Control the direction of the media."

"If it's really messed up, then I can only say sorry," Simon spread his hand, very helpless to Goldberg's indecisive character, said: "Ronald, we all know that the movie business has never been Are full of risks."

Ronald Goldberg felt Simon's emotions more and more, looked around and said, "Okay, you guys, I'll say hello to Garrett of Variety, hoping to fight for more Positive reviews."

Simon watched Goldberg leave and asked Barry Diller: "Barry, has Fox found someone to succeed Ronald?"

Barry Diller nodded and said, "I intend to make Joe Ross the president. Rupert is also satisfied with him. Simon, do you know Rose?"

"I have heard of it, but I haven't touched it."

Simon replied in his mouth, saying that it was still Joe Rose.

In the original space and time, the president of Fox during this period was Joe Ross. The biggest achievement of the well-known producer who started in the 1970s was the discovery of the most popular comedy movie "Home Alone" in Hollywood history.

Joe Rose has just turned 40 this year and currently runs a production company with several partners. He has been involved in the production of movies such as Tom Hanks’ early starring movie "Bachelor Party" and is well-known in the industry. But not top.

Therefore, Joe Rose carefully calculated does not qualify for the chair grab game of Hollywood's top seven.However, neither Rupert Murdoch as a Hollywood outsider nor Barry Diller, who is only 46 years old this year but wants to strengthen control of Fox Pictures, does not want to find another one like Ronald Gold Berg, a senior executive in Hollywood, takes care of the company.

Joe Rose has had good experience in both producing and running companies for more than a decade, but at the same time, he has no deep roots in Hollywood. It is just right to hire him to take charge of Fox Pictures.

"Next time I will introduce it to you," Barry Diller said, turning around again: "Simon, after "Instinct", I still hope we can continue to cooperate. You have also said that you hope to work with Fox TV before. There are some cooperations on the Internet, but for several reality shows this time, Daenerys does not seem to have much interest in cooperating with us?"

Simon said quietly: "Barry, this is because the conditions that Fox has made are not ahead of other TV networks."

Although it is already the fourth-largest national television network, Fox Television Network still has a large gap in strength compared to the traditional three major television networks of ABC, NBC and CBS.

It is only the most basic number of affiliated TV stations. The traditional three major television networks in North America all have more than 200 affiliated TV stations, but the number of affiliated TV stations of Fox TV Network is only more than 100.Moreover, in order to save money, the Fox TV network currently only operates two hours of prime time programming, but the three major networks are three hours from eight o'clock to eleven o'clock.

These factors limit the audience base of Fox Television Network.

Daenerys Pictures has actually introduced several reality TV programs to Fox TV Network. However, the conditions for Fox TV Network are not enough to allow Simon to ignore its disadvantages in all aspects.

Barry Diller is definitely a very savvy and visionary business manager. It was Barry Diller who persuaded the indecisive Ronald Goldberg to promote Fox. The film industry and Daenerys film industry's unprecedented contract, Fox also benefited a lot.

Out of the emphasis on Simon’s consecutive box-office miracles, Barry Diller has carefully studied several reality show plans for Daenerys. In his view, "Survivor" is the most likely to cause a sensation, followed by It is the plan of "Big Brother", North America has always been short of variety shows in the answer category, so "Who will become a millionaire" is ranked third by him, as for the final "Beverly Wife", Barry Diller thought it was entirely the young man's'personal interest'. He seemed to have just disturbed the marriage of the glamorous actress named Natasha Kinsky.

Barry Diller also knows that Daenerys Pictures has come up with four program plans at once. The goal is the current four major North American television networks. Fox obviously has only one chance to bet.

Thinking about it for a moment, Barry Diller said: "Simon, we are honest, I want to get "Survivor", what kind of cooperation plan do you want?"

"Barry, the most important thing for Fox TV at the moment is to expand the size of the audience. As for profit, this is obviously secondary, right?" Simon looked at Barry Diller, and continued without waiting for his answer: "So, If Fox wants to get "Survivor", the cooperation plan is very simple, you get the audience, and Daenerys Pictures will make a profit."

Barry Diller shook his head: "Simon, this is too harsh. The cost of running a television network is very high. I can't allow my own platform to be a money-making tool for others, and Rupert will not agree."

"Barry, we see the Fox TV network as a farm that is being developed. The program in Daenerys Pictures happens to be the pioneer farmer. If you want this farmer to give up other farm jobs that are on track, transfer to you. Side, that must be paid higher. Only if the area of ​​the Fox TV network expands rapidly, you will be able to make more profits in the future."

"Of course I understand this," Barry Diller said: "But, Simon, I don't know the work ability of the "farmer" you recommended to me."

Simon also shook his head and smiled, "I don't know."

Barry Diller remembered the trial broadcast of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" next Monday. This program has been closely planned in recent times. He even went to New York to watch the recording in a low-key trial."Who will become a millionaire" does give him a special feeling that is completely different from the traditional answering program.

However, this show has already belonged to ABC, and it is obviously impossible for Fox to get involved.

The gloomy TV fall file caused by the screenwriter's strike is an opportunity for Daenerys Pictures, as well as the Fox TV Network, which is relatively weak compared to the other three.If one or two sensational TV shows can be launched this fall, the popularity of Fox TV Network among North American audiences will increase immediately.

Just as Internet companies later squandered money to expand user scale, Fox TV Network is currently in the stage of burning money.If several reality shows in Simon’s hands can be a big success, Barry Diller doesn’t mind giving up profits for ratings, but he doesn’t want to sign a copy with Daenerys Pictures, which may prove to be Big joke contract.

There are only three days left before "Who Will Be a Millionaire" starts. After a moment of hesitation, Barry Diller decided to wait another three days, and at the same time he felt a bit self-deprecating. 'S cooperation plan, but it was his turn to inevitably hesitate.

However, Barry Diller also made up his mind that if "Who Will Be a Millionaire" has a good response, he will definitely win at least one of the two reality shows he likes.

Although there are still some real-life shows in the hand as chips in exchange for new world entertainment from GE, for Simon, in addition to "Who will become a millionaire" has been handed over to ABC, "Survivor" It is undoubtedly the most valuable of the remaining three projects, but others certainly do not know this, and Simon does not necessarily intend to hand over Survivor to NBC.

Conversely, if NBC's ratings for this fall are more bleak, GE may be more cooperative with itself.After all, no one would think that Daenerys Pictures will only have these four reality shows.

The official recording of the first issue of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" took place this weekend. Simon will be rushing to the East Coast early in the morning tomorrow, so he didn't stop too much at the reception. At ten o'clock, he took Jenny Return to Malibu.

Early the next morning, because it was Saturday, the major newspapers generally withdrew from the most informative issue of the week, and Instinct, which had just undergone a screening, quickly became the focus of media discussion, as expected. That caused strong controversy.

In terms of the most basic film criticism, "Instinct" is actually better than the "Butterfly Effect" that Simon and Brian de Palma collaborated in the past year. Overall, it is about 5 points. It has not reached the pass, but it has not been thorough. Collapsed.

"Variety" gives a very positive evaluation: "A slick thriller with a sleek style, actor performances and tension that triggers alternative thinking has a strangely strong appeal."

"Rolling Stone" praised the film as'a scarlet dream created by Simon Westero, Linda Fiorentino's performance was impressive.'

In addition, "New York Times", "Seattle Times" and other important media also gave positive comments.

However, the negative comments caused by the film are even more violent.

Roger Albert criticized the film mercilessly in the Chicago Sun, "except for a simple plot like a quiz puzzle, all other elements are just useless garbage."Simon would not be able to use the word "garbage" bluntly by such a master film critic, and Simon did not know if he should be honored.

"New Yorker" critic Terence Lafferty also criticized "Instinct" as "a boring story that uses sex and violence to divert the audience's attention".

Other newspapers such as Time Magazine and Chicago Tribune have also issued critical comments.

Moreover, because of the subject matter of Instinct, this polarized media word of mouth quickly broke away from the category of film criticism and quickly spread to the content of the film itself.

A critic who claimed to be a loyal Simon fan published a critical article in the Los Angeles Times the next day, violently accusing Simon of just selling violence through "Pulp Fiction" and selling pornography through Instinct. , And then publicly announced the powdering.

At the time of "Rola Run", he publicly questioned the independent writer Mark Horrington of Simon's east coast. Although he was not invited to participate in the audition, he also jumped out again this time, still working with the "New York Post" "The article published in the opposing "Daily News" criticized the instinct for excessive description of sex and accused Simon of lacking a sense of social responsibility.

In the following days, the media controversy that began to clamor gradually became more and more intense, and even developed to the extent of personal attacks.

A film critic from the San Francisco Chronicle published an open letter questioning that Simon, who has produced two highly disturbing films, "Pulp Fiction" and "Instinct," may have been insane again, and should return to the mental hospital. Receiving treatment, the film critic also claimed in the open letter that "Instinct" should definitely fall into the category of NC-17, and PAA re-rated "Instinct".

After the publication of the open letter, many critics who criticized the film also spoke again, calling on the MPAA to re-grade Instinct.

Before the screening, "Instinct" had already received MPAA R rating.

The MPAA's rating committee is actually in the hands of the seven major parties, and everyone checks and balances each other, occasionally used to suppress the second and third-tier film companies.Generally speaking, film companies consider their films to be too strict, so they will appeal, or re-edit and submit the ratings. There haven't been any films whose ratings have been confirmed to be more strictly rated.

The media is too quarrelsome, but inside Hollywood, many people actually understand that the rating of "Instinct" will not change unless it is interfered by completely one-sided public opinion pressure or other strong factors.But if you want "Instinct" to have a greater social impact, you can only wait for the film to be released.

Obviously, once the film is released, the rating is even more irreversible.

Therefore, Daenerys and Fox were not disturbed by this controversy, but secretly contributed to the controversy, further increasing the controversy of Instinct to attract public attention, and Fox specifically suppressed the MPAA rating committee for this purpose. Statement attempting to explain to the outside world.

On the other hand, in order to show that they do not lack a sense of social responsibility, Fox and Daenerys Pictures also jointly issued a statement on Monday, urging theaters that show Instinct to undergo a stricter age review to ensure that there will be no Young people who meet the conditions for watching movies enter the theater.

Of course, this will arouse the curiosity of young people, which is beyond the control of the film company. Who makes young people naturally rebellious.