Hollywood Hunter

Today is already Friday, June 24.

Just yesterday, after a new round of voting, the American Screenwriters Union once again rejected the new contract proposed by the Film and Television Producers Union, which means that the Hollywood screenwriter strike that has been going on for three and a half months will continue.

The Film and Television Producers Alliance represents more than 350 film and television entertainment production and distribution companies in the United States centered on the seven major Hollywood studios and four major broadcast networks, but it cannot ultimately represent all.The business was unsustainable due to the long strike.

Since last month, many small production companies in the second and third tiers have chosen to sign contracts with the screenwriters' unions in advance. Many of them are members of the producers' union.

Now that the strike has proceeded, the situation of losing both sides has been completely formed.

Many people foresee that the producers' union will start'compensation after the fall' for those compromised production companies, and Simon remembers the actual progress of the matter.However, standing at the door of an audition room at Daenerys Films' headquarters, Simon heard Amy's sudden news, and still couldn't help but smile bitterly, he tried to ask: "The producers' union is in the announcement Didn’t mention “Who Will Be a Millionaire?”

Simon neither joined the screenwriter union, nor did Daenerys Pictures temporarily join the producers' union.During the whole strike, Simon originally wanted to watch the wall.However, a popular reality show like "Who Will Be a Millionaire" that doesn't require a screenwriter's involvement is destined to make it difficult for Daenerys to stay out of the game.

Feeling Simon's hopeful gaze, Amy shook her head regretfully and also smiled bitterly, saying, "I mentioned it."

Jonathan Friedman and the three of them listened to a few conversations between Simon and Amy, and roughly understood what was happening, and voluntarily avoided.

Simon returned to the audition table and sat down, frowning and thinking.

Before the strike, because of his refusal to join the screenwriter's union, several of Simon's scripts last year had been completely ignored by the WGA, so they got nothing in the award season, which is actually nothing.

But now, the "war" between the writers' union and the producers' union has entered a fierce level, and Daenerys Pictures has produced a popular show that can completely throw away the screenwriter, such as "Who Will Be a Millionaire". A'nuclear weapon' sufficient to determine the outcome of the war was produced by the producers' alliance.

Moreover, the "nuclear weapon" in the preparation of Daenerys Pictures is more than this one.

The screenwriter union again rejected the Producer Union’s contract yesterday, and “Who will become a millionaire” happened to achieve an outstanding score of 17.3 million viewers last night. The Producer Union immediately announced the blockade order today and specifically "Becoming a Millionaire" was launched, and the counterattack was fierce.

It's not hard to imagine that the stalemate and negotiations that followed, which had already been the end of the crossbow, would definitely not have any advantage.

Daenerys Pictures was completely offended by the screenwriter union.

The relationship between the screenwriter union and the production company is basically the relationship between employees and the boss. The producers' union can block production companies that have signed a contract with WGA in advance. The screenwriter union cannot block Danielle Shadows without the exact reason. Reality shows such as "Who Will Be a Millionaire" obviously cannot constitute such a reason.

However, as long as there is a chance, the screenwriter union will definitely find the trouble of Daenerys Films. The most direct, the films produced by Daenerys Films will then want to get awards such as Oscar for the best script will become very difficult.

It can be said that due to the war between the producers' union and the screenwriters' union, the damn fish of Daenerys Films has been both profited and suffered.

After Amy closed the door and walked over to sit down, Simon had made up his mind to cover up. He could no longer fall back to the screenwriter's union, which would do no good to Daenerys.

Thinking about this, Simon looked up and asked Amy: "How are they talking to Daniel Burke?"

Amy shook her head: "ABC rejected our offer of 2 million per issue and only gave 1 million US dollars."

Based on 20 million viewers,

Calculated in this way, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" will have an in-stream ad revenue of $6 million per issue.

The cost of operating a national TV network is very high.

ABC has more than 200 affiliated TV stations in North America. The number of TV stations directly under the TV network is actually not very large. A large number of affiliated TV stations broadcast the TV network’s programs at the prime time of every night, just like the distribution of studio films by cinema lines. There must be enough profits to share.Coupled with the TV network's operating expenses and program purchase costs, the TV network's revenue is actually not much.

Take "Who Will Be a Millionaire", for example, it is estimated that each period of 6 million US dollars in advertising costs, the operating expenses of the TV network itself and the share of the affiliated TV station will account for 50%, and the remaining 50% is the TV The portion of revenue that nets and producers can use to share.

With a share of $3 million, Daenerys Pictures took $2 million, which is actually very reasonable.After all, in theory, Daenerys has to bear the production costs of the show.But in fact, it is difficult for ABC to accept that Daenerys has taken so much.

You know, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is not an ordinary one-hour 23-hour fall show.If there are only 23 issues per season and $2 million per issue, Daenerys Pictures can only get a total of $46 million. Excluding the theoretical production costs, the net income that Daenerys Pictures can obtain is even lower. .

but.

It's just that according to the original contract, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" will reach 69 episodes per season, which is three times the number of ordinary one-hour TV episodes. Each episode is US$2 million. The total revenue that Daenerys Pictures can obtain Soaring to 138 million US dollars.

Let's talk about cost.

According to initial estimates, the production cost of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is about $20 million per season.But in fact, Daenerys Pictures also has the power to place advertisements in the program, that is, the host Barbara’s large brand name and the bottles and cans on the guests’ desktops. This part of the income is actively released by ABC. In order to allow Daenerys to offset part of the production costs.

However, with the current popularity of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", there are countless brands that are willing to spend a lot of money on sponsorship, and then only this part of the income can offset the entire production cost of the show and achieve a surplus.Daenerys Pictures sells the show to ABC, no matter how much you can get in each issue, it is equivalent to net income.

ABC clearly has a hard time accepting that the producers make more than twice as much profit.

Simon looked at Amy's expression and found that her senior woman didn't seem to accept that her company earned more than ABC, so she smiled and asked, "Amy, how much do you think we can talk about?"

"1.5 million US dollars," Amy noticed the smile on Simon's face, inexplicably guilty, but still quoted his price in mind, and added: "The company has recently received AT-T, Mars, HP Sponsorship invitations from many companies such as IBM, and Mars made a 20 million US dollar quotation. They asked to become the main sponsor of "Who will become a millionaire." On the ABC side, each period is 1.5 million, and everyone shares the profit equally. , This should be the best result."

Simon was not sure, saying: "What else?"

Amy said: "ABC also asked to change the contract. They want to be able to participate in the production of the program. In addition, they want to order more programs to start the official broadcast from July. However, I think this is not a good idea. Putting too many programs in a short period of time will quickly cause viewers to have aesthetic fatigue and shorten the screen life of the program. Therefore, I think that one season per year is enough. Keeping the interval of half a year during the period can keep the audience as fresh as possible. "

In Simon’s memory, the ABC television network continued to broadcast this program all year round without restraint, and even increased to 4 issues per week. As a result, "Who will become a millionaire" was dug up in just a few years. The potential was overtaken by "Survivor".

In comparison, the screen life of "Survivor" with better rhythm control is more than ten years.

Therefore, Simon very much agrees with Amy's point of view: "Your idea is correct, Amy, eager to produce more programs may bring us a lot of profits in the short term, but it is difficult for a long time. So, we insist on this, There is no room for bargaining."

Amy nodded and then said: "In addition, ABC also hopes to get "Survivor"."

""Survivor" cannot be given to them, nor can "Big Brother"," Simon vetoed without hesitation, saying: "If they still want it, only "Beverly Wife". The words, you Have you chosen a few wives?"

Compared with the emphasis on "Who Will Be a Millionaire" and "Survivor", Simon just wrote a simple project plan for "Big Brother" and "Beverly Wife" and threw it to the TV production department. Tossing, he did not have much time to take care of this matter at all.

Amy heard Simon’s question, and there were some strange expressions in her expression, and there was a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. She said: "There were not many people who originally signed up, but after "Who Will Become a Millionaire", there have been many people in recent days Called to participate, but the final candidate has not been finalized. Otherwise, the company is preparing a party, you choose it yourself?"

Simon moved closer to Amy and asked in a low voice: "Will their husband be here?"

Amy rolled her eyes clearly and said, "Boss, if there is nothing else, I'm going to work."

"Okay, just kidding," Simon straightened his body again, his expression turned into a positive one, and said: "Amy, there is no law that we can't make more than the TV network. So, the $2 million instalment, at this point we It will also not bargain. ABC can earn $1 million from each episode, which is more than the profit that most of the TV network can provide for it. The most important thing is that "Who will become a millionaire" also It can actually improve ABC’s overall ratings. This is of higher significance to the TV network. They can’t possibly be unclear. Therefore, the $2 million phase is not discussed. If ABC disagrees, then put the project on hold.”

Amy moved her lips and nodded. "So, Simon, "Survivor" and "Big Brother"?"

Amy apparently didn't want to ask Simon about the bad taste again.

Simon did not mind, saying: "I talked to Barry Diller last time. The basic strategy of these two shows is that we make a profit and the TV network gets a rating."

"But we can't prove that "Survivor" and "Big Brother" can achieve the success of "Who will become a millionaire?"

"So, you can only bet on it," Simon shrugged. "If the TV network doesn't have the courage to do so, don't talk about it."

After the two had finished talking, they were about to get up and busy, and Amy suddenly remembered another thing, saying: "Simon, it will be July, and we should prepare for the film project next year."

"I know this too," Simon spread his hands and said, "But, do you have time recently?"

"No."

Amy shook her head and glanced at Simon, obviously he didn't either.

Studios usually start preparing for the next year's film projects one year in advance.If it is a blockbuster movie, it will often start production in the second half of the year.

However, the current production plan of Daenerys Pictures does not count as "Batman", and the other may only last until Easter next year. Moreover, it is basically Catherine's "The Thunderbolt and the Blue Sky" and from St. Dan Sri Lanka's "Metropolis" and "Sisters" two low-cost independent films, these films obviously have nothing to sell.

However, although the company's scale has continued to expand, but now the company's pair of projects, everyone is so busy that they can't take care of next year.

It takes time to train the company team. Simon can’t hire some people casually, and then throw away the potentially big projects in his hands. He can’t do anything like the original “Laura Run”, too. Too eager will only fail.

In the final analysis.

Daenerys's strength is still too weak.

Simon couldn't help but want to take down New World Entertainment as soon as possible.

After all, in addition to the Marvel you need anyway, New World Entertainment also has a good film and television production and distribution team.Even if this team does not reach the first-class level, it is definitely more reliable than the temporary Caotai team hired by Simon.

Thinking about this, Simon still said to Amy: "In this way, you can see if there are any good projects in Hollywood recently. If we can, we can participate in the investment."

Both "When Harry Meets Sally" and "Pulp Fiction" have a long payback cycle, Amy Pascal has been carefully paying attention to the company's cash flow.Now, as "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is born, these problems are solved immediately.

Both the sponsorship fee of the advertiser and the down payment of the ABC TV network can bring a large amount of cash to Daenerys in a short time.If this were not the case, Amy would not mention it with Simon temporarily.A small company has spread out such a big mess, Amy originally only wanted to finish all the projects in her heart.Things next year can only be said next year.

Standing up and walking out of the audition room with Simon, Amy nodded and said, "I will pay attention."