Hollywood Hunter

Beverly Hills.

In a restaurant near Fox Studios, Simon is having lunch with Joe Ross, president of Fox Pictures.

The time is Friday, August 11.

Daenerys Entertainment officially signed a settlement agreement with GA yesterday, and Simon today asked Joe Ross to discuss the first of the 10 foreign cooperation movie plans.

Simon has seen more than one project. The reason why he started with Fox is still because of Murdoch.These days, Rupert Murdoch called Simon more than once in person, talking about these 10 movies. Even when talking with Janet, the woman also mentioned what Murdoch said to her old man. thing.

Fox Pictures has collaborated with Simon in the first two years, and three films, all of which have been a great success.

In addition, the sequel was also developed last year, but because of the huge success of the first song, there is an external factor of public curiosity about Simon. After the second part of these two series was released last year, the box office was far inferior to the first one. .

Only more than 56 million US dollars at the box office was recovered, and the box office was only in the early 38 million.Such a result is of course very profitable, but because the decline is too deep compared to the first song, Fox is also cautious in developing the third part.

No sequel to these two ace horror films was launched this year, and Fox Pictures’ performance immediately fell.

For this summer, Fox's July release hit only 22 million at the box office so far, without any splash.The new work of James Cameron, released last Friday, is a big pit. Under the repeated overruns of Cameron, the budget finally reached an amazing $69.5 million.

Hollywood movies usually take an integer budget, such as 10 million to 20 million. The actual situation is of course not so clever. In most cases, it is only an overall estimate.

Fox didn't round it to $70 million according to convention, it was because the executives of the studio did not dare to do it again.

After all, although Hollywood’s recent budgets of US$50 million to US$60 million are not rare, there are only one film with a production cost of US$70 million.Even in this movie, Disney often eccentrically lied to the public that the budget is not so high, but it is actually $45 million.

If the money can be exchanged for a blockbuster like that, the result is not bad.However, it is really a dumb box office.

According to the statistics released this morning, the box office figures for the first 7 days of the first week of the painting were only 17.53 million US dollars.In comparison, in the sixth week of the release, the single-week box office is still as high as 20.37 million US dollars, firmly occupying the championship position of the weekly box office list.

Comprehensive media evaluation and audience feedback, Fox's North American box office estimate is only 50 million US dollars, this project is almost doomed to loss.However, this is the best box office score of Fox’s 7 films released so far this year. The other films, the best is the 22 million US dollars last month so far, and the other 6 films have not exceeded the 20 million box office threshold.

Murdoch has not always been very keen on the film business. He prefers newspapers and television.However, since Fox Films was bought, it can't be so lukewarm, so he desperately hopes to get a slice of Daenerys Entertainment's 10 foreign cooperation movie plan.

Now that he has decided to run Australian capital as his backing, Simon naturally has no reason to refuse Murdoch's request.Moreover, News Corporation's huge global media network is of great benefit to the expansion of Simon's personal business territory worldwide.

To make a Murdoch family, only good and no harm.

"? Hmm... I remembered it was the story of the wife who couldn't stand her husband's abuse and fleeing to death," in the restaurant, Joe Rose looked at Simon's selected script folder and couldn't help but looked up: "Simon, this story doesn't seem to have any selling points. It can only be made into a low-cost thriller. I think that one seems better. Have you seen it?"

The story as a whole does not seem to have any bright spots, but it is a work in Simon's memory that broke the 100 million box office in North America.

Simon happened to have seen this movie.

The success of the movie is not only due to Julia Roberts' participation in the film. The tension of the audience's heart from the beginning to the end of the film is the key to its success.Therefore, compared to scripts that do not see too many highlights, it is very important to meet the rhythm control, suspense setting, atmosphere creation and even theme soundtrack during the production process.

There was not much free time at noon, and Simon did not argue with Joe Rose, put down the tableware and looked up: "Joe, I am not interested, if you are good, you can focus on this project in person, let's talk about it."

Joe Rose smiled a little awkwardly, no longer talking nonsense, and said: "So, Simon, what should I do next?"

Simon simply said: "I have people evaluated according to my assumption. The project budget is about 15 million US dollars. Now the preparations are started. If everything goes well, it will be turned on in October and will be released next summer. You can start looking for the right this afternoon. Director and producer, I will also let people contact the actors."

Joe Rose thought for a while and said: "This is a movie supported by the heroine, Simon, who are you going to let the heroine do?"

"I saw a trial movie review on the show. Are you going to release a new film in October, called?"

Joe Rose is naturally familiar with Fox's films and blurts: "Michelle Pfeiffer?"

It is a musical song and dance film starring two Briggs brothers and Michelle Pfeiffer. It has also been translated into, listening to the name, you know that it is a very literary movie, and the story is indeed very literary and very ambiguous. It is memorable, and there is even a feeling of old Hong Kong movies.

Simon nodded and said: "Michelle's acting skills have become more and more sophisticated in recent years and will definitely support this movie. In addition, if you can, someone will send me a copy, I want to see it in advance She performed in this movie. The film critic said that Michelle’s performance this time was enough to get an Oscar nomination. If this is the case, it will be more helpful for our movie."

Being in the middle of shooting, although he was able to kill before October, Simon did not intend to let Julia continue to appear. Cinderella in the romantic love movie jumped directly to the poor wife circled by her husband. The image contrast is a little big, Simon is not sure Whether the audience can accept it.

Michelle Pfeiffer has just turned 30 this year, and her acting has also begun to reach its peak. If she can get an Oscar nomination next year, her reputation will also be raised to a higher level.

If someone else asks for a copy, Joe Rose will at least have a grip even if he won’t refuse.However, at this time, he readily agreed: "I will have the copy sent to Daenerys Entertainment Headquarters in the afternoon."

Simon nodded in satisfaction, and said: "There is one more thing, about James Cameron, I heard that he has completed the script, Fox can buy the copyright to shoot this project, which can be used as Daenerys Entertainment's second project with Fox."

Joe Rose heard the words, and his face suddenly suffered. "Simon, because of the matter, even if I am willing to continue to cooperate with James, the company's board of directors will not approve."

"I just said, this can be regarded as the second project of Daenerys Entertainment and Fox," Simon said, adding: "In addition, you only need to take the copyright and the script in the hands of Cameron, we It doesn’t have to be him to be a director."

Joe Rose immediately understood, but was a little puzzled.

If Simon is optimistic about this project, why don’t Daenerys Entertainment take it down in person.

Seeing Joe Rose's doubts, Simon explained with a smile: "I have been in contact with the copyright owner before, and I haven't succeeded. Now I have to come to the door and I must be knocked hard."

It is the original North American box office champion in 1991, with a global box office of more than 500 million US dollars. Simon naturally thought of monopolizing this project.

However, since the plan for 10 movies has been proposed, if there is no big movie from the beginning to the end, other Hollywood studios will certainly not be so fanatical in the future.

After all, the reason why Hollywood will boil for these 10 projects this time is mainly to look forward to such surprises.Otherwise, if you count 10% of the commissions issued by each channel, the profits of other studios in these projects are probably only 60%.

Calculated in this way, 100 million US dollars in North American box office movies is actually equivalent to 60 million US dollars.

Of course, the $60 million North American box office is definitely not low in this era.

Not counting the outbreak of the box office last year, another one or two years ago, the $60 million North American box office was enough to squeeze into the top ten of the annual list.Even in the next few years, Hollywood has only about 20 movies with more than 60 million US dollars at the local box office every year. Even if they all fall into the seven major studios, the average number of movies is less than three.

What's more, Simon didn't plan to choose 100 million yuan projects all this time, which required several big movies to support the performance of this plan.

The surrender was mainly due to the relatively low cost-effectiveness of this project.

The original version was the first Hollywood movie to cost more than $100 million. Now, even as Simon plans to kick Cameron out of the game and change the director, the producer is no longer the famous Carroll Pictures in the circle. , The budget of the film will definitely not be much lower, it is just right to take it out.

After talking about things, lunch is also over.

Simon and Joe Rose had just walked out of the restaurant, and some reporters who had heard the news surrounded them.

"Mr. Westeros, are you discussing the film collaboration plan with Joe Ross?"

"Joe, can you tell us what the subject matter is?"

"Simon, can you really psychic?"

"..."

"..."

North America's box office is about to break through the 200 million dollar mark, which is a tremendous momentum.

Because of the widespread concern of all walks of life, Daenerys Entertainment's 10 foreign cooperation movie plans have become the focus of recent media chase.Daenerys Entertainment hasn't made any substantial movements within two weeks of the plan's publicity, and it has caused intense curiosity from the media and the public.

With all his tongue talking, Simon's bodyguard quickly walked over to block the reporter and protected him from the roadside car.

Although Joe Rose enjoyed the feeling of being chased and chased by reporters, he didn't wait to reveal anything. He just asked reporters around to pay attention to Fox's specific announcement, and then hurriedly boarded the car to return to Fox Studios.

Santa monica.

Simon had just returned to the office of Daenerys Entertainment headquarters, and Jennifer followed.

"The magazine will release the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans in the new year next month. They contacted me in the morning to see if we could provide some materials on their own initiative. If they can, they hope you will accept an interview."

Simon shook his head without hesitation and said, "We will not cooperate or block this matter, let them count for themselves."

Jennifer hummed, opened the folder in his hand, pulled out a check and handed it over, said: "This, it's not good to just put it on the bedside table in the bedroom."

Simon took a look and it turned out to be the check he signed to Linda Carter on Monday.

I wanted to come when Jennifer discovered it during the routine cleaning of the villa in the morning.

Simon hadn't been to Palisades since last Sunday. He thought that the woman would take the check away, but he didn't expect the other party to stay.

Pretend to put it aside unintentionally.

Released today, John Hughes came to Los Angeles from Chicago in recent days to cooperate with the film promotion. Simon invited the other party to discuss the next film cooperation at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Of course, the actual purpose of Simon’s arrangement for this meeting is to confirm. thing.

The time is coming.

Look across.

The female assistant stood still, her head lowered, and she seemed to read the documents in her hands very seriously, with no intention of leaving.

After a small confrontation, Simon had to take the initiative to explain: "Well, I am a suspicious boss. Of course, I have to test that those cleaning unions will not steal things. Well, the results are not bad."

Jennifer turned his head slightly, glanced over his eyes, a little smile on his lips, a curious baby who wanted to continue to "listen to the story".

Simon was helpless and simply stretched his face to the boss's shelf: "John is coming soon, first to make a pot of coffee. I'm standing silly and wait for me to deduct your salary!"

Jennifer gave Simon a very lethal glance, turning around and not forgetting to repeat a habitual little threat: "I will tell Jennifer."