Heads Up Hollywood

The United States attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights, which is a necessary condition for promoting cultural development.

Of course, in Twain's view, this also caused a huge financial loss to the people of the US Empire.

The family watched a boxing match between Tyson and Holyfield in front of the TV, and the on-demand fee was as high as $99.99! To Twain, who was used to watching free games in his previous life, this was simply unimaginable.

Another example is the World Cup, European Cup, NBA, Tennis Open, F1 racing... It is not unreasonable that sports events are so popular abroad, people have to pay to watch the games!

Even if sometimes NBC and CBS will broadcast individual games for free, it is just to attract more users' attention to sports events, so as to better reach into the pockets of the audience and let them pay to watch.

Under this environment, there is no doubt that Hollywood is the biggest beneficiary group.

The regular version of the DVD of "Spider-Man" is priced at US$19.99, which is equivalent to RMB 160. If it is placed on the other side, who will buy it? Even pirated discs worth 10 yuan cannot be sold!

But in the United States, the situation is completely different!

In the first week of sales, the DVD sales of "Spider-Man" exceeded 5 million sets, and sales declined significantly in the following weeks. The sales market of video tapes and DVD discs has the same law as the box office market, and both have first-week effects.

However, after a month of sales, the North American DVD disc sales of "Spider-Man" still exceeded 8 million sets, including 5.86 million sets of regular editions, 2.18 million sets of hardcover editions, and 730,000 sets of video tapes. 220 million dollars!

Even if the intermediate distributors and distributors are removed, Tang En Pictures earned 155 million US dollars in revenue.

However, the fermentation speed of overseas sales is slower, which is not as popular as that in North America. According to current data, only 3.7 million units have been sold, and the price is not as good as that in the United States.

There are also various intermediaries such as translation, conversion, and new packaging in the middle. Tang En Pictures' current overseas revenue will not exceed 30 million US dollars.

This is also a good result!

According to the past experience of Universal Pictures, based on the current sales of "Spider-Man", it is very likely that before May, sales in North America will exceed 10 million sets, and overseas sales will exceed 6 million sets.

Tang En Pictures is likely to reap 250 million US dollars in the video tape and DVD market before "Spider-Man" is broadcast on TV!

This is a golden age of DVD discs!

Of course, we should also be proud of the powerful effect of "Spider-Man".

In the previous life, the Sony Group, in the first decade of the 20th century, had a very miserable time, selling off its assets continuously to survive, and the "Spider-Man" series played the role of the savior several times.

Really too profitable!

So much so that Sony Group once intended to completely reform from a technology company to an entertainment company.

In contrast, the sales volume of the horror film "Chain Saw", which is more popular in the DVD and video tape market than science fiction films, is far behind.

At present, the DVD disc of "Chain Saw" has been sold in North America for two weeks, and the sales volume has exceeded 1 million copies, and each copy is priced at 12.99 US dollars.

The publisher of "Saw" was not Universal, it was entirely up to Tang En himself. When Twain Films devoted all its resources to developing the Starz TV network, of course this film was broadcast on Starz TV.

Twain has already made a plan, to play "Spider-Man" first, then "Saw" next, and then the major American drama "Six Feet Under", and then... the super mini-series "Band of Brothers" with nuclear bomb level "!

Although Dunn will lose some users by arbitrarily raising the subscription fee of Starz TV network, but he is confident that through this powerful operation, the lost users will be brought back, and at the same time... let STA's subscription Users, breaking through 10 million!

This number is not an exaggeration. In the previous life, HBO, because of the rise of "Band of Brothers", directly exceeded 15 million subscribers, and opened a world-leading boutique model.

...

Nina Jacobsen has returned to the company. She is recovering well after giving birth, and she is much more radiant and plump. It may be that she has not worked for half a year, and her eyes are full of creative passion.

The first thing was to go straight to Tang En's office.

"Wow! Let me see, who is here? It turns out to be a great mother!" Tang En stood up with an exaggerated expression on his face, opened his arms, and hugged her lightly.

Nina Jacobson couldn't help laughing, "Why are you still the same? You're not doing anything right."

After a simple hug, Tang En helped her to sit on the sofa, with a concerned expression on his face, "Didn't you say you only came back in March? It's just February."

Nina Jacobson said with a smile: "The recovery is pretty good. Besides, "Spider-Man" is selling so well in the video tape market now. I want to lead Marvel Studios to start production as soon as possible and create another glories!"

Tang En gave a thumbs up, "Alright, with a dedicated employee like you, I can rest easy."

"By the way, I heard...the company's current capital flow is in trouble? It won't delay the project preparation of Marvel Studios, right?" Nina Jacobson said solemnly, her expression brightened.

The cash flow on Tang En Pictures' books is only 410 million US dollars, and 100 million US dollars will be set aside to produce high-quality drama series and supply them to Starz TV station. Of course, there is the larger film project Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone waiting for funding.

Tang En smiled and said: "Don't worry, I calculated that before May, "Spider-Man" and "Chain Saw" can reap a full 300 million US dollars in the video tape and DVD market! And now it is a light tax rate... It's only 2500 The box office of "Drug Net" is also very good, and the box office in North America has exceeded 60 million US dollars. In terms of funds, it is by no means a problem!"

Nina Jacobson breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly, "That's good, actually... I'm not worried about the establishment of "Spider-Man 2" and "Daredevil". With resistance, I'm looking at another project."

"Which one?"

""Signs."" Nina Jacobsen glanced mysteriously, with a smug smile on her face.

""Tian Zhao"?" Tang En was taken aback, "When did we open this project... Wait! What did you say? "Tian Zhao"?"

Now it was Nina Jacobson's turn to be surprised, she looked at him in surprise, "You know?"

Tang En's eyes widened in excitement, "Nina, tell me, have you got Director Nate Shyamalan done? "Signs of the Sky" is his new work, right?"

Nina Jacobsen stared at Tang En with some surprise in her eyes, then shook her head with a wry smile, "Tang En, I really doubt that you have a pair of eyes that can see through people's hearts."

Tang En laughed loudly, "It seems that I am right? Well, not bad! For such an excellent director as Nate Shyamalan, of course I fully support him!"

With Nate Shyamalan's level, Twain certainly didn't like it, but he used to be the director of Disney, and because of the downfall of Joe Ruth, he also became a duck without water. If Tang En Pictures can sign it, one will go up and the other will go up, which will greatly weaken Disney's influence in the film industry.

"Then I'm relieved." Nina Jacobson smiled, "Then... let's talk about the sequel of "Spider-Man". This is the flagship series of Marvel Studios!"

Tang En said: "I can't make a sequel, but I found you a director who is good enough!"

"Who is it?"

"Ridley Scott!"

"Director Scott?" Nina Jacobson sat up straight in surprise, "Twain, are you kidding me? He never accepted to make a sequel, and he refused to shoot "Alien 2" back then. In the end the project went to James Cameron."

"This..." Tang En touched his nose, "Should he give me some face?"

Nina Jacobson frowned, "Twain, big boss! This matter is very important, you need to give me a letter of approval! I'm back now, and I will start the project of "Spider-Man 2" immediately , The selection of directors is very critical. If Ridley can't do it, we need to start the screening mechanism as soon as possible."

Tang En coughed dryly, "Okay, uh... How about it, I'll call right away and ask for a confirmation letter!"

Even the employees under him acted so vigorously, if Tang En appeared lazy, it would hurt morale too much.

Ridley Scott answered the phone himself, and it was Tang En, so he asked without thinking, "Tang En, I heard...you have already started the "Harry Potter" project ?”

Tang En was taken aback, and replied honestly: "Yes, the cast is currently being cast in the UK, and David Heyman is personally in charge."

"Oh, Dunn! Why didn't you tell me such an important matter?" Ridley Scott's tone revealed a faint complaint.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't you know what the Harry Potter books mean in the UK!" Ridley Scott paused, "Do you know that the top performance artists in the UK are crowded I broke my head and wanted to enter the crew of "Harry Potter", even seniors like Richard Harris asked to participate for free."

Tang En opened his mouth wide, "No way? "Harry Potter"...that's a children's show..."

"Don't forget, those hall-level artists also have grandsons and granddaughters!" Ridley Scott gritted his teeth angrily.

Tang En suddenly realized, and couldn't help laughing.

Haha, interesting!

He finally understood why the "Harry Potter" series included almost all the top performance artists in the UK, and most of them participated for free, so that the average cost of the first five films in such a blockbuster series could be compressed to US$130 million within.

Compared with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, which also has 5 parts, it can be seen how cheap the production cost of the "Harry Potter" series is.

Tang En couldn't help laughing and said, "Ridley, did your little granddaughter also ask you to participate in "Harry Potter"?"

Instead of denying it, Ridley Scott asked, "Who is the director?"

"ah?"

Tang En was astonished, Ridley Scott was interested in making "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"?

This is absolutely impossible!

"The director has been confirmed, and he is Chris Columbus, who is good at shooting children's comedies." Tang En quickly tried to persuade him, "Ridley, let younger directors shoot children's films that are messy, anyway. I think..."Spider-Man 2" is the best for you."

Ridley Scott frowned, "Where's the producer?"

Tang En's eyes lit up, "Of course, you can work as a part-time producer. This is the glory of the entire 'Harry Potter' crew!"

Ridley Scott gave an "um", "The project of "Black Hawk Down"...I have already rejected it."

"now it's right!"

Tang En snapped his fingers and nodded heavily at Nina Jacobson, "Ridley, trust me, "Spider-Man 2" will be your best choice!"