Hollywood Hunter

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There was no suspense, and the next morning, the newspapers were full of headlines like 'Simon Westeros new romance revealed'.

Apartments in the Century Building.

Simon woke up to the ringing of the phone and held the microphone almost all the way until breakfast.

Jonathan Freedman and Pat Kingsley called immediately to ask what happened to Simon and Sandra, and what to do with the media next. Simon's answer only left them vague. Sandra took the initiative to kiss herself last night, and if he immediately declared that the two had nothing to do with each other the next day, it would have made the girl very embarrassed.

Janet naturally called too, complaining in a resentful tone to Simon, the playboy bastard and the like, but then digressed to the esoteric issue of kissing skills. Simon patiently chatted with the woman, and finally tried to see if the two had been "breaking up" for two weeks, whether they could start dating again, and was rejected again because of a serious face problem.

In a series of calls, Dennis O'Brien, head of Craft Films, also called.

Craft Pictures agreed to participate in the production of When Harry Met Sally, and Dennis O'Brien wanted to formally discuss contract details with Simon. This kind of thing would have been more suitable for Amy to come forward. However, Amy had to rush to New York, and Simon didn't have too important work on the weekend, so he took it on himself.

After two days of intensive negotiations, Daenerys Pictures and Craft Pictures officially signed a cooperation agreement on Monday. After Amy Pascal returned from New York, she began to discuss distribution cooperation with several major studios.

Subsequently, the strong monopoly of the big film companies on the distribution channels of Hollywood films and the disadvantage of Daenerys Films' shallow foundation were once again revealed.

Daenerys Pictures headquarters.

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

Due to the success of "Lola Run" and "The Butterfly Effect", the studios originally expressed interest in investing in "When Harry Met Sally".

However, when Daenerys Films decided to produce it independently and was only willing to cooperate with the Big Seven on local theatrical distribution, the attitudes of all parties changed significantly.

In the seventh major, Paramount and Universal directly rejected Daenerys Pictures' invitation to cooperate on the grounds that the film schedule was full.

Five are left.

Since Daenerys only wanted to exclusively license the North American theatrical distribution, Columbia asked for a buyout, but the price was only $3 million.

If it is split distribution, Hollywood independent studios usually get about 20% of the box office share from the distributor. At this ratio, Columbia's $3 million offer is only equivalent to making a $15 million North American box office estimate for "When Harry Met Sally".

$15 million at the box office is not too bad in this day and age. A film with the same production cost of US$15 million can get such a North American box office, and it can basically be recovered through subsequent distribution channels.

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

The remaining four are all willing to divide and issue.

However, MGM and Disney offer a distribution commission of as high as 15%, and the cost of publicity is naturally calculated separately. Moreover, the two companies not only asked Simon to sign a director, screenwriter contract and other additional conditions, but also the number of screens and movie schedules that could be given were unsatisfactory.

Next Fox and Warner.

Fox is willing to give the Easter schedule at the end of March next year, guaranteeing a minimum of 1,000 screens to open the screen, and a distribution commission of 12%. However, Fox has asked to take the distribution rights of other North American channels for "When Harry Met Sally".

The schedule given by Warner is the best among the seven companies. In November next year, on Thanksgiving Day, a minimum of 1,000 yuan is guaranteed to open the screen, and the distribution commission is 10%. The additional condition is the distribution rights of "When Harry Met Sally" in all channels other than North American theaters.

The biggest difference between an agency release and a buyout pre-sale is the payment date.

If Daenerys Pictures retains the distribution rights of other channels, after the release of "When Harry Met Sally", if the market responds well, it will soon be able to sell out follow-up channels like "Lola Run". The right to withdraw funds quickly.

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

Take, for example, the recent videotape release to the theatrical release. After a movie is released, there is a three-month window before the videotape can be released. Even if it is settled on a quarterly basis, it will take at least another three months.

Therefore, even if you choose agency distribution, even if you can eventually recover more profits, the payment cycle of several years is not something that a small company like Daenerys Pictures can afford.

All in all, the conditions given by the five big five agreeing to cooperate are basically not what Simon wants to see.

However, five of the seven major film companies are willing to cooperate with Daenerys Pictures, which is actually the result of the accumulation of Simon's two consecutive best-selling films. For an independent film, Simon wants to hold more distribution rights in his hands. Obviously, the Seventh Congress cannot give too good conditions. For example, a popular schedule such as the summer schedule, don't even think about it.

Speaking of which, the situation faced by "When Harry Met Sally" is actually a true portrayal of what is generally encountered by independent Hollywood producers.

Although Hollywood has never been short of second- and third-tier film companies that can independently distribute films, the monopoly of the seven major studios on film distribution channels is definitely not an empty talk. Only those who are involved in it understand how terrible this powerful monopoly is.

Take New Line Pictures, which was founded in 1967 by its founder, Robert Shea. But until 1984, when New Line Pictures launched its first self-produced "Monster Street", it could only win 165 screens for the film, and it was still an unpopular schedule on November 9.

Even the recent "Monster Street 3", although the number of opening screens has finally expanded to more than 1,000, but the schedule is even more unpopular, February 27. For big studios, this kind of schedule is basically a movie cemetery. Only very unpopular films or movies from independent producers will be left to fend for themselves in this unpopular schedule.

So, why didn't New Line Pictures choose a popular schedule such as summer or Christmas?

Because I can't get in.

Even after the "Paramount Act" that forced the separation of terminal theaters and film companies, the intertwined interest ties between big film companies and North American theater chains have not been broken.

What's more, in recent years, with the continuous relaxation of the control of the media industry by the local government, the Paramount Act has existed in name only.

At present, the total number of movie screens in North America is about 22,000, of which 7,500 screens are located in the core and prosperous areas, contributing as much as 80% of the North American box office every year.

After the Paramount Act expired, Warner, Universal, Columbia and other companies have re-involved in the theater projection business in recent years, and now they have once again controlled nearly half of the core 7,500 screens.

With direct control of 40% of the total box office share in North America, coupled with the close interest ties with other theater chains, second- and third-tier film companies can play small games, but basically they cannot threaten the monopoly of the Big Seven.

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

Taking a second glance at the memorandum that recorded the cooperation conditions of several major film companies, Simon looked up at Amy Pascal and asked, "Amy, how likely do you think we are to do this film release in person?"

Amy Pascal shook his head and said: "Simon, it's too risky, this is $15 million, not the $1.8 million of "Nightmare Street". Local box office data is the most important basis for subsequent channel publishers' quotations. We do the distribution ourselves, It is not impossible, but the box office won may not even be half of what the Seventh Congress did, which will have a serious impact on the revenue of all subsequent channels, and it will not be worth the loss.”

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

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

Columbia's $3 million buyout is certainly not considered.

Fox and Warners, even if Harry Met Sally's North American box office can still reach $90 million, it may be difficult for Daenerys Pictures to get more than 20 million at the box office.

Like "Lola Run", Simon is more concerned with the income of subsequent distribution channels.

Both are also excluded.

In the end, only MGM and Disney were left.

It's just that the schedules given by MGM and Disney, one at the beginning of October and the other at the end of February, are all cemetery-level schedules.

Moreover, Simon really does not want to sign a director contract or something.

Today is already Thursday.

Simon handed over the script for "The Lion King" to Jonathan on Monday, and while he wanted to work with Disney, he had to get past Fox first. Because of the original contract, after "The Butterfly Effect" and "Death Is Coming," he still owes Fox a script.

Although Fox Pictures does not make animated films now, the lawyers on both sides struggled all day to sign a formal understanding of understanding before Jonathan was able to pitch the project to Disney.

Thinking so, he sighed secretly, Simon knew that he still had to face the reality.

Right now, the only sign of Daenerys Pictures that can impress big studios is himself. If he wants to reach a cooperation, he can only sign another film contract with MGM or Disney.

Picking up a pen and drawing a circle on the names of MGM and Disney, Simon handed the memo to Amy and said, "Continue to contact these two companies, Easter schedule in March, 1,000 guaranteed screens, this is our The bottom line. Everything else can be discussed.”

Amy nodded, she was actually more inclined towards these two.

As for Simon to sign a side film contract again, it doesn't seem like a big deal to Amy.

The fundamental reason why Spielberg has only been able to direct Universal, Warner, and Paramount films over the years is also due to contract restrictions.

After the success of "Jaws" that year, Universal changed Spielberg's seven-year "selling contract" into four film contracts. Until now, Spielberg still owes two.

Therefore, despite publicly expressing his dislike of Universal Studios president Frank Price and arguing that he would not work with him in the contract, Spielberg had to continue working for Universal Studios.

After confirming this matter, the two chatted a few more words, and there was a knock on the office door.

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

Susan said, a tall girl with fair skin but dyed black hair walked in, it was Nicole Kidman, who was only twenty years old at this time.

Nicole Kidman with dark hair.

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