Hollywood Road

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"This is Mr. Godin-Clyde, Director of Distribution, Fox Searchlight."

In the reception room, Tony Guzman introduced Murphy, "This is Mr. Riley Fields, the director of the Fox Searchlight Market Research Department."

The former is slightly bald on the top of his head and looks about fifty years old; the latter wears a pair of black-rimmed glasses and looks between thirty and forty years old.

Murphy and Bill Rosses greeted them one by one. From their performance, it can be seen that Godin Clyde has a higher status and should be the person in charge this time.

"I didn't expect Director Stanton to be so young."

Sitting on the single sofa, Godin Clyde looked at Murphy, "It is said that this is your second feature film?"

"Yes." Murphy nodded.

The other party looked at this side with a little surprise, as if he really didn't expect him to be so young; he was also observing the other party, these people were obviously moved when they saw the end of the film, but once the film ended, they immediately got rid of these emotions .

Those who can sit in the top positions of Fox Searchlight will certainly not let the sense of a film affect their negotiations too much.

Frankly speaking, he would rather cooperate with idiots than negotiate with such people. If he thinks about it with his toes, he knows that there must be idiots in Hollywood, but it will not be these people.

Godin Clyde didn't seem to be in a hurry to start negotiations, but greeted Bill Rossis next to him, "Congratulations, Bill, for signing such a young and promising director."

Bill Rossis wasn't too polite. He glanced at Murphy and said, "It's just luck."

"I had coffee with Brian Lauder from your company last month..." Godin Clyde seemed to just casually say, "Bryan always complains that there are no potential new directors in CAA, Now it seems that the situation is not what he said."

He turned to look at Murphy, ""Saw" is good, and the director Stanton is excellent."

"Thank you." Murphy said politely.

Bill Rossis next to him didn't look too good. It's normal for Hollywood agencies to poach talent from each other, and there is also competition within the agency. Although they don't rob each other's clients, the status of the other party in the company is far higher than him. Once Murphy is asked to cross-manage, if he comes out in the future,

One's own credit will undoubtedly be shared a lot by others.

Even among brokers with cross-management, someone like him who is not experienced enough may become a relatively sidelined one.

What does Godin-Clyde mean? Bill Rosses frowned slightly. Is this telling himself not to get too involved in the negotiation of this project?

He was still frowning and thinking, but Murphy glanced at Godin Clyde without a trace, guessing some of the other party's intentions, but unfortunately these intentions were used in the wrong place, and the negotiation of "Chain Saw" was always based on him. The master, not the agent of CAA as the other party guessed.

"Director Stanton..." Godin Clyde turned to look at Murphy, "I heard that you have been to many distribution companies?"

"Yeah." Murphy smiled, and those unsatisfactory results came out of his mouth, all of which changed, "They are all very optimistic about the movie "Saw", and Miramax offered a With a buyout fund of tens of millions of dollars, and as a director, I can also participate in the box office share of the film, and they also want to hire me as the director of the next two Miramax projects."

Godin Clyde tilted his head slightly, which was different from what he had learned. Of course, he would not completely believe Murphy, nor would he completely believe the relevant information from other companies.

These companies are both cooperating and competing. Murphy has fully understood this. Facing Harvey Weinstein and Milton Johnson, who have no room for negotiation, there is no room for his rhetoric and sophistry. They all throw out the conditions directly, either accept it or not...

In those two completely unequal negotiations, even if he had three mouths, he couldn't use them.

From Kara Firth, Murphy learned that Fox Searchlight is not doing well...

Moreover, Godin Clyde's work style is obviously different. Although he is also trying to find ways to lower his bargaining chip, he is not as tough as those two.

Bill Rossis is silent, and Tony Guzman is also silent. He knows the reason why Godin Clyde is relatively mild. Fox Searchlight has not released any box office films so far this year. , if it continues, this year's performance will definitely be worrying.

Godin Clyde was under a lot of pressure. When he came across an eye-catching film like "Saw", he certainly didn't want to let it go easily.

"Mr. Clyde," Murphy suddenly turned the topic to Tony Guzman, "I hit it off with Tony in Park City and formed a deep friendship. Fox Searchlight is also the top independent film distributor in the industry. I Would love to work with you guys.”

He smiled slightly, "I think we can cooperate in the form of contract publishing."

Before Godin-Clyde could speak, Murphy continued, "Lionsgate offered me a distribution contract, and their commission for North American distribution is 25% of the total box office."

There was a mocking smile on the corner of Godin Clyde's mouth, 25% of the release fee, Lionsgate is obviously squeezing him, and this kind of thing is also mentioned?

"This is the distribution fee, including publicity fees, printing copies, and insurance contracts." Murphy said again.

Looking at Riley Fields, Godin Clyde saw the same surprise as himself. When did Lionsgate have a conscience?

In the negotiation between Lionsgate Films and Miramax, Murphy felt that it was completely unequal. In front of them, he was like an ant and a boot.

Especially for Lionsgate, after listening to what Milton Johnson said, he didn't have any intention of talking about it, because it was not a negotiation at all, and it was useless to say more.

He was like a flying insect, caught in a transparent spider web, desperately struggling to get rid of it, not only needing his own strength, but also finding the weakest link of this invisible web.

Sitting here now, the two top executives of Fox Searchlight have heard so much from him, but they haven’t thrown out a few conditions like Milton Johnson or Harvey Weinstein so that people can choose to accept or not accept them. Already feel the difference.

Murphy continued, "There is also DreamWorks, they are willing to distribute this film with a 15% cut, and after the box office share arrives, they will deduct the advance promotion and distribution expenses."

"This condition is very generous." Godin Clyde is just very optimistic about this film, but he is not stupid, nor can he be completely moved by empty words, "Why didn't you agree?"

"Because of Fox Searchlight!" Murphy said seriously, "Before I entered Hollywood, I worked with the TV network under Twentieth Century Fox, and your company once helped me. Kara Firth, deputy director of Fox Los Angeles Six, said I have the grace of knowing you, and also my best friend.”

These words were completely out of Godin-Clyde's expectation. He didn't expect that the young director in front of him had something to do with 20th Century Fox.

He pointed a finger at Tony Guzman, and Tony Guzman took out his phone and sent a text message, and someone outside would naturally check it.

Murphy continued to talk nonsense, "I have a great impression of Fox. Since I have an agreement with you, I will definitely not agree to the contract offered by other companies before the trial meeting. You work together, after all I have had a very good time working with Fox."

He concluded by saying, "Therefore, I would very much like to sign a publishing contract with your company."

What does this mean? Godin Clyde can hear it. Fox Searchlight is not a distribution company like Lionsgate and Miramax that focus on buying out copyrights. It has its own system, but in summary it is not There are too many differences, and it is to squeeze as many lower-level production companies as possible.

The sound of the phone vibrating sounded, Godin Clyde turned his head to look, and Tony Guzman nodded slightly to him.

What the other party said turned out to be true? Some relationship between him and Fox? Originally, Godin Clyde didn't really believe Murphy's words, but now it seems that some of them are believable...

Murphy is not afraid of the people from Fox Searchlight to investigate. There is basically no way to find out the words about the film company, and it is impossible for the companies he has contacted to directly tell them their own bargaining chips. Although "Saw" is a small project, they It is an indisputable fact that there is a competitive relationship between them. Even if there is no competitive relationship, this kind of thing will not disclose very specific figures to the outside world.

What he said was all processed on the basis of truth, not all lies.

As for Kara Firth, because of the news, she was appreciated by Fox bosses, and only then did she have the opportunity to study, it must not be difficult to find out.

"We also want to cooperate with you." Godin Glade's attitude was much better than that of Harvey Weinstein. "Fox Searchlight is also acceptable in the way of contract issuance."

He smiled at Murphy, his smile was friendly and bright, but the words he said were not pleasant, "30% of the distribution fee in North America, including the publicity fee, and we want half of the film's copyright and box office fees." income."

"It's too high."

Having said that, Murphy breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. What he said just now is somewhat useful. This distribution contract is a little bit better than the ones offered by Lionsgate and DreamWorks. The cost does not include the publicity fee.

He spread his hands, "I estimate optimistically, if the film can earn 10 million US dollars at the box office, you will have to draw 3 million US dollars, and I will also pay dividends to the actors and pay fees to the union. Even the cost will not be recovered. .”

Godin-Clyde reminded him, "We're only talking about North America. You also have overseas and other royalties."

Murphy raised his voice a little, "But you have to split half!"

He held out two fingers, "Twenty percent! Copyright is calculated separately."

"Impossible..." Godin Clyde shook his head, "Director Stanton, I believe Fox Searchlight offered the best price among all companies."

If it weren't for the fact that the film is indeed very selling, and Fox Searchlight is in poor condition and needs to boost the company's performance, it would be impossible to offer such a condition.

Negotiations between the two parties began to see-saw, and the initial negotiations reached a deadlock. (To be continued.)