The Best Director

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"What? Did I hear you right?! Jan, you succeeded?!" Zachary said in shock, unable to believe the fact: "Are you kidding me? What?! Really not kidding? Then, I will soon Will become the leading actor in a movie!?"

"Wow, dude, I said you would succeed! You didn't disappoint me!" Joshua shouted happily: "My DV player will be very valuable soon, and it will be snapped up by movie fans!"

"Oh my God...! The merciful Lord has granted my wish!" Hearing the good news, Jessica suddenly cried out in surprise and joy, and couldn't contain her happiness: "Oh my God! This is great Oh my god, is this true? Jan, please tell me it's true!"

After telling Rachel the news at the first time, Wang Yang then called other good friends to share the joy with them. Of course, Zachary, Jessica and others were very happy and excited, and were happy for him; only the big fat Harry George scolded angrily after receiving his call and hearing the news, "Shit, I don't believe it! "I hung up the phone.

This night, Wang Yang spent the night in a hotel near the beach in Santa Monica. He lay on the bed for a long time without falling asleep, and was so excited that he couldn't close his eyes. He simply got up, moved a chair and sat on the balcony. The beach under the night view looked so peaceful, and the sound of "rustling" waves could be heard faintly. He looked at the dark sea in the distance, looked at the moon in the sky, and felt This kind of tranquility, the state of mind slowly calmed down.

The next day Wang Yang came to the headquarters building of Lionsgate again, with the purpose of discussing the details of the distribution contract with Lionsgate.

"Hello, Mr. Wang." The beautiful Caucasian front desk lady Jennifer smiled at Wang Yang, her attitude was much more enthusiastic than tomorrow, obviously she already knew the news that the company was going to buy Wang Yang's movie, she said with a smile: " Mr. Oldenburg has been waiting for you for a long time, Mr. Wang, please follow me."

"Well, okay!" Wang Yang followed Jennifer to Tom Oldenburg's office.

The door of the office was not closed, Jennifer knocked, and Tom Oldenburg, who was busy on the desk, looked over and said with a smile: "Hey, please come in!" He looked at Wang Yang who walked in, interested "Young man, did you sleep well last night?"

Wang Yang sat down on the chair in front of the desk, shook his head with a smile, and said, "It's not very good, sir." He rolled his eyes and laughed at himself, "I'm so happy about all this, as soon as I close my eyes, My head is full of movie things, did I succeed? Did I really succeed? Oh, I can’t sleep at all!” He laughed again: “You know, I’m afraid that this is a dream. I fell asleep and woke up. There is nothing left."

Tom smiled understandingly, winked at Wang Yang, and said, "Young man, this is not a dream! I have good news for you. Our CEO, Mr. Bewkes, has approved the company to release your movie."

"Wow! This is really good news, thank you, Mr. Oldenburg!" Wang Yang secretly clenched his fists, laughed happily, and finally let go of the last big stone in his heart. Now he has signed a contract with Lions Gate. , is already a certainty.

"I'm in full charge of this deal now." Tom smiled. He is the manager of the purchasing department, and negotiations with Wang Yang naturally fell on him. He took out a contract and handed it to Wang Yang. , said: "This is our plan, take a look."

Wang Yang nodded, took the contract and put it on the table, carefully looking at the contents inside. This contract shows that he permanently handed over the North American distribution rights, overseas distribution rights, VCD, DVD distribution rights, TV channel distribution rights and other film distribution rights of "Spirit-Ghost Records" to Lionsgate Film Company. , Lionsgate does not pay for the acquisition, but uses a share model.

The specific ratio of share is that in North America, if the pre-tax box office profit is less than one million, Wang Yang will get 10% share; over five million, 20%; over ten million, 30%; over five thousand 10,000,000, 40%; more than 100,000,000, 50%; and if the film cannot recover the cost in the end, if there is a loss, Wang Yang will only get 5% of the share.

This share ratio is Wang Yang's idea yesterday, but there is an extra loss.

In overseas regions, the share ratio is also like this; Lionsgate does not take the box office share ratio for VCD, DVD, video tape rental and other projects, and they propose that no matter how much the final profit of these projects is, Wang Yang will only get 10% divided into.

Wang Yang probably knows the reason. It should be that Lionsgate is not very optimistic about the box office of this movie, but they are optimistic that the movie may double in the DVD market. Some movies are like this, they are not popular in movie theaters, but they are extremely popular in the DVD market. Maybe this kind of movies are not suitable for big screens or movie theaters, but suitable for watching at home on the computer or TV.

But what made Wang Yang frown was not the percentage of the DVD, but that he seemed to forget yesterday that the box office profit statistics were divided into North America and overseas, and in this way, it would be difficult for him to get 50% of the share. Because referring to the first DV movie "Girl Leblair", it achieved a box office of more than 200 million yuan, but North America and overseas only accounted for half. The box office profit will not reach more than 100 million, so naturally he will not get 50%.

"Can it be changed so that the global pre-tax box office profits determine the proportion?" Wang Yang looked at Tom and asked, but he knew that his request was basically impossible to achieve.

Sure enough, Tom Oldenburg shrugged his shoulders and vetoed: "No, you have to know that the box office statistics in North America and overseas are different systems, and they can't be related in terms of time. The execution is not good." He gave an example: "For example, after a movie is released in North America, it may be released overseas half a year or even a year later. Do we have to wait a year before deciding how to divide it? "

Wang Yang nodded silently. He knew very well what Tom said was the truth, so he didn't have the heart to entangle this request any longer.

Tom leaned on the back and said, "Yang, don't worry, we will only consider overseas distribution when the film's performance is very good." He spread his hand holding the pen, and said, "In other words , if there is an overseas release, your share ratio would have been above 20%, which is not a small amount.”

"Well, I know." Wang Yang smiled and continued to look at the contract. He didn't raise his head until he finished reading the contract, and said bluntly, "The DVD share ratio has been increased to 20%." Tom shook his head and said : "Up to 15%, this is the company's decision." Wang Yang nodded after thinking for a while. He didn't have much bargaining chips with Lionsgate. would agree.

After agreeing to the DVD share ratio, Wang Yang said again: "The copyright of the movie's sequel, the copyright of the name, etc., are still mine."

Tom readily agreed to this request: "OK, you can keep those copyrights." In fact, if it wasn't for a buyout, these copyrights should have belonged to the producer, and Lionsgate didn't even think about occupying them in the first place. It's cheap, and besides, the sequel will only be made if the film's performance is good enough. They don't think "Spiritual Ghost Records" is qualified for this. Tom laughed again: "However, our company has the priority."

"Of course." Wang Yang nodded and smiled inwardly. In this case, Lionsgate will need to pay him a fee if they want to produce "Spiritual-Ghost Story 2" and "Spirit-Ghost Story 3". It's a small compensation. He shook hands with Tom Oldenburg on the opposite side, and said, "Sir, I have no other opinions."

Tom put down the pen in his hand, reached out to shake hands with Wang Yang, and said with a smile, "Happy cooperation, young man."

"Happy cooperation!" Wang Yang also smiled.

Although the details of the contract were basically negotiated, the two parties did not sign the contract immediately. They made an appointment to formally sign the contract two days later. This is because Wang Yang needed professional legal advice. He rushed back to Los Angeles with this revised official contract. He was going to a law firm to ask a lawyer to review his contract. After all, he is not a legal professional. People who don't understand all the legal pitfalls, he can't help but be cautious.

Especially since he has not joined any union or agency now, if something happens, no one will help him.

What will happen? Take a look at the follow-up report of "The Blair Witch". After it achieved a box office miracle of more than 200 million yuan, Artisan Company, which originally promised to give the producer a 20% dividend, was unwilling to pay the money and owed the three young producers Filmmakers' dividends. The three young producers took the Artisan Company to court as a matter of course, and after a long and two-year lawsuit, they finally got their share.

Although there has been no such scandal in the later generations of Lionsgate, Wang Yang cannot allow himself to be lucky in this regard.

After resting in his apartment for one night, Wang Yang took the contract to a law firm called "Credit" the next day. This medium-sized law firm was introduced to him by Jessica and had a good reputation. She knows the law of movies very well, and is also the legal adviser of her father's real estate company.

Wang Yang consulted a young lawyer in his thirties named Hebrew Karl. The hourly fee was 200 US dollars per hour, which was a medium-level fee. Hebrew Karl took Wang Yang's contract, read it several times carefully, and then smiled affirmatively at Wang Yang: "Mr. Wang, there is no problem with this contract, you can sign your name with confidence. If the other party In the event of arrears of dividends, all it takes is a lawsuit, and they will definitely lose.”

"Oh, thank God." Wang Yang breathed a sigh of relief, Lionsgate did not disappoint him.

Then, Hebrew Carl gave some suggestions to Wang Yang. As the only person who owns all the copyrights of this film, Wang Yang does not need to register a film company, but just sign a contract with Lionsgate as an individual. To pay a lot of corporate taxes, you only need to pay personal taxes.

Wang Yang left Chengxin Law Firm contentedly. Although he spent three hundred dollars, which brought him to the point where he could not afford the fare again, the money was definitely worth it. Ingenious terms, inexplicable legal loopholes, being owed dividends by Lions Gate, and even winning a lawsuit.

Back at the apartment, ready to go to Santa Monica tomorrow to officially sign the contract. Wang Yang took a bath in a good mood, walked out of the bathroom humming a song, and came to the living room. Looking at the contract document on the sofa, he picked it up and kissed it vigorously, and smiled at the contract: "Oh my God, why are you So cute!" He sat down on the sofa and was about to turn on the TV to watch when his cell phone rang suddenly.

"Who is it?" Wang Yang picked up the mobile phone on the TV cabinet, looked at the caller ID, and was stunned. It turned out to be Stephen Thomas, the manager of the purchasing department of Yijiang Film Company! What is he calling for? Wang Yang frowned and said, "Hello, this is Wang Yang."

"Hello, Mr. Wang, it's me, Stephen Thomas from Artisan Company." It was indeed Thomas' voice.

Artisan said that they will discuss internally, so now they have discussed it? Wang Yang asked suspiciously: "Oh, Mr. Thomas, hello, what can I do?"

Thomas laughed over there, and said in a mysterious tone: "That's right, Mr. Wang, we decided to buy your movie."

Although it was expected, Wang Yang couldn't help being stunned. Artist company wants to buy his movie? ! What happened to them? What happened to make them change their minds? Was Thomas's syncope cured? He couldn't help but shook his head and smiled, none of this mattered. He refused: "No, Mr. Thomas, my movie has found a distributor."

"What?!" Thomas was even more stunned. He never thought that the movie of this Chinese boy would be so attractive? He couldn't believe it, but the company had orders, so he had to ask: "Oh, are we a step late? Mr. Wang, have you signed a contract with them?" Wang Yang said: "Not yet."

After getting this answer, Thomas asked again: "Then I don't know if we artisans still have a chance? You know, after we discussed it, we decided to take a risk and you can get 200,000 film copyright fees."

Wang Yang smiled and refused without hesitation: "It's still not possible. I have already negotiated with the company. The conditions they offered are very good, and I am very grateful to them for giving me this opportunity." He shrugged and said to the phone: "So I'm sorry, Mr. Thomas." After that, he felt very puzzled in his heart, why Artisan Company suddenly made such a big determination, 200,000 yuan is not a small amount for a DV movie with a cost of 10,000 yuan.

In fact, the matter is very simple. When he left Artisan Company last time, he left a DVD copy for their internal discussion. Originally, Stephen Thomas didn't care at all, so he just put the DVD aside and ignored it. But in the last few days, by chance, the distribution manager of Artisan Company watched that DVD. Thomas discussed, hoping to buy back.

But Thomas' position was still vetoed, and the manager did not give up. He took the DVD to the company's CEO's office, and the CEO of Artisan Company was also frightened into a cold sweat. He would have bought "The Witch" in the future Blair, he immediately realized the extraordinaryness of this DV movie, and felt that it was worth taking a risk for it. So he made a final decision to purchase "Spiritual-Ghost Records".

But they were one step too late, Wang Yang had already negotiated with Lionsgate.

Thomas frowned, and raised the price: "Mr. Wang, what about 300,000?" Wang Yang still said "No", Thomas gritted his teeth, and said the company's asking price limit: "500,000!?" Wang Yang was still light Smiled lightly and said "no". Thomas felt helpless and a little angry, and asked, "Mr. Wang, can you tell me what price that company offered?"

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't say it casually for the time being. It may be a commercial secret." Wang Yang smiled and refused to answer Thomas' question, and said directly: "Mr. Thomas, it's a foregone conclusion. Although we haven't signed the contract yet, there will be no Nothing has changed."

Even if Artisan Company offers better terms than Lionsgate, Wang Yang would not consider it. Firstly, he is really grateful to Lionsgate Company; secondly, the limited information in his mind shows that Artisan Company "has "The Blair Witch" was in arrears of dividends, and was later directly acquired by Lionsgate Films. Why did he give up a road and go to a dead end?

"Okay, then I won't bother you. Goodbye, Mr. Wang." After Thomas finished speaking in a stiff tone, the phone beeped.

Wang Yang hung up the phone with a smile. He really didn't expect that Artisan Company would suddenly figure it out. Suddenly, he frowned, and a thought flashed in his mind, the attitude of the artisan company has changed, maybe he can make some articles here, and use this matter to speed up the release time of "Spiritual-Ghost Records"... He quietly After thinking about it, I thought about it carefully.

The next day, the Lionsgate headquarters building in Santa Monica bought a film meeting room.

Looking at the two official contracts on the conference table, Wang Yang, dressed in formal attire, took a deep breath. He looked at Jon Filtimer, Tom Oldenburg, Michael Parker who were standing beside him. The three Lionsgate managers from Senneck looked at each other, and they all had kind smiles of encouragement on their faces. Wang Yang nodded to them with a smile, picked up the pen on the table, and signed his name on the contract.

"Congratulations, young man!" Jon and other three managers, and a white lawyer who came to serve as a notary, all smiled and clapped their hands, congratulating Wang Yang non-stop.

"Thank you!" Wang Yang smiled and shook hands with them one by one. His heart was full of joy and excitement. Finally, it was settled. His movie was really released. He could tell others loudly that I am not a loser! I won't be at McDonald's my whole life! Dreams will not pass him by, he is realizing his childhood pursuit!

After signing the contract, Wang Yang came to the office of Jon Filtimer. Jon is the distribution manager, so he is responsible for all the subsequent distribution of the film.

"Mr. Filtimer, I want to ask you a question." Sitting on a chair in front of his desk, Wang Yang looked at Jon across from him and asked, "I don't know about my movie. Lionsgate probably considers When will it be released?"

Jon Filtimer spread his hands with a smile, and said, "Wow, young man, what are you worrying about? You are still young." He laughed a few times before seriously saying: "We will publish it, but You know, it’s late May now, and the summer vacation is coming soon, and our screening plan has already been almost arranged. It may be more suitable for your movie to be released at the end of the year.”

At the end of the year, it will be half a year later! it is as expected. Wang Yang couldn't help frowning. In fact, it will be released half a year after signing the contract. The speed is not too slow. Others will have no objections, but he can't. It is impossible to hide the news that he was expelled from USC. If he has no grades, it is difficult not to fight with his parents.

And he also needs money to live, he needs money as soon as possible, and the release time must be advanced! Wang Yang made up his mind, then shook his head and said, "Sir, I think the screening time needs to be moved up. No, it's not that I'm in a hurry. It's just..." He shrugged and said calmly, "Artisan Company contacted me yesterday. They bid 500,000, hoping to buy my work."

Hearing this, Jon was slightly taken aback, 500,000? You must know that the upper limit of Lionsgate's buyout fee is only 300,000. He pretended not to care, and said, "Oh? Artisan Film Company? I know it. Have you been there before?"

Wang Yang nodded and said: "Yes, I went there very early. After watching the movie, they said that they needed internal consideration. Then they gave me the result yesterday. Of course I rejected them, but I can see that they are very happy. I can't bear to lose my movie." He smiled sincerely and said, "Sir, I'm not showing off, what I want to say is that the Artisan Company has come to their senses, and they bid 500,000, which shows that they are very optimistic about it." The potential of DV movies, they want the title of 'the company that released the first DV movie'!"

Jon finally frowned, nodded slightly, and agreed with Wang Yang's words.

"Sir, you know, my movie only cost 10,000 yuan and took a week to shoot." Wang Yang said nervously in a deliberately low tone: "Artisan Company is so optimistic about DV movies, if they just shoot it themselves How about one? It doesn’t need a good script, but only tens of thousands of dollars, and within a week, they can shoot the movie well, and then put the movie on the market ahead of us.”

"Hmm..." Jon remained silent. He glanced at Wang Yang. If things were really as the young man said, there was indeed a crisis. But is the young man lying? Jon smiled inwardly. Coincidentally, he has a very close friend at the Artisan Company. Although he is not a high-level person, he can still inquire about some situations.

Wang Yang looked at Jon calmly. He was not guilty at all, because he didn't lie at all. Besides, he hopes that Jon will inquire about this matter. Artisan Company did offer 500,000 yuan to acquire his movie. As long as Jon confirms this information, regardless of whether Artisan Company has revealed its willingness to make a DV movie, Lion There will be suspicion on this side of the door.

"I see." Seeing that Wang Yang's eyes did not seem to be fake, Jon nodded and said, "I will consider it." Wang Yang said: "Okay, Mr. Jon, then I have nothing to do, goodbye." As soon as Wang Yang left the office, Jon picked up the phone on the table, called his good friend at Yijiang, and said, "Hi, I heard that you are interested in buying a DV movie? Oh, really? Yours Mr. CEO likes it very much? So what are your plans now..."

After talking for a long time, Jon put down the phone. He looked at the ceiling silently. Wang Yang did not lie. Artisan Company really wanted to acquire "Spiritual Ghost Records". Because of the missed opportunity, Stephen Thomas was criticized by the company. After a pause, there is no news about whether they will shoot a DV movie... He thought for a while, picked up a copy of the 1998 Lionsgate film release schedule on the table, and looked at it silently.

Back in Los Angeles, it was already nightfall. Wang Yang opened the door of the apartment and received a call from Jon as soon as he entered the house.

"Yang, we have made a decision. "Spiritual Ghost Story" will soon enter the publicity stage, and it is tentatively scheduled to arrange a trial screening in early August." Jon Feltimer said with a smile: "Of course, there will be no specifics at that time. It will be released, and it depends on the effect and response of the publicity.”

Wang Yang clenched his fist tightly, jumped up, waved silently, YES!