~： Two hundred and fifty-six - he's about to force us to sell ass.

As Paul Knight thinks, there are people who are suffering right now and are in a dilemma.

Not far from the Warner Bros. Building, another building in Burbank, the media capital, in an office on the seventh floor of Twentieth Century Fox, Townsend Rothman, director of the film and television production department, was also frowning and reading the newspaper.

"Looks like you just saw it."

Townsend-Rothman was fascinated by the report, but he didn't notice that someone in the office pushed the door and walked in. When he heard the voice, he looked up and saw the CEO sitting opposite.

"What do you think about this?" Twentieth Century Fox CEO Jeff Giannobles said, looking at him and pointing to the newspaper in his hand.

"It turned out to be released on the same day!" Townsend-Rothman shook his head, took out a humidor from the drawer, lit one with a spray gun, and took a distracted sip.

"To be honest, Jeff, if I knew he would be so successful, I would never have insisted on those harsh conditions and pushed this kid into the arms of Warner Bros.

I thought it was just a favor for old Ruben, and then the matter was over, hey, who would have thought that that kid didn't have a good luck with shit, he is indeed a genius, no, it is not just a genius, it can be said now Is a master. "

This is his true feeling, and the more successful Wayne Greenberg is, the more complicated his feelings for this young man become.

It can be said that he single-handedly created the success of "Happy Death Day", and because of his arrogance, he personally sent this old friend's son into the arms of a competitor.

"It's not your fault, Townsend!" Jeff Giannobles smiled and shook his head. "No one believes that a young man in his early twenties can achieve continuous success, and no one would have thought that he would achieve such terrifying achievements in just a few short years. However, I am very curious... "

"Curious what?"

20th Century Fox ceo said with a smile: "I'm curious, does that young man know that it was Shay from New Frontier who kicked his father out of the company and made old Reuben betrayed by his best friend. Don't want to step out of the farm!"

Many old people in the Hollywood circle know a little bit about those past events. After all, the pair of Robert Shea and Ruben Greenberg are known as another pair of "Warner Bros.".

"Who knows, now they can be considered a parent company." Townsend-Rothman shrugged and exhaled a large puff of smoke. "Okay, let's not mention those things. Now let's talk about the film schedule. What do you think about this matter?"

This year's 20th Century Fox's top work, "Die Hard 3", which cost 90 million US dollars to produce, will also be released on the second weekend of May. This is the schedule set as early as a month ago.

And the most uncomfortable thing is that the release time of the film has already been advertised through its TV network.

This is also a giant system with an investment of nearly 100 million US dollars. It is a typical summer popcorn masterpiece, and the publicity work must have started early. Twentieth Century Fox has invested millions of publicity funds for the early promotion of the film.

"We can't step back, Townsend! We can only face the competition head-on. And what the final result will be, no one knows now, don't worry, Bruce Wesley's box office appeal is good, we are not without the capital of competition ."

As for the CEO's words, Townsend-Rothman also agrees that the production investment of the two films is not very different, and if it is just a movie star, their films may even take more advantage.

Coupled with the large amount of early publicity funds that have been invested, all that can be done now is competition.

The success of every major Hollywood production is bound to be the result of fierce competition. No film can easily succeed in the golden period of summer.

"Pay attention to the news of "Batman: War Hour". After the film is completed, Warner Bros. will definitely hold a preview, and then we will know the quality of the film." Jeff - Giannobles said.

Townsend-Rothman nodded. "I will tell you to go down and keep an eye on this film."

No one dares to underestimate Wayne Greenberg. If it weren't for "Die Hard 3", which would have been impossible to advance or retreat, no one would know how the 20th Century Fox CEO would handle this matter.

Although the size of the two films is not too different, it is not that they have no competitive strength, but the past achievements of the young director are really dazzling, which no one can deny.

"In the past few years, Wayne Greenberg's films have been generating revenue for theater companies, and this is what worries me the most!" Townsend-Rothman put the cigar in his hand on the shelf , set his sights in the direction of the Warner Bros. building.

"The three major theater alliances, including the Emperor Cinemas, will definitely give "Batman: War Hour" an unprecedented opening scale. Whether it is the rate of filming or the number of screens, our "Tiger Daredevil" Long Wei 3 "I'm afraid I can't compare..."

This is an objective situation, and even if they put pressure on the theater company, there is no way to change it. Movie theaters also need to be profitable, especially Wayne's box office performance in the past few years, which will deeply affect the theater manager's film schedule.

It should be known that the specific film scheduling time and film scheduling rate of the theater manager are the most influential factors in the choice of movie fans in the first-hand market. Even if it is the same film schedule, if one is shown in the morning when there are few people, and the other is shown in the evening during the prime time, the effect can be said to be very different.

"I'll call the theater company in person!" Jeff Giannobles raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, and said with a headache: "At the very least, we should be able to obtain fairness, at least guarantee the first weekend's film schedule, We’ll have to watch the film score later.”

In one more year at most, he will be ready to step down as CEO of 20th Century Fox. Now he does not expect Die Hard 3 to beat the other at the box office, as long as the film can withstand the pressure and achieve the expected box office figures. Well, after all, the beginning of the summer season is the most enthusiastic time for fans.

As long as they don't get crowded out on the first weekend, there will be almost no competitors with enough weight throughout the May schedule. For nearly 20 days, the theater market will be occupied by these two films.

After next year, he won't have to worry about these things. In the future, this movie giant will probably still have Townsend Rothman take over.

"Well, let's do this first, and the specific situation will be arranged after the preview." Townsend-Rothman shook his head and remembered something that made him even more helpless.

"James Cameron is clamoring to increase investment again, **** it! He is about to force the company executives to sell their ass! Paramount is also having headaches, and now this big ship is almost a Bottomless pit!"

This project, jointly invested by 20th Century Fox and Paramount, started preliminary preparations as early as 1993, but James Cameron has been preparing for two years, and the two companies have successively invested 100 million US dollars. The film has yet to officially start shooting.

Now this studio tyrant has spent all his money again, and is chasing after the two companies again, demanding additional project funding.

"I heard he built a ship of the same size?" Jeff Giannobles asked curiously.

"That's right, not only the big ship of shit, but even the props needed in the film are extravagantly customized from the original factory based on the data!"

It's not that Townsend-Rothman doesn't want to continue investing money, 20th Century Fox's capital chain is also very tight, and with the current preparation progress, even if hundreds of millions of dollars are invested, the film's release is still a long way off.

According to what he learned from the producer, two years have passed, and James Cameron did not even prepare for the shooting, and has been tinkering with various props and special effects of the film.

"I'm thinking, should I just change him!" An extremely impatient look appeared on his face. "I'll call Shirley Lansing in a while, I have to give that truck driver enough restrictions, or else I'll find another director to take his place, this movie has dragged on for too long and the company has invested too much A lot of money, but there is no hope of profit for a long time.”

Now this project has become a joke in the circle. It's like a quagmire, which has trapped the two companies together.

Just as all the studios, distributors and fans were discussing the release date announced by Warner Bros., a group of reporters gathered around "Batman: War Hour" at the entrance of a studio in New York. producer interview.

These reporters have a very sensitive sense of smell. They went to New York for the first time, and Wayne Greenberg returned to the summer season. This gimmick is definitely big enough.

But that director never liked to give interviews, they went directly to the producer This will be a super-great production in Greenberg format! Facing the messy questions from a group of reporters, Tim Burton stretched out his hands and pressed down. When the scene was quiet, he said directly without waiting for questions:

"I remember in the first few years there were people who were worried that my Batman was too dark, trust me, compared to the version of Wayne that was being filmed, Batman in '89, and Batman Returns in '92. The film is simply a brisk play!

This "Batman: Hour of War" is full of dark and serious themes throughout, and it definitely exceeds the expectations of fans and media. It is like a dark epic, and there are too many mappings and representative meanings in the film. .

In a few months' time, you will see that Wayne will begin the advent of the Dark Ages! "

After he finished speaking, he didn't give the reporter a chance to ask questions, waved his hand to call the security personnel, turned around and walked back to the filming scene.

If there are DC fans who see the set, they will be very familiar with the name here. It is called Arkham Asylum, and this is the place where "talents are born" in Wayne's mouth.