Chapter 146

After a short two-day break in Park City, Simon returns to Los Angeles, once again surrounded by busy work.

Santa Monica.

Simon, Amy and CAA president Michael owitz sit around the conference table in the conference room of Denise pictures headquarters. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Denise pictures' upcoming films Rain Man and steel Magnolia.

The main production plan of "Rain Man" has been finalized, leaving only some details. The two sides did not waste too much time on it.

When it comes to "steel Magnolia", the atmosphere becomes tense.

Danielis pictures wants to invite CAA director Herbert Ross and actress Sally Field, who are also the original creators of "steel Magnolia.". However, Michael owitz's offer was unacceptable to Simon.

"Michael, Herbert Ross and Sally field are packing 10 million dollars, which is too high. "Steel Magnolia" is a group play. If I pay rose and field a lot of money, other actors will ask for more, and Denise pictures can hardly afford this project any more. So, we can offer Ross $5 million, and Ms. field only $1.5 million. "

Herbert Roth is not only the director of the original steel magnolia, he is also the director of Michael Fox's North American box office of more than 60 million US dollars last year. Further on, Herbert Roth's 1984 song and dance film "freedom" made 80 million US dollars in North America at the cost of 8 million US dollars, which also made the film company make a lot of money.

Hollywood director's status depends on the box office, so Herbert Roth is worth 5 million dollars.

However, although Sally Field won two best actress Oscars in 1979 and 1984, the actress has little box office appeal. Moreover, in the 1980s, few Hollywood actresses were worth more than $2 million. Considering that "steel Magnolia" was a group play, Simon could only offer $1.5 million.

Michael owitz sniffed the words and fixed his eyes on Simon. This is his habitual gesture in the negotiation process. He said in a dissatisfied tone: "Sally, but Simon, after two Oscars, do you think $1.5 million is possible?"

Simon was not affected by owitz's eyes at all. He said: "it was a few years ago, Michael. We all know that no one in Hollywood can get a lifetime's first-line pay with one or two golden men. Compared with Ms. field's box office appeal, the $1.5 million is already very high."

"It's impossible," said Michael owitz, shaking his head and pausing. Then he slowed down a little and said, "well, Simon, considering the specific circumstances of this film, I can make some concessions. Herbert is worth $6 million and Sally is worth $3 million. However, you have to agree to two other conditions. First, all the other supporting roles in the film are free To choose from CAA, second, Robin is still very interested in death poetry society. I hope you can give her the hero. "

"If you insist on that, Michael, my answer is the same as yours. It's impossible. First of all, I'm not going to make steel Magnolia a package project of CAA. Secondly, Bob has agreed to play in the dead poets society, and I can't give Robin Williams the role any more. "

Three weeks of small-scale screening has accumulated enough public praise. "Good Morning Vietnam" officially opened on a large scale last Friday, and it took 11.75 million US dollars at the box office in three days over the weekend. The media predicted that the box office of the film in the fourth week will exceed 16 million US dollars. As a hot film destined to go on a long-term basis, "Good Morning Vietnam" will soon break through 100 million US dollars in North America.

As a leading actor, Robin Williams has been promoted from a second-line actor to a first-line superstar.

At the end of last year, CAA temporarily changed its mind on the day of signing the contract, and Denise pictures failed to pick up the leak. Although Simon has some regrets, he doesn't plan to be led by CAA. At present, the company has reached an agreement with De Niro on the two film contracts of "dead poets society" and "sixth sense". Although the contract has not been formally signed, Simon is unlikely to change his mind like CAA.

As their voices fell, neither of them spoke again. After a moment of stalemate, owitz relaxed and leaned back in his chair, saying, "maybe we can only stop here for today's meeting."

Simon stood up and held out his hand across the desk to owitz. "Well, Michael, I hope we can work together again next time."

Michael owitz was stunned. He didn't expect Simon to be more decisive than himself. This young man's saying obviously means that Denise pictures won't contact CAA on "steel Magnolia" next. Even more, there is no turning point for the death poetry society.

He got up and shook hands with Simon, but Michael owitz said, "Simon, you can't be impulsive in business. You can reconsider and call me at any time."

"I think I've thought about it."

"Good luck, then."

Seeing owitz off, Simon sat back at the conference table, raised his wrist, looked at his watch, and said to Amy Pascal, "give up Herbert Ross and Sally field. Let's pick from wma and ICM."Considering Herbert Ross and Sally Field's status, Denise pictures has a budget of $15 million for steel Magnolia. But according to owitz's offer, the film budget will definitely expand to $20 million or even $25 million.

In the original time and space, the North American box office scale of "steel Magnolia" was US $80 million. Even according to the production budget of US $25 million, danilisi pictures can still make a profit. However, relative to the total investment of the company's planned independent distribution, Simon can only expect the subsequent distribution of other channels to bring profits, which will greatly extend the payback cycle.

Amy Pascal likes steel magnolia, a story about women's lives in small Southern towns in the United States, but her expectation of the box office is far lower than Simon's. For commercial reasons, Amy actually wants to make the film a low-cost film with a budget of less than $10 million.

So, hearing Simon's words, Amy didn't retort, but said something else: "Simon, we need to talk about the company."

Simon regained his spirits and said, "what's the matter?"

Amy handed over a folder and said, "look at it first. In short, the company's capital is not enough."

Simon took over the folder and opened it. There were budget statements and other expense statements for a series of danilisi film projects.

Apart from when Harry meets Sally and vulgar novel, which have basically completed the post production, Denise pictures has officially approved six films, including instinct, scream, steel magnolia, thunderbolt blue angel, Rain Man and death poetry club.

Among them, except that instinct, with a budget of $20 million, is co produced by Denise pictures and fox pictures, all the other five films are invested by Denise pictures alone.

The budget sizes of the five films range from US $10 million to US $25 million, with a cumulative funding requirement of US $75 million. With the money set aside, the $100 million loan danilisi pictures received from Wells Fargo left only $25 million.

But of the 25 million dollars, just buying out the copyright of "baby thunderbolt" cost 7 million dollars. In the transaction with Lianmei, the cost of the two plays of "Hobbit" and "Rain Man" is 2 million dollars. Recently, the total cost of purchasing copyright such as "Spider Man" and "Ninja Turtle" has also cost millions of dollars. Considering the company's operating expenses in all aspects, Danni is now in a good position Liz pictures has just over $10 million of working capital left.

Amy looked at Simon, who was reading the document, and added: "death came down last week. The cumulative box office in North America is $72.61 million. According to the contract, we can get 10% of the box office share next month, which is $7.26 million. However, if we want to buy the "Lord of the rings" series copyright according to your offer to Saul zaenz, or the "fairy diamond" in the hands of the Tolkien Heritage Foundation, we certainly don't have enough money. The scripts you picked out in Park City, the planned TV shows, and the publicity costs of the future scream movies, all of which require a lot of investment. Simon, I can feel your eagerness for many things, but I think you should slow down. You're only 20 next month, and you have plenty of time for most people in Hollywood. "

Simon looked at the documents in his hand, and immediately realized more deeply why Canon pictures, de laurentiz entertainment and now New World Entertainment suddenly got into trouble in a "boom".

The entertainment industry is burning too much money. The collection cycle of film and television projects is slow enough to make people feel angry. Once the income brought by the project can not cover the expenses, and the funds can not be replenished from the outside world, a company will collapse immediately.

If it wasn't for having a large amount of assets, if it wasn't for the prophet advantage in the selected projects, Simon was sure that Denise pictures would definitely follow Canon pictures and other companies in the next few years.

Simon actually understood Amy's admonition very well.

But can you slow down?

After this, he is going to meet with Warner Bros. CEO Terry Semel to discuss Batman.

If he slows down, if he gives up Batman, according to the original timeline, the film will be directed by Tim Burton at the end of this year, released next summer, and become the box office champion of the year next year.

By then, Batman, Superman and even DC will have nothing to do with Simon westero.

Due to the failure of Superman 4 last year, Warner's confidence in the adaptation of Batman is at its lowest stage. This is also the last opportunity for Simon to get involved in the copyright of this top superhero. How can he slow down.

Again.

The films under development and the copyrights purchased by danilisi pictures are basically the projects that will be booming in the next few years.

Once these projects succeed one after another, Simon's interest in other novel scripts will definitely lead to a scramble, and it will be even more difficult for Denise pictures to continue to hoard more copyrights. Simon must take advantage of the opportunity that many people still regard him as a "fat sheep" and win some IP at a lower price as much as possible.Even outside Hollywood, he can't slow down.

I can't slow down.

After looking through the information in his hand, Simon had made a decision and said, "Amy, the expenses for buying the Lord of the rings and the fairy diamond will go directly to the account of Westeros. I will let George take charge of this. The company continues to push forward according to the original plan. The three scripts I brought back from Park City, Michael Hoffman's sisters and whit Stillman's metropolises, will be approved as soon as possible. The cost of these two films is very low. Together, they may not cost US $6 million, which will not affect the overall situation. The script of "3000" is temporarily shelved, and I have other arrangements. What's more, these are just budget expenditures, and the money in the account will not be spent immediately. There is a lot of room for operation. When Harry meets Sally is released at the end of March, we will definitely have revenue next. I can't. I'll transfer a sum of money from Westeros, or I can continue to apply for a loan. "

Amy felt Simon's resolute attitude and knew that persuasion was useless. All she had to do was say, "plus two movies, this is eight. I can't be too busy."

Simon thought about it and said, "after finishing vulgar novel, I'll focus on the company's projects for the rest of this year. Signing a few other producers will certainly be enough."

For example, "steel Magnolia" and "death poetry club" have given up using the original version of human resources. In order to maintain the original style and standard of the film, Simon himself has to put in more energy.

Simon also wants to see if these films can be as successful as the original time and space without using the original creator.

After all, Simon may not be able to get together with the original team for many films in the future. He also doesn't like the invisible sense of being bound, and he doesn't want to be pinched by CAA and other agencies because of an actor problem.

He continued to discuss with Amy for more than half an hour. He was worried that traffic congestion would lead to late arrival at noon. Near eleven o'clock, Simon started from Santa Monica and rushed to Burbank in the San Fernando Valley in the north of the city.

Simon and Terry Semel agreed to have lunch at a restaurant near Warner Brothers studios in Burbank.

Arriving at the appointed restaurant, Terry Semel is already waiting for Simon.

After they sat down and ordered, Terry Semel asked Simon with a smile, "I heard you gave up buying new world entertainment?"

Simon nodded helplessly and said with a bitter smile, "yes, we all have to slaughter fat sheep. A group of people copied the stock price to the point that I can't afford it at all, so I have to let it go."

Today is January 20, Wednesday.

On the other side of New York City, westero company had cleared its position in New World Entertainment yesterday. However, maybe those investors on Wall Street were expecting Simon's return. Therefore, at the close of yesterday, the share price of New World Entertainment remained at a high of $11.50, far more than the $7.50 before the news was released.

After a short half month's operation and selling all the shares, westero made more than $11 million, which is not in vain.

New World Entertainment tried to formally start the acquisition negotiation with westero, but it was fruitless. After learning that Simon had cleared all the stocks, Larry kupin threatened to sue westero for malicious manipulation of New World Entertainment stocks in a newspaper interview yesterday afternoon.

In any case, Simon will definitely not give up new world entertainment, at least marvel in the hands of new world entertainment.

However, Simon does not intend to make another move in the near future.

New World Entertainment's main profit-making business is still TV program production, compared with the sullen film department.

Soon after, however, was the longest general strike in Hollywood history. Hollywood film companies often hoard a large number of scripts, which will not be seriously affected in the strike. Because TV plays are usually written and produced at the same time, the situation of TV industry will be very bleak.

Once the strike continues, even if it can solve the financial problem and the lack of screenwriters, the TV Production Department of New World Entertainment will definitely be shut down, which will further worsen the operation of the company.

So.

In the second half of the year, when the strike went on to a certain extent, it was the best time for Simon to make another move.