Chapter 188

Simon didn't expect Barry Levinson to be as silent as he wanted to be when he took back the post production power of rain man.

What Simon didn't expect was that, as arranged in advance, on the day the news appeared in the newspaper, the two leading stars of rain man, Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, also accepted an interview with CNN, denouncing Simon's disrespect for the film creator.

Then, the American directors' Union also jumped out and issued a public statement on Friday, claiming that it would investigate whether danylis film had violated the rights and interests of directors.

So.

In just a few days, Denise film was quickly pushed to the center of another storm of public opinion.

Hollywood has always been producer centric.

In the early 1980s, Toby hopper, the director of Texas Chainsaw killer, was elevated by the producer Spielberg in the ghost drive project, or Simon remembered the tragedy of changing the director of Justice League many years later. The director was kicked out in the process of film production.

However, ordinary people are obviously not too concerned about these industry rules.

Under the media hype, a common thing in Hollywood was quickly played up as a big scandal.

New York.

Lower Manhattan, Morton street in Greenwich Village.

In a nine story red brick building less than one kilometer from NYU, this is the east coast headquarters of new world entertainment.

New World Entertainment occupies six floors of the nine storey red brick building. Half of the company's 110 plus employees except Marvel are here, and the other half are in Los Angeles. The six floor office space is obviously more than enough to accommodate more than 50 employees, which is actually the result of several layoffs of new world entertainment.

Because the company's business focuses on TV program production, new world entertainment only has hundreds of employees on the east coast, and nearly half of them have been laid off in the past six months, but the lease of the office building has not expired. This is the current situation.

Today is August 2.

After a month long process of financing and auditing, Simon formally signed an acquisition agreement with Larry kupin, chairman of new world entertainment. As a result, senior executives of both companies gathered in New York.

At the end of the signing ceremony in the morning, the main executives of the two companies gathered in the largest conference room of the office building for a meeting after lunch.

Although several buildings with better conditions have been bought in Shangcheng District, according to the contract, the residents there will not move out until around 1990, and then they will face demolition.

At the afternoon meeting, Simon asked the management to buy the red brick building where new world entertainment is located as soon as possible, and use it as the east coast headquarters of Denise entertainment.

Over the past half year, the North American property market has continued to decline, and Greenwich Village is not a prime location. It will cost less than US $20 million to buy this small straight tube red brick building, and the expansion of Denise entertainment in the next few years will be enough to fill the whole building. Extra space and time, just can be used to redecorate.

The company is developing so fast that it is necessary to buy property.

Of course.

The biggest reason is Simon's personal preference for opening up private territory, which he can afford.

As far as the west coast is concerned, Simon has not yet chosen the location of the company's headquarters. This matter can only be put on hold.

Although it is the longest time in summer, long meetings involving personnel adjustment, financial planning and project discussion have been held until night falls in Manhattan. Fortunately, Denise pictures is booming. Many people have just survived a bankruptcy and lost their jobs. They also have a promising new owner. All the executives of the two companies have no complaints about it.

At the end of the meeting, Denise pictures also arranged a welcome reception for all new world entertainment employees at a nearby hotel.

Until ten o'clock in the night, many people left contentedly.

Simon could not spare time. Before the party was over, he took Amy Pascal, Robert REM and Robert egger, who had successfully left ABC to join danielis entertainment, back to New World Entertainment headquarters.

Everyone sat down in a small meeting room of the company. Jennifer made coffee for everyone in person. Simon took the coffee from the female assistant and whispered his thanks, but his expression was not so relaxed.

"Simon, things continue to ferment. Many well-known Hollywood directors may avoid cooperating with us out of scruples. This is a very difficult problem," said Robert rem, the oldest of several people on the scene. "We must clarify and fight back as soon as possible."

If there is no need, busy all day, we will not naturally get together late at night.

What we are discussing at this time is, of course, the expulsion of Barry Levinson which broke out in recent days.

Simon didn't let this matter affect the expansion rhythm of Denise pictures. He completed the acquisition of New World Entertainment step by step, and finally pocketed the company and Marvel Entertainment, which he attached the most importance to. However, in recent days, Simon can't ignore this incident at all. The media public relations team of danielis pictures has been working hard to avoid the situation getting out of control.But what Simon hasn't quite understood in recent days is why Barry Levinson made it public? Moreover, there is a shadow of CAA behind this. Although "Good Morning Vietnam" has become a popular first-line director, without the support of CAA, Barry Levinson could not make such a big deal in just a few days.

At the end of the day, we are all businessmen.

Although Simon does not intend to compromise, according to the Convention, CAA should first try to get in touch with Denise pictures, instead of tearing face in such a big way.

After all, although the media is generally on Barry Levinson's side, Hollywood is not short of discerning people.

Who film company hasn't fired several directors?

CAA people are going to make a big deal if they are a little wronged. Can we cooperate well in the future?

However.

Simon hasn't received any news from CAA these days.

In his hands, he habitually played with a pencil. Simon looked down and suddenly found that he always seemed to be able to find a pencil at hand. However, after noticing the figure of Jennifer sitting quietly next to her after serving coffee to everyone, he was no longer entangled.

After glancing at the white neck of the female assistant's ponytail, Simon drew back his attention, nodded to Robert rem, who had already entered the state, and then looked at other people: "what do you mean?"

Amy frowned and thought, but didn't speak.

Robert egger heard Simon's question and said, "I've always felt that Barry Levinson and they seem to be too impatient about this."

Simon wondered, "well?"

Robert egger sorted out his thoughts and said, "if I know the right information, you just fired Barry Levinson, and things broke out the next day, which is obviously too deliberate and too anxious."

Robert REM said: "Bob, owitz has a lot of energy in Hollywood. He only needs a few phone calls to do that."

"It's true, but if it was me, I would definitely choose to communicate with Simon first, and use these means only when it's not right," said Robert egger, looking at Simon and saying, "but Simon, owitz didn't contact you, did he?"

Simon nodded and looked at Amy.

"We tried to contact CAA, but that said owitz had gone to Japan," Amy explained

"If CAA intends to settle, it's not a problem," egger said, shaking his head. "The problem now is that CAA doesn't intend to settle. They just want to embarrass us."

Amy said: "I'm also wondering about this. Although we are not as good as the big seven, CAA should not be stupid enough to make a complete quarrel with us."

Robert REM also said at this time: "maybe, is it possible that the big seven are actually behind this thing?"

Amy and egger are silent.

This year's summer program has come to an end.

Although Paramount Pictures has successfully won two North American films with a box office of more than 100 million through two wonderful full-scale saturation releases, during this period, almost all of Hollywood's light has focused on Denise pictures.

Besides "vulgar novel" and "instinct", Denise pictures also launched "who will be a millionaire", a hot reality show that has affected the strike of writers in Hollywood. In addition, at the end of last month, the company sold another reality show "big brother" to Fox for $1 million each issue.

Compared with survivor, which only has more than ten issues per season, big brother is the standard 23 issues per season.

Moreover, the production cost of "big brother" is only equivalent to that of "who will be a millionaire", both of which are very low.

Because of the demonstrative success of who's going to be a millionaire, big brother's in show sponsorship expenses also offset the production budget and generate profits. Denise pictures's $23 million income from Fox TV network is a net income, and also reserves the right to renegotiate according to the ratings of the program in the next season.

According to the calculation, the three reality shows that have been sold, only in the first quarter, can bring about 200 million US dollars in net income for danielis pictures. Of the seven major reality shows, Columbia and MGM, which have not achieved very good performance in recent years, may not be able to achieve this figure in the net profit scale of the whole year.

The reason that wood show will be destroyed by forest wind is applicable in any country and any industry. Danilisi film is too dazzling, and its competitors will not be indifferent.

However.

In the conference room, Simon immediately ruled out the possibility of the big seven.

Although vulgar novel and instinct were very successful, the studio got profit sharing.

Just like "vulgar novel", it is expected that only North America will get more than 150 million US dollars at the box office. Simon's original contract was signed in the name of the company. After the settlement, danelis pictures can only get 10% of the box office share and 5% of the North American domestic video sales share in the later period. The big head is still owned by Orion. Instinct's profits are equally shared with Fox's, and the two companies can't be dissatisfied.As for the others, they are still working with danielis pictures or looking forward to working with each other, and they don't have enough motivation to do things that hurt others but not themselves.

Even the four major TV networks, except for CBS, which failed to capture big brother and failed to watch Beverly's wife, have no motivation to do so in order to ensure that there are no accidents in the production and broadcast of several reality shows.

Motivation?

Motivation!

Thinking fast in my mind.

All of a sudden, Simon finally got to the point.

Michael owitz is not a fool, but very smart and realistic. So, if there is not enough motivation, Barry Levinson just wants to vent his emotions, he obviously will not support the other party to do so.

Now the problem is.

What is the motive of this whole thing?

Listening to Amy's comments in silence, Simon combed the whole story again and again. A moment later, it dawned on him.

"I probably understand what's going on," he said after tapping the table. Simon interrupted Amy's discussion and looked at the female assistant, saying, "Jennie, you can arrange the flight tomorrow morning and contact owitz by the way. He should have come back from Japan. I'll see him when I arrive in Los Angeles tomorrow."

Jennifer nodded to make a note.

The other three were confused and looked at each other at the same time.

Simon said, "Amy, do you remember all the things that happened during the filming of rain man? Whether it's Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, or Barry Levinson, they're not very optimistic about this project after the movie started? "

Amy nodded.

Because of the downfall of rain man, during the film shooting, the whole crew showed a negative and casual attitude.

In the second week of filming, Dustin Hoffman, because of this reason and some other dissatisfaction, even yelled to the producer, "you go to Jack Nicholson, I don't want to shoot any more." then he really gave up the choice and was persuaded to come back after a lot of trouble.

At the end of the shooting, Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise called their roles "two idiots in an open car.".

Obviously.

From what Barry Levinson did in the later stage of the film, the director's mentality is the same.

Simon felt several people's still curious eyes and explained: "after all," Rain Man "is a $25 million production. Barry Levinson, Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise all think that this project will fail at the box office, which will affect their reputation and reputation in Hollywood. So, what would you do if it happened to you? "

Amy Pascal, Robert REM and Robert egger looked at each other at the same time, and an idea flashed through their mind.

However, none of them spoke.

The answer is obvious.

Shirking responsibility!

It's just that.

It's better not to react too quickly to this problem. Probably few bosses would like to see employees who like to shirk their responsibilities.

Simon looked at the expressions on the three faces and knew they understood.

Since Simon gave Barry Levinson his memo on the modification of rain man a few days ago, Barry Levinson has been complaining about Simon's excessive interference in the project.

Now think about it.

That's why Barry Levinson is paving the way for the box office failure of rain man. He just made it to the front line with Good Morning Vietnam last year. If he immediately suffered a box office failure of a $25 million blockbuster, it would certainly affect his price and position.

Simon even felt that Barry Levinson was deliberately against him in the film editing, just to irritate himself, and this strategy obviously succeeded.

Then, a few of them didn't want to be the creator of a bad reputation for making a box office flop film, and of course they resolutely threw the black pot on Simon.

Now.

Even if the next box office of rain man hits the streets, the media and the public will only think that Simon is responsible, and the film's main creators are the victims.