Chapter 209

"Yesterday, MGM pictures suddenly announced that it would take over the distribution of Dan eckroyd and Kim Basinger to play in the family comedy" my stepmother is an alien ", which is scheduled for December 23. "My stepmother is an alien" is co produced by wintraub entertainment, a Hollywood independent production company, and Katarina production company. The production cost is $20 million

"According to public information," my stepmother is an alien "would have been released by Columbia Pictures. Our reporter said to Franklin levy, the producer of the film. Levy said that the producer and Colombia only signed a contract of intent at the beginning, and the two sides could not reach an agreement on the terms of the final agreement, so they switched to MGM. "

"However," my stepmother is an alien, "scheduled for December 23, will compete directly with another MGM film," Rain Man, "scheduled for December 16

"Rain Man" is directed by "Good Morning Vietnam" director Barry Levinson, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. This film has previously exposed that there was a fierce conflict between the creator and the producer. Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise once publicly supported Barry Levinson and denounced Denise film's wanton interference in the film creation. Barry Levinson said, "Good Morning Vietnam is a good morning movie." Finally, the project was launched, and it was said that Simon westero took over the post work himself. "

"As to whether MGM's sudden introduction of" my stepmother is an alien "is due to a lack of confidence in the film" Rain Man ", whether it will temporarily cancel the schedule of" Rain Man ", or whether it involves other inside information, the author calls MGM, Denise and CAA respectively to get a response."

"This newspaper will pay close attention to the follow-up progress."

Santa Monica.

Denise entertainment headquarters, in Simon's office, puts down his daily variety and looks at Amy Pascal and Robert REM opposite.

Amy said: "I've been asked about the internal audition of" my stepmother is an alien. "The audience's response was very poor. Colombia wanted to increase the distribution commission ratio and asked the producer to share the publicity expenses, so the two sides broke up."

Simon picked up his pencil, turned it around in his hand and said, "I'm not interested in this movie."

"As for MGM, I just went to see their publicity plan yesterday, which is very hasty. Tony tomopoulos also said in my face that rain man is nothing, "Robert REM said at this time." moreover, we were asked to advance the $5 million publicity budget, but according to the current situation, we should only be able to get 1000 screens which are completely guaranteed by the contract, not more. Although we can send accountants to follow up the release of the film according to the agreement, MGM still has many ways to avoid our supervision. "

Simon has long understood that the success of a film depends on the quality of the film as well as its strength and luck. But there are also too many ways to make a mess of it, and is it too simple. Therefore, he insisted on retaining the distribution right of "flying over innocence".

Looking down at the newspaper in front of him again, Simon felt the shadow of CAA without Amy and REM reminding him.

Hollywood actor Dan mccloyd, who rose to fame with 1984 box office runner up ghost hunters, is also an important customer of CAA. If there is no other external influence on this matter, as independent producers, Columbia Pictures asks for harsh conditions such as higher commission, so the two independent producers may have to hold their noses to recognize it.

CAA, which has become more and more powerful in recent years, just has the strength to promote this.

Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise and even Rain Man director Barry Levinson are CAA's top ace customers. Now that everyone has completely broken down in the Rain Man project, and several creators have successfully shifted the responsibility to Denise entertainment, CAA obviously does not allow rain man to have any chance of turning over. The result of this film can only be a failure, and the more it fails, the better it will be.

Simon listened to them, raised his wrist and looked at his watch. There was a role audition for Batman in the morning. He had a schedule at noon, afternoon and even evening.

No more nonsense, Simon said to Robert rem, "you go to MGM now and get the distribution rights of rain man back."

Robert REM hesitated: "Simon, what if MGM doesn't want to let go?"

Simon got up, buttoned up his suit and said, "it's your business, Bob. If MGM doesn't want to, it's a pity that your year-end bonus will shrink this year. "

Robert REM watched Simon walk out of the office, looked at Amy helplessly and said, "Simon doesn't seem very happy today?"

Amy also stood up and said, "maybe I'm too tired recently. Besides, no one would be too happy to meet this kind of thing."

"Well," Robert REM stood up together, followed Amy out, and then said, "it's about us and CAA. Although the big seven are not very friendly to us recently, tomopoulos should not be willing to offend Denise completely. Amy, how much do you think my offer is suitable?"

"MGM owns the distribution rights of rain man through various channels in North America. The proportion of cinemas, videotapes and TV platforms is 15%. The overseas copyright is still in our own hands." Amy recalled the original agreement and said: "if the North American box office of rain man is calculated at US $20 million, I think US $5 million is more appropriate to recover the distribution right."Robert REM nodded, and so did his heart.

According to the North American box office of US $20 million, MGM can get a distribution Commission of US $3 million, not counting overseas, but the sales commission of the North American domestic video and TV platforms should be equivalent to the box office revenue, about US $3 million, but it means a long payback cycle of several years.

However, Robert REM immediately asked in a slightly ironic tone, "Amy, do you think rain man can only get 20 million dollars?"

When they came to the corridor outside Simon's office, Amy rolled her eyes and said, "don't you think so?"

"Rain Man" has always been a project that the whole Hollywood dislikes at the beginning. There was such a big storm in the later stage of the film. Now several creators have made up their minds not to participate in the publicity of the film, which casts a shadow on the box office prospect of "Rain Man".

Generally speaking, Simon's ability and vision are highly valued in the circle. Besides Simon's five films from "Lola Run" to "instinct", he also succeeded in "when Harry meets Sally". But to be fair, "when Harry meets Sally" has no bright spot in the script stage, but it is very interesting after the film. There are sparks between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. However, the cost of rain man, in the eyes of many people, is very mediocre and completely lack of highlights.

At this time, Amy felt that Simon's strong support for the film was a kind of juvenile nature.

My boss is just a 20-year-old after all.

Robert REM was noncommittal of Amy's rhetorical question, just smiling.

Noticing that Amy went downstairs with herself and seemed to be planning to go out, Robert REM asked casually, "what are you going to do?"

Amy said: "about the consumer goods department of the company, I recently found a manager to meet at Century City in the morning."

Although the merger of New World Entertainment has been completed, the company's Department adjustment and integration has never stopped.

Since the beginning of star wars, the development of film and television derivatives has been the focus of big film companies, and it has also created a new profit point for Hollywood. Therefore, the establishment of Denise entertainment consumer products department is Amy's recent focus. As Denise entertainment has more and more self released films, this aspect will also bring rich reports to the company.

"Oh, in fact, I think the company should buy a record company or set up a record department as soon as possible. From" Lola Run ", the original sound records of our company's films are very good. It is said that the original sound records of summer season" vulgar novel "have sold more than 6 million copies." Robert REM said that, shaking his head, he said: "it's a pity, from the current situation," vulgar novel "is likely to be the box office champion this year, but this film, let Orion completely out of trouble, these profits should belong to us."

Amy also has some regrets.

With last year's stock market crash, a large number of funds flowing to Hollywood have suddenly stopped, and the financing of film companies has become very difficult. If there is no vulgar novel, Orion film, which has released more than ten films at one time this year, but none of them has sold at the box office, will surely be in trouble, or even go bankrupt like Canon film and de Laurentiis entertainment.

Now, the box office of a vulgar novel in North America alone may reach 150 million US dollars, and the global box office is expected to get 300 million US dollars, which are enough to support the performance of Orion film. The subsequent sale of video and television rights could even bring Orion pictures huge cash flow for several years.

"No one thought that vulgar novel would be so successful, even Simon himself probably didn't expect it, and there was nothing he could do about it." Amy couldn't help shaking her head and said, "as for the record department, Simon talked to me a long time ago. Do you know the best-selling single he wrote for Madonna? Simon is no less talented in music than in movies. However, we are not familiar with the record business, and we are still too busy to make movies. We can only shelve this matter for the time being. "

"Madonna's single?" Robert REM was a little puzzled. He didn't pay attention to Madonna at his age. However, he said with a quick smile: "I saw Simon playing the video of" wild bees flying "on the guitar. It's really amazing."

They chatted at will and went all the way to the parking lot downstairs. Then they got on the bus and rushed to their destination.

On the other side, Simon left the office and rushed to the audition room downstairs.

It's the last audition for Batman's most important supporting role. Besides Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle, the three most important characters in the first film are Bruce Wayne's housekeeper Alfred pennyworth, Gotham police chief James Gordon and the most important villain "black mask".

In the original time and space, several big movies of Batman started from Tim Burton. The villains were probably clowns, riddlers, double faced people, Scarecrows and so on. The black mask did not appear.In fact, the black mask is not the classic villain of Batman comics, which only appeared in 1985.

However, after carefully studying a series of cartoon works of Batman, Simon thinks that the role of black mask is very suitable to be the villain of the first film.

The original name of black mask was Roman siennis. He also came from the rich family in Gotham and was a very good friend of Bruce Wayne when he was a child. Compared with Bruce Wayne's experience, Roman siennis also had a unhappy childhood. The siennis family generally had a hot and reckless gene. When he was very young, Roman siennis had been suffering from his father's violence from words to hands and feet. Finally, when he couldn't bear it, Roman siennis killed his parents and continued to live Inherited a lot of family property.

However, without the control of his parents, the violent character of Roman siennis, which was formed with his family, gradually emerged. At the same time, because he was not good at company management, the siennis family business was on the verge of bankruptcy under his management.

After many years of traveling abroad and returning to Gotham, Bruce Wayne happened to hear about the plight of Roman sinanis. Out of his childhood friendship, Bruce Wayne directed the Wayne group to buy the company of sinanis family which was on the verge of bankruptcy. However, Roman sinanis had nothing in the process, so he was angry with Bruce Wayne and completely degenerated One of Gotham's most notorious criminals.

In addition, in the comic plot, Roman sheenness also has a deep entanglement with cat girl, which just connects Bruce Wayne, Selena Kyle and Roman sheenness.

Simon's screenplay, of course, does not copy the comic set, but the plot is very much to learn from.

In addition, two people of similar origins, one tries to punish evil and become Batman, the other falls into the dark and becomes a criminal. There are many things worth exploring that make people think deeply. After this encounter, Batman, a "fledgling" man, also suffered his first transformation.

Simon's own version of Batman is positioned as a commercial blockbuster. In any case, commerciality comes first. However, on the premise of ensuring the commercial nature, Simon did not give up completely adding some deep thinking about value and human nature.