Chapter 387： gradually rise

After an extra day in Amsterdam, the "Daydreamer" crew all returned to Los Angeles.

While Ryman was preoccupied with post-production, Johnson's work took a more ground-breaking turn.

After spending more than three months, after screening more than a dozen companies with distribution channels in North America, a fairly safe and suitable target was selected...

In Los Angeles in mid-August, the average daytime outside temperature remains at 27 degrees.

The editing room of Firefly Pictures had just edited most of the filming material for a long time. The moment he heard Lyman say that work was over, Thomas immediately lay down on the sofa and rested. He stayed up half the night yesterday.

Lehman didn't stay up late, but he was exhausted, mainly because of his mental exhaustion. His eyes were fixed on the screen, which was not so comfortable.

But this is a process that must be experienced. After so many movies have been made, I am used to it.

After all, it's post-production. If you want to release it earlier, you can't delay too much.

Back in the office and flipping through the financial statements for a while, Johnson came in.

Lyman handed him a cigarette and asked, "How's it going during this time?"

Johnson exhaled a few smoke rings, nodded, and said calmly: "It's okay, I finally found a publishing company that is not so troublesome and has a healthy internal management."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Seeing that Johnson even got dark circles under his eyes and was exhausted, it is estimated that he was doing things with all his heart.

"Fortunately, the better the company develops, the higher my salary will be." Johnson laughed.

In fact, his current "economic man" job is getting more and more high-end.

He has rarely intervened in CAA's internal business, and has no intention to bring new people. Except for one Eva who is looking at Lehman's relationship and helping to deal with it, he has basically bound Lehman's personal development.

I even thought about leaving CAA and joining Firefly Pictures.

Just like many senior brokers who have reached the top, but cannot become a partner of CAA and cannot obtain equity, they will develop in another circle.

Many brokers will choose to do this after they have met enough contacts.

After all, it is still too "low-end" to only be responsible for the brokerage business, and the upside is blocked, so you can only jump out.

Unfortunately, Lyman didn't mention it, and he didn't speak.

"Tell me about the company's situation." Lehmann waved his hand and asked as his assistant poured two cups of coffee.

Johnson took the briefcase, took out a thick document and put it in front of Lyman, "Lisman Vish Films. Founded in 1989, it was originally engaged in the production of TV series, and later developed into North American distribution. channel.

However, the film segment has never been up, making more films and earning less money, and later mainly released films from other companies...

Well, it can’t compete with the top six and second-tier channel dealers, mainly relying on the UK, buying relatively niche independent movies in the UK, and then releasing them in North America.

The TV show is their big head. There are two shareholders, both of whom are British, and have good relations with several TV stations. "

"They are willing to sell?" Lehmann was a little surprised.

Johnson nodded and shook his head again, "One of the two major shareholders has some ideas, and the other has been in contact with them, but they are not easy to talk about. Moreover, the management also has some shares. If a wholly-owned acquisition is to be made, this one must also be dealt with. good."

"How much is the management?"

"About 8 percent, distributed in the hands of several people, are scattered in pieces, all of which are share rewards that have been given slowly in recent years." Johnson spit out another smoke ring, "Don't look a bit complicated, but if you want to get in, It will definitely work. Moreover, this one is already the most suitable. There are many people behind many issuing companies, and some are also involved in banks and foundations. Everyone is not short of money, and they all want channels... "

After Johnson's more detailed introduction, Lyman was able to understand the internal situation of the Lismanwish film company.

One wants to take out about 40% of the shares and keep 7%; the other does not want to sell, and even wants to take in a little bit.

As for the management, they are all looking at the situation, they are fluctuating, and there is no accurate word.

The shareholder who wants to sell is an electronic processing business. He has opened two small factories. Recently, he saw a plastic mold factory that is developing well. He wants to buy a business that supports his own business, but he doesn't have that much money. He wants to cash out most of it Shares in exchange for some money to develop this side, but do not want to leave Vish Films completely. After all, the film company can also make money, and it is not bad to receive dividends every year.

But on Lehman's side, they only want North American distribution channels, and are not very interested in other miscellaneous businesses.

But people will definitely not split.

In addition, the establishment of distribution channels requires a large number of experienced talents.

After all, the theater is there, and the famous theater chains all over the country also have the screening business. Whoever cooperates with them is a cooperation, and there will never be an empty theater that will not be released.

Therefore, if a movie wants to be released, it needs to be discussed one by one, and each state must establish at least one distribution site.

While contacting these theaters, it is also necessary to clearly investigate the data of their operation, the number of nearby audiences, and the number of films released. The work is very heavy.

Having said that, you will definitely understand.

To establish distribution channels, the important thing is not the theater chain itself, but the need for so many skilled people to understand the theaters in each place and to say hello to the theater chain.

That's why Johnson is emphasizing management.

Those businesses want to be successful after they are won, and the issuers trained in them are the top priority.

Otherwise, Even if you acquire a publishing company, but the people under you run away, it will be a big trouble.

Thinking of this, Lehman smiled distressedly, and then asked: "If it can't be acquired with full capital, it will only have a little more autonomy than co-publishing with Paramount, and the profits may not be worth paying."

This is true, the propaganda resources of the six majors are not comparable to the Vish Film Company.

"But offline, if you can eat all of it, it's always a small stream of water." Johnson thought clearly, "The DVD market is also a big market for revenue. If we can intervene, it's definitely not bad."

"But there is still a gap from what was expected before."

"Then why don't you build it yourself?" Johnson made another suggestion, "If you start building it yourself, you can rely on Warners, Paramount, and even Lionsgate and other film companies to slowly operate the market and spend two or three years. , cultivating distribution talents is enough. DreamWorks did this in the beginning, and Columbia and 20th Century Fox don’t mind them taking domestic share.”