hunt hollywood

Simon didn't shy away from it, and said bluntly: "I need money."

Hearing this, Mike Medova shook his head slightly, and suddenly smiled with some emotion: "Actually, everyone needs money."

Movies are an investment that pays back very slowly.

In recent years, due to the booming economic situation in North America, many second- and third-tier film companies are aggressively expanding.Then, looking back suddenly, I found that my stall was too big, and it was unsustainable before I knew it.

De Laurentiis Entertainment, the investment company that was on the verge of bankruptcy in "Blood Corpse Night", Canon Pictures, which is also in trouble now, and the takeover crisis that Orion Pictures encountered last year were all due to lack of money.

Simon just smiled in agreement, waiting patiently for Mike Medova's response.

Mike Medova thought about it for a moment, and said, "Simon, buy them all out. Orion will definitely not be able to afford them. However, we can buy the distribution rights of the videotapes in North America."

Videotape sales in North America last year already surpassed box office revenue, so videotape releases are undoubtedly the most lucrative piece of cake in the follow-up release of "Run Lola Run."

Mike Medova's answer was exactly as Simon expected.

However, if Orion takes away the North American videotape distribution rights of "Run Lola Run", the subsequent TV broadcast rights of the film will not be easy to sell alone.Although the benefits of TV broadcasting rights are also very considerable, the operation cycle is longer.

Normally, when a movie is released in North American theaters, it can be released on videotape after a three-month window, but it often takes more than six months to sell the TV rights.

Moreover, unlike distribution channels such as theaters and video tapes, which have intensive revenue periods, TV platforms are typical long-tail markets. Although the revenue scale is comparable to box office and video tapes, the operating cycle is often as long as several years.

Now that Mike Medova's response was expected, Simon also had a coping strategy. At this time, he said: "Mike, of course Orion can take away the distribution rights of the local video tapes. However, it can't just be these. I have considered, "Run Lola Run "The follow-up release of "will be divided into two parts, local follow-up video tape and TV release, overseas theater release, video tape release and TV release. If Orion can't eat them all, you can only choose one of the two."

Although it has been established for many years, Orion actually does not have much overseas distribution capabilities, and basically relies on the seven major international channels.

Simon said so, and Mike Medova understands that Orion can only choose the former, that is, local video and TV distribution, or simply give up.

After thinking about it, Mike Medova said, "Simon, what about the quotation?"

Simon simply said: "$4000 million."

"It's too high." Mike Medova immediately shook his head, then smiled again, and said, "Besides, this is not something I can decide. I need to discuss it with Arthur and the others first."

Chapter 088 Strange News Clippings

After dinner, Simon took Janet back to Palisades.

In the Chevrolet SUV compartment, Neil Bennett, the driver, drove the car very smoothly. Simon leaned against the window, thinking seriously about his meeting with Mike Medova tonight.

Mike Meadow's reaction to Pulp Fiction has been more negative than Simon expected, which worries him a little.

The reason why the previous "Pulp Fiction" achieved such a great reputation, in addition to its own quality, the Weinstein brothers spared no effort in public relations operation is also a very critical decisive factor.

From this year's 18 Oscar nominations, it can be seen that Orion's strength in award public relations is no less than that of Miramax later, but if Orion's executives express their pessimism about "Pulp Fiction", they want them to be like Wayne. It is obviously unrealistic for the Stan brothers to do as much as possible for this movie.

What's more, Simon's age is still the biggest variable that restricts "Pulp Fiction" from being recognized by awards

In any case, he is not yet 20 years old.

Speaking of which, Simon doesn't really lack for other options.But based on his previous contract with Orion, this second film wasn't worth the effort to bring some of his ideas to the table.

In order to promote the release of "Run Lola Run", in the contract signed by Simon and Orion, the basic remuneration of his director and screenwriter combined is only 50 US dollars.

Although Simon retains the right to renegotiate the sharing terms, in any case, this new film is unlikely to make him get too much profit, and the next best result may be a sharing clause similar to "Death Comes".

But compared to "Death Comes", Simon needs to devote more energy to the film he directed himself.

Since he couldn't get enough income, Simon decided to choose a film that he was more interested in, and at the same time, he could consolidate his popularity as a stylized director.

The specific sharing contract of "Pulp Fiction" will naturally be discussed by Jonathan with Orion, but then, the negotiation of the sale of the distribution rights of "Run Lola Run" is also a chore that takes a lot of time.

Also.

Whether it's "The Butterfly Effect," "Death Comes," or "Pulp Fiction" or "When Harry Met Sally," all of these projects, there's still a ton of work that needs to be pushed as quickly as possible.

Even, considering the schedules of "Death Comes", "Pulp Fiction" and "When Harry Met Sally", Simon found that this year's end of the year and next year's Easter are obviously suitable for at least inserting A movie goes in.

Time is money.

But Simon is either short of money or time.

and.

These are all just movie-related things.

The US stock market crashed in the second half of the year, and Simon remembered the date very clearly, October 10, Black Monday.In order to obtain sufficient benefits from this financial turmoil, in addition to raising a large amount of funds in advance, there must be a lot of other preparations, which also require time and energy.

Simon was frowned in thought all the way, and Janet also quietly leaned against him without interrupting.

Back at the Palisades mansion, it was already nine o'clock in the evening.

Simon entered the villa and saw the message indicator light on the living room phone flashing, so he walked over and pressed play.

Janet also followed suit.

The call is from Amy Pascal.

In the message, Amy expressed her concern about the outcome of Simon's meeting with Wells Fargo executives in the afternoon, but then she mentioned another thing: a vice president of Mattel contacted her today, hoping to discuss "Run Lola Run" 》The problem of peripheral development of toys.

Mattel is one of the largest toy design, production and sales companies in the world, and its main products are various types of Barbie dolls.

After hearing Amy's message, Simon immediately raised his spirits again.

Around.

A movie that is almost certain to be the annual box office champion in North America.

This is definitely another big gain.

Simon personally designed the small props such as the wall clock and ring in "Run Lola Run", which was actually with this idea in mind.Since most of the props and even the image of Lola himself are original, according to the copyright law, the copyright of these props and characters belongs to Daenerys Pictures.

There are so many things going on in the recent period, Simon doesn't have the energy to take care of them at all.

just now.

Others came to the door.

Naturally, you can't miss it anymore, and you need to plan well.

Standing by the phone and making quick calculations, Simon turned around and was about to go to the study, only to find Janet standing behind him.Because Simon turned around suddenly without warning, the woman was obviously taken aback, her eyes widened.

Seeing Janet's appearance, Simon smiled apologetically, stretched out his hands to hold the woman's delicate face and kissed it, and said, "Honey, you go take a shower first, I still have some things to do."

All day today, or all these recent days, Janet has been thinking about something while watching Simon keep his feet on the ground.

at this time.

Watching Simon's footsteps hurried upstairs, Janet also went upstairs.

When she came to the bedroom, Janet took off her evening dress and took a shower absently, but instead of wearing the silk bathrobe she liked very much on weekdays, she changed into a set of OL-style blouse and white trousers.

After looking around in front of the dressing mirror, Janet came to Simon's study.

Unlike the large study downstairs where I met Paul Olson, senior vice president of Wells Fargo Bank, in the afternoon, this is another small study in the mansion, which is located next to the bedroom on the second floor and looks very private.

Janet rarely comes here on weekdays.

Because she always felt that many of Simon's secrets might be hidden in this study.Although he was very curious about everything about her boyfriend, he didn't take the initiative to tell himself, and Janet never deliberately explored.

The study door was not closed.

Janet knocked on the door and walked in.

Simon was standing by the wall of the study room with a whole white writing board, holding a water-based pen in one hand and a microphone in the other, talking to the other side.

A long list of nouns has accumulated on the tablet.

Soundtracks, poster albums, video games, character puppets, butterfly wall clocks, T-shirts, rings, magazines, image licensing...

These are obviously developable peripheral options for "Run Lola Run".

Below the slightly scattered nouns, there are several names and some contact numbers.

Seeing that Simon was busy discussing with the other side, Janet just nodded at her and made a casual movement, so she walked to the bookshelf on the other side, and looked around the entire row of folders, casually Take the next blue folder and open it.

This is a stack of newspaper clippings.

On each page of the hand-bound 16-mo draft paper, there is a newspaper news the size of a tofu block.

The first page of the news came from the Los Angeles Times with the headline 'New World Pictures Acquires Marvel Entertainment'.

Read the content curiously.

"New World Pictures formally reached an acquisition agreement with Marvel Entertainment on Thursday, and the spokesperson claimed that the move is aimed at expanding the company's comic book publishing and TV animation businesses."

"Marvel Entertainment is one of the largest comic book production companies in North America. The company's assets include Marvel Comics in New York, Marvel Comics and Marvel Productions in the UK, and animation studios in San Fernando Valley, California. It owns Spider-Man , Hulk, X-Men and other superhero characters that are popular with comic fans."

"In 1985, Marvel Entertainment had an annual turnover of $7200 million and a profit of $510 million."

"Previously, Candace Industries Holdings Group, the parent company of Marvel Entertainment Group, officially entered bankruptcy liquidation procedures. The two parties did not disclose the detailed terms of the transaction, but industry rumors say that the price of Marvel Entertainment Group is roughly between 4000 million and 5000 million US dollars. between."

"The transaction is expected to be fully completed by the end of the year."

After knowing each other for more than half a year, Janet has never seen Simon read comics, and she doesn't know why the man is interested in such news.

He turned his head and read the news carefully again, but still had no clue.In addition to a string of handwritten 'November 1986, 11' date marks in the blank space of the page, there is nothing else.

So I had to turn back.

Most of the following pages are still just simple news with simple dates, and there are very few comments.

After reading more than half of this way, another newspaper clipping caught Janet's attention.

This is the list of films nominated for the 12th Academy Awards announced in late December last year.

However, only a small part of the newspaper clippings remained, the nominations for the three best animated short films, and the red oil pen drew a circle on one of the short films called "Naughty Jumping Lights", besides the routine '1986 December 12, 20' marked with a word: Pixar.

Pixar.

Janet remembered this time that the animation in the opening title of "Run Lola Run" was made by this animation studio, which seems to be a rare 3D animation studio.

Marvel comics, 3D animation.

Ah.

Is the little boy interested in cartoons?

Thinking in her heart, Janet casually flipped through the newspaper clippings.

This time, it is professional news that a software company named 'Microsoft' is conducting an internal test of a new version of the operating system. At the end, there is also an evaluation of Microsoft's recent stock price. Due to the continued hotness of the North American stock market, Microsoft's market value has officially exceeded 10 billion Dollar.

After reading the news carefully again, I still have no clue.

All these clippings seem to go here and there, without any focus at all.Janet even had a rare moment of thinking about it, but she still couldn't catch any connection.

Seriously had to put the folder back to its original location, Janet turned around and walked back to the man.

Simon's another phone call was coming to an end, and he was listening to the narration on the other side and writing down a name and a series of phone numbers on the clipboard.

"Then, thank you for your help, Peter, I'm really sorry to bother you so late... Haha, of course, we have dinner together when we have time." After finishing speaking, Simon casually pressed the hang-up button on the landline next to him, and then turned to Janet, who lingered by her side for a while, looked the woman up and down, and said, "It's already late, why did you suddenly change into this suit?"

Janet spread her arms and circled in front of Simon, saying, "How is it?"

Although Janet is not as tall as Catherine, she definitely belongs to the kind of figure that looks good with or without clothes on.

Upon hearing this, Simon nodded without hesitation, and said with a smile, "It's very tasteful. I'll put on the high heels later. By the way, is this suit expensive?"

Janet immediately understood some of the subtext in Simon's words, and immediately gave the man a hard look.

Reaching out to take the microphone in Simon's hand and putting it aside, Janet pushed the man to sit on the sofa in the study, and sat down opposite herself, and said seriously: "Simon, I said before that I will help you. So , Next, I will talk to them about the follow-up release negotiations of "Run Lola Run". And these peripherals can also be handed over to me, you just need to do what you want to do."

There was still a smile on Simon's face, but after hearing Janet's non-joking words, he put away the smile on his face and said, "Jenny, this will be very tiring."

Janet shook her head and said firmly, "I've already decided."

Simon and Janet looked at each other for a moment, and finally nodded, "Okay. However, if you feel like you don't want to do it at any time, please let me know."

Janet's lazy appearance on weekdays left a deep impression on Simon. After all, there was some machismo in his bones. Simon didn't think there was anything wrong with this, so he didn't have any doubts about Janet's plan to help him work. Too much to look forward to.

Maybe it was because the expectations were too low, but in the days that followed, Simon was really surprised.At the same time, I also realized the level of Columbia University's top students that Catherine had inadvertently mentioned could make Buffett speechless.

Chapter 089 Adjustment

Since the two are already living together, Janet is completely clear about the release progress of "Run Lola Run".So, the woman took over everything the next day with almost no obstacles.

Simon originally wanted to accompany her to help her transition for a few days, but was directly rejected.

Janet's reasons are also very strong. With Simon by her side, she tends to soften her heart and cannot exert her strength.