Best of Hollywood

In the end, the box office of "Chain Saw" failed to break through 100 million as expected, and was fixed at 63 million US dollars.

Compared with the $50.3 million box office of "Natural Born Killers" released in the same period, it is a full $13 million higher. The cost of "Natural Born Killers" is as high as $50 million, which means that the cost cannot be recovered through the box office.

Fortunately, the peripheral income of Hollywood film companies is diverse. The peripheral copyright of "Natural Born Killers" and overseas box office income, etc., should have no problem in recovering the cost in the end. This is where Hollywood's advantage lies.

The $63 million box office of "Chain Saw" is almost impossible to rank in the top ten North American box office this year, and even the top twenty is very difficult.

However, this kind of achievement is still very satisfactory to Helen, Sophia and the main actors of the crew, as well as Fox Searchlight Pictures as the distributor.

With a cost of US$1.2 million, compared with the box office of US$63 million, the return rate is more than 50 times, and even the most demanding investors will be satisfied.

Next, it’s time to share the cake. From investors, distributors to theaters, everyone will share a piece of cake that is sweet enough.

Generally speaking, the theater company will distribute the first box office share about four weeks after the film is released, and the remaining part will be settled within one week after the film is released.

However, remember that there is another but, when the film distributor will pay the producer, it is hard to say.

If the producer is stronger, the distribution company will naturally not delay too much, and it is expected to settle the deal within a year.

Well, a delay of half a year or a year is not a delay at all for a Hollywood distribution company.

This is true of the seven major Hollywood film companies, and Miramax Films is the leader among them.

Generally, as long as it is an overseas film, once it is in the hands of Miramax Films, there is no way to receive the remaining box office share or unpaid copyright fees.

So don't overestimate the credibility of Hollywood distribution companies.

Fortunately, this is the first time that Fox Searchlight Pictures has released a film. It is expected that there will be more cooperation in the future, and they will not renege on tens of millions of dollars.

If Fox Searchlight Pictures reneges on its debts, I am afraid that the distribution department of Twentieth Century Fox will be the first to jump out.

The reason is very simple. Helen has been negotiating with the distribution department of 20th Century Fox for the past few days about overseas copyrights.

This time it's not a share distribution, but a one-time buyout of all overseas copyrights.

So as soon as "Saw" was released, Ryan hired a well-known third-party auditor to check the dense bills with Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The theater company deducted the share of taxes and expenses, etc., and finally deducted 25.2 million US dollars, which is already very generous, and the remaining 37.8 million US dollars was transferred to the account of Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Next, according to the film distribution agreement, Fox Searchlight Pictures has 18% of the North American box office share, which is 11.34 million US dollars, including promotional expenses, distribution fees, etc.

The remaining US$26.46 million will be transferred to the account of Ryan Studios, and the US$500,000 publicity expenses paid by Ryan himself, as well as about 3,000 copies of "Chain Saw" will be printed. The cost of copying is 650 US dollars, which is 1.95 million US dollars. This fee should also be deducted, and finally about 24.01 million US dollars can be obtained.

But this is not the end yet. The film is a big hit at the box office, and a big red envelope will definitely be given to all crew members. It is estimated that it will cost about 1 million US dollars. pay taxes.

Taxes in the United States have always been frighteningly high, but the tax bureau is the department that cannot be provoked, so they can only avoid taxes legally.

Spend that money ASAP.

As for Helen's manager's share, there is none this time.

Last time, the box office share of "The Blair Witch" was included in the director's share, not the investment, so Helen could get 10% of the proceeds.

This time, "Chain Saw" is the investment share of the studio, so it has nothing to do with Helen.

Of course, she also gained a lot, such as signing Monica Bellucci, a very good actress.

What's more, there is a director who is very popular in Hollywood under his banner, which has an important role in the development of Star Brokerage Company.

The distribution of the cake this time is just the beginning. The various copyrights of "Chain Saw" will also generate a large amount of income.

The first is the offline videotape distribution rights that many Hollywood movies rely on for their survival. Although according to the agreement, Fox Searchlight Pictures only gets 30% of the share, the offline videotape distribution rights should be dominated by Ryan Studios.

However, Ryan knew very well that the studio was an empty shell, and his experience in this area was far inferior to that of Nancy Utley.

Therefore, the negotiating team was still formed mainly by Fox Searchlight Pictures, relying on 20th Century Fox's video tape distribution channels, and started various negotiations.

In the end, the North American video tape distribution rights of "Chain Saw" were sold for 3.2 million US dollars. Remember that it is only a seven-year distribution right. Once the time passes, the agreement needs to be re-signed.

Even if Ryan is no longer involved in Hollywood in the future, relying on the offline videotape distribution rights of "Chain Saw", he can live a very wealthy life.

Don't worry, the TV station's first round of broadcasting rights and TV change copyrights were packaged and sold to a TV station under News Corporation, earning another 2.4 million US dollars.

Moreover, it is still not over. A film company in Nando Valley bought the copyright of the film adaptation of "Chain Saw" at a price of 800,000 US dollars. It is expected that a derivative blockbuster will appear in a short time to attract attention. .

After some operations, a full harvest of 6.4 million U.S. dollars, Fox Searchlight Pictures can take 1.92 million U.S. dollars from it, and Ryan Studios is left with 4.48 million U.S. dollars.

So far, Ryan has gained $27.48 million in this investment.

Yes, he knew very well in his heart that the only reason he could have such a huge income this time was that Fox Searchlight Pictures had just been established, otherwise it would be impossible to agree to such superior distribution conditions.

Of course, he has already taken a solid second step in Hollywood, and has enough voice to negotiate with any distribution company.

On the contrary, the overseas distribution rights of "Saw" have been in a deadlock. Whether it is 20th Century Fox or the other seven major Hollywood film companies, they have kept the price very low, and none of them can exceed 10 million US dollars.

The reason is simple. There are dozens of Hollywood companies with distribution channels in North America, large and small.

However, there are only seven Hollywood film companies that have overseas distribution channels, and they can only choose one of them as the overseas distributor.

In this way, the seven major film companies can naturally lower the price and obtain more benefits.

Although there is a taste of monopoly, Ryan knows that this is the rule of Hollywood, and he can only follow it, and must not become a challenger.

Don't you see, DreamWorks, which had been prosperous for a while in the previous life, was sadly acquired by one of the seven major film companies.

Of course, the negotiations should continue, after all, the seven major film companies are not in harmony.

In the office of the 20th Century Fox distribution department, Ryan sat across from Colette Singer. The two talked very easily, and it was not at all obvious that they had just had a verbal confrontation in the conference room.

"I admit that "Chain Saw" is a very good film with great commercial value, but the price offered by your female agent is really too outrageous, and no Hollywood distribution company will agree to it." Colette-Singer is candid.

"The price of 30 million US dollars is actually not expensive at all." Ryan didn't mean to lower the price at all.

"It's too expensive. You need to know that the North American box office of "Saw" is only 63 million US dollars. Such an outrageous price cannot be accepted by any company." Colette-Singer shook his head and said.

"Actually, $30 million isn't outrageous at all."

Ryan calculated one by one, and said: "With the popularity of "Chain Saw", the box office alone can easily recover more than 20 million U.S. dollars, plus overseas offline videotape distribution rights, TV adaptation rights, The right to broadcast the first round of the TV station, the copyright of the game adaptation, etc.”

"If 20th Century Fox operated it himself, it would be enough to reap more than $20 million."

It may be exaggerated, but the overseas distribution rights of "Saw" are definitely a big piece of cake for 20th Century Fox.

"It can't be calculated that way."

Colette Singer resisted the urge to roll his eyes, and said, "In this way, 20th Century Fox's income will become very low, and there is even a possibility of losing money. Remember, we are not Fox Searchlight Pictures."

"Unless you include all the copyrights of "Chain Saw", and you must have the right to follow-up shooting."

It is very clear that Twentieth Century Fox is not Fox Searchlight Pictures, and will not give such superior conditions.

Ryan smiled directly, and it was naturally impossible for him to agree to such a condition.

"I can step back and take another $20 million, including only the overseas distribution rights of this "Chain Saw"."

"However, at the same time, you can give priority to signing the distribution rights of the next "Chain Saw"."

The distribution rights of the next "Chain Saw"!

Colette-Singer couldn't help showing hesitation, but unfortunately he was still not satisfied in the end, "The distribution rights alone are not enough, at least 70% of the investment ratio is added."

Obviously he is not only satisfied with the distribution, but wants to invest.

"Yes, but at most one-third of the investment is allowed, otherwise I can only meet Mr. Tom Rothman in person."

"He should really want to see me cooperate with Fox Searchlight Pictures again." Ryan said without hesitation.

Tom Rothman!

Colette-Singer's complexion finally changed, he took a deep look at Ryan, and said: "18 million US dollars, no more, otherwise we will not be able to explain to the board of directors."

"As for Mr. Tom Rothman!"

A trace of taboo was evident on his face, and he said, "It will never harm the interests of Twentieth Century Fox, so I agree to your terms."

It's a pity that the new CEO of 20th Century Fox, Tom Rothman, is likely to damage some 20th Century Fox's interests and give the newly established Fox Searchlight Pictures a chance to develop.

Even the board of directors can turn a blind eye.

After all, the next development of Fox Searchlight Pictures is a very important plan for Twentieth Century Fox.

In contrast, the copyright price of a mere overseas distribution of a film has become insignificant.

Hearing this, Ryan felt relieved, and said with a smile, "The deal is for our friendship."

Colette-Singer raised an eyebrow, friendship the hell.

In the afternoon of that day, the two parties formally reached an agreement to package and sell the overseas publishing rights of "Saw" to 20th Century Fox at a price of 18 million US dollars, including one-third of the investment in the next "Saw" sequel.

Originally, Ryan didn't want to bring in investors, but when he thought of Miramax Films and the Wayne Brothers, he always felt something was wrong.

Only then did he bring it up, and with 20th Century Fox's investment, he could avoid a lot of trouble.