Exploiting Hollywood 1980

Exploiting Hollywood 1980 Main Text Volume Chapter 91 Three Reasons for Tristar Pictures’ Investment “Invest 10 million without any strings attached?”

Ronald received the interest from Samsung Pictures and was stunned by such a simple and powerful investment intention for this joint venture studio with a complicated background. Do they trust themselves that much? You don't get that from other movie studios.

Samsung Pictures is called Samsung because when it was founded in 1982, it had three major shareholders.

The only film company among shareholders was Columbia, which had just been acquired by Coca-Cola at that time and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola. Due to various internal political struggles, it turned out that the Columbia faction had great conflicts with the airborne Coca-Cola gang, and the capable president, Frank Price, the only one in Hollywood who read scripts, was squeezed out of Columbia.

When Price was still president of Columbia, he felt that the contradiction between the two groups was too great, and the increasing cost of film shooting was a headache. At that time, a large number of middle managers parachuted in from Coca-Cola headquarters were also clamoring to make movies, but they suffered from insufficient budget.

So in 1982, on the eve of his exit, he brokered a deal. At that time, two television stations, HBO and CBS, who wanted to enter the film shooting market and provide their own television stations with more film sources to play, agreed to invest in the establishment of a joint venture company, TriStar Pictures. Columbia would provide the filming capabilities, and HBO would provide the cable television channels. When CBS launches a public television channel, the three powerful companies can join forces to achieve a win-win situation.

But the reality is cruel. Whether it is cable HBO or wireless CBS, what is needed is a large number of mediocre quality movies that fill the broadcast time period.

The strategy of Columbia Studios in making movies is to focus on quality rather than quantity. Making about fifteen movies a year already consumes most of the ethical Delphi funds they raise from Wall Street.

Differences in the production quantity and quality of the three parties caused CBS to withdraw from the joint venture in 1985 and HBO in 1986.

In this way, Samsung changed from a joint venture to a wholly-owned company in Colombia. The original arrangement was mainly to allow both groups of managers to have something to do, but now it has become a redundant burden.

The parent company, Coca-Cola, could not tolerate such waste, so it spent 50 million to continue to increase its capital in Samsung Pictures at a price of US$15 per share, becoming the largest shareholder. The purpose of this capital increase is mainly to revive Samsung's profitability.

Samsung's management was originally brought down by Coca-Cola. Their motivation increased greatly and they successively signed contracts with two medium-sized Hollywood production companies, Carloco Pictures and Heimdall Pictures, to underwrite their distribution business.

The two companies respectively released the third installment of Rambo that year,

and The Last Emperor and other critically acclaimed movies. Get ready to go big and team up with TriStar Pictures to continue producing the next installment of the Rambo and Terminator film series.

Who knew that what was coming was not a good movie market, but a stock market crash on Wall Street. Coca-Cola's stock price suddenly stagnated. The stock, which had maintained a growth rate of more than 30% in the past few years, only rose less than 1% in 1987 from the previous year.

Although there is no loss in the stock market crash, Coca-Cola is also adopting various tightening policies. The money-losing film business is the first to be adjusted.

Regardless, its two studios, Columbia and TriStar Pictures, were terrible investments. Coca-Cola decided to reorganize Samsung Cinemas and inject all the assets of the original Columbia into Samsung Cinemas.

TriStar Pictures was renamed Columbia Entertainment and became the parent company of Columbia Pictures. Samsung Pictures is only a label and is retained considering the continuity of audience reputation.

In this way, the first large-scale comprehensive production and distribution company established in thirty years ended its operation as an entity.

This time, the person who approached Ronald and wanted to invest in Sybil Shepherd's new film was actually Columbia Entertainment, which owns the Samsung label. The person who made this decision was their new president Dan Steele.

To Ronald's expectation, Dane Steele, who bears the name of a man, is actually a middle-aged beauty. She is sexy and cheerful. She asked Ronald to talk about things and expressed her thoughts clearly from the beginning.

"My purpose is very clear, which is to give women a commensurate status in Hollywood. I have promoted qualified women to serve as film promotion directors and production directors. They have been deeply discriminated against by Hollywood and have been It's been a long delay.

This film, "Love in the Afterlife," is very close to my liking. Films that reflect women's balance between work and life are rare in recent years. So I had the idea to invest, as long as Sybill Shepherd plays the female lead, it will have enough appeal.

I will find a male protagonist who matches her to work with, such as her old partner Ryan O'Neal, who is very good. "

"So, Ms. Steele, how do you plan to divide the production rights between my Daydream and TriStar Pictures?"

Ronald looked at the plan proposed by the other party. The new president, who had just taken office at the end of last year to replace David Putnam, who had squeezed out Frank Price, did not seem to have any idea about film production. kind of people.

The person she found was Ryan O'Neal, who was the most attractive and handsome star in Hollywood in the late 1970s. He was also director Peter Bogdanovich's favorite male lead, while Sybil Shepherd was his favorite female lead at the time. We have made several movies together.

Although it was not a success at the box office, critics liked the chemistry between the handsome guy and the beautiful girl, so it might be a good idea to cast them to reprise their roles as a middle-aged couple.

"I want TriStar Pictures to lead the production business. Your pipe dream is to retain the production rights and the highest priority dividend rights." Dane Steele was straightforward.

"Emil Adolino from our company will be the director." Ronald made the condition.

"Actually, my original intention was Peter Bogdanovich. He works well with both the male and female protagonists. But his recent performance has disappointed me."

Dane Steele was talking about the movie that Bogdanovich made for De Laurentiis. Because Laurentiis significantly lowered the production budget near the time of filming, the film was shot Very bad.

"So I can agree to give your Emile Adolino a chance, but I have a condition. You must participate in the pre-casting and do the work of a producer. Otherwise, I cannot give him such a large investment. Making my debut.”

"Very fair conditions", Ronald thought for a while and agreed. Emil Adolino's level was actually good, and he wouldn't spend too much time on his project.

The two stood up and shook hands, signaling a verbal agreement. This Dane Steele, it can be seen that she was a beautiful woman when she was young, but she spoke and acted very masculinely, a bit deliberately imitating the behavior of male executives, trying to look like I can do it too.

As he spoke, Dane Steele poured two glasses of brandy and handed one to Ronald to celebrate the cooperation.

"Actually, I have been following you for a long time. When you were a co-producer on the "Flashdance" crew, I was working as a production supervisor at Paramount. I read the set reports you wrote carefully.

I like all the series of films you have made from a female perspective. This is why I will invest in your project this time. I am optimistic about your vision. "

"cheers……"

After Ronald and Dan Steele parted ways, they returned to Daydream and asked their subordinates to prepare an agreement for cooperation. I drank black tea in the office and slowly thought about something.

He always felt that although the female president wanted to get a good start, this cooperation was still a bit frivolous. It's unlikely that Dane Steele decided to invest in a movie just because it was from a female perspective. I don't know if there is any reason behind it that I don't know.

The puzzle that Ronald couldn't figure out was soon solved. Michael Ovitz of CAA came to him to claim credit.

"I was talking to them about other things in Colombia, and Dan came over and asked me if I had any projects worth investing in. I immediately thought of your movie."

"Why did she make a movie about women?" Ronald asked Ovitz.

"All the women in Hollywood are very excited right now, including your friend Gale Heard and New York film critic Pauline Carr." Ovitz talked about the impact of this incident on Hollywood.

Dane Steele may not be the first female president of one of Hollywood's seven major film studios, but she is definitely the first executive to hold real power. Shirley Lansing was the president of 20th Century Fox before, and she basically didn't have a family for a few days. , Fox was bought by an oil tycoon. After that, she was just a decoration, put aside, and no one came to consult her about anything.

So Dane Steele made a series of actions to highlight the improvement of women's status in Hollywood. In addition to promoting a large number of female managers, she needed a film that issued a strong female statement to declare to everyone that women It has surpassed the vase and officially landed in Hollywood.

"Pauline Carr even believed that no matter what Dane Steele said or did, what she did today would be cutting-edge and progressive in the next twenty years."

"Ah..." After hearing this, Ronald actually felt uneasy. Dane Steele does not make investment decisions based on the quality of the movie itself at all. She makes investment decisions for female empowerment, which has nothing to do with the movie's box office.

"I just seized the opportunity and highly recommended you. Your Working Girl is really a great female theme. Harrison Ford even played a supporting role. And your sultry Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Actress." The lead role, and the Best Supporting Actress award, Dane Steele appreciates it very much.”

"I see, it seems that I still have to thank you for your recommendation." Ronald didn't agree with it. Hollywood is as big as it is, and Dane Steele wouldn't know that he's good at photographing female stars. But Ovitz has always liked to take credit for himself.

"I help you, and you have to help me and help CAA, right? We now have a newly signed young male star, Robert Downey Jr., and I hope you can come and see him when he auditions for the role in this movie. His acting skills are very strong and he is very suitable for this role.”

"Of course, when Emil held the casting meeting, I went back to show my support." Ronald thought that I would have to support Emil then.

The young actor had seen it himself. His girlfriend at the time was Sarah Jessica Parker, who was almost cast as the heroine of "Dirty Dancing" but ultimately failed.

I wonder if they are still a couple now? I just remember that Sarah Jessica Parker’s face looks like a long piece of equipment that Chinese people like to put at the door of newly renovated homes for changing shoes.

If it is not suitable for the movie, no matter how good the acting is, I cannot give the green light and I must reject it.

Sarah Jessica Parker is also Jewish. At that time, between two candidates competing for the female lead, Jewish Babay, Ronald chose Jennifer Gray, who had few Jewish facial features.

Ovitz recommended it so, maybe Robert Downey Jr. is also Jewish this time?

"As for the supporting actress, who plays Shepard's daughter, I will recommend all suitable young girls. It will be up to you to decide when the time comes. You have a very good sense in selecting women."

"Huh?" Ronald thought Ovitz smiled a little obscenely, like a pimp.

…

"Ronald, our mutual friend from Japan has come to America again. Is it convenient for you to meet him?" Immediately afterwards, Ronald received a call from Bannon.

"Oh, does he have any plans for acquisition?" Ronald knew that he was talking about Sony's Norio Ohga.

"I heard that the target has been selected, so I didn't ask any more questions. He may also want to ask for your opinion this time. You have to charge more consulting fees."

"Hahaha... It's all help between friends. Japanese people are very particular about this. Not everything is measured by money."

This time, the meeting changed place. Norio Ohga asked the chef to cook in the private mansion where he lived during his stay in Los Angeles, and the two had some French food.

"We have basically identified the acquisition target, Columbia Pictures. On the one hand, the hero of the acquisition of Columbia Records, Michael Schulhoff, the vice chairman of Sony America, and Walter, the former vice president of Columbia Records Yetnikov needs a reward.

On the other hand, our research shows that Columbia is the studio with the most business card rights. "

Norio Ohga talked about their plans to acquire Columbia Pictures. It turns out that the rights to MGM, the overlord of Hollywood, have been sold out. Warner Bros.'s film library focuses on gangster films. After Paramount was antitrusted, the copyright situation was complicated.

Only Colombia owns all the 2,700 movies that have all the copyrights. Moreover, famous masterpieces such as Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night", David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia", and even Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" are all lying in Columbia's film library. .

Sony wants to release video tapes. These historical business cards are the most powerful weapons and the first choice for audience collection.

Columbia Pictures and TriStar Pictures also have a lot of business in television stations. The TV series "The Fairy Wife" produced for CBS has many viewers and fans, and the entertainment program "Good Luck Rolls in" is also sought after by many people.

"My interest in Colombia lies first in its program production capabilities. Movies are just a big drawcard for studios, and money mainly comes from television stations and videotapes. What I'm interested in is how many new films they can produce every year, and what's in their film library. How much inventory is there?”

Norio Ohga is full of confidence. The key point that Ronald reminded him last time is to pay attention to the perceptions of the American people.

This time they took special consideration into the acquisition project. They plan to follow the rules of the American securities market and make an honest public acquisition at a premium, without privately blending it with Coca-Cola, so there won't be much public opposition. Even if it costs hundreds of millions of dollars more, it's worth it.

"Ronald San, do you think there are any flaws in our plan? We are personal friends, and I hope to hear your sincerity." Dahe said again at the end.

Ronald didn't know whether the Japanese people were sincerely asking for advice or just talking casually and wanting some praise.

He thought for a while, "I think the team hired by Sony must be the most professional..."

Seeing Norio Ohga nodding, Ronald thought that he probably wanted to praise himself, "Everything I can think of, you must have thought of it a long time ago."

"Please teach me. Your advice worked very well last time, and Mr. Morita also praised you highly." Norio Ohga continued to ask for advice.

"You must be aware of the Japanese game console company, the lawsuit between Nintendo and Universal." Ronald thought about the angle, "Hollywood's copyright is very complicated, with various sharing agreements, profit sharing agreements, and some directors, screenwriters and film Individual signatures also include unified residual dividends after the union's collective bargaining.

Many people who buy copyrights have suffered losses on these inconspicuous pieces of paper hidden at the bottom of the file box. So you'd better hire the best team of lawyers in Hollywood to avoid future troubles. "

"We have looked for the gentleman who won the lawsuit for Nintendo, but now he is mainly focusing on serving Nintendo, and the movie copyright and the game adaptation copyright are not the same thing." Dahe said, "What does Ronald San have?" Any lawyer you know?"

"Ah... I have only hired lawyer Mickey Kanter. He has helped me win a lawsuit over screenwriter copyright. He is a very capable lawyer."

"Mickey Kanter, Ronald Sang's recommendation must be very good. We will talk to him. This is not a small amount compared to the legal fees. He will owe Ronald Sang a favor." Norio Ohga said with steel Write down the name of the lawyer that Ronald said.

"Ah, haha..." Ronald was a little annoyed. There was no recommendation fee.

"Ronald-san, we Japanese people will never forget our old friends." Dahe seemed to understand Ronald's thoughts, "I have instructed Schulhoff to remind Columbia Entertainment about your project. , I think they have already found you. When it is released, I will watch the video in Japan."

"Aha... that was just a project that I produced. The director is a friend of mine who once served as my assistant." Ronald understood the reason behind the 10 million capital injection. It seemed that the consulting fee from the Japanese was indeed paid. Very refreshing.

"It turns out that this is not a project directed by Ronald Sang. Next time you have a movie directed by yourself and you need our support, please feel free to propose it through Bannon Sang."

"Ah, then I would like to thank Mr. Dahe." Ronald thought to himself that it would be better to ask me to invest directly, although I haven't thought about a new movie yet.

"I really like Ronald San's films with Japanese themes. I wonder if there will be a third film of Long Wei Boy?"

"In Hollywood, this is decided by the producer through market analysis."