Heads Up Hollywood

Tang En will not interfere with the creation of the project "The Departed".

As he said, in this project, he will only be an actor, and he will make his debut in a Martin Scorsese movie!

The role he played is the second male number in the movie-"Colin Sullivan".

It's not that Leonardo has to be the number one male.

The main role of "Colin Sullivan" is a villain. It is impossible for an idol like Leonardo to play a villain.

For example, in "The Departed" in the previous life, Brad Pitt was strongly invited to play "Colin Sullivan", but he refused.

Martin Scorsese had no choice but to choose Matt Damon, whose acting skills were embarrassing.

Twain has no idol baggage.

No need!

Acting in movies is a side job and a hobby for him, as long as the characters are full and challenging, that's enough.

When the villain is well played, it is usually more interesting!

Such as Gary Oldman in "The Killer Is Not So Cold", Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs", Kevin Spacey in "The Seven Deadly Sins", "Batman: The Dark Knight" Heath Ledger in No Country for Old Men, Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men, Christopher Watts in Inglourious Basterds...

In the original version of "The Departed", Matt Damon played "Colin Sullivan" badly, and he did not show the sense of collapse in the powerless resistance, splitting and struggling.

Tang En, I want to try it out!

"The Departed Walker" is a drama with two male protagonists. It must be very exciting to play opposite Leonardo!

Moreover, there are veteran film stars like Jack Nicholson sitting in the play, and during the filming process, there must be sparks and collisions of acting skills.

Tang En couldn't suppress the restlessness in his heart, so he secretly looked forward to it.

Before, he was a director.

Now, he is going to participate in the production of a movie as an actor.

This process will definitely be very challenging, but also very interesting!

...

"Barry, what happened to the Rotten Tomatoes acquisition?"

Twain rarely took the initiative to go to the CEO's office.

Barry Diller was reading a proposal for a new movie. When he saw Tang En coming over, he was a little surprised, "Rotten Tomatoes? It's in progress. It will be won within a month. It's not a big problem."

"What about the price?"

"In 2000, Rotten Tomatoes received 1.1 million US dollars of angel investment, and the valuation reached 10 million US dollars. In the past few years, Rotten Tomatoes has developed very well, with more than 650,000 unique IP visits per day. In this way The data... the valuation should not be lower than 65 million US dollars."

"$65 million..."

Tang En sighed, feeling a little helpless.

But there is no way. In the previous life, Rotten Tomatoes received the first round of financing in August 2004, and the valuation reached 100 million U.S. dollars. When it was fully acquired in 2005, the price was as high as 650 million U.S. dollars!

Tang En's acquisition now is already a bargain.

Barry Diller asked, "What's wrong?"

Tang En sighed: "The newly built Harry Potter theme park will require an investment of 800 million U.S. dollars, and the acquisition of EMI Music's music department will cost another 1 billion U.S. dollars. In addition to this year's key acquisition target, MGM... Barry, new Universal's development has a long way to go!"

Barry Diller was angry and funny, "With the current size of New Global, there is no pressure on these acquisitions. Our debt situation is very good, with only $8 billion in debt. With New Global's development prospects, even if the debt $15 billion, no problem."

"$15 billion?"

Tang En couldn't help curling his lips.

Barry Diller said: "A company's reasonable debt sheet is a reflection of good assets. If the debt is too low, it will affect New Universal's listing plan. Let alone MGM, I think New Universal should have Big deal!"

"ah?"

Tang En was taken aback.

Barry Diller said meaningfully: "The film and television entertainment department has always been lavish in investment; the interactive entertainment department has also acquired IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes one after another this year, and even recently acquired the streaming media copyright of film and television works; The tourism and resort department is also developing, and it is necessary to establish a Harry Potter theme park and a Spider-Man amazing adventure park. Only the TV and media department is more restrained."

Tang En understood immediately, "Jeff Zucker complained?"

Barry Diller said: "It's not enough to complain, but he is a man with ambition and ambition. He hopes to make a big splash in New Universal. But our emphasis on the TV and Media Department seems to be a little bit lower."

Tang En pondered for a while, "If you want to acquire NBC, you have to wait for New Universal to go public. This deal is too big."

Barry Diller said: "There are too many TV assets that can be acquired in the market, not just NBC."

"Jeff Zucker has a proposal?" Tang En opened his eyes wide.

Barry Diller shook his head, "Not yet, but I don't think he's giving up. Obviously he has big plans."

"What's your suggestion?"

"New Universal's current debt assessment is excellent. We might as well take advantage of this stage to issue some bonds and buy some profitable and important assets. New Universal is not Vivendi. We are a professional media group in the film and entertainment industry. We have more Excellent network and channels. If you are really worried about the debt is too high, you can sell some assets."

"What are you selling?"

"Houghton Mifflin Press."

Tang En nodded again and again, agreeing: "Yes, yes! The publishing business is too weak, we don't need it."

"The valuation of Mifflin Press is between US$2.2 billion and US$2.4 billion, which will greatly ease our acquisition pressure." Barry Diller said.

Tang En waved his hand and said grandly: "Barry, you are in control of these specific matters. However, it is best to control the debt within 10 billion US dollars. After a while, I will be making a movie. The company's affairs need more attention from you."

Barry Diller couldn't help holding his breath, this boss is simply not doing his job properly!

After thinking about it, he casually handed the not-so-complete movie plan to Tang En.

"What?"

"A movie idea."

Tang En took it over and took a look. On the front page was written a line of titles - "Night at the Museum".

Barry Diller was afraid that he would not be clear, so he explained from the side: "This is a children's storybook drawn by the Croatian illustrator Milan Trek. The film copyright is owned by Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus and Sean Levi got it."

"oh?"

Tang En raised his eyebrows.

He knows all three names!

In the two films "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" that have been filmed in the past, Chris Columbus is the director, Michael Barnathan is the producer, Sean · Levy is the assistant director.

Because the children are growing up, the "Harry Potter" series needs to change to a mature shooting style, and can no longer continue the routine of happy children's films.

Proposed by David Heyman and approved by Twain, Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón was selected to take over as the director of the third film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".

Barry Diller said: "They have accumulated a wealth of shooting experience in children's and fantasy films in the production of the two "Harry Potter", which can just be used in the production of "Night at the Museum."

Tang En said: "However, Michael Barnathan and Chris Columbus are still the producers of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", and Sean Levy is still the assistant director."

Barry Diller laughed: "It is for this reason that the "Night at the Museum" project is only tentatively conceived. They want to wait until the third "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is completed." Shoot, produce, and start that project."

Tang En nodded.

In terms of fame, it is also a children's storybook, the gap between the "Horror Night at the Museum" series and the "Harry Potter" series is too great.

In the previous life, after Chris Columbus and others accumulated enough shooting experience through the three "Harry Potter" films, they wanted to operate the project "Night at the Museum", but they were rejected.

Of course, Chris Columbus would not give up, and switched to 20th Century Fox with the script.

As a result, the film successfully obtained investment and project approval.

In the end, with an investment of US$110 million, the film earned US$250 million in the North American market and US$320 million in overseas markets.

The total global box office is as high as 570 million US dollars!

Not only that, but it's a series.

Although it is not as popular globally as the "Harry Potter" series, it has also created a lot of profits for 20th Century Fox by virtue of its good box office revenue and surrounding markets.

Far more profitable than Disney's "The Chronicles of Narnia" series!

Warner Bros. regretted it.

Of course, Twain would not repeat the same mistakes. He glanced at the simple and rough project outline symbolically, and said proudly: "Okay, there is no need to think about it. New Universal voted for this movie! Tell Chris and them , make "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" with heart. After finishing that movie, you can start "Night at the Museum"! The investment... will not be less than 100 million U.S. dollars!"

Barry Diller couldn't laugh or cry.

Just now, Tang En was still worrying about money.

After seeing the movie, I immediately put the cash flow issue behind my mind, and invested in another $100 million project without even thinking about it.

This guy is really obsessed with movies!

Especially for the promotion of new directors, the boldness is almost shocking!

J.J. Abrams' "Warcraft" and Francis Lawrence's "The Walking Dead" are TV shows, that's all.

Gore Verbinski, who was recruited from the MV and commercial circles, wanted to shoot "Pirate League 2: Dead Man's Chest"; the niche horror film director Sam Raimi wanted to shoot "Spider-Man 3"; Alfonso Cuaron, who has made commercial blockbusters, is going to shoot "Harry Potter 3"...

This is not counting Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder, who have been given to everyone before this.

Tang En's promotion of new directors is definitely the first in the industry!