Hollywood starts with a broker

With October's arrival, Miramax's release of 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' had exceeded $18 million at the box office.

The $1.2 million Harvey Weinstein spent at the beginning of the year was definitely a huge profit!

A burst of noise came from Miramax's office in New York.

Giuseppe Tornatore, the director of 'Cinema Paradiso,' and Harvey Weinstein were arguing in the office about the film's length.

Outside the office, on the sofa, Bob Weinstein adjusted his glasses, raised his champagne, and clinked glasses with Aaron Anderson next to him, "This kind of thing is common, you'll get used to it!"

Bob Weinstein was referring to the dispute between the director and the distributor over the film's editing.

The director's cut of 'Cinema Paradiso' was 173 minutes long, which was of course unacceptable. It had been cut to 155 minutes when it was released in Italy last year.

Unfortunately, this time it ran into 'Edward Scissorhands' Harvey, who cut it down to 123 minutes.

Aaron shrugged. Actually, most films' director's cuts are no good. The theatrical version still depends on the film company's methods.

Because the length of the film is directly linked to the number of screenings. If it's too long, it's not conducive to the theater's screening profits.

The director's cut is mainly included in future DVD discs!

"Cinema Paradiso,' you're planning to campaign for Best Foreign Language Film, right?"

Aaron asked.

Bob Weinstein nodded, "It will be shown in a limited number of theaters in Los Angeles before the end of the year to qualify for Oscar consideration, and will be officially released after the new year!"

"By the way, does Steven Soderbergh have any new ideas?"

The Bob Weinstein in front of him had a lecherous expression as he asked Aaron about Steven Soderbergh's new project.

"No, he still hopes to continue developing independent works that fit his ideas, but he has no clue for the time being!"

Steven Soderbergh is currently riding high and feeling a bit arrogant.

Based on the box office performance of 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape,' the film can bring Miramax nearly ten million dollars in profit.

This is the first successful work Miramax has ever encountered since its establishment, so it's no wonder Bob Weinstein is eager to know about Steven Soderbergh's new project.

"That's a pity," Bob Weinstein certainly hoped that another work like 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' that brought both fame and fortune would appear.

After a while, director Giuseppe Tornatore came out of the office first, with a helpless expression on his face.

Obviously, he couldn't stop Miramax from editing his work.

After leaving with Giuseppe Tornatore, they could still hear him complaining in Italian. Although Aaron didn't understand Italian, he could definitely guess that he was cursing Harvey!

"Okay, let's go get something to eat," Aaron directly pulled him into an Italian restaurant.

When it comes to food, it has to be French and Italian.

Giuseppe Tornatore looked dejected, "This film is like my own child. In total, almost an hour has been cut."

"Film companies have to consider commercial factors. Theaters don't like showing films that are too long."

Aaron smiled and comforted him. Giuseppe Tornatore is not yet qualified to have final cut rights.

If you were like Quentin Tarantino in the future, of course there would be no problem. His works have enough box office!

Hasn't the Italian version of 155 minutes already been proven to be a failed version?

A 2-hour movie can be shown 4 times a day in theaters, but if it's 3 hours, it can only be shown 3 times at most!

"By the way, the reason I came to America this time is that I have a new script I want to show you, hoping to find an American distributor to cooperate with."

Giuseppe Tornatore originally wanted to cooperate with Miramax, but because of 'Cinema Paradiso,' he had some resistance.

So, he specifically came to seek Aaron Anderson's assistance. The other party was able to discover works like 'Cinema Paradiso' and 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape,' and his attitude and vision towards independent films are good.

As Giuseppe Tornatore spoke, he handed Aaron a script, "It's about a retired old man from Sicily who has been widowed for many years and goes to several major cities in Italy to visit his five children, each with their own careers."

"It mainly expresses the indifferent family ethics in today's industrial society. I have already talked to the veteran Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni, and he is very willing to play this retired old man!"

As Giuseppe Tornatore explained, Aaron was also flipping through the script in his hand, titled 'Everybody's Fine.'

An old man goes to big cities to visit his five children, a family-themed film about warmth and ethics.

It's a very typical art film, basically for awards. It definitely doesn't have a market in the United States. What touching and heartwarming plot type has no commercial appeal in the United States?

Unless it's an inspirational work, you can try it in the United States, but this kind of film is easy to get praise from film critics!

Aaron quickly gave his advice, "We can try to sell this type of work to Disney. They like family-friendly stories!"

Moreover, Giuseppe Tornatore is also the winner of the Jury Grand Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which is second only to the Palme d'Or.

"Thank you, I don't know anyone else in the United States. 'Everybody's Fine,' although there is investment from Italian film companies, it's not enough."

"I hope to raise enough filming funds from France and the United States!"

Aaron nodded, "I will send the script to Disney as soon as possible."

'Everybody's Fine' only has director Giuseppe Tornatore with some fame. However, Aaron had contact with Jeffrey Katzenberg before, after all, 'Pretty Woman' has just finished filming.

Moreover, Aaron has just handled a work like 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape' that brought both fame and fortune, so it is entirely possible to give it a try.

Disney was originally an animation company, playing with children's works. Since Michael Eisner took charge of Disney, he formed Touchstone Pictures and began producing adult works.

However, Disney is not valued by mainstream Hollywood. A film company that only does children's comedies?

Whether it's Jeffrey Katzenberg or Michael Eisner, they certainly want to vindicate Disney in the artistic field.

I, Disney, can also launch works with film artistic standards.

Thinking about it, in a few years, Disney will directly acquire the art film studio Miramax, isn't it all for film art?

Comedy films have never been valued by Hollywood film critics!

Awards, Oscar awards are the foundation of a film company. The eight major Hollywood film companies of the year had five major and three minor, but they all had Oscar blessings.

Disney has been in the limelight in recent years, and has become one of the six major Hollywood companies. MGM and United Artists have merged and almost become a hotel company, and RKO has also disappeared.

Disney has filled the gap and become one of the new six major Hollywood film companies, and it must also prove its pursuit of film art!