Made in Hollywood

In the luxurious dining room of the Presidential Suite, the dining table was filled with exquisite snacks. Victoria was wearing yesterday's khaki plunging collar, holding the dining table with her left hand and picking up a delicious piece of Napoleon with her right hand trembling, her eyes half-closed. In time, it was slowly brought to his mouth and stuffed into his mouth.

However, before Victoria could chew, the force of the impact came from behind, her body trembled a few times involuntarily, and the Napoleon biscuits fell out of her panting mouth and rolled out on the white oak dining table. A foot away.

"Honey, don't you like the breakfast I prepared for you?"

Holding Victoria's slender waist with both hands, Duke leaned against her raised back buttocks, "Or did you consume too little last night, and you are not hungry now?"

"I like..." Victoria turned around, holding Duke's hand firmly in her right hand, panting quickly, "I like everything you have prepared for me, dear, work hard!"

"Then take it slow."

With a little more force, Duke pushed Victoria forward. She had just picked up the Napoleon cake and wanted to put it in her mouth, but she used the heaviest force behind her. Not only did the dessert fall on the table again, but she even hit it because of the impact. It was too violent, she let out a cheerful and dripping shout, her entire upper body threw herself on the dining table, crushed the delicate breakfast into countless crumbs, and even her red face was turning over and over with excitement. Plenty of cream on top.

Five minutes later, the restaurant was completely quiet, the breakfast was completely destroyed, and a man and a woman who were not crazy enough moved the battlefield to the bathroom again.

Victoria Adams walked out of the suite until noon, when the Chanel suit that Duke had called had arrived.

"I'll miss you dear." She seemed reluctant. "Shall we go on a date?"

There was endless hope in her eyes, as if she was really moved by this night of love.

Duke did not take up the subject. He took the business card with only a string of numbers in his back hand and put it in Victoria's hand, while gently pinching her face, "You can make this call when you arrive in Los Angeles."

"Definitely." Victoria solemnly put away the business card and turned away.

Back in the battlefield-like room, Duke called for room service. Went to the balcony and dialed Tina Fey's number. What happened last night was over, and he went back to work.

Things went very smoothly. Tina Fey contacted Joanna Rowling's book agent through the publishing house, and she could soon meet the author herself and discuss the film and surrounding copyright issues.

Duke has no plans to go out in person. First, he plans to return to Los Angeles; second, it is completely unnecessary. The other party is not even a professional writer now. His appearance will only increase the other party's attention, thereby increasing the opponent's bargaining chip. This kind of thing is enough for Tina Fei to come forward, not only can it lower the price as much as possible. It is also necessary to strive for the copyright of one or two subsequent copies at a not too high price.

The experience of Joanna Rowling is indeed sympathetic, and the process of struggle is also worthy of admiration, but business is business, and a fool will be because of this inexplicable emotion. Sending a price that does not match the current status of the other party at all.

Then again, if the Harry Potter series is as successful as it once was. Will Joanna Rowling lower her price because she is grateful that he came to the door?

Don't be kidding, this is a business transaction, not a kid playing around.

Although I haven't figured out who to cooperate with, and whether I should find someone to cooperate. But Duke still intends to take the initiative in his hands first.

Mother still has to stay in Europe to discuss business with some business groups, Tina Fey wants to contact Joanna Rowling and her agents, Duke simply returned to North America by himself, time is very important to him, "The Matrix" thinks To catch up with next year's summer season, Tolkien's masterpiece needs sufficient time to prepare for a smooth adaptation, and "Chicago" is about to drop from North America, and he still has a North American box office share that needs to be settled with Warner Bros.

By mid-March, the North American theater chain of "Chicago" had fallen to about 150, and the North American box office had been unable to grow. The single-day box office was less than 50,000 US dollars. On March 15th, it was officially dropped from North America.

The North American box office eventually grossed $185.5 million!

At the same time, the film's global box office has also crossed the threshold of 300 million US dollars. However, as the popularity in the major overseas box office markets has passed, the film's overseas box office growth has also slowed down, and it can only rely on time to accumulate slowly.

Since its release on Thanksgiving, "The English Patient" has accompanied "Chicago" all the way. Although it won the 69th Oscar nomination list, it has been suppressed by "Chicago" from the North American theaters to the North American box office. Now the Oscar nomination belt The coming Oscar effect is basically exhausted, and the North American box office has accumulated 68.75 million US dollars, which can be said to be a complete failure at the box office.

With the official release of "Chicago", Duke's accountant team began to frequently contact Warner Bros. in order to get a share of the North American box office as soon as possible. Duke is now in great need of money. Nancy Josephson has already worked with Cruise. Chambers and Paramount Pictures began contact, and if all goes well, it will be a huge investment.

Duke's continuous success has brought considerable influence. Warner Bros. has always been committed to building a good relationship with him, and wants to participate in the investment and publicity of the next film. "Chicago" is almost based on the program. The fastest settlement with the Duke studio.

The film went offline. After the theaters deducted various taxes and fees, Warner Bros. received a $84.5 million North American box office share from the theaters. According to the announcement and distribution agreement signed with Duke Studio, they withheld % of the North American box office. Ten - that is, $18.55 million as the distribution fee, and after deducting $15 million in advance promotion and marketing expenses, a total of $50.95 million went to Duke Studio's account.

The Duke Studio immediately paid a series of fees to various associations, and made up for the remaining one-third of the remuneration of the actors and crew members. The final balance on the book was 45 million US dollars. If you include the original soundtrack album of the film, the first round of North American TV broadcast rights, and For other peripherals, in just one market in North America, the pre-tax profit of "Chicago" exceeded 30 million US dollars!

It will take some time for the overseas distribution to be split, but this part of the money, plus the remaining overseas box office share of "Saving Private Ryan" paid by Warner in February, is enough to support Duke's investment in Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible." ” project, as well as starting the pre-work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy in New Zealand.

Good news soon came from Nancy Josephson's side. After five rounds of three-way negotiations, Tom Cruise and Paramount Pictures finally agreed to Duke Studios joining the studio with a $30 million investment. In "Mission Impossible", in order to solve the final source of funds for the project as soon as possible, according to the signed agreement, Duke Studio not only enjoys the same proportion of the income share as the investment, but also owns the corresponding film copyright.

Of course, Tom Cruise agreed to the Duke studio's investment because Duke would fully support him to lead the project, and he was also the film's largest copyright owner.

30 million US dollars is not a small number. In addition to leaving sufficient funds for the startup of the New Zealand project, and a large amount of income was invested in the stock market some time ago, Duke suddenly found that his capital chain was extremely tight, especially the "Matrix". ", according to his assumption, the production cost of at least about 80 million US dollars, and now he can't come up with this money.

After all, wealth and liquidity are two completely different things.

Today, Duke's personal net worth is infinitely close to $400 million, even excluding the gains from buying Microsoft and Yahoo stocks in the stock market, but most of it has become fixed assets such as stocks and shares, and he Having been increasing stakes in Warner Bros. and Victoria's Secret, liquidity is indeed limited.

"My advice."

In the conference room of Duke Studios, Duke accountant David said, "The rights to "Chicago" or part of Warner Bros. shares are mortgaged to the bank to solve some of the financing problems for the new film."

Duke nodded, agreeing with David's opinion, which is the most normal business behavior.

"And, Duke."

The speaker is Robin Grande. Although "The Matrix" has not been officially established, he will definitely serve as the production manager. "We can introduce foreign investment, Warner Bros. has promoted the review at the fastest speed, and we can To take part of their investment, and it's a sci-fi film, we can also think of something in terms of advertising."

This is also a common method used by Hollywood studios. Duke thought for a while and said to the agent, "Nancy, once the project is approved by Warner Bros., you will immediately pay for the proportion of film investment, publicity and distribution, copyright pre-sale and They negotiate, you know where my bottom line is."

Duke doesn't need to say something, and Nancy Josephson also understands that this is also related to her future income. If she wants to get more, she must first ask her employer to get as much as possible.

Nodding, Nancy Josephson suddenly thought of something else, "The Oscars are coming soon, won't you be there?"

"I'm not going to attend." Duke looked at Robin Grande, "Me and Robin, and Charles, are going to Australia and New Zealand first, and then to Hong Kong, Warners Asia branch. People are already waiting for me."

Going to Australia is naturally a visit to the Fox Studios in the suburbs of Sydney, and New Zealand will be the focus of the next few years. If nothing else, he will often stay in Australia in the last three to five years.

As for Hong Kong, it's easier. One is to go and see, and the other is to meet the two action directors contacted by Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. has approached them several times, but has never been able to negotiate a price. (To be continued ~^~)

PS: Thanks to Erwin for the reward~~~Continue to ask for recommended tickets~~