Made in Hollywood

"I'm not going to change my style, yes! Just a blast, more blasts!"

Towards the end of the press conference, Duke was interviewed by some media and asked about the subject matter of the new film. caught in a sea of ​​fire."

"Director Rosenberg!" a reporter asked loudly, "Are you trying to destroy the world?"

"If I could." Duke shrugged. "I'd love to do it in the movie! Hope to have such an opportunity in the future."

"Can you reveal the specific subject matter?" Another reporter asked.

"This will be a sci-fi film." Duke also replied in a timely manner, "It's roughly the story of aliens invading the earth and the human Jedi fighting back."

After speaking, he winked at the host, and the other party tacitly announced the end of the press conference.

Backstage, throwing the signed deal to Nancy Josephson, Duke left the press lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, turned to a safe passage on the side, and went directly through the stairs to the third floor, where Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox are located There is also a media party in the ballroom.

As for the agreement signed at the press conference, it is only a formality. The specific agreement was signed a few days ago. For this purpose, Nancy, the producers jointly formed by Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, conducted several rounds of tug-of-war. tough negotiations.

At first, Nancy offered Duke a top-level director contract of $15 million in basic compensation plus 20% of the film's total revenue. The producer refused without thinking, and then the two sides entered the stage of bargaining. , Warners and Fox are also clear that, with Duke's current performance, they already have the capital required to be divided, but the offer is 5 million US dollars plus 15% of the net box office revenue.

In order to reach a result in the negotiation, both parties must make certain compromises. After more than a week of contact, after each tested the bottom line, with Duke’s agreement and the acquiescence of Warner and Fox management, the director with the most disagreement was decided. Agreed on treatment.

Because Duke focused on the box office share, he had to make certain compromises in terms of basic compensation. The joint basic compensation for the director, screenwriter and executive producer was reduced by half than Duke expected, only $5 million.

It is not easy to get a share of the box office. Hollywood production and distribution companies are vampires. If there is not enough profit as a guarantee, they will not let go easily.

This is a step-by-step sharing agreement. Duke will be paid in the form of "advance payment + box office revenue share". He can get an advance payment of $5 million in three installments, and then will be divided according to the film's box office revenue. .

If the North American box office of "Independence Day" in the future only exceeds 100 million, Duke can only get a basic reward of 500,000 US dollars; if the North American box office exceeds 150 million US dollars, he will enjoy 5% of the North American box office. The share ratio has increased to 10%, 250 million is 15%, and 300 million is 20%, which is also the highest share ratio.

In terms of overseas box office, 150 million US dollars is the basic share point, which is also a bonus of 500,000 US dollars, and then the proportion of the overseas box office increases by 5% for every 100 million US dollars, and the maximum does not exceed 20%.

The more the film sells, the more the director will receive accordingly. Such a contract can be said to tie Duke and the film tightly together.

This step-by-step revenue sharing method for well-known core creators will become the practice of Hollywood blockbusters, because on the one hand, it can encourage the creators to invest more, and on the other hand, it can avoid the huge risks brought by too high upfront investment. .

If you want to get high income, it is very simple, do everything possible to make the film more sophisticated and popular.

Entering the banquet hall, people from Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox had long been waiting at the door, and they took Duke directly to find Jeff Robinoff and Tim Fisher. Some media practitioners greeted them one by one.

The banquet hall is very wide, as big as three basketball courts, but the crowd is extremely dense, which also confirms the appeal of Warner and Fox. The two are no longer independent production and distribution companies. The power of the media platform that can be used in publicity is not comparable to that of independent companies in Hollywood.

Of course, it's good for Duke and Independence Day, otherwise he wouldn't have Nancy going through the needles to make the two companies work together.

Excellent movies need better publicity and media promotion platforms, which is the most obvious truth in Hollywood.

The media that can appear in the banquet hall are basically Time Warner and News Corporation, plus Nancy Josephson reminds him that it is not too difficult for Duke to socialize. Occasionally, there are tabloids under News Corporation. The person in charge deliberately asked some too private questions, and he was also pushed in circles to the Pacific Ocean off the beach of Malibu.

Propaganda can cooperate, but Duke will not do it if he takes the initiative to reveal his own bottom line, not to mention that this is still the early stage of the film's propaganda, and it is far from the time to really exert force.

"Duke, this is Robert Shea, president of New Line Cinema!"

After dealing with the media, Duke returned to the circle of the film company, and Nancy Josephson reminded him of the name and identity of the person on the other side.

"Hello, Mr. Shea."

"Hello, Duke."

Robert Shea seemed to be in a normal mood. He simply shook hands with Duke and asked tentatively, "It is said that you still have a script, and maybe you can choose New Line as a partner."

"There will be opportunities to cooperate." Duke just said casually.

Although New Line has just been acquired by Warner, Robert Shea is still the largest individual shareholder and enjoys the independent management rights of New Line. Therefore, although New Line is also part of the Time Warner Group, its film operations are not related to other film companies within the group. directly related.

In other words, the new line is still the new line that pits people for their lives.

In the past, present, and future, New Line has a very bad reputation. Other Hollywood companies still know how to restrain a little bit and try to hide some things in the deepest part. However, New Line under the control of Robert Shea has concealed the box office and defaulted on acting. Staff remuneration, overdue payment of investors' share, etc., are basically the norm. Perhaps these are small projects that are not well known to the media and the public.

However, in the previous "Lord of the Rings", how much New Line concealed at the box office, and there was no clear figure in the end. It is said that after reaching an out-of-court settlement with the copyright custodian of Tolkien's works, it paid a high sum of hundreds of millions of dollars. The amount of compensation, and the poor director Peter Jackson, New Line made a lot of money through the trilogy, but it was delayed for nearly two years because of his unpaid director's remuneration totaling more than 15 million US dollars. Forcing New Zealanders to go to court.

Seeing Robert Shea and the New Line Cinema he represents, these are the first memories Duke evokes. New Line is not within the scope of his cooperation, whether it is credibility or strength.

I exchanged a few words with Robert Shea. Duke walked around the banquet hall, and there were many people around him. Most of these people were agents of acting agencies, selling his name to the director. The actors below, especially the agents of the actors who accepted the audition invitation from the crew, even boasted their clients to the sky.

"Director Rosenberg."

A female agent stopped right in front of Duke, and greeted the black men and women next to him, "Will, Halle..."

The man has a pair of striking and impressive ears, and the woman has seen it before in auditions, the future famous black actress Halle Berry.

The cast has sent out Will Smith to audition, and the agent is aiming for more than just his role.

"Will and Harley know each other well and are perfect for a couple in the film..."

The other party chatted for a long time, and when her voice stopped for a while, Duke raised his hand, "This..."

He found that the other party had not introduced himself, and simply said, "I will consider your suggestion!"

After he finished speaking, he saw that there were other people coming up, so he simply went to the bathroom. After coming out, he did not return to the center of the banquet hall. He went straight from the side door to the largest terrace in front, perhaps under the terrace on the third floor. It is the relationship between the main entrance of the hotel and the road. People who seek quietness will not choose this place, and people who seek social interaction will also not choose this place. Duke finally obtained a rare cleanliness.

Those agents are very difficult to deal with, and they can talk nonstop for ten minutes in order to sell actors.

Standing by the guardrail on the terrace, Duke turned his head, and through the curtains, he could still see those who were struggling to find opportunities in the banquet hall. He was one of them more than two years ago, but now he can also decide others. Destiny man.

"Will you wait here for a while?"

Sofia Coppola took a mother and daughter through the crowd and pointed to the terrace, "I asked Nancy, Duke is here."

"Sophia..." The little girl's eyes flashed and she lowered her head and asked, "Can I go see him myself?"

"Oh?" Sophia tilted her head and looked at the little girl with interest, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure Duke doesn't want to be influenced by your opinion."

The little girl put her hands behind her and slowly pulled the curtain separating the banquet hall and the terrace. She seemed a little excited. She looked at the middle-aged blond woman, "Mom often told me that opportunities are earned by themselves."

"Well... well." Seeing that the girl's mother had no objection, Sophia simply nodded.

This goddaughter of Mrs. Leah is obviously mature and cunning for her age. Anyway, the outsiders are not stupid. What will happen when the big fox and the little fox get together?

When she opened the curtain and walked to the terrace, the little girl couldn't help pouting. If her godmother hadn't gone to Israel and won't be back until next month, she wouldn't have asked her mother to take her to help Sofia Coppola.

Ask for a recommendation! Ask for collection! Ask for Sanjiang Tickets!