Mission Flow

Task Flow Godly Prodigy Chapter 167: Tricks

The Big Six monopolize Hollywood's distribution power and are inextricably linked with theaters. Moreover, as Hollywood movies become less and less profitable at the box office, they are basically combined with media groups to monopolize distribution at a deeper level.

Externally pitting money from global investors, internally squeezing small and medium-sized studios.

However, with the emergence of the mobile Internet and the development of social media, traditional media groups are struggling and declining, especially after the rise of streaming media represented by Netflix, theaters have launched a new industry agreement to ensure their competitiveness Benefits: Direct Publishing Agreement!

The direct distribution agreement stipulates that theaters can directly negotiate agreements with independent film studios and book movies with independent producers without the intervention of film studios, so as to strive for more favorable returns.

Because of this deal, independent studios are slowly starting to recover. Represented by Lionsgate Films, Relativity Media, Legendary Films, and several others, independent film studios are attacking cities outside the Big Six.

Legendary Pictures has cooperation with the six major Warner Bros. Although this summer, the blockbuster "Pacific Rim" they cooperated with Warner Pictures hit the street. The production cost was US$190 million, and the North American box office was US$101 million. Go straight to grandma's house.

However, the film did surprisingly well in global markets. The final global gross was $407 million. Finally no loss.

Legendary Pictures CEO Joe - Jashini is one of the producers of this blockbuster. Of course, he is just a name, to ensure the investment of Legendary Films. There are other people who actually do things.

"Hi, Mr. Cao!" Catherine Donald, a tall and beautiful blonde woman, was waiting not far from the entrance of the villa. Seeing Cao Su and the others coming in, she greeted them with a smile.

"Hello, Catherine." Cao Su said with a smile.

"Miss Sun, you look so beautiful tonight!" Catherine praised Sun Xiuling, the female assistant who was wearing a red evening gown and was glamorous tonight.

Sun Xiuling said shyly but generously: "Ms. Donald, thank you."

Yu Xian smiled and greeted Catherine with a handshake, "Good evening, Catherine."

In fact, in terms of social etiquette, women need to reach out first. Be it a handshake or a hand kiss. Catherine, a child with old money, will not have any problems socially. She smiled and shook hands with the little boy-like cosine: "Hello, Charles!"

Charles is the English name of cosine.

After greeting everyone, Catherine took Cao Su to a corner in the back garden of the villa to meet the producer she recommended.

"Red Caroline. Producer at Columbia Pictures. This is Mr. Cao, owner of cactus."

Reid Caroline is a half-bald man, thin, of medium build, in his forties, smiling and shaking hands with Cao Su.

He just blew up a big production at Columbia Pictures, the $150 million "Shock Down," which went down to $174 million worldwide. It's a bit of a difficult situation in Hollywood right now.

Of course, a producer of his level will not be ruined just because of a big production, and will still have the opportunity to produce. But it is absolutely impossible to continue to serve as a big production producer.

Cao Su exchanged pleasantries with him, and took the initiative to chat about the project of "The Martian" in the back garden of the villa, "Caroline, what do you think of this project?" He will return to China by private plane tomorrow, hoping to settle it as soon as possible.

"Mr. Cao, just call me Reid." Reid Caroline said under the shade of the tree, holding a wine glass, "It's a very good strategy for you to sign a share agreement based on the box office. But I still need to remind you , I heard some rumors!"

"Oh?" Cao Su expressed surprise with interest.

Reid reminded: "When dealing with the Big Six in Hollywood, you can't be too careful. Especially Mr. Cao, you are not only not a member of Hollywood, but also a foreign capital."

Cao Su nodded thoughtfully.

According to Reid, even if he signed a contract with Fox,

They also play tricks? But what can Fox do?

He is directly divided according to the global box office. It is not impossible to falsify the box office, but at most it is to buy the box office. It is absolutely impossible to steal the box office. If it is found out, it will be severely punished.

Reid did not continue to talk about this topic, but instead said: "Mr. Cao, Catherine roughly relayed your request. I want to know your future plans and positioning for Cactus Company."

Cao Su was confident, and in the shade of a tree in the back garden, he said calmly, "Cactus will be a medium-sized production company in Hollywood in the future. It will definitely be smaller than the current Legendary Films.

I won't dabble in distribution. A sum of money will be invested every year, and several projects will be invested. Stay as profitable as possible. "

He said it very modestly. With [Project Detector], as long as there are no factors that are considered pitfalls, there is absolutely no way for him to lose money. And this will be a guarantee of his influence in Hollywood.

Red laughed: "Mr. Cao, it seems that you have investigated Hollywood very carefully! You are not as reckless as the outside world says!" If the young man in front of him said that he wanted to make Cactus Company The six major film companies, he turned around and left.

In Hollywood, how many people have challenged the status of the Big Six in the past few decades? Has anyone done it? Even the big three directors Spielberg, David Geffen, and Katzenberg DreamWorks failed to do it.

Can a Chinese person do it? Do you know that the reason why the White House is called the White House is not because it is painted white. It's the same here in Hollywood.

"Thank you." Cao Su smiled calmly, accepted the compliment, and took a sip of wine.

Raider pondered for a while, and said, "Mr. Cao, there are some discussions within Fox about the "The Martian" project. They are discussing the issue of the director.

If this project is entrusted to me, I will protect the interests of the cactus company. The Columbia company I work for is also one of the top six, and I am a professional! "

Catherine chimed in: "Cao, Reid has more than ten years of work experience in Hollywood."

Cao Su was still thinking about the news revealed by Red. Fox Discussing Directing The Martian? Isn't that normal? His official contract with Fox was signed in these two days.

"I understand. Red, would you like to come work for Cactus? Full production. Like Joe Jacchini, the host of the party tonight, art director first."

There is a button and a bait in the words.

Joe Jacini of Legendary Films also served as the art director first, responsible for all production operations, and then promoted to chairman of the board of directors and CEO, with great power in his hands. He will certainly not allow his managers to do so. The chairman of the board can only be his "tool man".

Red understood this and asked for more power: "Mr. Cao, Cactus is still a newcomer in Hollywood. If you want it to become a medium-sized studio as soon as possible. I mean the current Hollywood model For a medium-sized company, your annual investment cannot be less.”

Cao Su frowned slightly.

Who is he? This rice-style implicitness is simply too straightforward in the eyes of Chinese people! I heard that this group of people can't even understand the "Thirty-Six Strategies". However, the literature and drama of domestic films are basically at a loss. Rice-style pie, that is, western cowboys!

The core spirit can be summed up in two words: cruelty and struggle!

What Reid means is that if the investment amount is not enough, he will not come to the cactus to take office. He also asked him to give a large sum of money. This is what makes me feel uncomfortable when I hear it.

"System!" Cao Su tried to use the [Stamp of Loyalty] on this "cowboy". He didn't know Red's production level, but he trusted Catherine Donald. It is impossible for her to recommend a parallel importer to him.

But the system prompts that it cannot be used on Reid. never mind. Turn back and use props to the Fox producer who first came to the door, Jeremy Keppel, fifty-two.

It is indeed a talented and capable person who made money early in a jungle like Hollywood. And a person who has no ability can be "loyal", but it is really difficult to help him.

For example, he chose Joel Galton, the manager of the Los Angeles cannery, as the general manager of the cactus company. This traditional-minded middle-aged white man was indeed loyal to him and devoted himself to helping him with things, but he was really lacking in ability.

If he hadn't come to meet Red today, he wouldn't have known that Fox still had plans to play tricks. What exactly is this pattern? He hasn't figured it out yet!

"Invincibility begins with offering sacrifices to the ancestors"

"In the first three years, I invested 30 million U.S. dollars per year. The specific use of a project or scattered use is decided by the company after discussion. After three years, if the income is good, I will invest 50 million U.S. dollars every year."

Whoa whoa. Generous!

Catherine looked at Cao Su with more enthusiasm. She comes from a well-educated family and knows a little bit about Hollywood. The Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of China seldom pays all the funds for filming by itself. Instead, it will continue to finance the project.

With 30 million yuan of funds, it is not a big problem to promote a project of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan. In the same way, 50 million US dollars can leverage 100 million projects. Just like this collaboration between Cactus and Fox.

This Mr. Cao is indeed the "new money" from Huaguo! Now global capital knows that big money can be made there.

Reid was very sharp, his eyes were a little sharp, "Mr. Cao, what does it mean that the project is discussed by the company?"

Cao Su felt very tired. Mad, how did you talk to the boss? Every domestic senior manager counts as one, and they absolutely dare not treat the boss like this! In a private company, the boss with control is like a king!

Cao Su said calmly and forcefully: "As the art director, most of the time you have the decision-making power over Cactus Company's film projects. But the final decision on whether to cast this film project is in my hands."

"BuxxSxxt!" Reid Carolin cursed directly, turned around twice in place, fed two centaurs, and finally persuaded patiently: "Mr. Cao, you should let professional people do professional work." matter."

With an annual investment of 30 million U.S. dollars, 50 million U.S. dollars in three years, an art director with full control, this is full of attraction for him who just screwed up a big production!

Cao Su shook his head directly, and said, "There are many producers in Hollywood, but very few producers are able to stay away from each film. I am responsible for my own funds, not the managers!"

To put it bluntly, if you want to lose money, let me lose money myself! Willing to gamble and admit defeat. Instead of spoiling the manager. In fact, he has a project detector, and the projects he started will not lose money at all.

This will greatly accelerate the speed of Cactus' development in Hollywood.

Seeing Cao Su's resolute attitude, Reid Caroline gave in and said, "OK!"

Catherine raised her glass with a smile, eased the atmosphere, and said, "I would like to drink for you to cooperate!"

"cheers!"

The tit-for-tat atmosphere between the two eased. Next, let's talk about the details of entry: time, salary, and equity incentives.

"I'll excuse you first." Catherine walked away with a smile, leaving space for the two of them. In such a short period of time, there are not many detailed rules, it is only a rough figure. But Cao Su is not a newbie in business. The salary paid to him every year is linked to performance.

Although the salary system in Hollywood varies from person to person. But generally there are rules. It is not difficult to get the specific content of this salary system.

The conversation was almost over, and Reid solved the mystery he said when they met: "Mr. Cao, in fact, everyone in Hollywood knows that Fox is going to cheat you!"

"?"

"The Big Six in Hollywood also support a lot of people. Why do they hand over an A-level production cooperation project to an unknown Cactus company? Don't they plan to recover their investment of 30 million US dollars?

There can only be one explanation. The 30 million US dollars they invested will flow back into their accounts in various ways. It is equivalent to not paying a penny! "

Only then did Cao Su understand Fox's plan, and scolded, "Fuck!"

Reid smiled and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Cao. I will take care of them after I join the job. Moreover, I will ask them to re-sign the TV broadcast authorization, streaming media authorization, video tapes, and the revenue share of the entire chain of peripheral products."

Cao Su let out a long breath, raised his head and drank the spirits in the cup in one gulp, "Leid, join the job as soon as possible."

"No problem, boss."

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