Rebirth In Hollywood

"Welcome, Ryan."

"You're welcome, Don."

Entering the banquet hall of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Ryan shook hands with Don Logan, who was approaching him. The last time they met, the other party was the president of Time Warner, and now he has become the chairman of the board of directors.

This is a celebration party held by Time Warner. First, after the formal merger of Time Warner and AOL, it has become the world's No. 1 media group. Second, after the fiasco of "Catwoman" and the tepid failure of "Troy" Later, "Wonder Woman", jointly created by comics and Warner Bros. and other subsidiaries, achieved far more than expected results.

"Wonder Woman" was released in North America for more than a month and won a box office of more than 260 million US dollars. The final North American box office is very likely to approach or exceed 300 million US dollars, and in the overseas regions where it was released, the cumulative box office of the film has also increased. Close to $200 million, it has now earned $450 million worldwide, far surpassing "Troy", which was released more than two months earlier.

It's also the highest-grossing movie that Warner Bros. has produced in recent years.

"I saw an acquaintance, go say hello."

Charlize, who was holding him, whispered and walked to the other side. Ryan continued the conversation with the people from Warner. Gerald, who came from Los Angeles, was still talking to him about "Wonder Woman". Man".

"According to our estimates, the film will gross close to $600 million worldwide."

"Wonder Woman" sold well at the box office, which greatly eased the huge pressure on Gerald. "If we can really reach this number, we can recover the cost of the movie through the box office."

"Congratulations to you then." Ryan raised his glass to him, Gerald, who was standing opposite, took a drink and drank it, then said with a smile, "We should congratulate you, Ryan, Disney It's the biggest winner of the summer season."

Ryan just smiled. But didn't say anything.

Don Rogan took the initiative to take over the topic and said in a rather emotional tone, "The Superman Family is $300 million, Spider-Man 2 is $370 million, and The Day After Tomorrow is $200 million. This is just the North American box office. You know, Ryan? After seeing this, I want to switch places with you."

"If you take out the same amount of shares, I have no problem." Ryan touched the glass with him and joked casually. "Time Warner is the number one media conglomerate in the world."

After drinking the soda from the glass, Ryan continued, "Warner has a lot of profit points, and it's not like Disney.

Good enough film and television works are needed to drive the overall business. "

The executives of Warner didn't take Ryan's words, they changed the topic very cleverly, and only they knew that Time Warner after swallowing AOL, despite the name of the world's No. 1 media group. No. Actually it's not as good as it looks.

"Ryan, I heard that Disney is planning to cooperate with a Chinese group company to invest in China's cinema market?" Don Rogan turned to Disney's recent investment moves, "Have you reached your intention?"

"The agreement was just signed last week."

The news was originally released by him on purpose, and it is not surprising that others knew. "Disney is just a shareholder."

He can only be a shareholder, which is related to the media market, and the other side will not let the international group get the actual ownership and operation rights, just like the theater chain he worked for in his previous life. There is also investment from the international side, but no right to speak.

"Would Warner have investment considerations in this regard?" Ryan asked tentatively.

"Indeed." Don Logan nodded and saw Ryan hand the empty glass to the passing waiter. Beckoning someone to bring a cup of soda, he continued, "China's film market has developed at an amazing rate in recent years, and we have also reached an agreement with a company that they will accept capital injection from Warner."

"That's great." Ryan took the soda from the waiter, "The insufficient number of screens opposite is an obstacle to our movie's high box office. If we can speed up the construction of their theater chain, it won't be much use. In the long run, China will become the second largest film market after North America.”

"Don't forget their population base," Gerald added.

"I propose..." Don Logan glanced around and raised his wine glass, "Cheers for us to get more profits from the Chinese market!"

"cheers!"

Everyone raised their wine glasses at the same time. In this matter, they have common interests.

In the past few years, even the most obtuse film companies in Hollywood have understood the huge potential of the Chinese market. Those who have the ability will all want to go there to make profits. Except for the pioneers such as Paramount and Disney, the rest The company has also set up branches in China one after another. Even DreamWorks Animation Studio, which wants to put the Far East branch in Hong Kong, is now planning to change it to Shanghai or Beijing.

When enough interest is revealed, business-first Hollywood swarms like sharks that smell blood.

As one of the earliest pioneers, Disney took over the foundation built by Jenkins Pictures, and has been at the forefront of Hollywood in terms of the introduction of its films and the sale and transfer of related copyrights.

The most typical example is that in 1998, the DVD copyright of "Titanic" was only sold by Jenkins Pictures for 3 million RMB, while "The Lord of the Rings 3: The Return of the King" held a copyright auction last year. 20 million RMB, which is not counting the licensing fees of TV stations and other aspects.

Despite facing various impacts and restrictions such as piracy, Disney's profit from China in the film and television industry has almost doubled every year.

The topic has been revolving around the movie, and when Tim Burton came over, several high-level Warners also had some small disputes over whether to continue the "Wonder Woman" series next or restart "Batman".

After all, this is Warner's internal affairs, Ryan beckoned to them and simply left there.

There were a lot of acquaintances at the party, and it didn't take long for Ryan to meet Brian Singer, who just nodded to each other.

Bryan Singer has fulfilled his three-film contract with Marvel. "X-Men 3: The Last Stand" completed all post-production work in July, but the film was pushed by Marvel to release in May next year.

On the stage of the banquet hall, a melodious waltz sounded. Ryan rejected the invitations of several ladies and was about to find Charlize when a white palm was handed to him.

"Can you, Ryan?"

Facing Gal Gadot's invitation, Ryan shook his head slowly, "Forget it, did you forget that I stepped on your feet at Arnold's party?"

While dancing is part of social etiquette, he's really not very good at it.

"OK then."

Gal Gadot took two glasses of juice from the passing waiter and handed one over, "Remember that you don't drink alcohol."

"Thank you." Ryan took it.

"It's me who should thank you and Nate." The long-legged girl was obviously a sensible person.

"You're welcome." Ryan shook his head with a smile, "Actually, we didn't do anything."

"But without your words." Gal Gadot touched his glass, "I definitely wouldn't get the role of Princess Diana."

"Overnight fame!" She made an exaggerated appearance, "I never thought about this feeling before."

"Congratulations then." Ryan said after taking a sip of juice.

The first installment of the series was a success, and if nothing else, Natalie's Jewish friend almost got a long-term meal ticket.

"I was on the phone with Nat the other day."

Gail Gadot is a smart person, and understands that Ryan takes care of her more because of Natalie's affection. "She said that after filming "The Hunger Games", she is going to prepare her own new work? Or as a director?"

"Yeah~" Ryan nodded, hearing the familiar sound of high-heeled shoes landing next to him, and speeding up his speech, "It's a personal biopic."

After he finished speaking, he turned his head, met Charlize who was approaching, and said with a smile, "Finished?"

Raising his eyebrows and holding Ryan's arm, Charlize looked at Gal Gadot, "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Hello, Miss Theron, I'm Gal Gadot from Israel."

"Hello, Miss Gado."

Shaking lightly on the hand that the other party took the initiative to stretch out, Charlize nodded to her again.

Although he was curious about some rumors in his heart, Gal Gadot knew that it was time to leave. After saying a word to the two of Ryan, he turned and left.

"This is the new Wonder Woman?" Charlize's eyes fell on the slender back of the other party, "It's really beautiful, no wonder she has won the love of so many boys and girls."

"This shows that the market fully accepts films with female protagonists." Ryan thought of another way.

Successful movies are often the result of the superposition of many factors, and it is enough for a failed movie to be unlikable. Although the "Hunger Games" novel is very popular, he is still a little worried, after all, the movie is several years ahead of schedule.

"What were you doing just now?" Ryan took Charlize to the lounge area, picked a table at random, and sat down beside him, "It seems like you were having a good time chatting?"

"Meet Director Oliver Stone." Charlize reached out and helped Ryan sort out the crooked bow tie. "He wants to invite me to star in his new movie, a female paramedic who died in 9/11."

"Female ambulance?"

In the impression, Oliver Stone was unlucky after entering the new century. It seems that no film has achieved correspondingly good results. Ryan can't help frowning, "9/11 Incident? Could it be that he wants to adapt a movie?"

"Um."

Seeing his frowning, Charlize nodded earnestly, "Oliver Stone plans to adapt the collapse of the World Trade Center into a movie after "Alexander the Great" is released." (To be continued..) ()