During this time in mid-April, Simon was mainly focused on the upcoming 1999 North American summer season.
This summer, the most watched movie project is undoubtedly "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace." The film was originally scheduled to be released on May 21, which is the beginning of the standard Friday box office week, but due to the strong expectations of a series of recent fans , Lucasfilm made the decision to move the film's release date to Wednesday, May 19.
In addition, the film will hold a charity premiere in some major cities in North America on May 16. Tickets with an official price of US$500 have just started pre-sale recently and have already been sold for more than ten times. Some die-hard movie fans even set up tents outside the theater where the charity premiere was planned during this period, as if they wanted to see the film as soon as possible at any cost.
With this kind of momentum, all other summer movies can only avoid its edge.
Daenerys is not surprised either.
As the recent merger of MGM, Fox and Lucasfilm is progressing, as one of the bosses behind the upcoming new company, Simon has seen the finished film in advance.
Overall, Star Wars fans who have been waiting for more than ten years may be disappointed again.
Why do you say 'again'
Because the previous Star Wars prequel series was very disappointing.
Especially for the first prequel in 1999, the media's evaluations at that time were basically 'mediocre', 'stiff', 'stylized', 'lack of soul' and so on, and the film's reputation was simply unsatisfactory.
To put it bluntly, George Lucas screwed up.
Of course, as the American "Journey to the West" and the sentiment of a generation, the film is still very successful commercially, but it only goes so far. Everyone had a lively scene, and then, there wasn’t much left.
This kind of screw-up can actually be clearly seen from the box office trend of the prequel trilogy. The first part of the prequel had a domestic box office of 470 million. By the time of the second part, due to the disappointment of the first part, the sentiment score was greatly reduced, and it fell directly to 310 million. The third part rebounded to 380 million because it was the finale, but the gap with the first part is still very obvious.
So much so that later, when Disney restarted the Star Wars series, Lucas was still regarded as the backbone at the publicity level, but during the actual creation process, there were only three words for the founder of the Star Wars series: Go away!
George Lucas complained publicly about it, but nothing came of it.
Because even if the audience has deep-rooted emotions for the Star Wars series and has been "traumatized" by the prequel trilogy, their inner COS is probably similar to Disney: you go away.
It is conceivable that if the prequel trilogy is good enough and Disney dares to kick Lucas out when it restarts, the fans will definitely rebel.
The actual reaction already represents everyone’s attitude.
As for another failure of the prequel series, the general public may not care much about it, but Simon remembers it very clearly.
That is a complete failure of peripheral operations.
Since the birth of the Star Wars series in 1977, it is well known how successful the peripheral products of this super IP have been. Therefore, from the beginning of the prequel series project, a large number of collaborators came to the door crying and holding money, hoping to obtain authorization to produce peripheral products of the prequel series.
However, due to the unsatisfactory reputation of the first part of the prequel, the sales of various peripheral products that had been confidently stocked in large quantities were far lower than expected. In order to obtain the authorization, everyone paid expensive advance payments in advance. As a result, most of the sales this time The surrounding cooperative manufacturers all ended up with huge losses.
From Simon's current standpoint, it is expected that such an outcome in the first episode will only be good for the Westeros system.
The key one is that this can minimize the variables of the merger of the three companies.
Even though the merger of the three companies has been submitted to the federal Department of Justice for review, if the first prequel is a huge success, it is difficult to say whether Lucas will change his mind temporarily, or even have the prequel trilogy released. Fox, who has power, may also go back on his word.
Now, as long as the business trend of the first prequel is as good as before, Simon can be sure that the other two companies will honestly promote this merger that is actually beneficial to everyone.
In addition, Simon also paid attention to another thing about this movie.
George Lucas plans to use a certain number of all-digital screenings during the release of the first prequel.
Simon is absolutely supportive.
For traditional film distribution, the cost of copying thousands of rolls of film is often a very huge expense.
If digital screening can be implemented, these costs will be reduced to almost nothing. Not only that, once digital projection becomes popular, 3D mode, and even 3D-IMAX mode, will be promoted more easily and quickly.
Daenerys has been developing and popularizing related technologies for new movie projection modes such as 3D and IMAX in recent years. Digital projection is actually an important direction. It’s just that Simon wasn’t in a hurry before, but he didn’t expect that Lucas would start exploring the path first, and Simon was happy to see it happen.
Of course, the Star Wars prequels belong to others after all, and Simon still pays more attention to his own related projects.
This summer, despite the strong pressure from the Star Wars prequels, among the projects Daenerys Entertainment plans to launch, not to mention other mid- to low-cost genre films, there are three super blockbusters focusing on special effects, namely " Godzilla,” “Armageddon,” and “The Matrix.”
The three movies are scheduled to be released on June 11, July 2 and July 23 respectively. Together with some other small films, they will still cover the entire summer.
Simon's expectations for the box office of the three movies are basically at a base of 200 million U.S. dollars, with a target of 300 million U.S. dollars, and hopefully 400 million U.S. dollars. During the entire summer season, including other small and medium-sized projects such as "The Ghost Story 2" and "Fight Club", Daenerys must earn at least US$1 billion at the box office to be considered qualified by Simon.
Mexico, San Lucas.
After constantly juggling work, women, children and the unborn child, Simon finally took some time off again and flew to the manor here for a weekend vacation.
This is April 17th.
Saturday.
Last night, I had a ridiculous night with a group of "Huan Fat Yan Shou" who had just been sent by Chen Qing. By the petal swimming pool of the manor, the sun was warm in the morning. When the waitress approached Li Fuzhen, who had come from South Korea, he lay down under the parasol. Simon, who was leaning against two gentle girls on his right, was a little sleepy.
A life of hard work.
Hearing the greeting, Simon opened his eyes and saw Li Fuzhen, but the girl on his right whose waist was so thin that Simon couldn't help but push it away with his hands, patted the girl beside him: "Come here."
Li Fuzhen was wearing a very realistic light blue OL suit. When he saw a group of coolly dressed orioles in the water and outside the pool from a distance, he felt a bit unavoidable and inexplicable. At this time, he saw a man saying this, as if calling a cat. , his face tightened slightly: "Mr. Westeros, I have something serious to talk to you about."
As he spoke, he became even angrier.
I have been waiting here for several days, and I ran from Los Angeles to Mexico before I could see someone.
Damn guy.
Simon opened his eyes and glanced at the girl with a slightly angry face, and said with a smile: "If you want to talk about business, then we can only make another appointment. Now is my rest time."
When Li Fuzhen heard this, he couldn't help but stare over.
Thinking of that night... what a heartless guy.
However, I wanted to turn around and leave, but I still held back. He carefully sat down on the edge of the lounge chair that the slender-waisted girl had just given up. He looked at the man wearing beach shorts and sunglasses with the petite girl on the other side in his arms. For a moment, he wanted to get up and leave.
Simon always cared for her, but he didn't want to really make the girl angry. When he saw Li Fuzhen staring at him with a rosy face, he finally sat up, patted the one on the other side away, then stretched out his hand, directly gathered the girl sitting on the edge of the lounge chair, and covered him Kissed him.
I don't know how long it took, but Li Fuzhen, who was taken by the maid to change into a swimsuit in the wooden house next to him, returned. His face was still rosy, but this time it was obviously different from not long ago.
He slowly walked to the edge of the pool, tried to resist, but then was caught by Simon who was already in the water.
Being able to swim in a pool of water in a dry desert climate environment is definitely a pleasure. After being carried out of the pool by the man, wiped dry and returned to the recliner, Li Fuzhen also felt drowsy.
So tired.
Like a cat, she lay on the man's broad chest and enjoyed it for a while, then finally remembered that her lower legs were entangled with the man and kicked her: "Let them all go."
Simon agreed with a smile and gave instructions to the maid behind him.
The surrounding warblers and swallows quickly disappeared.
When Li Fuzhen saw this, he completely relaxed. Even as he relaxed, he felt inexplicably grateful. He felt that he was very considerate of him. Then, he soon felt that he was worthless, thinking about all the women just now.
Damn guy.
His thoughts turned and turned, and he spoke again, already saying: "You, Simon, I mean, do you want me to put on sunscreen for you?"
After saying that, I felt that my conversation was too cliched. It seemed like a common joke in those soap operas.
"I don't like applying those messy things on my body," Simon refused. He hugged the woman's slim waist and put it on his body. He smiled and said, "That's good."
Li Fuzhen hummed, waited for a while, and then whispered: "I came here this time because I wanted to..."
Simon interrupted: "Get some sleep and we'll talk at lunch. You just exhausted me."
Li Fuzhen was stunned for a moment, his face turned red with embarrassment again, and he wanted to open his mouth and bite him.
Just now it was clearly her... almost broken.
So I simply closed my eyes and said nothing, and really fell asleep.
feel good.
It was past afternoon when I woke up again. I came to the wooden house by the swimming pool. I stopped wearing a swimsuit and insisted on changing into a set of casual clothes for home. I had lunch with Simon at a restaurant.
Mexican seafood specialties.
Probably because I was very hungry, I thought several dishes were very good. After complimenting me, I curiously asked the man across the table: "Does this all belong to you?"
Simon nodded: "I'll take you to the sea in the afternoon for diving and fishing. You can spend the night in the yacht at night. The starry sky at sea is very beautiful. How about that?"
Subconsciously he wanted to agree, but couldn't help but stared at her and asked: "If it weren't for me, would you go fishing, diving, and spend the night on the yacht with those women, watching the stars?"
Simon shook his head without hesitation: "Of course not."
Even though I knew he was lying to me, I was still quite satisfied.
How silly.
So he no longer hesitated, but did not forget to nod lightly, and then continued: "I came here this time about the Jeju Island Casino. Well, I am now responsible for some hotel business at home. This is a good opportunity. , over on Jeju Island, Simon, can you let Samsung also participate?"
Simon did not answer immediately, but asked: "How do you know about this?"
Li Fuzhen blinked before he understood, and rolled his eyes at the man opposite him: "Do you think what you are doing in South Korea is very confidential?"
Simon suddenly understood and shrugged again: "It seems that many people have been grabbing the eight gambling cards in Jeju Island recently."
Gambling licenses are actually very scarce.
Perhaps most people imagine that countries and regions that have opened up the gambling industry should have casinos all over the streets.
Not really.
Whether it is Las Vegas, Macau, or South Korea, the number of regular gambling cards is usually one or two hands. As for the rest, they are basically illegal casinos.
Therefore, in total, the eight gambling cards in Jeju Island are actually a lot. However, because Jeju Island is still far less prosperous than it was later, the total gaming output value created by the eight gambling cards only accounts for just over 20% of South Korea’s gaming industry, while the other 80% is concentrated in the paradise. The group has only 4 gambling cards in hand.
When Li Fuzhen saw the man asking about it, he didn't hide it. There was a hint of pride in the corner of his mouth: "We at Samsung have quietly bought one. Even if you don't agree, we can do it."
Simon just shrugged: "Speaking of which, I originally wanted to develop the gaming industry in San Lucas, but unfortunately it didn't happen."
Li Fuzhen didn't know why the bend suddenly turned, but he subconsciously followed the man's train of thought: "Why?"
Simon smiled and said: "Because if I do it here, it is likely to affect the business in Las Vegas, so a lot of people lobbied me not to do it, and some gangs sent bomb threats to the team here trying to prepare related projects. Although all the gangsters here were later killed and fed to the fishes, I still gave up the plan to open a casino. It would not make much money, and it would also provoke a lot of people, so it was not cost-effective."
Li Fuzhen understood now and glared unconvinced: "If I must open a casino in Jeju Island, will you kill me?"
Simon looked at him seriously, until Li Fuzhen felt hairy all over his body, and then said: "Baby, I am a civilized person."
Li Fuzhen raised his chin slightly, looking arrogant like I don't believe it but I'm not afraid of you either.
Simon also curled up his lips and said with great interest: "By the way, I can take you to a certain place when we go out to sea in the afternoon. Maybe we can catch a skull."
Li Fuzhen's slender little body shrank subconsciously. He knew that the man was still scaring him, but the fuzzy feeling was a little more intense. He insisted on looking at him for a moment, and finally lowered his face and said aggrievedly: "Okay, If I don’t do it, I’ll pass the gambling card to you.”
Simon nodded slightly with satisfaction, and then said: "Don't do the casino. It will involve a lot of things. There is no need for you to get involved. However, on Jeju Island, just a planned entertainment complex cannot capture all the markets. , Samsung can build a second hotel, duty-free shop, entertainment venue, etc., and then rent the venue to a part of the Paradise Group to build a casino."
This is obviously acceptable.
Li Fuzhen, who was originally depressed, regained his energy and confirmed that he was not teasing her anymore. He looked very serious, so he became a little more high-spirited and said confidently: "If I build an entertainment complex, I don't have that much money. Dad will also take it." If you don’t come out, lend me some.”
Simon knew that this girl had managed the family's hotel business well and was capable enough, so he was very happy: "No problem."