Demi Moore got off the car alone outside the mountainside mansion in Palisade. She posed for a moment very cooperatively and allowed the reporters here to take pictures. However, after hearing a question about why her husband did not come with her, she Don't stop any longer and speed up to enter the mansion gate.
This place is already full of people and bustling property.
After accurately greeting the heavyweight guests who needed to chat, Demi Moore finally found someone in a living room in the villa.
Simon is discussing Fox's latest "Alien" project with David Giller, and he is still accompanied by the diminutive Scarlett Johansson, as well as Daenerys Film President Tom Pollack, Fox's Big names such as head Shirley Lansing and WMA head Jonathan Friedman.
Knowing that it was not the time to step forward, Demi Moore just nodded slightly to Lansing who happened to be looking over, quietly walked to the sofa where a certain man was sitting, and gently leaned down on the sofa's deputy, ignoring Scarlett's glance. Be wary of little expressions, smile and listen.
"The market feedback of "Alien 4" has proven that this science fiction series will continue to follow the sci-fi thriller style route, and it will be difficult to sustain for a long time in the future. Of course, I admit that the idea you proposed of Alien vs. Predator is also innovative and made. The possibility of making a profit is very high, but this will only consume the market potential of these two major brands. After all, the name of "Alien vs. Predator" sounds like a B-level movie. The "Alien" series has many loyal fans. If we want to do this for a long time, we are not suitable to do this.”
Simon held a glass of red wine in his hand and took a sip. Because of the feminine fragrance coming from the side, he turned his head and glanced here. He looked at Moore and nodded, then continued to turn to everyone: "In this case, how should we continue? It's actually very simple. , just like tonight’s Golden Globe Awards. Why do filmmakers pursue awards? To put it more noblely, it is for honor. But to be more straightforward, it is actually to improve their own style.”
Everyone smiled knowingly when they heard this.
The world is prosperous, and profit comes and goes. For all living beings in Hollywood, if they win an award but do not get the corresponding benefits, they will naturally be too lazy to pursue it.
Just like 20 years later, whether it is the Golden Globe Awards or the Oscars, why are they becoming less and less popular? One of the important reasons is that the awards have become more and more political, with politics taking precedence over business, and all kinds of catering to the political correctness of the time. Small, side-by-side films won awards, and films that were both blockbuster and not lacking in content but had little to do with politics were no longer favored, and in turn, the entire industry no longer favored these awards.
This is beside the point.
Seeing that everyone understood it, Simon stopped trying to keep it secret and continued: "So, regardless of whether the latest "Alien" can be commercially successful or not, for the future of this series, one thing we have to make sure is to serve this brand. Add some connotation and thinking to increase the style of the project.”
Then, the train of thought naturally turned to Simon's memory of Ridley Scott's return to the opening chapter of the "Alien" series, "Prometheus."
From a commercial perspective, the previous "Prometheus" could only be regarded as a small profit, but on the other hand, when the "Alien" series was almost abandoned by Hollywood in the superhero era, this new work directly criticized this old classic science fiction series. A sublimation that revitalized the entire "Alien" series.
In fact, Simon can completely follow the previous trajectory and make two "Aliens vs. Predator" movies first to make a profit, and then consider the follow-up. However, this is really boring. After all, he personally likes the "Alien" series and doesn't want to mess around. What's more, Comrade Lao Lei is only in his early sixties, so he is still going strong. If he starts now, he can make a few more movies in the future.
If we put it ten years later, an old man in his seventies or eighties will inevitably have bad experiences, and many things will be difficult to say.
After chatting like this for a while, everyone knew that many guests were looking forward to meeting Simon, so they didn’t take up much of the young tycoon’s time and dispersed to socialize.
Demi Moore waited for everyone to leave, smiled and touched Scarlett's head: "Little girl, can you give me your seat?"
Scarlett shook off Moore's hand, turned her face, and glared.
Demi Moore just looked at the man next to the girl.
Simon pushed the girl next to him up: "Okay, don't pester others, go and play by yourself."
This kind of tone when dealing with children made Scarlett even more aggrieved. However, when the man spoke, she still stood up obediently. She was unwilling to give in, so she walked to the other side of the man and innocently pulled up Lily, who was also sitting next to the man. Sobieski: "Lily, let's go eat something together. The buffet here is great."
Compared to the Johnson sisters, Lily Sobieski had much fewer opportunities to see the men around her. Of course she didn't want to leave, but she didn't dare to get involved with Scarlett in front of the men. She had no choice but to get up and walk out together.
Before the two girls disappeared from the door, Demi Moore was already cuddling up to Simon.
Feeling the pleasant female fragrance coming closer, Simon asked with a smile: "Where's Bruce, why didn't he come with us?"
Of course, Demi Moore would not say that she took the initiative to send her husband back after the awards ceremony, nor would she mention that her husband had no objection to this. Instead, she said: "He went to New York to discuss a project."
Simon remembered that when he had dinner with Lena and the others and watched the Golden Globe Awards live broadcast, the camera clearly glanced at Bruce Willis and Demi Moore in the audience. However, he did not expose the woman's little lie and just laughed. He said: "Bruce has a new project. It seems that Fox has no choice but to postpone "Die Hard 4"."
"I want to tell you about this too," Demi Moore said, approaching the man without leaving any trace: "Simon, regarding "Die Hard 4", what are your specific plans?"
Simon deliberately showed some displeasure at hearing a woman speaking for another man beside him: "Do you care about this?"
Demi Moore was keenly aware of it and shrank her neck slightly: "Okay, I won't ask anymore."
Simon raised the corner of his lips and continued: "Five million salary, 10% global gross profit share, and a budget controlled at US$80 million. You can tell Bruce that if you can agree to such conditions, the project can continue."
Demi Moore was indeed searching for her husband just now. This could be regarded as some tacit understanding between the two parties. When the man said this, Moore was suddenly disappointed.
For last year's film "The End of the World," Willis's salary was 5 million, with no share. Although this science fiction series is not a big hit, it is still very popular. Under normal circumstances, taking advantage of the situation and restarting the "Die Hard" series, this can be regarded as Willis's destiny. The salary is less than 10 million, so there is no need to talk about it.
Now, after all, Hollywood is no longer what it used to be.
Moreover, although someone gave a dilemma, in fact, as long as the project can achieve a gross profit of 50 million globally, a 10% share, including the basic salary, is still 10 million US dollars. If it can be higher, 15 million will be earned in the future. Even more is not impossible.
Of course, if the project makes a loss, there is no need to talk about how much it will be divided into.
In short, this can be regarded as tying the main creators to take risks together. In the past, big stars would not take such risks.
After a little hesitation, since he got the word from Simon, he also explained to his man that Moore had no intention of bargaining for Willis. He was about to talk about other things, getting close to this man, Sandra Bullock and Gay When Nu Reeves entered the door together, Moore immediately lost his short-term monopoly. He could only watch Bullock easily attract the man's attention and start chatting.
Then came a group of creators from "Chicago."
Demi Moore could only take the initiative to leave to socialize elsewhere.
Fortunately, Moore also received a quiet notification from the maid next to the man.
The party at the Palisades mountainside mansion wasn't over yet, and Simon had quietly left, flying to San Lucas, Mexico, as usual.
The next day is January 24th.
New week.
Waking up in the seaside manor in San Lucas early in the morning, Simon didn't let the women from last night bother him. He ate alone and paid attention to the feedback from last night's Golden Globe Awards in today's media.
Not surprisingly, there is still controversy.
For example, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Madonna’s double-yolked eggs, the "Hollywood Reporter" criticized the Golden Globe Awards judges for once again abandoning their professional standards. After all, even if both women performed very well, it was obviously Catherine Zeta Ta-Jones is even better.
Speaking of which, a certain old man killer also complained to Simon in bed last night. However, this was the operation of the people below, and Simon didn't pay attention to the details. As long as the general direction was okay, he didn't interfere.
Then there is the Best Picture in the Drama category, which is also criticized. The focus of criticism is that the Golden Globe Awards are divided into pork, so that "The Matrix" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" are ignored. Some media also mentioned that they are still in theaters at the moment. "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" believed that this movie was more capable of winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture - Drama, but it didn't even get a nomination. It was simply an injustice.
In short, Hollywood awards season is always like this.
After breakfast, the women here were not in a hurry to return to Los Angeles. They all obviously wanted to stay here and have fun. After all, it was so luxurious and they didn't have to spend their own money.
Simon just got on the Boeing 767 flying back to Los Angeles alone.
Still can't be too lazy.
After the Boeing 767 took off from the airport in San Lucas, Simon started his day's work in the study room in the front cabin.
First of all, I noticed a business plan from China. Jinshu planned to cooperate with China Film to establish a large-scale film, television and audio-visual product sales and rental chain company. The goal was still to promote genuine products.
In the past, Simon could not remember any genuine rental chains in China. However, this does not mean that there is no such market in China.
It’s still that shoe theory.
In fact, the shoe theory has a premise, that is, the seller must first determine whether people in an area who do not wear shoes have the ability to consume shoes. If so, then it is worth promoting. If it is not because of habit, but because they are too poor to buy shoes. As for shoes, I promoted them, but it still didn’t work.
On the Chinese side, the answer to this question is yes.
China has a broad base of people who consume genuine audio and video products, and the number of people with spending power is not small. Now, if you switch to leasing, compared to buying genuine discs directly, the price will drop significantly, and the consumer group will definitely be larger.
Just like the later video websites.
To a certain extent, video websites can also be regarded as a kind of film and television rental, just like Netflix's development from online physical rental to streaming media. China has not experienced the previous stage, mainly because it happened to be the Chinese film industry in the 1990s. The most depressed period.
At present, there is room for development of this industry.
Thinking of this, Simon specifically made a note after this plan, except that this company can cooperate appropriately with Blockbuster, such as introducing the management system here, or, if conditions permit, it is no problem to directly form a joint venture.
In addition, the most important piece of advice Simon gave there was the video website.
The YouTube video website in the United States has been developing for several years and has expanded its business to most developed countries in the West. In China, as the construction of basic network facilities continues to improve, it can also try to establish its own video website.
Of course, Simon has not forgotten how China's first video websites developed.
Still pirated.
After all, it still involves resource issues. There are not enough genuine resources, or even if there are enough genuine resources, the public just likes to watch various types of films that cannot pass the censorship in the mainland. There is no other way but to watch them on video websites or download websites. Found it.
This time, if we can get official support and establish rules from the beginning, although subsequent development will not be easy, we will eventually be able to take the lead.
As for what will happen next, Simon is not sure.
However, one thing is that as long as the concept is hyped up, even if it is just an IPO, at least the return on investment on the books will definitely be very generous.
All in all, in the current barbaric business era in China, whether you want to do something or simply want to make money, there are actually enough opportunities. The key is to do it and know how to do it.
Back in Los Angeles, Simon arrived at Daenerys Studios directly from the airport. The first thing he paid attention to had nothing to do with the film and television industry.
Celia Miller, who flew over from the east coast early, is already waiting here to report something to Simon. In Eastern Europe, this morning, 11 hours earlier than the local time on the west coast of the United States, the Russian army completely cleared the last military stronghold outside the Chechen capital Grozny, achieving a complete siege of Grozny.
Next, unless the United States or NATO directly sends troops to Chechnya, the war situation in Chechnya will basically be settled within the next half month.
Simon has been quietly paying attention to things in Russia.
During this time, history went awry again.
In the original time and space, Yeltsin should have voluntarily resigned from the Russian presidency on the last day of 1999. But, right now, until now, something hasn't happened yet. After discussing it with Celia, the following week, when Simon was considering whether to push Moscow again, a month later, on January 31, Yeltsin suddenly announced his resignation.
History is back on track.
Simon also felt relieved and set off again, targeting Asia.
Over in China, this year's Lunar New Year is on February 5th. We made an appointment with Chen Qing in advance, and of course Simon will not miss the appointment.
However, the first stop was South Korea.
As usual, we paid attention to the development of a series of projects in South Korea, as well as routine inspections and declarations of territory.
As for the major pillar industries in South Korea, the Westeros system is still carrying out in-depth penetration and control step by step. Simon will only have a rough understanding of things that he is not familiar with, and will not rashly intervene in micro-management.
As for the more familiar film and television entertainment.
During this period, South Korea was very lively.
First of all, there are two previous films of "The Legend of a High School Girl" that were released on December 31, 1999, the American version of "The Strange Story of a High School Girl" and the Korean version of "The Strange Story of a High School Girl 2". Because of the extensive hype in advance, plus the two films The quality has also stood the test, and the final box office results have been excellent.
As of the week before Simon's arrival, and within four weeks of their release, two low-budget horror films in various markets had had cumulative viewership of over 2 million in South Korea.
And, as expected, the Korean version of "The Legend of a High School Girl 2" was slightly better, with a cumulative viewing count of 2.59 million in four weeks. It is expected that after the Spring Festival, the number of complete viewers can easily exceed 3 million.
According to the average ticket price in South Korea of about 3,500 won, 3 million moviegoers would be a box office of 10.5 billion won. However, the production cost of "The Story of a High School Girl 2", even with the success of the first part, is still only 1 billion won. Therefore, it is only in the theater stage, and this time it will make a lot of money.
Then there is the American version of "The Strange Story of a High School Girl", which was also released for four weeks, with a cumulative number of 2.13 million moviegoers, and the total number of moviegoers is expected to be around 2.5 million.
It is not as good as the Korean version of "The Story of a High School Girl 2", but one thing that cannot be ignored is that this film will make a profit no matter how much it makes in South Korea. After all, North America has already realized all costs and achieved profitability.
Moreover, even if the Korean version surpasses the US version, the US version of "The Legend of a High School Girl", whose total box office has exceeded 100 million globally, is not comparable to the Korean version.
In addition to the two "Ghost Stories of a High School Girl", there is also "The Battle of Myeongryang" which has been heavily promoted recently.
It was the last of three blockbuster films originally planned.
Compared to the first two films, "The Spies" and "Joint Security Area," the initial asking price of 10 million US dollars actually didn't cost that much. This time, because it was a costume drama, a war movie, and a naval battle that was difficult to shoot. The film uses a lot of special effects. The final budget cost of "Myeongryang Sea Battle" reached 16 billion won, which is equivalent to 12 million US dollars based on the current exchange rate of about 1,300.
At present, coupled with the same huge publicity expenditure, even if it still receives a large subsidy from the Korean authorities, if the number of Korean moviegoers for this film does not exceed 10 million, the possibility of making a return on the money is not very great.
Fortunately, not only the internal test screening of the film has a very good reputation, but also the pride of Koreans has reached its highest point due to the recent confrontation between the two "Ghost Stories of a High School Girl" in South Korea. Not surprisingly, "Battle of Myeongryang Sea" will Once again creating a Korean movie attendance record.