Simon, with the tiny Christina Aguilera hanging next to him, chatted for a while with Jet Lee and other main creators of Hurricane 2. Finally, he nodded to Angel Jiang, who was looking expectantly among them, and turned away temporarily.
Amy Pascal continued to follow Simon, keeping a little distance away from the crew, and proactively said: "The local box office is 110 million. According to the current overseas data, the global box office of this sequel is about 250 million US dollars. After deducting the cost, it is expected to earn 250 million US dollars in the theater stage." The profit is 50 million US dollars. We have discussed the idea of the third part with Li's agent, who offered a maximum salary of 15 million plus 10% of the global box office gross profit share. According to the profit level of this one, it is equivalent to 20 million I think the remuneration is acceptable. Of course, if we continue to negotiate, we should be able to reduce the share of the film, or even cut it off directly."
As he came to the buffet table, Simon took a glass of champagne and stroked the waist of the girl next to him with one hand. After Amy finished speaking, he shook his head and said: "Please pause the sequels. Look at this summer, there are too many. Maybe there will be sequels." The film will be smoother, but it will hurt the creativity and diversity of Hollywood as a whole, and I hope that Daenerys will be as original as possible in the next few years."
Amy remembered that Simon had jokingly mentioned a series of '2' prefixes this summer. She understood her boss's thoughts and knew that since the boss said so, he would not change it easily. She nodded and continued: "Simon, this way If so, what will happen next month when the two sequels to The Matrix start filming, as well as the Godzilla sequel project that we have already negotiated with Japan's Toho?"
"The Matrix series is proceeding as planned," Simon said. "Godzilla 2 is delayed. There is no script anyway. It will be developed slowly."
"The problem is" Amy continued: "We also obtained the game development authorization for Godzilla this time. You should have seen the documents. If the game can be released together with the sequel movie, will it definitely be able to benefit each other?"
Simon thought of the latest agreement documents between Daenerys and Japan's Toho that he had seen in the past few days.
After the success of the first film, both parties went back and forth, hoping to gain more initiative and gain more benefits. The result of a year of wrangling was that the conditions for film cooperation remained basically unchanged. The only addition was that the sequel film must have certain Japanese elements. It doesn't matter.
The other thing is related to games.
In recent years, the game business has increasingly become Daenerys’ main revenue growth point. This, coupled with the capital market’s good expectations for the future of the global game industry, has supported Daenerys’ current ultra-high market value to a considerable extent. .
Therefore, now that the Godzilla movie is a success, Daenerys will certainly not let go of the possibility of developing a game.
After negotiations, Daenerys agreed with Japan's Toho that they can develop three Godzilla-related video games in the next five years. The theme will be decided by Daenerys, and Daenerys will pay for each game. Japan's Toho has a licensing fee of US$5 million plus 10% sales share.
In addition, Daenerys does not have exclusive rights to game development. Toho also has the right to develop it itself or authorize other companies to develop it, but the condition is that there will be a maximum of three games in the next five years. This part is obviously a small thought of the Japanese who do not want all the wealth to flow to outsiders.
After all, Godzilla’s IP is too big. In order to avoid exclusivity, Toho’s licensing conditions are not too high, so there is no imposition here.
Briefly recalling, Simon said: "Games and movies should each follow their own pace. There is no need to be too deliberate in binding them, otherwise it will often have the opposite effect. Moreover, it seems that it is not easy to develop a Godzilla game."
Such a huge mutated behemoth is not easy to handle whether it is role-playing or fighting battles.
When Amy heard what Simon said, she immediately thought of the very successful Resident Evil series of movies and games that were tied to each other last year. However, she certainly has not forgotten the Alien ET game that was a counterexample in her early years, and even became the trigger for Atari's collapse. In short, it can only be said that there is indeed no inevitable correlation between the respective successes of movies and games.
I can only agree again.
After chatting for a few more words, Simon led Christina to the others, but Amy did not follow.
Christina is 20 years old this year and still looks like a lolita. Her 156cm height has not changed in several years, like a doll. Now Simon was by his side as a female companion, and the guests at the party were accustomed to it, and many female guests were eager to take her place.
She followed the man obediently and continued to socialize for a long time. When she found a break, the girl finally asked: "Simon, you just told Ms. Pascal, I mean, is the development of High School Musical 3 also going to be suspended?"
Simon left the open-air party with his wife and walked into the manor villa. He nodded and said, "Yes."
Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon walked towards each other. Before Christina could say anything else, Simon paused and exchanged brief greetings with the two people who came forward eagerly. He remembered something and asked Tim Robbins Said: "Tim, Ella told me that you are not interested in the Shawshank Redemption script. Can I hear your thoughts?"
The Shawshank Redemption, which has been quietly suppressed by Simon for a long time, is officially launched this year and is produced by Daenerys' High Gate Films label. It had been hidden in the past, inevitably due to the film's disastrous box office failure when it was released, but now, Simon doesn't care so much.
Robbins and Sarandon didn't expect Simon to mention this matter. They looked at each other and Tim Robbins said: "Simon, actually I happened to take on a new film, and there was some scheduling conflict. Besides, I I specifically read King’s original novel and felt that I did not fit the image of Andy. In the novel, Andy is a small man, and I”
As he spoke, he spread his hands slightly.
Tim Robbins is 197 centimeters tall, and his height of nearly two meters is very different from Andy's short stature in the novel. Stephen King's setting is also so that the protagonist can crawl through narrow sewer pipes.
But of course none of this is a problem.
Simon was about to say something when Susan Sarandon, who was next to Robbins, was keenly aware of something and asked: "Simon, do you think, I mean you, that you hope Tim will take this film?"
When the two parties contacted, Gaomen Pictures did not disclose too much, and this is natural. After all, with Simon's reputation in Hollywood, whoever he handpicks to participate in a project often means two things. One is that Westeros is very optimistic about the movie, and the other is that the person selected is also optimistic about Simon. .
No matter which one, it will make the whole of Hollywood look at it.
Of course, Daenerys usually won't bring it up. The reason is very simple. Maybe there are smart people who will seize similar opportunities even if they don't want anything. But on the other hand, it may also make less smart people choose to sit on the ground. Starting price.
When Tim Robbins heard what his girlfriend said, he immediately reacted. He hesitated for a while and looked at Simon eagerly, waiting for an answer.
You know, because of his height, although his acting skills are excellent and he has won many awards, Tim Robbins has always been tepid over the years. Now, if this is an opportunity, well, it seems that after quickly thinking back to the Shawshank Redemption novel that I have read, and returning to my senses, Robbins feels that this project is not considered mainstream after all.
Go for Austria
It doesn't quite look like it either.
Seeing that the two of them had reacted, Simon did not hide anything. He nodded and said: "However, I just think that Tim, you are very suitable for the role of Andy. It has nothing to do with your height, but your temperament. In addition, you must also understand that this It’s not a mainstream commercial movie, and I don’t guarantee its success. I just like the story.”
After Simon finished speaking, the two people in front of him looked at each other again. Tim Robbins made a quick decision, looked over and said, "Simon, the problem is that the film I signed with Warner Bros. will start shooting in August and will be scheduled for at least three months. If I want to participate in The Shawshank Redemption, will I have to wait until next year?”
Simon smiled and said: "As long as you are willing to participate in the show, the schedule is not a problem."
"Then," Tim Robbins weighed it briefly, made a quick decision, and nodded, "I'm willing to give it a try."
Simon reached out and shook hands with the other party, and it was finalized: "You can talk to Ella and the others about the rest."
Filming will begin early next year and will be released at the end of the year, in time for the 2002 awards season.
As for whether this time the film will become a lost gem like before, or whether it will reach the top of the Oscars under the operation of Daenerys, Simon will let it happen. In any case, the Oscars cannot be exclusive to Daenerys and her family, and it would be great if The Shawshank Redemption is a classic that can be recorded in film history.
Then he thought that the possibility of losing the pearl again was very high.
Because at the end of next year, the final chapter of The Lord of the Rings will be released. A series of more important film history classics, coupled with commercial considerations, will almost certainly crush The Shawshank Redemption.
no way.
After saying goodbye and continuing to socialize with other guests in the villa, Simon went all the way to a terrace on the second floor of the villa.
It happened that several other young actors from High School Musical 2 were here. When they saw Simon appearing with Christina, they all stood up. After a while of greetings, they probably felt that the pressure of getting along with this super tycoon was too great. Even if they knew that it would be better to stay, they still I couldn't help but walked out together and gave up my seat.
After a few people left, Simon took the girl next to him and sat down on the sofa next to the railing.
Christina, who was clinging sideways to the man like a kitten, looked at the party scene downstairs with Simon and asked curiously: "Simon, what kind of movie was the Shawshank Redemption just now?"
"It tells the story of a man escaping from prison. If you are interested, you can buy a novel and read it."
Christina was no longer interested after hearing what the man said. Prison break and all, it was so boring. She still nodded her head on the surface and planned to ask her assistant to buy a copy later to show off. After all, she agreed to the man.
Then he turned to the High School Musical series that he cared more about.
After being coquettish, the man's decision to postpone the development of the third film did not waver at all, and he wisely stopped entangled.
Just as he was talking, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith walked over hand in hand. Simon did not get up, but just smiled and gestured to the empty seat next to him, while greeting: "How are you doing?"
"Not bad," Don Johnson responded with the same smile. Instead of standing next to each other, he sat down on the sofa on the right side of Simon with his wife and asked for a topic: "Simon, you just came back from Asia, right?"
"Yeah, but I've only been back for a week."
Melanie Griffith sat next to her husband, leaned forward slightly and said, "We saw your report in South Korea, about an internal dispute in a large consortium, and you resolved it immediately after you came forward. It's really amazing."
Simon just smiled.
Simon originally wanted to keep a low profile regarding the Korean affairs. There was good control there and there was really no news. Unexpectedly, there was an unexpected stir in North America.
First, the Wall Street Journal published an article about Hyundai Group's crisis, seemingly casually mentioning Simon's role in it. Then other media seized on the opportunity, and the news spread rapidly, including the Chinese stock market index because of Simon. News such as breaking new highs were also brought up, and this period of time was considered a global explosion.
Simon had nothing to do about it. His goal was too big. It was basically impossible to pursue a state of 'existence but not visibility'.
Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith noticed Simon's obvious lack of interest in this topic and immediately turned to talk about their daughter Dakota Johnson, whom Simon had publicly acknowledged as his 'goddaughter'. They expressed that the little girl I have always missed Simon Yunyun very much.
While chatting here, I noticed that Simon stopped moving, and other guests began to gather one after another. After a while, the sofas on the terrace were full of people, and there were still people who could only stand or lean on the ground around.
Simon's side also changed from Christina alone to hugging girls on both sides. On one side were sisters Vanessa and Scarlett Johnston, and on the other side were the Hilton sisters who happened to come to Los Angeles to participate in the recording of a show. In addition, Christina and another one, Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was also very small, were crowded with seven people on a row of sofas. Christina could only sit on Simon's lap, but the girl was obviously very proud of herself.
Others such as 'Wonder Woman' Famke Janssen or Meg Ryan, who became famous again with the Easter romance film Embrace the Dawn with Daenerys, etc., are either too embarrassed to compete for seats with a group of girls, or they are I arrived late and couldn't get it.
The advantage of Simon never taking his personality to a higher level is once again revealed. Everyone at the scene just took it for granted that he was hugging him. After all, everyone knew that Simon Westeros was a playboy.
Simon was chatting with everyone, and accidentally looked around him, and suddenly discovered that in addition to Vanessa, who was six feet tall, there were even three sisters, Cathy Hilton, who had arrived a little late and could only stand and watch their daughter clinging to Westeros. , Well, maybe we can also open a theme tonight, petite or something.
ps: I wrote this chapter last month. I really couldn’t bear the feeling of being cut off when the lights went dark, my eyes opened, and the sky brightened up. So I just started writing it, but I couldn’t stop, so I wrote 26,000 words in one breath. A thousand words, hearty and hearty. I can't help but sigh. It turns out that I can write 20,000 to 30,000 words a day.