"Yesterday, MGM Pictures suddenly announced that it will take over the distribution of the family comedy "My Stepmother Is an Alien" starring Dan Aykroyd and Kim Basinger, and it will be released on December 23. " "My Stepmother Is an Alien" is co-produced by Hollywood independent production companies Weintraub Entertainment and Catalina Productions, with a production cost of US$20 million."
"According to public information, "My Stepmother Is an Alien" was originally going to be distributed by Columbia Pictures. Our reporter called the film's producer Franklin Levy about this. Levy said that the producer and Columbia only signed an intention contract. The two parties could not agree on the terms of the final agreement, so the film was transferred to MGM Pictures."
"However, "My Stepmother Is an Alien" is scheduled to be released on December 23, which will directly compete with another MGM release film "Rain Man", which is scheduled to be released on December 16."
"Rain Man" is directed by "Good Morning Vietnam" director Barry Levinson and stars Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. This film has previously exposed a fierce conflict between the creator and the producer. Das Dinh Hoffman and Tom Cruise once publicly supported Barry Levinson and condemned Daenerys Pictures' wanton interference in the creation of the film. Barry Levinson finally launched the project, and it was rumored that Simon Westeros Take over the post-production work personally.”
"As to whether MGM's sudden introduction of "My Stepmother is an Alien" is due to a lack of confidence in the production of "Rain Man", whether it will temporarily cancel the schedule of "Rain Man", or whether it involves other insider information, the author called MGM and Daenerys and CAA, both received responses."
"This newspaper will pay close attention to the follow-up progress of this matter."
Santa Monica.
In Simon's office at Daenerys Entertainment Headquarters, he put down the "Daily Variety Show" in his hand and looked at Amy Pascal and Robert Rehm opposite.
Amy said: "I asked people to inquire about it. The internal test screening of "My Stepmother is an Alien" received very poor response from the audience. Columbia wanted to increase the distribution commission ratio and also asked the producers to share the publicity and distribution costs, so the two sides started to quarrel. Bye bye."
Simon picked up the pencil, turned it around in his hand, and said, "I'm not interested in this movie."
"As for MGM, I just saw their promotional plan yesterday, and it was very sloppy. Tony Tomopoulos also said in front of me that "Rain Man" is useless," Robert Rehm said at this time : "Moreover, we were asked to advance a promotional budget of US$5 million, but according to the current situation, we should only be able to get 1,000 screens that are completely guaranteed by the contract, not one more. Although we can according to the agreement Accountants are assigned to follow up the film's release throughout the process, but MGM still has many ways to avoid our supervision."
Simon has long understood that the success of a film release depends on not only the quality of the film but also strength and luck. But if you want to mess up, there are too many ways, and it is too simple. Therefore, he insisted on retaining the distribution rights of "One Flew Over Childhood".
He lowered his head and glanced at the newspaper in front of him again. Without Amy and Rem's reminder, Simon clearly felt the shadow of CAA.
Hollywood actor Dan Aykroyd, who rose to fame with the 1984 box office runner-up "Ghostbusters", is also an important client of CAA. If there are no other external influences on this matter, as an independent producer, Columbia Pictures requires harsh conditions such as increasing commissions, and the two independent producers may have to hold their noses and accept it.
CAA, which has become increasingly powerful in recent years, has the power to facilitate this.
Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise, as well as "Rain Man" director Barry Levinson, are all CAA's top clients. Now that everyone has completely collapsed on the "Rain Man" project, and several main creators have successfully shifted all the blame to Daenerys Entertainment, CAA obviously does not allow "Rain Man" to have the slightest chance of turning around. The result of the film can only be failure, and the more failed it is, the better it will be.
Simon listened to the two talking and raised his wrist to look at his watch. There was a role audition for "Batman" in the morning, and he had schedules for noon, afternoon and even evening.
Without further ado, Simon said to Robert Rehm: "You go to MGM now and get the distribution rights of "Rain Man" back."
Robert Rem hesitated and said, "Simon, what if MGM doesn't want to let go?"
Simon stood up, buttoned up his suit, and said, "This is your business, Bob. If MGM is not willing, unfortunately, your year-end bonus this year will be reduced."
Robert Rem watched Simon walk straight out of the office, looked at Amy helplessly, and said, "Simon doesn't seem happy today?"
Amy also stood up and said, "Maybe it's because I've been too tired recently. Besides, no one else would be too happy to encounter this kind of thing."
"Okay," Robert Rem stood up together, followed Amy outside, and continued: "This is a matter between us and CAA. Although the Seventh Congress has not been very friendly to us recently, Tomopoulos should also I don’t want to completely offend Daenerys Entertainment, Amy, what do you think my quotation is appropriate?”
"MGM owns the distribution rights of "Rain Man" through various channels in North America. The commission ratio for theaters, video tapes and TV platforms is 15%. The overseas copyright is still in our own hands." Amy recalled the original agreement and said : "If the North American box office of "Rain Man" is calculated as US$20 million, and you want to take back the distribution rights, I think US$5 million is more appropriate."
Robert Rem nodded, and the price in his heart was also the same.
Based on the North American box office of US$20 million, MGM can get a distribution commission of US$3 million. Not counting overseas, but the combined commissions of video tape and TV platform sales in North America should be equivalent to the box office revenue, which is about another US$3 million. But this means a long payment cycle that can last for several years.
However, Robert Rem then asked with a bit of ridicule in his tone: "Amy, do you think "Rain Man" can only get 20 million US dollars?"
The two came to the corridor outside Simon's office. Amy rolled her eyes and said, "Don't you think so?"
"Rain Man" has always been a project that was disliked by the entire Hollywood. Later in the film, there was such a big controversy. Now several of the main creators have made up their minds not to participate in the promotion of the film. This is another problem. This casts a shadow over the box office prospects of "Rain Man".
The industry is generally very optimistic about Simon's ability and vision. In addition to Simon's five films from "Lola Run" to "Basic Instinct", he also achieved success in "When Harry Met Sally". But in all fairness, although "When Harry Met Sally" had no highlights at the script stage, it was very interesting after the film was completed, and sparks flew between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. However, the cost of "Rain Man" seems to many to be very mediocre and completely lacking in highlights.
At this time, Amy felt even more deeply that the reason why Simon insisted on supporting this movie was entirely due to his youthful mentality.
After all, my boss is just a young man who is just twenty years old.
Robert Rem did not comment on Amy's rhetorical question and just smiled.
Noticing that Amy went downstairs with him and seemed to be planning to go out, Robert Rem asked casually: "What are you going to do?"
Amy said: "For the company's consumer goods department, I have recently found a manager and we have made an appointment to meet him in Century City in the morning."
Although the merger of New World Entertainment has been completed, the company's departmental adjustments and integrations have never stopped.
Since "Star Wars", the development of film and television derivative products has always been the focus of major film companies, and it has also created a new and lucrative profit point for Hollywood. Therefore, the establishment of Daenerys Entertainment Consumer Products Department is a recent focus of Amy's work. As Daenerys Entertainment has more and more self-distributed films, this aspect will also bring rich reports to the company.
"Oh, actually, I think the company should acquire a record company as soon as possible, or set up a record department. Starting from "Run Lola Run", the sales of the film soundtracks produced by our company are very good. It is said that the soundtrack of the summer release "Pulp Fiction" The record has sold more than 6 million copies." When Robert Rehm said this, he couldn't help but shook his head and said: "What a pity. Judging from the current situation, "Pulp Fiction" is probably still the box office champion this year. , just this movie has completely freed Orion from its predicament, and these profits should belong to us."
Amy also felt a little regretful.
With last year's stock market crash, a large amount of money flowing into Hollywood came to an abrupt halt, and it became very difficult for film companies to raise funds. Without "Pulp Fiction", Orion Pictures, which released more than a dozen films this year but none of which were box office hits, would definitely be in trouble, or even go bankrupt like Cannon Pictures and De Laurentiis Entertainment.
Now, a "Pulp Fiction" box office may reach 150 million U.S. dollars in North America alone, and the global box office is expected to reach 300 million U.S. dollars. These are enough to support the performance of Orion Pictures. Subsequent sales of video and television rights to the film could even generate substantial cash flow for Orion Pictures for several years.
"No one thought that "Pulp Fiction" would be so successful. Even Simon himself probably didn't expect it. There's nothing we can do about it." Amy couldn't help but shook her head and said: "As for the record department, Simon has been there for a long time. We talked to me. You know that hit single he wrote for Madonna? Simon’s talent in music is no less than in movies. It’s just that we are not familiar with the record business, and everyone is still busy with movies now. , we can only put this matter on hold for the time being.”
"Madonna's single?" Robert Rem was a little confused. At his age, he would not pay attention to Madonna. However, he quickly laughed and said: "I have seen the video of Simon playing the song "Flight of the Bumblebee" on the guitar. , it’s really amazing.”
The two chatted casually all the way to the parking lot downstairs, then got in their cars and rushed to their destinations.
On the other side, Simon left the office and rushed to the audition room downstairs.
Recently it has been the last round of auditions for a number of important supporting roles in "Batman." In addition to Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, the three most important characters in the first film include Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth, Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon and The most important villain 'Black Mask'.
In several "Batman" movies in the original time and space, starting from Tim Burton, the villains are probably the Joker, the Riddler, Two-Face, Scarecrow, etc., but Black Mask has never appeared.
In fact, Black Mask cannot be regarded as a classic villain in the "Batman" comics. This character only appeared in 1985.
However, after carefully studying a series of comic works of "Batman", Simon felt that the character of Black Mask was very suitable as the villain of the first film.
Black Mask, whose real name was Roman Sionis, also came from a wealthy family in Gotham City, and was a very good friend of Bruce Wayne when he was a child. Compared to Bruce Wayne's experience, Roman Sionis also had an unhappy childhood. The Sionis family generally possesses the gene for a fiery and desperate personality. When he was very young, Roman Sionis had been encountering problems with his father. From verbal to physical violence, when he finally couldn't bear it anymore, Roman Sionis killed his parents and inherited a large amount of the family's property.
However, without the control of his parents, the violent character in Roman Sionis' character that was closely related to his family gradually emerged. At the same time, because he was not good at company management, the Sionis family's business was gradually on the verge of collapse under his management. Bankruptcy.
After Bruce Wayne returned to Gotham after traveling for many years, he happened to hear about the plight of Roman Sionis. Out of a childhood friendship, Bruce Wayne directed the Wayne Group to acquire the Sionis family's company that was on the verge of bankruptcy. , but Roman Sionis lost everything in the process, so he turned his anger on Bruce Wayne and completely degenerated into one of Gotham's most notorious criminals.
In addition, in the comic plot, Roman Sionis also has a deep entanglement with Catwoman, which also happens to completely connect Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle and Roman Sionis himself.
Of course, Simon's movie script will not copy the comic book settings, but the plots in it are very similar.
Moreover, there are two people with similar backgrounds. One tries to punish criminals and eliminate evil and becomes Batman, while the other completely falls into darkness and becomes a criminal. There are also many things worth exploring that make people think. The 'fledgling' Batman After this encounter, he also experienced his first transformation.
Simon positioned his version of "Batman" as a commercial blockbuster, and commerciality is the first priority in the film under any circumstances. However, on the premise of ensuring commerciality, Simon did not completely give up adding some profound thoughts about value and human nature.