Hollywood Hunter

Chapter 55: You guessed it right

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"Because it took too long, several of the original actors withdrew. We are currently re-casting. I will probably rush to Arizona on the 20th." In the Fox Studios, the three of them walked side by side on the clean asphalt corridor. Catherine Talking to Simon about his schedule, he inadvertently glanced at Janet who was hanging affectionately on Simon's arm on the other side. After thinking for a while, he said: "I have already talked to Mr. Feldman, Simon, if you come to help If so, you can be my assistant director. However, if you have to be busy with other things, you don’t have to come. The promotion of "Run Lola Run" should be very troublesome."

After confirming the relationship with Janet, Simon didn't have any special thoughts about Catherine. He also realized why Catherine said this, but he shook his head and said with a smile: "I have no intention of doing "Lola Run" myself. For promotion, all you need to do is finalize the distribution contract with the film company. Once this is completed, I won’t be too busy in the next few months. So, before the end of the month, I will definitely be able to rush to your crew."

After Catherine said what she just said, her mind suddenly started to rise. After hearing what Simon said, the woman just nodded slightly, her eyes drifted away, and said, "Okay then."

It was not long before get off work, and Catherine and Janet had to go back to Malibu together.

Simon sent the two women to the fork leading to the parking lot, separated from them, and turned alone to the administrative building where Peter Sanders was located.

Walking towards the parking lot together, Catherine saw Janet and Simon separated, and then held her arm affectionately, and said casually: "Aren't you going to move in with Simon?"

Janet shook her head: "No, of course I live in my own big house by the sea. His place is actually not comfortable at all."

Catherine couldn't help but joked: "You are so difficult to raise, Simon will definitely suffer in the future."

"Haha, who makes him a man?"

Catherine also smiled, but then said: "After I finish filming "Night of the Blood Corpse", I will find a house in Los Angeles. At that time, you can ask Simon to move to Malibu."

"I've already told Simon about this. The house in Malibu is so big that it's fine for the three of us to live in it, but he doesn't want to," Janet said with a little depression in her tone, and finally said angrily: "Machismo."

"You don't want to move over, and he doesn't want to move over either, so what are you going to do?"

"Wait until he earns money to buy a big house," Janet said, rubbing her body against Catherine, and then said with a smile: "But it's actually not bad to live separately. If we move together too soon, I think I will be fooled." Damn this animal."

Seeing that Janet was unblocked again, Catherine felt her cheeks heat up. She raised her hand and hit her on the head, saying unceremoniously: "Shut up, I won't listen to your nonsense."

"Oh, it hurts so much, hee hee."

Simon came outside Peter Sanders' office. After the secretary informed him, he waited for a while before he was able to enter.

When the secretary opened the door just now, Simon vaguely saw Peter Sanders talking on the phone. When he walked in, the other party had put down the phone, stood up, shook his hand across the desk, and sat down again.

After saying hello, Simon put the lockbox containing the copy of "Run Lola Run" at his feet and sat down opposite Peter Sanders.

"Simon, it's time to get off work soon, so let's get straight to the point," Peter Sanders said after Simon sat down: "For a young man like you, it's hard to be able to make a film like "Run Lola Run". Very rare. However, the subject matter of this movie is too unpopular. It has a three-part structure and a setting like a video game. Although it is novel, the audience must be very small. The chance of theatrical release is not high, and it is most likely to be directly promoted. To the videotape market.”

Business is all about talking.

Although Peter Sanders sounded disapproving of "Run Lola Run", Simon just listened calmly and waited patiently for the other party to make a bid.

As Peter Sanders spoke, he secretly looked at the young man opposite him. When he saw that the other young man looked like he was listening and being taught, but his expression did not change much, he stopped doing useless work and said, "I just passed the meeting with Mr. Goldberg." The phone call, because Brian and the other three were named, and because this movie can really help popularize the concept of the 'Butterfly Effect', Fox is willing to buy it for $800,000. What do you think? "

When Simon heard the offer of US$800,000, he didn't feel much, but asked seriously: "Mr. Sanders, US$800,000, is it the entire copyright?"

Peter Sanders nodded and said: "Of course, for $800,000, Fox will buy out all the rights to "Run Lola Run" for a period of 20 years. After 20 years, the film rights will return to your hands."

Permanent rights deals are rare in Hollywood, but contracts lasting decades are enough for movie companies to squeeze every penny of profit out of a work.

Simon finally shook his head and said: "This won't work, Mr. Sanders, the price is too low."

Peter Sanders was not surprised by Simon's rejection and said patiently: "Simon, $800,000 is a very reasonable price. You should have only spent $650,000 to make this movie, right? A profit of $150,000 , a profit margin of about 20%, which is far higher than the average return level of Hollywood movies."

In fact, as of now, the final production budget of "Lola Run" is US$597,000, with about US$53,000 remaining in Daenerys Pictures' account.

However, Simon naturally would not argue with Peter Sanders, but said: "Mr. Sanders, I think there is something wrong with your calculations. The 20% profit margin for a movie with a budget of 10 million US dollars, and the 20% profit margin for a movie with a budget of 650,000 US dollars." The 20% profit margin is two completely different concepts."

Peter Sanders said with a slight smile: "Of course, you obviously know very well that a movie with a budget of US$10 million and a movie with a budget of US$650,000 are also two different concepts."

"Okay," Simon shrugged and said, "Mr. Sanders, actually, I was wondering if we could sign a sharing contract."

Peter Sanders simply refused: "No way, Simon, this is Fox, and we don't have the energy to do split distribution for a B-level movie that costs only a few hundred thousand dollars to produce."

"Mr. Sanders, "Run Lola Run" only has the budget of a B-level movie, but it is definitely not a shoddy B-level movie."

"Maybe, but you have to understand, Simon, for a big company like ours, the cost of publicity and distribution is very high. Maybe with a little operation, the investment in this aspect will exceed your budget for producing "Lola Run". So, We can only give you a buyout for the movie.”

Simon thought for a while and said: "Then, Mr. Sanders, a buyout is also possible. However, I hope to only sell out the North American theatrical distribution rights of "Lola Run" for the time being."

"I just said, Simon, this movie is probably not going to get into theaters."

"This is the prerequisite for cooperation," Simon said with a slightly stronger attitude: "If Fox is not willing to provide theatrical distribution for "Run Lola Run", then no matter what conditions you offer, I will not agree."

"Fox will not give you this kind of guarantee," Peter Sanders said in an equally strong tone: "Simon, you are not qualified to ask Fox to give you this kind of guarantee, and none of the other six companies will."

"Well," Simon stood up with a regretful expression on his face, "Anyway, Mr. Sanders, thank you very much for taking the time this afternoon."

Seeing that Simon had already lifted the lockbox, Peter Sanders showed a somewhat troubled expression on his face. After a slight hesitation, he made a calming gesture towards Simon.

Simon didn't insist and sat down again.

Peter Sanders said: "Simon, I know you will attend the Sundance Film Festival next, but compared with the Oscars or several major overseas film festivals, Sundance has little influence, even if you win it Awards will not have much impact on the popularity of "Lola Run". Therefore, $1 million is the highest offer I can give you."

In any case, Simon still hopes to cooperate with a major film company, and Peter Sanders in front of him is also the only senior executive of a major film company that he can currently contact.

All the preliminary arrangements have been completed, and some things no longer need to be concealed.

Simon thought for a moment and did not accept Peter Sanders' new offer, but said: "Mr. Sanders, Sundance may not have much influence. However, the gimmick of being the youngest director in Hollywood should be able to attract some attention. ?”

Peter Sanders heard this, looked at Simon for a moment, then laughed and said: "Simon, if we talk about young, Spielberg started making movies when he was 13 years old. Do you think you are as young as he was then?"

"It's a pity that I didn't have the opportunity to use a super eight-millimeter camera when I was 13 years old. Otherwise, I might have been able to shoot a movie." Simon just smiled nonchalantly and said, "However, if I remember correctly, Spielberg's first A standard theatrical film was "The Great Escape," which came out in 1974 when he was 28 years old."

Peter Sanders was still joking: "So, what about you? Simon, are you 18?"

People who are not very familiar with Simon tend to think of him as older when they see what he does.

This is the case for Peter Sanders, especially since he just watched "Run Lola Run". He feels that to be able to produce such an outstanding movie, Simon is probably a graduate of a top art school such as the University of Southern California Film School. .

If so, Simon should be at least 22 years old.

A top student from a top school makes a movie at the age of 22. Although this situation is still rare in Hollywood, it is not too special news.

Faced with Peter Sanders' teasing, Simon just slowly took out his driver's license, handed it over, and said, "You are right, Mr. Sanders, I am indeed 18 years old."