Los Angeles.
It’s a Saturday night in the Bel Air neighborhood just outside of Beverly Hills.
Yesterday, after officially signing the overseas distribution contract for "Run Lola Run" with Warner, Simon received an invitation from Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Terry Semel to attend a party hosted by the latter tonight.
"This is a very smart romantic comedy called "When Harry Met Sally". It tells the emotional journey of the male and female protagonists Harry and Sally from meeting, hating, getting along, getting to know each other, and finally falling in love over a period of twelve years. The story is somewhat similar to Woody Allen's "Annie Hall," but without Woody Allen's neuroticism, it is more heartwarming and interesting."
At the party in the courtyard of the mountainside mansion, Terry Semel held a glass of cocktail and listened to Simon with a smile, but shook his head and said: "Simon, for "Annie Hall," the audience happens to like Woody. Allen's neuroticism of a small intellectual. According to your description, "When Harry Met Sally" is another love sketch that relies on dialogue and emotional changes to promote the plot. In this type of movie, there is no Woody... With Allen’s kind of technical support, or the lack of big-name actors, it would be difficult for the audience to generate much interest.”
Simon also held a glass of cocktail and stood opposite Terry Semel. He still smiled after hearing this and said without being humble or condescending: "Terry, maybe you should read the script first. If Warner is interested in this movie, what should I do?" You can even shoot a sample video first, this is definitely a movie worth investing in."
"Simon, if you pay a little attention, you will find that there has not been a hit romance movie in Hollywood for ten years, let alone a romance sketch with a bland plot." Terry Semel still shook his head and turned to But then he said: "Simon, you are a very talented screenwriter. So, why don't you try to write some police action movie scripts like "Beverly Cop" and "Lethal Weapon"? This is Hollywood." Fashion trends in recent years, if you have any ideas in this regard, you can contact me at any time.”
"Beverly Cop" was the North American box office champion produced by Paramount Pictures in 1984.
"Lethal Weapon" belongs to Warner Bros., and the film was released a month ago.
When Warner bought the movie's script for a high price of $250,000, it caused a small sensation in Hollywood. Although it has been firmly suppressed by "La Lola Run" since its release, "Lethal Weapon" has currently received nearly 40 million U.S. dollars at the North American box office, and the total North American box office is expected to exceed 60 million U.S. dollars.
Compared to the production cost of US$15 million, Warner also made a huge profit.
Now that he has reached a cooperation with Warner, Simon has also taken advantage of the opportunity to get to know this film company, one of the seven major film companies.
The result is that Warner Bros., which is supposed to be very powerful, has been in even worse shape than Fox in recent years. For example, last year, Warner's highest-grossing movie of the year, "The Devil" starring Sylvester Stallone, had a total North American box office of just over $49 million.
Knowing this, Simon no longer wonders why Warner won the overseas distribution rights of "Lola Run" at a relatively high price.
In this day and age, overseas releases of movies are usually delayed from three months to more than half a year.
There is no doubt that Warner has a very complete global film distribution network, but at the moment, the film company itself has no films worthy of global distribution. Having so many overseas branches but no films to distribute is obviously a huge waste of resources.
Therefore, "Run Lola Run" has become a very good choice.
The North American box office of "Run Lola Run" is expected to exceed US$200 million, and there is no risk of loss in overseas distribution. As long as it works properly, this movie can earn at least US$100 million at the overseas box office. Although the operation cycle of video tape and TV broadcasting is slightly longer, it can definitely bring very huge profits.
With these thoughts in mind, Simon could only nod towards Terry Semel and said: "If there is a similar idea, I will definitely do it."
"Well, that's it for the time being," Terry Semel said, then looked at Janet next to Simon and said, "Miss Johnston, your negotiations these days are really impressive. Are you interested in coming to Warner Bros.?" Working?"
Janet smiled and shook her head and said, "Terry, do you want to give up your position to me?"
"Oh, this is not something I can decide," Terry Semel smiled, raised his glass to the two of them, and said again: "You guys have fun."
After Terry Semel finished speaking, he turned and walked away.
Simon watched Terry Semel leave and noticed Janet's eyes flickering next to him. He smiled and said: "When you are in contact with studios these days, you should know Frank Price, the president of Universal Pictures." ?”
Janet didn't know why, but nodded.
Simon said: "When Spielberg wanted to make "ET", Frank Price was very dissatisfied with the project. He thought Spielberg's idea of making a children's film was simply crazy. In the end, Universal's parent company CEO Sid Sheinberg personally made the decision and the project was approved.”
Janet curled her lips: "Then what?"
"Everyone knows what happened later. The production cost of "ET" was only 10.5 million, but the global box office exceeded 700 million US dollars."
Janet has become more and more familiar with many things in Hollywood during this time, and she couldn't help but say: "$10.5 million, that's really interesting."
The production budgets for projects of major Hollywood studios are usually a relatively loose round number, 10.5 million U.S. dollars, with some parts and numbers, which is enough to show how harsh Universal was on the "ET" project at the time.
"This is indeed the case. Therefore, after the success of "ET", Spielberg publicly announced to the entire Hollywood that he would never collaborate with Frank Price again. Then he served as executive producer of "Back to the Future" "For several projects, Spielberg even specifically wrote this clause into the contract."
Janet smiled and held Simon's arm, saying: "In the future, we will also write those who have rejected you into the contract."
"I won't do such boring things," Simon shook his head and said, "Speaking of this, I just want to tell you that in Hollywood, everyone will be rejected, and everyone must get used to being rejected."
Terry Semel invited Simon tonight just to build a relationship with him, a young Hollywood filmmaker with great potential. But when the outside world is still bombarded with negative reviews for "The Butterfly Effect", Terry Semel will not rush into any cooperation with Simon. What's more, the script for "When Harry Met Sally" was not written by Simon.
The two stayed at Terry Semel's party until around 9:30, then left.
Back at the Palisades mansion, the message reminder light on the phone in the living room of the villa was still flashing. Janet ran upstairs to change, and after Simon heard the phone message from Amy Pascal, he simply called again.
Janet didn't know when she had gone downstairs again. Wearing a loose white sweater and jeans, she ran to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. When she came back, she lay on the sofa like a kitten and watched Simon on the phone.
Simon and Amy chatted on the phone for half an hour before putting down the phone.
He came over, picked up the coffee that Janet had poured, and relaxed on the sofa.
Janet had already heard a general idea from the side. At this moment, she leaned over and said, "New World Pictures also rejected it?"
Simon nodded.
New World Pictures is the film company that acquired Marvel Entertainment last year. It was originally founded by Roger Corman, the king of Hollywood B-movies. It has also been in a state of rapid expansion in recent years. Although it does not have as many hit movies as Orion, it has This company is inherited from Roger Corman's prudent business philosophy. New World Pictures' operating conditions are much stronger than those of similar second-tier film companies such as Orion and Canon.
These days, Simon and Amy are working separately to find investors for "When Harry Met Sally", and New World Pictures is also one of the potential partners.
Now, apparently it failed again.
When Janet heard Simon's confirmation, she frowned slightly again and said, "Then what should we do next?"
"Now is not a good time to find a partner for "When Harry Met Sally". I have asked Amy to stop temporarily," Simon said without the trouble in Janet's tone: "Let's see next week. The box office of "Butterfly Effect" dropped in the first week and the second week. If the situation improves, Amy and I will contact those independent film investment funds. As long as we attract investment, it will be easy to find a distributor. Finally, If it really doesn’t work, we will invest our own money, but in this case, the filming will definitely have to be delayed until the end of the year, and subsequent distribution will not be easy.”
Janet twirled the fabric on the shoulder of Simon's shirt and listened to him speak so clearly. She said softly: "Goldberg feels like he is being cooked in the past two days, and David and Brian, They are also very anxious. Simon, do you really not care about those negative reviews? I can’t even read them, it’s too much.”
Simon felt something similar to Janet's tone, took one of the woman's little hands and shook it, and said: "Do you want to see me pretending to be worried?"
Janet's eyes flashed, she shook her head and said, "I don't want to."
Simon put the coffee cup back on the coffee table in front of him, and with a little force on his hand, Janet lay down and rested her head on the man's lap.
Looking at the woman with bright eyes in his arms, Simon helped her move the blond hair covering her neck, looked down at the woman and said seriously: "Including those doubts some time ago, and the negative comments from the media now, to be honest, I I don’t feel much at all in my heart. Because I clearly know what kind of person I am, what abilities I have, and what I can do in the future. The small actions of those people may delay my steps or make me feel some trouble. , but no matter what, they couldn't stop me from continuing on. To use a slightly arrogant metaphor, how could a lion care about the bite of ants."
"Simon..." Janet raised her hand, carefully touched the man's face, and whispered: "You will truly conquer the world."
"Yes," Simon tilted his head and kissed the woman's palm, smiling: "So, when the time comes, please be merciful and don't destroy my world, okay?"
"Um."
Janet nodded seriously, still looking up at the man above her, with a sudden look of reluctance in her eyes, and asked in a low voice: "Simon, what about us, where is our future?"
"Us," Simon's fingertips traced Janet's delicate face, and said softly: "It's still a little early. In a few years, we will get married. Then, we will have a few children. You will be a good policeman, and I will Be bad cops and we’ll bring them up together.”
There was longing in Janet's eyes. After hearing what Simon said, she shook her head in the blink of an eye. She grabbed one of Simon's hands and held it in her arms, saying: "It's not like this. It shouldn't be like this. Simon, you are a lion. Grassland The king was destined to conquer the world, how could he be held back by a kitten and become a mediocre man who stayed in his own little home. It shouldn't be like this."
Simon felt that Janet's mood was getting more and more wrong, so he picked up the woman and put her on his lap. Looking at the woman's unknowingly dim eyes, a pity suddenly arose in his heart, and he said seriously: "Jenny, did I just What words made you misunderstand? If so, I apologize."
"No," Janet shook her head, leaned over and kissed Simon on the lips, then leaned over the man's chest, hugged him hard, and murmured: "Simon, I told you last time on your birthday , I will not become a tie for you."
Simon also hugged the woman in his arms tightly and said firmly: "No, of course not. How can you, a little kitten, tie down a lion?"
"But that's the truth," Janet said dreamily: "You know, Simon, I love you very much. This is definitely not the kind of love at first sight, because since I was very young, I have known that in my life, Either you will be alone forever, or you will only love one person forever. I have always felt that the first option has a higher chance. But when I was 27 years old, I suddenly fell in love with a little man. He is smart, powerful, lonely, mysterious, crazy, and determined, but at the same time he accommodates me when I am messing around, indulges me when I am willful, protects me when I am drunk, and trusts me when I work. Me. Although I know that this is because the lion will not care about the mischief of the kitten, I still fell in love. I will not be as timid as Kate, so since I love you, I must hold on to this man tightly. .”
Simon reached out and pinched Janet's crystal earlobe, and said softly: "It's not good to talk about Catherine behind her back like this."
Janet's earlobes were very sensitive, and when Simon pinched them, her face immediately turned rosy, but she did not break away, and remained pressed against the man's chest, and continued: "Then, Simon, after we really get along, I soon discovered your shortcomings. .”
"This," Simon said with a worried look on his face, "Just keep it in your heart, don't talk about it everywhere."
Janet smiled softly and directly revealed the answer to the mystery, saying: "Simon, I found that you are a guy who likes to pamper the people around you, especially those who love you. It is always difficult for you to refuse them. I always treat them twice as much, and I even always feel that what I do is not good enough.”
Simon retorted weakly: "This shouldn't be considered a shortcoming, right?"
"Of course it's a shortcoming," Janet rubbed her face against Simon's chest and said, "Just like me, in fact, I have always known that you are not ready to accept a relationship at all, but after Christmas Eve last year , you still recognized my identity." At this point, Janet suddenly raised her eyes to look at Simon and said: "Last time in Arizona, Simon, did you sleep with Kate?"
Simon shook his head: "No."
"Look, that's it," Janet put her cheek back again: "You obviously like Kate more, and Kate actually has a crush on you. I think you didn't even need to say any sweet words, just put Kate in your heart when you were in Arizona. Carrying her to her room and pressing her on the bed, she wouldn't even resist. But you didn't do that. This is the bond, my bond to you."
"This is what I should do," Simon patted Janet on the back and said, "If any other man dares to carry you into the house, I will definitely kill him."
"You don't have such a chance. I can kill people too," Janet said, patted Simon and said, "Don't interrupt."
"All right."
Janet continued: "During this period, your adjustment to the income of "Lola Run" is the supplementary contract. Simon, I can feel your guilt. You want to accumulate more capital quickly, But you feel that this is unfair to me. You feel that what you have given me is not enough, and you feel that it is a bit selfish to do so. But how is it possible, Simon, I only paid 400,000 US dollars, but now, I You can get back 67 million US dollars. A 168 times return. What kind of greedy person would think that this is not enough? So, Simon, this is your shortcoming, a very fatal shortcoming. I can feel your concern for this world. It is difficult for you to take the initiative to love someone due to estrangement and indifference, but you are too soft-hearted and too indulgent towards the person who loves you."
Simon forced a smile and said: "Jenny, you won't be disappointed in me now, will you?"
"Of course not," Janet immediately shook her head, looked up, and said seriously: "I love you, Simon. I like your strength, your mystery, and your indifference. But if you really care about the world, Everyone is cold and ruthless. I may love you, but I will never want to be with you. Your shortcomings make me love you more. But at the same time, your shortcomings make me yours. Tie."
Simon couldn't help but interrupt: "Jenny, that's not the case."
Janet raised her hand and put it on Simon's lips, and continued: "Last month, at the villa in Malibu, I asked you if you wanted to marry me quickly so that you could own half of my property. I could feel it. You were in a panic at the time, but you still joked with me as if nothing had happened. Just now, you were able to calmly tell me that in a few years, you will marry me, have several children, and I will be a good policeman. You act like a bad cop. Obviously, you must have thought about this more than once during this time. You know I am looking forward to this kind of thing, because I am 27 years old, and a 27-year-old woman must be looking forward to marriage. Since Love, I do look forward to this. Moreover, I have no doubt whether you will fulfill your promise, because you will definitely. However, this makes me realize that until now, you are only 19 years old. 19 years old A boy should be flying freely. And my king, the Lion King on my grassland, needs to conquer the world without any worries, instead of hurriedly thinking about having children and returning because of a kitten. family."
When Janet said this, without waiting for Simon to speak again, she reached out and hugged the boyfriend in front of her tightly, and quickly said: "So, Simon, let's start over. From the time we first met in the evening in Burbank. Start. That day, standing on the side of the road, you said, you come from Watsonville Mental Hospital. That’s cool.”
Simon felt the woman in his arms tremble slightly after saying these words, reached out and patted her waist gently, and said: "Jenny, I think we should take a bath together now, and then have a good sleep."
Janet did not let go, and whispered: "Simon, I don't want to break up with you. How can we break up if I only love one person in my life? But, I don't want to be a tie to you. So, we are just like Harry and Like Sally, start as a friend. I won’t disturb your life or your work. If you need it, I can help you take care of the company. But, we are not lovers for the time being, okay? "
Simon shook his head and said, "Not good."
Janet didn't seem to hear Simon's answer, and said to herself: "I will move back to Malibu tomorrow. Before I met you, I actually always wanted to open a gallery, but I was too lazy. A small studio It's still a mess. Now, hey, I'm motivated. After "Run Lola Run" was released, people kept contacting me because of the painting in the movie."
Simon didn't know what to say for a moment, so he just remained silent.
Janet finished speaking to herself and remained silent for a while before saying again: "Simon, I'm a little scared."
"Um?"
"When a lion conquers the entire grassland and becomes the real king, will he still care about that little kitten?"
"Of course," Simon said firmly: "That is a very selfish lion, and what belongs to him will always be his."
"Then why don't you keep your kitten now?"
"is that useful?"
"No."
"Then I won't keep you," Simon patted the woman and said, "But if you still live here, I'll move out."
"Why?"
"The paparazzi will probably go crazy when they hear this news. I don't want them to disturb you. It's more private here than in Malibu."
Janet curled up the corners of her mouth, her eyes sparkling, and said, "Then you can live over there in Malibu. I'll lend it to you in the name of a friend."
"No."
"You can pay rent."
"Actually, I prefer a villa with a more modern style."
Janet thought of her European-style villa in Malibu and her current Mediterranean-style mansion, and tightened her arms around Simon's waist: "You have been accommodating me."
"Yeah, there's no need to accommodate now."
"Well, little bastard," Janet seemed a little dissatisfied. She stretched out her hand to pinch her, but she didn't use any force at all. She said softly: "You live in Malibu, so they don't know that we are temporarily separated."
Simon thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Okay."
Janet paused for a moment, feeling some wavering in herself, and quickly shook her head and said: "Still, no, you can live wherever you like, even if you go to share a room with Kate right away, I don't care. We , we..." Janet murmured something, suddenly broke away from Simon's arms, stood up and took two steps back, and said firmly: "Simon Westeros, I officially inform you that we have broken up."