"The other party's preliminary condition is," Bill Michanik said: "Sony Pictures can share 15% of all the income from all channels of "Dad Going Forward", including box office, audio-visual products, and peripheral broadcast authorizations, as distribution fees. We need to bear the publicity budget of the film."
Compared with the time when he just stared at the box office stupidly, Eric knew that the producer of Adam Sandler's new film was a veteran of Hollywood just as soon as he heard it.
Among the Hollywood film production and publicity budgets, the most vain is undoubtedly the publicity budget.
According to the rules, several major labor unions in Hollywood need to take a fixed percentage of the net profits of Hollywood movies as their membership benefits. In addition, some film creators will also sign net profit sharing contracts with film companies, as well as some tax avoidance factors. In order to reduce Even to avoid this part of the expenditure, the production company usually falsely announces the budget and offsets all the profits generated during the film distribution process, making the book show a loss state. This is the so-called Hollywood account book.
The producer of "Dad Going Forward" proposed that Columbia should bear the publicity budget of the film, which directly avoided the big pit of the distribution company falsely reporting the publicity budget. You know, the publicity budget of Hollywood movies is basically only about half of the production cost, but the publicity budget on the books of many films is even higher than the production cost.
Moreover, the 15% distribution share of omni-channel revenue is obviously carefully considered.
The income here is naturally not the profit of the film, nor is it the total sales revenue of the film’s box office and DVD channels, but the income obtained by the film company after sharing it from various terminal sellers, such as the 55% of North American mainland and theater operators. % share, the average overseas share is about 35%, and the wholesale income of audio-visual products, etc.
Adam Sandler's overseas box office appeal is basically negligible, and the operating cycle of audio-visual peripherals such as video tapes and DVDs is too long. For Colombia, the most real thing is the box office share in North America.
The 15% share of box office revenue, after a little calculation, is only equivalent to 8% of the total box office revenue in North America. That is to say, if "Dad Goes Forward" earns US$100 million at the North American box office, Columbia Pictures can only get US$8 million. Although the overseas box office is not much, it is still no problem to collect US$2 million.
In this way, Columbia can get 10 million US dollars from the box office. According to the current proportion of Hollywood box office, audio-visual, and licensing revenues each accounting for one-third, after about two years of omni-channel operations, Columbia's total revenue is about 30 million US dollars.
New Line's publicity budget for "The Wedding Singer" and "Tea Boy" are both 10 million US dollars, of course, this is definitely not written on the books. If "Daddy Rush Forward" also follows this standard and has been busy for two years, Columbia can only get a net profit of 20 million US dollars.
It is not difficult to guess that since Adam Sandler rejected New Line's $15 million remuneration offer, then the independent production company's remuneration for him should start at least $20 million.
Compared with Adam Sandler's easy income, Columbia has been busy up and down for two years, earning a lot of hard money.
Hard money.
A film company, one of the Big Seven in Hollywood, was reduced to making some hard-earned cash from its stars, and might as well have gone bankrupt.
In fact, Sony Pictures in the original time and space, except for the clinging "Spider-Man" series that can occasionally make the company's financial reports look better, other times, it is basically in the same position as Adam Sandler and Will Smith. The status of these ultra-low cost-effective stars earning "hard money". Paramount has already turned against Tom Cruise, who earned more than $70 million per "Mission: Impossible" movie, but Will Smith has frequently won singles from his Sony Pictures partnership. Up to 80 million US dollars in income.
After sorting out his thoughts, Eric said to Bill Michanik without hesitation: "Reject them, we don't want the distribution rights of this movie, and we will not accept similar conditions in the future."
Bill Michanik hesitated, and said, "Eric, the 15% share is definitely still negotiable."
"Bill, you must have made the profit forecast for this film, right?" Eric asked, without waiting for Bill Michanik's answer, he continued: "I'd rather the Columbia distribution channel remain idle than Work for stars. Columbia lacks production funds. I will give them to you. You need publicity and distribution resources, and the media network of the Firefly system can provide them. Therefore, what you have to do is to take your team to find good film projects. You For two years, if Colombia still hasn't improved after two years, I will make the first layoff. If it can't be saved after that, I will cut you and merge Columbia into Firefly."
After Eric finished speaking, he ignored the two of them, got up and walked directly outside the restaurant.
Bill Michanik digested what Eric said just now, and felt the pressure doubled.
Although Eric's words just now were very fierce, but if you think about it carefully, you need money for money and channels. If you can't do it well, even if Eric doesn't speak up, he will be ashamed to stay in Colombia. However, as one of the most risky industries in the world, who dares to guarantee the success or failure of a movie
Looking at Kenneth Horn, who seemed to be completely unaffected by Eric's words just now, and drinking coffee leisurely, Bill Michanik suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and tentatively said: "Kenneth, I heard that Besides "Midnight Ring", how many good scripts for Japanese-style horror movies does New Line have?"
Kenneth Horn shook his head without waiting for Bill Michanik to raise it, and said with a smile, "Don't even think about it."
Bill Michanik took a sip of coffee depressedly, and said: "I found that Eric personally helped you pick so many projects, and even MGM's agent movie universe, but Columbia has nothing. ah."
"Really?" Kenneth Horn still had a smile on his face, and said, "If not, you can give me "Pirates of the Caribbean", and you can pick any script from New Line."
Although "Pirates of the Caribbean" was suppressed by Eric himself, there is no intention of starting it, but just thinking about Eric buying Sony Pictures directly for this script, one can't imagine how much he attaches to this project.
Hearing Kenneth Horn's request, Bill Michanik immediately 'retaliated with an eye' and said, "Don't even think about it."
Eric won Colombia, to a certain extent, for "Pirates of the Caribbean", and more importantly, to continue to expand the production and distribution platform of the Firefly system.
Although many people in and outside Hollywood are very pessimistic about Columbia's prospects, Eric is full of confidence in Columbia's recovery. After all, for him, choosing from hundreds of film projects that are brewing in Hollywood every moment It's a no-brainer to get some blockbuster scripts to Columbia.
What he said just now was just a blow to Bill Michanik.
Kenneth Horn obviously saw this, so he acted very relaxed. Bill Michanik was beaten by Eric, so he would naturally pay more attention.
As for Adam Sandler's new film, even if the box office hits 200 million or more in the future, Eric doesn't care. Resetting Hollywood's profit distribution rules is definitely more important to Eric than temporary gains and losses.
Moreover, leaving the Firefly system, there are three remaining companies, Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal Pictures, but absolutely none of them seem to be comparable.
As for the so-called "Sudden Entertainment" that independently distributes, given that Hollywood has completed the major integration of the media industry, the other party will definitely face seven joint constraints in doing so. There is not enough advertising resources, and it cannot get enough cinema On the online platform, the original box office with a potential of 100 million US dollars, it is considered lucky to get 50 million.
After all, the number of viewers and the size of the ticket warehouse for each schedule are fixed, and the entry of an independent company is tantamount to cutting flesh from the top seven, who would be willing.
It can be said that after the new century, unless there is a fundamental change in North America's policy on the media industry, the number of major Hollywood film companies will only decrease, but will not increase.
Leaving the restaurant, Eric originally wanted to go up to the top plywood to get some air, but found that Harvey Weinstein, Robert Redford and others were already standing here, and Julia was still standing in the crowd. Talking and laughing happily, when seeing Eric appear, his temperament suddenly changed, and he came over like a soft little wife, and hugged Eric's arm affectionately.
Everyone could feel Julia's abnormality, but no one showed any strange expression on their faces. For so many years, Julia obviously didn't care about these things at all. Among Eric's women, only Julia dared to put the ruby ring on her hand without caring about any occasion, and rarely took it off. .
Feeling the slipperiness of Julia's silk dress, Eric greeted everyone with a smile: "What are you talking about?"
"Sundance Film Festival," Robert Redford said, "Eric, are you interested in coming to Park City for skiing? Now is the right time?"
In addition to being a well-known Hollywood director and actor, Robert Redford is also the founder of the famous Sundance Film Festival.
Eric was not interested in skiing. Although he knew that Robert Redford meant to invite him to the Sundance Film Festival, he still planned to shake his head and refuse.
However, just as she was about to speak, Julia gently tugged at his sleeve, and whispered expectantly: "Eric, I promised Bob to attend the opening ceremony of the Sundance Film Festival next week, Will you go with me?"
Julia seldom made any requests to Eric. When the girl spoke, Eric couldn't think of refusing at all, so he looked at Robert Redford again and said, "So, Bob, next time What day is it?"
"The opening ceremony is on Thursday," said Robert Redford, although he had heard about Julia and Eric, but this was the first time he saw them. "The opening ceremony will be held in the evening, you can go there on the same day."
"Okay then, I'll take Julia to see it then," Eric nodded, and continued the topic: "Are there any outstanding films this year?"
"Well," Robert Redford said with a smile: "I think all the films are very good, but, whether it suits your taste, you have to watch it yourself."
The purpose of the Sundance Film Festival is to support independent films and newcomers and new works. One of the biggest characteristics of these films is their low cost. As the most successful director of commercial films in Hollywood, it is difficult for Robert Redford to judge whether Eric is still interested in these small production films.
Eric could also roughly understand the subtext in Robert Redford's words, and said: "Actually, the production cost of a movie has never been the most important thing. Instead, I prefer the kind of movie that is small and big."
Harvey Weinstein shook his head when he heard Eric's words, and said, "Eric, everyone likes what you said."
Eric was stunned for a moment, then laughed, and said, "Yeah, actually everyone likes it."
After talking and laughing for a while, Eric took Julia off the deck and asked as he walked, "Where's Liz?"
"She's gone to New York." Walking in the corridor in the cabin, Julia pressed closer to Eric's body, and added: "It seems that she went to fight."
Eric became interested as soon as he heard it, and said, "Why are you arguing?"
Julia became confused and said, "I don't know."
Although Murdoch is shrewd and ruthless in business, he has never been a strict father, otherwise, the two sons would not grow up to be dudes. The old man is even more partial to Elizabeth, who is the most outstanding of his children, and Eric has never seen Elizabeth quarreling with his father.
Then, if you go to New York to quarrel, the object can only be a certain strange woman.
Thinking of Elizabeth and the girl being abused and crying when they bickered, Eric was a little worried about her trip to the quarrel.
When they came to the lower main deck, Eric walked to the buffet table, picked up a plate with Julia, and planned to eat something, then asked: "Forget it, let's not talk about her, your new movie preparation How is it?"
"I have already negotiated with Soderbergh," Julia said as she picked out the food, "The filming will start in March and will be released at the end of the year."
Eric nodded, and said with a smile: "Nicole's "Moulin Rouge" schedule has been pushed to next year, and it is estimated that no one will compete with you this year."
As a large-scale musical, Nicole's "Moulin Rouge" originally hoped to be released this summer, but due to various delays, the summer file could not be completed, and the schedule at the end of the year was too crowded. In direct competition with "Uncompromising", Fox simply pushed the schedule to next year.
The two took the food, took the plate and walked to a table and chair on the deck and sat down. Julia said, "I don't care about the actress, Eric, you don't care, either, right?"
Eric pretended to think about it, and said with a smile: "It's better to be an actress."
"Well, then I'll take a queen." Julia's expression became strange again in an instant, and she said, "Eric, if you can't wait, there are several queens on board right now."
Eric really wanted to knock on Julia's forehead like a girl, but there were so many people around that he didn't move, and said, "Who is there, why didn't I see it?"
Julia looked around, pointed with her little finger, and said, "Hey, Holly Hunter, the actress of "The Piano Farewell", although she played a mute in that movie, her voice is actually It sounds great."