After reading the script, Eric found that there were many differences in details between this script and the finished film in memory, but the main line of the story has not changed.
Therefore, when he shoots in the future, he can easily modify these details.
The most important thing is that Eric did not find the song "Unrestrained Melody" in the script. The reason why "Human and Ghost Love" became a classic in the previous life has a lot to do with the well-known "Unrestrained Melody". It can be said that that song is a sublimation of the whole story. If the episode is replaced with any other song, "Human and Ghost Love" will never be as classic as the previous life.
And because of the Butterfly Effect, Eric is 100% sure that if this script is not directed by him himself, then "Unrestrained Melody" will definitely not appear again. Without this song, plus various other differences, Then after this script is made into a movie, it will be a miracle that it can reach half of the performance of the previous life.
"Mr. Robin, I have finished reading the script. Although there are many places that need to be revised, it is generally not bad. How much do you plan to sell this script for?" Eric closed the script, raised his head and asked.
There was a cunning flash in Bruce's eyes behind the lens. Instead of answering Eric's question, he asked, "Mr. Williams, what do you think needs to be revised?"
Eric stared at Bruce, shook his head and said, "This depends on the specific situation at the time of shooting."
Seeing what Eric said, Bruce didn't continue to ask. He even felt in his heart that what Eric said just now was probably just to lower the price. He is confident that although the script has been revised many times in detail by himself, it is not perfect. But it will not need to modify many places as Eric said.
"It's actually like this. Mr. Williams." Bruce said: "At the party last night, I recommended my script to some people, and many people were very interested in it. Charles W. Mr. Jaffe also promised that if I sold the script to Paramount, he would not only personally act as a producer to fully support the filming of the film, but also allow me to be named as a co-producer and enjoy the profit share of the film."
Eric sneered in his heart, and asked calmly: "Mr. Robin, how much profit share does Paramount plan to give you?"
Bruce hesitated. I wanted to stretch out a few more fingers, but in the end I didn’t dare to make such a lie that could be broken at the first poke, and said truthfully: “In addition to the script remuneration of 300,000 US dollars, Mr. Jaffe also promised me 1% of the North American profits. into."
"Then what do you think, if this script is filmed, how much box office will it get?"
Bruce smiled smugly, and said, "Mr. Williams, since this script is your favorite, I think the box office can reach at least 100 million US dollars. Maybe it will be more."
Eric said: "Look, even if you take it to other directors, the box office can still reach 100 million U.S. dollars. Based on the production cost of 20 million and the publicity cost of 10 million, you can only get 250,000 U.S. dollars in the end." The share is less than your basic remuneration."
"Of course I know that," Bruce shrugged, "That's why I'm here today, Mr. Williams, I wonder how much you plan to charge for this script?"
"500,000," Eric said, of course he would not raise the price too high at one time, otherwise how would he bargain.
Bruce Joy Robin showed an unbelievable look, and raised his voice: "Mr. Williams, is a script with a box office of more than 100 million US dollars worth only 500,000?"
"Mr. Robin, don't you naively always say $100 million at the box office? No one knows how much a movie will make until it's released. So, how much do you want?"
Bruce stretched out three fingers and gestured at Eric: "3 million, and I have made two scripts into movies before, so I know what Hollywood's so-called profit sharing is. I don't want profit sharing. I want 1% of North American money. Box office share."
Even with some mental preparations, Eric still didn't expect Bruce to offer such a lion's price. Even he himself has never received such remuneration. Back then, the script of "Return to Seventeen" was the lowest price of 200,000 US dollars, without any share.
Afterwards, "Home Alone" and other films, although the investor is himself, but in order to avoid wrangling in the future and issues related to tax returns, the contract clearly states how much his screenwriter's remuneration and director's remuneration should be.
For example, the recently released "Small Island", as the screenwriter, because the investment of "Small Island" is only 5 million US dollars, he does not get the basic script remuneration, but enjoys 3% of North American profit sharing, according to "Small Island" According to the box office trend of "Scary", the amount of money is probably only more than one million.
Eric leaned his body on the leather chair, smiled and shook his head and said, "Mr. Robin, the price you are asking is simply a fantasy. No screenwriter in Hollywood has ever been able to get such a treatment."
"No, no, there is one in front of me," Bruce complimented Eric a little, and then said: "Mr. Williams, compared to the profits that this movie can bring, the price I offer is a little bit higher." It’s not too much, is it? Maybe the male lead in just one film gets paid much more than me.”
"You're wrong, Mr. Robin, I can't get that much. The income of me exposed in the newspaper is the final result after summing up my identities as an investor, director and screenwriter. If I just As a screenwriter, then what you get is less than one percent of those numbers."
"Mr. Williams, how about giving me a more sincere price?" Bruce said, "You know, this script is like my child, so I hope an excellent director can make it into a movie. "
Eric felt contempt in his heart. What he hated the most were those who always said that xxx was like his own child. Although some of them did come from the heart, most of them were just pretending.
And just after hearing Bruce's lion's mouth, Eric knew that the middle-aged man in front of him must be the latter type, otherwise, what he should be talking to himself now should be the content of the script, not himself How much money do you want to get.
"A basic remuneration of US$3 million and a share of the box office is definitely impossible," Eric said, "You just said that Paramount intends to give you a script remuneration of US$300,000 and a 1% profit share, so what I can offer , is also the price. Mr. Robin, I promise, my 1% must be more than Paramount's 1%."
Bruce Joy Robin shook his head immediately: "Mr. Williams, it seems too dishonest for you to say that."
Eric wanted to show his sincerity, he was not a stingy person.
However, with the greed of the middle-aged man in front of him, Eric understands that once he raises the price too high, the other party will probably go to other film companies to ask for higher "sincerity" in no time.
"Mr. Robin, I'm already very sincere. I only got $200,000 for my first script without any share. Now you can still get 1% of the profit share. To be honest, I just think you This script is good, but this is the first time I try an outsider's script, the risk is very high, if I don't pay attention, it may destroy my brand."
"Maybe I should go to other film companies to give a hint. I received a lot of business cards last night." Bruce took the script back and put it in his bag, saying.
Eric stretched out his hand, made a casual expression, and said, "Please, but I don't think anyone will offer a higher price. And even if you go back to find Paramount, according to the film's production and announcement The cost of distribution, the box office needs to reach 60 million US dollars to recover the cost, I think the possibility of you getting that cut is very low, because I don’t think your script is directed by someone else, and it can get too high at the box office. Now, maybe no one will dare to accept your script in the future."
Bruce Joy Robin hesitated slightly when he heard Eric say that, but got up to say goodbye to Eric.
Watching the other party leave, after the other party left, Eric turned his attention to his work and didn't think about it again. Although Bruce Joy Robin is somewhat greedy, he is still a smart person, and a smart person can definitely make smart choices. The other party may not realize the meaning of his last words now, but he will soon understand.
Now that the script was smashed, no one would dare to accept his future scripts. Correspondingly, if this script becomes popular when it is made into a movie, then Bruce Joy Robin will definitely pay a sky-high price if he writes the script in the future, and Eric is the only one who can guarantee the best sale of the script when it is made into a movie.
I have to say that Bruce Joy Robin is really a very calm person. For the next week, he didn't contact Eric again, and Eric didn't hear about "The Love of Ghosts" Script news.
At the same time, after the second week of release, the box office of "Small Island Cry" still reached 25.54 million. Although it did not achieve a box office reversal as expected, the box office decline of less than 5% has exceeded everyone's expectations. The total box office has also accumulated to more than 52 million, which is more than 10 times the production cost of the film. Originally, some Disney executives were worried that Michael Eisner would not be able to recover the cost if he insisted on investing twice the cost of the film’s publicity and distribution. However, after two weeks of release, Disney has already reduced the publicity and distribution costs according to its share. After taking it back, no matter how long "Small Island" is released, the share it gets will be pure profit.
All other film companies envied Disney's good luck, and at the same time, they stopped making irresponsible remarks on the high share that Michael Eisner gave Firefly, and even began to praise Michael Eisner's courage. (To be continued..)