If this possibility is excluded, the grade of the script will be reduced by one.
Immediately afterwards, Eric left from the group of people, and Bruce chased after him, and described the outline of the script to Eric. After listening to Eric, he just left a business card for the other party and asked Bruce to go to the next day. The company discusses in detail.
Well, it is certain that Eric is interested in this script, but there are too many scripts that Eric is interested in. The other party asked Drew Barrymore to buy copyrights everywhere during this time, although he thought he would do it. It's silent, but everyone who should know knows that scripts are actually the least valuable thing. Hollywood produces 8,000 scripts every year if not 10,000, and only a few hundred can be made into movies.
Therefore, what Michael Eisner needs to confirm is whether Eric will direct the script himself.
So far, three of Eric's movies have been drawn, and the box office in North America has exceeded 200 million US dollars. Judging from the box office of "Home Alone 2" in the first week of 46 million, it is only 200 million US dollars. A matter of time.
In this case, the next movie that Eric decides to shoot, unless the other party decides to take the art film route to hit the Oscars, the box office will definitely not be less than 100 million US dollars, and maybe another one may reach 200 million US dollars at the box office], movie of.
And Michael Eisner has personally read the script of "Ghost Love", which has absolutely nothing to do with art films.
"Bruce, are you sure that during the discussion with Eric, he said that he planned to direct the script himself?"
Bruce was a little annoyed because of Michael Eisner's long thinking, but he nodded and said, "Yes. Williams said from the beginning to the end that he would direct the script himself."
certainly. Bruce omits Eric's emphasis on the difference between directing himself and someone else directing.
Because it would hinder Bruce's bargaining with other film companies. In fact, Bruce already has another plan in mind. As long as other film factories can give him a satisfactory price, he doesn't have to sell the script to Eric. As long as it is stated in the contract, the other party must let Eric do it. Being a director is enough. As for how those big companies hire Eric, that's not something he should worry about.
After thinking about it again and again for a while, Michael Eisner finally made a decision: "US$1 million. Plus 3% North American profit sharing. Mr. Robin, this is the final offer given by Disney. There is no room for bargaining. I I believe that no other film company will offer a higher price. So, if you agree, we can draw up the contract immediately, and if you don’t agree, you can leave now.”
The corner of Bruce Joy Robin's mouth twitched, and he quickly calculated in his mind that the price had actually met his psychological expectations. You know, a few weeks ago. He is just trying to find ways to sell the script, and now the $1 million plus 3% profit share has far exceeded his initial psychological expectations. The condition of sharing with the box office is just for bargaining. Moreover, Michael Eisner sitting opposite seemed to be tougher than he imagined. He knew that the other party was not joking, and he would not get much results from bargaining.
In this case, Bruce also quickly made a decision: "Mr. Eisner, I can sell the script to Disney at the price you said, but I have one condition."
"Please," Michael Eisner simply made a gesture of invitation.
Bruce Joy Robin said: "I want Eric Williams to be the director of this movie himself."
Michael Eisner's expression moved slightly. He knew very well that a movie made by different people would definitely have very different effects. Therefore, I originally had the idea of buying this script and co-producing this movie with Eric in the future, otherwise I would not have charged such a high price to Bruce.
"I can promise you this condition." Michael Eisner pretended to think for a while, then nodded.
"No, I haven't finished," Bruce said with a sly smile, "I'll sell the script to Disney at the price you just said. Disney must first pay me $1 million, and then three If within three months, Disney cannot confirm that Eric will direct the film, the contract will be voided, and as for the $1 million deposit, I can only return 50% to Disney at most."
Michael Eisner lowered his face: "Don't you think this is outrageous?"
Bruce shook his head: "Of course not, I took a big risk by doing this. If you fail to invite Eric Williams as the director, then after the contract is voided, outsiders will definitely be able to guess our conditions .If I want Eric Williams to be the director of this movie, I won't get much benefit at all."
"How can I be sure that you won't secretly disclose the news to Eric Williams?" Michael Eisner asked.
Bruce said in surprise: "How is this possible, Mr. Eisner, even if the news is leaked, it is more likely to be leaked by you Disney yourself, because if I leak it myself, I will lose at least one million dollars. It’s not worth mentioning, but it’s a huge amount of money to me.”
Michael thought about what he might do next, and then said, "Three months is too short, at least a year."
"At most half a year, a year is too long."
"It's not long at all. Since you are a Hollywood screenwriter, you should know that there are many scripts that have been made into movies after ten or eight years of ups and downs. Therefore, one year. After one year, even if Disney fails to succeed, The value of your script will not depreciate, so there is only one year."
Bruce lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, "Okay, just a year."
"Then I'll have someone draft the contract." Michael Eisner stood up, picked up the intercom on his desk and said a few words.
A few hours later, the script contract was signed and Bruce Joy Robin was sent away. Michael Eisner took a car to a villa in Malibu that he had agreed upon a long time ago. It is already afternoon. Several people in the villa have arrived ahead of schedule. If you are very familiar with Hollywood, you will recognize them at a glance. These people are the leaders of the seven major companies.
"Hi, Barry, long time no see." Michael Eisner walked up to Barry Diller first, and greeted him warmly.
"Yeah, everyone is very busy. I can't remember the last time we met." Barry Diller said with a smile.
Michael Eisner greeted Warner's CEO Steve Ross and Universal CEO Sid Schinberg, and then found a seat next to Barry Diller.
Soon, Columbia Pictures CEO Peter Guber, who was acquired by Sony not long ago, also arrived at the villa.
Followed by Paramount's CEO Frank Mancuso, so far, six CEOs from the seven major film companies have come.
The top leaders of several major film companies know each other, and most of them have worked together before, so even if they have a competitive relationship with each other, they all look warm on the surface. After chatting for a while, Michael A. One of Sina's assistants hurried in. Whispered a few words in Michael Eisner's ear.
After the assistant left, Barry Diller asked, "Is the MGM guy not coming?"
Michael Eisner nodded.
"Hey. In fact, it doesn't matter whether he comes or not. He can't make any decisions. Everything has to be decided by that bastard Kirk Kerkorian. It's nothing to come." Frank Mancuso, CEO of Paramount Said it like this: "A few months ago, that bastard in Cork wanted to invite me to host MGM, but whoever takes over that mess now is in luck."
As the leaders of several major film companies, everyone here has some feelings for movies. Hearing what Frank Mancuso said, they all felt emotional, thinking about how beautiful MGM was back then.
"That being the case, let's get started," said Michael Eisner, who helped bring the gathering together.
Hearing what Michael Eisner said, the remaining five people stood up and walked to a meeting room that had been prepared earlier.
Sitting down at the conference table, an assistant came in and distributed the materials prepared in advance to several people present, then quietly closed the door of the conference room and exited.
"Let's all take a look, we can't let Firefly go on like this." Michael Eisner said, this is the information he asked to sort out about Firefly. In fact, several other film companies have these data, but Michael Eisner . It is also impossible for Eisner to let the opponent 'bring their own dry food'.
The room was silent for a long time. Time Warner's CEO, Steve Ross, first closed the documents in his hand, and the others also read the documents one after another.
Then, they looked at each other.
They all knew that fireflies were already a huge threat to the Seventh Congress, and they also had the information on the documents, but they hadn't compiled them together yet.
Now the achievements of Firefly this year are all in front of these people, and the impact on the few leaders can be imagined.
"Unexpectedly, the profit of Firefly this year has already exceeded half of the total profit of our seven major companies." Steve Ross said with emotion.
Frank Mancuso of Paramount shrugged his shoulders, looked at his former boss Barry Diller meaningfully, and said in a very bachelor way: "Martin Davis wants to get involved in everything, but he doesn't know how to do it at all." , Paramount's profit this year is negligible, and perhaps it will usher in a loss next year."
The CEO of Universal stroked the plastic cover of the folder, and glanced at Michael Eisner: "The combination of "Small Island" and "Steel Magnolia" is estimated to get more than 200 million at the box office, and Disney also won. Winner, Michael, what are you going to do?"
Michael Eisner could hear the sourness in Sid Sinberg's words, and said: "Disney didn't make much money, Williams only gave us the right to distribute the film, and the videotape and TV rights are not in Disney. hand."
"Then you can earn at least forty to fifty million yuan," Steve Ross also said.
"Don't argue, don't forget what we are going to discuss today." Barry Diller interrupted the conversation.
Then, the five people set their sights on Barry Diller. Everyone knows that Fox is the closest collaborator of Firefly. Not only does it hold the distribution rights of the three films directed by Eric himself, but also the video tapes, etc. around. And Fox got Friends.
Of course, Barry Diller could understand the meaning in the eyes of these people, and said in a deep voice: "If you think it's inappropriate for me to be here, then I can leave. But if this is the case, there must be no point in today's gathering."
After Barry Diller finished speaking, he glanced around coldly. No one said anything else before continuing: "I won't talk about it before. You must have read this week's box office data. November 17th to November 23rd This week, the total box office in North America was about 130 million, but the three films related to Firefly accounted for more than 70 million, more than half of the total. If we continue to let Firefly continue to expand like this, you should be able to imagine What will the Seventh Congress usher in?"
Sid Schinberg of Universal said: "Before Firefly acquired New Line, I told you that I couldn't let Firefly complete this acquisition. But the fact is that this acquisition was completed without any resistance. , none of you stopped it. Now that there is a new line, Firefly will have a distribution channel. Even if their overseas distribution is still extremely weak, as long as Firefly continues to make huge profits in China, it will be a matter of time before it develops and expands overseas channels. .So, you say, what can we do now?"
The crowd was obviously silent for a short time. Barry Diller looked at Michael Eisner who organized the party: "Michael, since you initiated this party, you must have some ideas in your mind, right?"
Michael Eisner nodded: "Right now, it's impossible for us to stop the development of Firefly, so we can only try our best to get a stake in it. Since we can't destroy it, we should control it as much as possible."
"Oh, it would be great if it was as easy as you said. I think everyone here has discussed with Firefly about what to do?" said Columbia CEO Peter Guber, who has been relatively silent.
"Of course, so normal means are definitely not enough. In this case, we can only use some extraordinary means." Michael Eisner said in a low tone: "This requires the joint efforts of several of us to succeed. "
"What about MGM?" Frank Mancuso asked worriedly.
"Kirk Kerkorian is not an idiot. After we work together, MGM will definitely follow." (To be continued...)