"The first day was more than 12 million, which was a good start, but yesterday Saturday, the box office should have risen, but it dropped to 9.5 million. If there is no accident, it will drop today. It is a pity that such a good series theme, although the first week with With the accumulated appeal of the last film, the box office may exceed 40 million, but next week’s drop is bound to exceed 50%, or even more.” In the banquet hall of the Hilton Hotel, Paramount CEO Frank Mancuso was half sighing and half Said gloatingly.
Warner President Robert Daly glanced at Qiang Peters who was holding a charming woman not far away, and said with a sneer: "Only those two idiots would let Tom Cruise tamper with this project at will, "Dark Wars" The main line of the series should be Tom Hanks and Joe Pesci, a witty supporting role. Each film should find a criminal with a distinctive image, so that the series can be continued in the safest way, rather than being changed into one It’s a ridiculous action movie, it’s safest for Tom Cruise to make an art movie.”
"He wanted to stand on his own, so Paramount had to terminate the contract with him. It was only now that Paramount barely recovered the cost of the "Ambition of Thunder" two years ago. Robert, I heard that Eric Williams Will he be an executive producer on Warner's The Bodyguard?"
Robert Daly knew about Frank Mancuso∽, so he must have wanted to get involved, but the cost of the movie "Bodyguard" is not too high, plus Eric and the movie "With Wolves" just now With the participation of Kevin Costner, who won the Oscars in "Dancing Together", there is almost no possibility of losing money for this film, and Warner certainly cannot let Paramount participate: "Yes. But the cost of this film It's not going to be more than $30 million. Warner has more than enough to handle."
Frank Mancuso didn't have much expectations. Of course, I won't be disappointed. I turned my head and looked around, and said, "Eric Williams hasn't appeared yet, and the airs of young people nowadays are really getting bigger and bigger."
Robert Daly did not echo Frank Mancuso's words, but he knew that although today was the weekend, Eric was still busy working on "Jurassic Park".
What an energetic young man.
Thinking of getting some news about "Jurassic Park" from some channels, Robert Daly was a little envious. With the level of special effects demonstrated by the digital realm on "Tornado", Robert Daly realized that "Jurassic Park" is likely to bring another visual spectacle.
Tonight's "Tornado" celebration banquet, according to the usual practice, would not have so many top seven executives appearing on the scene, but everyone also rushed over after seeing the huge potential shown by the special effects company in the digital field. This scene is like the birth of "Star Wars" more than ten years ago.
Prior to this, although Eric had continuously produced high-grossing films, the other major film companies of those types of films were fully capable of producing them.
But now the level of special effects technology shown in "Tornado". It is no longer something that the special effects departments of several other companies can produce independently. Because Eric has continuously handed over all the epoch-making special effects films such as "Terminator 2", "Jurassic Park", and "Tornado" to the digital field, relying on the technical accumulation of these films. The digital field has far surpassed Industrial Light and Magic in computer cg special effects.
Although after "Tornado" was released, the media's information about the arrival of the computer cg era was still only a guess, but the Hollywood film company with a keen sense of smell has realized a new reality from the firefly film series of disaster films and the "Jurassic Park" series. The era of the era is coming, and Industrial Light and Magic's status in the arena is destined to be replaced by the digital field.
There was a commotion at the entrance of the banquet hall. Robert Daly didn't need to look to know that it was Eric who had finally arrived, but he didn't rush forward as eagerly as those small characters. After a while, after Eric finished dealing with the people around him, he walked over with Frank Mancuso.
"Eric, congratulations, oh, and Miss Pakula," Robert Daly and Frank Mancuso greeted Eric together.
"Thank you," Eric smiled and raised the champagne with Joanna Pakula, who was gently holding his arm.
The four raised their glasses to their lips and took a sip. Robert Daly said first: "Eric, I heard that you are going to make a documentary about the Los Angeles riots. If you need support from n, you can give it to me at any time." Call up."
Eric nodded and thanked him again, and did not refuse Robert Daly's kindness. Moreover, Eric also knew that Robert Daly was not being polite to him, but really wanted to show his kindness to him. Because Warner CEO Steve Ross was critically ill, the two co-presidents, Robert Daly and Terry Semel, were already competing more intensely for the position of CEO.
And the reason why Steve Ross has been able to sit firmly in the position of Warner CEO over the years is to rely on Hollywood such as Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, and Tim Burton. well-known filmmakers.
Robert Daly showed his favor to himself at this time, probably to follow the path of Steve Ross.
Now that Steve Ross is completely unable to handle Warner's daily affairs, at this time, if Eric clearly expresses his support for Robert Daly, and under Robert Daly's matchmaking, he can reach some film agreements with Warner With cooperation, Robert Daly will definitely be able to defeat Terry Semel and ascend to the throne of CEO. After all, although Warner has a competitive relationship with Firefly, with Firefly's business performance in movies so eye-catching, Warner's shareholders will not make things difficult for them anyway.
However, Eric would definitely not agree to assist Robert Daly because of a trivial kindness. After all, from the overall point of view, the more serious the civil strife in Warner, the more beneficial it is to the other major film companies.
After chatting with Robert Daly for a while, Eric did not neglect Frank Mancuso: "Mr. Mancuso, I heard that Redstone and Barry Diller are both interested in Paramount. Is that true?"
Although Frank Mancuso is the CEO of Paramount. But about power. It is not even comparable to Robert Daly, the president of Warner. Of course, it is not because Paramount is not as large as Warner, but because Frank Mancuso has been surrounded by Paramount's major shareholder and chairman of the board of directors, Martin Day. Weiss was pressed and couldn't stretch out at all.
Hearing this question, Frank Mancuso just shrugged his shoulders, a little embarrassed and helpless: "Mr. Davis is presiding over these matters, and I am only responsible for the daily management of Paramount."
Eric was just curious for a moment. He didn't mean to poke Frank Mancuso's sore feet, so he quickly changed the subject.
After all, the reception is not a place to discuss business matters. On this occasion, if the two parties can really reach some cooperation intentions, they will only agree to discuss in detail at another time. Therefore, Eric chatted with Robert Daly and Frank Mancuso After a few words, he took Joanna's arm and walked towards the others. Except for his own people, all the executives from the other six universities were present.
"Michael. I'm glad you're here tonight," Eric said in the eyes of some people speculating. Towards Michael Eisner.
Michael Eisner smiled, nodded to Joanna again, and said, "You won't welcome me?"
"How is it possible," Eric smiled and shook his head.
The two chatted very familiarly for a while, and when they left, Joanna whispered, "Eric, the people at the banquet don't seem to like him very much?"
Eric said: "It's not that I don't like it, but I'm expressing my attitude. Firefly is the protagonist tonight. I must have some entanglements with Michael Eisner."
Thinking of Michael Eisner's lonely appearance just now, Eric paid more attention to Michael Eisner in his heart. Not everyone has the courage to appear on such an occasion destined to be left out. According to him, in the past few months, Michael Eisner has been discussing cooperation with Industrial Light and Magic, and has flown to Japan more than ten times in a row. Investment, in the next two years, as long as Michael Eisner can show the energy he had when he was just in charge of Disney, he will definitely lead the rise of Universal Pictures.
Joanna couldn't think of so much in her heart. After listening to Eric's words, she nodded half-understanding. Seeing Virginia not far away waving at her, Joanna let go of Eric's arm and said, "Wei Ji is calling me, I went to her place."
"Well," Eric looked at the figure of the little woman not far away, and asked with a smile: "Aren't you both on a diet recently? How can I see that you have both lost weight?"
"We found the same nutritionist, wouldn't it look good to be thinner?" Joanna asked with a smile.
Eric raised his hand, wanting to touch Joanna's cheek, but after realizing the occasion, he put it down: "Vicky looks better if she is thinner, so don't follow her diet, if you are too thin, The face will be slightly sunken, giving people the appearance of being sullen all the time."
"It won't be so serious, right?" Joanna touched her cheek without any scruples, and quickly said, "Okay then, I'll listen to you."
Watching Joanna leave, Eric looked around, but couldn't find any other women of his own. Unknowingly, the women had been divided into small circles, and they were clearly separated.
"Good evening, Eric," a voice rang in his ears. Eric turned around and saw Jon Peters who was smiling and raising his glass to himself. However, Eric was surprised by the The sexy girl next to Jon Peters, Eric couldn't help looking at her a few more times, the slightly darker sexy girl noticed the change in Eric's eyes, and generously reached out her hand: "Hello, William Mr. Si, my name is Catherine Zeta-Jones."
"Hello, Miss Catherine, you are so beautiful," Eric gently shook the other's little hand.
Jon Peters knew Eric's character very well. When he saw the woman around him 'interacting' with Eric, he subconsciously reached out and wrapped his arms around the girl's waist, and said, "Eric, Peter asked me to take him to tell you Sorry, he has something to go to Europe, so he can't come here today."
Feeling the hand on her waist, Catherine Zeta-Jones' body stiffened slightly, but the smile on her face remained the same. She took a small step back and leaned against Jon Peters again.
"Of course it doesn't matter," Eric looked away from Catherine Zeta-Jones and started to deal with Jon Peters.
Although there was nothing abnormal on the surface, Eric felt a little emotional in his heart. This emotion was not because of meeting another glamorous girl in memory, but because of the personal experience of the actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Jon Peters, Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, these three names, no matter which one is a powerful figure in Hollywood, although Jon Peters is recognized as an idiot by many people in Hollywood, but his Columbia film The identity of the president of the company is definitely the target of many middle and low-level figures in Hollywood; not to mention Steven Spielberg, and Michael Douglas was born in a family of performers. Accumulation, also has a very strong network in Hollywood.
And these three people at the top of the Hollywood pyramid were inserted into their lives by the same girl from an ordinary Welsh family.
Although Catherine Zeta-Jones has the beauty that many people envy, in Hollywood, beauty is the most indispensable thing. Therefore, while Eric admires this woman's means, he is also very curious about how this woman is related to Hollywood. These three powerful figures got connected.
Jon Peters looked at Eric's distracted look, but a strange pride appeared in his heart, and his arms around Catherine Zeta-Jones tightened involuntarily, and he said with a smile, "Eric, what's wrong with you?" ?”
"It's nothing, I suddenly thought of something," Eric looked at the half-smile expression on Jon Peters' face, and realized that his appearance just now must have been seen by the other party, and at the same time, some misunderstandings had occurred. However, Eric didn't mean to explain, so he just found an excuse to get away.
"By the way, about Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Eric, have you been to their studio recently? I've been there twice. For some reason, I always feel that the Hong Kong director's shooting method is a bit strange."
Eric nodded: "Hong Kong and Hollywood are still very different, but don't worry, I have been paying attention to this movie, and there will be absolutely no problems."
"If that's the case, I'm relieved," said Jon Peters, as if he really breathed a sigh of relief. (To be continued..)