"Establish a brand-new production company. Everyone will jointly hold shares and invest in the production of films, and sign a long-term cooperative distribution agreement with MGM. In this way, we can use MGM's distribution channels and avoid falling into MGM's Debt is a quagmire, and the interests of investors are fully protected," Eric said to representatives of several European film companies in the mansion of the Seydoux family in the western suburbs of Paris.
This method is similar to the previous cooperation method between Carlock Films and MGM, but because of the failure of the box office of the two blockbuster films in the summer, there is definitely no need for the two parties to continue to cooperate.
After listening to Eric's suggestion, most people in the reception room neither shook their heads nor nodded, but the representative of Lyon Credit Bank, Marcel Noiré, looked a little disappointed, but Eric had already communicated with him before. Well, the original plan, these people were not willing to agree at all, and it was impossible for Eric to forcibly drag these European film forces into MGM.
Nicholas Seydoux, the CEO of Gaumont Company sitting on Eric's left, asked first: "Eric, then, Firefly intends to participate in this company through cooperation?"
"Firefly will participate in the shareholding and provide convenience for the production of the film," Eric replied: "In addition, I will personally select ten films as the company's production plan for the next three years. As for everyone 3, in this company The interests held in the company are resolved through negotiation.”
After Eric finished speaking, the seven or eight people sitting in the reception room immediately whispered to each other. Eric didn't urge him, and picked up the coffee next to him and drank slowly.
After a while of discussion, Marcel Novare said: "Eric, can MGM have a cross-shareholding with this company?"
Eric glanced at the people around him and said with a smile, "If everyone agrees, I personally have no objections."
Cross-shareholding will definitely increase the operating risk of this new production company, but Eric is not too worried. As long as the planned plan is carried out, MGM's business situation will definitely be reversed in the next few years. After the stock exchange with MGM, the new production company can even share a part of MGM's distribution profits. This method of cooperation is also more convenient for Firefly to annex MGM directly or indirectly in the next few years. After this period of consideration, Eric became more and more greedy for MGM's film library.
Everyone was also very aware of the pros and cons, and they didn't express their views when they heard Eric say this.
Daniel Eisinger, the representative of Konstantin Films in Germany, asked in somewhat weird English at this time: "Eric, MGM's business philosophy is already very backward, and more importantly, the profitability of the film's peripheral development is very weak. , how do you plan to solve this point?"
Eric glanced at Marcel Novaret. Said: "Firefly is very, very happy to represent this part of the business."
Sensing Eric's eyes, Marcel Novare also expressed his opinion: "There is no problem with MGM."
The ultimate goal of Crédit Lyonnais is to revitalize MGM, and then try to sell it at a more suitable price in the next few years. It has no plans to continue to operate for a long time, so Marcel Noiret can easily represent Crédit Lyonnais made this decision.
When the matter came to this point, the dust had almost settled, and everyone present knew that Eric was determined not to allow them to directly inject capital into Firefly Pictures, if they insisted. Eric may not refuse, but it is not certain whether he can get a good cooperation plan. As people in the film industry, they know very well that Hollywood has a hundred ways to make them lose money. Of course, after these years of cooperation, these people can easily avoid most of the traps set by Hollywood. Of course, there are still some people who are not reconciled. Daniel Eisinger, the representative of Konstantin Films in Germany who just spoke, said again: "Eric, you just said the production plan of ten films in three years, can you tell me about the types of these films, or the scale of investment? Also. Do you have the right project in mind right now?"
Eric looked at the other party, and suddenly thought that he still had the copyright of a novella related to Constantine Films, and that was "Resident Evil". The "Resident Evil" series in the original time and space was invested by Constantine Films, and only a wealthy investor like Germany would produce six consecutive "Resident Evil" film series, which is not too profitable, until It wasn't over until Eric was reborn.
"I wrote a novella called "Resident Evil" a few years ago. If the new company is established, I can put the copyright of this novel into the production company."
"Jurassic Park", which is still rampant in the global box office market, is a change from Eric's first novel. The global box office of this film has exceeded 600 million US dollars in less than two months since its release, and the momentum has not weakened at all. Not to mention that a country with a super box office like Japan has not yet released it. In the next few months, there is almost no suspense that the global box office of "Jurassic Park" will exceed one billion US dollars. Therefore, hearing Eric's words suddenly, everyone present was shocked.
But immediately, everyone remembered the information about "Resident Evil". After "Jurassic Park" was released, many people inquired about Eric's other two novels "The Matrix" and "Resident Evil". It is also very clear that even if it is to be developed, these two novels must be the reserved projects of Firefly Pictures, and there is no possibility for outsiders to get involved.
"Resident Evil" is a restricted-rated zombie novel. This type of novel has a very narrow audience. Even Eric, a world-renowned director at this time, cannot change this situation. Moreover, zombie novels After it is adapted into a movie, the R rating is certain, and the audience of the movie will still be very small. Although with the blessing of Eric's personal halo, the profit of the movie adapted from this novel will definitely not be a problem, but it will definitely not be able to compete with "Jurassic Park" compared.
"Eric, I think your other novella "The Matrix" is also good, why don't you take out the right to adapt this novel?"
Eric shook his head slightly, smiled and said, "The current special effects technology can't meet my requirements, so I won't consider changing "The Matrix" for the time being in the last two years."
The special effects of last year's "Tornado" and this year's "Jurassic Park" can only be described as shocking. The special effects technology in the digital field is definitely the top in the industry. Many people present vaguely know the content of "The Matrix". Technology now in the digital realm. The problem of production is not too big, it is nothing more than the problem of production cost, and for these European film forces who have money and nowhere to invest, especially the German film fund, the problem of money is not a problem at all. They both invested 150 million U.S. dollars in the two films with such a rush. At this time, the film adaptation of Eric's work was made. Even if they are asked to invest 150 million in a single project, few people will shake their heads and refuse. Therefore, hearing Eric speak nonsense with his eyes open, more than half of the people in the reception room couldn't help but roll their eyes.
Eric also knows that these people are all good people, and they won't give in easily if they don't show some real benefits. After thinking about it, he said: "Well, Firefly is preparing a film internally, which is a A film adaptation of a TV show from the '70s. I can take it out and put it in a production company."
There are many well-informed people here, and Nicholas Seydoux immediately probed: "Eric, is it the "Charlie's Angels"?"
Eric nodded, because several blockbuster movies will be released in the summer file next year, forcing "Charlie's Angels" into the summer file will not get enough publicity resources from Firefly, so Eric was not in a hurry to "Charlie's Angels" "The production of "I plan to carefully craft it, and if it doesn't work, I will put it in the New Year's file next year. Although doing so will prolong the investment cycle accordingly, it will also allow "Charlie's Angels" to obtain sufficient publicity resources to achieve better box office results.
At this time, "Charlie's Angels" was taken out and put into a new production company. Then you can use MGM's resources to release the movie next summer. As for Drew, there is no problem, Xiao Nizi has always been obedient to Eric.
Seeing that everyone in the reception room showed satisfied expressions, Marcel Noiré, the representative of Lyon Credit Bank, couldn't wait to say: "In this case, Eric, why don't we discuss the specific equity distribution plan of the new production company?" Bar?"
Before Eric could answer, Daniel Essinger from Constantine Films immediately interjected, "Eric, how much is the total investment for the ten films you plan to make?"
"I can't answer this question for the time being," Eric smiled and shook his head, "However, the budget of "Charlie's Angels" is about 60 million US dollars. If you don't want to make a fuss, the remaining nine films will be invested Probably will maintain the corresponding scale of investment.”
"Sixty million is not enough. How about an average of 80 million?" Daniel Essinger waved his hand with some pride: "An average of 80 million, ten films count as 800 million, we in Germany can be responsible for four How about 50% of the shares for a share of 100 million US dollars?"
After Daniel Eisinger finished speaking, representatives of several other German companies nodded in agreement.
Eric sighed in his heart. At this time, the Germans are really as good as the Japanese who bought the world. If Germany is given 50% of the share, what about the French one? In addition, there is a British film company that also It is impossible to let others go back shirtless.
Nicholas Seydoux also shrugged amusedly. Since Eric has promised so many benefits, Firefly Pictures' share in the production company will definitely not be less than 30%. Others only have 20% left, which is not enough to fit the teeth, let alone plan to exchange some shares with MGM: "Daniel, it is definitely impossible to give you 50%, if it is only a matter of funds , although we don't have as much money as yours, we can still get 800 million US dollars."
800 million US dollars, that is equivalent to eating all the new production companies.
"Nicholas, we have more companies here, and we deserve more," Daniel Essinger found a reason that seemed reasonable.
Nicholas Seydoux immediately retorted: "It's not a question of how many companies there are. Who doesn't know that when you Germans invest in a Hollywood film, you usually register several companies."
Eric listened quietly as the reception room turned into a vegetable market in a blink of an eye. He was not worried about the distribution of benefits at all. If the fireflies did not participate, this plan would be impossible to implement, so Eric was the most stable The guy from Diaoyutai.
The crowd quarreled for nearly ten minutes before they finally calmed down, and Eric said: "For the specific cooperation plan, you can sit down and talk slowly, of course, you can't argue for too long, otherwise it will not be good for everyone. As for Firefly, in addition to the two copyright resources of "Resident Evil" and "Charlie's Angels", I will participate in the production of ten films throughout the whole process. Firefly only needs 30% of the company's equity, and at the same time share the production company's income from the film after deducting costs. 30% gross profit, as for the copyright development of related films just mentioned, according to normal business rules, Firefly will send a special person to contact MGM Pictures."
Eric didn't mention anything about the capital injection, but everyone in the reception room was very satisfied when they heard the 30% gross profit share. After all, Eric kindly asked them to deduct the production cost, which was to a large extent This reduces the investment risk of everyone here, and Eric will definitely be very concerned about the production company's affairs, because this share is only available when the film generates profits. Once the film produced by the company loses money, Firefly Not even a penny.
Seeing that no one raised objections, Eric continued: "How to distribute the remaining 70% of the company's shares, as well as the cross-shareholding Billy with MGM Pictures, is up to you to discuss."
Just as everyone was about to nod their heads in agreement, Eric said again: "By the way, the negotiation time should be within a month. I hope that after the negotiation is completed, the production of "Charlie's Angels" will start as soon as possible, so that we can also arrange the movie calmly." It will be released in summer next year."
"Eric, how should the cross-shareholding ratio between the production company and MGM be distributed?" Marcel Novare said at this time. Although their main purposes are different, Marcel Novare Knowing that Crédit Lyonnais shouldn't pass up the chance to be involved with a production company either.
Eric thought for a while and said: "Just as I said just now, the production company is valued at 800 million U.S. dollars, and MGM will be calculated based on the market value of 1.2 billion U.S. dollars. After everyone here divides the shares of the new production company, The rest will belong to MGM according to Billy." (To be continued...)