In the first week of June, in the entire North American film market, only one heavyweight film "The Matrix" was released. " can be said to be the only one, coupled with the film's popular reputation, in the first three days of the weekend, "The Matrix" won a box office of 45.7 million U.S. dollars in one fell swoop. Including previous screenings and midnight box office data, the cumulative box office reached 51.03 million U.S. dollars.
On the following working days, "The Matrix" dropped by only 40% compared to the weekend box office. On June 7, the first week of "The Matrix" box office was released, with a cumulative total of 78.45 million US dollars, far exceeding the second place "Killing Time". "The next week's box office data of 21 million US dollars, without any suspense, won the first place in the box office chart of the week.
When the data came out, no one doubted whether the Wachowski brothers screwed up the project, and instead became the most watched new directors in Hollywood, and they were in the limelight for a while.
Burbank, Firefly Group headquarters.
Katzenberg returned from a business trip to New York.
Every year in April and May, it is the period when the major TV networks and cable TV stations in North America determine the start of new dramas and advertising bidding for the whole year. The ABC TV series, ESPN TV station, Disney Channel and AE TV network under the Firefly Group will all be confirmed during this period. New drama production plans and advertising bidding work throughout the year.
Katzenberg had just returned to his office after attending the new week's film distribution meeting. His assistant had already placed the Firefly TV advertising bidding data report on his desk.
After two months of advertising bidding, the ABC TV network has achieved an unprecedented 2.3 billion US dollars in advertising bidding revenue, relying on ace dramas such as "Friends", "Emergency Room Stories" and "Survivor". Know that before this, the year with the highest advertising bidding on the ABC TV network was 1992, at $1.9 billion.
In addition, several major TV stations such as ESPN TV, Disney Channel and AE TV Network's Lifetime also have advertising bidding revenues of 1.97 billion.
Taken together, the advertising revenue of Firefly's TV business in 1996-1997 is expected to reach 4.27 billion US dollars.
In addition to advertising revenue, the main income of Firefly Group's TV business includes syndicated copyright distribution, franchise licensing, video tape sales, and overseas distribution. According to the data of previous years, the advertising revenue of the entire TV business sector accounts for about 30% of the revenue data. In this way, the total TV business revenue of Firefly Group this year will reach 14 billion U.S. dollars. Compared with last year, the expected revenue will be A substantial increase of 35%.
Katzenberg is not a blind supporter of the listing of companies. During the Disney period, because as a listed company, Disney had to publish the salary data of the directors of the board of directors. Katzenberg, who does not like to expose his financial situation, has always refused to join the Disney board of directors. .
However, looking at the advertising bidding report in his hand at this time, Katzenberg still couldn't help but imagine how much it would stimulate the stock price if the Firefly Group chose to go public and the exposure of the advertising bidding data, perhaps, 10% Growth is just a very conservative tone.
There was a knock on the office door, and Katzenberg answered. The secretary opened the door and said, "Mr. Katzenberg, Mr. Cotter, and Mr. Wachowski are here."
Katzenberg nodded, stood up, and greeted the "Matrix" producer Robert Cotter and the director Wachowski brothers who entered the office.
After the surprise first week of "The Matrix" box office came out, the Wachowski brothers couldn't wait to discuss the production plan for the sequel with Firefly executives. Eric was filming "Casino Royale" in the Bahamas, and Katzenberg He personally took over the matter to show his respect for the Wachowski brothers. After all, any film company in Hollywood now only eagerly wins over the two brothers, and Firefly's executives will definitely not mind doing some small moves to buy people's hearts.
After warmly exchanging greetings with the three Wachowski brothers, Katzenberg ordered his secretary to make coffee, then pointed to the small conference room next to his office, and said, "Let's go in and talk."
Several people sat down at the desks in the small conference room, and the secretary quickly brought coffee.
Katzenberg signaled the three of them to be casual, took a few sips of coffee himself, and then took the initiative to say: "So, do you have a complete idea for the sequel?"
Robert Cotter looked at the Wachowski brothers, and Andy Wachowski took out the script from the bag he was carrying, and said: "Actually, we originally designed the script according to the idea of the trilogy. It's the next two scripts, Mr. Katzenberg, you can read them first."
"Jeffrey," Katzenberg said, "just call me Jeffrey."
Andy Wachowski nodded, watched Katzenberg open the script, and said, "It's like this, Jeffrey, we hope that the next two sequels can be filmed in one go, which can save part of the production. It can also better maintain the coherence and unity of the style and plot of the two sequels.”
Katzenberg quickly read the script, but it did not prevent him from focusing on two tasks. With the word-of-mouth and box office performance of the first part of "The Matrix", as well as the box office data feedback from some countries that were released at the same time overseas, the global box office of this film is expected to It will be about 600 million US dollars. With a total cost of over 100 million US dollars for film production and publicity, Firefly can make hundreds of millions of dollars in net profits at the box office. Turning the script in front of him again, he said: "Of course. , if possible, two continuous shooting is not impossible."
When Robert Cotter and the Wachowski brothers heard what Katzenberg said, their faces showed satisfaction. Seeing that Katzenberg was concentrating on reading the script, they didn't insert too much dialogue, although they still wanted to talk about it. Talk about the director's salary for the sequel, but these are not in a hurry.
Katzenberg quickly skimmed through the scripts of the two sequels, but gradually frowned.
Half an hour later, Katzenberg raised his head again, looked at the Wachowski brothers, shook his head and said, "To be honest, Andy, Larry, I didn't understand."
The two brothers were taken aback, and Andy Wachowski said: "Jeffrey, maybe you just read it too fast."
"No," Katzenberg shook his head. He is a staunch supporter of high-concept movies, advocating the plots of movies that can tell the story in one sentence, but when reading the script in hand, Katzenberg didn't understand it at all. What the Wachowski brothers were trying to express, if I had to use an unkind word to describe it, it would be mystification. Some things that Katzenberg thinks can be explained clearly, but the Wachowski brothers deliberately left suspense, and even some behaviors of the hero Neo in the plot make people look cloudy and foggy. Don't know why these episodes were inserted: "I mean, the story of the sequel is so...deep."
"But the audience likes it, doesn't it?" Robert Cotter said: "Jeffrey, everyone is praising the philosophical elements implied in the first film, so I think the sequel's script deepens the plot a little bit. , didn’t say anything bad.”
"I don't think this is deepening. The philosophical elements contained in the film that is being released are just right, and the audience is mainly looking at the innovative shooting techniques and the hot gun battle scenes in the film." Katzenberg shrugged and said: " Although these elements are also present in the script of the sequel, the whole story is completely absurd, and I think you need to revise the script."
With Katzenberg's fiery and tough character, it is already very restrained to say these words patiently. He's not a person who doesn't know how to deal with people at all, otherwise he would have used words like 'shit doesn't make sense' just now.
However, the Wachowski brothers, who have been enthusiastically sought after by the media in recent days, are still a little upset. Andy Wachowski said: "Jeffrey, I think, maybe you should show Eric the script first, He's definitely going to appreciate the script."
Whether it is a government department or an enterprise group, management at different levels is very taboo to report to the next level. This will not only interrupt the management order of a department or company, but also affect the personal authority of the corresponding management. Andy Wachowski said in front of Katzenberg that he wanted Eric to judge the script himself, almost slapping Katzenberg in the face.
Robert Cotter's face changed slightly when he heard Andy Wachowski's reckless words, and he thought to himself that even if you want to give the script to Eric Williams, you don't have to do it in front of Kasenberg Say it to Greg's face. As a producer within the Firefly Group system, Robert Cotter knew very well that Katzenberg was by no means the kind of boss who was good at communicating with his subordinates in a friendly manner.
However, Robert Cotter's expected outbreak did not come, and Katzenberg showed a strange smile instead, saying: "Of course, no problem, I can ask the secretary to pass the script to Eric now."
After working together for so long, Katzenberg has a clear understanding of Eric's film philosophy. Although his boss also likes to make some innovative film projects, and occasionally has some unexpected investment behaviors, the mainstream films of Firefly However, Eric's persistence in high-concept films is not much worse than him. After all, the reason why Firefly has been able to rise rapidly over the years is inseparable from the company's firm philosophy of insisting on high-concept commercial film production.
Although in Hollywood, the status of art films that can win Oscars is often regarded very high by ordinary people, in fact, no matter whether it is a major film company or an independent production company, the most important thing has always been in the eyes of those critics. High' commercial piece.
Such a cloudy script was handed over, and if the Wachowski brothers did not touch their noses, Katzenberg would be willing to burn the script in his hand to ashes and swallow it.
Seeing that the three of them didn't say anything for a while, Katzenberg took the initiative to exchange for a secretary, and personally ordered in front of them: "Sally, fax this script to the Bahamas immediately."
"Okay, Mr. Katzenberg," the secretary took the script and exited the small conference room.
Katzenberg won't get into too much trouble with the three. After all, although he doesn't approve of the Wachowski brothers' script, he also knows that after the script is revised, the two brothers will still be in charge of the sequel.
"So, it happens to be almost noon, and there is a good restaurant nearby, let's have lunch together? Eric is very busy recently, and it may take two or three days to reply to the message, so you may have to be patient."
The Wachowski brothers hadn't reacted from Katzenberg's actions just now, but Robert Cotter had already got up, and took the initiative to turn slowly: "Of course, Jeffrey, how about I treat you?"
"No, of course I'm here," Katzenberg said, looking at the Wachowskis. . .
The Wachowski brothers were suddenly rejected by Katzenberg because the wind has been too smooth recently, and subconsciously wanted to use Eric to overwhelm Katzenberg, but they are not idiots with negative EQ. Soon after speaking, I regretted doing so.
Seeing that Katzenberg didn't mean to be angry, the two brothers finally reacted, and following the steps Katzenberg gave, Andy Wachowski said: "Of course, this is our honor."
…
Bahamas, Paradise Island.
Eric hasn't seen Ivanka for almost three years. The former tsundere loli is a fifteen-year-old girl this year. She has inherited her mother's model genes. The girl is now close to 170cm tall, although she still has a smile on her face. A little baby fat, but standing among the three later supermodels Gisele, Alexander and Miranda, the momentum is not weaker than the other three women.
"Casino Royale" has been filming for a week. With such a large crew, it would be too extravagant to completely follow the normal weekend system. After all, it is not in the United States. Therefore, the producer signed an agreement with the crew and actors to work six days and take one day off.
The three daughters of Gisele arrived in the Bahamas by plane with Ivanka and her daughter two days ago. After a rest day for the crew, Eric arranged a short shot of the four girls for today.
As anyone grows older and more experienced, Ivanka loses her arrogance in front of Eric, and instead looks shy. A girl from a wealthy family is, after all, better than a normal child. Know more about the energy and power represented by Eric's huge wealth.
Eric didn't seem to notice this, and took the props that Ivanka had prepared for Ivanka from the hands of the production assistant, as if he wanted to deceive and coax him as usual.
At this time, outside the Ocean Park Club on Paradise Island, the crew is probably ready, but most of the staff are watching with great interest as Mr. Director coaxes his exclusive "mascot" in the film, even Ivanka's mother nearby is A pair of fresh vigor to watch the excitement. (To be continued.)