Firefly Burbank headquarters the next morning.
As a magical movie project that Disney Pictures will focus on in the next ten years, when Eric was in the UK, he had already sent the first manuscript of "Harry Potter" back to Los Angeles in advance, and distributed it to the core executives of Firefly , I hope they can understand the content of this novel in advance.
At the same time, Eric also personally communicated with Murdoch several times. Harper Collins Publishing House, which is owned by News Corporation and has a distribution network all over the world, will release the first volume of the series in the UK, the US, Australia and other English-speaking countries at the same time in early September. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" will continue to be promoted to non-English-speaking countries after it has gained enough influence. Firefly Group will also invest enough media resources to promote this novel.
Although the film project will not be formally approved until the "Harry Potter" novel has gained enough influence, but because Katzenberg, Frank Wells and others who have read the novel are very optimistic about this story, everyone It was unanimously decided to hold a special meeting to discuss and make a detailed film and television and theme park development plan in advance.
"Different from traditional fairy tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, and Mermaid, one of the great advantages of the "Harry Potter" series is that it is easier for people to feel a sense of substitution. The setting of the novel takes place in London in reality, which can Give readers an illusion that the story is happening around them, which can attract their interest in the story to the greatest extent. But at the same time, it is telling an interesting adventure in the magical world, which is different from the bizarre "Alice in Wonderland" "is different, this story is more friendly to the people, because since we were young, there have been countless rumors about wizards and magic around us."
In the conference room of the office building in the administrative area of the film city, Eric was briefly explaining why he was optimistic about this story, when the door of the conference room was knocked suddenly a few times.
His thoughts were interrupted, and Eric looked over with some displeasure, and saw his female assistant, Kelly Haines, apologetically pushing the door open, and made an urgent gesture to him. Peter Rich has rushed to FFM TV station to take up his post. Before the new personal assistant is selected, Kelly temporarily took up this position.
Eric nodded to signal everyone to wait a moment, walked outside the meeting room door, and asked, "Kelly, what's wrong?"
Kelly stuffed the mobile phone in her hand and explained, "Amy called."
Eric put the phone to his ear and said hello, and Amy Pascal on the other side said something eagerly.
After listening to Amy quietly, Eric frowned, but without much hesitation, said: "In this case, just do as I said yesterday, you call Yahoo and ask them to publish a Announcement...nothing to talk about, Barbara's side is up to me to explain...the board of directors? Oh, Amy, this is Hollywood, we have the final say. After you make the announcement, contact Kapoor and let him start the search for a new Bond Candidates. Kevin Costner seems to be on CAA's side, so the script of "Disc 3" needs to be adjusted to increase supporting roles that may replace Ethan Hunt, so I'll hang up first."
Listening to the conversation between Eric and Amy, Kelly also guessed what happened. She took the mobile phone handed over by Eric, saw him standing there in deep thought, and said carefully: "Eric, you Are you really going to replace Brosnan?"
Eric sorted out his thoughts, nodded and said, "Yes, you heard that too."
Kelly's tone was obviously worried: "But, isn't the impact of doing this too great?"
"There will definitely be an impact, but it's not as serious as you think. The agent movie universe has been built, and now the audience is not much less interested in the series itself than in the protagonists." Eric explained, see The worry on Kelly's face did not diminish at all, she smiled and said, "Think about it, if I agree to Brosnan's salary conditions, if I want to continue to complete several major series, the salary of the others will also be the same." The tide rises, and even the next few films may cost close to 200 million U.S. dollars. In addition, in addition to the fixed salary, the profit share requested by the leading actors will not be less than 30% of each film. In this case, Even if the next six films all maintain a global box office of 1 billion US dollars, we will not have much profit. What's more, this expectation is unrealistic. Even if one of them fails at the box office, the entire series will be impossible. Go ahead. Now, replace Brosnan, who is the least risky, and show MGM's determination, and the protagonists of the other two series will not be so safe before the lion opens his mouth."
In fact, there are deeper reasons for Eric to make this decision. He just suddenly thought that maybe this matter will become an opportunity. Because, within the Firefly system, Hollywood's traditional profit distribution rules are no longer suitable.
Outside of the Firefly system, several other major film companies are either listed companies or controlled by consortiums that actually do not have much control over Hollywood. This has also led several major film companies to launch a film. The main creative team does not consider the interests of shareholders and investors at all.
Take "Lethal Weapon 4" that Warner is currently producing as an example. Joe Silver's production company is responsible for the production. The high budget of 140 million US dollars mainly comes from the speculative hot money that has flocked to Hollywood in recent years.
As a result, the global box office is expected to be only about 300 million U.S. dollars, and Mel Gibson, as the leading actor, took a sky-high salary of 30 million U.S. dollars. Producer Joe Silver also enjoys a basic salary of 8 million US dollars plus later box office share, and other main creators such as directors, screenwriters, and supporting actors have also received generous remuneration. In the end, Warner Bros. will definitely not be able to earn a penny through the box office of the movie, and can only expect some profits from the later DVD and TV rights. Moreover, under Hollywood's special financial system, whether external investors can recover the investment of 140 million US dollars is another matter. It is even more difficult to even think about making money. As far as Eric knows, Wall Street is responsible for guiding hot money in Europe and Asia. Film funds that invest in Hollywood movies have an average annual rate of return of less than 10%, and losses abound.
In the end, as far as the whole project is concerned, Mel Gibson made a lot of money, Joe Silver also made a lot of money, and the director, screenwriter and other main creators also made money. With enough salary and bonuses, the movie box office can also make Time Warner's revenue report more beautiful, and everyone is happy. Only Time Warner's shareholders and the investors who provided the film's production budget don't get any benefits, because they don't belong to Hollywood and can't get their own share of the 'cake' from Hollywood's profit chain.
Due to the closed financial operating system, Firefly plays the roles of shareholders and investors, which are excluded from the Hollywood interest chain.
In the original time and space, even after more than ten or twenty years, although batch after batch of bigots poured money into Hollywood one after another, most of them failed after being slapped with blood because they still couldn't get enough power to change the rules. After all, Sony Pictures, barely surviving in Hollywood, is basically just a cash machine for Hollywood big names like Will Smith and Adam Sandler who often enter the list of the lowest cost performance.
Now, since he firmly controls the two major Hollywood film companies, maintains a strong influence on Fox, another film company, and has enough power to change the rules, it is naturally impossible for Eric to let this situation continue.
The first thing to change is naturally the increasingly unreasonable high salaries of Hollywood stars. Perhaps in the process of changing the rules, there will be a self-defeating situation, but if it does not change and the situation continues to develop, Firefly will not only lose more and more. There are more and more profits that should belong to the film company, and at the same time, it is impossible to gain control of Hollywood at all.
As for stars, many people may have forgotten one thing, all the big names in Hollywood were created by a big studio through investment in a movie. What's more, the Firefly system, which focuses on special effects films and animated films, is far less dependent on stars than other major film companies.
The same morning at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Pierce Brosnan is attending a new product fair for Omega, the Swiss watch brand he recently won.
After the fixed process such as product display is completed, the media Q&A session will begin, and the topic of course cannot escape the question of "Casino Royale" and the next 007 movie.
"About the plot of "Bond 19", I haven't seen the script yet, and even if I see the script, I definitely can't disclose it at will. Haha, everyone should ask some other questions."
On the simple stage, Brosnan and the host sat on simple armchairs, held a microphone, smiled, and dealt with reporters' questions in a personable but very skillful manner.
Although the contract for the sequel is still in the process of negotiation, he never thought that he would give up this role, even if some concessions will be required in the end. After all, since he first appeared on the big screen in 1980, he has endured for more than ten years before he reached the peak of his career today. How could he give up, not to mention that he will be forty-five soon, although the His career is far more than that of an actress, but at his current age, outside of Bond, there are not many mainstream blockbuster roles suitable for him.
After answering a question, the host next to Brosnan was about to select the next questioner, as if suddenly, at least ten mobile phones in the conference hall suddenly rang, which was quite monotonous and even harsh in this era. Filled the entire event hall.
Brosnan was taken aback, and the host was even more embarrassed, holding the microphone and reluctantly joked: "Well, maybe the Martians have attacked the earth, but before the earth is destroyed, let's put this press conference first." Are you done?"
Amidst a burst of cooperative laughter, the reporters whose mobile phones rang in the audience turned off their mobile phones voluntarily. However, other staff members in the venue did not have such scruples, and avoided answering the phone one after another.
So, just as the host picked the next questioner and handed over the microphone, Brosnan's public relations manager named Sarah Lindert rushed to the stage in a panic, completely ignoring the astonishment of others Looking at him, he followed Brosnan's ear and said a few words quickly, and then Brosnan also stood up abruptly.
Although he immediately realized his gaffe, Brosnan didn't care about other things. He simply said sorry and left the stage in a hurry.
At this time, the group of reporters in the audience also realized that the call just now must have something to do with Brosnan, and something must have happened, so they took out their mobile phones again and called back.
In the corridor outside the conference hall, Brosnan walked towards the elevator quickly, and Paul Darick, the president of Omega North America, who also received a call, followed him, and asked quickly, "Pierce, what is going on?" If you don't plan to play Bond again, you shouldn't sign with us, you are simply fraudulent, we have the right to cancel the contract and demand compensation."
Brosnan walked into the elevator with his public relations manager, frantically pressed a few buttons, and said to Paul Darrick who was chasing after him with the same embarrassment: "Sorry, Paul, I don't even know what happened right now. What's up, give me some time, please?"
Paul Darric wanted to ask more questions, but he noticed that Brosnan also had a confused expression on his face, so he said, "OK, but you must give me an answer as soon as possible."
Brosnan nodded, reached out and pressed the elevator button a few more times, suddenly remembered something, and before the elevator door closed, he pulled his public relations manager out of the elevator, saying: "Sarah, call Rick, immediately."
"Okay, okay," Sarah Lindert quickly took out her mobile phone from her satchel, and at the same time passed Brosnan's mobile phone over. In order to avoid being disturbed by the activities just now, she had just kept it for Brosnan. phone.
However, just after taking out the mobile phone, the two mobile phones rang again almost at the same time.
Perhaps the matter was not chaotic enough, the group of reporters who were originally at the scene of the Omega event had already frantically chased them out before the two of them had time to connect to their mobile phones.
"Mr. Brosnan, is the announcement just made by Yahoo Portal true?"
"Pearce, did you really turn down MGM's $100 million package deal?"
"Pierce, you seem to have received this news just now, may I ask if there is any hidden secret in it?"
"..."
"Get out of the way, get out of the way."
"Sorry, we have no comment on this matter at the moment."
"Please make room for me, we will give the media an answer as soon as possible."
For a while, half an hour later, Brosnan finally brought his PR manager to CAA's headquarters in Century City. 19" will be re-cast' announcement has spread throughout Hollywood. (To be continued.)