The three Easter films for next year have been decided, and everyone has roughly planned the distribution strategy for next year based on the experience of this year's "Easter Movie Package" plan, and the time soon came to noon.
After having lunch together, Amy Pascal and Joe Ross went back to their respective companies. Eric and Katzenberg walked on the corridor of the park together, chatting about "Public Enemy" and The "Men in Black 3" thing.
"Bill Michanik has been pestering me all this time, and Howard Stringer has personally called me a few times. Sony's attitude is very firm. They will never give up on "Men in Black" " series copyright. If Firefly has been delaying the production of sequels because of the protagonist's remuneration, they will file a lawsuit, or imitate Constantine Films' original model of continuing the copyright of "Fantastic Four" and spend millions to produce a superhero. A sequel to a low-budget B-movie."
Eric put one hand in his pocket and looked at the sky. A certain flight from London to Los Angeles landed at two o'clock in the afternoon, and now there is only more than half an hour left. Caroline and Melanie are early to Los Angeles International Airport.
Shaking his head slightly, and putting aside these thoughts, Eric asked, "Will Smith wants to sign a package contract? How much is their offer?"
Katzenberg felt that Eric was obviously absent-minded today, and replied: "'Public Enemy' plus 'Men in Black 3', $40 million."
Eric immediately shook his head again and said, "Impossible."
Although Will Smith quickly became popular with "Independence Day" and "Men in Black", in recent years, due to changes in the development of Hollywood, the few films Will Smith participated in did not arouse too enthusiastic response After the North American box office of "Rush Hour 2" unexpectedly exceeded 200 million US dollars at the end of last year, Will Smith's coffee position even appeared to be overshadowed by Chris Tucker.
The "Men in Black" series is already a super blockbuster, and the other party's offer of 20 million US dollars is understandable, and Eric is willing to accept it. But for other commercial films, Will Smith's current net worth is only about 10 million US dollars.
This contract seems to have an average remuneration quotation of 20 million per film, but in fact, the part occupied by "Men in Black 3" should be 30 million US dollars. Once it becomes a reality, this will once again break the record for the highest fixed salary in Hollywood.
Katzenberg also expected Eric's reaction, and was not too surprised, and then said: "Eric, this is already the result of bargaining with Will Smith, and the other party is unlikely to back down."
Eric also didn't mean to back down at all, and shrugged his shoulders in a relaxed tone: "Then continue to drag, since Will Smith has the idea of packing, it means that he also knows the meaning of the "Men in Black" series to him .”
"Men in Black" is to Will Smith what "Terminator" is to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The reason why Arnold Schwarzenegger has been able to maintain a first-line position in Hollywood is because of the popularity brought by two consecutive "Terminator" films in the 1980s and 1990s.
Now after "Independence Day" and two "Men in Black", Will Smith's other films in which he participated have not caused any waves. His popularity is already in a decline stage. Once "Men in Black" is completely Say goodbye to Will Smith, and the other person's Hollywood career will be reduced to an uncertain future.
After thinking about it, Eric said again: "If he wants to package it, then it will be 30 million US dollars. As for Sony Pictures, if they want to continue the copyright, then they will continue, and sign a contract with them to extend the copyright period." You don’t need to make any B-movies anymore. Tell Howard Stringer about the rest, and we’ll have the final say.”
Katzenberg said: "Eric, if this is the case, Sony will definitely request to sign extended copyright contracts for several other films. For those few films, Sony had already planned to give up, and we could have taken back all the copyrights."
"Then let's talk about it as a condition. We can't just sign a copyright extension contract for "Men in Black" with Sony. Of course, we have to exchange 40% of the copyrights of other films."
Katzenberg also got it right, and nodded with a smile: "This is indeed a good idea. However, on Will Smith's side, if we reject his package contract, the production of "Public Enemy" may change again."
Eric asked: "Isn't it okay for Cage? After "City of Angels", he doesn't seem to have accepted other film contracts."
"It seems that Jerry has shown him the script a long time ago, and Cage is not interested, otherwise the two sides have already reached an agreement."
Eric thought for a while, and said: "You let Jerry talk to Will Smith according to the single-film contract. I will take the time to talk to Cage. He should give me this face."
The two were chatting, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the parking lot of the film studio. When Katzenberg saw Eric's bodyguard helping him open the car door, he couldn't help asking: "I think you are always a little absent-minded today. , is there something wrong?"
Eric nodded, and said vaguely: "Well, some, private matters, it's not a big problem."
Katzenberg didn't ask any more questions, but only gestured with concern: "If you need help, call me anytime."
"I will," Eric smiled, said goodbye, and got into his car.
The luxury car drove out of the studio parking lot. Thinking about the next thing, Eric was still a little apprehensive. Seeing that the car was about to drive out of the gate of the studio, Eric said to the bodyguard in the front row: "Don't go back now, go Opposite, um, let’s check out the set of “Desperate Housewives.”
The theme park across Lincoln Avenue from Studio City has built a wall, and many projects are still in the planning stage, but some preliminary construction has begun.
It is impossible for the Wisteria Street of "Desperate Housewives" to be set up in the studio. There is no extra space in the East Studios, so it is placed inside the theme park. If "Desperate Housewives" can achieve enough influence in the next few years, The physical set, which cost a lot of money to build, will also be preserved as an attraction of the studio.
The set of "Desperate Housewives" is in the southeast corner of the new park. The luxury car passes through Lincoln Avenue, enters the new park, and turns left directly. Not far ahead is the set of "Wisteria Street" surrounded by high curtains.
Through the car window, Eric could see that many workers were busy in the park. However, because it is a theme park and the nature of the buildings is different, it is not as chaotic and noisy as other construction sites, and there are no large-scale engineering equipment. It seemed a little quiet.
As for the planned air corridor, it will not start until next year, and the official opening of the park will definitely be after 2000. It took eight years for Disneyland Paris from its establishment in 1984 to its opening in 1992. Although the Firefly Studios theme park is much smaller than Disneyland Paris, the entire construction process will take two to three years.
In order to reduce the risk, "Desperate Housewives" adopts the traditional filming and broadcasting mode.
The 13 episodes of the first season in the plan will start broadcasting on February 26th and end on May 14th. So far, 12 episodes have been aired, and the popularity of the series is also increasing step by step. The hourly 4.16 million has steadily climbed step by step to 6.35 million in the latest episode.
MGM expects that "Desperate Housewives" may reach more than 7 million viewers when the first season ends this Thursday.
The number of viewers of a single episode of 7 million is considered to be the peak of the current ratings of cable TV programs. However, according to the current popularity of ratings and the rapid popularity of American cable TV networks in recent years, it is only a matter of time before the number of viewers of "Desperate Housewives" reaches the tens of millions mark.
As a cable TV series, if the number of viewers can exceed the tens of millions, it is destined to leave a strong mark in the history of American TV dramas like "The Sopranos" and "The Walking Dead" in the original time and space .
In addition, although the reality show "Beverly Girls" of E! Entertainment TV did not have the high ratings of "Desperate Housewives" when it was broadcast, and the number of viewers of the first episode was only more than one million, the ratings curve of this reality show has grown very fast. ferocious.
Relying on the strong media resources of the Firefly system, Kris Jenner's various hype methods emerge in an endless stream. Several reality show actors who participated in "Beverly Girls" have become the most famous reality show stars in the United States in just a few months .
Correspondingly, the ratings data of "Beverly Girls" has also soared. In the first episode, the average viewership of "Beverly Girls" was only 1.12 million. By the end of the eighth episode, the average ratings of "Beverly Girls" The number has reached an astonishing 4.57 million.
The only regret of the whole reality show is that it was not produced according to the standard of 13 episodes or even 26 episodes, otherwise, the ratings of the first season would definitely be even more amazing.
A TV show achieved a 400% increase in ratings in the first season, which is a rare thing in the entire history of TV. If history does not change, only a few years later, the same type of reality show "Jersey Shore" launched by MTV will achieve this kind of pioneering work.
Because of the amazing ratings performance of "Beverly Girls", the second season of "Beverly Girls" and the first season of "The Housewives of Beverly" proposed by Eric are already in the preparation stage.
Maybe because this is the last episode of the first season, Eric entered the set and found that MGM's vice president John Carley was also on the set. John Carley is now mainly responsible for MGM's TV business.
After being notified by the guard, John Carley greeted them with Mark Cherry, the screenwriter of "Desperate Housewives", and Teri Hatcher, the heroine.
Eric greeted everyone and said, "I'm just here to take a look. If you have a job, go ahead."
John Carley followed Eric and said with a smile: "Elizabeth and the others are filming, we just took a break, Eric, is the filming of "Iron Man" going well?"
"Of course, it will probably be finished by the end of this month," Eric nodded, and then said to the chubby Mark Cherry, who was wearing glasses, "Mark, I read the outline of the second season you wrote, and said Really, better than the first one."
"Oh, thank you for your affirmation, Eric," Mark Cherry was very respectful, with his back slightly bowed, and said with some flattery: "However, if there is no idea from you, I must write Not out of this story."
Teri Hatcher, who was following around a few people, couldn't help curling her lips slightly when she saw Mark Cherry's respectful performance in front of Eric.
After several months of filming, everyone knows the details of Mark Cherry. This guy was originally a low-level screenwriter who was on the verge of bankruptcy in Hollywood. He received help from Eric Completed the task of the script of "Desperate Housewives". During this period, as the influence of "Desperate Housewives" increased step by step, Mark Cherry almost gave everyone a feeling of being a villain. He disappeared without a trace on the Internet, but his temper grew stronger in front of the actors and crew members.
Just now, even in front of John Carley, the vice president of MGM, Mark Cherry's attitude was somewhat arrogant. Teri Hatcher originally thought that they would never see Mark Carley again. Cherry looked humble.
The crew is filming Elizabeth Perkins' role as Perfect Housewife Bree Van Dikham. Everyone walked along the asphalt road of Wisteria Street to the outside of the house set of Bray's house, and they saw the crew members who were busy on the set.
Eric didn't mean to disturb, and sat down in the rest area with John Cali and the others, watching the shooting on the field.
After chatting casually about the filming of the series, Eric asked John Carley, "By the way, how are the preparations for the second season of "Beverly Girls" and "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" going?" "
John Carley said: "Kris hoped that "Beverly Girls" could be filmed and broadcast in the summer, but we rejected this somewhat radical plan. The second season will start shooting in June, and the autumn file will be released in September After broadcasting, everyone felt that 26 episodes might be too long, so the length of the second season was determined to be 13 episodes. However, in the future, two seasons can be produced every year like "America's Next Top Model". "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" "Over there, Chris is still looking for candidates for a beautiful wife, but it should be able to catch up with the autumn file."
Eric looked at the people who were shooting in the field, still a little absent-minded, and just nodded slightly after listening to John Carley.
John Carley thought for a while, then said, "Eric, there is one more thing."
Eric turned his head and glanced at John Carley: "Huh?"
"Kris signed a manager contract with several of the protagonists of "Beverly Girls", and, she said last time, she hopes to set up a production company to participate more deeply in the production of these two series of reality shows."
"No problem, as long as she can guarantee the quality of these two series of reality shows, it's okay for MGM to pay more. We can't take all the benefits." Eric smiled, not Too much mind.
Kris Jenner signed a manager contract with several actors of "Beverly Girls", and Eric also probably understands the twists and turns. There are too many profits from the reality show remuneration. What she values is the income from the commercial activities of several girls outside of the reality show, such as endorsements. The former Kardashian family’s main source of income was never that reality show. It is the endorsement income of other commercial performances behind the popularity of reality shows.
As for setting up a production company, that's all too common in Hollywood.
The copyrights of "Beverly Girls" and "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" are both in the hands of MGM. It is impossible for Kris Jenner to break away from the Firefly system when she sets up a production company, let alone gain any initiative. It is determined by fundamental strength. After all, without the support of the media resources of the Firefly system, "Beverly Girls" would never be as successful as it is now.