Harvey knew that "Love Crazy" had won.
As much as possible, interview the distribution rights of each work in person, even if the other person is a nobody who jumped out of a rock. This is the consistent strategy of the Weinstein brothers, expressing their sincerity, evaluating each other's potential, and laying a solid foundation for long-term cooperation. Who knows if there will be another Quentin Tarantino among these independent filmmakers. Woolen cloth
Before today's meeting, Harvey was more or less curious about Renly. In just half a year, riding a rocket-like rise, carrying the name of genius, and quickly gaining a firm foothold in Hollywood, Harvey wanted to see if Renly had the potential to cultivate.
In addition to distribution, Weinstein Pictures is also involved in the field of production, impacting the awards season every year, and they also have a group of actors who work closely together, Judi Dench, Michelle Williams, Scarlett Lei - Johnson, Samuel - Jackson (Samuel-Ja), etc., excellent actors are not only the guarantee of the quality of the film, but also the best choice to impact the actor department during the awards season.
Therefore, every once in a while, Harvey will inspect a group of potential newcomers, cast a wide net, and catch big fish. Currently on Harvey's inspection list, Jennifer Lawrence and Renly Hall are on the list.
In the short contact just now, Renly's confidence and sharpness left a deep impression on him. It can be seen that he is still only twenty-one years old after all, and the arrogance of the young man is fully revealed.
Young and energetic, which is a good thing, but for cooperation, it is not easy to control. Harvey felt that he should sharpen his spirit and roll in Hollywood for two years, then he will grow into a qualified Hollywood practitioner.
The judgment about Renly in his mind just flashed, and Harvey immediately focused his attention on "Love Crazy". He's now starting to think about the film's release schedule and PR strategy.
"October." This is Harvey's conception, his body leaned forward slightly, full of oppression, but he said confidently, "My positioning of the film is 'growth education', not 'blue' Valentine's Day'. I think we have a good chance next year in awards season, especially in the actors and script department."
"Fairy Wood"
This was the second bomb Harvey had thrown; the first was $1.5 million.
Harvey believes that under the bombing of two consecutive heavy bombs, Drake will never fight back, so this cooperation case will be completely negotiated. Other competitors didn't even have a chance to negotiate, and Weinstein Pictures had already signed the contract and was far ahead.
What's the difference between "Growth Education" and "Blue Valentine's Day"
"Growing Up Education" in 2009 won three heavyweight nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress at the Oscars; "Blue Valentine" in 2010, although the current Oscar nomination list has not been announced , but the impact of the impact has slowed down significantly, the biggest possibility is to win only one nomination for the best actress, and it is not impossible to even be squeezed out.
The two works are also small-scale love movies, and there is not much ambition at the core of the connotation. They do not involve any major patterns such as the background of the times and social changes. These are similar to "Love Crazy".
Now, Harvey has positioned "Love Crazy" as this year's "Growth Education".
"Growth Education" is the distribution and operation of Sony Classics. The entire promotion curve is very clear. It debuted at Sundance, and then landed at the Berlin Film Festival. In the second half of the year, it will be in Toronto, Helsinki, Chicago, New York, London, Telluride and other places The film festival debuted in 2009, with a point screening in North America in October, and a full release in late November and early December.
On the one hand, the reputation has accumulated enough, and film festivals in major cities are all shining; on the other hand, it is not too greedy, and the goal is always on the heroine and original script, and it has unexpectedly won the nomination of the best film. It is also the result of the accumulation of excellent reputation.
Harvey believes that "Crazy Love" can completely replicate this development trajectory and create good results.
However, Harvey's abacus failed. "In our cooperation agreement, can it be written clearly that Renly can get 10% of the box office dividends?" Drake's words made Harvey's heart pound. Jump, almost scared out of a heart attack.
Harvey looked at Drake blankly, thinking he was joking, but he couldn't find any hesitation on that face, his face was sincere and unquestionable, and there was a trace of uneasy expectation in his eyes.
Renly, who had been watching, noticed the stiffness at the corner of Harvey's mouth, and couldn't help but laugh. Being able to make Harvey almost unable to control his expression, Drake can be considered a wizard.
Harvey didn't expect it at all, whether it's "Growing Up Education" or "Blue Valentine's Day", it's actually meaningless to Drake, who is a movie buff who threw himself on movies, awards season Of course, the glory of the film makes people feel happy, but what he is looking forward to more is that the work "Crazy in Love" can meet with a wide audience. Because this movie has a special meaning to him.
So, Harvey's second bomb didn't work at all, and Drake was more concerned about Renly's treatment.
However, the problem arises here again. Drake is a complete layman. He does not know negotiation skills or industry rules. The first step is "10% dividends", which is already the treatment of first-line actors. If you look at the proportion of box office dividends, that's the equivalent of taking a quarter of Harvey's profits straight out of his pocket.
This is not only unreasonable, but naive and romantic.
"Cough." Harvey coughed lightly, then laughed, passing the brief gaffe just now, "I think you may not have heard clearly, I said buyout, not split. One and a half million , buy-out the North American copyright of 'Love Crazy'."
Drake frowned slightly and looked at Renly. He didn't seem to understand the difference between a buyout and a share, and said hesitantly, "Even if it's a buyout, Renly will get 10%."
Harvey was a little irritated by such an unreasonable play of cards.
In fact, if it is a buyout, after paying 1.5 million to Drake, how much he wants to give to Renly is entirely up to him, not to mention 10%, even if Drake pays 150 million Wan gave all of them to Renly, and no one else could care.
Such a simple truth, Harvey took it for granted that Drake should know. Then, Drake's request just now means that because of Renly's relationship, the offer needs to be increased by 10%.
Harvey feels that this is no longer the arrogance of young people, and even a little arrogant - a mere rookie, so openly asked for 10% dividends, even if "Crazy Love" is an independent film, many times The whole crew shares the costs and benefits together, which is still too absurd.
"Drake, we can negotiate the details of the contract slowly. We have enough time to discuss it one by one..." Harvey used the most classic "drag" tactic. Lake made the final decision, and then slowly polished the details. I believe that under the lawyer's water-grinding time, everything will be no problem.
But Harvey miscalculated again, and Drake shook his head and said bluntly, "I have no opinion on the others, only this one, Renly's 10% box office dividend."
For Drake, the 1.5 million royalties have satisfied him, not only to repay the debt owed by "Crazy Love", but also to pay all the actors and staff—
In order to shoot this movie, Drake only got a sponsorship of 150,000 yuan from an independent film company that had just been established for less than a year, Pittsburgh Indians; the rest of the cost was in the bank in Drake's name. loan. This is also the reason why Drake really couldn't give Renly a higher salary.
At the same time, he can also harvest a large sum of money to prepare for the next film.
Drake is a very easy to satisfy person, he's not greedy, he's not ambitious, he thinks that's good enough. There is only one, Renly only received a salary of 20,000 US dollars, which is a third-tier standard even in the TV circle. This friendship, Drake is firmly in his heart.
In the face of Drake, who was incapable of oil and salt, Harvey's anger rushed up.
It's not that there is anything wrong with this "10%". According to the calculation of 1.5 million, 10% is only 150,000. It is still more cost-effective to buy out the North American distribution rights of "Crazy Love". It's just a deal; it's that he doesn't like the feeling of authority being provoked, the feeling of being messed up, especially because of this mess caused by an actor.
he does not like.
So, Harvey gave up his plan to continue communicating with Drake, turned his eyes to Renly, looked at it a little more, and jokingly, and scanned it up and down, "I thought you were an actor."
The subtext is that actors are so greedy that they shouldn't ask for too much pay.
In fact, Renly didn't care much about box office dividends, and the filming of "Crazy Love" was not for the salary. But that doesn't mean he'll just watch Harvey fix the "Crazy Love" crew; what's more, now that Harvey has his gun pointed directly at him, doesn't he
Renly showed a shallow smile, calmly retorted, "You really are a producer."
The subtext is that the goal of the producers is to constantly squeeze the actors, directors and writers for their own benefit.
Instead of getting angry, Harvey calmed down, turned his body slightly, and looked at Renly formally, "So, ten percent dividend? Clam?"
Renly did not show weakness, with the same eyebrows, "Buyout of 1.5 million? Ha?"
"What, you're not satisfied with this number?" Harvey motioned for Renly to draw down.
"Should I be satisfied?" Renly's rhetorical question made Harvey frown slightly, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, and said curiously, "I thought you just said, 'Love Crazy' is not 'Blue Lover' festival', but 'growth education'?"
Harvey had already played against Renly for several rounds before Drake could react to the sarcasm between these words, and the air was tense as the swords were drawn.