Chapter 113

Milton Johnson thought for a moment and told the female assistant, "call Jamie winster."

A few minutes after the female assistant called, a middle-aged man in his thirties came into the office and sat opposite Milton Johnson. Milton Johnson waved to the female assistant, who walked out of the office and closed the door.

"Is there any progress in the negotiation with Stanton studio?" Milton Johnson asked directly.

"Not for the time being." Jamie winster shook his head. "We've had several phone calls with Murphy Stanton, and he's not sincere in his cooperation, and he wants too much."

A new director, a shell company with only three regular employees, wants to open its mouth to lion gate just because a movie has some selling points? Does he have the strength and qualification?

He also admitted that the film can bring a certain impact to people, but it can not hide the fact that it is a rough small production, and the risk of such production to the cinema market can not be ignored.

Fingers habitually tapping the desk, Milton Johnson's brow slightly wrinkled, "CAA?"

Jamie winster quickly regained his mind and replied, "I called Bill rosis. These agents of CAA are greedy guys."

One side wants to get a high return through the film, and the other side wants to lower the price to get the maximum possible benefits. If the two sides do not make a certain concession, the cooperation is impossible.

Negotiation is often a process of compromise.

Milton Johnson knows this, but is not ready to compromise.

He rapped on the table faster. "Jamie, you saw that film, and the people in the editorial department also participated in the audition. How long can they write a similar script?"

"Well The script is easy to say. " Jamie winster understood what he meant. "Two to three weeks is enough for teamwork."

What's the point of this kind of play? The film is outstanding more because of its shooting and production.

Milton Johnson quietly calculated for a period of time. In his slightly old eyes, there was a twinkle, "how about shooting?"

Jamie winster thought about it a little bit. "If it is made by a mature team who often works with the company, I think it will take about a month and a half from preparation to production."

Obviously, from the very beginning, Milton Johnson was preparing for or planning something.

He asked again, "what about the things I asked you to investigate?"

"After hard candy came out, Murphy Stanton joined the writers' Union, directors' Union and photographers' Union."

Jamie winster had already found out about this. He quickly said, "the electric saw has been registered in the writers' Union and the directors' Union. It belongs to the trade union registration program."

Milton Johnson's tapping on the table slowed down. "It's a bit of a hassle."

Old age, thinking will be slightly conservative, although this backup plan was first proposed by Milton Johnson, but Jamie winster is more radical.

"It does bring some trouble." He nodded at first, but then said, "Stanton studio is just a kind of small company at the bottom of Hollywood. Murphy Stanton, the director, except that his agent is related to CAA, is only very close to a few bad little actors. There is no network worth mentioning. Even if the guild troubles us, it's just routine business..."

He raised his voice a little bit, "and we can't copy his films. There will be certain changes. The theme and content of Hollywood mainstream commercial blockbusters crash from time to time. What's more, the production mode of plasma horror films is completely routine?"

Lion Gate pictures will copy each other's films unless they are stupid. Based on that film, they can make more excellent films.

This kind of excellent also has an advantage, as long as it can be released first, the relatively rough film is more like a bad imitation.

Milton Johnson nodded his head slightly, and the speed of tapping on the table was accelerated again. "I will propose this project at the high-level meeting. If we can't get the" electric saw ", we will enter the project approval stage as soon as possible, and let the editorial department prepare a script outline."

Jamie winster answered and stood up to leave. Milton Johnson said, "say hello to the legal department in advance."

If this project really appears, the biggest counterattack of the other party is undoubtedly to sue the law. On the contrary, it is the means that these big companies don't care about most. Let alone the numerous Hollywood car crash projects, it's hard to explain the disputes. Even if the court accepts it, Lion Gate pictures can drag on. It doesn't matter for a year or even two. The other party's small company can stand it What happened?

They can even find anyone to sue Stanton studio for copying his ideas.

There are definitely a lot of such things in Hollywood. Think about the people who can't wait to trouble James Cameron after Titanic's big sale

After Jamie winster left, Milton Johnson was still thinking about it. As a veteran in running horror films, he was really optimistic about this project.But the other side of Lion Gate film's conditions can not accept, the other side's great appetite, he also can not accept.

Why should a lion talk so much when he is a nobody? Just because you have a movie that has a lot of selling points? Without proper channels, the value of such films can only be zero.

Milton Johnson called the female assistant in again and told her to keep an eye on the project and keep him informed of the latest situation so as to adjust the strategy at any time.

Similarly, he didn't give up the idea of winning "the electric saw" completely. The previous plan was only a backup plan. If the other side ran into a wall one after another in Hollywood, there might be negotiation and cooperation between the two sides.

At the end of the day, Milton Johnson didn't think Stanton studio was qualified to work equally with lion gate.

Both production companies and distribution companies are commercial companies. Commercial companies naturally pursue profits and maximize profits whenever possible.

Lion Gate pictures is not the only company that is optimistic about the release of the movie. Murphy, who can offer a price to meet his psychological expectations, has not met any. Even Miramax, who has the most favorable conditions at present, is also thinking about how to get this movie that seems to sell a lot at the lowest cost.

The minimum cost can also reduce the inevitable risks associated with investment.

Harvey Weinstein stood by a French window overlooking the view of Burbank and asked Jones Butler behind him, "hasn't Murphy Stanton answered yet?"

Jones Butler took a step forward. "Not yet."

Fat man's face is not very good-looking, the other side is a little too high to see themselves, want to deal with Quentin Tarantino that kind of geek, but just a little money and a few promises.

Now people who can be appreciated by him can take it as capital in the industry.

What about Murphy Stanton? Instead of giving him any reply, he took the film to different distribution companies, hoping to sell the film at a high price with the help of bill Rossi's little agent and the little capital brought by "fruit candy".

It's just wishful thinking. Hollywood distribution companies are just like him and Miramax. They eat people and never spit bones.

However, Harvey Weinstein can't guarantee that all distribution companies will maintain the tacit understanding of treating small production companies. After all, the selling point of "electric saw" is still very clear. As long as the operation is proper and no low-level mistakes are made, the profit should not be a problem.

Based on his years of experience and understanding of the market, he judged that the probability of failure of the movie is very low. As long as the invested funds are well controlled, it is no more than a matter of how much profit is made.

Harvey Weinstein's biggest worry is that some companies, regardless of tacit understanding, rashly offer excessive conditions.

"It's time to put some pressure on him." He nodded gently.

Harvey Weinstein turned, took a look at Jones Butler, strode back to his desk, sat down in his chair, and said without emotion, "you go to someone and put the message out."

Jones Butler looked over there and pricked up his ears.

"Miramax is working on a new project," Harvey Weinstein said of the fake project without delay. "The film is a plasma horror film, and some suspense will be added appropriately. The script has been written, and Robert Rodriguez or Quentin Tarantino will be invited to direct it."

After thinking about it, he added, "call Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino and ask them to be interviewed by the media in the near future and mention it by the way."

When he heard these words, Jones Butler just nodded and didn't feel any surprise. His boss has always been very clever. Otherwise, he would not have made a murder case like Shakespeare in love, and would not have promoted an actor of Gwyneth Paltrow's standard to the Best Actress Oscar.

Although this may be the most watery actress in the history of Oscar, it's also the real actress, isn't it?

"Go ahead." Harvey Weinstein waved to Jones Butler.

Jones Butler left the office and began to operate these things. She didn't need Harvey Weinstein's orders. She also knew the scale of the matter. It couldn't be too big, but it had to be spread to Murphy Stanton.

This kind of work is not difficult for her at all.

In any business activity, there is always a torrent of light and dark, some things you can see, some things you can't see.

Like Murphy now, after the trial of Fox Searchlight, he can see that Tony Goodman and the two Fox Searchlight executives he accompanied are very interested in the film, but he can't guess the price they can offer for the film.

These need to be decided through negotiation.

Fox Searchlight is the last company. Murphy has made careful preparations for this. She also made a special phone call to Carla Firth, who is studying in New York. Through her relationship, she learned about the recent situation of this company. (to be continued). )