Chapter 95： When the show is in progress

"Star Wars Episode 1: The Menace of the Ghost Man" is officially released in North America, and the countdown begins!

Dunn knew early on that "Star Wars" was American culture and loved it. But the first experience still shocked him.

This feeling... It's like the college entrance examination he once went through, nervous, dignified, and eye-catching.

"New York Times" published an article: "After 16 years, Star Wars is about to return, and the countdown is 51 days!"

The Los Angeles Times also made a high-profile statement: "Get your movie tickets ready, Star Wars is waiting for you!"

"Chicago Tribune" is slightly more graceful: "George Lucas and Dunn Walker, two generations of ghost directors, carefully create a shocking visual feast for you, May 19, "Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man's "The Threat" is released nationwide!"

The "New York Post" echoed the public's calmness: "The much-anticipated movie is about to be released, and there is still more than a month before the movie premiere. There are already fans lining up in front of the major movie theaters to buy tickets. This shows from the side. The charm of Star Wars also reminds the publishers."

……

In order to avoid the situation of driving up the ticket price, 20th Century Fox made a request to the major cinemas that the ticket window will be opened only on the day before the release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Menace of the Ghost Man". Tickets are hard to come by.

However, this will affect the interests of the theater chains. It is said that the major theater chains have signed up to the National Theater Association and asked them to communicate with 20th Century Fox.

These are all the work of the distributor. Dunn and the entire Star Wars crew are carrying out large-scale publicity work before the release.

Entering May, Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox have confirmed that the premiere of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Menace of the Ghost Man" will be held in New York.

And the theaters also sent feedback. In the first and second weeks of the release of "Star Wars: Episode 1: The Menace of the Ghost Man", almost all the movies have adjusted their schedules, and no one likes to be cannon fodder.

Except for two big-hearted companies - DreamWorks and Universal.

Needless to say, DreamWorks, the three leaders are all artists and have big nerves; as for Universal Pictures... that is their confidence in "Notting Hill", a romantic movie starring Julia Roberts.

Romance movies are originally long-running genres. They don't care too much about the box office results of the first two weeks like commercial blockbusters. And with the precedent of "My Great Greek Wedding", Universal's distribution strategy almost copied the Dunn model.

After Tang En heard about it, he shook his head several times in sympathy.

It's not that the movie "Notting Hill" will hit the streets, but it is actually a sympathy for the experience of Universal Pictures.

In the early years, Panasonic acquired Universal, but because of the situation, it sold Universal Pictures to Seagram Group, a brewing company from Canada.

In recent years, Seagram Group has a huge appetite, swallowing up a number of entertainment companies one after another, covering films, television, music, games, publishing, Internet and many other aspects.

Seagram Group has transformed from a brewing company to a media group!

Recently, Dunn’s acquisition of Marvel is just a small piece of commercial merger news in Hollywood, and the bigger news is Seagram Group’s acquisition of the music company Polygram.

Of course, there are even bigger merger news. The media giant Viacom Group officially issued an M&A invitation to CBS, one of the three major wireless TV networks in the United States. The funds...will not be less than 30 billion US dollars!

but……

Seagram is not Viacom!

Viacom has the ability to eat CBS. Seagram is an industrial company. If it wants to transform smoothly, it must pay tuition first.

It is conceivable that after Seagram's acquisition of Polygram, it is likely to suffer from indigestion...

Tang En's brain was wide open, and a bold idea suddenly popped up in his mind, "Maybe after withdrawing from the stock market next year, we can repurchase Universal..."

Filmmaking is easy for Dunn, but the biggest challenge is distribution.

The big six movie companies can monopolize Hollywood, not because of how wonderful the movies they produce, but because they almost monopolize the distribution market all over the world.

DreamWorks has already opened up the North American distribution market, and even Lionsgate, Miramax, and New Line have independent distribution channels in North America. However, the release of a blockbuster like "Saving Private Ryan" still has to be handed over to a giant company like Paramount for distribution.

In the end, the reason is that the overseas market is too large, the distribution cost and operating cost are too high, there is not enough film sources, and even the salaries of the employees cannot be paid.

Dunn, who has been in Hollywood for more than two years, gradually recognized the development model of Hollywood, and gave up the idea of ​​creating another distribution system on a global scale.

Acquisition has become the best way for Dunn to solve the problem.

Distribution must be in hand!

And Seagram Group's indigestion is probably the best way for Dunn to get his hands on Universal Pictures, thus gaining Universal's distribution channels all over the world.

Acquiring Universal?

Snake swallowing elephant?

Not impossible!

……

The time is approaching day by day, and finally it is the premiere of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Menace of the Ghost Man".

Although the premiere was in New York, Natalie was busy with the final exam of her senior year, so she couldn't take it. For the first time ever, Dunn lost her female companion.

The premiere was brightly lit, setting the entire theater as the centerpiece of this modern, cosmopolitan city.

The influence of Star Wars is too great, and there are hundreds of police officers at the scene just to maintain order.

Dunn quickly passed the red carpet area. Without his girlfriend, he was not in the mood to chat with the group of reporters.

"Hey, Dunn, I seem very lonely today. Would you like me to introduce you to a beautiful girl?"

Dunn turned around and laughed dumbly, "James, when did you make such a joke?"

James Cameron is a rare gentleman in the circle. In this regard, Dunn is deeply admired.

"It's not a joke, I really want to introduce you to a girl." Cameron looked serious.

Tang En raised his brows in surprise and looked at him in disbelief.

Cameron said angrily, "Where do you want to go? I mean to recommend her to act in your movie!"

"my movie?"

"Spider-Man."

Dunn rolled his eyes angrily, "James, I remember you said that you had the idea of ​​shooting Spider-Man."

Cameron shrugged, "That's true, but now my mind has changed."

In the early 1990s, after filming "Terminator 2", Cameron had the idea of ​​shooting "X-Men", so he negotiated with Carlock Pictures and bought the copyright; but found that the special effects technology at that time was not enough to shoot "X-Men" "Men", Cameron turned to "Spider-Man" and bought the copyright of Spider-Man.

However, because of differences in the script, Cameron put the pigeons again and turned to "True Lies" instead.

This result directly led to the bankruptcy of Carlock Pictures, the copyright of superheroes was lost several times, "X-Men" was acquired by Fox, and "Spider-Man" returned to Marvel's embrace.

It can be said that until today, "X-Men" has not been able to return to Marvel, which is completely the fault of James Cameron's continuous bounce!

"Then what are you going to shoot?" Dunn wrinkled tightly.

Cameron said: "I mentioned to you, that marine rescue project, I am very interested."

"Then shoot it!"

Cameron said bitterly: "It's not that you don't know, there is a Hollywood proverb, never touch the sea and animals. This is a marine film, and the investment is huge, so it's not easy to set up a project."

Dunn was a little displeased, "This Bill is too petty! Didn't I say that, you can come to me if you have any difficulties."

Cameron looked at him playfully, "At least $150 million in investment, can you come up with it?"

"Cough cough..."

Tang En waved his hand and quickly changed the subject, "Then what do you do? We won't be filming the movie?"

Cameron said: "Bill promised me that as long as I help supervise a drama called "Doomsday Black Angel", if it is successful, he will invest in me."

Tang En was rather disdainful, "Let a super director supervise the TV series, thanks to him being able to come up with it!"

Cameron shook his head, "Bill also has its difficulties. The scene at sea... There are too many accidents. After all, the experience of "Titanic" will make everyone very jealous."

Dunn waved his hand in a grand manner, "Why don't you do this, come and shoot "Spider-Man", and let Bill and his "Black Angel of the Last Days" go to hell!"

"Bill will be mad when he hears what you said!" Cameron smiled and lowered his voice, "Especially after you handed over the publishing rights of "Wedding Cracker" to Tom Rothman."

Dunn was a little embarrassed, and it was indeed a bit unfortunate for Bill McNick, "This is a business negotiation, not a personal relationship."

Cameron laughed heartily, "Okay, then let's talk about work and personal communication What are you going to say?"

"As I said, I want to recommend a girl to you."

Dunn was at a loss, "James, what the **** is going on?"

Cameron smiled and said: "Although I have no plans to shoot "Spider-Man", I still pay attention to this movie project. I have seen the announcement, doesn't it say that the heroine is a young woman in her twenties? "

Tang En suddenly realized, "Are you trying to recommend an actress to me?"

"Exactly."

Dunn nodded, "No problem, I can't guarantee the heroine, but there will definitely be some scenes."

In order to gain the support of Endeavor Agency, Dunn promised Eli Emanuel that he would leave the heroine's position to Endeavor Agency.

Now that Marvel has successfully acquired, and Eli Emanuel has contributed a lot, Dunn has the support of almost all Marvel management, and he naturally has to fulfill his promise.

"Trust my vision, Dunn, she is an excellent actress with great potential."

Cameron said it very solemnly.

Dunn couldn't help but doubted their relationship, and asked tentatively, "James, are you and her..."

"Stop!" Cameron had a black line on his forehead, "Don, don't think of me as you are."

Dunn laughed. Cameron's bounced ticket was a disadvantage, but his character was unquestionable. "Tell me, who is the girl who has fascinated you."

Cameron glared at him angrily, "It's the heroine of "Black Angel of the Last Days" that I supervised."

"name?"

"Jessica Alba."

"what?"

Dunn was stunned.