Chapter 387： give back

Hollywood in the 1990s was the era of superstars.

During this period, the 20 million club was born, allowing these top Hollywood stars to have the same treatment and level as big producers and directors.

Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Jim Carrey, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Jack Chen, Will Smith, Nicolas Cage...

Among them, "Double Soup and One Kai" is a superstar among superstars.

However, after the advent of the new century, the era of superstars came to an end, and the era of special effects came to Hollywood.

Although it was only in 2001, this trend has already been revealed. The best-selling blockbusters in the past two years are all special effects blockbusters.

Many action stars will step into the footsteps of Stallone and Schwarzenegger and gradually take a back seat.

Mel Gibson in a previous life was like that.

In the 1990s, he was invincible, and every movie he participated in was bound to sell well. The remuneration for a single movie even reached an unprecedented $25 million!

But in the new century, it quickly fell from the altar and was replaced by rising stars Tom Cruise, Leonardo Ricaprio, George Clooney and others.

When he couldn't get the ideal film contract, he could only save his own script and started a project of "The Passion of Jesus".

As a result, the movie sold out!

However, because Mel Gibson is a devout Catholic, when it comes to religious issues in the film, he is suspected of insinuating Judaism, which has attracted the jealousy of Hollywood bigwigs.

A blockbuster movie not only failed to save Mel Gibson's career in Hollywood, but brought him into a trough.

The result can be imagined, Mel Gibson is full of hatred for the Jews who control the power of Hollywood, and a drunken gaffe was "accidentally" filmed and exposed.

Immediately afterwards, several scandals broke out, such as domestic violence, such as animal cruelty, such as discrimination against women, such as violent tendencies...

In short, Mel Gibson rolled back to Australia.

Dunn is very indifferent to these superstars in the 1990s, mainly because they have been spoiled by the superstar era, and a casual mouth is 20 million US dollars.

As if under $20 million was a waste of their time.

Except for one person - Mel Gibson!

In the years when Dunn was growing up, many people gave him selfless help, including Mel Gibson.

Of course, many people, including Mel Gibson, saw the potential of Dunn and helped him invest in talent.

Help is help!

Tang En is grateful, and he will do his best to give back. As this special effects wave rolls in, keep Mel Gibson's superstar status and his career in Hollywood steady!

Mel Gibson is a tough guy, and he's not American, so he has a natural disadvantage in terms of salary.

In Hollywood, male actors are paid more than actresses, and American actors are paid more than foreign actors.

This summer, the two films of the fire, "Unsinkable" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," starred Mel Gibson.

Among them, "Mrs & Mrs. Smith" received a salary of 25 million US dollars, and "Unsinkable" received a salary of 20 million US dollars. The price is very high, but there is no lion's open mouth to ask for dividends. This is the benefit of foreign actors.

Of course, just because he didn't sign the dividend agreement doesn't mean he can't get the dividend.

According to Hollywood practice, for each big-selling film, the film company must distribute dividends to the crew, actors union, directors union, screenwriter union, film association, etc., which is about 2%-3% of the total global box office.

In particular, outsiders like Sony Pictures, although their performance is sluggish, the dividends they have distributed in the past ten years are the highest in Hollywood.

To put it bluntly, only if the interests are shared, there can be a more pleasant cooperation in the future.

By the end of July, "Mrs. & Mrs. Smith" has been released for 4 weeks, and the global box office has finally exceeded the $300 million mark!

Among them, the North American box office was 150 million US dollars, the overseas box office included 160 million US dollars, and the French market alone contributed more than 40 million US dollars.

The box office was good enough, but it fell short of Universal's pre-release expectations.

Why?

Because Universal Pictures produced a racing movie "The Fast and the Furious", which was an unexpected box office hit, and even squeezed the living space of "Mrs. Smith", which is really dumbfounding.

Fortunately, "Unsinkable" has a strong reputation, and the box office did not show a cliff-like decline because of the continuous release of new films.

By the end of July, the North American box office of "Unsinkable" successfully reached 420 million US dollars, while the overseas box office was not good enough, only 360 million US dollars, and the global box office was 780 million US dollars!

The $1 billion mark...seems close, but it's really far.

Unsinkable has been in theaters for 10 weeks in North America, and weekly box office receipts have fallen below $10 million. The overseas market has also gradually passed the peak and began a parabolic decline.

Judging from the current situation, the overseas box office of "Unsinkable" is about 450 million to 480 million US dollars.

On August 1, Dunn called James Cameron to his office.

"There's a check on the table for you."

They were all old friends, and Tang En was not polite, he didn't even raise his head, and he was writing quickly on the manuscript with a pen.

Cameron picked it up and took a deep breath - a full $50 million!

He was the producer, director and screenwriter of "The Unsinkable," which earned him a total of $15 million and a 10 percent worldwide box office bonus.

Dunn put down his pen, looked at Cameron staring at the check in his hand, and smiled, "This is the first payment, and the rest will be paid next month. The company's liquidity is currently insufficient."

Because the price was raised by hbo, Dunn, the North American copyright of "Band of Brothers", spent an additional $30 million, and in order to hollow out the content production team of hbo, he paid an additional $10 million in buyout fees.

Coupled with the recent establishment of the two films "All the Time" and "Chicago", there is not much money left in the accounts of Dunn Films.

Fortunately, at the end of last month, Universal Pictures called the first North American box office split of "Unsinkable", with a total of 180 million US dollars. There was also more than $20 million in video rental revenue from "The Saw" and "Spider-Man."

After paying Cameron's first dividend, Dunn Pictures still has $150 million in liquidity.

James Cameron shook the check in his hand and raised his mouth slightly, "Fortunately, I signed an investment dividend agreement, and only need to pay 15% capital gains tax. If it is a bonus dividend agreement, half of it will be paid for personal income tax. Hand over to the country!"

Tang En also felt a little bit emotional. Back then, he had just entered the industry, and he didn't understand anything. He didn't find a contract for 20th Century Fox's operating accounts. The huge dividend of 180 million US dollars from "Titanic" was personal income tax, which was really heartbreaking.

"By the way, what are you writing? It won't be a new script, right?" Cameron stared at the manuscript on Dunn's desk.

Tang En smiled, "It's just an idea, an outline. I determine the frame of the story, and the specific plot design will be handed over to the screenwriting department."

"God doesn't know how you can be so creative!" Cameron shook his head, still unable to bear the curiosity in his heart, "It's convenient to reveal, what is the theme?"

"Archaeology... let's explore, tell a story about unearthing treasures."

"Like Raiders of the Lost Ark?"

"Uh... it's not the same. Forget it, let's not talk about that, how about you? "Unsinkable" is a big hit at the box office. Do you have any new plans?"

Dunn's words made Cameron curl his lips again and again, "Boom at the box office? It's too far from what I expected!"

Dunn was a little helpless when he heard it.

Regarding the box office of "Unsinkable", the two have communicated many times.

Cameron's expectations are high, and the bottom line is to make "Unsinkable" the fourth film to exceed $1 billion at the global box office. If possible, it would even surpass Spider-Man, which grossed $1.26 billion worldwide, to become the second-highest-grossing movie of all time.

But now it seems that it is very difficult!

Not to mention breaking $1 billion, even surpassing the $930 million of Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" is very difficult.

With a long sigh, Cameron came to the sofa in the office and sat down, with a straight face, and said indifferently: "I have decided that if the box office of this movie can't exceed 1 billion US dollars, I will give up taking a long vacation. It's going to be until a real blockbuster movie is made!"

Tang En couldn't help laughing and said, "Well, in order to allow you to continue filming, I will definitely find a way to prevent this film from exceeding $1 billion at the box office!"

Cameron didn't even look at him, and said confidently, "Stop joking, you won't."

Dunn smiled, he really can't.

Not because he wants to rest for Cameron's body, but because of the long-term interests of Dunn Pictures!

"Avatar" was launched in 2005, and it took 4 years to prepare, shoot, and produce before it was released in 2009.

It's already 2001, and within 4 years of this gap, let Cameron make another movie?

Too difficult!

He worked on "Titanic" for 4 years, and "Unsinkable" for 4 years.

In the next 4 years, if Cameron really spends his time on an unknown project, even if it is successful, I am afraid that in 2005, he will interrupt his preparations for the "Avatar" project and go to take a long vacation. .

More than worth the loss!

After thinking deeply for a while, Dunn decided to put his treasure on "Avatar" and said, "If possible, I will talk to Universal and make improvements in publicity, so that "Unsinkable" can be There's a new flashpoint."

Cameron's eyes lit up and looked at Dunn, "I knew that you are not a pure businessman!"

Tang En's complexion was full and he sighed lightly: "I stole your Titanic back then. How can I put it... I will definitely feel a sense of guilt in my heart. So in terms of movies, I will definitely help you as much as possible."

Cameron waved his hand vigorously, "I don't need to mention the past. Besides, your "Titanic" is brilliant enough! If you let me take the shot, maybe it won't be able to create such a box office legend."

"Maybe...maybe...not necessarily, hehe..."

Dunn smiled.

In the past few years, he frantically absorbed resources from his friends, and even robbed Cameron of his big ship.

Now, his strength is strong enough to have some feedback.

(Sanqi Chinese)