Chapter 579： No. 1 in the industry

Dunn will not interfere in the creation of the project "The Departed".

As he said, in this project, he will only be an actor, and he will make his life debut in a Martin Scorsese movie!

He played the role of the film's second male lead - "Colin Sullivan".

Not that Leonardo has to be the male lead.

The main character "Colin Sullivan" is a villain. Leonardo, an idol, cannot play a villain.

For example, in "The Departed" in the previous life, Brad Pitt was invited to play "Colin Sullivan", but he was rejected.

Martin Scorsese had no choice, so he chose Matt Damon, whose acting skills were very embarrassing.

Dunn has no idol baggage.

Neither is needed!

His acting in movies is a sideline and a hobby. As long as the characters are full and challenging, it is enough.

The villain is played well, and it is usually more interesting!

Like Gary Oldman in The Killer, Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, Kevin Spacey in The Seven Deadly Sins, Batman: The Dark Knight Heath Ledger in No Country for Old Men, JaVale Bardem in Inglourious Basterds, Christopher Watts in Inglourious Basterds...

In the original "The Departed", Matt Damon played "Colin Sullivan" badly, and did not show the sense of collapse in the powerless resistance, split and struggle.

Dunn, I want to have a try!

"The Departed" is a play with two male protagonists. It must be very exciting to play opposite Leonardo!

Moreover, there are also veteran movie stars like Jack Nicholson in the play. During the filming process, the collision of sparks must be indispensable.

Dunn had already suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and secretly looked forward to it.

Before, he was a director.

Now, he wants to participate in the production of a movie as an actor.

This process will definitely be very challenging and very interesting!

...

"Barry, what happened to the Rotten Tomatoes acquisition?"

Dunn rarely took the initiative to go to the CEO's office.

Barry Diller was reading a plan for a new movie, and when he saw Dunn coming, he was a little surprised, "Rotten Tomatoes? It's in progress, it's won within a month, it's not a big problem."

"What about the price?"

"Rotten Tomatoes received an angel investment of $1.1 million in 2000, and its valuation reached $10 million. In the past few years, Rotten Tomatoes has developed very well, with more than 650,000 unique IP visits per day. Estimated value should be no less than $65 million.”

"$65 million..."

Tang En sighed, a little helpless.

But there is no way. In the previous life, Rotten Tomatoes received its first round of financing in August 2004, and its valuation reached 100 million US dollars. When it was fully acquired in 2005, the price was as high as 650 million US dollars!

Dunn's acquisition now is already a bargain.

Barry Diller asked, "What's wrong?"

Tang En said: "The new Harry Potter theme park will invest 800 million US dollars, and the acquisition of EMI's music department will cost another 1 billion US dollars. Coupled with this year's key acquisition target MGM... Barry, new Global development is a long way to go!"

Barry Diller was angry and funny, "With the current size of New Global, there is no pressure on these acquisitions. Our debt position is very good, only 8 billion US dollars in debt. With the development prospects of New Global, even if the debt is in debt $15 billion, no problem."

"$15 billion?"

Dunn couldn't help but pouted.

Barry Diller said: "A company's reasonable debt statement is a reflection of its excellent assets. If the debt is too low, it will affect the listing plan of New Universal. Let alone MGM, I think New Universal should have more this year. Big deal!"

"what?"

Dunn was stunned.

Barry Diller said meaningfully: "The investment of the film and television entertainment department has always been extravagant; the interactive entertainment division has also acquired imdb and Rotten Tomatoes one after another this year, and has even recently acquired the streaming media rights of film and television works; The tourism and vacation department is also developing, to build a Harry Potter theme park and a Spider-Man adventure park. Only the TV and media department is more restrained.”

Dunn understood immediately, "Has Jeff Zucker complained?"

Barry Diller said: "It's not enough to complain, but he is a man of ambition and ambition, and he hopes to make great achievements in the new world. But we seem to be a little less serious about the TV and media department."

Tang En pondered, "If you want to acquire nbc, you have to wait for New Universal to go public. This transaction is too big."

Barry Diller said: "There are so many TV assets available in the market, not just the nbc one."

"Jeff Zucker has a proposal?" Dunn widened his eyes.

Barry Diller shook his head, "Not yet, but I don't think he's giving up, he obviously has big plans."

"What's your suggestion?"

"The current debt assessment of New Global is excellent. We might as well take advantage of this stage to issue some bonds and buy some profitable and important assets. New Global is not Vivendi. We are a professional media group in the film and television entertainment industry. We have more Great connections and access. If you're really worried about debt, you can sell some of your assets."

"Sell what?"

"Houghton Mifflin Press."

Tang En nodded again and again, agreeing: "Well, yes! The publishing business is too tasteless, we don't need it."

"The valuation of Mifflin Press is between $2.2 billion and $2.4 billion, which will greatly ease our acquisition pressure." Barry Diller said.

Dunn waved his hand and said boldly: "Barry, these specific things are under your control. However, it is better to keep the debt within 10 billion US dollars. After a while, I will go to make a movie. The affairs of the company require more attention from you."

Barry Diller couldn't help holding his breath, this boss is simply not doing his job properly!

After thinking about it, he casually handed the incomplete movie planning case to Dunn.

"what?"

"A movie idea."

Dunn took a look at it, and on the front page was a line of title - "Night at the Museum".

Barry Diller was afraid that he would not be clear, so he explained: "This is a children's story book drawn by Croatian illustrator Milan Trek, and the film rights are owned by Michael Barnerson, Chris Columbus and Sean. Levy bought it."

"Oh?"

Dunn frowned.

He knows all three names!

In the two films "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" that have been filmed in the past, Chris Columbus is the director, Michael Barnason is the producer, Sean Levy is the assistant director.

Because the children are growing up, the "Harry Potter" series needs to change the mature shooting style, and can no longer continue the routine of happy children's films.

At David Heyman's suggestion and Dunn's approval, Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron was selected to take over as the director of the third film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".

Barry Diller said: "In the production of the two Harry Potter films, they have accumulated rich experience in shooting children's and fantasy films, which can be used for the production of "Night at the Museum"."

Dunn said: "But Michael Barnason and Chris Columbus are still producers of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Sean Levy is still the assistant director."

Barry Diller laughed: "It's for this reason that Night at the Museum is a tentative idea. They want to wait until the third Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is finished. Shoot, produce, and start that project.”

Dunn nodded.

In terms of fame, it is also a children's story book, and the "Night at the Museum" series is too far from the "Harry Potter" series.

In a previous life, after Chris Columbus and others had accumulated enough shooting experience through three "Harry Potter" films, they wanted to run the project "Night at the Museum", but they were rejected.

Of course Chris Columbus will not give up and switch to Twentieth Century Fox with the script.

As a result, the film successfully received investment and project approval.

In the end, the film invested 110 million US dollars and got a box office of 250 million US dollars in the North American market overseas markets and got a box office of 320 million US dollars.

The total worldwide box office is as high as 570 million US dollars!

Not only that, but it's a series.

Although it is not as popular globally as the "Harry Potter" series, it has also created a lot of profits for Twentieth Century Fox with its beautiful box office receipts and surrounding markets.

Much more money than Disney's Chronicles of Narnia series!

Warner Bros. regretted it.

Of course, Tang En will not repeat the same mistakes. He casually glanced at this simple and rough project outline symbolically, and said proudly: "Okay, don't think about it any more, this movie, New Universal has cast it! Tell Chris and the others. , make "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" with heart. After you get that movie, you can start "Night at the Museum"! The investment...not less than 100 million US dollars!"

Barry Diller was dumbfounded.

Just now, Dunn was still worried about money.

When I saw the movie, I immediately put the cash flow problem behind me, and without thinking about it, I invested in another $100 million big project.

This guy is really obsessed with movies!

Especially for the promotion of new directors, the boldness is almost shocking!

"Warcraft" by j.j. Abrams, "The Walking Dead" by Francis Lawrence, they are all TV shows, that's all.

Gore Verbinski, who was recruited from the music video and commercial circles, wants to make "Pirates 2: Death Man"; the niche horror film director Sam Raimi wants to make "Spider-Man 3"; Alfonso Cuaron, who has made a commercial blockbuster, is going to make "Harry Potter 3"...

And that's not counting Christopher Nolan and Zach Snyder, who have been given to everyone before this.

Tang En's promotion of new directors is definitely the first in the industry!

(Sanqi Chinese)