Chapter 820： Listen to the fate

The second day of the Golden Globe nomination was announced, which happened to be Friday.

With the massive upswing of Sony's "Sweetheart" and Paramount's "Star Trek First Contact", the most popular Christmas season at the end of the year was announced.

MGM's strong performance at the end of the year, "Mission Impossible 2", after the first week of more than 82 million US dollars at the box office, the three-week cumulative box office figures have reached 165 million US dollars, overseas has released 19 countries, the total box office total also exceeded 100 million The dollar is on the mark, and for a time the limelight is infinite.

In the "Future Water World", Kevin Costner, who has a big head, has returned to the ranks of Hollywood superstars with the strong performance of "Mission Impossible 2". Although MGM talked about the two sequels in the downturn after the failure of Kevin Costner's "Future Water World", the launch of "Mission Impossible 3" will not be too big. However, because "Mission Impossible" is the most eye-catching in the box office of the three series of Agent Film Universe, you can imagine that the future "Mission Impossible 4" even further deeper the cross-over of the Agent League movie, MGM will not be Avoiding the renewed negotiations with Kevin Costner again. Of course, strictly speaking, this should be a happy worry. Any movie company in Hollywood is eagerly awaiting similar troubles.

The fourth week of the "Rush Hour" of Firefly's new line film paintings in the Thanksgiving period was $14.38 million, with a total of $10.16 million. It became the second film of the new line this year. The current box office trend, "Rush Hour" North America total box office can reach at least 140 million US dollars.

In the outside world, compared with the relatively low-selling box office performance of the Firefly Headquarters this year, the new line of low-cost movies with a price of less than US$30 million is extremely eye-catching.

The new line has a total of 16 film production and distribution this year. If you do not calculate the "Jesus 2" that was converted by Eric to the summer program next year, the average production cost of the remaining 15 films will be only 16 million US dollars. According to the released film, the new line invested only 240 million yuan in film production throughout the year, which is not much different from the production cost of Titanic.

However, in terms of rate of return, the new line of the best-selling four films this year, "Rush Hour", "Seven Deadly Sins", "Death of Death" and "Hong Fan District", the North American box office total is expected to reach 350 million US dollars, the other 11 In the movie, although there are only two or three million defeats at the box office, the total number of box-offices in the ten films has exceeded 120 million.

Often, low- and medium-cost films often have strong local cultural characteristics that make it difficult to make a difference in overseas markets. However, in the "seven sins" overseas more than twice the local 220 million US dollars in box office assistance, the number of overseas box office issued by the new line of the year is also 560 million US dollars.

According to comprehensive statistics, in 1996, New Line Films achieved a total of $10.3 billion in global box office with a production budget of US$240 million. It does not count the peripheral revenues such as video tapes and TV broadcast rights, but only the box office. The profits directly brought to the Firefly Group exceeded $200 million.

"Titanic" won only one irrelevant best screenwriter nomination at the Golden Globe nomination conference. Although there have been many doubts, the media megatrend, because of the Golden Globe nomination, failed. The sound of the Titanic is even more rampant.

The news of the "Rush Hour" North American box office broke into the media on the same day as the Golden Globe nomination. As the producer and distributor of "Rush Hour", the new line film and the "Titanic" are very contrasting. The annual production budget also appears in the media's vision.

The same is the production budget of about 200 million US dollars. The new line of low-cost films in 1996 created more than 1 billion US dollars at the box office, and the desperate "Titanic" is not yet in the future, in the eyes of most people. The huge loss of this film is almost inevitable.

This kind of strong contrast has undoubtedly poured a cold water on the big investment and big production boom that has arisen in Hollywood in recent years. There are a lot of reflective speeches in the media soon. The latest issue of "Hollywood Reporter" is eye-catching on the front page. Location, specifically for this to make a large-scale report.

"Since the early 1990s, Hollywood seems to be increasingly obsessed with the 'blockbuster' film. It is undeniable that films such as Jurassic Park, Mummy, and Black Man brought to the relevant production companies. Unusually lucrative profits, but we must not lose sight of the failure of big budget films such as Cut-Ross Island, Future Water World, Unprecedented Heroes, and Mirage Heroes, a disaster for investors and studios. Sexual consequences. The tragic failure of Cut-throat Island directly led to the fact that the firefly film industry, which is still very weak, has a big annex to the Disney Group."

"This year, the Firefly Group, which has no disadvantages in the big productions, seems to be accompanied by an unprecedented $215 million investment in the Titanic, which is like an 'epic-level disaster' in 1912. On the other hand, The film companies, such as New Line Films and Milamax, which are mainly produced at low cost, have developed and expanded steadily with a cautious and steady production strategy, eroding the film market share."

“Especially the new line, the subsidiary of the Firefly Group, with its annual production budget comparable to the Titanic, has shaken the global box office of more than $1 billion. As of the first week of December, North America 1996 In the annual total of 5.9 billion US dollars at the box office, the new line has a box office share of 7.8%, which is almost the same as Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures.

"As a creative industry, Hollywood must of course use some high-budget investment projects to achieve innovation and exploration in film production techniques, special effects technology, etc., in order to achieve better video content for the audience. But at the same time, We also have to reflect on it. Perhaps, Hollywood needs to return to the 'Tent Rod Theory' strategy that Mr. Barry Diller once proposed, using a small number of blockbuster films as tents to prop up a large number of low-end curtains. Budget film, this is the most orthodox way for Hollywood film companies to survive. Conversely, if a film company wants to rely on just a few 'tent poles' to survive, ignoring the existence of 'curtains', you can imagine that when 'wind and rain' How terrible the scene will be."

After the publication of the article "Hollywood Reporter", a large number of media began to reconcile.

The Eric was in New York, but he also saw this article for the first time.

Although he has recently thought about the development of fireflies in recent years, Eric is still scornful about the views expressed in this article.

The popularity of big-production movies is almost an inevitable trend in Hollywood development, because this type of film not only has a strong natural influence, but also films such as Jurassic Park, which can bring not only box office, videotape and TV broadcasts. The lucrative profits of the rights can even form a whole lucrative peripheral industry chain involving peripheral toys, computer games, and franchise licenses. This potential commercial return is that low-cost films can't be compared anyway.

Most of the low-cost films, even if they succeed at the box office, often squander their commercial interests in videotapes and TV broadcasts, while medium-cost productions such as Jedi and Rush Hour have the potential for sequel development. After the success of the first one, the production budget of the sequel will undoubtedly double, and it will inevitably enter the ranks of big production movies.

No matter how the outside media commented, no matter how irritating the firefly management mood is, no matter how gloating the other Hollywood film companies are, the release date of "Titanic" is still approaching day by day.

In the last week, "Titanic" opened a more intensive trailer bombing on the TV network of the Firefly Group. The eye-catching landmarks of major cities in North America also began to erect a huge poster of the Titanic. Movies such as Long, Xiao Lizi and Rachel Weizi have landed in the mainstream talk show in North America. Although Eric did not directly participate in the final stage of the Titanic, he spent almost two or three times a day in Southampton. In an hour, communicate with Firefly management, the distribution department and the creative team.

On December 19th, the box office data of the first week of the Christmas season was roughly released. The two new films released this week, "Star Trek First Contact" and "Mr. Sweetheart", respectively, were worth $43 million and $24 million. The first week of the box office, according to the box office trend of the two films, will not have much impact on the next release of the "Titanic". The upcoming comedy "The Martians Play Earth", which is about to be released with the Titanic, is not a threat. After all, although it is starring Jack Nickelson, the Hollywood veteran acting star, it is the budget for making money. Or the scale of the promotion, can not compare with the Titanic.

Other Hollywood film companies, although slamming the "Titanic" mind, but in the end there is a point of taboo, will not take the heavyweight film directly against the "Titanic". The biggest enemy of Titanic is actually whether the film itself can be as popular as the original time and space, creating the original box office miracle.

The final scale of the "Titanic" is 2,770 theaters. Although the fireflies hope to be more than 3,000, the "Titanic" has more than three hours, and the industry’s decline in the film has made many The theaters that are not too close to working with fireflies have refused to line up for the Titanic.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Eric discussed with Carsenberg the phone's propaganda strategy for the first week of the release of Titanic. Hanging up the phone, he would not consider too much about the film.

The personnel has been exhausted, and then, it is necessary to listen to the fate.

I dropped the mobile phone on the coffee table in the living room. Eric reached out and held the beautiful blue eyes and leaned on the side of Joanna’s daughter watching TV. He said, “In summer and summer, it’s not good to watch TV. Dad is reading a bedtime story to you?"

Hawaii struggled in Eric's arms, his eyes still staring at the TV screen, and his tone was dissatisfied: "But, Dad, I am not sleepy."

"Kevin has gone to sleep, you have to rest early, listen to the story before going to bed, sleepy," Eric said, and Emma, ​​who was sitting next to Drew, got up and said that he wanted to listen together. The bedtime story, with his big eyes stretched out and let Eric hug.

Emma is almost five years old, but the little guy seems to have a tendency to repeat the previous generation of small men. Although he is two years older than Hawaii and Kevin, he is only a little taller than Hawaii.

Eric easily lifted Emma and walked toward the little guy's bedroom with one hand and asked, "So, what do you want to hear?"

The TV disappeared into sight. When things were irreversible, Hawaiian's little face reluctantly turned to Eric. "Dad, the bedtime story is so boring. Can you read the Encyclopedia?"

Eric reluctantly said: "Baby, then, Dad is supposed to fall asleep first."

When I heard the conversation between the father and the daughter, Joanna on the sofa couldn’t help but laugh.

Eric has been under great pressure in recent times. They are not unaware of the fact that the box office prospects of the Titanic are bleak, because the firecracker's clover holding company suddenly has a sudden interest in the Nasdaq market. A $1.5 billion investment, recently with the company’s financial statistics at the end of the year, the news was announced, and Eric had a dispute with David West, one of the board members and shareholders of the Firefly Group, in Manhattan a few days ago. Buffett also passed The phone expressed doubts and dissatisfaction.

At this point, listening to the easy conversation between Eric and his daughter, Joanna knows that Eric’s mentality has not been affected by a series of recent events, and he has been slightly relieved.

I woke up very early the next day and looked at the watch on the bedside table. It was just after seven o'clock, and the sky outside the window was still not bright.

There was no sleepiness, and Eric carefully left Xiao Nizi, who was snuggling in his arms, to put on his clothes and walk out of the bedroom.

The snow under last week has not yet been completely gone, and today's sky has once again become gray.

The maids in the manor have already begun to prepare breakfast. Today's newspaper has been placed on the coffee table in the living room. Eric sat down on the sofa and turned it over.

These days, the topic of "Titanic" has experienced too much saliva, the media seems to be a little tired, although the large-scale painting last night, but because of the midwinter, coupled with the long "Titanic" For three hours, many people will inevitably give up watching the midnight field. Today's film reviews on Titanic are not too many. The overall evaluation is almost the same as the dot-spot stage. Detailed media trend analysis is sure to wait for the firefly marketing department to report. Eric has only a few newspapers at this time. And can't see the big trend.

Near eight o'clock, Joanna and Natasha twins also got up, Eric just put down the newspaper and walked into the gym, and the cell phone that he carried with him rang.

The phone was personally called by Carlsenberg of Los Angeles. At the time of Los Angeles, it was only five o'clock in the morning, but this is not a problem for Kasenberg. There are two workaholics in the top of the Firefly Group. It’s Kasenberg, the other one, of course not Eric, but Robert Eiger. Compared to Kasenberg’s five hours of sleep every day, Robert Eiger seems to be a bit more awkward. get up.

The two talked on the phone for more than ten minutes, and Eric temporarily put down the morning exercise and went to the study.

A huge white writing board is habitually hung on the entire wall of the study.

At this point, the top of the tablet reads ‘titani’, and below is a list of the tables.

Picking up the black pen next to it, Eric looked calmly in the first grid and wrote the "Titanic" midnight box office number: $1.56 million.

The waves are not shocked, not warm. (To be continued.)