Chapter 1081： Forced public relations

At this point, Amy Adams heard Eric take the initiative to say hello to himself, and suddenly gave birth to a flattering feeling.

The two just had a brief conversation when she just started working a few days ago. Amy knew very well what the name Eric Williams meant in Hollywood, although she felt Eric right when she first contacted. Her attitude is a bit different, but she still didn't think Eric would even remember her name.

"Very, um, it’s like being, dreaming," Amy held Ereck’s menu, which she had just handed back, on her chest. She looked incoherent and stared at the man in front of her eyes. Mr. Williams, I have always been your fan."

Kenneth Horne patiently waited for his own boss and waitress to finish his lunch, and watched some of the erratic Amy leave, his face with a smile on his face, praised: "A very special pair eye."

"Yeah," Eric nodded with a smile.

In fact, Amy's eyes are not beautiful, but the pair of light blue and sometimes green eyes are easy to impress.

Feel free to talk a few words, Kenneth Horn quickly transferred the topic to work.

The time is unconsciously already on Monday, December 14.

In the past weekend, the last film of the Firefly Group in 1998, Tea Boy, was also registered in the North American Cinema.

Although Adam Sandler’s "Wedding Singer" in the Easter season successfully achieved a good result in the North American box office, but the company did not have a tea that mimicked some of the "Forrest Gump" Boys have too much expectation, because in most people's eyes, the story of this film is a bit too noisy.

But it turns out that the North American audience is very fond of Adam Sandler's stupid and cinematic style with these little warm love.

In the first three days of the first weekend, the film won a box office of $33.91 million in North American cinema, far exceeding the original expectations of the new line issuing department.

According to the results of the first weekend box office, the first week of the film is expected to be around $50 million at the box office, which is enough to recover the production cost of 23 million US dollars. The first week of the start of 50 million US dollars, followed by the consecutive hot Christmas week, "tea boy" North American box office broke through the billion is almost a matter of course, after all, "Star Wars Episode 1: Ghost threat" even if the popularity is higher, it is impossible Take over all the markets.

In comparison, Paramount Pictures' simultaneous 2D animated film Mulan, in the first three days of the weekend, only received $22.75 million in box office in more than 2,800 theaters in North America, which is more than 10 million lower than Tea Boy. Dollar. On the other hand, the production cost of Mulan is more than 70 million US dollars, more than three times that of "Tea Boy".

The reaction of the critics and the audience to this animated film can only be considered average. At this point, the industry has finally gradually felt that 2D animated films have inevitably shown a trend of fading away from the mainstream in the context of several consecutive 3D animated films sold at the box office.

Eric is not thinking about the Paramount animation.

On the Firefly Group side, after the year-round distribution plan was settled, everyone was surprised to find that it was originally a year of the downturn of the Firefly Group's film business, but the actual situation was far beyond everyone's expectations.

Moreover, all of this reversal situation comes from the low-cost black horse works of several new box-offices sold by New Line Pictures.

The most surprising thing about this is the summertime "Midnight Ring", a horror film that created a phenomenon-level viewing craze that has been stuck in the North American market until the end of November, for more than four months. At the screening, the film's final box office reached 286 million US dollars, ranking second in the current 1998 North American box office rankings, which is second only to the $322 million of "Charlie's Baby 3".

At the same time, on November 13th, the "Teddy Bear" released by the new line of film industry, the weekend of the past weekend, the North American box office has accumulated a total of $ 195.53 billion, only one step away from 200 million.

"Midnight Ring" and "Teddy Bear" North American box office broke 200 million, "Wedding Singer" and "Tea Boy" North America box office broke 100 million, just the new line of these four films, North America's $700 million box office total, occupied 1998 10% of the annual box office share.

Due to the outstanding performance of the new line film industry, the Firefly Group's share of the North American box office market will still reach more than 20%.

What is even more rare is that the four box-offices of the new line film industry are all made up of small blogs, the "Midnight Rings" production cost is 30 million US dollars, "Teddy Bear" production costs 50 million US dollars, "Wedding Singer The two films of "The Tea Boy" totaled just over $40 million. The cost of the four films totals $120 million, but in North America alone, it will bring nearly $700 million in box office.

The new line film industry has been able to achieve such outstanding results for several years, although it is inseparable from the series of ideas given by Eric, but it is also inseparable from Kenneth Horn's excellent operational capabilities. After all, Hollywood has never lacked the rarity of studio executives who will hit a good hand.

It happens that Kenneth Horn's contract is about to expire next year. After ESPN TV CEO Steve Bernstein left, it has already made Eric very sorry. He naturally does not want another member of the group to leave.

However, the Firefly Group's solid management structure has made it impossible for Eric to promote Kenneth Horn in the short term.

"Kenneth, you are very clear about the situation inside the group." Since I can't hide, Eric is also very calm, saying: "In the short term, I can't make too much adjustment to the management, so although you I have done a good job in the new line in the past few years, but I can't make any further adjustments to your position. I passed them with Jeffrey. If you are willing to stay in the new line, I can give the conditions. Your next salary standard, on the basis of the basic salary, enjoys the annual profit of 5% of the new line of the film group. In addition, you will no longer be subject to Jeffrey's system and will be directly responsible to me personally."

As the CEO of the Firefly Group, Kasenberg's compensation contract is based on the basic salary and enjoys a 2% annual profit dividend for the entire Firefly Group. According to the current firefly group's current net profit of more than 3 billion US dollars, Kasenberg's average annual salary will exceed 60 million US dollars.

The volume of the new line film industry is naturally incomparable with the entire firefly group. Although the operating results in recent years are very bright, in fact, the various revenue data of the new line film industry still only occupy the entire firefly group. About 15%, even this year's better year, this data actually did not exceed 20%.

However, Eric gave Kenneth Horn's annual profit of 5% of the new line of the film group, still showing sincerity.

The profit that New Line Pictures can contribute to the parent company is about 500 million US dollars per year, and the annual profit of 5% is equivalent to 25 million US dollars. This is completely the salary of the heads of the seven major Hollywood studios. standard. If there are still several outbreaks of dark horses like this year, this number will undoubtedly be much higher.

In all fairness, Kenneth Horne did not think about leaving the Firefly Group.

After all, although it is well-paid, it is only a subsidiary of the Firefly Group. In any case, it is not comparable to running a large studio separately. Moreover, he also knows that within the Firefly Group, he can further become the president of the group. Sex, also far below Robert Eiger. He can even feel like many group executives, and it is obvious that Robert Eiger is almost the next president of Eric Ned's group, and even the successor of Kasenberg.

However, just a little consideration, Kenneth Horne found that in the current pattern of Hollywood, there is simply no place for him. Steve Bernstein is a TV industry player who can also jump to the industry-connected Comcast Group, but since he graduated from college, he has been in the Hollywood circle, so it’s clear that leaving In Hollywood, it is difficult for him to have much room for display.

As for Hollywood, the firefly system has controlled four of the seven major studios. The other three, Time Warner's internal factions are continually struggling, and an outsider has jumped into the past. Under the constraints of many parties, he is unable to display his talents. Universal Pictures is currently in the hands of Michael Eisner, and he does not want to follow Michael Owitz's footsteps. As for Paramount, Redstone’s strong desire to control Viacom would not give him too much room to play.

Perhaps inside the firefly system, he can also compete for the position of the top leader of the Columbia Film Company. He believes that if he proposes it, Eric will not have much hesitation. Bill Michalnik is not a firefly's executive. He wants to control Colombia in the past, and Eric may even like it.

However, although it is still nominally one of the seven major studios, only the fool will jump to the mess in Colombia.

It should be noted that although it is only a subsidiary of the Firefly Group, the current comprehensive strength of the new line film industry has far exceeded the Columbia Film Company. Of course, the size of the film library and its hidden position in Hollywood are still incomparable. But if the two companies are listed separately, the market value of Columbia Pictures will never exceed $5 billion, and the new line of films can easily break through $10 billion.

Then, in addition to staying in the new line of film, Kenneth Horn can't think of himself and other better options.

What's more, Eric's salary conditions are absolutely sincere. Although his specific position has not improved, the next adjustment he only needs to report to Eric is equivalent to mentioning him as the same as Kasenberg.

“Eric, I am looking forward to the next job,” said Kenneth Horne. “But I also hope that the group can release some of the new film productions. Type restrictions, I think I still have the ability to try big movies."

Although Eric is very generous in terms of salary and treatment, Eric is not planning to give in to the basic business line of the new line. He said: "Kenneth, I can't promise you this, you too It should be able to see that the positioning strategy of the new line has been very successful over the years. Moreover, the series like "Jesus" and "Rush Hour" will not be for you in the production budget of the sequel. Restrictions are made. But in terms of fundamental business strategies, I hope that the new line will always adhere to the current operational strategy."

Noting the disappointing expression of Kenneth Horn, Eric still didn't intend to change his mind, but still gave a 'sweet date' that was already prepared, saying: "But, Kenneth, you know, the firefly system. In recent years, the scale of the TV business has become larger and larger. If the TV program is only self-produced, it is difficult to have too many products. Therefore, I hope that the new line will be able to get more involved in TV production, for ABC. FOX and several companies' cable TV networks offer TV shows."

In fact, the new line film industry originally had a TV production department, but the scale has been very small. In recent years, the main energy of the new line has always been in the film business.

Hearing Eric said, Kenneth Horne understands that this is Eric’s hope that the new line will become one of the major TV brand suppliers of the Firefly system, and stimulate the major TV brands to compete in good competition. In order to make a better TV show.

The TV program market in North America is about the same size as the movie market. It is always in a closed operating system. It is difficult to get the specific data from the outside world.

Although Eric did not let go of the restrictions on the production of the new line of film, but with the support of Eric's TV business, Kenneth Horn can no longer have more luxury.

I talked a few more words and confirmed some specific details. Amy Adams brought the lunches of the two men, and Kenneth Horne took the initiative to turn the topic to the nearest thing.

"There is no doubt that this year is another Oscar year. So far, Hollywood has only two seasons of "Horse of the Horse" and "Elizabeth". And although the reputation of the film is very good, I know it privately. However, most of the college judges are not too concerned about "Ma Shu". "Elizabeth" is very likely to get important Oscar awards this year. I even think about it. Can you let "Midnight Rings" also impact Oscar? Like the "Exorcist" of the year."

Eric shook his head and smiled: "If "Midnight Ring" is an original script in North America, or a horror novel adapted from a Westerner, it may be possible. But it is adapted from the RB horror novel, you think the college Will those proud old men look at a piece of RB culture embedded in the kernel?"

"Oh, I know that this is not possible." Kenneth Horne smiled and apparently thought about it.

Eric continued: "There is also a lot of things for the Harvey brothers, so they certainly won't give up the idea of ​​letting the "Malays" compete for important awards such as Oscar's best film. If necessary, even if it is forcible public relations, they can definitely do it."