Chapter 117： Sequel copyright

Shahai Pictures, Ronan's office.

Facing Navas who came to talk about the shooting rights of the sequel to "Blair the Witch", Ronan could only say with a little regret: "It's not that I don't want to cooperate with Lionsgate. The US$8 million sequel rights are for a North American box office. It’s too low for a $150 million movie."

Navas stood up and shook hands with Ronan: "This is my highest authority. Mr. Anderson, let me think about it again."

Ronan didn't force it, and said, "Yes."

He sent Navas out of Sand Sea Entertainment.

This is the third person who came to talk to Ronan about the copyright of the sequel to "Blair the Witch" in the morning. A director of Warner Bros.'s production and Tom Cruise's agent have visited.

Tom Cruise didn't want to buy the copyright of the sequel, but planned to cooperate with Ronan to shoot the sequel. Of course, Ronan would not jump out of the pit he dug out, and co-production is not considered at all.

Although cooperative filming can find ways to pit the partner’s funds, there are many ways to make profits outside the film, but Tom Cruise is not an overseas investor, and Tom Cruise and outside investors are not a concept at all. Ronan would not do this kind of troublesome thing.

Maybe others can't see clearly, but Ronan has memories of his past life. For many years to come, the success of "Blair the Witch" cannot be copied.

Warner Bros. is now the best-performing film company in Hollywood. It is a bit aggressive. The sequel rights only paid out $5 million.

Unless there is no other choice, Ronan will not sell at such a low price.

This is not the normal market price in Hollywood.

Not to mention such successful works as "Blair the Witch", like some popular novels or other works on the market that have not been verified by the film market, the film copyright is more than $5 million.

North America’s copyright laws are relatively complete and they also attach importance to copyright protection, and copyright prices will only go up.

If there is no ideal offer, you can go overseas to attract investment.

Capital operation is often more attractive than making movies down-to-earth, but Ronan also knows the risks involved and must balance the relationships.

Back at the office, after seeing the promotion and distribution plans of "Ace Agent" and "Reaper Is Coming" formulated by the Club Pictures, Ronan received a call from Susan Arnold, saying that he would come around 1:30 in the afternoon.

Ronan sent another text message to Carmen Cass, confirming that she was not at work temporarily, made a call and made an appointment to have dinner together after get off work.

Ronan was busy working all morning, and he also approved the embassy film industry to dismiss three employees. In the past, the embassy film industry was in a very slow pace. Now the whole work rhythm has been brought up. Some of the old employees can’t adapt. , There are also people with insufficient capabilities.

Such people are naturally no longer suitable for staying.

Embassy Pictures followed the legal dismissal procedures, and the severance payment was also paid.

The trade union here is not a decoration. Once the work is not in place, the cost of involving the trade union will only be even greater.

In addition, among the newly recruited employees of Relativity Entertainment, Mary also suggested to dismiss one person. This person has a beautiful resume and ability to work, but it is a pity that he is irresponsible.

Everyone who runs a business will encounter this situation. The best employees in the eyes of the boss are always hard-working, willing to give without asking for return.

It is a pity that a free city like Los Angeles cannot find honest and good employees.

Gotham is better if you want to think about it.

The folk customs are simple and honest, and the talents come from Arkham in large numbers.

Just arrived at one o’clock in the afternoon, Susan Arnold of DreamWorks brought an assistant to Ronan’s office. The two sides did not talk nonsense and directly discussed the copyright of the sequel to Blair the Witch.

"DreamWorks is not the first company interested in the copyright of the sequel of this film." Ronan said in a very targeted manner: "If it were not to raise funds, the director Daniel Malick would end his cooperation with the theory of relativity, I would not sell it. copyright."

Susan Arnold smiled and asked, "Mr. Anderson, at what price do you want to sell it?"

Ronan said calmly: "25 million US dollars!"

Hearing this number, Susan-Arnold's eyelids twitched and said slowly: "DreamWorks is willing to buy out all the copyrights of the Blair Witch series for $40 million. Of course, except for the North American box office that you are about to get."

Ronan refused without hesitation: ""Blair the Witch" has been a big success. I can't sell the proceeds." Seeing what Susan Arnold had to say, he raised his hand to stop, and said: "I want to sell. It’s the copyright of the sequel, and it has nothing to do with the "Blair Witch" in theaters. If DreamWorks wants to buy the copyright of "Blair Witch", we don't have to talk about it."

Susan Arnold is just a test, after all, if you can buy "Blair the Witch", you will earn more.

This is also a negotiation strategy to lower the other party’s psychological expectations.

"Only the sequel shooting rights..." Susan Arnold seemed embarrassed: "This is too different from the original intention of DreamWorks."

Ronan looked at the female producer without speaking.

The preferred target of the transaction is DreamWorks, but it does not exclude other companies. If DreamWorks has to buy "Blair the Witch" together, then sell it to other companies.

Susan Arnold has been observing Ronan and has done a lot of understanding before coming. Ronan Anderson’s company’s capital flow has always been problematic. Whether it is basic operations or investment in filming, all of them come from financing, although they borrow chickens and eggs. The strategy is very clever, but if you have done it, the company's finances will be very unhealthy, and if there is some accident, it may collapse.

In her view, this sequel copyright sale is on the one hand a helpless move to lose the director, on the other hand Ronan Anderson is adjusting the company structure.

Such a young man has succeeded one after another, he must have the ability, and it is impossible not to see funding problems at all.

Susan-Arnold gently buckled the armrest of the chair and said: "Single sequel copyright, 5 million US dollars." She seemed a little bit off: "This is just to get a shooting theme for DreamWorks, a script on the market or other literature. The copyright of the work, even the highest, is only a few million dollars."

Ronan echoed: "Hollywood has never lacked themes and scripts."

This is the truth, no one can deny that which large-scale film company does not hold hundreds of scripts in its script library?

"But these themes and scripts are not "Blair the Witch"!" Ronan slightly emphasized: "They don't have a North American box office of 150 million U.S. dollars! They don't have huge fame and influence! They have not passed the market test! They will not bring audience base. !"

His tone slowed down: "Ms. Arnold, I'm very young, but I also know that the sequels of big-selling movies are extremely powerful, and the sequels can be copied. The name and popularity of "Blair the Witch" alone is more than $5 million! What's more! , "Blair the Witch" brings not only the title, but also the successful model and the foundation of nearly 30 million viewers in North America!"

Why is Hollywood keen on making sequel movies? Susan Arnold certainly knows.

She didn’t refute Ronan’s words and found another way, saying: “With the model of "Blair the Witch", the budget for the production of the sequel is at most several million dollars. The amount of money that is much higher than the amount invested in the production is used to buy the copyright. Without precedent, DreamWorks will become a joke in the industry."

Ronan laughed: "The value of copyright lies in how much revenue it can generate, not in the perception of the outside world. Even if everyone is laughing, can they still laugh when DreamWorks receives hundreds of millions of dollars in the box office?"

Susan Arnold thought about it for a while, and that's the truth.

Ronan said in due course: "When I bought the copyright of "Blair the Witch" and the movie website, many people didn't understand it, including many employees of the company, but now? They are all fortunate that I had no objection to buying this movie.

Susan-Arnold frowned, the other party was justified, and there was nothing profound. They were all the simplest truths in the circle, not that they could not be refuted, but they seemed mentally retarded to refute the simplest facts.

"Blair the Witch"'s current North American box office of 150 million US dollars is Ronan's greatest confidence.

The ultimate goal of making movies in Hollywood has always been commercial profit The huge success of this film can overcome all rebuttals.

"This morning, a representative of Tom Cruise, a member of the Warner Bros. production department, and Mr. Navas from Lionsgate have been here one after another." Ronan told the truth: "They are all interested in the copyright of the sequel to Blair the Witch. Among them, Lionsgate’s bid was very high, but I did not respond immediately because I agreed to meet with you last night."

Ronan said seriously: "I admire director Steven Spielberg very much, so I also want to work with DreamWorks first."

Susan Arnold said: "DreamWorks also wants to work with you, but your asking price is too high."

"Then we will take a step back." Ronan said: "The transaction price is one-tenth of the box office of "Blair the Witch" to the present in North America."

"$15 million?" Susan Arnold still frowned.

Yesterday, she asked Spielberg, who is in charge of the live-action film business, that the price far exceeds the upper limit.

Susan Arnold added: "This is just the copyright for the sequel, and my budget is only 8 million US dollars."

No ghost would believe such words. Ronan knew very well that DreamWorks managed to get Daniel Malik to replicate the success of Blair the Witch.

Bargaining negotiations lasted all afternoon and finally settled at 12 million US dollars.

But Susan-Arnold has no final decision. This result has to be reported to the highest level of DreamWorks for approval. Ronan can wait, but he clearly stated that he can only wait for three days, and will not delay with other companies because of an unidentified business. Negotiation.

"The rest is just the routine." Susan Arnold assured.

Basically settled the negotiations with DreamWorks, Ronan specially cleaned up after get off work, and then went to the appointment with Carmen Case.