Chapter 327： Very satisfied

Just before Christmas, Ronan, on behalf of the Pacific Film Foundation, signed formal financing contracts with three entertainment companies. The three entertainment companies each invested 25 million US dollars in the Pacific Film Foundation, which is a total of 75 million US dollars.

Compared with the long-term credit banks of island countries, this investment amount is much less.

However, this is the amount of investment financed in the same period.

In other words, the three entertainment companies only signed one phase of investment contract with the Pacific Film Foundation for the time being.

This investment is also for three years, with a fixed rate of return of 12%. The investment will be paid in two installments within four months, and the first payment will be after the New Year.

In terms of cash flow, the three entertainment companies are certainly not comparable to financial investment institutions such as the Long-term Credit Bank of the island country, but at least $75 million will enable Shahai Entertainment to solve the production budget of three medium-to-lower scale movie projects.

Ronan is very satisfied with this cooperation. The three entertainment companies have strong intentions to invest in Hollywood and have expressed sufficient sincerity.

The two sides also agreed that if the cooperation is satisfactory, the South Korean side will continue to cooperate with the Pacific Film Foundation.

In addition, Ronan also talked to them about the North American Internet copyright authorization of Korean film and television works. The heads of the three entertainment companies are willing to act as an intermediary for Netflix to contact Korean film and television production companies.

With these local snakes matching up, Netflix's work of collecting the copyrights of Korean film and television works will also go smoother.

Netflix's copyright library needs to be expanded step by step. North America is the most troublesome to talk about, but the copyright of overseas works is much easier.

The increase in copyright volume and the increase in optional products can further attract customers.

On the day Ronan led the team to leave Seoul, Kim Young-min accompanied him to the airport to see him off.

"Mr. Anderson." Jin Yingmin and Ronan shook hands firmly: "I hope this is the beginning of our cooperation, and we can become strategic partners in the future."

Ronan smiled and said, "I believe this day will come soon."

Kim Young-min said politely: "The time is too tight this time, and there is a lack of hospitality. Please forgive me."

"I am very satisfied with your hospitality." Ronan said politely: "I fully feel your warmth and hospitality."

Kim Young-min seemed to have understood Ronan's words incorrectly, lowered his voice slightly, and said, "Mr. Anderson will come to Korea next time. I will make arrangements for you."

Ronan said, "Thank you. When Mr. King arrives in Los Angeles, he must visit me as a guest."

Kim Young Min said with certainty: "Definitely."

The two shook hands again, and Ronan followed the negotiating team into the boarding gate.

Kim Young-min watched Ronan's figure go further and further, but was a little worried. Jun Ji-hyun and Song Hye-kyo can be said to be top-looking actresses in the local entertainment industry. If the other party comes back next time, can they find a better one?

It's really not good, but the quality is not enough, and the quantity comes together.

SM Entertainment does not have many others, but the women's group can come up with a dozen.

Ronan and his party did not stop in East Asia, but took the flight directly back to Los Angeles.

On the one hand, Christmas is coming soon. This is the most important holiday for Americans. After this period of high-intensity overseas work, the team also needs to rest and adjust.

On the other hand, the goal of financing has been fully achieved.

Excluding the financing after the first phase, just calculating the first phase of next year's financing of the Pacific Foundation, the long-term credit bank of the island country and the three major entertainment companies in Korea will raise a total of 275 million US dollars.

In addition, Ronan has other financing channels.

Even after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, private financing from Abu Dhabi might be troublesome. Relativity Entertainment is still able to raise funds from the Mountain Foundation in Mumbai, India and Koch Films in Germany.

In this way, even if Shahai Entertainment produced multiple medium and large-scale production projects at the same time, the funds were quite sufficient.

To achieve the financing goal, Ronan does not need to go to an indescribable country. After all, there are some huge risks that cannot be described in words.

Especially the big scissors, there is no uniform and clear standard, which is really worrying.

After Ronan returned to Los Angeles, he took a short three-day break at Christmas and quickly went to work.

He first met with Kazuo Inoue who came to Los Angeles, briefly talked about the situation after the other party came to Los Angeles, and then hosted a banquet for Kazuo Inoue and his party.

The specific authorization negotiations were handed over to Netflix’s Mark Randolph.

The film and television works of the island countries cannot be sold in North America, and the Internet authorization price is lower. After Netflix has obtained the capital expansion of Relativity Entertainment, the current liquidity is still sufficient, and it is not a problem to obtain the authorization of some film and television works from overseas.

Netflix is ​​following the path of business operation on the right track, not a small street shop or workshop-style operation. Many things that touch the copyright law must be paid attention to.

Before the new year, Jun Ji-hyun, accompanied by his agent, came to Los Angeles from South Korea. Ronan was busy with work. He hurriedly met with her and asked Connie to take it to the Warner Studios to find Sanda Remus. The crew arranged for Jun Ji Hyun to audition.

In the script of "Grey's Anatomy", there is an Asian character named Christina Young, who is the second or third supporting actress.

In the beginning, Sanda Remus found an actress named Sandra Wu in accordance with Hollywood’s usual aesthetics. Originally Ronan had no objection, but after seeing the photo of the actress, he directly rejected it. Selected this candidate.

This so-called Asian American actress is really incompetent.

Ronan felt that it was necessary to redefine the standards of Asian beauty in Hollywood.

It just so happens that you can try Jun Ji Hyun first.

The only problem is that compared to the role of an intern, Jun Ji-hyun is a bit younger, but fortunately, makeup can be solved.

Ronan is the owner of the investment company and the first producer of the project. Sanda Remus does not have any money to say no. Jun Ji-hyun passed the audition very smoothly and called Ronan specifically to invite him to dinner. To express gratitude.

As there was no time for the time being, Ronan pushed it later.

Ronan stayed late at Warner Studios every day these days, exchanging views with director Gore Wibinski on the shooting and preparation of "Pirates of the Caribbean".

The production budget of this project is as high as 120 million U.S. dollars, plus publicity and distribution costs, and the total investment is expected to reach 200 million U.S. dollars.

According to the general situation in Hollywood, the global box office of the first part of "Pirates of the Caribbean" has to reach 600 million US dollars in order to guarantee a return on the box office.

Regardless of the investor, or the director, the pressure is considerable.

"Ronan, I want a certain time."

In the office, Gore Wibinski asked directly: "Excluding the shooting, there is still a funding gap of 40 million US dollars in the preliminary preparations. When will the funds be available?"

Ronan knew that Gore Wibinski was under great pressure and assured him: "You can rest assured that before January 5, the crew will have an extra 20 million dollars on the books, and the remaining 20 million dollars in the budget gap will be available when you need it. , Can go to the account of the guarantor of the film at any time."

The long-term credit bank of the island country has been in contact with the Pacific Film Foundation, and the two sides are negotiating the exchange of funds. The first $100 million in financing will soon arrive.

South Korea has always been very active. On the third day after Ronan returned to Los Angeles, the first financing of up to 35 million U.S. dollars went to the Pacific Foundation.

But the money was not invested in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" crew, but was prioritized to start the two projects "Hurricane Rescue" and "Summer of Jeans".

Especially for "Hurricane Rescue", the director and two leading actors are all in place, the script has been finalized long ago, and the crew has been established, and full preparations will begin after the funds are in place.

"Summer of Jeans" is still in the stage of perfecting the script, but after the new year, the project will enter a period of rapid operation.

For these three projects, Ronan also contacted Tony Koch. After the New Year, Koch Pictures will apply for the German tax refund according to the existing procedures.

In particular, "Pirates of the Caribbean" has a production budget of up to 120 million U.S. dollars. Once the tax refund application is approved, the tax refund amount of 10% of the expected income will be as high as tens of millions of dollars.

Ronan certainly couldn't let go of this kind of legal income.

Gore Wibinski discussed with Ronan about the shooting plan, and then said: "After the $20 million funding is in place, I will take most of the crew to Rosario in Baja California. The final preparations are carried out there. When filming, priority will be given to filming over there."

Ronan agreed: "Yes." He then ordered: "You and the special effects team communicate well in advance."

"Yeah." Gore Wibinski said, "I have already greeted them."

Soon after the founding of the crew, Ronan decided to outsource the special effects production of "Pirates of the Caribbean" to Industrial Light and Magic, a subsidiary of Lucasfilm, which is the most powerful film feature production company in Hollywood and the world, although the fees are higher than ordinary small companies. High, but the special effects are more guaranteed.

Special effects are one of the selling points of "Pirates of the Caribbean"Of course, quality must be guaranteed.

Leaving the crew office, Ronan made a special trip to Studio 3 to see the training of the main actors, including Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Jeffrey Rush and Christian Bell The actors included are undergoing professional swordsmanship training suitable for film shooting.

Movie swordsmanship training is completely different from competitive swordsmanship. The former must ensure that swordsmanship is beautiful and beautiful on the basis of certain authenticity.

In accordance with Ronan's request, the action guidance group of the crew removed a lot of fancy things when designing the action.

In the past two years, under the influence of action directors from Hong Kong City, Hollywood action scenes are undergoing tremendous changes. While abandoning old-fashioned fights, they have not yet formed a new style, so there will be a strange dance like "Charlie Dang". sheet.

After watching the training for a while, Ronan did not disturb the actors, and quickly left Studio 3.

He got good news, and Robert Iger returned to Los Angeles.