Chapter 688： Why don't i sell

Leaving the booth of DEJ production company, Navas quickly found the French production company mentioned on the phone according to the description of the assistant.

"Over there." The assistant looked over and pointed to the screen: "Just this movie."

Navas took a look and asked, "Where is Ronan Anderson?"

The assistant said: "He is gone, but one person is left to talk."

Navas followed his assistant’s fingers and saw a somewhat familiar young man. After thinking about it, Mu Ran was shocked. This was not the time when he accompanied Ronan Anderson to watch and purchase "The Witch Blair" at the Saint Denis Film Festival. "The man?"

What's the other party's name? Navas can't think of it anymore, but it is certain that his relationship with Ronan Anderson is very unusual.

Is this another movie like "Blair the Witch"? Navas's heart suddenly became hot, and his scorching eyes immediately cast on the film clip on display.

But after only three minutes, Navas's fiery heart was half cold.

This is not an English movie, not a Hollywood movie, but an overseas movie, or a French movie!

In the past two decades, have any French films achieved good results in North America? Even the French director Luc Besson, who is known to know the North American film market best, is repeating the path of pounding on the street and then on the street in North America.

Navas thought of the "City of God" and "Ambush on the Ten Sides" that he had bought before, and the painful lesson seemed to be in sight.

This **** experience and lesson always told him one thing, let him recognize an inherent fact of the world's largest film market-overseas films want to succeed in North America, it is tantamount to a win rate of less than 1% , And even lower gambling.

He had already lost the bet twice, and he didn't want to do it a third time.

Although I don't know French, this film called "The Spring of Cow Herding Class" also looks very interesting, but Navas doesn't want to bet on the terrible success rate.

"Boss?" The assistant saw Navas in a daze and asked, "Should we..."

Navas learned the lessons of the previous two failures and said categorically: "We will not touch this film. Lionsgate will not touch any non-English films at this festival!"

The assistant didn't quite understand, even very confused, but he echoed: "Okay, I'll pass it on."

Navas did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood here and continued to watch the show clip of this film. The more I watched it, the more interesting it became, and I felt that it could become a classic film.

But classic films will surely achieve commercial success?

When Lionsgate was first established, Navas would definitely say yes.

Now, Navas knows that classic films are not necessarily related to commercial success.

Because Navas personally purchased and operated "City of God", this Brazilian film almost entered the ranks of the top ten classic films selected by all media and professionals that year, many of which were still the top.

Even in various selections of the top ten movies since the beginning of the century, "City of God" is also among the best.

However, the commercial performance of the film made Lionsgate vomit blood.

Navas resisted the urge to talk to the French about the copyright of "The Spring of the Cattle Class" and prepared to leave.

The exhibition hall suddenly went into chaos, and another heavyweight movie boss is here!

A fat Jewish man with a small head wandered around the progress hall, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Harvey Weinstein!

Miramax Pictures is here!

Seeing Harvey Weinstein walking towards the Frenchman, Navas's originally chilled heart heated up again.

But the lesson of foreign language blood was right in front of him, and he finally resisted it.

"Let's go." Navas left the exhibition hall without looking back.

Let Embassy Pictures and Miramax Pictures break the head for this film.

Navas didn't look back, and walked towards those exhibition halls that hadn't been taken away, hoping to find a film suitable for Lionsgate.

Don't think about "Spring of the Cow Herding Class", wait for news from the producer for the "Crash", and then check it out tomorrow if you have time.

In one day, Ronan watched the Toronto Film Festival's trading area, and later saw a film with a more familiar name-"Rwanda Hotel".

This is a film about the Rwanda massacre in the 1990s. Its style and characteristics are in line with the awards season.

But Ronan only gave up after some contact, because the producer only offered US$16 million for the North American distribution rights.

For the producers, such an offer is very reasonable, because they have invested nearly 18 million dollars in production.

But for the issuer, the risk is too great.

North America requires 16 million US dollars in copyright fees. The commercial attributes of the film are better than nothing. It is bound to take the award season award route. Coupled with the investment in award award distribution, it is difficult to recover the cost.

For directors, actors, and other creators, film may be an art.

For distribution companies like Embassy Pictures, film is first and foremost a business.

"Don't you think that movie is a bit like the African version of "Schindler's List"?" Tony Koch, enjoying Ronan's dinner, said: "Maybe I can get an Oscar for Best Picture. "

Ronan said directly: "It is African blacks, not Jews."

Tony Koch instantly felt that it made sense, and nodded and said, "You can see it thoroughly." He suddenly asked with doubts: "Did not Hollywood black movies perform well during the award season in the past two years?"

Ronan lowered his voice: "African blacks and black Americans are not the same thing. American blacks never think that they belong to the same ethnic group as black Africans."

This is what he said in private with a close friend like Tony Koch.

Tony Koch swallowed the food in his mouth: "I only knew that the Berlin Film Festival was greatly affected by factors outside the film. I didn't expect the award season in Hollywood to be the same."

Ronan smiled, and then asked: "How is your place?"

"Very well, I have attracted a large number of movie buyers." Tony Koch said with a smile: "Ronan, your attraction is too big. Many film companies are competing for the "Spring of the Cow Herding Class". There is no need to bid at all, and later they will fight fiercely.

Ronan said, "Because that film is really unique."

Tony Koch agrees with Ronan's point of view: "I saw it for a while and it felt really good."

Ronan asked, "Has the deal for this film been concluded? Who bought it in the end?"

"It's done." Tony Koch thought of the fat man, and said: "Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Films got the North American distribution rights, and it is rumored that he spent 7 million US dollars."

Ronan instantly understood: "Harvey Weinstein may run "The Spring of the Cattle Class" to hit the Oscars for the best foreign language film."

Tony Koch immediately put away his smiling face: "Become our direct competitor?"

"Yeah." Ronan thought about this possibility: "This is the only reason Harvey Weinstein can invest heavily in buying the copyright of the film."

"We have a strong competitor." Tony Koch has also heard of the famous Oscar promoter.

Ronan frowned: "US$7 million in copyright fees, plus the investment in operating the Oscar, if you can't get the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, how many years will it take for Harvey Weinstein to recover the investment?"

Many Hollywood films have been able to wipe out their losses after many years of offline operations, but what is the point of extending this time to ten or twenty years?

Tony Koch asked at this moment: "Ronan, how is your side?"

Ronan put down his knife and fork, took a tissue, and wiped his hands and said, "It's basically settled. Embassy Pictures will sign a contract tonight."

It was another refreshing morning in Canada. Navas once again entered the trading zone of the Toronto Film Festival. His expression was a bit serious. After one day, he did not find a film that would make him determined to sign.

That French movie looks good, but no matter how good an overseas movie is, its performance in North America will have to be marked with a huge question. Failure may far outweigh success.

Later, he also saw a film called "Hotel Rwanda", but such a film reflecting Rwanda in Africa, the North American distribution copyright will cost 16 million US dollars, the producer is really crazy!

Because there was no suitable choice, Navas once again came to the booth where "Crash" was located.

Then, he was surprised to find that the director and producer named Paul Haggis, who was interviewing him yesterday, was leading the staff to clean up the booth, and seemed to be moving out...

what's going on?

Navas faintly felt that something was wrong, so he walked over and said hello: "Good morning, Director Haggis."

Paul Haggis also saw him and responded with a smile: "Hello."

"You are..." Navas pointed to the busy staff in the booth.

Paul Haggis is in a great mood said: "The copyright of the film has been sold, and we are going to withdraw it."

"Sold it?" Navas had a bad feeling, and asked, "I take the liberty to ask, which company did you sell to?"

Thinking that there are no relevant provisions in the copyright transaction contract, Paul Haggis did not want to offend the people of Lionsgate, saying: "The Embassy Pictures under the Relativity Entertainment Group." From planning to production to film festival sales, He has gone through too many hardships. At this time, it is inevitable that there is a kind of pride after turning over: "The Embassy Pictures bought out all the copyrights of "Crash" for 7 million US dollars."

Navas was stunned, Embassy Pictures? Relativity entertainment? Ronan Anderson? Looks like I missed something...

"Before you sell, you should contact me again." Navas couldn't help saying.

Paul Haggis shook his head: "The overseas copyright of this film is not easy to sell, I know very well. But the Embassy Pictures is willing to pay, and the Embassy Pictures also signed a special clause with me. The North American box office of "Crash" can triple The copyright fees they bought will also give me a personal dividend of $1 million. Why don't I sell it on such good terms?"