I’m in Hollywood Chapter 1150: Chain of interest
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Compared to the large and monotonous studio and the busy administrative area, the digital office in the Firefly studio, mainly constructed by glass and steel structure, is undoubtedly the most comfortable place to go, like several artworks side by side. The building is hidden between green trees and vines, like a single small world in the movie city.
Of course, as one of the core departments of Firefly Group, not everyone can enter the digital office area.
Tom Freston was able to come to the second floor of an office LOFT under the personal leadership of Carolyn.
Along the way, Tom Freston looked around secretly.
However, what really attracts Tom Freston is not the exquisite decoration and special effects film models everywhere in the office LOFT, but the company itself in the digital field.
As one of the two joint Chairmans of the Viacom Group, which is mainly responsible for the company's movie entertainment business, Tom · Freston is very familiar with all aspects of the digital field.
Warner, Paramount, and Universal, a light and shadow era special effects company co-founded by three companies, have planned to imitate the digital field from the beginning, but in the past six months, the senior executives of the three companies basically have to admit that they want to catch up with the digital field. It's as difficult as going to the sky.
The company of the Firefly system has been laying out CG special effects eight years ago, and for eight years, it has been deeply rooted in Hollywood.
The era of light and shadow wants to catch up. Traditionally, the most convenient way is undoubtedly to dig people from the digital field.
But this model does not work at all now, because even if the technology talents of the other side are dug from the digital field in the age of light and shadow, they cannot get the special effects software of this company. The core special effects software in the digital field has even ceased to be sold now, but uses the rental authorization model to cooperate with other small and medium-sized special effects companies.
The age of light and shadow is naturally impossible within the authorized list of the digital field.
Unable to obtain software authorization in the digital field, the era of light and shadow can only choose to cooperate with the old graphics software manufacturer Autodesk to develop exclusive CG special effects software.
Because Autodesk was not optimistic about the prospects of CG special effects, it refused to cooperate with the digital field in software development. Now in order to make up for the mistakes in decision-making, investment in related software development is also spared no effort. But the gap in technology accumulation over eight years is definitely not catching up overnight.
Moreover, even after several years of hard work, Autodesk is catching up with the pace of the digital field in software technology, it certainly cannot easily break the strong interest chain that the Firefly system has established in the Hollywood special effects industry.
Be aware that the same movie, even if it does not use some of the top special effects technologies unique to the digital field, is just a popular ordinary CG lens, and special effects companies that use software and technical support in the digital field often have more advantages than other peers. All-round advantages from effect to cost.
Therefore, even if it is understood that there may be a risk of being caught by the Firefly system at any time, it is difficult for Hollywood and other Film Studio to decisively quit dependence on the digital field and its affiliated special effects companies.
"Mr. Freston, Eric will take about ten minutes, please wait a moment."
Carolyn took Tom Freston to the lounge on the second floor and explained a few words politely, instructing the staff to prepare coffee for each other before turning around and leaving.
After waiting for three days, Tom · Freston did not mind the last ten minutes. Thanks to the digital field staff who brought him coffee, he sat at the table and quickly sorted out what to do next. Coping with Eric Williams, I took a sigh of relief after a while.
Looking around again, I got up and grabbed a copy of yesterday ’s "Hollywood Reporter" from the bookshelf next to me, intending to kill the last few minutes.
The headline of newspaper happens to be the eye-catching "Iron Man" Box Office number.
The third weekend of the release, "Iron Man" Box Office is still only 39% lower, and it will receive another 37.88 million USD in three days.
At the same time, the total Box Office of North America in this Superhero blockbuster in two and a half weeks has reached 200 million 60 510,000 USD, and the break of the 300 million USD mark in the next week and a half is almost a nail. Four weeks after the release, North America Box Office broke 300 million, the whole screening cycle came down, the film North America Box Office easily walked to 400 million USD without any suspense.
Compared with Paramount's "The General's Daughter" Box Office in the same period, it's almost unbearable.
Ten days after its release, the cumulative Box Office of this 95 million USD film was only 35.13 million USD.
Of course, not only "The General's Daughter", but also under the strong impact of "Iron Man", "Entrapment" released last Friday, Box Office for the first three days of the first weekend only 19150,000 USD.
However, the production cost of this sentimental work mainly supported by the first 007 player Shane · Connelly was well controlled by Columbia at 60 million USD.
Even if North America Box Office is unsatisfactory, the overseas Box Office potential of "Entrapment" is much higher than that of "The General's Daughter". Eventually global Box Office around 200 million USD is expected to be enough for Columbia to recover all production and distribution costs. The film ’s future video tape DVD and TV peripherals basically generate net profit.
Moreover, in Tom Freston's opinion, "Entrapment" does not mean Box Office for Columbia at all.
The final cost control of 60 million USD in this film means that after leaving Sony, Columbia Film Industry is quickly assimilated by the Firefly system with almost no buffer period, and is no longer arbitrarily squandered in film production, but this is In the Sony control period, Columbia Film Industry has not been completely improved in nearly ten years.
Actually, because the financing of Hollywood movies has been too easy in recent years, outside of the Firefly system, everyone spends a lot of money.
Like the current "The General's Daughter", if Paramount can work hard to strictly control costs, not to mention 95 million USD, even 60 million USD is more than enough. If the budget is reduced to 60 million USD, Paramount's current loss pressure will be much less.
However, in order to win over the Director Simon · West that became famous with "Con Air", the Paramount production department did not do so, but moved in intentionally or unintentionally during the production process. However, although the production cost has been increased by more than 50%, this Director, who is only the second time to direct the big production film, failed to come up with a satisfactory work.
Compared to this, the Firefly system is too strong.
In recent years, Creative Artists Agency once fired the Shane · Connelly remuneration to 20 million USD, but in "Entrapment", Columbia insisted that only the veteran 007 player be offered 12 million USD remuneration, even without any choice of Box Office. .
Although Shane · Connelly repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the project, it was finally accepted.
Obviously, Shane · Connelly also knows that without Sony, it is impossible to get 20 million USD from Columbia. He is definitely not worth 20 million in the eyes of Hollywood and other big Film Studio. As for the companies such as Carlock Film Industry, which has frequently offered premium prices to Hollywood veteran superstar in the past few years, with the completion of the integration trend of media groups, the film distribution channel has been further monopolized. After continuous losses in recent years, they have gradually quieted down.
Looking absently at the newspaper in his hand, and hearing the footsteps in his ear, Tom Freston immediately recovered and got up and greeted the Eric who entered the lounge: "Eric, very happy to see To you. "
"Hello, Tom, sit down."
Eric politely shook hands with Tom Freston and sat down next to the table and chairs while looking at the slightly older middle-aged man in front of him.
Tom Freston was only forty years old this year, but his gray hair and wrinkles on his face made him look ten years older than he actually was.
Tom · Freston sat down and looked at the young man who was dressed casually but with a calm temperament in front of him without any trace. He actively said: "Eric, I came here this time, hoping to eliminate both of us. Some misunderstandings these days. "
Eric took the mineral water handed to him by Carolyn and placed it on the table with a bland expression and nodded: "Well, what then?"
Tom Freston did not get any useful information from the Eric emoticons at all, and can only continue: "Stan Lee Cullen will leave from Paramount in the near future, as for Blockbuster, we can provide a compensation, To seek reconciliation with companies such as Firefly Group. "
Eric raised his hand, with a puzzled expression, asked: "Who is Stan Lee Cullen?"
The entire youth across the street did n’t even let the retired employees on the Hollywood gossip website. How could they not know Stan Lee Cullen?
However, the other party pretends to be stupid, but Tom Freston can only explain daringly: "Stan Lee Cullen is Paramount Pictures Vice Chairman, mainly responsible for the distribution business. The last misunderstanding was caused by his unauthorized Zhang. . "
"Oh," Eric nodded, but said: "I don't know this person, Paramount, I only know Sherry · Lansing."
Tom Freston froze for a moment, then immediately understood, and subconsciously shook his head: "Eric, this will not work."
"It ’s your business," Eric put away the randomness just now, sitting up straight and staring at Tom · Freston, saying, "In short, I only know Sherry · Lansing over Paramount, Then, since something went wrong, Sherry · Lansing should be responsible. "
The attitude of Eric suddenly became stronger, and Tom · Freston suddenly weakened a bit, saying: "Eric, it should not be like this. After all, the last incident did not affect you much."
If the head of one of the seven major Film Studios is resigned because of a gossip incident that has not caused any storms at all, not to mention the possible impact on the operation of Paramount Pictures, this incident alone will seriously hit the entire Viacom's prestige and position in the media industry.
"But what if it's caused?" Eric glanced at the newspaper in front of Tom · Freston, and said: "Like" Iron Man ", if it is not handled properly by Firefly Group, this global Box Office 1 billion USD level movie , How much Box Office, 500 million, 300 million, or less. So, I wo n’t allow this to happen again. You should bear as much responsibility as you have for Firefly Group. , If you want reconciliation, Sherry · Lansing must leave. "
For a moment of silence, Tom Freston had to nod and said, "Well, I will tell Summer, so, about Blockbuster?"
"Speaking of this, Tom, do you know that lizards are tail-tailed to survive, do you have to meet any conditions to achieve your goals first?"
Viacom announced the move to split Blockbuster last Saturday, and it has now proved to have little effect.
Hearing Eric say this, Tom Freston could n’t help but say something, shook his head and said: "This, I do n’t know very well."
Eric smiled a little on his face, like a young teacher who suddenly came to preach, saying, "It ’s very simple. The broken tail of the lizard must be able to attract the attention of the predator. If the predator behind it I do n’t want to eat that tail at all, what's the point of doing this? "
Tom Freston nodded helplessly: "It seems that this is indeed the case."
"So, since you like to do this, you should pick a tail that is attractive enough."
Tom Freston has a bad feeling in his heart, but he can only follow the topic of Eric, saying: "Eric, what the **** do you want?"
"ShowtimeTV Station," Eric no longer turns around, saying: "Expulsion of Sherry · Lansing, transfer of Showtime, this is my request. To do these two things, we cancelled the last thing."
Eric deliberately did not mention Stan Lee Cullen again, but obviously, this person could not stay in Hollywood anyway.
In recent years, with the continuous development of HBO and the rapid expansion of FFMTV Station, Viacom, which realized the commercial potential of toll cable stations, has also increased its investment in its ShowtimeTV Station.
Although the development of ShowtimeTV Station is far less rapid than the FFM jointly supported by several major companies, it is also one of the fastest growing businesses under Viacom. With lower fees and its own content channel resources, ShowtimeTV Station has now accumulated more than 6 million paying users.
"Eric, your request is too much, Summer will not agree at all."
"I said the same thing as before, whether it ’s your business or not. Just like you are causing trouble to me, solving the problem can only be my business. Now, I have solved the problem that I am facing, you It ’s time to solve the problems you are facing, ”Eric said, adding:“ And, compared to the conditions that some people prescribe, my request is actually very reasonable. ”
"We already know that Carr Icahn visited you, Eric, you cannot succeed. And, even if it succeeds, you will face a lot of troubles in the future, because your manipulation is serious. Illegal. "
"That's the problem I'm facing again, it has nothing to do with you," Eric shrugged and said, "You can let Summer try to see if he can keep his position. By the way, I have to remind One thing for you, next week we will announce a list of a number of externally cooperated films. Although it is mainly some non-core projects of Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Columbia, the Wall Street film fund is definitely more willing to cooperate with the Firefly system. So, you will come to the time You can think about whether you want to survive again and strip Paramount Pictures out. "