I’m in Hollywood Chapter 725: Correct ideas

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Bill. Michanik came to his office with Howard Stringer, just sat down, Howard Stringer took out a document from the briefcase he carried with him: "Bill, you look at this first."

Bill. Michanick took it over and opened it. The first thing that caught his eye was a photo of a giant beetle with dinosaurs on his back. Bill. Michanic did n’t want it. Just blurted out: "Godzilla?"

"Yes, Godzilla," Howard Stringer nodded and took the coffee from Bill. Secretary Michanik put it aside, waved the other person away, and continued: "Yesterday Mr. Idei contacted me and passed the information, Sony Headquarters has already started contact with Toho, and he will soon get the authorization. He hopes that we can use Hollywood's most advanced CG Special Effects technology to put this monster on the big screen. "

Since the appearance of the first part "Godzilla" special film in 1954, this monster image that has emerged under the nuclear fear of Japanese has spread throughout the world and has gathered a very high popularity. In addition to more than 20 Godzilla movies produced by Toho, there are many comics, animations, toys and other products around Godzilla. This monster image has even been produced for many movies involving giant monsters. Had a huge impact.

Bill. Michanik knew that the Sony executives must have been stimulated by the explosion of "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" Box Office again, and then the idea of ​​making CG Special Effects version of "Godzilla" came out on a whim. Since the "Jurassic Park" series is used as a reference, the budget size of this project will never be lower than 100 million USD. However, if this project is launched, it will conflict with the development strategy he designed for Columbia.

Thinking for a moment. Bill. Michanik asked: "Howard, Mr. Idei what is the specific plan for this project, you must know. Columbia is not in a good condition now?"

"I know what you are worried about, Bill." Howard Stringer smiled on his face and said: "There is no problem with the budget. Mr. Idei said that as long as we can do this project well, Sony is willing to bear the production budget within 150 million USD And will spend 50 million USD for distribution work, because he hopes that the film first part will become famous, and then make a series like Dongbao. "

Bill. Michanick listened to Howard Stringer. There was no joy in my heart.

If Sony smashes 200 million USD for this project, then the future global Box Office must at least reach 500 million to ensure that this project achieves a break-even. Although two years ago, "Jurassic Park" has pushed the highest global Box Office record of Hollywood to 1billion USD, but Bill has been playing in Hollywood for 20 years. Michanik is very clear, even now this global Box Office market is expanding Under the circumstances, it is definitely not an easy task to make a global Box Office 500 million movie.

Compared to the past, the Hollywood film market last year can be described as brilliant, but it has been down for a whole year. There are only six global Box Office breakthrough 500 million USD movies. Bill. Micnick can think that once this big project costing 200 million fails again, the confidence of Sony to run Film Industry business is likely to be devastated. Maybe Hollywood will be withdrawn like Panasonic. Every change of the owner of the big Film Studio means the turmoil of the management. At that time, his CEO will face an uncertain future.

After hesitating, Bill. Micnick still said: "Howard, I said when I started, if Sony wants to continue Film Industry business for a long time, in the next few years, it should focus on the production of low In the cost film, through this conservative business strategy. Steadyly repair the production and distribution system of Columbia on the verge of collapse. At that time, you and Mr. Idei agreed to my business ideas. Why do you want to take risks now? "

Howard Stringer explained patiently: "Bill. The original word of Mr. Idei is that Sony hopes that Columbia has a very representative big movie series."

"Howard. I just think this kind of decision is too stupid, they should know what it means if this project fails. And, if Japanese wants to maintain decent," Men in Black "and" Jumanji "these two series It ’s enough, ”Bill. Micnick shook his head, and then said:“ Howard, I think we should persuade Mr. Idei to give up this idea. Even if we do, we should postpone it for two or three years and wait until Columbia recovers. Intend. "

Howard Stringer was born in the media industry. He also knew that Idei Nobuyuki appointed him Sony United States branch company CEO, hoping that he could revitalize the entertainment business of Sony. Not only the Sony Headquarters high-level, even Howard Stringer himself, was greatly stimulated after seeing the Box Office data in full swing in "The Lost World: Jurassic Park". Therefore, after Sony Headquarters threw the Godzilla project, Howard Stringer also felt very promising.

It's just that he didn't expect to come here with a lot of interest, and he hadn't said a few words. In front of Bill. Micnick, he touched several soft nails in a row.

"Bill, we just want to get rid of the" Men in Black "and" Jumanji "situation, we need to do this project alone. As long as we have our own ace film series, we will no longer be subject to others."

Bill. Michanik still wanted to say something, but when he saw the serious expression of Howard Stringer, he realized that it was not appropriate to continue to hard-top with this immediate boss, his tone softened, and said: "So, Howard, we can I ’m doing this project, but I think it ’s better to postpone it for a year. We all know the situation of Columbia, because of Peter Guber, the production and distribution business of Columbia has been in a semi-stagnation state since the second half of last year. It has improved in a few months, but if there is another year ... "

"Bill, this matter is the decision of Headquarters, there is no room for negotiation, all we have to do is execute." Howard Stringer finally lost patience and interrupted Bill. Micnick said, "And. I also I hope that we can continue the dispute. Board of Directors absolutely does not allow Columbia to run out of control again. If you do not cooperate, I will report the situation here to Board of Directors faithfully. "

Bill. Michanik was surprised, he joined the office from the end of April, during this time the two get along well, he even felt that Howard Stringer is an easy-going person. But he didn't expect Howard Stringer to have such a stubborn side, and even threatened himself. He couldn't help but swear a swear word, Bill. Michanick thought that Sony had just driven away two straw bags. I hired another idiot who knew nothing about the film industry.

Howard Stringer was once a reporter and later served as the CBS news department Chairman. Although he was also in the media field, he had never been involved in the film industry from beginning to end. Hollywood non-professional executives are everywhere, but the current Hollywood seven Jeffrey Katzenberg, Michael Eisner, Sherry Lansing and other helms, including himself, are all climbing from the bottom of the Hollywood step by step.

The layman ’s command of the layman is not without it, just like the Paramount, which was infinitely popular ten years ago, because Martin Davis, a layman shareholder, frequently intervenes in company management. It led to the rapid decline of the company and was eventually acquired by Viacom.

"Okay," Bill. Michanick shrugged slightly. Although he was very resistant, he did not want to find a second job so quickly. Since this project was decided by Sony Headquarters, even if it failed, he would not have to bear too much responsibility. If he can succeed, it is naturally better. : "Howard, since this is the case. What are you going to do with it?"

Although Bill. Micnick made a compromise on the surface, Howard Stringer could still feel the obvious negative attitude in him. I thought about it and said, "Well, Bill, I will be responsible for this project personally, and the production will be handed over to Samsung Film Industry. You should continue to take care of the company according to your own ideas and cooperate if necessary."

Bill. Michanik felt that Sony executives and Howard Stringer had obviously been stunned by the Box Office of "The Lost World: Jurassic Park", thinking that he could make a Box Office 1 billion film casually.

He had originally thought about how to completely get rid of this extremely risky project. In this way, if the project succeeds in the future, the improvement of the company ’s overall strength will also be of great benefit to him in managing the company. If it fails, even if it faces the risk of losing his job When looking for his next job, he did not have to carry this big stain at least.

"Of course it's okay. It would be better if you could do it in person," Bill. Michanik nodded without hesitation and said with a smile.

See Bill. Michanik no longer resists this plan, and he is willing to let go of his power. Howard Stringer is very satisfied and feels that he has just spoken a little bit harder. He is indeed not a hard-line person. In the words just now, Idei Nobuyuki has repeatedly explained in private. Sony Board of Directors really does not want to see an uncontrolled manager in Columbia.

It's just that neither he nor the Sony executives realized that Xinma Youhe might cause the horses to get out of control, but the reins were tightened too much, and the result was often strangulation.

"So, Bill, who do you think Hollywood is most suitable for directing this film?" Howard Stringer asked gently, with a calming mind.

"I think that the first thing we should solve is the problem of special effects," Despite feeling the thoughts of Howard Stringer, Bill. Micnick still made up his mind not to mix this matter, so he would not actively recommend Director candidates , Just said: "If you want to put Godzilla on the big screen with cg technology, Hollywood can take on the special effects of this project, only the digital field, but after the beginning of the year, our relationship with Firefly is not too much. Well, although Firefly said that the digital field is operated separately, no one can guarantee that Firefly will deliberately set up obstacles for us. "

"Don't the special effects of Universal's" The Mummy "also be done in the digital field," Howard Stringer thought about it and said: "The relationship between Michael Eisner and Eric Williams was much worse than Firefly and Columbia."

"I think this should be the main reason why Heroine Nicole Kidman reconciled from it," Bill.Mitnick said: "She is a woman of Eric Williams, and she received the sky-high salary of 30 million USD from the first part of" The Mummy ". Above, it should be regarded as the price Universal paid for the success of the "The Mummy" series. "

"If Godzilla can succeed, we ca n’t afford this price," Howard Stringer pondered for a moment, saying: "So, do you think we can adopt the same strategy of Universal?"

Bill. Michanick shook his head and said, "I do n’t think so. In the" fair game "released at the end of May, Warner, Heroine Claudia Schiffer is also a woman of Eric Williams, but this production cost 50 million USD action movie, Box Office also in the first week. Less than 10 million USD, under the impact of "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" last weekend, Box Office plunged 57% on the three days of the weekend, and only got 3 million USD. There were also evaluation agencies predicting that the film Box Office can reach 30 million, but now it seems that it can be 25 million USD Now. "

"I heard about this at a business reception a few days ago," said Howard Stringer: "It is said that during the film preparation period, Eric Williams predicted that the project would fail, and Joel Silver made significant changes to the project in an attempt to It's a pity that it has no effect, but I haven't heard about Heroine. "

Bill. Michanik thought that at a formal business reception, people would of course not talk about these gossips, but only a little more attention to Hollywood, these things are never secret: "In short, Howard, we first To solve the problem of special effects, secondly, in such a large project, it is also very important to find a reliable Director. This Director is best directed by a successful special effect blockbuster. "

Although it is not intended to be blended, Bill. Michanik still guides Howard Stringer to the right idea as much as possible.

Howard Stringer almost immediately thought of the recently popular "The Lost World: Jurassic Park": "So, maybe we can try to contact Joe Johnston."

"If it can succeed, it would be better," Bill. Michanick nodded in agreement, but did not expect much from this. Since Firefly let Joe Johnston take over "Jurassic Park", he will definitely be with him Signing a strict option contract, unless someone is willing to pay him a large amount of liquidated damages, or Firefly will take the initiative to release people with great compassion, otherwise, in the next few years, Joe Johnson is unlikely to shoot other Film Studio.

[515 is coming soon, I hope to continue to impact the 515 red envelope list. By May 15th, the red envelope rain will give back to readers and publicity works. One piece is also love, definitely better! 】 (To be continued.)