Exploiting Hollywood 1980

The karate final in "The Dragon King" was on December 19th. The filming date was very close to the date of the story in the script. After all the shots were filmed, it was almost Christmas 1983.

After showing up at the packing party, Ronald escorted the film to Weintraub's office.

"I need two weeks off, Jerry," Ronald told Weintraub about his editing theory. He needs a two-week vacation to completely take his mind off "The Dragon King" and do something completely different, so that he can look at the films he wrote and directed from an objective perspective.

"In these two weeks, you can ask the editor to synchronize the sound and video, and then cut each shot into a separate reel. This way, after I come back from the New Year vacation, I can start editing immediately."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's Christmas and New Year holidays soon. Where can I find an editor willing to work overtime at this time." Weintraub put his hands on Ronald's shoulders. You can take a good rest for a month. When I come back to edit the film at the end of January, I will prepare what you said. "

Ronald also thought that in Los Angeles, a place with a strong film and television union, finding an editor to work overtime during the Christmas and New Year holidays would be an open invitation to the editors union to impose a fine.

"I wonder if no one will make movies in Los Angeles in the future." Ronald shook his head.

"Where are you going for Christmas? Do you want to come to my house? Susan will come with her, and Jane agrees to spend it together at home." Weintraub is now enjoying the life of a wife and a concubine. Jane Morgan unexpectedly fell in love with Susan E. Gens was less hostile. Two women can spend Christmas at home with their children and cook together.

"I have to go back to New York. I haven't seen my aunt for a long time." Ronald was envious of Weintraub for resolving family conflicts so well. But he's going back to enjoy a family reunion, and Diane is also filming in New York.

"Okay, I've prepared a first-class ticket for you, enjoy it." Weintraub took a ticket and handed it to Ronald.

"Who are you going to find to score the movie?" Weintraub asked.

"I'm going to find Michael Gore," Ronald thought of his old partner, Gore, who won the Oscar for Best Episode with him because of "Famous".

"Then I'll wait for your news."

Ronald got bad news the next day.

Michael Gore called himself back. After completing the soundtrack and theme song for Paramount's new film "Ters of\u0026", he took a long vacation, began to enjoy life, and tried to enter the pop music industry. .

This movie about the relationship between mother and daughter, played by Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine, has just been released in the United States. Michael Gore's theme song without lyrics actually broke into the top 100 hit singles on the charts, setting a record for a movie soundtrack.

The industry expects Gore to win his second Oscar and the new Grammy Award for Film Interlude.

I had no choice but to continue looking for a composer. Weintraub reached out to Bill Conti, a composer. He was on the soundtrack for "Rocky."

"I think he is a good candidate. Anyway, Daniel LaRusso's story is similar to Rocky's. They are both stories of underdogs coming back." Weintraub said to Ronald.

"Don't say that. Rocky is a gangster, and Daniel is a progressive young man without a father. They are completely different." Ronald doesn't like Stallone and doesn't want to hear anyone comparing his movie to "Rocky." .

"Okay, you have a point. But it would be great if we could have the success that Rocky had."

"hope so".

"Rocky" once achieved a North American box office of 110 million in 1976 with a budget of less than 1 million. Weintraub is very excited that "The Kid" can also reach such heights.

Before returning to New York, Ronald had one more thing to do in Los Angeles. That is to go to Atlantic Company and ask when he can get the profit dividends he will receive after "Night of the Comet" is released in China.

Arriving at the front desk of Atlantic Company, Ronald heard a familiar voice, shouting loudly inside, "Where is my money? Where is my fucking money? Every time you say you can pay it right away, you can pay it right now." It’s been delayed every time.”

The speaker was Cannon Pictures’ second boss, Minahan’s brother Yoram. His figure also began to rapidly develop into that of his cousin, gradually turning into a spherical shape.

"Don't be like this, I can't help it. The theater owners always pay according to the final payment deadline of the contract. According to the convention of the film industry, this deadline is one year after the movie is released. And they often have to wait until we file a lawsuit. Payment can only be made later.”

"You can't do this, Tom. When we sell movie copies in Europe, we pay and deliver. When can you pay?"

"Immediately, as soon as we get the money from the cinema, we will pay you."

Yoram opened the door in the office angrily, "You guys are rubbish... um, Ronald."

"Tom, Yoram." Ronald was looking outside and saw Yoram and Atlantic CEO Tom Coleman.

"Ronald, you're here just in time." When Tom Coleman saw him, he waved Ronald in to share the movie's box office status with Ronald.

Since the release of "Night of the Comet", it has earned a total of 27 million box office results in the first round of screenings in the North American market. During the first round of screenings, the producers and theaters generally split the film 50-50. For the second round of screenings that has already begun, the share we get is much less, less than 10%.

In this way, Atlantic Company received a total share of approximately 13.5 million. This also includes Atlantic's marketing costs, which is 5.5 million.

"So we will distribute dividends according to the profit of 8 million?" Ronald was very happy, so that he could receive 2 million US dollars. This was the first huge sum of money he had received since starting the business. It's not impossible to postpone it until next year.

Gu He

"That's not how it is calculated, Ronald. In addition to marketing costs, we also have to spend distribution costs. The distribution costs of major theaters across the country are not low. The total cost is one million U.S. dollars. In addition to the hundreds of dollars we have to produce, It costs two million dollars to make copies and ship them to various places.”

"So it's 25% of five million?" Ronald thought to himself, a dividend of more than one million is not bad, plus his director's remuneration, it would be 1.45 million. After paying taxes in this way, a movie can earn nearly a million dollars by itself.

"That's not the case, Ronald. The share of the movie's box office is based on the profit."

"That's right, didn't you calculate it? Is the profit five million?"

"No, no, this is the total profit. First of all, we at Atlantic Company, as producers, will be the first to withdraw the profit of two million US dollars. The remaining three million US dollars will be the basis for calculating your share."

"So I get 25 percent of three million?"

"Yes, the total dividend is US$750,000. Subtracting the director's remuneration we paid in advance, you can get at least US$550,000 in dividends."

Ronald felt a little unhappy. Just now it was two million, 1.45 million, but suddenly it was less than one million. "

"I have to discuss the accounts with my lawyer and accountant, and I hope you can provide them."

"Of course," Tom Coleman handed over a list of documents, "we will send all the accounting information to your accountant and lawyer."

"I have another proposal," Tom Coleman said again. "I know you investors always want to get your share as early as possible, but the film industry has a long debt period. So we can provide early settlement. Option, we will give you your dividends before receiving a refund.

Of course we have to charge a little discount fee. In this way, you can now get a total of about 500,000 yuan. As for the share of the second round of screenings and the quarrels we had with the cinema during settlement and collection, it has nothing to do with you.

To show our sincerity, and because this movie far exceeded our expectations, Atlantic has decided to give you an additional $100,000 bonus, so you can walk away with a $600,000 cash check, once and for all. "

"I have to think about it." This was the first time Ronald encountered this kind of thing, and he always felt like he was at a disadvantage. When you are in New York, you can have a good chat with lawyer Lindsay Dole and accountant Lawrence Wang.

"certainly".

Ronald walked out of the office and found Yoram still waiting for him at the door.

"Come on, let's go have a drink and talk."

Ronald did not refuse. The investment from Cannon Pictures also has the right to share. Everyone can form alliances.

"Where do you rank in the order of dividends?" Yoram found a cafe and asked Ronald impatiently after sitting down.

Ronald's heart skipped a beat. The order of dividends seemed to be kept secret in the contract.

Then he realized that the person who paid dividends first would have a larger profit base when calculating dividends. Atlantic's first score was calculated in terms of five million, and when it was Ronald's turn, he only had three million left.

So, when it comes to Yoram and Minahan's cannons, they are only a little over two million at most? No, they were responsible for overseas distribution, and Roger Corman and his friend Douglas Jr. seemed to be ahead of him.

After calculating this, wouldn't they only be able to get a few hundred thousand?

"Hey, you know, I'm just a director, and my name is included in the dividend qualifications..." Ronald started to act stupid.

"Hey, I know, I know. Many artists are exploited by these producers, and when it is their turn in the end, they are often left with only a nominal dividend." Yoram also sighed, " We are only a little better than you..."

"It seems like Yoram needs this money very much," Ronald wondered. Didn't Cannon get a large loan in Europe?

"Why didn't Minahan come with you?"

"He went to New York. There were some problems with the release of 'Sahara'. He went to coordinate it and asked Brooke Shields to come forward to promote it. Alas..."

"What happened to the movie? Don't you have a long-term distribution agreement with MGM?" Ronald remembered that he had introduced MGM's distribution department to the Minahan brothers.

"They found a new president, and the Cannon distribution agreement... is subject to renewed... um, continued scrutiny. You know, Ronald, you American executives always like to criticize their predecessors after taking office. Collaboration projects revisited. You guys like to play office politics too much.”

"In short, I don't want to continue the distribution agreement with your Cannon, right?" Ronald thought to himself, "I don't know if it's because your movies are so bad that people can't stand it."

After returning home, Ronald called Roger Corman again, "Roger, Atlantic said they want to settle my dividends in advance, is this right?"

"Oh, they also talked to me, I suggest you agree to them. Distribution is a very troublesome thing. You have to communicate with the theater owners one by one, and call them to urge them to pay. If there is any evasion, you have to ask a lawyer to sue. It is always good to get the money earlier. To put it bluntly, the payment period for a movie usually takes more than a year to be recovered. By then, it is a question whether Atlantic will still exist."

"I know..." Ronald put down the phone. It seems that it is better to get the money as soon as possible. He will get the money after discussing it with the lawyers and accountants in New York.