I’m in Hollywood

Eric's attendance at the film in person immediately gave Lola Run more media attention than any other film at this Sundance Film Festival.

Originally, the company's valuation of the North American distribution rights of Lola Run was generally less than 5 million US dollars, but after just one afternoon, it is said that the Hollywood film company's quotation for the film has already approached the tens of millions mark.

No film at Sundance has ever sold for more than $10 million before this, and Lola Run is clearly set to become the highest-grossing film ever sold at the Sundance Film Festival.

At the same time, as the news of Eric's appearance at the Sundance Film Festival further fermented, more media and filmmakers began to gather in Park City, and this small town in the mountains of Utah became instantly popular.

Although Julia threw away the Blair Witch flyer with the creator's contact information, but as long as she remembered the name, it would be easy for Eric to win the movie.

While most Hollywood studios are focusing their attention on bidding for Lola Run and other screenings that Eric Williams is likely to attend, New Line Cinema's buying team quietly found Two young men who are selling their films to studios in Park City.

Mr. Williams, this is a copy of Blair the Witch. I temporarily had someone burn a DVD for the convenience of viewing.

The next afternoon, Murray Bredo, the film purchasing manager of New Line Pictures, personally delivered what Eric needed.

Although Murray Bredo's first feeling after watching the Blair Witch sample was only two words - garbage, but he still dutifully completed the task assigned by Eric, and at the same time did his homework. After all, anyone with a little career ambition who can do things for the big boss in person knows how to seize the opportunity.

Respectfully got up and took the coffee handed over by Julia, Murray Bredo thanked and sat down again, looking at Eric who picked up the background information of Blair Witch, and continued: I have seen In the project planning done by the two directors, they conceived a very perfect background setting for the film in the form of a documentary. A horror movie, it should be very good at the box office.”

Eric just smiled and nodded, motioned to Julia for the DVD on the coffee table, the girl picked it up and walked to the TV in the living room, put the disc into the player, and then came back, without hesitation. Leaning next to Eric, he looked curiously at the TV screen.

Watching the video on the screen start playing, Murray Bredo also looked over.

After the introduction with subtitles similar to those on the flyers, the rough dv footage appeared on the TV screen.

Looking closely, the plot of the film imitating the form of a documentary has a kind of gradual meaning. The three expedition partners first gave a background introduction to the legend of the witch Blair, and also took out a whole set of evidence chains. 'Interviews' with residents of the small town of Booksheville. After doing all this, the audience will be fully immersed in this witch story and legend, and the three talents will embark on the journey of exploration.

After entering the jungle, various situations came one after another, inexplicable disputes, lost maps, stone piles around the tent, totems hanging on trees... Finally, one of the team members disappeared for no reason, which also brought the story to the climax.

If you don't know the background story at all, after watching this film, the audience will definitely feel confused and inexplicable.

Julia is clearly like that.

When the end credits appeared on TV, the girl leaning on Eric couldn't help but put her arms around the man's arm, and said with a bit of coquettishness: Eric, we are going to lose.

Murray Bredo paid $80,000 for the film. Hearing Julia's words, he had some vague guesses, but he didn't dare to ask more. He just turned to look at Eric again and waited for the big boss to speak.

Maybe just throw away the pair of garbage in front of you?

Murray Bredo couldn't help thinking in his heart that the only way he could think of using this story was to re-conceive a horror film based on the background of the story as he just said. As for these film copies, film materials, etc. on the coffee table in front of them, they seem to have no value.

After all, if the Blair Witch legend really exists in Maryland, like some other ancient rumors about vampires, a little publicity to make the audience curious and immersive might also make the movie a little more profitable.

But in fact, the legend of Blair the Witch is completely fabricated by the two directors, without any basis for popularity, and it is unlikely that the company will go all out to promote a false story and legend for this low-cost DV film of tens of thousands of dollars. It is a waste of resources and time, and the possibility of losing everything in the end is also extremely high.

After waiting for the film to finish, Eric thought quietly for a moment, and then said to Murray Bredo, who was waiting for the order: Murray, I'll give you three days to talk to the creators, investors, and even the filmmakers of this film. All the actors, re-sign a full contract to resolve all potential legal issues with the film. Also, let those two directors, Daniel Merrick and Adeado Sanchez, go to LA, I I will meet them next Wednesday. By the way, a team will be assigned to them from the company's distribution department. It doesn't need to be too formal. Interns can arrange an office for these people in Firefly Studios. That's all for now, you can go back first .

Although he couldn't guess the big boss's mind at all, Murray Bredo nodded seriously, wrote down the matter, and then got up and left.

This Sundance Film Festival will be held from January 21st to January 31st. However, as more and more media and filmmakers gather in the small town, Eric wakes up in the morning in a closed resort with Juliet. Leah took a walk and could 'run into' some people, plus there was really nothing to do, so she left early on Sunday morning and returned to Los Angeles.

Firefly Studios, busy with work, Wednesday is coming.

It was temporarily decided to release Underworld as a 3D remake film early next year to fill the gap between The Lord of the Rings and Sleepy Hollow, although the new line therefore needs to make adjustments to the established distribution plan, Kenneth Horne also did not object to Eric's decision.

Eric just took time in the morning to discuss the post-production 3D conversion of the film with the creator of Underworld and the 3D conversion team in the digital field, and Kenneth Horn came over specially. So at noon, Eric invited Kenneth Horn and the white pigeon Wu, who had not seen him for a long time, to dine in the restaurant on the big ship.

After ordering lunch, he handed the menu to the round-faced waiter who is said to be named Amy Adams. Kenneth Horn glanced at Natasha Hens, who was sitting meekly next to Eric. Qu Qi, had no choice but to envy his boss' Yanfu once again, but he said, Eric, Murray said you bought a dv documentary in Park City?

Eric nodded and smiled as Natasha poured her bottled mineral water into the crystal glass without stopping, and said, I'm going to do a marketing experiment, have you prepared all the people I need?

Of course, you can ask Miss Wilson to take you there after lunch. Speaking of which, I don't have much work to do in the afternoon, so I'm curious if I can come and take a look.

Don't get involved, Eric shook his head and joked, However, when you said in front of your boss that you have no work to do, are you reminding me to put some burdens on you?

Ah, did I just say something? Kenneth Horn smiled and pretended to be silly. I didn't say anything just now, did I?

Everyone laughed, and Eric didn't snub Wu, the white pigeon sitting next to Kenneth, and asked, Wu, what are you busy with recently?

We are discussing cooperation with Columbia on a new film, which is starring a good actor from our Hong Kong Island. The name is temporarily called Stupid Killer, and we are still looking for a director, Bai Ge Wu said: Eric, then An actor's status on Hong Kong Island is no worse than Jack's, and the box office will definitely be good.

Eric couldn't help but smile. He met Mira Sorvino a few days ago, and he thought about how the Stupid Killer she collaborated with Fa Ge had no shadow. He didn't expect it to appear so quickly.

I haven't seen the film materials submitted by Columbia. I think the project has not been finalized yet, and Eric has no intention of intervening, but just said: Wu, you can't always be a producer, the director is your own job, right? ?

Of course, Baige Wu said, My agent recommended a war movie script to me a few days ago. I thought it was good, and I plan to give it a try. I just need to finish the work I'm doing first.

Hearing the script of Baige Wu's war movie, Eric's eyes couldn't help but jump. Could it be the Wind Whisperer that almost bankrupted MGM?

Shaking his head subconsciously, Eric said, Wu, you are not suitable for war movies. I think it's best for you to make action movies that you are good at.

Bai Ge Wu didn't expect that Eric, who seemed to have always been fond of him, would suddenly say this, a little stunned, but he quickly nodded tactfully and said, Then I'll think about it.

After the success of several blockbusters in a row, although he is of Chinese descent, Bai Ge Wu has been successfully promoted to the first-line director of Hollywood. Even if he leaves the Firefly system, he can also reach cooperation with other film companies.

Eric could see that the other party did not intend to give up the project easily, and he did not persuade him much. The path was chosen by himself. Of course, the consequences had to be borne by himself.

After having lunch together, the white pigeon Wu Xian said goodbye and left, and Eric sent Natasha Henstridge away with a few words before saying to Kenneth Horn: Tell everyone, Wu's It’s a war movie, we don’t participate, of course, don’t mess it up, it’s better to push it to other film companies.”

Kenneth Horn was very puzzled: Eric, the box office of Saving Private Ryan a few years ago was very good, and Wu's directing ability is also guaranteed, why not try it?

Every director has his own area of ​​expertise, Eric shook his head and said, I don't think Wu can make a good war movie. In short, it's my personal feeling. We won't participate in this project.

Kenneth Horn had no choice but to nod, then suddenly said, Speaking of which, Eric, you seem to be good at any type of movie, isn't that uncommon?

Eric shrugged and smiled, So I'm the boss, and you have to work for me.

Uh, okay.

Eric remembered what happened at Sundance, and asked again, How about that Lola Run, if it can be taken down, it can just fill the gap left by Underworld on your side?

Bill called us a few times, Columbia wanted the movie, and the offer over there was $11 million. After a discussion, they wouldn't rob him, Kenneth Horn said. However, if If the other three offer more than this price, Colombia will also give up.”

That's fine, Eric said. After all, it's just an independent movie, and it only has North American distribution rights. It's too high to be worth the loss.

The two chatted and came to the administrative area together. Caroline and Mayer were already waiting downstairs in the administrative building where Eric's office was located, holding a folder. Kenneth Horn left and returned to his office.

Eric came to the two women, asked a few questions, and the three came to another office building together.

The office door was pushed open, and several cautious men and women in the room immediately got up at the same time and looked at the young man who appeared at the door.

Eric originally heard that the two directors of Blair Witch were school students, and thought they would be very young, but in fact, whether it is Daniel Merrick or Eduardo Sanchez, the age is the same. Bigger than him, Daniel Merrick, with rimless glasses, is thirty-five years old this year, and Eduardo Sanchez is thirty.

Although Eric instructed Murray Bredo to find a few interns at the beginning, the staff in the room were obviously not ordinary interns of the company. Murray Bredo also appeared in the office and personally gave Ai Rick introduced the small team.

Eric naturally wouldn't care about Murray Bredo's arrangements. Since the other party wanted to be personally responsible for this matter, after introducing each other, he did not let the other party leave the office, which was a default. It is impossible for Eric to keep an eye on this matter all the time, and it would be nice to have a dedicated person in charge.

Caroline and Mayer distributed the pre-printed materials to a few people in the office. Everyone sat around a large conference table. Eric walked to the prepared writing board and said, Hey, I The time is limited, so I will only tell you once. The detailed information is in the documents in front of you. If you don't understand after the fact, then discuss with each other and don't ask me. This time, I plan to do Blair Witch once. A marketing experiment on the Internet platform, I gave it a name considering some of the characteristics of this marketing model.”

Eric said, picked up the pen and wrote two words on the writing board: viral marketing.