I’m in Hollywood

Along the way, Eric was racking his brains to figure out how to explain this to Barry Diller. At the celebration of Fengyue, the two have already communicated about the next movie, almost tacitly agreeing that the next movie will be released by Fox in the summer.

It's hard to predict how Fox will react now. If possible, Eric doesn't want to have a bad relationship with any movie giant. His current strength is not strong enough. It's hard to say whether he will be hurt or not when he is suppressed. What's more, Fox also holds the distribution rights of his three films, which involve hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. Because of the entanglement from time to time, Eric accidentally ran a red light once, but fortunately nothing happened.

Finally arrived at Fox headquarters. After Eric reported his identity, he came to Barry Diller's office unimpeded.

Mr. Williams, please wait a few minutes, the president is receiving guests. Barry Diller's secretary led Eric into the outside lounge and carefully served Eric a cup of coffee.

Eric glanced curiously at the door of Barry Diller's office. The soundproofing of the office was very good, and there was no sound at all here. The young and beautiful female secretary noticed Eric's curious look, hesitated for a moment, and whispered, Fox TV manager.

Eric raised his eyebrows, and had no choice but to throw a thankful look at the girl who had pretended nothing had happened and didn't seem to have made a sound just now. This girl is really a person. In a simple sentence, it can be said that she almost didn't reveal anything, but she gave Eric a little favor. Moreover, when the girl leaned over, whether it was intentional or unintentional, the badge just appeared in front of Eric's eyes, and it was impossible to remember the other party's name.

After waiting patiently for seven or eight minutes, a middle-aged man walked out of the office with his head bowed. Catching a glimpse of Eric sitting on the sofa in the lounge, looking at him through the glass, the middle-aged man quickly put away his frustrated expression, politely nodded to Eric, and left in a hurry.

Mr. Williams, you can go in.

Eric walked into the office, a faint smell of smoke wafted in the air, and there were several cigarette butts piled up in the ashtray in front of Barry Diller.

Eric, I kept you waiting. After Eric entered the door, Barry Diller had put away his emotions, but Eric still saw the residual anger on the other's face.

It's only a few minutes. Eric said, and at the gesture of Barry Diller, he walked to the opposite sofa and sat down.

Barry Diller didn't explain anything, but when it came to the identity of the middle-aged man who had just left, Eric still guessed the reason for the other party's anger, nothing more than the unsatisfactory performance of Fox TV. The three major TV stations, ABC, NBC and CBS, have dominated the North American wireless TV market for so many years, and it is impossible for a latecomer to easily become bigger and threaten their position.

From this point of view, Barry Diller is indeed a media wizard. In his previous life, under the pressure of the three major TV stations, he just developed the Fox TV network and became the fourth largest TV station in North America.

After a few chats, Barry Diller asked Eric's purpose.

Eric didn't come up with any euphemisms along the way, he could only get straight to the point: Mr. Diller, I'm afraid my next movie won't be released by Fox.

Barry Diller made sure he heard correctly, frowned immediately, and narrowed his eyes slightly. I have just heard some bad news from the manager of Fox TV. Unexpectedly, the mood has not completely changed, and there is another bad news.

Eric,

Do you want to default? Have you thought about the consequences of doing so?

Now that the matter has been spread out, Eric no longer looks ahead and looks directly into Barry Diller's eyes: Mr. Diller, I do not intend to breach the contract, the contract does not prohibit me from cooperating with other film companies, and at the same time, There is no specific schedule for the three films, so I just need to deliver three films to Fox before the end of the year.

Barry Diller was stunned for a moment, and a touch of remorse came out.

That contract was signed by him himself. It was indeed Fox's negligence that Eric was not barred from working with other studios. Because most of the staff who drafted the contract focused on the details of Home Alone. Moreover, Eric has three movies for one signing. There are very few directors in Hollywood who can direct three movies a year. If most directors can maintain the speed of one movie a year, they will be considered highly productive. Who would have thought that this young man had such a strong energy.

But there is no set schedule for the movie, but Barry Diller did it on purpose. When the contract was drafted, Fox was not too optimistic about the other two films that Eric asked for bundled distribution. Therefore, although Eric specifically raised the issue of schedules, he hoped to put all three films on the popular holiday schedule, in order to avoid There was also a small dispute with Barry Diller, but Fox ultimately rejected it for various reasons.

Fox also has its own ideas. Once Eric's first two films are not well-received, Fox can calmly place these two films in the unpopular spring or autumn, so that it will not take up too many resources of Fox. The contract can also be successfully performed.

Who would have thought that Eric's next Fengyue was a great success again, making it impossible for everyone to evaluate this young man for reasons such as luck. Many fans are also starting to look forward to his next movie.

But now, in the office with a stagnant atmosphere, when Eric said what he just said, Barry Diller realized that he had rejected Eric's schedule request with pride before, but now he has become a big boss. Cocoon, wraps itself in it.

Eric, isn't the 35% split still satisfactory to you? The cost of Fengyue is only 7 million US dollars. If Lamborghini's 1 million advertising sponsorship is subtracted, the actual cost of the movie is only 6 million. And so far, Fox has paid more than 15 million US dollars in publicity expenses, which is 2.5 times, 2.5 times the cost of your film! We only take 20%. With such a profit division, you still have What are you not satisfied with?

Barry Diller said at the end, almost roaring in his tone, exuding a pressing momentum all over him. He just came back from Europe last night. He was tired after a few days of running around, and he didn't even have a good night's sleep. Early in the morning, he heard that a new Fox drama was strangled by the three major TV stations, and the ratings plummeted. .

Just reprimanded the Fox TV manager and kicked him out of the office, only to receive another bad news. The anger that had just been suppressed erupted again.

Eric was not frightened by Barry Diller's aura, and calmly retorted: Mr. Diller, although Fox paid a price of 15 million US dollars, it was able to exchange for more than 80 million profits, so I do not owe it. What are you guys, to be honest, when I came, I was very nervous all the time, I didn't want to get stuck with Fox, I just wanted to have a good talk.

Seeing that the boy opposite was neither frightened by him nor yelling at him in a rage, but instead refuted his words calmly, Barry Diller quickly calmed down and found that his ability to control his emotions was even less than 20 times. Younger people are not as good. Reflecting on himself, Barry Diller sat back in his executive chair and took a few deep breaths. Still staring at Eric, he said: Okay, Eric, do you... have any new conditions, can you talk about it first?

Realizing that Barry Diller didn't fully understand what he meant, Eric explained, Mr. Diller, I have no intention of revising the contract. What I just said was not about taking Joe for more money from Fox. More interests. Someone offered me an offer I couldn’t refuse to get the distribution rights to my next movie.”

Barry Diller has been in Hollywood for so many years. After calming down at this moment, he quickly thought of a possibility and asked, Columbia?

Eric nodded.

Barry Diller silently pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep puff. Now that Columbia has persuaded Eric, it is impossible for Fox to come up with the conditions offered by the other party. Everything Colombia is doing now is aimed at driving up the stock price and getting more benefits from the Japanese. At this time, it is not uncommon for the other party to offer crazy conditions in order to pull Eric's new film.