Made in Hollywood

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Our conditions are not complicated.

Sitting alone in front of many Fox executives, Nancy Josephson seems to have no pressure, even if there are Fox bosses like Townsend Rothman and famous producer Jon Landau, she still talks Tan said, Mr. Rosenberg's director and screenwriter remuneration totaled 4 million US dollars, and he also served as the film's producer. The final editing should be based on his opinion.

She calmly looked at the faces of everyone on the opposite side, and continued to say calmly, Mr. Rosenberg requires at least one-fifth of the investment in the film and an equal share of the profits...

As Nancy Josephson said one by one, the expressions of everyone in Fox became more and more solemn.

This was just the first negotiation. Both sides were testing each other's bottom line. The negotiation lasted only half an hour and then broke up. Neither the agent representing Duke nor Fox were satisfied with each other.

After the negotiations, the stocky Jon Landau entered Townsend Rothman's office.

Jon...

The CEO sitting behind the desk was expressionless, What do you think?

Jon Landau, crammed into a chair like a meatball, looks a bit funny, but he is one of the top producers in Hollywood, and he is using the data to support his argument, The script was reviewed by the review committee. With unanimous approval, the pre-investigation index of the Risk Assessment Department and the Market Research Department is A-level, and the profit forecast of the Issuing Department is also A-level.

He continued, This script inherits the thrilling, hot and exciting style of Speed ​​of Life to a certain extent, but the theme is more profound and moving, and Duke Rosenberg has also proved that he is extremely good at shooting this type of film. theme……

The most important thing is... He pondered for a moment and said solemnly, Although Duke's directing journey has just begun, it is clearly on the rise. The works of directors in this period are often extremely valuable, and it can be inferred from Hollywood's past experience. , he is more likely to succeed than to miss.

That said, the film is likely to be profitable.

Hearing Townsend Rothman's words, Jon Landau slowly nodded his plump chin, Yes! Action movies are popular these days. According to the evaluation of our various departments, as long as the film can shoot the level of Speed ​​of Life , there is a 60% chance that it will be a big hit, and the North American box office is likely to exceed Speed ​​of Life.

$50 million, although it's a big number, it's nothing to Fox. The light in Townsend Rothman's eyes flashed, I want to maximize profits, but now someone wants to get in and take away the money. one fifth!

His voice grew sharper. Jon, do you think Fox should share it with him?

We can appropriately increase his director and screenwriter salary. Jon Landau didn't even think about it. Other aspects let him retreat.

Meanwhile, Nancy Josephson got into her car, pulled out her bulky phone, and called Duke.

How are the negotiations going?

In the North Hollywood apartment, Duke put down his luggage and took the cordless phone from Sophia, Did Fox agree to your terms in full?

Unfortunately, I don't have an aura of mental retardation on me.

Nancy on the opposite side directly borrowed Duke's jokes before, and then turned serious, According to my observation, entering the game with funds should touch Fox's bottom line. Duke, you have to be prepared, this will be a It was a very difficult negotiation.

Nancy...

Holding the phone in another hand, Duke tapped his forehead lightly, Don't interrupt contact with other companies.

Fox is only the first choice, but not a must. Although the cost is not too much now, after all, he has a work that has just won the North American box office of more than 130 million US dollars, and 20th Century Fox has pushed Speed ​​of Life to the European market. , the film's global box office also exceeded 200 million US dollars.

This always attracts the attention of some production companies.

After finishing the call, Duke put the cordless phone into Sophia, followed her back to the large living room with more than 400 square feet, looked around the empty space, raised his hand to support his chin.

Should I go buy some more furniture and decorations? he asked, looking at Sophia's slender back.

Just to remind you.

After placing the phone, Sophia turned and sat on the sofa, took her own folder, opened it, and said warningly, Duke, you must save money, or you will soon be in debt.

What? Duke's eyes widened, he had just received a $400,000 share.

I've got a list of your recent expenses here, and the ones you'll have to spend in the next few weeks, would you like to hear them?

Seeing Duke listen, Sophia said as succinctly as possible, After the share is received, your accountant David withheld $100,000 in advance taxes. Of the remaining funds, lawyers and accountants' fees totaled $30,000; Nancy Because I only participated in the later work of Speed ​​of Life, the salary is $20,000; your luxury apartment is rented for a year of $20,000; the salary advanced to me is $15,000; the advertisement fee of 5,000 for the recruitment of screenwriters in newspapers and the Screenwriters Guild USD; I've interviewed several screenwriters...

Having said this, Sophia paused and took a sip, After you determine the screenwriter candidates you hire, you need to pay part of the remuneration in advance, and I set a budget of $5,000; you join the Screenwriters Guild, and the membership fee is $3,000, and the two scripts are in The Writers Guild is on file for five years and charges a total of $8,000. If you want to join the Directors Guild, you have to prepare a due.”

Also, Sophia continued, in the future, you will have frequent meetings with the executives of major film companies, and you must be prepared to order business suits...

After listening to Sophia's long list of numbers, Duke had only one feeling that he was still a poor man.

Well... you want to register a film studio in Delaware, and that also costs a lot of money. Sophia seemed to turn a blind eye to Duke's gradually turning into a bitter gourd, Aunt Leah's $10 million has arrived. Yes, but the money is limited to investing in movies.

Duke rubbed his forehead, walked over and sat next to Sophia, Will there be no surplus for the $300,000 after taxes?

Yes, and it's not enough! Sophia squinted at him, thought about it, and said, I'll give you a suggestion, go to the bank to apply for a loan. Duke, with your current fame and identity, apply for a 300,000 loan It’s not difficult to get a loan to the $500,000 limit.”

Is this necessary? Duke looked at her seriously.

That's the advice of David, your accountant and Aunt Leah. Sophia shrugged.

After getting a loan from his mother, Duke is planning to set up a shell film studio, and is currently contacting a professional company in Delaware to handle the business on his behalf, even if the shell company has no dedicated regular employees, even The registered office is shared with other shell companies, which still requires a lot of expenses.

The reason for setting up a studio is very simple. It can avoid taxes. Investing in movies in the name of a company will enjoy a lot of tax benefits. As for why not register in California, but go to Delaware, because California’s crazy taxation is too terrifying. The state of Delaware not only has the most professional court of business equity in the world, but also one of the states with the lowest business taxes in the United States.

Many well-known companies, including Walt Disney, Apple, and Paramount, are actually registered in Delaware.

After thinking for a few seconds, Duke decided to apply for a loan from the bank to solve the urgent need.

By the way, Sophia.

After the two chatted about the loan topic, Duke thought of another thing, Is there a suitable photographer for the photographer I asked you to help find?

He has never been a pedantic person, and since he has been involved with the Coppola family, he does not shy away from making appropriate use of their relationship.

I mentioned a few words to my dad, and he recommended someone.

She tilted her head to look at him, Sophia's face was full of the expression you owe me, John Schwartzman, 32 years old this year, came from a family of films, graduated from the Film School of the University of Southern California, and is still in the advertising industry. Working hard, he has something to do with our family, he's Nikolai's cousin, and Dad thinks he fits you well...

Sophia pouted, It fits your requirements for being good at shooting impactful shots.

Can I ask him to meet another day? Since he was recommended by Francis Coppola, he must have some abilities.

He's shooting an advertisement for an underwear company in New York. Sophia wrote it down in a notebook, I'll ask him out when he returns to Los Angeles.

And... Duke walked to the bookshelf, took out a box of videotapes from it, took out the business card inside, and handed it to Sophia when he came back, Help me write a letter to Zack Snyder, I'll keep his videotapes. When I get there, let him come to Los Angeles for an interview if I have time.

If he can get a certain right to speak in the second film, and these people meet his requirements, he will definitely give priority to using them, which is also the backbone of the production team in the future.

There are also producer Robin Grande and editor Mike Dawson. They have all experienced the run-in with him in the first film, and their abilities are also very good. As long as they have the right to speak, Duke also wants to pull them into the first film. The crew of two films.

It depends on the outcome of Nancy Josephson's negotiations with 20th Century Fox and other film companies. Duke also knows that this is only the most ideal situation. If he wants to get enough power from the film company, his current capital is still Not enough, it is quite difficult.

In the afternoon, Duke met several screenwriters who Sophia had initially interviewed in a cafe. After careful consideration, he finally chose a male screenwriter who was good at writing war dramas and a female screenwriter who was good at writing dog-blooded love.

And three days later, Nancy Josephson came with the results of the second round of negotiations with Twentieth Century Fox, and the results were very unsatisfactory.