The Best Entertainment Era

In Santa Monica, Los Angeles, the headquarters of Lionsgate Films is located in this seaside town.

In the conference room, the company's routine meeting had just ended, and Frank Gusta, who presided over the meeting, left Navas behind.

Frank Gusta asked: I heard that Hero introduced by the Embassy Pictures from the East has expanded its release?

Yes. Navas said honestly: Of the five films nominated for the best foreign language film, Hero is the only one with an expanded release.

He looked at Frank Gusta, saw that he didn't express anything, and continued: But after the expansion of the release, the embassy film industry has lost control of word-of-mouth. At present, the word-of-mouth polarization of Hero is extremely serious, and it is impossible to be like Hero again. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is going to hit the Oscar for best foreign language film. In other words, City of God lacks a strong competitor.

Frank Gusta nodded slowly, and said: We have invested nearly 20 million US dollars even in the purchase of copyrights, public relations and screenings, and we must ensure that City of God wins the best foreign language film , This is also the focus of Lionsgate's work at this stage.

Navas is quite confident: According to the response from all sides, City of God is already one place ahead.

Very good. Frank Gusta first praised, and then asked: If City of God wins the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, will the North American box office be as high as Hero?

Navas hesitated for a moment, but did not answer immediately. The film Hero was too unexpected. In just two weeks of extended screening, the North American box office has exceeded 40 million US dollars. What is the final destination? More than $60 million, right?

Frank Gusta has been watching him, and Navas dare not speak nonsense, otherwise he won't be able to make ends meet: It should...should not be as high as Hero at the box office.

Seeing the boss's face darken, he said again: I think the cost can be recovered through the box office, and offline can bring considerable profits.

So, even if it wins the best foreign language film, it can't compare to that oriental film? Frank Gusta asked again.

Regarding Relativity Entertainment, he always had an inexplicable feeling that the other party seemed to have robbed Lionsgate of its development.

Navas can only tell the truth: I made an estimate that the revenue of City of God in North America should reach half of that of Hero.

Look at the box office trend of Hero, the box office is the basis of all income,

The revenue of City of God can be half of that of Hero, which is already the most optimistic estimate.

Frank Gusta did not blame his subordinates, but said: Ronan Anderson's vision is amazing. Navas, I remember you and Ronan Anderson are old friends, right? Walk around with Ronan Anderson more, more Learn from his strengths.

After reading the box office data of Hero, Navas knew that he was really inferior to Ronan Anderson, and quickly said: I understand.

The boss said a lot to walk around with Ronan Anderson and learn a lot from Ronan Anderson, which is obviously more than just walking and learning.

There is nothing embarrassing about this. Buying films from overseas for distribution is always the one with the highest price.

Navas returned to the office and immediately called Ronan to congratulate Hero on its box office success and express his admiration for his accuracy in watching the film.

In Burbank, in Relativity Entertainment's office, Ronan put down the phone, feeling weird.

In the past, the movies under Relativity Entertainment were very popular, and no one from Lionsgate had ever specifically called to congratulate them. Why did Navas suddenly call this time?

It seems that there is no such good friendship between him and Navas, right?

Even, in some respects, Relativity Entertainment and Lionsgate are competitors, and Hero and City of God operated by Navas are in direct competition for the best foreign language film Oscar.

After all, Ronan is not really a person in his twenties. He has rich social experience and has worked hard in the mall for many years. Sometimes it is inevitable to think too much.

Navas' call just made him pay attention, but he didn't think of anything.

I answered a phone call, why did you suddenly stop talking? Tom Cruise looked at Ronan curiously: What? Is this a breakup?

Ronan came back to his senses and said, I don't have a girlfriend, how can I break up or not break up?

Tom Cruise asked: Didn't you date that little Canadian singer recently, what's his name... He thought for a while before saying: Yes, it's called Avril. Didn't you have a hot fight with her?

Ronan said directly: We have a very pure relationship, not what you think.

Where does Tom Cruise not understand Ronan: I know, a purely physical relationship without emotion.

This made Ronan speechless, so he had to change the subject and said, Someone just called to congratulate me on the box office hit of Hero.

By the way. Tom Cruise said with a smile: I haven't congratulated you yet, Hero has surpassed $100 million at the global box office, right?

Ronan nodded: The global box office has exceeded 100 million U.S. dollars. But the box office in the Eastern market has nothing to do with the theory of relativity. It's the distribution made by the producers themselves.

Tom Cruise said: You can earn a lot in this way, right? I remember you mentioned last time that it cost 5 million US dollars to buy the international copyright, and then invested millions of dollars in public relations, plus the distribution The total investment will not exceed 15 million US dollars, and now the share of the North American box office is enough for you to recover the cost.

He suddenly said: Now I want to go to the East to buy a martial arts movie.

Ronan was very calm, and said: It's best not to have such thoughts, Hero is a big hit, a large part of the reason is to borrow the momentum of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and now this momentum is almost consumed, Another martial arts movie, I am afraid it will be difficult to get a higher box office. And with the big sales of Hero, Hollywood will no longer want to buy a big oriental martial arts movie at a low price.

The analysis makes sense. Tom Cruise has always convinced Ronan in this regard, saying: Purchase the copyright at a high price, and consume more than half of the market potential. A slight mistake will cause serious losses.

Ronan and Tom Cruise were not too polite, and said directly: In the past few years, I will not let the embassy film industry introduce oriental martial arts films.

Tom Cruise said: Some overseas films are good.

I also bought a gangster movie from the East. Ronan said deliberately: It's called Infernal Affairs. If you are interested, you can take the time to watch it. It's very good.

Tom Cruise wondered: Why haven't I heard of it? Is it released in theaters?

Ronan replied: It was screened. When the screening was the largest, there were no more than 20 companies. The box office results were too mediocre. The total box office was less than 160,000 US dollars.

Unaccustomed? Tom Cruise asked.

The film is very good. Ronan may have been preconceived, and always felt that the Hong Kong version is more flavorful: But it is not suitable for the North American market.

There used to be too many debates about the Hong Kong version and the American version of Infernal Affairs. For example, the American version was considered by the North American media to be one of the three best films of Martin Scorsese and so on.

But this kind of debate has no results. After all, each has completely different tastes in gangster films, just like the debate between sweet and salty tofu nao.

Even at the same time as the battle between sweet and salty, there will be hot and sour tastes.

Hearing Ronan's solemn recommendation, Tom Cruise attached great importance to it and asked, Do you have a CD or a copy of the film?

Knowing that Tom Cruise has a private cinema at home, Ronan said directly: I'll have someone send the copy to your home later.

Tom Cruise nodded: I will take a good look at it when I find time.

The adaptation of the script on Ronan's side hasn't moved yet, so he won't be in a hurry to start the project for the time being. Instead, he asked, How's the situation with the manager?

I fired Pat Kingsley and fully compensated her $350,000 in liquidated damages. Tom Cruise didn't mean to hide it either: CAA replaced my main agent, but I I think there is still a problem, my sister is considering a brokerage certificate, and after she gets the certificate, I plan to let her be in charge of my brokerage business.

Ronan can roughly guess that Tom Cruise has the mentality of being bitten by a snake once and afraid of well ropes for ten years.

Similar situations are not uncommon in Hollywood, and many celebrities' managers are their relatives.

Where is Pat Kingsley? Ronan asked with concern.

Tom Cruise didn't seem to care much: The handover of the brokerage business has been handled smoothly. Don't worry, Ronan, she is currently very peaceful.

Ronan still reminded: Since she dares to do things that will damage your interests, it means she is a bold agent. You'd better let people keep an eye on her. After all, your status is here. If she really wants to Doing something that is not good for you will definitely take a while to prepare.

Tom Cruise said seriously: I will.

Even with friends, some things should be done in moderation, Ronan did not continue this topic.

In his view, Pat Kingsley will either do nothing after the termination of the contract like most agents;

It would be a good thing if Pat Kingsley started in a hurry. With the resources that Tom Cruise can gather as a superstar, Pat Kingsley will definitely find his teeth everywhere.

Ronan changed the subject and asked, Tom, the Oscars are coming soon, are you going to attend?

No. Tom Cruise shook his head: Some people, I really don't want to see them anymore.

Ronan said, Don't worry, it will be fine after a while.

Tom Cruise has already understood: I'm afraid I will be mentioned often. He said to Ronan very seriously: You are still right, marriage is terrible, ex-wife is simply the most terrifying existence in this world .”

Ronan asked, I'm going to the awards ceremony, is there anything I can do for you?

Tom Cruise thought for a while and said, If she wins the award, say congratulations for me.

. m.