Mission Flow - Vol 2 Chapter 167
Mission Liu Shenhao Chapter 167 Patterns
The Hollywood six monopolize the distribution power of Hollywood and are inextricably linked with the theater chain. Moreover, as Hollywood movies become less and less profitable at the box office, they are basically combined with media groups to have a deeper monopoly on distribution.
It takes money from global investors externally and squeezes small and medium-sized studios internally.
However, with the advent of the mobile Internet and the development of social media, traditional media groups are struggling to decline, especially after the rise of streaming media represented by Netflix, theaters have launched a new industry agreement to ensure that they are in the competition The Benefit: Direct Issuance Protocol!
The direct distribution agreement stipulates that theater chains can negotiate agreements with independent studios directly over mainstream filmmakers, and reserve films with independent producers without the intervention of filmmakers, so as to strive for more favorable returns.
Because of this deal, independent studios are slowly starting to recover. Represented by Lionsgate Pictures, Relativity Media, Legendary Pictures, and several others, independent studios are attacking cities outside the Big Six.
Legendary Pictures has a partnership with Warner Bros. Although this summer, the blockbuster “Pacific Rim” they cooperated with Warner Pictures hit the street. The production cost was $190 million and the North American box office was $101 million. Go straight to grandma’s house.
However, the film did surprisingly well in the global market. The final global box office total was $407 million. After all, no loss.
Legendary Pictures CEO Joe Gahini is one of the producers of the blockbuster. Of course, he is just a name, to ensure the investment of Legendary Pictures. Someone else actually does it.
“Hi, Mr. Cao!” Catherine Donald, a tall and beautiful blond woman, was waiting not far from the gate of the villa. When the four of them saw Cao Su come in, she greeted them with a smile.
“Hello, Catherine.” Cao Su said with a smile.
“Miss Sun, you look so beautiful tonight!” Catherine praised Sun Xiuling, the female assistant who was wearing a radiant red evening dress tonight.
Sun Xiuling said shyly but generously, “Ms. Donald, thank you.”
Cosine smiled and greeted Catherine with a handshake, “Good evening, Catherine.”
In fact, in social etiquette, women need to reach out first. Whether it’s a handshake or a kiss. An old-fashioned child like Katherine would not have any problems socially, smiling and shaking hands with the boyish cosine: “Hello, Charles!”
Charles is the English name for cosine.
After greeting everyone, Catherine took Cao Su to a corner in the back garden of the villa to meet the producer she recommended.
“Red Carolin. Producer at Columbia Pictures. This is Mr. Cao, the owner of cactus (Cactus).”
Reid-Carolin is a half-bald man, thin, medium build, in his forties, smiling and shaking hands with Cao Su.
He just smashed a major production at Columbia Pictures, investing $150 million in “Crisis”, and the global box office was only $174 million. It’s a bit difficult in Hollywood right now.
Of course, a producer of his level will not die just because of a big production, and there will still be opportunities for production. But it is absolutely impossible to continue to serve as a major production producer.
Cao Su exchanged a few words with him, and took the initiative to chat about the “Mars Rescue” project in the back garden of the villa, “Carolyn, what do you think of this project?”
“Mr. Cao, just call me Reid.” Reid Caroline said in the shade with a wine glass: “You sign a split agreement based on the box office, which is a very good strategy. But I still need to remind you , I heard some rumors!”
“Oh?” Cao Su expressed surprise with interest.
Reid reminded: “You can’t be too careful when dealing with the big six in Hollywood. Especially Mr. Cao, you are not only from Hollywood, but also a foreign investment.”
Cao Su nodded thoughtfully.
Listening to Reid, even if they sign a contract with Fox, they will play tricks? But how can Fox play?
He is directly divided by the global box office. It’s not that the box office cannot be faked, but at most it is to buy the box office. It is absolutely impossible to steal the box office. If it is found out, it will be a heavy fine.
Reid did not continue to talk about this topic, but instead said: “Mr. Cao, Catherine roughly relayed your request. I want to know your future planning and positioning of Cactus Company.”
Cao Su was confident, and in the slightly dim shade of the back garden, he said slowly: “The Cactus Company will be a medium-sized production company in Hollywood in the future. The scale will definitely be smaller than the current Legendary Pictures.
I’m not going to dabble in distribution. Every year, I invest a sum of money and invest in several projects. Stay as profitable as possible. ”
He said it very modestly. With [Project Detector] there, as long as the factors are not considered to be pitted, he will never lose money. And that will be the guarantee of his influence in Hollywood.
Reid laughed: “Mr. Cao, it seems that you have investigated Hollywood, and you are very careful! It is not as reckless as the outside world!” If the young man in front of him said that he wanted to make Cactus Company a Six of the same film companies, he turned around and left.
Inside Hollywood, how many people have challenged the Big Six over the decades? Has anyone done it? Even the big three directors Spielberg, David Geffen, and Katzenberg’s DreamWorks did not do it.
Can a Chinese person do it? Did you know that the White House is not called the White House because it is painted white. Hollywood is the same here.
“Thank you.” Cao Su smiled calmly, accepted the compliment, and took a sip of wine.
Ridello pondered and said: “Mr. Cao, there is some discussion within Fox about the “The Martian” project. They are discussing the director’s issue.
If this project is entrusted to me, I will protect the interests of Cactus Company. The Columbia company I work for is also one of the top six, and I’m a professional! ”
Catherine helped: “Cao, Red has more than ten years of working experience in Hollywood.”
Cao Su’s mind was still relaying the news revealed by Reid. Fox discussing the director of ‘The Martian’? Isn’t this normal? The formal contract between him and Fox was signed in these two days.
“I see. Reid, would you like to work at Cactus? Take charge of production. Like Joe Gahini, the host of tonight’s party, as art director first.”
There is a button and a bait in the words.
Joe Gahini of Legendary Pictures also first served as art director, responsible for all production operations, and then was promoted to chairman of the board of directors and CEO, with power in his hands. He certainly would not allow his managers to do so. The chairman of the board can only be his “tool man”.
Read understands this and demands more power: “Mr. Cao, Cactus is still new to Hollywood. If you want it to be a mid-sized studio as soon as possible. I mean the current Hollywood model. For a mid-sized company, you can’t invest less every year.”
Cao Su frowned slightly.
Who is he? This rice-style subtlety is simply too straightforward in the eyes of the Chinese! I heard that these people can’t even understand the “Thirty-six Stratagems”. However, the literature and drama of domestic films are basically at a loss. Rice-style pie is a western cowboy!
The core spirit can be summed up in two words: cruelty and struggle!
What Reid meant was that if the investment amount was not enough, he wouldn’t come to Cactus for a job. He was also asked to give him a large sum of money. This is personally unpleasant to hear.
“System!” Cao Su tried to use the [Loyalty Stamp] on this “cowboy”. He didn’t know Redd’s production level, but he trusted Catherine Donald. It is impossible for her to recommend a parallel importer to him.
But the system prompts that Reid cannot be used. never mind. Back to using props on Fox producer Jeremy Keppel, 52, who first came to the door.
Truly talented and capable people who made money early in a jungle like Hollywood. The incompetent person can be “loyal”, but it is really difficult to help him.
For example, he chose Los Angeles cannery manager Joel Galton to be the general manager of the Cactus Company. This middle-aged white man with a traditional ideology is indeed loyal enough to him and does his best to help him, but his ability is really lacking.
If he hadn’t come to meet Reid today, he wouldn’t have known that Fox still had plans to play tricks. What exactly is this pattern? He hasn’t figured it out yet!
“Invincible begins with the sacrifice of ancestors”
“In the first three years, I invested 30 million US dollars a year. Whether it is used in a specific project or distributed, it will be decided by the company after discussion. After three years, if the income is good, I will invest 50 million US dollars every year.”
Whoa whoa. Big money!
Catherine looked at Cao Su with more and more enthusiasm. She has a family background and knows a little bit about Hollywood. The Big Six now rarely make films, and all the funds are made by themselves. Instead, it will continue to finance the project.
With a fund of 30 million yuan, it is not a problem to promote a project of 60,000 to 70,000 yuan. In the same way, $50 million can leverage a $100 million project. Like this collaboration between Cactus and Fox.
This Mr. Cao is indeed the “new money” from China! Now global capital knows that big money can be made there.
Reid is very keen, his eyes are a little sharp, “Mr. Cao, what does it mean that the project is discussed by the company?”
Cao Su felt very tired. Mad, how did you talk to the boss? There is only one senior manager in China, and one would never dare to treat the boss like this! In a private company, the boss who has control is like a king!
Cao Su said calmly and toughly: “As an art director, you have the decision-making power over the Cactus Company’s film project most of the time. But the final right to shoot this film project is in my hands.”
“BuxxSxxt!” Reid Caroline scolded directly, turned around twice, poured two horses, and finally persuaded patiently: “Mr. Cao, you should let professional people do the professional work. matter.”
The annual investment of 30 million US dollars is 50 million US dollars in three years. The art director who makes the final decision is very attractive to him who has just screwed up a big production!
Cao Su shook his head directly and said, “There are a lot of producers here in Hollywood, and very few producers are able to accompany each movie. I am responsible for my own funds, not for managers!”
To put it bluntly, if I have to lose money, let me lose it myself! Willing to gamble to lose. rather than spoil the manager. In fact, he has a project detector, and the project that starts will not lose money at all.
This will greatly accelerate the development of Cactus in Hollywood.
Seeing Cao Su’s firm attitude, Reid Carolin succumbed and said, “OK!”
Catherine smiled and raised her glass, UU reading www.uukanshu.com eased the atmosphere and said, “Toast for your cooperation!”
“cheers!”
The tit-for-tat atmosphere between the two eased. Next, let’s talk about the details of entry: time, salary, equity incentives.
“I’m sorry.” Catherine walked away with a smile, leaving space for the two of them. I can’t talk about many details in a short time, it’s all approximate numbers. But Cao Su is not a newbie in business. The annual salary paid to him is linked to performance.
The salary system here in Hollywood, though, varies from person to person. But generally there are rules. It is not difficult to get the specific content of this salary system.
After talking about it almost, Reid solved the mystery he said when he met: “Mr. Cao, in fact, everyone in Hollywood knows that Fox is going to trick you!”
“?”
“Hollywood’s Big Six also have a lot of people. Why would they hand over an A-level production cooperative project to an obscure Cactus company? Don’t they plan to recoup their investment of $30 million?
There can only be one explanation. The $30 million they invested will flow back into their accounts in various ways. The equivalent of not a penny! ”
Only then did Cao Su understand Fox’s plan and scolded, “Fuck!”
Reid smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Mr. Cao. I will take care of them after I join the company. Moreover, I will ask them to sign up for TV broadcast licenses, streaming media licenses, video tapes, and revenue sharing for the entire chain of peripheral products.”
Cao Su let out a long breath, raised his head and drank the spirits in one gulp, “Reid, join the job as soon as possible.”
“No problem, boss.” +Bookmark+