Chapter Five Hundred and Forty-Ninth New Plan
"Establish a brand-new production company, jointly hold shares and invest in the production of the film, and sign a long-term cooperative distribution agreement with MGM. In this way, we can not only use MGM's distribution channels, but also avoid falling into MGM's Debt is stagnant, and the interests of investors are fully protected,” Eric said to representatives of several European film companies in the Seydoux family’s mansion in the western suburbs of Paris. √∟,
This method is similar to the previous cooperation between Carlock Pictures and MGM, but because of the box office failure of the two blockbusters in the summer, there is definitely no need for the two sides to continue to cooperate.
After listening to Eric's suggestion, most people in the reception room neither shook their heads nor nodded, but Marcel Noire, the representative of the Lyon Credit Bank, looked a little disappointed, but Eric had communicated with him before. , these people were fundamentally unwilling to agree to the original plan, and it was impossible for Eric to forcibly drag these European film forces into MGM.
Nicholas Seydoux of the Gaumont company sitting on Eric's left was the first to ask: "Eric, then, Firefly plans to participate in this company in a cooperative way?"
"Firefly will participate in holding shares and facilitate the production of the film," Eric replied: "In addition, I will personally select ten films as the company's production plan for the next three years. As for everyone in this company, The rights and interests in possession will be settled through negotiation.”
After Eric finished speaking, the seven or eight people sitting in the reception room immediately whispered to each other, and Eric didn't rush, he picked up the coffee next to him and drank it slowly.
After a while of discussion, Marcel Noire said, "Eric, can MGM have a cross-shareholding with this company?"
Eric glanced at the people around him and said with a smile, "If everyone agrees, I personally have no opinion."
Cross-shareholding will certainly increase the operating risk of this brand-new production company, but Eric is not too worried. As long as the plan is carried out according to the plan, MGM's operating conditions will definitely be reversed in the next few years. After the exchange of shares with MGM, the new production company can even share a part of MGM's distribution profits, and. This way of cooperation is also more convenient for Firefly to directly or indirectly annex MGM in the next few years. After this period of deliberation, Eric became more and more envious of MGM's film library.
Everyone is also very clear about the benefits and interests, and when Eric said this, they did not express their position.
Daniel Isenger, the representative of the German Constantine Films, asked in some weird English at this time: "Eric, MGM's business philosophy is already very backward, and more importantly, the profitability of the film's peripheral development is very weak. , how do you plan to solve this?"
Eric glanced at Marcel Noire. Dao: "Firefly is very, very willing to represent this part of the business.
"
Feeling Eric's eyes, Marcel Novare also said: "There is no problem with MGM."
The ultimate goal of Crédit Lyon is to revitalize MGM, and then try to appear at a more appropriate price in the next few years. There is no long-term plan to operate, so Marcel Noiret easily represents Crédit Lyon. made this decision.
When it comes to this, the dust has almost settled, and everyone present knows that Eric is determined not to let them directly inject funds to participate in Firefly Pictures, if they insist. Eric may not refuse, but it is not certain whether he can get a good cooperation plan. As people in the film industry, they know very well that Hollywood has a hundred ways to make them lose money. Of course, after these years of cooperation, these people can easily escape most of the traps set by Hollywood. Of course, there will still be some unwillingness in some people's hearts. Daniel Isenger, the representative of the German Konstantin Films who just spoke, said again: "Eric, you just mentioned the production plan of ten films in three years, can you talk about the types of these films, or the scale of investment? Also. Do you have a suitable project in mind now?"
Eric looked at the other party and suddenly thought that he still had the copyright of a novella in his hand related to Constantine Pictures, and that was "Resident Evil". The original time and space "Resident Evil" series was invested by Constantine Films, and only a deep-pocketed investor like Germany would make "Resident Evil", a film series that was not too profitable. It wasn't over until Eric was reborn.
"I wrote a novella called "Resident Evil" a few years ago. If a new company is established, I can put the copyright of this novel into the production company."
"Jurassic Park", which is still running rampant in the global box office market, is a change from Eric's first novel. This film has exceeded 600 million US dollars at the global box office in less than two months after its release, and its momentum has not weakened at all. Trend, not to mention that such a super box office country like Japan has not yet been released, in the next few months, there is almost no suspense that "Jurassic Park" will exceed one billion US dollars at the global box office. Therefore, suddenly hearing Eric's words, everyone present was shocked.
But immediately, everyone remembered the information about "Resident Evil". After the release of "Jurassic Park", many people inquired about the news of Eric's other two novels "The Matrix" and "Resident Evil", but everyone It is also very clear that even if they are to be developed, these two novels must be reserved projects owned by Firefly Pictures, and there is absolutely no possibility for outsiders to interfere.
"Resident Evil" is a zombie novel with a restricted level. The audience for this type of novel is very narrow. Even a director like Eric, who is already famous all over the world at this time, cannot change this status quo. Moreover, zombie novels After being adapted into a movie, the r rating is certain, and the audience for the movie will still be very small. Although Eric's personal aura is blessed, the profit of the movie adapted from this novel will definitely not be a problem, but it will never be comparable to "Jurassic". Park" for comparison.
"Eric, I think your other novella "The Matrix" is also good, why not take out the adaptation rights of this novel?"
Eric shook his head slightly, smiled and said: "The current special effects technology does not meet my requirements, so I will not consider changing "The Matrix" for the time being in the past two years."
The special effects of last year's "Tornado" and this year's "Jurassic Park" can only be described as shocking. The special effects technology in the digital field is definitely the top in the industry. Many people present vaguely know the content of "The Matrix". Current technology in the digital realm. The problem of production is not too big, it is nothing more than a problem of production cost, and for these European film forces with money and nowhere to invest, especially the German film fund, the problem of money is not a problem at all, Carlock Films Summer Vacation They have invested 150 million US dollars in the two films that were so fluttering, and at this time Eric's work was adapted. Even if they are asked to invest 150 million in a single department, few people will shake their heads and refuse. Therefore, when Eric was talking nonsense with his eyes open, most of the people in the reception room couldn't help but roll their eyes.
Eric also knows that these people are human beings. If they don't show some real benefits, these people will not easily give in. After thinking about it, he said: "Well, Firefly is preparing a film inside, it is a film. A film adaptation of a TV series from the 1970s. I can take it out and put it in the production company.”
There were many well-informed people present, and Nicholas Seydoux immediately probed: "Eric, is that "Charlie's Angels"?"
Eric nodded. Because of the release of several blockbusters in the summer next year, forcibly putting "Charlie's Angels" into the summer file could not get enough publicity resources from Firefly, so Eric was not in a hurry to "Charlie's Angels". "The production, I plan to carefully craft it, if it can't be done, I will put it in the New Year's file next year. Although doing so will lengthen the investment cycle accordingly, it will also allow "Charlie's Angels" to get sufficient publicity and distribution resources to achieve better box office results.
At this time, "Charlie's Angels" was taken out and put into a new production company. Then you can use MGM's resources to release the film next summer. As for Drew, there is no problem, Xiao Nizi has always been obedient to Eric.
Seeing that everyone in the reception room showed a satisfied look, Marcel Noire, the representative of the Lyon Credit Bank, couldn't wait to say: "In this case, Eric, why don't we discuss the specific equity distribution plan of the new production company. Bar?"
Before Eric could answer, Daniel Isenger of Constantine Pictures immediately interjected: "Eric. How much is the total investment for the ten films you plan to make?"
"I can't answer this question for the time being," Eric shook his head with a smile, "However, the budget for Charlie's Angels is about $60 million. If you don't want to make a fuss, you can invest in the remaining nine films. It will probably maintain a corresponding scale of investment.”
"How can 60 million be enough? Why don't we count it as an average of 80 million," Daniel Isenger waved his hand with some arrogance: "The average is 80 million, and ten films count as 800 million. Our German side can be responsible for 40 million. How about a 50% stake for a share of $100 million?"
After Daniel Isenger finished speaking, the representatives of several other German companies nodded in agreement.
Eric sighed in his heart, the Germans at this time are really as embarrassed as the Japanese who bought the world. If you give Germany 50% of the share, how about the French one, and there is also a British film company. It's impossible to let others go back shirtless.
Nicholas Seydoux also shrugged funnyly. Since Eric has promised so many benefits, Firefly Pictures will definitely not be less than 30% of the production company. If he gives Germany another 50%, it will be left to Others have only 20% left, which is not enough to plug their teeth, not to mention that they plan to exchange some shares with MGM: "Daniel, giving you 50% is definitely impossible, if it's just a matter of money. , although we don't have as much money as yours, we can still get $800 million."
800 million US dollars, that is equivalent to eating all the new production company.
"Nicholas, we should have more companies here, and we should have more," Daniel Isenger found a seemingly reasonable reason.
Nicholas Seydoux immediately retorted: "It's not a matter of how many companies there are. Who doesn't know that when you Germans invest in a Hollywood film, they usually register several companies."
Eric listened quietly as the reception room turned into a vegetable market in a blink of an eye. He was not worried about the distribution of benefits at all. If Firefly did not participate, this plan would not be possible at all, so Eric was the safest to sit tight. The man at Diaoyutai.
Everyone was clamoring for nearly ten minutes before they finally calmed down, and Eric said: "The specific cooperation plan, everyone can sit down and talk slowly, of course, don't argue for too long, otherwise, it will not benefit everyone. As for Firefly, in addition to the two copyright resources of "Resident Evil" and "Charlie's Angels", I will participate in the production of ten films throughout the whole process. Firefly only needs 30% of the company's equity, and at the same time shares the production company's share of the film share after deducting costs. 30% gross profit, as for the copyright development of related films just mentioned, according to normal business rules, Firefly will send a special person to contact MGM Pictures.”
Eric didn't mention anything about the capital injection, but when he heard the 30% share of gross profit, everyone in the reception room was very satisfied. After all, Eric kindly let them deduct the production cost, which is to a large extent. It reduces the investment risk of everyone present, and Eric will definitely be very concerned about the production company, because this share is only available when the film generates profits. Once the film produced by the company loses money, Firefly Can't get a penny.
Seeing that no one raised any objections, Eric continued: "How to distribute the remaining 70% of the company's shares and the cross-shareholding ratio with MGM Pictures is up to you to discuss."
Just as everyone was about to nod their heads in agreement, Eric said again: "By the way, the best negotiation time is within a month. I hope that after the negotiation is completed, the production of "Charlie's Angels" will start as soon as possible, so that we can also arrange the movie calmly. It will be released in the summer of next year.”
"Eric, how should the cross-shareholding ratio between the production company and MGM be allocated?" Marcel Novare said at this time. Although their main purposes are different, Marcel Novare Knowing that Crédit Lyon also shouldn't pass up the opportunity to be part of a production company.
Eric thought for a while and said, "Just as I just said, the production company is valued at US$800 million, and MGM will calculate it according to the market value of US$1.2 billion. After everyone here has divided up the shares of the new production company, The rest will belong to MGM according to Billy." (To be continued..)
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