American fame and fortune

Los Angeles Country Club, sunny golf course.

After playing a hole, Thomas drove the battery car and drove Martin and Daniel back to the rest area.

The latter ended the golf topic and turned back to the movie. He picked up the drink glass and raised it to Martin: "Congratulations on being nominated for Best Actor again."

Martin raised his glass in response and said: "I just won the Best Supporting Actor last year. It is difficult for the role of Benjamin to win the Best Actor. I have no advantage and the character uses too much CG technology."

Daniel took a sip of his drink and said, "You are still young and you will have many opportunities in the future. Warner Bros. will fully support you."

The other person's words were nice, and Martin was unequivocal: "Warner has always been my source of confidence."

Daniel rushed to catch up and immediately followed up: "Since you entered Hollywood, you have been cooperating with Warner Bros. The two of us have a tacit understanding and created many box office miracles."

He smiled: "Martin, have you ever considered working more closely with Warner Bros.?"

Martin didn't know why, so he didn't talk nonsense, but it was still about the Oscar: "Warner wants to fully support my bid for the Oscar for the leading actor?"

Daniel didn't expect Martin to answer like this. He was slightly stunned and replied: "With your acting skills and artistic expression, if you continue to cooperate with Warner, the Best Actor will definitely be yours."

Martin smiled: "I hope so."

Daniel found that when chatting with Martin, he would unconsciously lead him. He simply said directly: "What I just said about closer cooperation with Warner Bros. does not refer to the Oscars."

He spoke sincerely and asked: "Martin, are you interested in joining the Warner family?"

Thomas, who had remained silent, suddenly looked at Daniel.

Martin was also a little surprised and asked slowly: "Am I not a member of the Warner family now?"

Daniel said: "Warner Bros. is interested in acquiring your Davis Film and Television Studios."

Martin nodded slightly and asked, "Like New Line Cinema and Legendary Pictures?"

"Yeah," Daniel said, "Davis Studios became a subsidiary of Warner."

As long as the price is right, Martin is not opposed to being acquired by Warner. Since it is a commercial transaction, he directly asked the price: "I want to know how much Warner is willing to pay for it?"

Daniel was prepared when he came: "Warner made a systematic evaluation, $150 million."

He raised his hand to stop Martin from speaking, and said first: "Your studio has only been established for five years. Including the upcoming "Gone Girl", there are only four film copyrights in the film library. Except for a publicity and marketing department, the other The department can basically be ignored.”

Martin was certainly not satisfied with the price.

Daniel hasn't finished his words yet: "This includes the rights to shoot the sequel to "John Wick" and your contract as the leading actor in the trilogy. Of course, Warner will truthfully pay your salary and dividends! In addition, "Prince of Thieves" ", "Lone Survivor" and "The Martian," as well as the rights to other scripts you purchase, are also included."

"I personally enjoy cooperating with Warner, and I also want to strengthen the relationship between the two parties." Martin's words were equally direct: "If Warner offers the right price, I can sell the studio to you."

At this point, he couldn't help but shake his head: "With US$150 million, in my eyes, I can't even buy the sequel rights to "John Wick", let alone the adaptation rights to those three novels."

This is a purely commercial act, Daniel said matter-of-factly: "The success or failure of those three novels adapted into movies is completely unknown. Even the sequel of "John Wick" still has considerable risks. The commercial feedback of the sequel of the best-selling movie There are many differences.”

Martin nodded and said: "I have a way to avoid these risks. I will take away the copyrights of these three novels, the John Wick series, and other scripts. In order to avoid severance expenses after the acquisition, I want to The remaining assets of Davis Studio were packaged and sold to Warner Bros. for $150 million."

Daniel laughed: "Martin, you know this is impossible."

Martin spread his hands: "We have too many differences."

Products always have a price, Daniel asked: "What is your psychological price point?"

"$500 million!" Martin believed that this price was very reasonable. In addition to money, he also asked for other things: "The production of the sequel to "John Wick" is entirely based on my team."

Daniel thought the price was a fantasy, but neither he nor Warner had any objection to the latter condition.

Martin hasn't finished speaking yet: "I won't talk about remuneration and sharing. The adaptation of several other works must also be led by me. From budget to director, etc., everything must be implemented in the contract."

Daniel couldn't agree, and the executives of Warner-related film companies would never agree. He said directly: "This is unrealistic, Martin, you know this is impossible in a big company."

In the next ten years, Warner Bros. executives will be more and more excited. Martin still wants to star in the projects in hand, and it is impossible to give up the leadership.

He said: "Let's not talk about this for now. US$500 million is my psychological bottom price."

Daniel shook his head: "Your asking price is too crazy and does not conform to the market conditions."

That was the end of this initial contact.

After leaving the country club, Thomas got into Martin's car and asked, "Are you really going to sell the studio?"

Martin said: "If Warner Bros. agrees to my conditions, it is not impossible to sell the studio to them, and we will just register another one."

Thomas just listened to the two people's words and knew that what Warner wanted was the project in Martin's hands.

Martin thought for a moment and said: "Warner Brothers will definitely continue to have contact with the studio in the future. I don't want the relationship with Warner to change too much in the short term, and it is not suitable to talk to Warner directly. In this way, you will represent me and Warner Brothers talk.”

Thomas asked: "What are the conditions?"

Martin roughly remembers that in the next decade or so, Warner Bros. would often have short-circuited operations in production: "The conditions for project leadership cannot be compromised."

He lightly tapped the armrest of his seat: "In terms of price, it can be lowered to US$450 million."

When Thomas heard these two conditions, he knew it was impossible to negotiate.

Both parties have different standards. Warner Bros. has its own set of standards, and so does Martin.

There is great disagreement in this regard.

Martin then joined the crew of "Gone Girl" to prepare for filming. He also occasionally exercised and discussed action scene design with Chad and Chen Hu, and his work became busy.

Thomas held several discussions with Warner Bros. personnel on behalf of Martin, but the differences between the two sides were always huge.

By the time the Oscars began, there was still no sign or possibility of an agreement.

Warner Bros. also showed some sincerity and increased its acquisition funds to US$200 million.

But Thomas, who represents Davis Studios, insisted on a minimum of $450 million.

Warner Bros. suspended the acquisition talks, and its main target turned to Castle Rock Pictures.

“Success leads to more success, but it also makes you lose sight of yourself.”

In Kevin Tsujihara's office in the Warner Building, Jon Berg, the new president of Warner Pictures who led the negotiations, said: "Martin Davis overestimated himself too much. The asking price of $450 million is beyond God's reach." He’s crazy!”

The first acquisition after taking office ended in failure. Kevin Tsujihara was not very happy: "I think the offer of US$200 million is very sincere. Most Hollywood stars will never make so much money in their lifetime."

Jon Berg is Kevin Tsujihara's brother-in-law and speaks without too many scruples: "I think we should put some pressure on Martin Davis to help him recognize himself."

Kevin Tsujihara doesn’t express his opinions lightly.

Jon Berg continued: "For the next movie, the distribution company can put pressure on Davis Studio, such as a higher distribution commission, and the sequel to "John Wick" will be larger in scale and publicity. More sensitive..."

Kevin Tsujihara waved his hand: "Go and discuss with Daniel."

He turned to the main topic of today: "How is the progress of "Pharaohs and Gods"?"

This is the first major film project that Kevin Tsujihara has truly led since he came to power, and I am particularly concerned about it.

Jon Berg said: "Ridley Scott has already completed the post-production of "Robin Hood" and there is no problem with the schedule. We have reached an agreement with him that he will start preparing for this film after the Oscars. project."

Kevin Tsujihara asked again: "Is it okay to release it in 2012?"

Jon Berg is very confident: "Compared to other directors, Ridley is more efficient. He said the schedule is generous enough."

"The review committee gave the green light to "Green Lantern". This project must also be accelerated. You should maintain communication with Hamada of DC Films." The heads of key subsidiaries of Warner Bros. have all been replaced by Kevin Tsujihara. Confidant: "This is a crucial step for the DC Cinematic Universe to catch up with Marvel. There is no room for failure."

Jon Berg nodded and said: "Hamada has chosen a very good director, Martin Campbell, who has directed films such as "Golden Eye", "The Mask of Zorro" and "Casino Royale". The male protagonist is interested in " Ryan Reynolds, who had an excellent response in "The Wolverine", although the final candidate for the heroine has not been finalized, one of the candidates is Blake Lively, who has become extremely popular in recent years."

These sound quite reliable. Kevin Tsujihara personally participated in the project meeting of "Green Lantern". In order to catch up with Marvel as soon as possible, Warner Bros. is preparing to raise US$200 million for filming and production.

After Jon Berg left, he immediately went to DC Films to discuss the specific situation of the project with Hamada.

The film will be jointly promoted by DC Films and Warner Pictures.

Warner Bros. as a whole is confident in the project.

With a complete movie universe plan, a full budget, reliable management and production team, directors with a lot of successful experience, more mature CGI technology, and a popular protagonist, the risks are not without, but they are better than Marvel's "Iron Man" is much smaller.

Even the management of Warner Bros. believes that "Captain America" ​​being prepared by Marvel Studios is much riskier than "Green Lantern".

I have a brother in my hometown who has had a heart attack. He is only in his early 50s. He will be in his hometown these two days and I can only find time to code. Please forgive me if the update is a little late.