American Fame and Fortune

Chapter 78 A great victory (please subscribe)

 The crowds in front of the Festival Theater gradually dispersed, and most of the buyers who were interested in the film made appointments to discuss it tomorrow.

Samantha from Focus Features walked at the back, and Kelly Gray accompanied her out of the theater.

Samantha is nearly fifty years old and in good health. She chatted with Kelly about the movie: "The three scenes of the male protagonist in the beginning, middle and end are very impressive. You have a good taste and you have chosen a good actor."

Kelly was happy when she heard this: "He has outstanding appearance, first-class acting skills, a bit of a poor background, but he is very spiritual."

Samantha's eyes suddenly turned to the side of the theater door and looked at the people there.

 The male protagonist in formal attire, silhouetted against the street lights, looks like a beacon in the dark, which is particularly eye-catching.

She came from Hollywood and looked directly over there: "Kelly, I will highly recommend this drama to the company."

Kelly knew there were other conditions as soon as she heard it, and waited patiently for the other party to continue.

Samantha added: "Such an outstanding actor, I really want to get to know him."

Kelly has worked hard in Hollywood and could understand the meaning of these words. She declined without any hesitation: "Sorry, he will go back to Atlanta with me later."

Samantha nodded slightly: "I took the liberty, Kelly. We will cooperate again if we have the opportunity."

 There was nothing unusual in Kelly’s smile: “Okay, bye.”

Samantha had no intention of talking about the movie anymore, so she got in the car and left.

 Her company, Focus Pictures, has a production and distribution style that is more artistic.

 Coming here is more of a favor from the company’s partner Louise Meyer.

Samantha originally wanted to cheat and try to see if the male protagonist who looked very good was as amazing as in the movie.

 Can’t get it, and won’t force it, there is no shortage of handsome men in Hollywood.

Kelly secretly cursed a piece of shit, bitch, and waved at the streetlight.

 When Martin came over, the car also arrived, and the two of them got into the back seat together.

Kelly couldn't help but said: "Those **** in Hollywood can make waves anytime and anywhere!"

Martin said: "Louise will fight you if she hears this. You are no match for her."

Kelly asked: "Whose side are you on?"

 Martin said calmly: "I will tear off all your clothes."

 Kelly did not mention what happened just now, but said: "I have a beach house."

 Martin hugged her and kissed her hard: "Rich woman, you finally realized your conscience and want to give her a house!"

Kelly gave a firm blow to this unrealistic fantasy: "You think too much." She had other ideas: "I'm going to have the top hall renovated and add an iron chain. How about it?"

"It's not good." Martin understood what she meant and decided to tell the truth. After all, he was the one who suffered: "I was almost exhausted during the filming of that scene. I couldn't do it alone. I needed to use machinery. You can add a swing. It's okay. "

 Kelly leaned against him: "I'll have someone get the plan as soon as possible."

Ten minutes later, the two entered the same suite in the same hotel.

 Martin couldn’t figure out why. Kelly had a particularly strong opinion about Hollywood tonight, so she specifically called Louise in the middle of the conversation and put the call on hold.

 Louis on the other side was so angry that she threw the wine bottle.

 …

 The Savannah Film Festival lasts for a week, and there will be three subsequent screenings of "Zombie Gigolo", and media reporters have been invited one after another.

The creative and crew members remained in Savannah.

Martin wanted to fully understand the operation and management of Hollywood movies, so he said hello to Kelly Gray and joined the negotiations between the "Zombie Gigolo" studio and various distribution companies.

 Most of the film companies offered lower bids, and the talks basically collapsed. The only remaining North American distributors still negotiating with the studios are Lionsgate and Warner Bros.

These two companies have a clear attitude. They only talk about buying out the copyright, not box office and copyright sharing agreements.

 Representatives of overseas publishers in Europe, India, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Latin America are also talking about buyouts with the studio.

“US$3.5 million, full rights buyout.” Warner Bros.’s Breitner was very forceful: “If you are not satisfied, I can only say sorry.”

 There is no shortage of small-budget films from big companies. On the contrary, there are piles of low-budget films begging them to distribute.

Dave replied: "Please wait a day, we need some time to discuss."

Martin is very self-aware, only wearing ears and eyes, and never said a word from beginning to end.

Subsequently, the studio held a third negotiation with Jeffs of Lionsgate Pictures, and Lionsgate Pictures raised their offer to their maximum price of $2.4 million.

 Since Lionsgate does not have the ability to distribute overseas, it only needs the North American copyright of the film.

Kelly Gray then rushed over for an emergency meeting: "We have a clear goal. If the price is right, we will sell the rights to the film and put it in theaters."

Dave said: "I suggest choosing Lionsgate Pictures. The North American rights will be sold to Lions Gate, and the overseas rights will be sold separately. This will give you a wider operating space."

 Actually, Kelly is satisfied with US$2.4 million, but she doesn’t mind earning more.

Kelly asked: “What about the release plans from Warner Bros. and Lionsgate?”

Benjamin took the initiative to take the call: "Warner Brothers initially plans to release it in March or April next year. They have a big business and don't care about the time cost." He wants the film to be screened in theaters as soon as possible, but he has his own preference: "Lionsgate Pictures Due to their small scale and tight financial constraints, they didn’t want to bear too much time cost. They bought the rights and immediately pushed it into the MPAA classification. In mid-November, they had a horror film that was temporarily withdrawn, which just happened to be the one for Zombie Gigolo.”

Kelly is also thinking: "What if the rating doesn't go well?"

Benjamin said: "Learn "Your Mom Too", don't go through the ratings, just watch it directly."

Kelly knew about this movie, a film by Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron. The distribution company Good Machine was dissatisfied with the MPAA rating and went directly to theaters. Not only did it take tens of millions of dollars at the box office in North America, but Alfonso Cuaron also got An Oscar nomination.

 This is not unique in North America.

  Under normal circumstances, if you can get the rating, you still have to go.

Small companies pay attention to quick results. Dave added: "Lionsgate plans to screen small-scale screenings in California and Georgia first. If the screening results are good, they will continue to invest resources in publicity. If it is not ideal, they will continue to invest in two or three rounds." After it was screened, it was launched into the DVD and video markets.”

Kelly specifically said: "I understand that the screening scale of small-budget films is slightly larger, and the cost of publicity and distribution is much higher than the cost of production."

 Martin has been listening carefully, and what comes to mind is Blair Witch and The Ghost Story.

Kelly made a decision: "It is not in our interest to sell the global rights in a unified way. We will split the rights and sell the North American rights to Lionsgate. Europa is interested in buying the European rights and selling them to them."

Gray Company is in urgent need of funds to invest in studio renovation: "Other overseas companies will wait and see how the North American screening situation goes. Dave, go tell them and we will send someone to talk to them."

Dave has mastered the entire process of project investment, and the space for overseas accounting is particularly broad. He said: "I will notify them right away."

The Savannah Film Festival has not yet ended. The studio has officially signed an agreement with Lionsgate Pictures. The full North American rights of Zombie Gigolo were sold for US$2.4 million.

 Don’t think about the sharing agreement.

 For small-production B-level films, the distribution company does not have all the copyrights in its hands and is reluctant to invest resources in promotion and distribution.

ˆThe studio has been negotiating with Europa for half a morning, and the latter bought out the European rights to Zombie Gigolo, including Russia, for $1.2 million.

After the agreement was signed, Blanco came over specially to chat with Martin, who had no sense of presence.

"Your wonderful performance makes this mediocre B-movie very interesting." He said to Martin: "If you want to be a star, the film production market in Atlanta is too small."

Martin said roughly: "When the movie comes out, I will go to Los Angeles."

Blanco smiled and said, “Looking forward to seeing you in Los Angeles.”

Martin specifically mentioned the director whom both of them knew: "Michelle said he settled in Los Angeles, and I will definitely come to visit him. Then we will have a drink and chat about French food and British dark cuisine."

Blanco smiled even more happily and said politely: "I'm looking forward to that day."

 The studio sends dedicated personnel to accompany overseas buyers back to their respective markets.

In Latin American markets such as Brazil and Mexico, once a film does well in North American screenings, it is not difficult to sell a million-dollar copyright.

With the addition of Australia, New Zealand and select markets in Asia, the studio expects to recoup its stated production cost of $6 million.

 For the two major investors of the film, it is considered a great victory.

 When Gray Films really opens the door to Hollywood and can use the box office sharing distribution channel to produce similar projects, there will be more places to make accounts.

 The film was purchased by Lionsgate, which means that Martin will inevitably become the leading actor in a theatrical movie.

 This is a qualification that can be used.

On the penultimate day of the film festival, Martin returned to Atlanta in Kelly's car.

Kelly was in a great mood: "Benjamin talked to me yesterday. After a month's rest, he will prepare for the new film."

 Martin asked: “Or a B-movie?”

Kelly smiled: "He is good at these things, I don't worry about other things."

 Martin asked vaguely: “This is still how the money works?”

 Kelly clasped her hands on her lap: "Vincent and Sofia are willing to invest, why should I refuse such a good thing?"

Martin said casually: "It seems to have benefited a lot."

Kelly stretched out her finger and lifted his chin: "I have no problem supporting you."

Martin couldn't help laughing, but he didn't ask how much Gray's company profited from it.

Kelly remembered one thing and reminded her specifically: "With the salary you got and the water bottle from last time, remember to keep the funds so that you don't have no money to pay taxes during tax season."

Martin thought of the legendary IRS, as well as state and federal taxes, and other messy things, and said, "Introduce me to a reliable accountant. I haven't studied these things and I can't understand them."

Kelly opened her bag, found a business card, and handed it to Martin: "She can help you handle it."

 Martin keeps it specially.

Kelly stretched out, and the good mood brought by the good harvest made her want to have a wild game: "Let's call Louise when we get back. Will she be so angry that she will go crazy and blow up Casablanca?" Lose?"

 Martin pinched her chin: "I think you are the one who is crazy."

Kelly thought about the last time and felt addicted: "Don't you find it exciting?"

 Martin said to himself that all those who engage in art really like to be promiscuous.

 (End of this chapter)