Hollywood Starts with Animation

The visit of George Lucas was a surprise to Zucker.

"Of course you are surprised. Because I didn't come to you today, I made an appointment with Bill McNick. Well, according to reason, he should arrive soon." Lucas smiled.

In an instant, Zucker's doubts disappeared.

Although Lucas didn't say anything about looking for Old Bill, Zucker had been in Hollywood for many years, and in a few words, he guessed the correct answer.

"Is it the signing of the follow-up supplementary agreement for the special effects production of the "Spider-Man" movie?" Zucker narrowed his eyes.

"Hey hey, it's fine if you know." Lucas winked at Zucker.

Some things can only be felt, not in words.

The so-called supplemental agreement, to put it bluntly, is a means for Hollywood production companies to "snatch" investors' funds.

That's right, it's a trap for investors!

In the Hollywood studio circle, there is a term called - special effects cost transfer.

The total production cost of the "Spider-Man" movie was originally planned to be $140 million. Later, during the shooting process, Wald Pictures added another $10 million in funding, and the total cost climbed to $150 million.

Among them, in addition to the investment of Wald Pictures itself, there are 4 companies involved in the investment.

Carlos Foundation of Mexico: $30 million investment;

Ximanke, one of the three major theater chains in the United States: investment of 20 million US dollars;

Germany's Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) Automotive Group: an investment of US$40 million;

Indian Mountain Capital: $40 million investment;

Wald Pictures: $20 million investment;

......

Judging from the amount of investment alone, Wald Pictures has invested the least in the "Spider-Man" project, which is on par with Ximanke, one of the three major theater chains, investing only $20 million. But from the point of view of income, the income of Wald Pictures is definitely the most.

at first,

When the $10 million was invested, Wald Pictures, the producer, was entitled to 15% of the final box office revenue.

With an additional $10 million in the follow-up, the final benefit enjoyed is yet another.

In addition, for tax rebates in Germany, Wald Pictures made another 14 million US dollars, which was stuffed into Wald Pictures' own account, which has nothing to do with investors;

Of course, there is also the income from the distribution business, which is also a big deal.

In addition, there are copyright income, peripheral income, and offline market operation income... These are undoubtedly the largest shares of Wald Pictures.

Further exploitation of the income of foreign investors!

But do you think that's all there is to it?

Is this the end?

Do not!

too naive!

There are so many ways that Hollywood production companies can fool investors.

Industrial Light and Magic's George Lucas, why did he sign a supplemental agreement with Wald Pictures?

"Because there is a term called special effect cost transfer."

In terms of special effects contracts, Wald Pictures, as a production company, can cheat some investors' money!

The special effects of "Spider-Man", according to the market price, can be done at $45 million. However, this does not serve the purpose of the producer.

He literally signed a $55 million special effects contract.

The price has gone up, but the special effects are still the same thing.

Wald Pictures overpaid by $10 million, is it losing money?

not at all!

There are also two films, "Death Is Coming" and "The Butterfly Effect".

The special effects of the two films were also completed by Industrial Light and Magic. According to the market price, the package contract price was more than 17 million US dollars.

But the reality is...Wald Pictures only paid over $7 million to do it!

Here comes the problem!

- Where does the money go?

Hehe, Wald Pictures is playing a trick.

The film production company cooperated with the special effects company to reasonably and legally "misappropriation" of the investor's money in the "Spider-Man" project to the two projects "Death Is Coming" and "Butterfly Effect" by some means.

This kind of special effects contracts with "high and low" prices are a common method used by Hollywood film production companies to cheat investors' profits.

Abound!

Therefore, as a big guy in the audience, you often find the special effects of some high-cost movies, which is the same thing, and it feels not worth so much money; the special effects of some low-cost movies can catch up with some high-cost blockbusters. The effect is breathtaking.

All of these are due to the "reasonable misappropriation" of special effects costs!

Soon.

Bill McNick, president of Wald Pictures, came to the filming site as scheduled.

"Old Bill, you are here. Sign the contract when you come." Lucas immediately gave Old Bill a bear hug.

Old Bill first said hello to Zucker, and then asked the accompanying lawyer to review the contract.

After a while, the contract was signed.

From start to finish, Zucker seemed like an outsider. That's right, there is even a state of "it's nothing to do with oneself, hang up high".

In fact, this is yet another potential rule in the Hollywood filmmaking industry.

As the boss of the company, Zu Ke, who is the boss of the company, must pretend not to know about things like "pitting investors' money", "high and low special effects prices", and "transferring special effects costs".

Even if this method is reasonable and legal, Zucker will pretend to "ask three questions", after all, it is a bit shameless and out of character.

Good or bad!

Moreover, once the incident is exposed, it will definitely affect the image of Zhu Kewei as the boss. Of course, Zhu Ke, who doesn't know anything, can also throw the blame in time and let others take the blame.

Shameless?

Shameless indeed.

But looking at the whole of Hollywood, everyone plays like this!

"I didn't expect that one day, Zhu Ke would become so shameless?" Zu Ke felt a little nervous in his heart.

"Boss, everything is based on interests."

Bill McNick, who is an old trickster and a slippery man, said with a smile: "I also yearn for the gentleman's style of the clean and the dirty, but those who can't survive in Hollywood will also become an anomaly. , um, it will be an outlier that will be attacked by a group."

"I see." Zucker nodded heavily.

An unconventional way of doing things?

Hehe, it's a joke in Hollywood! If you want to be a part of Hollywood, you have to learn to go along with it.

Zucker himself is a person who regards money as his life, not a diehard advertised by morality, so these little bumps quickly disappeared in Zucker's heart and disappeared.

"How about being shameless?"

"Even if I took some money from investors, it was implemented within the rules of the game. No matter what, I still let investors make money. For this alone, my character is much stronger than DreamWorks. already."

The next time, Zu Ke's face was filled with a harmless smile again.

"what?"

Just when Zucker was about to record something in the notebook, he suddenly found that the ballpoint pen on the small table beside him was gone.

"Mr. Wald, are you looking for a ballpoint pen?" Director Sam Raimi said suddenly.

"Oh? You know." Zucker asked.

"certainly."

Sam Raimi grinned at Zucker, and immediately shouted at James Franco, who was resting not far away, playing the little Green Goblin: "Fu Lanlan, you bloody bastard, are you? What about taking the sheep by the hand?"

Fu Lanlan ran over and said aggrieved: "Director, I didn't take a ballpoint pen."

"Did I say it's a ballpoint pen?" Director Sam squinted and smiled.

Yu Lanlan: "......"

Sam Raimi said to Zucker: "Mr. Wald, don't you know, I lose a few ballpoint pens here on average every day, all of which are taken away by this kid, hey, this quirk, I Don't know what to say?"

After a pause, he added, "Franco, don't hurry up, Mr. Wald is waiting."

As soon as she finished speaking, Fu Lanlan took out two ballpoint pens from her pocket, aggrieved.

Zucker was stunned.

Yu Lanlan's ability to lead sheep easily, yes!

In his last life, Zucker had heard more than once about some of the quirks of Hollywood stars, and one of them was to take care of the sheep!

Many stars have this quirk, and they can't be changed.

" "The second is sent.