MTL - I’m in Hollywood-Chapter 1150 Interest chain

Compared to the huge monotonous studios and busy administrative districts, the digital field office loft, which is mainly built of glass and steel structures in Firefly Studios, is undoubtedly the most pleasant place to go, like several buildings side by side in art. Between green trees and vines, like a separate small world in the cinema.

Of course, as one of the core departments of the Firefly Group, it is not just that anyone can enter the digital office area.

Under the personal leadership of Caroline, Tom Freston was able to come to the second floor of an office loft.

Along the way, Tom Freston was secretly looking around.

However, what really attracted Tom Freston was not the exquisite decoration and the ubiquitous special effects film model in the office loft, but the company itself in the digital field.

As one of the two co-presidents of the Viacom Group, he is also responsible for the company's film entertainment business, and Tom Freston is well aware of all aspects of the digital realm.

The light and shadow era special effects company established by Warner, Paramount and Global has planned to imitate the digital field from the beginning, but after half a year, the top three companies have to admit that it is difficult to catch up with the digital field. Such as the sky.

The company of the Firefly System has been on the cg special effects since eight years ago, and it has been ingrained in Hollywood for eight years.

In the era of light and shadow, we want to catch up. In the traditional way, the most convenient means is to dig people from the digital field.

But this model does not work at all, because even if the light and shadow era digs into the technical talents of the other side from the digital field, it can't get the professional special effects software of this company. The core effects software in the digital domain has now even stopped selling, but instead uses a rental license model to collaborate with other small and medium-sized special effects companies.

It is naturally impossible for the light and shadow era to be within the authorized list of the digital domain.

Without the software license in the digital field, the light and shadow era can only choose to cooperate with the old graphics software manufacturer Autodesk to develop exclusive cg special effects software.

At the time of Autodesk's lack of optimism about the prospects of cg special effects, it refused to cooperate with the digital field in software development. Now, in order to make up for the original decision-making mistakes, the investment in related software development can also be spared. But the gap in technology accumulation in eight years is definitely not catching up overnight.

Moreover, even after a few years of hard work, Autodesk has been able to catch up with the digital field in software technology, and certainly cannot easily break the strong interest chain that the Firefly system has established in the Hollywood special effects industry.

You know, the same movie, even if it doesn't use some of the top special effects technologies unique to the digital field, it is just a popular ordinary cg lens. Special effects companies that use digital domain software and technology support often have effects and costs compared to other peers. The all-round advantage.

Therefore, even if it is understood that there may be a risk of being caught by the firefly system at any time, it is difficult for other Hollywood film companies to quit their reliance on the digital domain and its affiliated special effects companies.

"Mr. Freston, Eric still needs about ten minutes, please wait a moment."

Caroline took Tom Freston to the lounge on the second floor, politely explained a few words, and told the staff to prepare coffee for the other party before turning and leaving.

I have waited for three days, and Tom Freston doesn't mind the last ten minutes. I thanked the digital field staff who brought coffee to me. I sat at the table and quickly sorted out how to deal with Ereli. Ke Williams, I took a sigh of relief after a while.

Looking around again, I got up and took a copy of yesterday's "Hollywood Reporter" from the side shelf, aiming to kill the last few minutes.

The headline of the newspaper in hand is just the eye-catching "Iron Man" box office number.

On the third weekend of the release, "Iron Man" box office still fell only 39%, and three days to receive another $37.88 million.

At the same time, this superhero blockbuster has reached a total of $60.51 million in North American box office for two and a half weeks, and the next week and a half break through the $300 million mark is almost a nail. After the release of the North American box office broke 300 million, the entire screening cycle, the film North American box office easily went to 400 million US dollars without any suspense.

In comparison, Paramount's "West Point Secret" box office at the same time is simply unbearable.

Ten days after the release, the $95 million big production movie has a total box office of $35.13 million.

Of course, not only "West Point Secret", under the strong impact of "Iron Man", the "Stolen Trap" released on Friday, the first three days of the box office was only 19.15 million US dollars.

However, the cost of producing this sentiment work, which was mainly supported by the first 007 actor Sean Connery, was well controlled by Colombia at $60 million.

Even if the box office in North America is unsatisfactory, the potential of the box office of "The Trap" is much higher than that of "West Point Secret". The final box office of around $200 million is expected to allow Colombia to recover all production and distribution costs. The film's future video tape dvd and TV peripherals are basically net profit.

Moreover, in Tom Freston's view, the meaning of "The Trap of Heaven" is not at the box office for Colombia.

The film's final cost control of 60 million US dollars means that after the departure of Sony, Columbia Pictures was quickly assimilated by the firefly system without any buffer period, and no longer arbitrarily squandered in film production, but this It was the dysentery that Colombian film industry had not been completely improved in the past ten years.

In fact, because Hollywood movie financing is too easy in recent years, outside the firefly system, everyone spends a lot of money.

Just like the current "West Point Secret", if Paramount can squat down to strictly control costs, don't say $95 million, even if it is $60 million. With the budget reduced to $60 million, Paramount’s current loss pressure will be much smaller.

However, in order to win over Simon West, who became famous for his "Prison Prison", Paramount's production department did not do so, but instead intentionally or unintentionally moved to the other side during the production process. However, although the production cost has been piled up by more than 50%, this is only the second time that the director who directed the big production of the film failed to come up with a satisfactory work.

In comparison, the firefly system is much stronger.

In recent years, c+ once shook Shawn Connery's pay to 20 million US dollars, but in "The Trap", Colombia insisted on only paying $12 million for the veteran 007 player, even without The choice of any box office is divided.

Although Sean Connelly repeatedly threatened to withdraw from the project, he eventually accepted it.

Obviously, Sean Connery is also clear that without Sony's big head, it would be impossible to get $20 million from Colombia. He is definitely not worth 20 million in the eyes of other big studios in Hollywood. As for the Caroline Films and other companies that frequently gave Hollywood veteran superstars a price increase in the past few years, with the completion of the integration trend of the media group, the film distribution channel has been further monopolized, and has been gradually quieted after successive losses in recent years.

Looking absently at the newspaper in his hand, and hearing the footsteps in his ear, Tom Freston immediately returned to God and got up and greeted Eric, who walked into the lounge: "Eric, very happy. see you."

"Hello, Tom, sit down."

Eric politely held a hand with Tom Freston, sitting next to the table and chairs next to him, while looking at the slightly old-aged middle-aged.

Tom Freston is only in his 40s this year, but his gray hair and wrinkles on his face make him look ten years older than his age.

Tom Freston followed and sat down, looking at the young man in front of him with a casual and sturdy temperament. He said: "Eric, I am coming over this time, I hope to eliminate both of us. Some misunderstandings of the day."

Eric took Caroline's own mineral water and placed it on the table. His face was flat and said: "Well, then?"

Tom Freston did not get any useful information from Eric's expression. He could only continue: "Stanley Cullen will leave the company from Paramount in the near future. As for the Baishida, we can provide one. Reimbursement for seeking reconciliation with companies such as the Firefly Group."

Eric raised his hand and said a puzzled expression, "Who is Stanley Cullen?"

The entire youth who have been on the ‘Hollywood Gossip’ website are not spared. How could they not know Stanley Cullen?

However, the other side is stupid, but Tom Freston can only explain with a slap in the face: "Stanley Cullen is the vice president of Paramount Pictures, mainly responsible for issuing business. The last misunderstanding was that he was arrogant. Caused."

"Oh," Eric nodded, but said again: "I don't know this person. On the other side of Paramount, I only know Shirley Lansing."

Tom Freston squatted and then understood, and subconsciously shook his head: "Eric, this can't be done."

"It’s not your business," Eric took up just the casual moment, staring straight and staring at Tom Freston, saying: "In short, I’m only knowing Shirley on the side of Paramount. Lansing, then, since there is a problem, it should be the responsibility of Shirley Lansing."

Eric’s attitude suddenly became strong, and Tom Freston’s momentum suddenly weakened. “Eric, it’s not like this. After all, the last time did not affect you much.”

If the head of one of the seven major studios leaves the job because of a gossip event that does not set off any storms at all, and does not say that it may have an impact on the operation of Paramount Pictures, it is only the matter itself. Seriously hit the entire Viacom's prestige and status in the media industry.

"But if it happened?" Eric swept the newspaper in front of Tom Freston and said, "Like Iron Man, if it's not handled properly by the Firefly Group, this global box office is worth $1 billion. The film will eventually have a lot of box office, 500 million, 300 million, or less. So, I will not allow this to happen again for the second time. How much risk do you bring to the Firefly Group? Responsibility. Now, if you want to reconcile, Shirley Lansing must leave."

After a moment of silence, Tom Freston just nodded and said, "Well, I will tell Sommer, then, about Blockbuster?"

"Speaking of this, Tom, you know that the lizard is going to survive, what conditions do you have to satisfy first?"

Viacom’s announcement on Saturday to split the Blockbuster has now proved to have little effect.

Hearing Eric said, Tom Freston couldn't help but look awkward and shook his head. "I don't know this."

Eric’s face showed a little smile, like a young teacher who suddenly came to preach and said: “It’s very simple. The tail that the lizard breaks must be able to attract the attention of the predator. If the predator behind it is fundamental I don't want to eat that tail. What is the point of doing this?"

Tom Freston reluctantly said: "It seems, it is."

"So, since you like to do this, you should pick a tail that is attractive enough."

Tom Freston had a bad feeling in his heart, but he could only follow Eric’s topic: “Eric, what do you want?”

"showtime TV station," Eric no longer bends around, said: "Expelling Shirley Lansing, transfer showtime, this is my request. To do both, we have written off the last thing."

Eric deliberately did not mention Stanley Cullen again, but obviously, this person can no longer stay in Hollywood anyway.

In recent years, with the continuous development of hbo and the rapid expansion of ffm TV stations, Viacom, who realized the commercial potential of the paid cable station, has also increased its investment in its showtime TV station.

Although the development of showtime TV is far from being as fast as the ffm that several companies have jointly promoted, it is also one of Viacom's fastest growing businesses. With lower fees and its own content channel resources, showtime TV has now accumulated more than 6 million paying users.

"Eric, your request is too much, and Summer will not agree."

"I am still just saying that it is not your business. Just like you have caused me trouble, solving problems can only be my business. Now, I have solved the problem I am facing, you should solve it. The problem you are facing," Eric said, adding: "And, compared to the conditions that some people have opened, my request is actually very reasonable."

"We already know what Carl Icahn is visiting you, Eric, you can't succeed. And even if you succeed, you will face a lot of trouble in the future, because your manipulation is a serious violation. of."

"That's the problem I have to face, it has nothing to do with you," Eric shrugged. "You can let Summer try and see if he can keep his position. Right, I have to remind. One thing, next week, we will announce a list of foreign cooperation films. Although it is mainly some non-core projects of MGM and Colombia, Wall Street film funds are now more willing to cooperate with the firefly system. So, you When you think about it, you should consider whether you want to survive again and break the Paramount Pictures."