"I now talk to Cameron on the phone at least once a day, and the later stage of "Titanic" can basically be completed by the end of May. Simon, now that there is a lot of negative news about this film in the media, I think the longer it drags on, the worse it will be for us, and it is better to release it on time in the summer. ”

"Forget about the summer schedule, the time is too tight, and if something happens again, many plans will be disrupted. In addition, tell Jim to let him stay in Australia and not come back if he can't finish "Titanic". ”

Daenerys Studios, Malibu.

It was Wednesday, January 8, 1997.

Starting from Christmas a few days ago, under Simon's insistence, Amy Pascal, who was in the due date, began to take maternity leave for a month. In business management, it is always said that if you want to know whether a company is healthy, you just need to see if the company can still operate normally after the head has left for a period of time.

Simon wanted to see it too.

However, as the chairman, since he has returned to Los Angeles, Simon can not interfere much in professional and cumbersome financial, personnel, legal and other affairs, and as the core content area of Daenerys Entertainment, at least in the general direction, he can still take on it.

The ongoing meeting was to discuss with the heads of the three labels and several other senior executives the production and publicity arrangements for a series of key projects in 1997, mainly the schedule.

As the three labels begin to go hand in hand, many times, if Simon or Amy does not make the decision in person, the competition for the schedule and even the resulting discord will be inevitable, and once this dispute is too fierce to form internal friction, it is likely to hurt the film business fundamentally.

Simon just talked to Tom Pollack, president of Daenerys Films, about "Titanic", which was finally completed before Christmas last year.

The news about the serious loss of control of the "Titanic" project began to come out frequently in the second half of last year, and it was finally time for everyone to see that Simon Westeros also had a misstep. For this movie, Tom Pollack, as the president of Daenerys Films, personally went to Australia to follow up for more than a month, and finally finished it before the end of 1996.

Now the schedule is another problem.

Indeed, as Pollack said, if you want to break the rumors of the outside world, it is safest to release it in the summer of this year according to the originally determined plan, but not to mention whether Cameron can complete the post-production on time, even if it is completed, the time is too rushed, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no other changes, and it is more secure to put it at the end of the year.

Inside the conference room.

When everyone heard Simon's last sentence, they finally felt that someone was still a little angry about it, saying that they would not let a certain guy come back from Australia, maybe the subtext was that once the project completely failed at the box office, don't think about returning to Hollywood in the future.

The current Daenerys Entertainment definitely has the strength to ban a director.

As for his own boss, people who are in frequent contact with him will inevitably feel that this young tycoon seems to have never been young and frivolous and easy-going, which makes it easy to get close, but if you stand a little farther away, you will immediately have another feeling.

Ruthless!

Tom Pollack saw Simon's decision, so he had to say: "At the end of the year, the Thanksgiving schedule has been determined for "Bug Team" and MGM's "Chrono Contact", and "Titanic" can only be a Christmas file. However, there is "The Flash 2" in the Christmas file, and the box office of the first "The Flash" is average, but after the cross-warm-up of "Wonder Woman 2", the box office of "The Flash 2" may go to a higher level. ”

As soon as Tom Pollack's words fell, Mark Belford, vice president of global operations at Daenerys Entertainment next to him, reminded: "Tom, it's no surprise that Disney will put "Terminator 3" in the Thanksgiving file in order to avoid "The Flash 2", and maybe Sony's investment in Paul Verhoeven's "Starship Troopers", which is said to cost $100 million, and it is still very unwise for "Titanic" to be squeezed into the Thanksgiving file. ”

Tom Pollack retorted: "I've read Paul Verhoeven's script for "Starship", it's a very mediocre script, and it's not likely to be a hit. "Titanic" is transferred to the Thanksgiving file, and the theme does not conflict with "Bug Squad", and the remaining "Terminator 3" will never be higher than "The Flash 2". ”

"I also think that "Titanic" is still in the Christmas file," Danny Morris, president of New World Pictures, interjected: "In addition to "Bug Team" and "Chrono Contact", don't forget that there is also a "Wedding Singer" by Adam Sandler on my side, which can't be added anymore." ”

Ella Deutchman, president of Goron Pictures, also expressed her opinion: "Why not move "Flash 2" to Thanksgiving like "Wonder Woman 2", we should be able to make Warner compromise?"

"It can't be like this," Nancy Brill, who was originally a bystander this time, immediately objected: ""Bug Force" must ensure that it runs through two schedules, and this project is the most important film for us at the end of the year. ”

Ella Deutschman reacted when she heard this, and knew that she had lost her words.

Pixar's 3D animated films involve far more than just the box office itself, but also related to the sales of peripheral products at the billion-dollar level and even the entire Daenerys Entertainment's large number of businesses in family entertainment, theme parks, game development, etc., even if "Titanic" is completely smashed, the schedule of the animated film "Bug Team" must also be ensured.

Thinking about it this way, Ira Deutchman feels more and more that a super bombshell that is expected to burn $200 million will probably end up like "Future Water World" or "Cut Throat Island" two years ago.

Simon, who was sitting in the first place, listened to everyone's discussions, lowered his head to study a 1997 box office weekly ranking table in front of him, and interrupted everyone's dispute after a while, saying: "Don't argue, "Titanic" will be placed in the Christmas file, and "The Flash 2" will be the most golden on December 19, which has been determined, we will put it on December 12 a week in advance." ”

Everyone immediately looked at each other again, and then looked at their boss.

Tom Pollac hesitated a little, but said, "Simon, I think maybe it's better to postpone it for a week?"

"The Flash 2" was released a week in advance, and in the eyes of everyone, it is almost equivalent to taking the initiative to lie down and let "The Flash 2" crush it, just like the movies just past the week before "Wonder Woman 2", if the word-of-mouth does not meet expectations, "Titanic" may be completely closed in a week.

In comparison, if it is delayed by a week, the momentum of "The Flash 2" is slightly slower, and there may be room for "Titanic" to survive.

Simon felt everyone's gaze and probably understood their thoughts, and it was not surprising.

If you just want "Titanic" to 'live', it is a good choice to take the initiative to avoid the Christmas where "The Flash 2" is located to catch the tail of the year-end file on New Year's Day, but in this case, after the New Year's Day week, it will directly enter the unpopular schedule, once "Titanic" gains its former popularity, the counterattack rebound momentum will definitely not be as good as the popular schedule, and the total local box office will drop by one level.

Besides, "The Flash 2" a week in advance, if it can withstand the pressure of this super blockbuster and create a miracle, and there is room to play in the popular schedule last week at the end of the year, "Titanic" is expected to create the box office miracle it once had.

In the final analysis, the executives present were thinking about how to make "Titanic" not too ugly, and Simon was looking forward to another box office miracle for this film.

In fact, if you don't consider anything else, putting "Titanic" on Thanksgiving Day is the best choice, so that once the big ship breaks out, it is not impossible to crush the two popular schedules in a row, and the local box office will directly break 700 million. It's just that if you do this, other movies won't survive.

After all, it's because the plate is so big, and one trades off.

After weighing up, December 12 is undoubtedly the most suitable date.

In addition to Simon's confidence in "Titanic", there is also the fact that "Flash 2" will not be as terrible as everyone thinks.

Because according to the original agreement, Warner completely retains the copyright of the two superheroes and does not allow Daenerys Entertainment to participate in the investment, and the condition is that the Big Three and the big cross movies can use the images of "Cyborg" and "The Flash" at will, and "Cyborg" and "The Flash", unless Daenerys Entertainment agrees, can only 'go it alone'.

The popularity of fighting alone cannot be crossed by three heroes like "Wonder Woman 2" after all.

Recombing, Simon said finally: "It's so decided, "Titanic" will be released on December 12. Next, well, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Ella, your plan is to participate in the Cannes Film Festival, this one is canceled, the positioning of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" should not be a literary film, participating in Cannes, whether it can win awards or not, it is not good for the release of this film. However, the film can premiere in Cannes. In addition, the schedule is a little further back, and the box office momentum of various blockbusters in mid-July is still there, in late July. ”

Ella Deutchman thought about it a little, but didn't object, but said: "Simon, we will give up this year's Oscar to "The English Patient", we can always fight for it next year, right?"

Simon's expression paused slightly, he couldn't say in advance that "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Titanic" were the focus of this year's awards. For executives who don't have the prophetic advantage of Simon, these two movies, judging from their appearance, are not completely successful, where can they think of the Oscars?

After thinking about it for a moment, Simon said: "You were following up on several of the projects we invested in Europe last year, the British film "The Light Pig Six", and the two Italian films, Tornatore's "The Pianist at Sea" and Roberto Bernini's "Life is Beautiful", they should all have the potential to be award-winning films. ”

Ella Deutschman nodded and shook her head: "But it can't be considered mainstream, and the box office volume won't be too high, boss, I want to do "Shakespeare in Love", this project has been pressed for two years, and now it is launched, just at the end of the year." ”

Not to mention "The Pianist at Sea" and "Life is Beautiful", the former "Six Heroes of Light Pigs" cost a mere 2 million pounds and had a global box office of more than 250 million US dollars, which is not too high?

However, you can't be a god.

Simon could only hold back, and his mind turned to "Shakespeare in Love", which was once historically full of controversy for the Oscar best picture.

"Shakespeare in Love" is a well-known script that has been circulating in Hollywood for a long time, the story idea has been born in the late eighties, in the past, Julia Roberts, as a popular sister in Hollywood in the nineties, personally ran for this project, for various reasons, in the end, it was not filmed, and it was finally produced by Miramax for ten years.

And then it was a big success.

Of course, the quality of this movie is very good, but in 1998, it defeated the more outstanding films such as "Saving Private Ryan", "The Thin Red Line", "Life is Beautiful" and other films to reach the top of the Oscars.

Daenerys Entertainment won this script a few years ago, and Simon has been pressing to wait for the right time, and at this time, seeing Ella Deutchman looking at him expectantly, Simon was also a little helpless. Since the beginning of "A Room with a View", Ella Deutschman has always had a soft spot for films with classical literary themes, and "Shakespeare's Love History" has naturally become her favorite.

In the face of this executive's expectations, Simon can't say Ella, let's wait, otherwise this movie will become cannon fodder.

You still can't be a god.

After a little hesitation, Simon finally nodded: "Okay, by the way, have you considered the hero and heroine?"

That's fine.

Just as this movie 'lost his character in his previous life', this time he paid off his debts.

Ella Deutchman saw the boss nodding, but she was very happy: "The male protagonist I want to invite Daniel Day Lewis, the female protagonist Julia Roberts, Julia just participated in the "BJ Single Diary" last year, and she has specially received accent training and can get started directly, and she also likes this script." ”

Daniel Day Lewis can be said to be the first male protagonist candidate in "Shakespeare's Love History", but because of the schedule, he was not invited several times.

As for Julia Roberts, Simon is not very satisfied, this actress really lacks a British classical beauty.

Thinking of this, Simon said, "Daniel is no problem, as long as you can get it." In terms of actresses, let Kate try it first, Kate Beckinsale, she has performed very well in the last few movies, and she also got a Golden Globe Award for supporting actress nomination for "Soul Catcher", the key is that she is still British. ”

Designating a heroine is one of the great pleasures of your own boss.

For whom is it not fun?

Ella got the promise to start filming, of course she won't be bored in this matter, not to mention that her boss didn't mess around, thinking about it a little, Kate Beckinsale is indeed more suitable than Julia Roberts, Ella Deutschman couldn't find a reason to refute it at all, and quickly nodded.

This matter was finalized, and Nancy Brill, who was a little suspicious of running to join in the fun, said: "Boss, I want to restart "Ghost Street" here, Shay recently gave a very good plan, and besides, aren't you also promoting the youth film plan, I think you can try." ”

At the beginning, under Simon's operation, New Line and Miramax, who were supposed to shine in Hollywood in the 90s, collapsed one after another, and Nancy Brill, as the controller of Blockbuster, once invited the heads of these two companies to try to roughly Blockbuster's production department, and Simon also acquiesced to this, which can be regarded as laying the foundation for the future streaming era in advance.

The Weinstein brothers were then fired by Nancy for misconduct, leaving only Robert Shea, the founder of the new line.

Simon has also paid attention in recent years.

Robert Shea was originally from a distribution background, although the performance of the production department of Blockbuster hosted by Blockbuster was mediocre, mainly because there were not many resources that could be obtained, but in terms of purchasing films, it did a very good job, helping Blockbuster buy a lot of high-quality and low-cost film copyrights.

Hearing Nancy suddenly mention it, Simon also realized that Shay probably had the intention of making a comeback, so he just said: "I didn't see the memo you gave me in advance, Nancy, how much do you plan to spend, and how to set the schedule?"

"$15 million, Shay wants to use some CG effects this time, and in order to save money, we plan to find a special effects studio on our own. Boss, if you think the cost is too high, Blockbuster can contribute a part. In terms of schedule, if you give the green light, I hope it will be released in mid-September. ”

"Forget about the split investment, you discuss it with Danny first, and submit a memo to me. ”

After saying this, Simon took back the initiative on the topic and said: "Next about overseas, we launched a number of projects in European and Asian countries last year, and there will be more in the future, considering cultural factors, these projects will be distributed in their local areas first, or even limited to local distribution, and will not be introduced to North America, which requires us to further strengthen our overseas production and distribution network, Mark, this matter has always been your responsibility, I hope not to disappoint me in the future." ”

Mark Belford nodded confidently: "Of course, boss." ”

"Specific to some of this year's films, "Two Big Smoking Guns" and "Six Heroes of Light Pigs" in the UK, have a strong localization style, and they will be released in the UK first, and then introduced to North America depending on the situation. It's the same with the two Italian films, which will also have an award-winning operation, which requires Mark you to work with the Gordon Pictures team. On the Chinese side, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is directly introduced, and the rest is ignored for the time being. ”

Mark Belford and Ella Deutchman chimed in, offering to take note.

Determined to be overseas, Simon began to sort out the most important local film list with everyone.

This year, the three labels of Daenerys Entertainment are expected to release more than 40 films in total, but of course, not all films are the focus, such as Christopher Nolan's first feature film "Following" recruited by Simon last year, Quentin's new work "Dangerous Liaisons", and a Hong Kong film "Young Wong Fei Hung: Iron Horse" that Simon remembered to buy after the success of "Black Man" last year, etc., are only secondary.

Of course, there is no chance of a dark horse in these projects, maybe Nolan's "Following" can be an instant hit, after all, Simon has seen the sample film, it is very Nolan style, and the cost is only 6 million US dollars, and it is easy to make a fortune if it works properly, but these projects are not the focus of attention.

Specifically, starting on Valentine's Day on February 14, the first major project in 1997 was Simon's purchase of the rights to "BJ's Single Diary" starring Julia Roberts last year.

In the former "BJ Single Diary", frankly speaking, the global box office is still close to 300 million US dollars when the heroine is difficult to explain, which can be described as a miracle.

This time, Simon chose the more likable Julia Roberts, the two male protagonists are still Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, plus the main creative team behind the scenes is basically the same, at least Simon is full of confidence in achieving the box office results that he once had.

The schedule is determined for Valentine's Day, which is also a strategy for an unpopular counterattack.

In addition to the overcrowded summer and year-end holidays, Valentine's Day is also perfect for "BJ's Single Diary".

Subsequently, the Easter schedule, four main hits.

Peter Jackson's "Horror Ghost," Jett Lee's version of "Hurricane Rescue," Jim Carrey's "Cable Fixman," and Natasha Henswage's "Xenomorph 2." Frankly speaking, none of the four movies have a local sales of more than 100 million, and this time it can be regarded as winning by quantity.

Among them, "Xenomorph 2" was released by MGM Resort, as the first film released in the "Foreign Cooperation Program" to attract overseas funds, and the nature is comparable to that of "Solo Day" and "Beyond Time and Space Contact" later this year.

And then there's the summer file.

Five films were released successively: "Changing Face" (May 23), "Tornado" (June 6), "American Pie" (June 20), "Solo Day" (July 4), and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (July 25).

Finally, there are three major schedules at the end of the year.

The Halloween schedule is the new work of the Conjuring Cinematic Universe "The Conjuring 3".

Thanksgiving is the main song of "Bug Squad", "Chrono Contact" and "Wedding Singer".

Needless to say, "Bug Team" and "Chrono Contact", "The Wedding Singer" starring Adam Sandler is actually Adam Sandler's famous work.

In the past, if 1994 was Jim Carrey's glorious year, "Strange Jack in Disguise", "Dumb and Dumb" and "Detective Plane Head" were big hits, 1998 should be regarded as the year of Adam Sandler's outbreak, "Wedding Singer" and "Tea Boy", all of which were also big hits.

Among them, "Wedding Singer" was scheduled for Valentine's Day in 1998, although it encountered "Titanic", it still won $80 million at a cost of $18 million.

This time, Simon gave such a condition.

Another "Tea Boy", which was released at the end of that year, also had a low cost of $23 million and a local box office of 160 million, directly entering the fifth place on the annual list.

However, although Adam Sandler does not belong to the Rotten Boys Gang, but only intersects, but similar to the Rotten Boys, this comedy star also lacks overseas box office appeal, which is mainly due to cultural factors. Unlike Jim Carrey, body language, global accessibility.

The last of the last.

Christmas file: "Titanic".

and, Ira Deutchman's "Shakespeare's Love History" unknowingly, took the initiative to ask for a 'sacrifice'.

A careful analysis of the film list is not difficult to find that compared with previous years, the biggest difference in 1997 is that the number of cooperative films has decreased significantly.

In the past 1996, including "Wonder Woman 2", which locked the crown of the year, as well as "Mission Impossible 2", "Mummy", "Game of the Brave" and "Breaking Bad" and other blockbusters, they are actually cooperative projects in detail, and this year, there are only three related films: "Xenomorph 2", "Solo Day" and "Time and Space Contact", of which "Xenomorph 2" is just an addendum, and all the others are wholly-owned independent projects of Daenerys Entertainment.

In addition, there is a full-scale layout around the world.

All in all, global expansion and dominance will be the core development strategy of Daenerys Entertainment for many years to come.