After a brief two-day break in Park City, Simon returned to Los Angeles, once again surrounded by busy work schedules.

Santa Monica.

Simon, Amy and CAA President Michael Ovitz sat around a conference table in a conference room at Daenerys Films' headquarters to discuss Daenerys Films' upcoming films, "Rain Man" and "Steel Magnolia."

The main production plan for "Rain Man" has been finalized, and only a few details remain, and the two sides have not wasted much time on this.

When it was the turn of "Steel Magnolia", the atmosphere became tense.

Daenerys Films wants to invite CAA's director Herbert Ross and actress Sally Field, who are also the original creators of "Steel Magnolia," to participate in the film. However, Michael Ovitz offered a condition that Simon could not accept.

"Michael, Herbert Ross and Sally Field packed $10 million, which is too high. "Steel Magnolia" is a group play, and if I pay Ross and Field a lot of money, the other actors will ask for more, and Daenerys Pictures will have a hard time taking on the project. So, we could pay Rose $5 million, and Ms. Field, it's only $1.5 million. ”

Herbert Ross is not only the director of the original "Steel Magnolia", he is also the director of Michael Fox's "Road to Development" that grossed more than $60 million in North America last year, and before that, Herbert Ross's 1984 musical and dance film "Freedom" won $80 million at the North American box office at a cost of $8 million, which also made the film company a lot of money.

After all, Hollywood directors are worth what they want at the box office, so Herbert Ross is fully worth $5 million.

However, although Sally Field won two Oscars for Best Actress in 1979 and 1984, the actress basically did not have box office appeal. Moreover, not many Hollywood actresses in the 80s were worth more than $2 million, and considering that "Steel Magnolia" was a group play, Simon could only offer $1.5 million.

When Michael Ovitz heard this, his eyes were fixed on Simon, which was his habitual posture during the negotiation process, and his tone was dissatisfied: "Sally is a two-time Oscar-winning actress, Simon, do you think $1.5 million is possible?"

Simon was not affected by Ovitz's eyes in the slightest, and said: "This was a few years ago, Michael, we all understand that no one in Hollywood can get a lifetime of first-line salary with one or two statuettes, and compared to Ms. Field's box office appeal, $1.5 million is already very high." ”

"This can't be," Michael Ovitz shook his head, paused, and then slowed down his tone a little, "Okay, Simon, considering the specifics of this film, I can make a little concession, Herbert $6 million, Sally $3 million, however, you have to promise me two other conditions, first, all the other supporting roles in the film must be selected from CAA, and second, Robin is still very interested in "Dead Poets Society", I hope you can give her the leading role." ”

"If you insist on that demand, Michael, my answer is the same as yours, it can't be. First of all, I'm not going to make Steel Magnolia a part of a CAA package. Secondly, Bob has agreed to star in Dead Poets Society, and I can't possibly give the role to Robin Williams anymore. ”

The three-week small-scale screening has accumulated enough word-of-mouth, "Good Morning Vietnam" officially opened on a large scale last Friday, and got $11.75 million at the box office in three days over the weekend, and the media predicts that the film will box office more than $16 million in the fourth week.

As the leading actor, Robin Williams has also been successfully promoted from the original second-tier actor to the ranks of first-line superstars.

At the end of last year, CAA temporarily changed his mind on the day of the signing, and Daenerys Pictures failed to pick up the leak. Although Simon has some regrets about this, he does not intend to be led by the nose by the CAA. At present, the company has negotiated two film contracts with De Niro, "Dead Poets Society" and "The Sixth Sense", although the contract has not been officially signed, and Simon cannot change his mind temporarily like CAA.

The two of them spoke, neither of them spoke again, and after a moment of stalemate, Ovitz relaxed and leaned back in his chair, and said, "Perhaps, our meeting today can only end here." ”

Simon stood up and held out his hand to Ovitz across his desk: "So, Michael, I hope we have a chance to work together again next time." ”

Michael Ovitz was stunned, he didn't expect Simon to be more decisive than himself, this young man said this, which obviously means that Daenerys Films will not contact CAA for "Steel Magnolia" in the future. The matter of "Dead Poets Society" is even more non-existent.

got up and shook Simon's hand, but Michael Ovitz said: "Simon, you can't be rash in business, you can reconsider, you can call me at any time." ”

"I think I've thought about it. ”

"Well, good luck. ”

Seeing off Ovitz, Simon sat back at the conference table, raised his wrist to look at his watch, and said to Amy Pascal beside him: "Give up Herbert Ross and Sally Field, we will pick people from MA and ICM." ”

Considering the positions of Herbert Ross and Sally Field, Daenerys Pictures has a budget of $15 million for "Steel Magnolia." But if Ovitz is followed, the budget for the film will definitely swell to $20 million or even $25 million.

The North American box office size of "Steel Magnolia" in the original time and space is $80 million, even according to the production budget of $25 million, Daenerys Pictures can still be profitable, but compared to the total investment of the company's planned independent distribution, Simon can only expect the subsequent distribution of other channels to bring profits, which will greatly extend the payment cycle.

Although Amy Pascal loves "Steel Magnolia", a story about the lives of women in a small town in the American South, her box office expectations for the film are much lower than Simon's. For commercial reasons, Amy actually wanted to make the film a low-budget film with a budget of less than $10 million.

Therefore, hearing Simon's words, Amy did not refute, but said something else: "Simon, we have to talk about the company." ”

Simon pulled himself back together and said, "What's wrong?"

Amy handed over a folder and said, "You can take a look at it first, in short, the company's funds are no longer enough." ”

Simon took the folder and flipped through it, which contained a budget sheet for a series of Daenerys Films' film projects, as well as various other expenditure statements.

Not counting "When Harry Met Sally" and "Vulgar", which have basically completed post-production, Daenerys Pictures has officially established six films: "Instinct", "Scream", "Steel Magnolia", "Thunderbolt Blue Angel", "Rain Man" and "Dead Poets Society".

Among them, except for "Instinct", which has a budget of 20 million, which is co-produced by Daenerys Pictures and Fox Films, the other five films are all invested by Daenerys Films alone.

The budget size of the five films ranged from $10 million to $25 million, with a cumulative need for $75 million. With that amount set aside, the $100 million loan that Daenerys Pictures received from Wells Fargo was reduced to just $25 million.

But of the $25 million, $7 million was spent just by buying out the copyright of "Breaking Bad", and in the transaction with United States, the two scripts of "The Hobbit" and "Rain Man" were spent of $2 million, and recent copyright purchases such as "Spider-Man" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" have also spent millions of dollars, counting the company's operating expenses in all aspects, and now Daenerys Pictures has only a little more than $10 million in liquidity that can be used.

Amy looked at Simon, who was reading the document, and added next to him: ""The Grim Reaper came off last week, with a cumulative box office of $72.61 million in North America, and according to the contract, we can get a 10% share of the box office next month, which is $7.26 million." However, if we were to buy the rights to the Lord of the Rings series as you had made for Saul Zainz, or the Elven Diamond in the hands of the Tolkien Heritage Foundation, we would not have enough money. The scripts you've picked up in Park City, as well as the planned TV show and the cost of the future Scream films, all require a lot of investment. Simon, I can feel your eagerness for a lot of things, but I feel that you should slow down. You'll be twenty next month, and you'll have plenty of time for most people in Hollywood. ”

Simon looked at the documents in his hand, and suddenly realized more deeply why Canon Pictures, De Laurentiis Entertainment, and now New World Entertainment were suddenly in trouble in a 'boom'.

The entertainment industry is too much money, and the payment cycle of film and television projects is outrageously slow, once the income brought by the project cannot cover the expenditure, and there is no capital from the outside world, a company will immediately collapse.

If it weren't for the fact that he already had a large amount of assets, and if it weren't for the prophetic advantage in the selected projects, Simon was sure that Daenerys Pictures would definitely follow in the footsteps of companies like Canon Pictures in the next few years.

Simon actually understood the exhortation in Amy's tone very well.

But, can you slow down?

After finishing his work, he was about to meet with Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Terry Semel to discuss "Batman".

If he slows down, if he gives up "Batman", according to the original timeline, the film will be directed by Tim Burton at the end of this year, released in the summer next year, and become the annual box office champion next year.

At that time, "Batman", "Superman" and even the entire DC will no longer have anything to do with Simon Westeros at all.

Due to the failure of "Superman 4" last year, Warner's confidence in the adaptation of "Batman" is at its lowest stage, and this is also the last opportunity for Simon to take the opportunity to intervene in the rights of this top superhero, how can he slow down.

Equally.

The films that Daenerys Films is developing, and the copyrights that have been bought, are basically projects that are bound to explode in the next few years.

Once these projects are successive, Simon's reading of other scripts will definitely cause a scramble, and it will be even more difficult for Daenerys Films to continue to stock up more rights. Simon must take advantage of the fact that many people are still treating him as a 'fat sheep' and win as many IPs as possible at a lower price.

Even, there are many things outside of Hollywood, and it is impossible for him to slow down.

I can't slow down.

After turning over the information in his hand, Simon had already made a decision, and said, "Amy, the expenses for buying "The Lord of the Rings" and "Elven Diamonds" will go directly to the account of the Westeros company, and I will let George take charge of this matter." The company's side continues to move forward according to the original plan, and the three scripts I brought back from Park City, Michael Hoffman's "Sisters" and Whitt Stillman's "Metropolitans" will be established as soon as possible, both of which have a very low cost, and together they may not cost $6 million, which will not affect the overall situation, and the script of "3000" will be put on hold for the time being, and I have other arrangements. Moreover, these are only budget expenditures, and the money in the account will not be spent immediately, so there is a lot of room for manoeuvre, and "When Harry Met Sally" will be released at the end of March, and we will definitely have the money in the future. I really can't, I'll transfer some money from Westeros, or I can continue to apply for a loan. ”

Amy felt Simon's resolute attitude and knew that persuasion was useless, so she had to say: "With two more movies, this is eight, and I can't keep myself busy at all." ”

Simon thought for a moment and said, "After finishing "Vulgar", I will focus on the company's projects for the rest of the year, and signing a few more producers will definitely be enough." ”

For example, projects such as "Steel Magnolia" and "Dead Poets Society", since they have given up using the original version, in order to maintain the original style and standard of the film, Simon himself must put more energy into it.

Simon actually wanted to try to see if these movies could still be as successful as the original time and space without using the original creator.

After all, there are many movies in the future, and Simon may not be able to assemble the original team, and he also doesn't like this invisible feeling of being tied down very much, and he doesn't want to be pinched by agencies like CAA because of an actor problem.

After discussing with Amy for more than half an hour, worried about the traffic jam at noon, Simon set off from Santa Monica to Burbank in the San Fernando Valley, north of the city, near eleven o'clock.

Simon and Terry Semel agreed to have lunch at a restaurant near Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.

Arriving at the agreed restaurant, Terry Semel was already waiting for Simon.

The two sat down and ordered, and Terry Semel asked Simon with a smile, "I heard that you gave up on acquiring New World Entertainment?"

Simon nodded with a helpless expression, and said with a wry smile: "Yes, I have to slaughter fat sheep, and a group of people copied the stock price to the point that I can't afford it at all, so I can only let it go." ”

Today is Wednesday, January 20th.

In New York, Westeros had liquidated New World Entertainment's stock yesterday, but perhaps Wall Street investors still expected Simon to make a comeback, so at the close of trading yesterday, New World Entertainment's stock price remained at a high level of $11.5, far exceeding the $7.5 before the news was made public.

After selling all the shares in a short period of half a month, Westeros earned more than $11 million, which was not in vain.

On the side of New World Entertainment, trying to officially start acquisition negotiations with Westeros to no avail, Larry Coupin learned that Simon had cleared all the shares, and in an interview with a newspaper yesterday afternoon, he threatened to sue Westeros for malice manipulation of New World Entertainment stocks, and this matter has not yet been resolved.

In any case, Simon will definitely not give up New World Entertainment, at least Marvel in the hands of New World Entertainment.

However, Simon does not plan to make another move in the short term.

Compared with the sluggish film division, New World Entertainment's main profitable business is TV program production.

However, what soon followed was the longest general strike in Hollywood history. Hollywood studios often hoard large numbers of scripts that don't hit too hard in a strike. Since TV dramas are usually produced while writing scripts, the situation in the television industry can be very bleak.

If the strike continues, even if the funding problem can be resolved, the TV production department of New World Entertainment will definitely come to a standstill without screenwriters, which will further deteriorate the company's operations.

Therefore.

The strike in the second half of the year is carried out to a certain extent, and it is the best time for Simon to strike again.