After listening to Eisner, Simon did not rush to discuss the release conditions of "When Harry Met Sally", but said: "Michael, as far as I know, Disney does not attach importance to the animation department, and there were even rumors that you were planning to cancel the production of animated films. In that case, why can't you make "The Lion King" for Daenerys Films?"

"Rumors are just rumors, Simon," Michael Eisner shook his head, "Seriously, I did consider shutting down the animation department. But if I did, you wouldn't be sitting here talking to me right now. Our animation department is headed by Roy Disney. So, do you understand?"

Simon thought for a moment, then nodded helplessly.

Roy Disney is the nephew of Walt Disney, the founder of Disney, and the Disney family still holds a large stake in Disney Studios.

After Walt Disney's death, the overall quality of Disney's animated films has been far less than before, and in recent years it has even been able to maintain the Disney brand image by re-showing classic animations more frequently.

However, animated films are the foundation of Disney's beginnings, and Disney's top management obviously cannot rashly close the animation department based on purely commercial interests, and must also take into account the feelings of the Disney family.

Relocating Disney's animation department to an abandoned warehouse in Glendale in order to save money may have been the limit of what the Disney family could tolerate. If Michael Eisner continues to push Disney's animation division to become a 'foundry,' it's hard to say whether the Disney family will bounce back.

Thinking about this, Simon had no choice but to say: "In that case, Michael, forget about the matter of "The Lion King", I will find another way." Scripts can't be sold to you. ”

Michael Eisner said, "Simon, you see, you don't have any other options than Disney. ”

"I remember Universal just released an American Rat Tale last year, which grossed more than $50 million, which was twice as much as Disney's Wonder Detective. ”

"That movie," Michael Eisner said, but laughed, "including director Don Bruce, several of the major animators are employees who left our Disney company. And, Simon, if you want their team to help you make The Lion King, that's even more unlikely. ”

Simon didn't really understand the joints, but he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "There's always another way." ”

Michael Eisner tapped his finger on his memo and said, "Good luck, then." ”

Although Simon's script is hot in Hollywood, Michael Eisner listened to Simon's attitude and insisted on it, and he didn't force it too much. Unlike live-action films, animated films usually take two or three years to produce and are expensive.

Who knows what it will be like in three years' time?

Seeing that the matter of "The Lion King" could not be turned around, Simon also changed the topic back to "When Harry Met Sally", saying: "Michael, about the two directorial contracts you just mentioned, I'm sorry, I can't agree. One at most, and maybe the last film I'll sign out. After this time, I will only make films for my own company. ”

Michael Eisner couldn't help but shake his head and laugh when he heard Simon say this, and said, "Simon, Coppola probably thought so after "The Godfather". But after the huge loss of "Cotton Club", he could only honestly shoot "Peggy Sue is Marrying" for Samsung Pictures. ”

Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club, released three years ago, was a complete disaster.

Due to the discord between the director and the lead actor during the filming process, repeated script revisions and other changes, the budget skyrocketed from $25 million to $58 million, but the film finally only recovered $25.92 million at the North American box office. Coppola's ambitious Diora Pictures, which he founded after the success of the "Godfather" series, was also on the verge of bankruptcy.

The distributor of "The Cotton Club" happens to be Orion Pictures.

Speaking of which, Simon didn't consider Orion, who also had a good relationship, this time, and directly sought cooperation with a big movie company, also because Orion is currently in a state of ambition, and he can't give "When Harry Meets Sally" too good schedule.

Due to the box office success of several films last year, Orion, who has relaxed its finances, has now confirmed as many as nine film projects to invest in, plus the films represented by other independent producers, the company's distribution scale next year has been completely on par with the seven.

It's just that Orion obviously doesn't have the background of the Seven Greats.

Simon looks at movies that are basically face-wrenching, and he understands why Orion, who has frequently produced films that have won double box office awards, will be in trouble step by step in the next few years.

The big sales of a single movie will definitely not be able to make up for the losses of many movies.

"Maybe I'll be the second Coppola too," Simon thought to himself, smiling as well, and saying, "But, Michael, people should have some dreams, what if they come true? ”

Michael Eisner recalled Simon's words just now, but insisted: "Simon, if that's the case, Disney won't be able to give you an Easter schedule." ”

Simon thought for a moment and said, "Michael, I can make some more concessions on the commission, 18%, what do you think?"

Michael Eisner still shook his head and said: "I've seen the information on the screenwriter of "When Harry Met Sally", "Heartfire", starring two big names, Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, the production cost is 25 million US dollars, and the box office is only 25 million US dollars. Simon, I don't think the market performance of this movie can be better than "Heartfire" at the moment, so there is not much difference between 18% and 15%. ”

"Michael, I think you're getting one thing wrong. That "Heartfire", precisely because of Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep, only grossed $25 million. I still don't understand who is so genius that would put Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep together in a romance movie, and the two of them don't have any chemistry on the screen. Now this "When Harry Meets Sally", I believe it will definitely be much better at the box office than "Heartfire". ”

"Simon, this confidence of yours doesn't mean anything. ”

Simon thought for a moment and said, "Or, Michael, how about Daenerys Pictures directly buy Disney's Easter schedule next year?"

Michael Eisner wondered, "What do you mean?"

Simon looked at Amy, who had been listening to the negotiation between the two of them, and said, "Is last week's box office data report for me?"

Amy was also a little confused, but she took out a page of the report from her satchel and handed it to Simon.

Simon took a look at the data on it, handed it to Michael Eisner across the table, and said: "Disney's Easter re-release is 1970's "The Adventures of Cats", which will be released on April 10, with more than 1,400 screens, and the current box office is $13 million, and it will definitely last for a few more weeks." Then, let's calculate according to the total box office of $16 million, 50% of the box office share, and the publicity cost is calculated as 2 million, and Disney can get $6 million from it. Michael, Daenerys Pictures will pay $6 million, which is counted as a fixed distribution commission, and Disney will only need to give us 1,000 screens at Easter next year. What do you think?"

Michael Eisner took the box office report, looked down at the data, and began to think about Simon's novel cooperation plan in his mind.

A fixed commission of $6 million, according to the distribution commission ratio of 15%, the young man in front of him is equivalent to the North American box office price of "When Harry Met Sally" as $40 million.

If "When Harry Met Sally" can get $40 million at the North American box office, including the subsequent distribution proceeds, this will definitely be a big profit project.

Thinking so, Michael Eisner quickly said, "Simon, that's not how things work. In addition to the box office of "The Adventures of Cats," the re-release of the animated film could also spur sales of its videotapes and spin-offs, from which Disney made more than $6 million. ”

Simon nodded, "Of course I know that, Michael." However, in addition to the $6 million, Disney can also buy out the distribution rights of "When Harry Met Sally" in other channels. Orion's North American distribution rights to the North American videotape and TV broadcast of "Lola Run" will also bring them very lucrative benefits in the coming years. At the same time, you can also get a director's contract from me. ”

Michael Eisner said: "Two. ”

Simon shook his head: "There is only one, Michael, if you insist on two, then I can only say regrets." ”

Michael Eisnamo weighed the box office report that he still held in his hand for a moment again, and said: "Simon, when Harry met Sally's North American box office is less than $40 million, and Daenerys Pictures pays a fixed commission of $6 million. More than $40 million, Disney takes an 18% commission. You agree to this, and I agree with you other conditions. ”

When Amy heard Michael Eisner say this, she couldn't help but look at Simon, worried that he would agree immediately.

Under $40 million, based on a fixed commission of $6 million, Daenerys Films has taken on enough risk. There's no reason why Disney should take a higher distribution commission with a better box office.

To Amy's disappointment, Simon heard this, got up directly, stretched out his hand to Michael Eisner, and said, "Deal." ”

Michael Eisner didn't expect Simon to be so crisp, seeing the young man opposite him stretching out his hand with a smile, he had to stand up and shake the other party, but he felt that he might have been bypassed something.

Right.

Two films.

Before this meeting, he was more concerned about signing Simon's next two directorial films.

Compared with "When Harry Met Sally", which is not very good-looking, the two film contracts of the young man in front of him seem to be more valuable in his opinion. After all, the deep film skills shown by the other party in "Lola Run" are difficult for many big directors who have been famous in Hollywood for a long time to achieve.

Right now.

There is only one left.

I have to say that Michael Eisner did guess Simon's intentions, although he didn't intend to make any concessions in terms of the number of films, Simon did use some small means to divert Michael Eisner's attention.

Signing an additional film contract is already the limit that Simon can afford, and he doesn't want to be tied between several major studios like Spielberg.

In fact, if there are no additional conditions, the buyout price of Columbia Pictures can be higher, the schedule can be negotiated, and Simon is even more inclined to cooperate with the other party. It's just that the buyout price of $3 million is too far from Simon's psychological expectations.

As for the cooperation with Disney, Simon's original psychological ceiling even increased the issuance commission to 20%. Now, while $6 million is required for less than $40 million, the commission rate is only 18% above $40 million, which is not beyond Simon's offer cap.

In any case, if "When Harry Met Sally" doesn't do as well as it once did, then it will be a failure, and Simon can afford to lose again. But if the film is not as successful as the original, although the distribution commission is higher, but only at the North American box office, Daenerys Films still has a good chance of recouping the $15 million production cost.

As the head of a big film company, Michael Eisner would not go back on a young man since he said it. However, after shaking Simon's hand, he added: "In that case, Simon, Daenerys Pictures must pay $6 million in commissions in advance after signing the contract." ”

Cash is very scarce for any film company.

Traditionally, distributors usually settle the distribution commission after the film is released, but if it can get $6 million in advance, Disney can even make an additional movie.

It's just that Simon shook his head directly and said, "I'm sorry, Michael, Daenerys Pictures has no money." ”

Michael Eisner listened to the young man who had just been decisive and shrewd and began to play the scoundrel in a blink of an eye, and reluctantly reminded: "Simon, if I'm not mistaken, you should have recently received a lot of money from the sale of "Lola Run". ”

Simon shook his head again and said, "Michael, then you must know that because of the uneven distribution of benefits, I am preparing for a lawsuit with my girlfriend, and the money cannot be moved for the time being." ”

Although she was a little depressed about Simon's decision just now, Amy almost laughed out loud when she heard him talk nonsense.

Michael Eisner's expression was even more helpless, and he said, "Simon, didn't you notice that you showed a big flaw? You just used the title 'girlfriend'." ”

Simon calmly corrected: "Oh, sorry, it's an ex-girlfriend." ”

Michael Eisner finally laughed too, shook his head and said, "Okay, for the sake of this not-so-funny joke." ”

Once the basic contractual framework was set, the three of them continued to discuss some details.

Although he always heard a lot of people talking about it, the first time they met, Michael Eisner was really impressed by Simon's shrewdness and decisiveness far beyond his years, and he deliberately left the two to have lunch together at noon.

After negotiating with Disney, Simon naturally won't think about MGM anymore.

In contrast to the aggressive Disney under Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg, MGM has become almost a real estate and hotel company after being bought by casino tycoon Kirk Corkerian in the seventies.

Over the years, after selling sets, building hotels, and auctioning off a large number of valuable items retained by MGM's Golden Age, perhaps because it felt like the company's profits had been squeezed out, Corkrian sold MGM to CNN owner Ted Turner in March of this year.

Ted Turner is also currently raising funds to pay for Corkerian's $1.5 billion offer.

However, in Simon's memory, Ted Turner did not come up with the money in the end, and what the media tycoon really valued was the thousands of film rights that MGM had accumulated for more than half a century.

Turner Broadcasting Corporation is preparing to build a new basic cable station, which will require significant content resources.

In the end, it succeeded in retaining some of the most precious film resources in MGM's film library, and after some tossing, MGM returned to Corkerian again.

In the next few years, the casino tycoons began to use MGM to play capital operations again.

All in all, the once most powerful film company in Hollywood, the least bothered to do now is probably movies.