Peter Saunders nodded, but said cautiously: "At least, Simon Westeros' driver's license shows that he is currently 18 years old." Ronald, if necessary, I can go and investigate. ”

Ronald Goldberg was silent, leaning back on the couch and thinking.

As the president of a major Hollywood film company, with years of experience in film promotion and distribution, Ronald Goldberg naturally knows what kind of attention a 18-year-old director's work will bring if it is released in theaters.

A few years ago, the child actor-turned-Hollywood actor Stephen Paul directed his first film "Love Again" when he was 20 years old, although the quality of the film was terrible, and it only got a hundred thousand dollars at the box office after it was released in theaters, but it still attracted the attention of many heavyweight media, including the New York Times.

Now, Simon Westeros is just 18 years old, and this gimmick is even heavier than 20 years old. Don't look at the difference of only two years, but in most people's concepts, 18 years old is just a teenager, and 20 years old is already an adult.

What's more, judging from the film reviews of media such as "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter", the quality of "Lola Run" is far better than Stephen Paul's ticketed work.

If you win this movie, coupled with "The Butterfly Effect" written by Simon Westeros, the two works will work together to develop a complete set of publicity and distribution plans, which will definitely be able to achieve unexpected gains.

When his thoughts came to this, Ronald Goldberg suddenly remembered one more thing: "Peter, if I'm not mistaken, Simon Westeros signed a contract with us, and there are two scripts of first refusal, right?"

Under the option contract, Simon Westeros wrote the script to be given priority to Fox Films. Only when Fox Film voluntarily gives up can it negotiate cooperation with other film companies.

Most of the post-production work on "Lola Run" was done in Fox Studios, and even Ronald Goldberg had heard of it. However, no one paid much attention to the experimental film that a young man had concocted, so no one has ever disputed it.

However, once many things are more real, they will certainly be different.

Ronald Goldberg of Peter Saunders Hall said this, nodded knowingly, but immediately shook his head, and said: "Ronald, I have already asked people to re-examine that contract, and there is an exception clause in it, and the film directed by Simon Westeros himself is not subject to the option contract. Therefore, he is not in breach of contract. ”

Peter Sanders was in charge of administrative work such as drafting the "Butterfly Effect" contract, and Ronald Goldberg glanced at him with some dissatisfaction when he heard this: "How could you agree to such a clause?"

Peter Sanders explained helplessly: "The Butterfly Effect is the green light given by Mr. Murdoch himself, Ronald, you also know the situation at that time, we have to get this project done as soon as possible." Moreover, at the time, no one thought that an unknown newcomer like Simon Westeros could make any decent films. ”

Ronald Goldberg waved his hand, not intending to listen to Peter Sanders's words again, and said, "In this way, let Simon Westeros send the copy." The day after tomorrow, I happened to have time the morning after tomorrow, so I watched the film first, and then I talked about other things. ”

Regardless of the film reviews, Ronald Goldberg still prefers to trust his own judgment.

Peter Sanders nodded, seeing that Ronald Goldberg had the intention of sending off the guest, hesitated slightly, and said: "There is another thing, about Sundance, this time's judge David Anson happens to be a friend of mine, and he called him a few days ago. ”

Ronald Goldberg is well aware of Peter Sanders' character, which is not an atmospheric person, so he does not feel at all that he will help Simon Westeros lobby for awards.

Glancing at the movie reviews on the coffee table, Ronald Goldberg shook his head and said, "In the current situation, do you think Sundance's side will let "Lola Run" go home empty-handed? Tell that friend that there is no need to make these small actions." Simon Westeros's increased fame is also good for "The Butterfly Effect". ”

......

After a morning of phone calls and learning that Ronald Goldberg wanted to see the "Lola Run" film in person, Simon made a temporary trip back to Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon.

On Wednesday morning, Ronald Goldberg watched the finished film without giving much comment, only doubling the price offered by Peter Sanders to $2 million.

This is clearly still not something Simon is willing to accept.

So he simply turned down some other offers, and Simon flew back to Utah again in the afternoon, making up his mind to wait until Sundance was over to consider the release.

On the other hand, with the praise of "Lola Run" by various media at the beginning of this week, the attention of this film has gradually increased.

Although the Sundance Film Festival is a non-profit company, the program still operates using a standard commercialization process, and both the subsidized Utah state government and advertising sponsors naturally want the festival to receive more attention.

Therefore, when "Lola Run" began to attract attention, the organizing committee of the film festival also continued to add fuel to the fire, intentionally or unintentionally, and took the initiative to contact more media for coverage.

Then, Robert Redford's praise for "Lola Run", the shortage of movie tickets for the film screening, the winner of the $200,000 screenwriting contract at Fox Films, and the young director who completed the film behind the scenes unconsciously appeared in the field of vision of more and more people, continuing to increase the popularity of Simon himself and "Lola Run".

Park City.

Fast forward to the second weekend of the Sundance Film Festival.

In a conference room at the Sundance Institute at the foot of the West Ski Resort, five members of the Sundance Film Festival's feature film section, David Anson, Landa Haynes, Jane Benix, Kit Carson, and Amy Robinson, discuss the final results.

Although he is the president of the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford has no right to interfere with the results of the jury.

Of course, at least on the surface.

Robert Redford was waiting in a separate office for a decision.

However, Robert originally thought that he had reached a tacit agreement with the five people in advance, but in the conference room, the discussion of the award was obviously divided into two factions.

On one side were Landa Haynes and Jane Benix, both of whom were very supportive of giving the Grand Jury Prize to "Lola Run."

On the other side, Kit Carson and Amy Robinson are more inclined to another film, "Waiting for the Moon". As for "Lola Run", both felt that Simon was too young and that only a special jury prize would be enough. Of course, as compensation, Sundance's only technical award, the Photography Award, can also be given to the other party, and "Lola Run" deserves it in this regard.

Outside of the four, David Anson was a little silent.

After some argument, Kit Carson suddenly looked at David Anson, and said, "Landa, Jane, why don't you do this, let's vote." ”

Landa Haynes and Jane Benix also glanced at David Anson, hesitated slightly, but agreed.

Then, there is no need for a show of hands at all, it is already two to two, just David Anson needs to express his attitude.

David Anson looked at a few people, but remembered something recent.

Before the opening of Sundance, he received a call from Peter Saunders, a good friend of Fox's current vice president, asking him to suppress Simon Westeros's "Lola Run" during the award process.

Then, after the first weekend of the festival, perhaps because of the word-of-mouth reputation of "Lola Run" or something else, Peter Sanders called again and said that he didn't need to do it.

However, it was not over yet, and on Wednesday afternoon, he received another call from Peter Sanders.

Peter Sanders's tone seemed very helpless, but said that Simon Westeros unceremoniously rejected Ronald Goldberg's very sincere cooperation terms, Ronald Goldberg was also a little angry, and learned that Simon Westeros wanted to sell after Sundance, so he once again hoped that David Anson could influence the outcome of the award.

Tossing and turning like this, when you are yourself?

David Anson, who is also a screenwriter, is actually a staff writer for Newsweek and doesn't rely much on Hollywood.

Therefore, David Anson had already decided not to get involved in these at all, and planned to let the other four make the decision.

At this time, he didn't expect that everyone put the final decision in his hands.

After hesitating for a moment, David Anson looked around the other people before he slowly spoke, "I choose "Lola Run". ”