On Thursday night, 2,500 early screenings of "Spy Shadow" began in North America, because of the difference in time zones, the screening time ended early and late, and it was not until about 12:30 p.m. Western time that Ronan got the relevant box office statistics.

In fact, he has done so much before, and for him, the owner of a film company, the most direct criterion for judging success or failure is the box office.

As a businessman and investor, it is impossible to ignore the actual benefits because of the ethereal art and reputation.

Man will decide on the choice of investment of capital, but capital in turn will affect the person who directs it.

Even if it is a relatively strong-willed person like Ronan, it is impossible to say that it is not affected at all.

In front of the computer desk in the master bedroom on the top floor of Future World, Ronan opened the mailbox, and there was an email from Thomas, the director of the cinema distribution department of Embassy Pictures.

"Spy Shadow" got $5.66 million at the advance box office out of 2,500 advance screenings.

That's not a particularly high number, not even compared to "Pearl Harbor," which was released last month.

But Ronan is well aware that "Spy Shadow" is a non-sequel film of this size.

If you count the publicity, the total budget of this film is less than half of "Pearl Harbor".

The investment is low, and the pressure to return on investment is of course low.

Since Friday, the number of theaters watching "Spy Movie" has increased significantly, and the number of theaters surveyed by Embassy Pictures has been far larger than that of "Tomb Raider," which opened the weekend before.

Angelina Jolie's female action adventure film grossed $47.73 million at the North American box office in its opening weekend.

It can be said that this is the best box office result since the game was adapted into a movie.

"Tomb Raider" also surpassed the famous dance action film "Breaking Bad" and set a record for the best female film in North America.

While going to the gym on Friday, Ronan also met Angelina Jolie.

In addition to the hot fitness, the two also chatted together for a while during the break, as before.

"Congratulations, Julie. Ronan handed her a bottle of energy drink and said, "After the success of this Tomb Raider, you are firmly on the line." ”

Angelina Jolie was clearly in a good mood and said, "Thank you. She unscrewed the energy drink and took a sip: "Your new film is not bad, this week's box office champion will be yours." ”

Ronan pulled out a chair and sat across from Angelina-Jolie, not modest: "I'm content if the box office of "Spy Shadow" can be as much as "Tomb Raider" in the first week. ”

Angelina-Jolie laughed and looked particularly hearty: "Ronan, you are very confident. ”

Ronan shrugged: "I'm the producer and boss of the film, if I don't even have this bit of confidence, I guess the film will really be finished." ”

"That's right. Angelina-Jolie tilted her head to look at Ronan: "By the way, didn't you say you wanted to work with me before?

Ronan sighed: ""Tomb Raider is too successful, and then Julie, your salary for the next movie will definitely be doubled, I can't afford to hire you." ”

It can be said that the high box office of "Tomb Raider" brought the heroine is completely different from the high box office of "Pearl Harbor" to the heroine.

The former is almost supported by Angelina Jolie alone, and the heroine of the latter is not mentioned.

Even, without the role of Kate Beckinsale, it has no impact on the plot of "Pearl Harbor".

Ronan asked curiously, "I heard that Sony Columbia Pictures is preparing to shoot Tomb Raider 2." How much do they pay you?" he smiled, "If it's inconvenient......"

Angelina Jolie looked blunt: "I'm going to ask them for $15 million." ”

Ronan nodded: "Julie, your appeal is worth the price." ”

In recent years, Angelina Jolie's salary has risen and turned up, and "Soul Girl" was only $200,000 at the time, and now it is easy to ask for tens of millions of dollars.

Hollywood companies are not stupid, and they dare to use Angelina Jolie because she has the corresponding market appeal.

If it is a popular action movie like "Spy", Ronan is also willing to use Angelina Jolie as the heroine, but for the cut style and the relatively niche "Tales of the Night", Angelina Jolie is indeed too expensive.

Angelina Jolie said again: "Actually, yesterday I went to see your "Spy". ”

"Oh?" Ronan asked, "what do you think?"

Angelina Jolie thought for a while and said: "The action design is very good, the actor's sharp movements are impressive, but the camera shakes a little hard." ”

She suddenly said: "I think that the action design of "Tomb Raider 2" can refer to "Spy Shadows". ”

Ronan smiled and said, "Thank you." He told the truth: "Julie, from a producer's point of view, if you want to meddle in the action design of "Tomb Raider 2", you must fight for more power in the crew, and it is necessary to concurrently serve as a producer. ”

Angelina Jolie has been on the right track in the past few years, and after the whole person gradually got rid of the decadence of the past, her thinking was clearer than before, and she nodded slowly and said: "What you said makes a lot of sense." If you want to have a voice, you must have the corresponding power. ”

Ronan didn't say much about this, and instead said, "Julie, I hope to have the opportunity to work with you." ”

Angelina Jolie smiled and said, "There must be a chance." ”

Ronan thought that when "Tomb Raider 2" and "Alexander the Great" failed, maybe there would really be a chance to work together.

The two chatted for a while and prepared to go back to their respective locker rooms.

Before leaving, Angelina Jolie suddenly said: "Some time ago you had a moving party, I thought you would invite me, but I never waited for the invitation. ”

Ronan's face was full of apologies: "I was negligent. Julie, when I'm done with this time, I'll invite you alone. ”

Angelina Jolie, who is clearly interested in getting closer to Ronan, is almost a natural chemistry between the actor and the producer, and she laughs, "Then I'll wait." ”

Ronan said, "It won't be too long. ”

After returning to the locker room to change clothes, Ronan got into a Cadillac and asked David, who was driving, to return directly to the estate in Beverly Hills.

In recent years, Ronan has put more and more emphasis on the general direction of the company's development and the operation of large projects.

He actually knows very well that Relativity Entertainment needs a real CEO.

But it's not easy to find a candidate, he has a good choice, but he has to look for the right opportunity.

Jareven Katzenberg, with whom he has grown closer, has said that he will help him keep an eye on the other party's movements.

With what happened to Jared Katzenberg, I'd certainly love to see him do it.

However, Ronan is also very clear that in order to truly attract talent, Relativity Entertainment itself must be strong enough, even if the other party has not yet reached the time to really make a difference.

But whether it can be done or not, no one can say for sure, after all, the scale of relativistic entertainment is not large enough.

Returning home early, as soon as Ronan entered the future world, the housekeeper Nikia greeted him, took Ronan's coat and hung it on the hanger, and asked, "When will it start?"

Ronan glanced at the time: "Start now, I just had a lot of fitness training, and I also need to supplement food properly." ”

Nikia said, "I'll go to the kitchen to inform. ”

Ronan nodded and went to the bathroom next to the living room to wash up briefly.

I came back early today just to interview the chef.

Nikia interviewed and found two chefs, one interviewed a few days ago, and the other party's Western food was good, but the Chinese food was completely Westernized.

Can you imagine kung pao chicken with cream in it?

Ronan just tasted it, and without even seeing the chef's face, he asked Nikia to ask them to leave.

I went upstairs and looked at the latest statistics of "Spy Shadow", the current freshness of Rotten Tomatoes is 94%, the comprehensive score of film critics is 8.3, and the audience wants to see popcorn index as high as 98%.

IMDB has more than 7,000 users with an average rating of 8.8.

MetaCritic Media has an overall score of 80.

No matter from which point of view, the reputation of "Spy Shadow" is enough to ensure that the film can have a relatively stable and healthy box office trend in the future.

The excellent box office in North America can drive the overseas box office, and then pull offline release, thus forming a virtuous circle.

Near five o'clock in the afternoon, Nikia called from below, and Ronan came out of the study to the dining room on the first floor, and as soon as he sat down at the table, a young assistant chef came up with food.

Four dishes in total.

The Chinese style is roasted oxtail with tomatoes and potatoes, and fried sea cucumber with green onions and onions in his hometown vegetable in his previous life.

The western style is French baked snails and an ordinary-looking fried veal steak.

Like the judges and gourmets of food shows in his previous life, Ronan eats a little bit of everything and rinses his mouth every time he changes.

The western food is quite good and of a very good standard.

Chinese food doesn't taste as good as I can remember, but considering that this is Los Angeles, it's very authentic.

Ronan put down the glass and said to Nikia, "It's them, let them come." ”

Nikia, the butler, went to the kitchen, and after a while walked into the dining room with two people, in front of him wearing a standard chef's hat was a Chinese, probably less than thirty years old, and the other white assistant was very young.

Ronan briefly inquired about the situation, the chef's surname is Li, he is a second-generation immigrant, and he is already a third-generation cook.

This is also the reason why his Chinese food is more authentic.

Ronan just asked briefly, without saying much specifics, and asked Nikia to negotiate with the other party about the salary and the like.

In the past, an annual salary of $100,000 before taxes was given, regardless of the number of people.

That night, Ronan signed a formal private contract with the small team of chefs, and they became Ronan's personal chefs.

From thrift to luxury, from luxury to thrift, Ronan feels that he can no longer return to the simple life of the past.