This kind of film that reflects the chaos and sordid of places outside the United States has always been one of the favorite subjects of Oscar foreign language films, and Ronan knows very well that Zhang Guoshi's "Hero" has no advantage in front of "City of God".

Even, "City of God" naturally has the advantage of competing for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

The bidding meeting began soon, and after hearing the president of Outu Company quote the reserve price, the scene fell silent instantly.

For a Brazilian film, the reserve price of five million dollars is quite high.

Ronan looked at Navas next to him, and Navas whispered, "The producers are very confident." ”

"Hmm. Ronan nodded slightly: "I remember that no Brazilian film has sold $5 million in North America." ”

Navas shook his head: "Never." ”

But the huge sensation caused by "City of God" at the Toronto Film Festival gave the producers enough confidence.

There is no shortage of such a film that has been well received by the media and critics alike.

Ronan didn't make an offer, many people were still hesitating, and Navas was the first to offer: "$6 million." ”

The reserve price was increased by $1 million at one time.

Ronan looked at Navas, who just smiled.

Focus Pictures' buyer followed: "$6.5 million." ”

Javier of Miramax also made a bid: "$6.6 million." ”

Compared to Harvey Weinstein's frantic bids in the East, Miramax looks quite conservative right now.

After all, it's Hollywood, the film and the investors in Los Angeles, and it's impossible to treat this film the same way it treats ordinary overseas films.

Cheryl of Fox Searchlight offered: "$7 million." ”

As soon as Navas was about to increase the price, Ronan took the lead and said, "$8 million!"

This is his psychological bottom line.

The conference room fell silent for a moment, and Javier of Miramax soothed himself and leaned back in his chair.

Cheryl of Fox Searchlight took a drink from her glass.

They have clearly given up.

Navas glanced at Ronan and offered again: "$9 million!"

Ronan sighed secretly, and once again calculated in his heart that this film must take the route of rushing for awards in order to be able to arouse the interest of North American audiences, but how much commercial benefit can such a realistic Brazilian film bring?

There's no doubt about the fact that the film is excellent, but a good film doesn't mean profit.

Losing money for a good film? Most of the companies that used to do this are doomed.

Ronan knew exactly what he should consider the value of the film.

Navas looked at Ronan again, awards season was about to begin, and Lionsgate was in desperate need of great films to function.

Last year's "Dance of the Death Row Inmates" made Lionsgate a huge success during the awards season, and the film also brought in a lot of money.

This "City of God" has the potential of an Oscar seed, and if it works properly, it has the hope of hitting the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Navas remembers very well that Ronan's Embassy Pictures made "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" more than $160 million at the North American box office through the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

It can be described as fame and fortune.

The quality of City of God is clearly above that of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon......

Ronan didn't make another offer, and the buyer of Focus Pictures suddenly shouted, "$9.5 million!"

At this point, Navas will not give up easily, and immediately follows up: "$10 million." ”

Ronan looked at Navas, who thought Ronan was going to make a bid and whispered, "You still want to bid?"

"Nope. Ronan lowered his voice and replied, "I just don't think this film is worth so much." ”

This may seem like an honest statement, but how could Navas believe it when it was said in such an environment?

"$10.5 million. "Focus Pictures didn't give up either.

The newly formed independent film company also needed a great work to open the picture.

Navas gritted his teeth and said loudly, "$12 million!"

Ronan couldn't help but shake his head slightly, this bid was too risky.

Focus Pictures finally quieted down and didn't make any new offers.

"Is there a new offer?" "The president of Outu Company was quite satisfied, and after asking three times in a row, he looked at Navas and announced: "The North American rights to "City of God" belong to Lionsgate. ”

Navas finally laughed.

There was a polite round of applause in the room.

Ronan also said to Navas, "Congratulations, congratulations to Lionsgate. ”

"You're so polite. Although Navas won the rights at a price that exceeded the budget, he felt that it was worth the money, and said: "Ronan, we are both small and medium-sized companies in development, and we should cooperate rather than compete." ”

Ronan nodded in agreement: "What you said makes sense. He asked directly: "Navas, are you going to use this film to compete for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film?"

Competing for awards is the most valuable way to operate independent films, and all of them are experts, and Navas has no need to deny it, and immediately said: "There is such an idea." ”

Ronan said directly: "I bought a movie similar to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" from the East, and I am also going to rush for the best foreign language film. ”

"It's the 'Hero' from the Toronto Film Festival, right?" Navas had already seen the film at the festival: "I know the film. Frankly speaking, there is a gap between this film and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and the competitiveness is a bit insufficient. ”

He seemed to have a good heart: "Use this film to compete for the best foreign language film, Ronan has to control your investment, I think this kind of purely oriental film, if you don't get it right, you will lose money." ”

Ronan seems to be very honest: "It's true that this film is not as competitive as 'City of God', but you have to try." Navas, "City of God" also needs to control the input ......"

Navas smiled, "Thanks for the reminder." ”

What are you kidding, as long as "City of God" can win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, just like "Dance of Death Row Inmates", the investment will definitely pay off.

Ronan didn't say anything more, said hello to the people from the other company, and then left.

On the way back to the company, I couldn't help but settle the accounts of the two films "Hero" and "City of God".

The former is $5 million in royalties and the latter is $12 million.

Ronan plans to invest $8 million in the total publicity and distribution of "Heroes", including the Olympics, most of which are necessary distribution costs such as copies and insurance, in addition to Oscar publicity and public relations costs.

"City of God" really wants to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, and if it uses the Oscar effect to get the box office, the publicity and distribution investment will only be more than that of "Hero".

After all, Ronan's goal is just an Oscar nomination.

"City of God", even if it is very well shot, can be called one of the best films of the year, but the total cost of more than 20 million US dollars is really a bit scary.

It's not that there is no possibility of making a profit, but the risk is a bit big.

Ronan returned to the company and looked at the latest job email, Shahai Entertainment has issued a recruitment announcement, openly recruiting professionals suitable for the needs of "Survival in the Wilderness", Connie has reached an agreement with the investigation and consulting company, and the latter will send people to well-known universities on the east and west coasts to collect relevant information on the **** circles that may exist.

In terms of Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio, after two auditions, it was decided that Taylor Swift would be the voice actor for Peppa Pig.

At present, the animated short film of "Peppa Pig" has been filmed, and it is only waiting for the awards season to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

The animation studio also gave the Peppa Pig project to a team of new and existing employees, while Chris Reynold, along with the rest of the main team members, began planning the pre-production of the Minions animated short.

Once the animated short is complete, Ronan will drive the animation studio's first real animated feature film, and the first choice is, of course, Despicable Me.

Compared with Pixar's group of animated feature films and Disney Animation Studios' projects, "Despicable Me" has a relatively low investment and a relatively short shooting and operation cycle, but it can generate a lot of commercial value.

Like Pixar's animation production, it is basically more than $150 million now, and once "Despicable Me" seemed to be completed for only $60 or 70 million.

Ronan can't remember the exact number, but it shouldn't be more than $80 million.

Also, Ronan called Lindsey Beale over.

"Lindsay, is the script for The Queen Bee and the Follower Finished?" Ronan asked directly.

"The first draft was already done. Lindsay-Beale replied: "Revisions are currently underway and it is expected to be finalized by the end of this month." ”

Ronan said, "I have a new job for you, a female theme. ”

Lindsay Beale immediately became interested: "Adaptation or originality?"

Ronan shook his head slightly: "Neither." At the moment, you are sitting in some preliminary preparations, and in the future you will be a key member of the screenwriting team, and I plan to involve you in the preliminary preparation stage. ”

"No problem. Lindsey Beale said.

Ronan handed Lindsey Beale the materials that Connie had compiled during her stay in London, and said, "I'm going to take some of the students from today's prestigious universities as the protagonists, you can take a look at these materials first." ”

Lindsay Beale took it and looked at it carefully, and said after a while: "I didn't expect a conservative country like Britain to have a large scale of this kind of thing." ”

Hearing this, Ronan asked curiously, "Do you know this?"

"I heard about it when I was in school. Lindsay-Beale said directly: "I have a female classmate who has done this. She is very pretty...... Well, how do you say that? I'm already prettier, she's much prettier than I am. But her family conditions were worse than mine, so she embarked on this path, at first for tuition and living expenses, and then changed. ”

Ronan is well aware of the power of money, and even though Lindsay-Beale doesn't say it, she can think of what has become of her female classmate.

It is true that many people start in this industry for various compelling reasons, but after a long time, it is difficult to get rid of the criticism.

Accustomed to lying down and making money, and then want them to work hard, the probability of change is too low.