Standing in front of the main entrance of the Warner Building, Christopher Nolan had just waited less than two minutes when he saw Ronan get out of the car and hurriedly greeted him.

"Good morning, Chris. Ronan greeted with a smile.

Christopher Nolan responded with the same smile and asked directly, "Are Warner Bros. sure you're going to start Batman?"

"We talked as we walked. Ronan pointed to the Warner Building, walked towards the front, waited for Christopher Nolan to follow, and said, "The project has passed the review of the Warner Bros. Review Committee, and this time I should come here to determine some big cooperation guidelines." ”

Christopher Nolan was still a little worried: "Will there be an accident?"

For now, Batman is the most suitable subject for his dark realistic style.

Ronan knew what Christopher Nolan was worried about and said, "Don't worry, Warner Bros. can't find a director better suited to reboot Batman than you." Chris, Shahai Entertainment and I are with you. ”

Hearing Ronan's words, Christopher Nolan was a little moved and said, "Ronan, I can't find a producer more suitable for me than you." ”

The two of them laughed at the same time, and instantly there was a feeling that everything was in plain sight.

Both Ronan and Christopher Nolan knew very well in their hearts that only by working closely together could Warner Bros. reboot the Batman movie.

This time, the reception of Ronan and Christopher Nolan was replaced by Alan Horn, CEO of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Compared to David Bird and Edward Davis last time, it is directly one level higher.

Alan Horn is the top executive of Warner Bros. Pictures, and just from his appearance, it can be seen that Warner Bros. and DC Comics attach importance to the reboot of Batman.

The two sides greeted each other, exchanged a few words, and quickly got to the point.

In the reception room, Alan Horn looked at Ronan and Christopher Nolan, his eyes fell on Ronan, and said, "Mr. Anderson, I read your project proposal, and it is indeed impressive. Warner Bros. has been planning to revitalize the Batman movie since the failure of "Batman and Robin", but we know very well that after the project has been severely traumatized, we must be cautious, and any blind move can bring irreparable damage to the Batman series. ”

Ronan knew that the other party was talking about the ugly things first, and replied calmly: "Mr. Horn, the plan between me and Director Nolan to restart Batman was well thought out, we have considered it all-round, and even planned a new trilogy. ”

Christopher Nolan is a smart guy who makes his presence felt at the right time: "If we can work together, I'll have a big plan for the next two before I start the first film. ”

When communicating privately, Ronan had already properly communicated with Christopher Nolan about the plan for the next two-part series, although he didn't mention too much, but after pointing out a few key points, Christopher Nolan had a lot of ideas.

In particular, the two neurotic protagonists who love and kill each other have begun to appear on Christopher Nolan's written plan.

Ronan added: "In the plan that Chris and I submitted to Warner Bros., Shahai Entertainment would take on the majority of the investment in the new Batman movie, which is an investment of nearly $100 million, and we can't afford to ignore it. ”

This can not only protect the future interests of Shahai Entertainment, but also fully demonstrate sincerity.

Without sincerity, who would invest so much money?

Alan Horn laughed and said, "Mr. Anderson, your Relativity Entertainment has a long-standing partnership with Warner Bros., and I have never doubted the sincerity of your cooperation. ”

Ronan said: "It is precisely because of this that I chose Warner Bros., we both know each other and have a good foundation for cooperation, otherwise Chris and I would have gone to Twentieth Century Fox, and their Daredevil in their hands is actually very suitable for Chris's dark realism style." ”

Christopher Nolan's face did not change, but he knew very well in his heart that it would be too difficult for a producer like Ronan to lie without blinking, and he wanted to move Warner Bros.

He secretly admired that Ronan had the funds, the reputation for continuous success, and the ability to negotiate without inferiority, and it was really his luck to be appreciated by Ronan.

"Since we talked about investment. Alan Horn said: "It's better for us to work together first, especially in terms of investment and revenue sharing. ”

This is arguably the most important thing, and if there is no agreement on this aspect, there is simply no talk on other sides.

Although many of the terms have been stated in the project plan, Ronan said again: "The new Batman movie is co-produced by Warner Bros. and Shahai Entertainment, and the new Batman Film Studio will be jointly funded by you and me, and according to Chris and I's estimates, the total production cost of the project will need to be $140 million, of which Shahai Entertainment can invest $100 million, and Warner Bros. will be responsible for raising the rest." ”

This is the most commonly used multi-company co-production method in Hollywood, and Alan Horn is not against it.

Ronan didn't mention any excessive conditions, all of which were the practice of cooperation within the industry: "According to the proportion of investment, you and I determine the proportion of shares in the film and the studio, and the revenue share is distributed according to the proportion of shares." But no matter how much the shares share, Shahai Entertainment will not enjoy the copyright of the film, and all the copyrights belong to Warner Bros. ”

Alan Horn asked, "What about the time when Shahai Entertainment enjoys a share of the revenue?"

Ronan replied directly: "This window period is three years. From the official release of the film in North America, Shahai Entertainment automatically gave up the film's follow-up income three years later. ”

In fact, the highest revenue of a film is the box office revenue of the first three years, the box office income of the first year, and the peripheral income such as DVD rental and TV playback in the future, and the income will be greatly reduced after three years.

The typical distribution sequence also reflects the gradual reduction of profit margins for films, from cinema screenings to DVD cassette releases to free-to-air television broadcasts.

But Warner Bros. does not suffer a loss, and only needs to pay a small amount of money and take a small risk to get a movie copyright that can benefit in the long run.

As a locomotive, movies themselves can not make money, but it can drive the development of the entire industrial chain.

Alan Horn had already considered that this did not touch the psychological bottom line of Warner Bros. and DC Comics, and immediately nodded and said, "Yes." ”

The cooperation within the industry, everyone knows how to operate, and there is no problem of who cheats whom, and it is simple and clear to talk about.

This is equivalent to the main risk borne by Shahai Entertainment, and Warner Bros. waits for profit by holding the copyright.

The copyright of "Batman" is tightly held in his hands, which undoubtedly allows Warner Bros. to occupy a considerable initiative in this cooperation.

"Warner Bros. has a few points on that side as well. Alan Horn didn't go around the bush and said directly: "I hope I can explain it to you before we cooperate." ”

Ronan nodded, "Please speak." ”

Alan Horn said: "The rights to Batman are part of Warner Bros.' investment and are factored into the film's future production costs and shares. ”

Ronan didn't object: "No problem. ”

This is an industry practice, copyright can be directly equated with money, since it is a collaborative shooting, Warner Bros. and DC Comics certainly cannot give the project a free license.

Naturally, copyright can offset part of the investment.

But Ronan added: "We need to ask a third party to evaluate the Batman movie rights. ”

"Yes. Alan Horn had no objection and continued: "All the distribution work for this film has to be done by Warner Bros. ”

Ronan also had no objections, but said: "I need to be the first producer of the film. ”

Alan Horn did not object, but proposed a corresponding restrictive clause: "On the financial side, we must bring in a mutually acceptable insurance company as a third-party guarantee. ”

Warner Bros. is also worried about Shahai Entertainment's manipulation of investments.

Ronan said: "What about the Firefighter Insurance Fund Company under the Allianz Group?"

This is the most used insurance company in the circle, and Alan Horn certainly has no opinion, saying: "Yes. ”

Ronan added: "Mr. Horn, as we said just now, Chris planned the trilogy, and what I mean with Chris is to establish a long-term relationship with Warner Bros. ”

Christopher Nolan said: "It's best if the three of us can reach a trilogy cooperation. ”

Alan Horn thought about it for a moment and said, "Warner Bros. also wants to be able to work with the two of you for a long time. ”

Borrowing foreign funds to make films, from the perspective of long-term operation, Warner Bros. does not suffer, since it is a cooperation in the industry, it is impossible to take most of the benefits into its own arms like the cooperation with overseas investors.

At this point, the senior management of Warner Bros. has long been mentally prepared.

Ronan smiled and said: "Once the first film is successful, in the cooperation of the next two films, the investment and revenue sharing of Shahai Entertainment will be the same as the first one. ”

Alan Horn nodded lightly and said, "The project revenue is not up to expectations, and Warner Bros. has the right to interrupt." ”

This is the legitimate right of the copyright owner, but Ronan also prevented Warner Bros. from backsliding, saying: "Lower than expected must be the film's North American box office revenue is less than the total production cost." ”

In today's increasingly high revenue in overseas markets, the North American box office of Hollywood commercial films can cover the production costs, and there is hope that they can recover their costs and even make profits through overseas markets.

Since both parties had sufficient intention to cooperate, Ronan and Alan Horn's interview on the general direction of the cooperation went very smoothly, and in more than an hour, the cooperation method on investment, income and copyright was finalized.

At the same time, Ronan also won enough power for him as a producer and Christopher Nolan as a director.

Warner Bros. was able to give the green light to this project, and Ronan's past success played a crucial role.

After finalizing the general direction, the team of Warner Bros. and Shahai Entertainment began formal negotiations on the details of the cooperation.