Shahai Pictures, Ronan's office.

Faced with Navas, who came to talk about the sequel to "Blair the Witch", Ronan could only say with some regret: "It's not that I don't want to work with Lionsgate, the $8 million sequel shooting rights is too low for a film with a North American box office of $150 million." ”

Navas stood up and shook Ronan's hand goodbye, "This is my highest authority. Mr. Anderson, let me think again. ”

Ronan was not reluctant, and said, "Yes." ”

He sent Navas out of the Sand Sea Entertainment.

This is the third person to come over this morning to talk to Ronan about the rights to the sequel to "Blair the Witch," after a Warner Bros. head of production and Tom Cruise's agent had arrived.

Tom Cruise's side did not want to buy the rights to the sequel, but planned to cooperate with Ronan to shoot the sequel, and Ronan dug the hole, of course, he would not jump, and cooperative filming was not considered at all.

Although co-filming can find ways to pit the partner's funds, and there are many ways to make profits outside the movie, Tom Cruise is not an overseas investor, and Tom Cruise and investors outside the pit circle are not the same concept at all, and Ronan will not do this kind of trouble-seeking thing.

Maybe others can't see it clearly, but Ronan has memories of his past life, and the success of "Blair the Witch" is unrepeatable for many years to come.

Warner Bros. is now Hollywood's best-performing studio, and it's a bit aggressive, with only $5 million for the sequel rights.

Unless there was no other option, Ronan wouldn't have sold it for such a low price.

This is not a normal market price in Hollywood either.

Not to mention the hugely successful work of "Blair the Witch", like some popular or other works on the market that have not been verified by the film market, the film rights are more than 5 million US dollars.

North American copyright law is relatively perfect, and it also attaches great importance to the protection of copyright, and the price of copyright will only go all the way up.

If you don't have an ideal offer, you can go overseas to attract investment.

Capital operation is often more attractive than making movies in a down-to-earth manner, but Ronan also knows the risks involved, and the relationship must be balanced.

Back in the office, looking at the promotional distribution plan for "Ace Agent" and "Here Comes the Grim Reaper" made by Embassy Pictures, Ronan received a call from Susan Arnold, saying that he would come over around half past one in the afternoon.

Ronan sent another text message to Carmen Kaith, making sure she wasn't at work for the time being, and made a phone call to make an appointment to have dinner together after work.

Ronan was busy with work all morning, and also approved the dismissal of three employees of Embassy Pictures, which used to be at a very slow pace, but now the whole work rhythm has been raised, and some of those old employees are unable to adapt, and some are incapable.

Naturally, such a person is no longer suitable to stay.

Everything at Embassy Pictures went through the legal dismissal procedures, and the severance pay was also paid.

The trade unions here are not ornaments, and once the work is not in place, the price paid will only be greater if the trade unions are involved.

In addition, among the newly recruited employees of Relativity Entertainment, Mary also suggested that one person be fired, this person has a beautiful resume and work ability, but unfortunately he is irresponsible.

Everyone who runs a business will encounter this situation, the best employees in the eyes of the boss are always hard-working, willing to pay without asking for anything in return.

It's a pity that a free city like Los Angeles can't find simple and good employees.

Come to think of it, it's better to go to Gotham.

The folk customs are simple, the eldest brother Tan, and the talents are full of Arkham.

Just after one o'clock in the afternoon, Susan Arnold of DreamWorks came to Ronan's office with an assistant, and the two sides did not talk nonsense, and directly talked about the sequel copyright of "Blair the Witch".

"DreamWorks isn't the first company to be interested in the rights to a sequel to this film. Ronan said very pointedly: "If it weren't for the fundraising, director Daniel Mailik ended his collaboration with Relativity, I wouldn't have sold the rights." ”

Susan Arnold smiled and asked, "Mr. Anderson, at what price do you want to sell?"

Ronan said calmly: "$25 million!"

Hearing this number, Susan Arnold's eyelids jumped and she said slowly: "DreamWorks is willing to buy out all the rights to the Blair Witch series for $40 million. Except, of course, of the North American box office you're about to get your hands on. ”

Ronan refused without hesitation: "Blair the Witch has been a huge success, and I can't sell the proceeds of it." Seeing what Susan Arnold was about to say again, he raised his hand to stop it and said, "What I want to sell is the sequel filming rights, and it has nothing to do with "Blair the Witch" in theaters. If DreamWorks wants to buy the rights to Blair the Witch, we don't need to talk about it. ”

Susan Arnold is just tentative, after all, if you can buy "Blair the Witch", you will make more money.

This is also a negotiation strategy to lower the psychological expectations of the other party.

"Only the sequel filming rights ......" Susan Arnold seems to be in a quandary: "It's too different from what DreamWorks originally intended. ”

Ronan looked at the female producer and didn't speak.

The preferred target of the deal is DreamWorks, but it does not exclude other companies, and if DreamWorks has to buy Blair the Witch with it, it is better to sell it to other companies.

Susan Arnold has been observing Ronan, and has done a lot of understanding before coming, Ronan Anderson's company's capital flow has always been problematic, whether it is basic operations or filming investment, all from financing, although the strategy of borrowing chickens and eggs is very clever, but if it is overdone, the company's finances will be very unhealthy, and it may collapse completely if there is a little accident.

In her opinion, this sequel rights sale is on the one hand a helpless move to lose the director, and on the other hand, Ronan Anderson is adjusting the company structure.

Such a young man, who has succeeded one after another, must have the ability, and it is impossible not to see the problem of funding at all.

Susan Arnold gently snapped down the arm of her chair and said, "Separate sequel rights, $5 million." She seemed a little dismissive: "It's just to get a subject for DreamWorks, and the copyright to the script or other literary work on the market, even if the highest is only a few million dollars." ”

Ronan chimed in: "Hollywood really has never lacked themes and scripts. ”

This is the truth, no one can deny it, which large-scale film company does not have hundreds of scripts in its script library?

"But these themes and scripts are not 'Blair the Witch'!" Ronan said with a slight accent: "They don't have $150 million at the North American box office! They don't have huge fame and influence! They haven't been tested by the market! They don't bring an audience base!"

He slowed down: "Ms. Arnold, I'm young, but I also know that the sequel to the blockbuster movie is extremely powerful, and the sequel can be replicated. The name and popularity of "Blair the Witch" alone is more than $5 million! Not to mention, "Blair the Witch" brings not only the title, but also the successful model and the foundation of nearly 30 million viewers in North America!"

Why is Hollywood keen to make sequel films? Susan Arnold certainly knows it.

She didn't refute Ronan's words, but found another way, saying: "In the model of 'Blair the Witch,' the sequel production budget is at most a few million dollars. There is no precedent for buying rights with much more money than the producer invested, and DreamWorks will become a joke in the industry. ”

Ronan laughed: "The value of copyright is how much revenue it can generate, not what the outside world thinks, even if everyone is laughing, when DreamWorks reaps hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, will they still be able to laugh?"

Susan Arnold thought about it, and it was the same truth.

"When I bought the rights to 'Blair the Witch' and the movie website, a lot of people didn't understand, including a lot of the company's employees, but now? they're glad I bought the film despite the opposition," Ronan said. ”

Susan Arnold frowned, the other party said reasonably, and there is nothing profound, all of them are the most simple truths in the circle, not that they can't be refuted, but it doesn't take into account the simplest facts to refute, it can't help but seem retarded.

"Blair the Witch" currently has a North American box office of $150 million, which is Ronan's biggest confidence.

Hollywood makes films, and the ultimate goal is always commercial profit, and the huge success of this film can overpower all rebuttal language.

"This morning, Tom Cruise's representative, someone from Warner Bros. Productions, Mr. Navas of Lionsgate, has been here. Ronan told the truth: "They all want the rights to the sequel to 'Blair the Witch,' and Lionsgate has a very high bid, but I didn't immediately respond because I agreed to meet with you last night." ”

Ronan said seriously: "I admire director Steven Spielberg very much, so I also want to work with DreamWorks first. ”

Susan Arnold said, "DreamWorks wants to work with you too, but the price you ask is too high. ”

"Then let's take a step back. Ronan said: "Take one-tenth of the current North American box office of 'Blair the Witch' as the transaction price. ”

"$15 million?" said Susan Arnold, still frowning.

Yesterday, she consulted Spielberg, who is in charge of the live-action film business, and the price was well above the cap.

Susan Arnold added: "It's just the sequel filming rights, and I only have a budget of $8 million. ”

Ronan knows very well that DreamWorks wants to replicate the success of "Blair the Witch" by getting Daniel Mailik.

The bargaining negotiations lasted an afternoon and ended up at $12 million.

But Susan Arnold has no final say, and the result has to be reported to the highest level of DreamWorks for approval, and Ronan can wait, but he also makes it clear that he can only wait for three days, and will not delay negotiations with other companies because of an undetermined deal.

"The rest is just a routine. Susan Arnold assured.

Basically got the negotiation with DreamWorks, Ronan packed up after work and went on a date with Carmen Keys.