Chapter 321 of the main text, this can be regarded as a leak

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Harvey couldn't believe his ears, Zhang Ran didn't come to sell films, he came to buy them. He looked at Zhang Ran in surprise and asked, "You want to buy Fahrenheit 911?"

Zhang Ran smiled and nodded: "Yes, I want to buy the copyright of this movie." ”

Harvey thought about it for a moment, and somewhat understood. Fahrenheit 911 is a film that slammed the U.S. government, and this kind of film should be popular in China. However, the Chinese film market is too small, and "Fahrenheit 911" is a documentary, and it can't be sold for a price, and it's only a matter of tens of thousands of dollars. He was a little unrefreshed: "You want to buy Chinese copyrights, okay, make a price!"

Zhang Ran smiled and shook his head: I bought the global distribution rights of Fahrenheit 911, including all the copyrights of the film and audio-visual films. ”

Harvey was stunned, stared at Zhang Ran suddenly, and said, "You buy the global distribution rights?"

Fahrenheit 911 is a documentary directed by Michael Moore that tells the truth about the war in Iraq and the war on terror, firing directly at the U.S. government, or President Bush to be precise. Michael Moore has bluntly stated that he doesn't care how popular the film is, he just hopes that the film can change the U.S. presidential election in November.

Harvey signed an agreement to buy the distribution rights of the film in early '03, but the final release of the film required the consent of Disney's top management, because Disney EO had veto rights over Miramax's distribution of the film. In May '03, Michael Eisner of Disney's EO voted against the film because it was very difficult for the documentary to make money, the profit was very small, and more importantly, Disney had always paid attention to good relations with the government, and this film could cause problems for the presidential election.

However, Zhang Ran knows that in May this year, "Fahrenheit 911" will win the Palme d'Or, and the movie will immediately become a cash cow after winning the Palme d'Or. Michael Eisner has been questioned by shareholders in the past two years, and he needs to prove his worth to shareholders with profits, so he will naturally not let go of this cash cow.

Disney can't do PR on its own, and it can't distribute it on its own. It is still necessary to avoid being investigated by the media to investigate the reason why it did not support the film in the first place. So, Eisner came up with a solution. Harvey sold the rights to Fahrenheit 911 to a Disney-controlled company called felloship, which then outsourced the rights to distribute the film to Lionsgate and the video distribution rights to Columbia's Samsung Home Entertainment.

In the end, Fahrenheit 911 grossed more than $228 million at the global box office, sold 3 million DVDs, and earned $30 million in royalties. After deducting the relevant fees. Disney's net profit was $46 million. Eisner split it in two and gave it to two of its subsidiaries, the Disney Foundation and Miramax.

The 46 million yuan originally belonged to Miramax, but half of the profits were shared by Disney, which naturally caused strong dissatisfaction among the Harvey brothers, which eventually led to Harvey's break with Disney.

But it's only March, and now the list of nominees for the Cannes Film Festival has not been announced, and the current "Fahrenheit 911" is a rotten project that Disney has banned and no company wants to take over. It is entirely possible to buy it from Harvey.

If he can buy "Fahrenheit 911" from Harvey, and when "Fahrenheit 911" wins the Palme d'Or, Zhang Ran can also outsource the film to Lionsgate for distribution. He had a good relationship with Lionsgate. And when "Fahrenheit 911" gets the Palme d'Or, it will become a golden doll. It's an ironclad and lucrative deal, and Lionsgate will certainly not refuse.

Of course, it is best to be able to convince Harvey, if he can't be convinced, Zhang Ran has nothing to lose.

As soon as it changed hands, it was a profit of nearly 50 million, Zhang Ran was a little fluctuating, but his expression was very calm, and he looked like he was fine: "Yes, I want the global rights to this movie." ”

Harvey was a little confused. Zhang Ran is not a film distributor, and he has no distribution ability at all. What do you do when you buy the global distribution rights for a movie? He thinks it's a bit strange: "What are you doing when you buy the global distribution rights for a movie, do you have the ability to distribute it?"

Zhang Ran knew that he had to come up with a reasonable reason, otherwise it would arouse Harvey's suspicions. He had already thought about this: "Actually, this is a political speculation, and "Fahrenheit 911" is a film that criticizes the US government, which is a joy for the Chinese government. Making a film in China inevitably involves dealing with government departments, and it is important to have a good relationship with government departments. If I can buy a film that criticizes the U.S. government and distribute it around the world, I can make a good impression in the eyes of the government, and I will be able to get a lot of convenience when I make movies in the future, at least I won't shoot my film lightly. ”

Harvey felt that Zhang Ran's words were very reasonable, and he knew that Chinese films would be censored, so he nodded and said, "You are very honest!"

Zhang Ran said unashamedly: "I am a teacher, and I often teach my students that they must be honest. Now Dinis doesn't allow you to release this movie, and no other company is willing to accept it, if you don't dispose of it, the 8 million you spent on buying this movie will be wasted!"

In fact, Zhang Ran knew that Harvey only spent 6 million to buy "Fahrenheit 911", and said that it was 8 million, so that Harvey felt that he was taking advantage.

Harvey was a little impressed, and now "Fahrenheit 911" is a mess, and in January of this year, he made a request to Disney executives to release the film, which was again denied. After Michael Moore learned of this, he has been contacting other distribution companies in the hope that some company will take over the distribution of the film. But without exception, these issuing companies all refused. The documentary itself does not make much money, so it offends the government and the gains outweigh the losses.

If "Fahrenheit 911" can't be released, then the 6 million Harvey spent on the movie will be wasted, which he absolutely does not want to see, and now someone is willing to buy this movie, he can't ask for it.

Harvey was willing to sell the film, but he had to fight for more for his work, and on the surface, he remained quiet and asked, "Then what price can you offer?"

Zhang Ran has repeatedly considered the offer, Harvey is greedy, otherwise he will not let go of his mouth if he makes money: "You spent 8 million to buy the copyright, and I don't want you to lose money, just 8 million!"

At the beginning of March, the post-production of "Time and Space Warriors" was completed, and the film's advertisers were very satisfied with the quality of the film after watching it. A late payment of $180,000 was made. These made up Reeves' salary of 4.5 million, and the remaining 13.5 million. Coupled with the remaining 6 million reserves after the filming of the movie, these have become profits. Zhang Ran got the lion's share of the money, getting nearly $1,200, and now he has enough money to complete the deal.

Harvey was happy, he bought it for 6 million, and he made 2 million by selling it to Zhang Ran for 8 million. But Harvey still didn't agree on the spot, he didn't know where Zhang Ran's bottom line was. The exit tentatively said: "This price is too low, 12 million!"

In the face of Harvey's lion mouth, Zhang Ran looked very calm, and even a little disdainful: "Harvey, what is the situation of the documentary, do you still need me to give you popular science? So far, the highest box office of the documentary is Michael Moore's "The Columbine Campus Incident", with a box office of only 19 million. Although Fahrenheit 911 is in line with the current hot topic, no one wants to offend the government, and no company wants to release it. Buying this film is destined to lose money, your price is a joke!" Zhang Ran frowned slightly. looked very unhappy: "That's it, 8.5 million, no matter how high I am, I can't help it!"

Just as Harvey was about to quote a price of 11 million. Zhang Ran stood up and stretched out his right hand: "This is my reserve price." Can only be opened up to this price. There is still some time until the end of the fair, so you can think about it!"

Harvey looked at Zhang Ran in front of him, and was extremely depressed, bastard, how can anyone talk about business like this, and leave if they don't agree. But he couldn't help it, so he held Zhang Ran's right hand: "I'll consider your Jianyi." ”

Harvey felt that 8.5 million should be Zhang Ran's bottom line, and he could fully accept this price, and the film changed hands. It made 2.5 million, which is a good deal. If you miss Zhang Ran. I don't know when it will be.

But Harvey still didn't say yes immediately, because he still wanted to get Disney again, hoping to get Miramax to release the film. This year's presidential election is a big hot topic, as long as it works well, "Fahrenheit 911" should be able to achieve a good box office, which is definitely better than changing hands to Zhang Ran.

Two days later, Harvey approached Zhang Ran again to talk about the copyright of Fahrenheit 911.

In the intervening two days, Harvey again contacted Disney executives to ask the company to agree to release his Fahrenheit 911, but Harvey's offer was again ruthlessly rejected. Eisner even threw a tantrum on the phone, don't mention that damn movie again!

Harvey didn't give up, and tried to contact several distribution companies to outsource the distribution rights, but no one was willing to take over. Documentaries don't make much money, and offending the government for this is more than worth the cost, and no company wants to do such a thing.

Harvey is very helpless, and now there is really no better choice, so he can only sell to Zhang Ran.

Of course, as an old fritter in the film and television industry, it is impossible for Harvey to accept it when Zhang Ran says 8.5 million, and the price increase is inevitable: "$10 million, Zhang, you may not know that Moore told me that "Fahrenheit 911" has been shortlisted for the main competition unit in Cannes, but the list has not yet been announced. You know it's going to get a lot of attention when you get into the main competition!"

"I believe this is true, Moore's "Columbine Campus Incident" was also shortlisted for the main competition unit, and it is also a social hot event, but the final box office is only 19 million, and "Fahrenheit 911" is at this level. I don't feel your sincerity at all, and in this case, I don't think there's any need to talk about it!" Zhang Ran looked cold, took a sip of coffee, and the meaning of sending off the guest was very obvious.

Seeing Zhang Ran's reaction so big, Harvey hurriedly said: "8.5 million is too low, 9 million, otherwise I'd rather let this movie sleep in the warehouse!"

Don't say 9 million, as long as you can take it out, even if it is 20 million US dollars, Zhang Ran will agree. However, Zhang Ran's face was very unhappy, and he lowered his head as if he was making a choice, in fact, his heart kept beating wildly, and he was thinking in his heart: I am picking up a leak, right? It's too exciting!

After waiting for almost two minutes, Zhang Ran finally raised his head and said unhappily: "Okay, it's just 9 million!"

The contract for the buyout of the distribution rights did not have so many twists and turns, the format and content were almost fixed, and the parties quickly signed the contract.

This business made 3 million, Harvey was very satisfied, and invited Zhang Ran to dinner, but Zhang Ran did not agree, he was afraid that he would laugh out loud when the time came.

But after Zhang Ran returned to the hotel room with the contract, he threw the contract into the air, and then laughed wildly, he couldn't help but laugh. Nearly $50 million, that's it!

This is really a shocking leak!(To be continued.) )