PS. Present today's update, by the way, pull a vote for the "starting point" 515 fan festival, everyone has 8 votes, and the vote will also give the starting point coin, kneel and beg everyone to support and appreciate!

After a record-breaking box office of $100.6 million in the first weekend of three days, entering the working day, the single-day box office of "Jurassic Park 2" fell to the 10 million level, although the box office fell by 60% compared to the weekend, but the box office of the film in the first week will break through the record high of $140 million without suspense, and easily climbed to the first place in the box office list of films released in 1995, and most box office agencies predict that "Jurassic Park 2" has basically locked the throne of the annual box office champion.

Under the dazzling brilliance of "Jurassic Park 2", almost not too many people have noticed that a partial art film called "Forrest Gump" is about to be quietly released on June 9. Although "Forrest Gump" was unanimously praised by film critics during the early test screening, this praise made the few media who paid attention to the film pessimistic about the box office, after all, the more film critics liked, the more artistic it was, and the more dismal the box office often became.

In addition, if there is any expectation for the box office of "Forrest Gump", Eric Williams will definitely not let Flower Pictures set the film schedule for June 9. In the eyes of the media, this is equivalent to putting a small beast with no ability to resist at all under the feet of the Tyrannosaurus rex, and the end can only be shattered.

You must know that in order to avoid the edge of "Jurassic Park 2", several other major film companies have invariably placed the main films of this year's summer file at the end of June and July, and Time Warner even gave up the distribution strategy of rushing to land in the summer file at the end of May last year, and only lost a dismal box office "Fair Game" as cannon fodder.

After the box office of "Jurassic Park 2" was released on the first day. Eric focused most of his energy on the corporate affairs he had accumulated while away from Los Angeles. But. Although he has always been a sidestander to the release of "Forrest Gump". Let Drew and Amy Pascal do it, but he may be the only one in the world who is full of confidence in the box office of "Forrest Gump".

Although the film accumulated a lot of positive reviews in the early promotion stage, Amy Pascal finally prepared only 1,500 opening screens for "Forrest Gump". Eric has no objection to this, as long as "Forrest Gump" causes a sensation like in the previous life, the box office is destined to go long, and the scale of the screen in the first week is smaller, and it can even play the effect of hunger and thirst marketing.

Because the sense of presence is not strong. Although Drew pulled both Eric and Spielberg over for the premiere, and Robert Zemeckis, the director of "Forrest Gump", is also a famous director who has produced blockbuster films such as "Back to the Future" and "Roger Rabbit", "Forrest Gump" still opens quietly in a tepid atmosphere.

Fortunately, the actor Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis have accumulated a lot of excellent films, and the box office appeal is still very good.

Therefore, "Forrest Gump" achieved a good result of $6.7 million on the first day of its opening in 1,500 theaters in North America.

When Erik was informed of the number, Amy Pascal's tone was full of lightheartedness. $6.7 million on the first day, so there is not much problem for "Forrest Gump" to reach $25 million at the box office in the first week. With the excellent reputation of the film, take a long-term screening strategy. The film is likely to grossing close to $80 million before it is finally drawn.

The total cost of production and publicity of "Forrest Gump" cost 70 million, and the North American box office can reach 80 million, and Flower Pictures has been able to recover most of the cost.

The positioning of the film is an award-winning film, with the current reputation of film critics, it can even impact the Oscar for Best Picture, as long as it can get a few heavyweight Oscar statuettes, then, the later overseas distribution and videotape sales revenue will be more lucrative, although the cycle of recovering funds will be relatively long, but Flower Pictures can still recover well from this project.

Amy Pascal analyzes Forrest Gump's earnings prospects like a budget-conscious housewife. It's not hard to understand why she came up with this idea, although "Forrest Gump" was personally promoted by Eric, and although he has created a series of box office miracles, Hollywood executives' fear of film risk has penetrated into the instinct, and the total cost of "Forrest Gump" of $70 million is, in the eyes of most, far more than the commercial potential it can have as an art film.

However, the dramatic development of events was far beyond most people's expectations.

After the first day of large-scale release, most of the media that had originally planned to introduce the new film in a text message were surprised to find that "Forrest Gump" far exceeded their expectations.

"The movie uses the perspective of a fool with an IQ of only 75, and perfectly shows the development of American society in the thirty years after the war through amazing special effects. ”

"The three main characters in the film are like the embodiment of the three dominant American spiritual tendencies of twenty years ago. Forrest Gump represents the roots of the American spirit, simple, hardworking, sincere, and persistent, Jenny represents the rebellious generation of the sixties, who tried to break the stereotypes and pursue themselves, but in fact they went to the abyss of being lost, and Captain Dan belonged to the group of people who were suspicious of society, they had their own persistence, but they were still confused, and they could not find the value of perseverance. In the film, the displaced Jenny finally chooses to return to her family, and Captain Dan also chooses to follow in Forrest Gump's footsteps, allowing us to see the three American spirits once again become one and return to their roots. ”

"It is true that this is an 'anti-intellectual movie' that seems a little nonsense at first glance, but the two-hour and twenty-minute viewing process made the author fall into an inexplicably moving emotion. I can't help but think that the strength of this country is recovering, the economy is developing, and science and technology are advancing day by day, but we who claim to be smart people are becoming more and more addicted to the great abundance of materials, completely ignoring the spiritual level of perseverance. ”

"The most touching part of Forrest Gump was that rainy night, Jenny brought the silly Forrest Gump back to her dormitory. With a wistful look on his face, he talks about his dream of becoming a celebrity. Then ask him. What kind of person do you dream of becoming in the future? Forrest Gump replied with a puzzled expression, why should I be someone else, can't I be myself in the future? In the end, Jenny's dream was shattered and she left this world in regret, while Forrest Gump, who insisted on being herself, gained everything that ordinary people dream of. ”

“……”

“……”

After the turmoil of the sixties and the indulgence of the seventies, starting in the eighties. Conservatism in the United States began to return, reaching its peak in the nineties.

At the same time, the extreme development of materials has also made people's spiritual level begin to become empty, and the situation of moral corruption and weak human feelings is becoming more and more serious, so the image of American conservatism represented by Forrest Gump and his own kind, sincere, and simple character completely cater to the yearning of more and more Americans for spiritual life.

With the overwhelming spontaneous publicity in the media, more and more people began to notice the film and entered the cinema as a result.

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what the next one will taste like.

This classic line, which is destined to be recorded in the history of world cinema, also quickly spread among the crowd.

In fact, most people don't know what profound meaning this sentence contains. They just watched the movie, with inexplicable emotion and satisfaction. I repeated this sentence in my heart a few times, and then silently wrote it down, and I will never forget it again.

The explosive attention of "Forrest Gump" is most intuitively reflected in the box office.

After $6.7 million on the first day, the box office rose by more than 20% on both days, and finally, the film grossed $22.9 million in the first three days of the weekend.

Compared to "Jurassic Park 2", this box office figure may not seem worth mentioning, but as a literary film, this kind of box office data that represents the box office is about to explode makes everyone feel high, after all, "Fair Games", which was about the same production cost as "Forrest Gump" two weeks ago, only grossed a measly $6.8 million in the first three days of the opening weekend.

Entering the working day, the box office momentum of "Forrest Gump" has not decreased at all, and it still remains at about $6 million a single day after a decline compared to Sunday.

In the end, the box office figure of more than $47 million in the first week of "Forrest Gump" once again caused an exclamation from the media, which was almost double or even more than three times the weekly box office expected by most media for this film. However, after the emotion, many people can't help but feel that when "Forrest Gump" has almost become an American cultural symbol, this box office data seems so natural.

Venice Beach.

In an Italian seafood restaurant, Amy Pascal smiled and looked at Drew, who was muttering to Eric, holding a coffee cup in his hand and taking a sip from time to time.

After the box office and word-of-mouth of "Forrest Gump" exploded, Amy has been in an irrepressible excitement for the past few days, and she is finally 100% sure of the correctness of giving up the position of vice president of Columbia to jump to the small studio of Flower Pictures, and if the next meeting goes well, she will also become the second female head of the seven major Hollywood film companies after Shirley Lansing.

I don't know what Drew said, Eric reached out and pinched her little ear, pushed the girl away in a coquettish sound, and said to Amy with a smile: "By the way, how did you handle the matter of Peter Jackson?"

"He doesn't have any experience directing big-budget films, but his talent in cinema is unquestionable. And, having seen his complete vision of the Lord of the Rings in detail, including the script, storyboard, character design, and locations he has found in New Zealand, it's absolutely impossible to find a second director in Hollywood who has poured so much emotion into the Lord of the Rings series, and it's fitting for him to direct this magical epic series. Eric, would you like to talk to him again?"

"Not for the time being, let him direct one or two films first, and familiarize yourself with the rules of Hollywood. When the time comes, you can start the production of this series. ”

Amy nodded, she also knew when Eric said the time was right, so she wasn't in a hurry. Flower Pictures' current projects have been enough for her and Drew to keep her and Drew busy for a long time.

The two of them fell, and Drew said with great interest: "Eric, in those photos taken by Jackson, New Zealand is so beautiful, can we take the time to go there for a vacation?"

"Okay, then buy another big farm. Get a few horses. ”

"Huh. I don't believe you're interested in raising horses. Drew grinned and said, "Maybe you can exile some of the little models you don't like there and keep them as pets on the farm." ”

Drew didn't mention it, Eric almost forgot about it, he hadn't heard anything about Heidi Krum in the past six months, scratched the girl's ribs, didn't let her talk nonsense, but asked: "How are the preparations for the two films "Mean Girl" and "Scream"?"

Drew said: "It's already filming, Wes Craven doesn't want to go to Canada." "Scream" was set at Santa Rosa City High School in the back of California, and I will be filming the opening scene in a few days. Also, the crew of "Mean Girl" went to Vancouver, and filming in Canada can save more than 1 million budgets, and Tina also followed. ”

The last time Eric left Los Angeles, the two films were still in preparation, and although more than a month had passed, Eric still felt a little rushed.

Amy seemed to sense Eric's thoughts and took the initiative to explain, "Eric, both movies involve a lot of school scenes. These scenes are all filmed before the end of the summer vacation, so we will make the schedule so tight. ”

Away from campus for too long. Eric's concept of student vacation has become very vague, although he has a very clear concept of summer vacation in his mind, but this concept is more inclined to business terms, so after hearing Amy's explanation, Eric suddenly realized this. If you don't shoot in the summer, it will be very troublesome to wait for students to start school and want to shoot school footage.

While the three of them were chatting, the waiter led a middle-aged man in his fifties over, none other than Frank Maccasso, the current CEO of MGM.

"Sorry, Eric, I'm late," Frank Makazor held out his hand apologetically to Eric.

Eric got up and shook his hand, smiling, "Of course not, Frank, it's just that we arrived early." I don't think I need to introduce these two. ”

"Of course," Frank Maccasso said, shaking hands with Drew and Amy, respectively, and complimentingly, "I went to see Forrest Gump recently, and it's a great film that will be remembered endlessly." ”

"Thank you for the recognition, Mr. Maccasso," Amy smiled and nodded.

Frank Maccasso sat down in the chair that the waiter had pulled out, and added, "Just call me Frank, Amy, we're acquaintances, aren't we?"

Amy nodded and said, "Of course." ”

"Let's order first, Frank, I've had lunch here a few times, and the pan-fried sea bass here is good, you can try it," Eric took the menu from the waiter and recommended it to Frank Maccasso, remembering the first time he ate here two years ago, when he and Nicole had a look in his eyes that made him feel hairy.

After ordering the meal and waiting for the waiter to leave, Eric asked straight to the point, "So, Frank, did Corkrian make an offer for MGM?"

Frank Makassoc nodded and said, "$1.5 billion, and Corklian seems to be in a hurry, and even wants to complete the deal before July, but Crédit Lyon has not given a reply, and they are also waiting for the release of "GoldenEye" and "Night at the Museum" in July before making plans, and I heard that the French Vivendi Group has also contacted Crédit Lyonnais, but their offer, I don't know." ”

Although Crédit Lyonnais is a universal bank in France, it has never had the intention of getting involved in the entertainment industry. A few years ago, he accidentally became the majority shareholder of MGM, also because of the financial fraud of the Italian consortium, and the shares of MGM were confiscated by the court and used to pay off the huge debts owed by the Italian consortium.

Because of the bubble expansion that began in the late eighties, although Crédit Lyon once became the largest bank in Europe, in recent years, after the bursting of the financial bubble brought about by the frenzied expansion, Crédit Lyonnais has caused a large number of bad debts to cause huge losses of tens of billions of dollars, and even came to the verge of bankruptcy for a time.

Under pressure from the French government and shareholders, although MGM's situation has begun to improve, Crédit de Lyon is still desperate to cash out its MGM shares in exchange for cash to make up for its cash shortfall.

Eric guesses that the $1.5 billion price should be higher than the price Corklian paid for MGM in his previous life, but the price is reasonable.

Although MGM now looks like a sign of imminent recovery, anyone with a discerning eye can see it. In addition to the 007 series. Other blockbusters such as "Breaking Bad," "Resident Evil," and the upcoming "Night at the Museum." None of the controls are in MGM's hands. Moreover, in the past two years, although MGM's operating conditions have stabilized, the huge debt left by Corkrian for the company has not been reduced much.

"Frank, you can go back and contact the relevant person in charge of Crédit Lyonnais, we also offer $1.5 billion, let them send someone to talk. I know that CLSA is in dire need of capital right now, and we can pay all the purchase price in one lump sum in a short period of time. ”

Frank Maccasso looked at Amy and Drew. "Eric, is it a firefly?"

Eric shook his head and said with a smile: "No, it's Flower Pictures, Firefly won't have equity entanglements with MGM." ”

Eric's simple words made Frank Maccasso secretly frightened, Eric did not let Firefly and MGM have equity entanglement, and it is easy to guess that he did not want Flower Pictures to encounter monopoly obstacles in the future expansion process because of the shareholding of Firefly Group.

According to the current scale of Flower Pictures and MGM, if you want to reach the level of monopoly, under normal circumstances. It would not have been possible without ten or eight years of rapid development, but there has never been a shortage of miracles in this world. At the beginning, the small 'firefly' has developed into the current giant. It only took seven years.

Thinking about the wording, Frank Mackasso asked, "So, Eric, what are you going to do with Flower Pictures after it acquires MGM?"

Eric gestured to Amy.

Amy smiled, she knew that Frank Maccasso was concerned about the arrangements made by Flower Pictures to the original management after the merger with MGM, and said, "Frank, after the merger, I hope you can stay and be mainly responsible for the North American and global distribution of the company's films." ”

Frank Maccasso is now mainly responsible for the distribution of films, because except for 007, MGM has not made any decent films in the past few years, and he does not expect to be able to replace Amy as the CEO of the new company, so he is quite satisfied with this arrangement, nodded, and said to Eric: "Eric, although the offer of $1.5 billion is not low, if Prestige and Corklian join the competition, I think the final price may rise to $1.8 billion." In principle, Crédit de Lyon would definitely sell MGM to the highest bidder. ”

Eric shook his head with a smile and said, "Frank, I don't think Lyon Credit has any principles to talk about, they don't have any hole cards, they can only choose to accept or not accept." If they insist on selling MGM to someone else, I will immediately cut off all cooperation between Flower Pictures and DreamWorks and MGM, and without the distribution rights of films such as "Breaking Bad", "Resident Evil", and "Night at the Museum", MGM will immediately become the empty shelf of a few years ago, and I don't believe that anyone will make an offer of $1.5 billion to them. ”

Just imagining this scenario in his mind, Frank Makazoc felt a strong sense of powerlessness. He was well aware that this situation was definitely not something that Lyon Credit could afford. While MGM has signed distribution contracts with DreamWorks and Flower Pictures, in Hollywood, Fireflies have countless ways to get there without 'breaking' their contracts.

Frank Maccasso also absolutely didn't like Corklian to get control of MGM again, the casino tycoon was just a vampire, he didn't have the slightest idea of making movies, but like Ron Perelman of Wall Street, when MGM's business was on the surface, he issued a large number of bonds to raise money, and then changed his way to put the funds into his own private pocket, and when MGM was on the verge of bankruptcy again, he did not hesitate to sell it to the next family again. MGM is now burdened with heavy debts, the same mess left over from the repeated actions of Corklian in the 80s, and the huge debt alone is overwhelmed by the interest alone.

At the moment, he doesn't know what the situation of the French Vivendi Group, which is interested in MGM, is in the situation, but he knows that choosing to cooperate with Fireflies should be MGM's only way out at present. Once it merges with Flower Pictures, he believes that Eric will definitely put DreamWorks in the new company, and when the time comes, with a large number of lucrative super-blockbuster franchises such as "Mission Impossible", "Breaking Bad", "Night at the Museum", "Resident Evil" and "007", MGM will soon recover and become a powerful film company again.

Thinking of being able to personally participate in MGM's recovery, Frank Maccasso was slightly excited, and said to Eric: "Eric, I will bring your words to Crédit Lyonnais." ”

Eric nodded in satisfaction, and then it was time for a happy meal.

An hour later, Frank Macacso left the restaurant, but instead of leaving, Eric, Amy, and Drew talked about Eric's detailed plans for the future of Flower Pictures.

After an afternoon of chatting, the beach in the distance had been dyed red by the setting sun, and Eric was about to leave with the two of them, when his mobile phone rang on the table.

"I'm Williams," Eric picked up his phone, chatted with the other party, nodded from time to time, and after a while, Eric looked at Amy and Drew, who were sitting opposite, with a strange smile on his face, and said, "Do you know Godzilla?"

[It's about to be 515, I hope to continue to hit the 515 red envelope list, and the red envelope rain will be able to give back to readers and promotional works on May 15. A piece is also love, and it must be better!] (To be continued.) )