The North American box office of "Love in Paradise" came out in the first week, not the $8 million to $10 million that Bruce Lee said, but only $10,000, which did not meet expectations.

There are many reasons, but the most direct one is that there are only more than 50 screens in the entire AMC theater chain to screen "Love in Paradise". AMC did not refuse to screen directly, but gave the reason that the screen was not enough, and the screening room was filled with films from other companies.

Perhaps last year's Wang Zijun's "Face Grabbing Heroes" was too strong, and the two bosses of Dragon and Tiger Film Company, one is Chinese and the other is Chinese-American, which makes Hollywood's natives feel threatened. Just after Dragon Tiger Film Company announced the release date of "Paradise Love", the three film giants Universal, Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox suddenly adjusted the film schedule and put some good films for release in March and April, forming a situation of encirclement and suppression of "Paradise Love".

And the reason why AMC Cinemas only discharges about 50 screens for "Love in Paradise" is also because there is no film to be released, and most of them have private agreements with those three giants.

Wang Zijun is flattered, not to mention that the Hollywood triumvirate will deal with him together, AMC Cinemas is now the second largest cinema chain in the American film market. This cinema will be green in 2012. Island Wanda Group was acquired, but now it is still very angry.

"AMC can't hold it." Wang Zijun smiled and said to Frank, the general manager of Dragon Tiger Film Company, "The quality of the films released by the three giants during this period is uneven, but the average attendance rate of "Love in Paradise" is as high as more than 80%. If you don't get rid of those bad movies and increase the screen of "Love in Paradise", how can the shareholders of AMC Cinemas watch the money flow out of front of their eyes? ”

Bruce Lee said: "What if AMC has a private agreement with the Big Three and never adds a screening room for "Love in Paradise"? ”

"That's what worries me the most," Frank said. It doesn't matter if the three giants only encircle "Paradise Love", we will make a little bit at most, and they will not be much better than us. I'm afraid that they will not only boycott "Love in Paradise", but boycott all our films. ”

Bruce Lee said solemnly: "If it's the latter, then let's sue them for monopoly." ”

Frank smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid the lawsuit can't be won, anyway, there is more than one theater chain in the United States, AMC, as long as we can survive half a year without financial problems, the suppression of the three giants will be self-defeating." The problem is that we may not last that long, and just yesterday, SNT Cinemas also sent someone over to say that it was going to reduce the screening rooms of "Love in Paradise" and another film of our company. ”

Layer upon layer!

The top theater chains in the United States have less than half of the number of movie theaters in the United States, but they account for more than eighty percent of the box office revenue in the United States. It doesn't matter if a theater chain doesn't cooperate with Dragon Tiger Film Company, but if two or three large theater chains don't cooperate, then Dragon Tiger Film Company can close its doors directly.

Wang Zijun frowned and asked, "How is the company's financial situation now?" ”

"Because last year's momentum was very good, this year we invested in six films with a budget of more than $3 million in one go. And last year's script was written by Wang You himself, James. "The Terminator" directed by Cameron, this guy has to make additional investment, saying that it will take at least $3 million to shoot it well, and he has already used 10 million before and after. Add to that some investments elsewhere, and to be honest, the company's funds are running out. Frank said worriedly, "This may be the main reason why the three giants have joined forces to deal with us, they must have understood our financial situation and want to make our funds not return." This continues, and if we don't get back our previous investment, up to three months, the company will break the capital chain. ”

Bruce Lee was surprised: "So serious? ”

Frank reproached himself, "I didn't expect Universal, Paramount, and Twentieth Century Fox to be so shameless as to join forces to squeeze us out." It's because I'm too anxious to make D&T bigger quickly and challenge the status of several giants. Originally, I thought that after making a lot of money this year, I would buy Lianyi Film Company, but now it seems that I will not be able to achieve this goal. ”

"That joint art that Chaplin and Griffith founded?" Wang Zijun asked.

"Yes, Lianyi Film Company is going out of business." "Our D&T is growing fast, but we don't have a solid foundation, and I want to buy Lianyi as our production base and recording studio." Otherwise, D&T will never be able to compete with the giants. ”

"Courageous." Wang Zijun praised. If you can win the United Arts Film Company, it will be a good thing, and now the copyright of the 007 series is still in the hands of the United Arts Company.

Wang Zijun's several blockbusters with a box office of more than 100 million yuan in recent years were all filmed in the form of private cooperation between Dragon and Tiger Film Company and Wang Zijun due to risk sharing and insufficient funds of Dragon and Tiger Film Company itself. In other words, the profits from several films, Wang Zijun's investment plus the director's share, he personally even earns more than the company.

Dragon and Tiger Film Company is developing rapidly, but it also invests a lot, and a lot of the money it earns is used to build its own studio, and the actual funds are not abundant. That's why Frank said that if the Big Three really want to join forces to suppress it, Dragon Tiger Film Company won't last three months.

Frank said: "There are two ways to do this, one is that the company can get new capital investment, which can alleviate the current financial problems; The second is to find a company with strong distribution capabilities as a partner, so that the deterrence of the Big Three will be lifted. ”

"Who are you looking for?" Bruce Lee asked.

Wang Zijun said with a smile: "I can solve the problem of funding." As for who to work with, I think MGM is good. ”

"I chose MGM too." Frank laughed.

MGM is now a Hollywood giant, but it's just an elephant dying of illness. Ten years ago, MGM was bought by Las Vegas gambling tycoon Kel Corion, and since then, MGM, which has been losing money year after year, has fallen directly into the abyss.

Kercorion didn't buy MGM for a film career, in fact, the guy wasn't interested in anything, he was only interested in money.

After buying MGM, Kercorion didn't think about running it well, but waited for the right time to sell. Unfortunately, no one was interested in MGM, which was losing money on a losing streak, so Kercorion turned his investments to casinos and hotels, leaving MGM to fend for itself.

MGM has been in the hands of such an owner for ten years, and it has long lost its appearance as a Hollywood giant. Last year, MGM's films accounted for less than 5% of the U.S. film market, and they were all about to be caught up by Dragon Tiger Films.

However, the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse, and if Dragon Tiger Pictures cooperates with MGM, with the foundation it has laid over the decades and its super distribution capabilities, the Big Three will not be able to suppress it.

"Brother Long is busy making a film, Frank, you have to keep an eye on the company's side, or I'll go over and contact Kelcorion in person. If he wasn't stupid, he would have cooperated with us. Wang Zijun said with a smile.

"The additional investment ......," Frank said with a moment's hesitation.

Now Wang Zijun and Bruce Lee each account for 50% of the company's shares, and once anyone makes additional investment, it will be an absolute control.

Bruce Lee naturally knows who pays the money, and who will take the lion's share in the company in the future, so after thinking about it, he smiled and said: "It's still Zijun, you can pay the money." I just bought a house with my money and expanded the size of the martial arts hall, and the few remaining money I took out didn't make a difference. ”

Wang Zijun asked Frank, "How much does it cost?" ”

Frank said, "It's up to Michel to get it." If we can successfully cooperate with MGM within a month, then the company's money is enough now. ”

"Then wait a little longer, there is no rush for additional funds." Wang Zijun said that if he invests more now, he will simply take advantage of Bruce Lee.

Bruce Lee smiled at Wang Zijun and nodded, which was regarded as a sign of receiving his affection.

It will take some time for the owners of that manor to return to the United States, Wang Zijun and Audrey. Hepburn still lives in Judy. Foster's house next door.

Son Luca and daughter Wang Shiya were Audrey. Hepburn sent it to the house of the Governor MacLehose, and the lonely and boring Mrs. Governor liked the two children very much, and wished for Audrey. Hepburn stayed more in the United States, and she also had an addiction to raising children.

As soon as Wang Zijun returned home, Audrey. Hepburn walked up with slippers, like a virtuous little wife, squatted down to change Wang Zijun's shoes.

"Who did you learn from?" Wang Zijun raised his foot amusedly.

Audrey. Hepburn said: "I just watched a box of videotapes of the movie at home, and the woman in it is like this, I feel very home, so I learned to try it." ”

After changing into slippers, Wang Zijun picked up the beauty, walked to the sofa and sat down, in Audrey. Hepburn kissed him on the face and said, "I just like Audrey." Hepburn, you don't have to learn to be anyone. ”

Audrey. Hepburn seems to have turned back into a little girl, and she likes Wang Zijun to say this kind of love words, so she hugged Wang Zijun's neck and said, "My dear, I love you too." ”

The two kissed sweetly for a while, Audrey. Hepburn asked about the release of "Love in Paradise".

"It's a bit bad." Wang Zijun sighed and explained the general situation.

Audrey. Hepburn said, "I don't know about the company's things, but I can help you promote the movie." ”

"Little fool, if you want your own woman to come out and help me promote the movie, I won't be a little white face who eats soft rice?" Wang Zijun gently tugged the tip of her nose and said.

Audrey. Hepburn loved this intimate behavior of the little man, which made her completely forget her age, and said, "What is this? You are my love, of course I want to help you. ”

"Okay, there is no need to mention this matter, you can be my little woman honestly in the future." Wang Zijun vetoed.

"So domineering." Audrey. Hepburn laughed and said that she has always liked strong men, and it is best to arrange everything for her. Wang Zijun's machismo not only did not make her unhappy, but made her like this kind of life with ideas even more.

However, this thing Audrey. Hepburn won't listen to Wang Zijun, she feels that she should stand up and help her lover.

After eating, while Wang Zijun went to take a bath, Audrey. Hepburn started calling old friends he hadn't seen in a long time: "Hey, Annie, I'm Hepburn...... Hehe, don't be so surprised, there's something for you to help with...... A little thing, I'm going to publish a photo book...... Have you watched Paradise Love lately? I thought it was beautiful, so I wanted to go there and take a photo album of the island scenery...... Interview? Absolutely, I'd love to do an interview with Harper's Bazaar...... Well, okay, see you tomorrow. ”

Wang Zijun didn't know about Audrey. Hepburn was careful, and after returning from the shower, he sat at the head of the bed absentmindedly flipping through a magazine, but his mind was thinking about buying an American theater chain.

The era of blockbuster studios in the United States has long ended, and it is no longer possible to shoot, produce, and distribute all in one company.

What Wang Zijun thinks is that in addition to the Dragon and Tiger Film Company, he has a separate theater line, and he is fed up with the feeling of being controlled by others.

However, the current mainstream market has been firmly occupied by several major theater chains, and it is impossible for them to take advantage of it. The only way is to learn from Taizu's countryside and surround the city.

It is not impossible, among the major cinema giants in the United States in the future, there is a cinema chain called Carmack Cinemas, and the business strategy of this rising giant is to bypass major cities and only develop in small towns with a population of less than 200,000.

At this time, Carmichael Cinemas has only been established for a few years, and it is currently the most difficult time for development, and Wang Zijun's goal is to acquire Carmichael Cinemas.

But the main thing now is to unite MGM, and the acquisition will be discussed after a while. It is very difficult to run a movie theater in a small town, and it is necessary to establish a system of extremely low-cost structures in order to achieve real profitability. The current Carmichael cinema line is still stumbling and developing, and it is regarded as a small fight, and it is not valued by other cinema companies at all, and Wang Zijun is not afraid that he will be snatched away if he is late.

"What do you want, dear?" Audrey. Hepburn climbed into bed, got into his arms and looked at Wang Zijun.

"Goblin, think again?" Wang Zijun smiled and put down the magazine he hadn't read at all, and took out the villain book from Yun Laodao from the bedside drawer.

The two dog men and women hugged each other to read and study, Wang Zijun turned to a page, pointed to the picture on it and asked, "How about trying this trick tonight 'Xuan Xuan Pengzhu'?" ”

"It's up to you." Audrey. Hepburn glanced at the villain book twice, closed his eyes and smiled shyly.

"You're welcome to be a husband!" Wang Zijun's tiger body was shocked, and he turned over and turned Audrey. Hepburn pressed under him and began to kiss and tease.

(To be continued)