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"Is it over there?"

Seeing James Franco hang up, Murphy quickly asked, "What was the result?" ”

Seth Rogun at the back also moved a little closer.

James Franco put away his phone, "Morris Entertainment was very interested in the film, and the buyout price of $4 million was offered in the negotiation, which is ...... higher"

He shook his head.

Murphy slapped the steering wheel, both reminding his two companions and admonishing himself, "Hold on, there are Lionsgate and Fox searchlights in the back." ”

Back at Stanton Studios, Murphy had a detailed conversation with Bill Rothes, who rushed back later, that Morris Entertainment could basically give up, that the small distribution company could not offer a higher price, and that it was not interested in the distribution of non-independent rights.

Early the next morning, Murphy rushed to Lionsgate, and Milton Johnson and his team also had a very high assessment of the film's market potential.

Hollywood's large distribution companies have mature evaluation systems, and there may be many factors that can affect the success or failure of a film, and they can't make a completely accurate assessment, but there is still the ability to see if a film really has market value.

The selling point of "Saw Horror" is here, and it is impossible not to see the merits of a typical horror film distribution company like Lionsgate.

But they won't give much good terms either.

"Director Stanton......" Mitton Johnson sat behind his desk, looking at Murphy across from him, "Lionsgate has also signed distribution contracts with other companies, and it's not unprecedented. ”

He clasped the table gently, "Thirty percent of the distribution commission is our bottom line. ”

As soon as Murphy was about to say something, Miton Johnson raised his hand and signaled that he hadn't finished speaking, "According to corporate practice, Lionsgate must also own fifty percent of the rights to the film. ”

This is completely beyond the bottom line that Murphy can accept, and even more harsh than Miramax's conditions.

Bill Rothes on the other side couldn't help but say, "Mr. Johnson, you have seen this film, you should be able to see that this is the best kind of horror movie......"

"Bill, you're from CAA and you're well-informed." Milton Johnson sat back in his chair, clasped his hands to his chest, and said with a hint of mockery, "Please tell me, will a movie with great content be a success?" Is it really risk-free for Lionsgate to release this film? Are you guaranteed to generate profits? ”

No matter how thick-skinned Bill Rothes was, he didn't dare to say such a thing.

Miton Johnson continued, "Lionsgate has to take the high risk of publicity, and of course it has to have the expected high score! Otherwise, what do I use to convince the rest of the company? ”

Murphy shook his head at Bill Rothes, signaling that there was no need to talk about it.

He didn't open his mouth at all, Miton Johnson didn't give them a chance to bargain at all, this kind of negotiation was completely the exploitation and exploitation of one side by the other, Miton Johnson was simply tougher than Harvey Weinstein, and there was no need to waste saliva.

Such a condition could not have been negotiated between the two parties, and he and Bill Rothes quickly walked out of Lionsgate's headquarters in Santa Monica.

In the office, Mitton Johnson dialed a phone call, "Jamie, backup plan activated. ”

Murphy and Bill Rothes were in the same car, and Murphy in the passenger seat asked the more experienced Bill Rothes, "Will they still lower the conditions?" ”

Bill Rothes shook his head, "Unless you're willing to sell out the copyright." ”

Murphy said without hesitation, "Lionsgate is listed as the last option for the time being. ”

Hearing the conditions offered by Miton Johnson, he was not even interested in bargaining.

Although it is normal for small companies in the downstream of the industrial chain to be squeezed by upstream issuing companies, it is uncomfortable for the weak party to negotiate with oneself.

"Thirty percent of the issuance fee." Murphy pressed the window glass to let the air circulate outside blow away some of the boredom in the car, "Isn't this a distribution contract from a major distribution company for his own home-made film?" ”

Traditionally, Hollywood's distribution fees are generally 5 to 20 percent.

"It's very simple, your Stanton studio ......" Bill Rothes put his fingers together and gestured with a small gesture, "and other distribution companies can't offer you too good conditions, upstream companies squeeze downstream companies is a common phenomenon in this circle, even if someone offers better conditions, they have room to adjust." Also, other companies offer a 30% distribution commission, which often includes publicity and distribution costs, but Lionsgate does not! ”

Murphy's desire to put on his seatbelt and release his own film has never been stronger.

This kind of thing can not be successfully established in a short period of time, and the establishment of a relatively complete issuance mechanism also requires a large amount of money.

What can be done to break this dilemma? Murphy couldn't think of a good way for a while, and the distribution company's near-dominating advantage in the industry, let alone now, will not change even in another ten years.

He can't sneak into the top brass of these companies and threaten them with a knife, right?

In fact, during the negotiations of "Hard Fruit Candy", he thought about whether to find some Harvey Weinstein insider information in exchange for better terms.

But now is not the past, freelancers can do this, directors can't, so they will only be ostracized by everyone, and it is possible to find no partners in the future.

Think about your goals, and if you want to achieve them, it's a self-defeating way to do so.

As Bill Rothes said, Murphy was contacted by several distribution companies such as DreamWorks that had seen the test screening, and Murphy was like a hard-working ant, constantly going in and out of these companies, but there seems to be an unwritten convention among most distribution companies in Hollywood, and the treatment of small companies is basically a similar face.

The companies offered similar out-of-sale prices, and Murphy had a million-dollar film as a base, and they could also be contracted to release it, but the distribution conditions were basically similar.

In contrast, Miramax's buyout price and the terms of an intent contract are relatively generous.

"We are still facing some second-tier issuing companies, and the first-tier issuing companies are more tough."

After starting the car and merging it into the traffic, Bill Rothes said, "After decades of growth, the giants not only monopolize the distribution rights of their own films, but also rely on their control over blockbusters to 'deter' theaters - in the same schedule competition, the films released by the giants will get more theatrical support and publicity support, so that independent producers can be squeezed out." ”

He shook his head, "In such a market environment, independent producers have to do their best to choose giants to be distributors - unless they don't want to do it on a large scale, which is a prerequisite for a film to make a huge box office." ”

Murphy also knows that Hollywood's traditional six positions in the field of distribution cannot be shaken in a short period of time.

Suddenly thinking of the rumors he had seen on the Internet, Murphy couldn't help asking, "I heard that the six major companies often use distribution commissions to manipulate some films?" ”

"Yes, it's a common phenomenon."

I hadn't talked about this topic before, but now that I've talked about it, Bill Rothes simply said, "They are very clever in their methods, and many times they know that there is a problem, but they are helpless." (To be continued.) )