Lance picked up the champagne in his hand and took a sip, cooling his burning stomach a little with the cold taste.

Surrounded by people in formal and evening dresses, almost all of them strangers, as if standing at the intersection of New York's Times Square, full of pedestrians and traffic, no one would stop for themselves. It's just that this is not Times Square, but a grand pie. Clothes and sideburns, bright lights, drunken gold...... The luxurious and flamboyant aura slowly entwined under the soles of the feet, like a piece of quicksand, making people fall deeper and deeper unconsciously.

In the past, when I was in Diorama Pictures, it was basically Ryan and Tucker who participated in this kind of pie as representatives, and this was the occasion they were best at. But now, the responsibility must be borne by himself.

Lance searched the crowd for Brad Gray, the future head of Paramount, who obviously came to the Sundance Film Festival with a goal, although Paramount Pictures is not the first choice of independent film distribution companies, but Brad's emphasis and affirmation of independent films is Lance's best opportunity.

What's more, in addition to the release of "City of God", it is also time to take the next step in capturing the trap of Diorama Pictures, and today is the perfect occasion.

Sure enough, Lance saw Brad talking to Niki-Caro, and her "Whale Rider" had its premiere this morning, winning the hearts of audiences again - the film premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival and won the People's Choice Award in one fell swoop, becoming the biggest winner, but unfortunately, the distribution rights of the film still did not sell, so he missed the entire awards season and now has to come to Sundance for opportunities.

If Chaos Pictures still had the activity funds, Lance would seriously consider pocketing the distribution rights of "Whale Rider", but now he obviously has no room for that.

Lance decided to take the initiative and took a step away with a champagne glass, but after only two steps, the road in front of him was blocked by a figure, and a thick and slightly thick figure walked out directly from the side, blocking Lance's way, "I didn't expect us to meet here again." ”

Standing in front of him was actually Harvey Weinstein, which surprised Lance a little, but it was only a flash, and soon Lance regained his composure and showed a polite smile, "Really? Don't you come to Park City every year? Lance's simple words are full of irony.

This is Sundance, the place where Miramax Films rose and which the Weinstein brothers don't miss every year. Presumably, they have already gotten the list of participants for this year's film festival, so naturally they will not miss the "City of God". Therefore, Harvey's words were obviously polite greetings in social situations, but Lance directly pierced it.

Harvey didn't expect Lance to stab himself as soon as he came up, but he was quite experienced in dealing with such a scene, so he laughed unhurriedly, "But you don't meet geniuses every year. ”

Lance paused, didn't answer immediately, and looked at Harvey with a slight eyebrow, as if trying to find something in his expression, and then he frowned slightly and said, "So, you think I'm a genius?" This is a rhetorical question, but the teasing confidence in the words shows that Lance is at ease.

Harvey chuckled and laughed, "Are you always so arrogant?" ”

Lance shrugged his shoulders and rightfully said, "Maybe geniuses are like that." After saying that, Lance also asked rhetorically, "Isn't it?" In terms of arrogance, Harvey in front of him is also famous in Hollywood.

Harvey couldn't refute it, and the smile on his face not only did not fade, but became brighter, "There is often a thin line between self-confidence and arrogance, isn't it?" The meaningful words hit back from another angle, worthy of the old fox who has been in Hollywood for nearly a decade, "More importantly, even if he is a genius, he still needs help after all, because he is not an all-rounder." For example, issuance. ”

Lance knew that Harvey had come to him for the right to distribute the "City of God".

Every year, Miramax makes several deals in Park City, and Harvey is generous and decisive, often making decisions that are done in a flash of light, and then getting the deal done before anyone else. This is also one of the important factors why Miramax is now able to lead the awards season every year: cast a wide net and select carefully, the Weinstein brothers have been laying out the net since Sundance at the beginning of the year, and continue to cast the net throughout the year, and then select the seeded players at the end of the year, and focus on the academy's public relations to lead the awards season.

So, "City of God" has received numerous positive reviews since its premiere yesterday, and while the future is still uncertain, Harvey has plenty of reasons to make a move.

It's just that Lance didn't expect that Harvey actually skipped the polite link, went straight to the point, crisply and neatly, without dragging the mud and water, especially not long ago, Harvey played and rejected Lance's "City of God" in person, but now Harvey has not the slightest estrangement, and everything is based on interests, even if he backtracks and slaps himself, even if he risks being humiliated by Lance, he does not hesitate, showing the strength and decisiveness of the hero.

This decisiveness made Lance think highly of Xavi again.

Lance didn't answer immediately, and Harvey wasn't in a hurry at this time, and after the two of them were in short combat, a blank suddenly appeared, which seemed a little weird, and then Lance showed a smile and asked rhetorically, "How do you know that the distribution rights are still in my hands?" ”

So far, the distribution rights of "City of God" are still in the hands of Lance, although the film has received rave reviews and is in full swing in the past two days, everyone is a fox, everyone is waiting and watching, and no one is in a hurry to make a move. In particular, the peculiarity of the "City of God" is even more secluded than that of the "Whale Rider", so for the time being, no party has contacted Lance to negotiate the release.

Harvey Weinstein was the first.

Objectively speaking, "City of God" was handed over to Miramax Films for distribution, which was a perfect cooperation. Lance agrees, but that doesn't mean Lance nods lightly. For the sake of profit, Lance is willing to abandon his previous suspicions and cooperate with Harvey; But also for the sake of profit, Lance doesn't mind shouting prices all over the sky, sitting on the ground to pay back, and knocking Harvey hard.

Of course, this is playing with fire, and Lance knows this very well.

In the face of Lance's calm rhetorical question, Harvey was not flustered at all - at least on the surface, but he began to mumble in his heart, of course he knew what Brad's presence in Park City meant, and he knew better than Lance that Brad was exploring the way for Paramount to enter the independent film field this time, so Brad was bound to make several deals here. This is also the reason why when Harvey saw Lance walking towards Brad, he put aside all calculations and went directly to surround Lance - he wanted to give Lance better conditions before Brad and take the situation into his hands as much as possible.

It's a game, it's true for Reims, it's true for Xavi.

"Because I'm going to make a condition you can't refuse." Harvey's understatement has a strong confidence, which reminds people of Vito Corleone in "The Godfather".

Lance raised an eyebrow slightly, then smiled expectantly, "Really? Try. ”

"One and a half million dollars." Harvey gave a very high price as soon as he opened his mouth, at the Sundance Film Festival, the distribution rights of independent works are generally less than two million dollars, and occasionally there are a few ultra-high amounts of three million or even five million that are enough to sensational the entire market, but due to the particularity of independent films, the general price cannot be too high.

Considering that "City of God" is only Reims' debut novel, and it is also in Portuguese, one and a half million dollars can indeed be called a good price. Harvey, the old fox, has a very accurate and unique vision, and his grasp of the price is also very accurate, because Lance's psychological price is between two hundred and two hundred and twenty million.

However, Lance was not in a hurry at this time, but laughed heartily, "Harvey, are you serious?" ”

It's the first time Lance has picked up a guide, but that doesn't mean he's a rookie. Harvey remembered Lance's previous experience at Diorama Pictures, and knew that he couldn't be like fooling those independent new directors, so he didn't hesitate and said directly, "One million and eight million." ”

Lance frowned this time and shook his head, "Harvey, do you know how much the 'City of God' costs to make?" ”

"I'm a businessman, that's not something I need to think about." Xavi's refusal was also crisp and clean, and he needed to think about his own profits, not Reims's. However, Harvey's words were humble and polite, and he still showed enough friendliness.

"I'm also a businessman." Lance's answer is also very simple, "The cost of making the 'City of God' is three million dollars, so what do you think?" ”

Harvey frowned slightly, it was absolutely impossible to spend three million dollars to buy the rights to the "City of God", but as Lance said, they were all businessmen, and they all had their own considerations, so it was not unusual for Lance to be dissatisfied with the price. After thinking about it, Harvey spoke again, "Two million and two hundred thousand dollars." After saying that, after a pause, Harvey raised his right hand and made a stop gesture, "This is the final offer." The subtext is that the "City of God" is only worth the price.

Lance didn't care about Harvey's strength, but lifted the champagne and took a sip, "Mr. Weinstein, do you really think that I will sell the distribution rights by way of a buyout?" ”

What does that mean? That is to say: the quotations of the two people just now were all empty talk, and Lance had no intention of nodding and agreeing from the beginning, but just ...... It's just playing Harvey. Even Harvey was full of concentration, and his facial expression couldn't help but stiffen at this time, and he breathed a sigh in his chest, unable to dredge it.

Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi, feng shui in turns, but Harvey didn't expect that retribution would come so quickly.