In Hollywood, producers, screenwriters, directors, and actors can participate in dividends, but their overall participation in dividends is limited, about 30 percent, and in special cases, it will reach 40 percent. However, this part of the dividend will be shared among all eligible people.

For example, the producer gets 15 percent, the director gets 10 percent, the actor gets 10 percent, the screenwriter gets 5 percent, and 40 percent of the dividends are divided.

Generally speaking, the maximum dividend of a producer is 20% cap, which is a common market in Hollywood, but there is a special situation, if a person is the producer, director and screenwriter of a work at the same time, then according to the proportion of the above example, he can get 35% of the dividend.

There are many reasons why many of the top superstars of the 21st century will put their names in the producer column when they star in their works, but the benefits are certainly a part that cannot be ignored.

In addition, after Hollywood has really entered the era of blockbusters, box office dividends are further divided into two situations, upfront dividends and profit dividends. The so-called upfront dividends refer to the dividends that producers and others participate in the total box office together with production companies and theaters; The profit dividend is after deducting the cost of production expenses, marketing expenses and other costs, and then dividends - in other words, if the film is strong at the box office, then the dividend will be gone.

Only the top of the real top can participate in the advance dividend, and the average big name can only participate in the profit dividend.

However, at present, there are only a handful of actors who are eligible to participate in box office dividends, and the cost of the film has always been controlled at about 100 million US dollars, so what is currently being talked about is an advance dividend. This is also one of the most important manifestations of the producer's status.

Now, Barry is willing to pay Hugo 20 percent of the box office dividends as a salary and producer's profit, which is an incredible figure - because Hugo is only a first-time producer. In other words, as long as "L.A. Confidential" grosses more than $100 million, then Hugo can earn $20 million. This goal is not difficult for Hugo to achieve.

$20 million in salary, this is the highest ceiling in Hollywood at present. But in fact, this standard is even more precious than the movie "Los Angeles Confidential". Because if he was paid purely in cash, Hugo would not have gotten $20 million.

Although Hugo and Jim Carrey are currently members of the "20 million club", this 20 million only refers to high-investment and high-cost commercial films, such as "Tornado", "Independence Day" and the like.

This is a Hollywood convention, because the cost control of the film must be taken into account, if the total cost of a production is only 40 million dollars, half of which is used to pay an actor's salary, it is a disaster for the whole crew; And whether this investment is suitable and whether it can win enough profits will also make the production company think twice.

The same will be true for the 20 million club members in the future. This is also an important reason why many top stars are willing to appear in commercial movies and sequel movies - because the salary can be raised.

In its simplest example, Jennifer Lawrence was paid only $500,000 when she starred in "The Hunger Games," but in "The Hunger Games 2," her salary soared to $10 million, and has since stabilized at $15 million — but this is limited to commercial films, where she starred in "Silver." Linings。 Playbook), "American Scam. Hustle" and other films, the pay was well below $10 million.

Although when Barry mentioned the budget just now, Hugo was calculated according to the salary of 20 million, but considering that the original cost of "L.A. Confidential" was only 30 million, and Hugo's salary alone could almost cover the entire crew, this deal would inevitably need to be renegotiated, and it would be impossible for Hugo to get 20 million in the end.

This is evidenced by the final outcome of Rick and Barry's discussion, and the two sides agreed to pay the film in the form of box office dividends, on the one hand, to let Hugo bear the box office risk, and on the other hand, to match the momentum and status of Hugo today.

Therefore, considering it this way, the 20% dividend can almost be understood as giving Hugo 20 million in another way - or even more, which shows Barry's sincerity. For reference, when Tom Cruise starred in "Mission Impossible" and served as a producer last year, he received a 12% dividend, plus some cash pay.

This is a very complicated account, not only involving one's own salary, but also involving the producer's consideration of the cost of the work. But Barry didn't have a contract with him, he didn't bring a computer, and he went straight to Long Beach in the afternoon after talking to Rick in the morning, and everything seemed to be in ...... Aggressive, it seems to be guiding Hugo towards a "twenty percent" dividend, so what is his purpose?

The right to choose the actors.

There is a lot to do for Warner Bros., and Barry can use the gimmick of "Hugo's New Works" to seek more benefits, and to scavenge the value of the "Los Angeles Confidential" project without missing anything.

If you don't have enough wisdom, it's easy to be led away by Barry - even Rick can't fully understand Barry's calculation in the first place, otherwise even if he agrees to Barry's coming, he will follow him, and he doesn't care if the paparazzi find any clues.

In fact, Hugo is too new to the position of producer, and taking care of numbers is not Hugo's forte. As for the decentralization of the casting work, although Endeavor Elite Agency missed an opportunity, it is not unacceptable - anyway, it is open competition, Endeavor Elite Agency can also participate in the competition, and Hugo is a producer, and it is bound to be tilted, and there is no real huge loss.

Barry almost got his way.

But Hugo clearly knows that there is no free lunch in the world, and a high salary will inevitably mean paying more costs, and the number of Hugo's participation in the program during the "Independence Day" publicity period is clearly stipulated in the contract. Moreover, if he really starred in "Los Angeles Confidential", Hugo also has his own ideas about the cast.

"Twenty percent......" Hugo raised his eyebrows slightly, Barry nodded with a smile, looked at Hugo calmly, and without explaining too much, it seemed that he had put all the chips on the table. But Barry's inner tension is known only to him. "It's a number I can't even imagine," Barry smiled, trying to flatter Hugo, but Hugo didn't give him a chance, "though, before signing the contract, I had two questions. ”

Hugo adjusted his sitting position and leaned forward, "The first question, about the actors of the film, I want to be able to participate in the casting process. ”

As early as the time of "life and death", Hugo already had the right to participate in the casting, and Sandra Bullock was selected by Hugo. However, at that time, Hugo was only an actor, and participating in the casting would be considered a substitute, but now it is not, as a member of the producer, he can participate in the casting with dignity.

Barry heard Hugo's words, but sighed softly in his heart, Hugo is really like the legend, he is not overly obsessed with the salary, even if it is the bait of 20% of the box office dividends, it does not make Hugo compromise. Now Barry knew he needed to pick himself up to deal with it.

"Isn't that a matter of course? Why do you want to bring it up? Barry threw the question back at Hugo with a rhetorical gesture of course.

Hugo didn't hesitate too much, "After reading the script, to be honest, I also had some ideas about the main characters in the script, and found that some of them fit well with some of the actors. Speaking of this, Hugo shrugged his shoulders, "You know, as an actor, there is always a list of things you want to work with, including a list of directors, a list of actors, and so on. I'm pretty sure that all of these actors can be found in the Screen Actors Guild of America. ”

Looking at the light smile on the corner of Hugo's mouth, Barry nodded his chin quietly, Hugo retorted with what he said just now, obviously not so easy to deal with, "I think, the casting director is responsible for the casting work, but it will definitely be agreed by you and Curtis, after all, you are the boss." I believe that as long as it's the Screen Actors Guild, there's no problem. ”

Barry also re-emphasized the Screen Actors Guild rather than being confined to the Endeavour elite agency.

Barry's blocking further confirmed Hugo's thoughts, and he shook his head slightly, "No, I mean, I have a general idea, let's say, the character of Lynn, Charlize Theron or ...... Cameron Diaz is a good choice; For another example, the role of Bard, Alex Lorraine and Will Smith can be competent. ”

In fact, Hugo is saying that he has some ideas for "L.A. Confidential", and since he himself has not determined what role to play, he does not have a clear idea of the cast list, but at least he has some ideas. But in Barry's ears, Hugo's meaning couldn't be clearer, these actors are all Endeavour elite agencies.

Barry thought for a moment, then deliberately showed a wry smile and said in a relaxed and teasing tone, "So, are there any actors from other agencies?" ”

Unlike facing Rick, Barry's attitude in front of Hugo cannot be too tough, but he also cannot be immediately soft. Of course, if Hugo's request is too unreasonable, he can also break up in two. It's just that now Hugo's Hollywood status has risen to a strategic position, and Barry doesn't want to miss this opportunity - and he can't let go of the casting rights of actors, because that's one of the reasons why he handed over the producer position to Hugo, using Hugo's strong influence to further open up the network between Warner Bros. and major agencies.

"Of course, Kevin Spacey, oh yes, and Kevin Bakken." Hugo said crisply, but this made Barry's eyes light up.