Chapter 197 Agency

Nora. Ephron was stunned for a moment, then pointed to himself and said, "Me? I'm just a screenwriter and I've never been a director! ”

Although the screenwriter and director are both storytellers, their professional skills are 108,000 miles behind. While there is no shortage of screenwriters in history who have become directors, Nora . Ephron really wasn't mentally prepared for that.

"Ms. Epron, you've been in the film industry for more than twenty years, and I'm sure you can do this job well." Zhou Shuo said affirmatively.

With Zhou Shuo's character, of course, this was not his temporary idea. In fact, it was Nora in history. Ephron created the classic "Electronic Love Letter", which was miraculously a success despite being her first director. If it weren't for this, Zhou Shuo, who didn't know anything about movies, would not dare to pin the most important part of the promotion of Six Ears IM on a screenwriter who has never directed a movie.

"Are you sure?" Nora. Ephron was still a little skeptical, it was happiness that came too quickly. Although she had been waiting for this opportunity, she didn't expect it to be Zhou Shuo, who she met for the first time, to help her realize it.

"I'm pretty sure, I think only Ms. Ephron can capture the essence of this film and make it a classic." Zhou Shuo's attitude was very categorical.

"Oh, well. I thought I could give it a try, in fact I had wanted to be a director for a long time. "Nora. Ephron looked pleased. Who wants to make a living in Hollywood, whether it's an actor, screenwriter or cinematographer, doesn't want to be a director? Of course, it would be even more perfect if he could double as a supreme producer.

"So, how much do you plan to invest in this film?" Nora. Ephron then asked.

Zhou Shuo shrugged his shoulders. Pretending to be relaxed, he said, "Under 20 million dollars, if Ms. Ephron can bring in other investments." I don't have an opinion either. ”

In Zhou Shuo's opinion, this new version of "Electronic Love Letter" is a big advertisement dressed in the skin of a love movie, if someone really comes to help him share the cost. He's happy to see it happen.

"Twenty million, this movie should be a small production from the script, and the money is enough." Nora. Ephron pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Zhou Shuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the production cost of "Electronic Love Letters" in history is said to be as high as 60 million. Even if the inflation factor of the US economy is removed, according to the price of oil in 1995, it will be 40 million, and he is really afraid that the 20 million in his hand will not be enough to spend. However, the lion's share of the original movie was given to Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, who were probably not worth as much as four years later. There are these two factors. The production cost of 20 million is not necessarily enough.

And Nora. As a well-known screenwriter in Hollywood, Ephron has enough money to pull in investment from other places. Zhou Shuo doesn't expect this movie to make money, as long as Liu'er IM can become popular, how many 20 million will be earned.

"Lady Efron is free to shoot how to shoot it. I have one request though, and I hope you can meet it. Zhou Shuo said cautiously.

"You say." Nora. Ephron nodded, it was normal for the producer to have special requirements, such as using a new person as the main character or having to have certain plots. This is also the power given to investors by the Hollywood producer system. The director's mind can be free-spirited, but it must be constrained by the producer.

Zhou Shuo said sincerely: "That's fast, I hope this movie will be shot as quickly as possible." If it can be done in a month or two, that's the best. ”

"What is this for? Cinema as a work of art. The longer it takes to sculpt, the better the result will be. And some actors also need to take into account the schedule factor. It's not like you can get up fast if you want to. "Nora. Ephron said earnestly.

He really didn't take into account the schedule, so he had to sigh and say: "This movie means a lot to me. I had to get it out before June, or it wouldn't make sense. ”

"Before June?" Nora. Ephron then laughed meaningfully, "I can't see it. Joey, are you still quite romantic? Haha ”

Zhou Shuo was stunned for a moment, and immediately realized that Nora. Ephron was mistaken. But that's fine, he didn't defend himself, he just laughed embarrassedly.

Nora. Ephron thought that he had guessed the reason why Zhou Shuo wrote the script, maybe the plot of this movie was "his real story"? Thinking so, Nora. Ephron felt the need to fulfill this infatuated young man, but he didn't know who this lucky heroine in Lu Dao's life was.

"Well, anyway, I still have two faces in Hollywood." Nora. Ephron patted the arm of the chair and said with great ambition: "I will definitely let you release this movie in June!" ”

"That's a thank you, Lady Ephron!" Zhou Shuo thanked excitedly.

As soon as the direct flight from London to Seattle landed, Blair jumped up as if his butt was on fire, and scrambled to the exit of the cabin despite the flight attendants' arrangement.

As the birthplace of English-speaking countries, although Britain later became the little follower of the big cousin of the United States, there are still three pounds of nails in the rotten ship, and the development of Internet technology is not much behind the United States.

As a result, many British companies have to keep one eye open even when they sleep, staring at what new technology the American Internet industry has developed. As soon as it is determined that it has a market value for promotion, someone will immediately copy it from the UK.

Recently, the six-eared IM, which has been popular in the US market, is not that no one wants to imitate, but first, software development is not as good as making a website, and the cycle is relatively long. Second, Zhou Shuo has already applied for patents for various designs of six-eared IM within the scope of the world. For example, peer-to-peer network communication, online contact lists, vibration alerts, and even floating displays, etc., from the application technology to the design elements of the software, he has all registered them.

The cost of registering a patent internationally alone cost Zhou Shuo nearly two million US dollars. And these patents really stop the efforts of less powerful organizations to develop their own online instant messaging software.

Of course, Zhou Shuo paid such a big price, not just to stifle the market of instant messaging software in other countries, but to make super profits tenfold and hundredfold.

Since the success of the six-eared IM in the US market, even the various international versions have gained a lot of attention in the market. Despite the high connection latency and lack of localization, the number of users of various international versions is still climbing rapidly.

In view of the fact that many European companies want to get the agency rights of the software, and the company does not have so much energy to manage those fragmented markets, the international version of the agency tender is naturally put on the agenda.

Blair's LPGB company is a well-known British network services company, and its traditional email and news business is one of the best in the industry. The rise of Six Ears IM in the U.S. Internet market has also made the company see dangers and opportunities.

If similar software emerges in the UK, it will naturally have a big impact on LPGB's current mail business. But if LPGB can get the agency rights of Six Ears IM in the UK, with its strong number of users, they believe that no one will be their opponent in the field of network communication.

It can be said that the rise and fall of LPGB companies is in one fell swoop.

"Hurry, hurry! We want to make sure that we are the first Britons to be on site! Blair, speaking English with a London accent, patted the driver's seat vigorously.

"I noticed on the plane that there were at least two other people with the same purpose as me! It's just a flight! Blair spat at the company's U.S. office and the assistant sent to Seattle in advance: "Especially that old woman Margaret of CaUP, I must completely defeat her this time!" ”

Under Blair's constant urging, the taxi drove at a gallop to downtown Seattle. The assistant handed over the various materials he had collected to Blair and introduced him: "Judging from the current news, Liuer Software intends to hand over all the operations to agents in other countries except the United States, Japan and China. ”

"Agents can place advertisements on their own through the interface provided by Six-Ear IM. The servers for the software are provided by the agency, but the management is provided by Six Ears Software. In addition, the database is also backed up to the main server in the United States in real time. It can be said that the power of agency companies in various countries is relatively small. ”

Blair flipped through the various documents provided by the assistant and asked, "What about the database of software users, can the agency use it?" ”

"The database is also managed by Liuer Company, and the agency company cannot call it directly." The assistant shook his head and said, "But what Mr. Blair wants to talk about is actually user authorization, right?" This part is fixed-priced, and authentication is possible through the service interface. For each website authorized by the user, the fee charged is one dollar, and the agent and the six ears IM are divided fifty-fifty. ”

"That's it." Blair patted the information in his hand and smiled happily: "As long as you can get the power authorized by the user, this business LPGB is bound to win." ”

The originally empty floor of Six Ears Software Company was filled with staff in a very short time. After the company's business is on the right track, it is no longer the same 20 or so people who can run smoothly. And Yu Qiong did not live up to Zhou Shuo's trust, and managed the rapidly expanding company in an orderly manner.

However, behind such rapid development, there is a crisis in which the company's capital chain is once again tightened.

At this moment, the employees of Liuer Software Company, who were working hard and seriously, suddenly heard an angry shout in the general manager's office.

"What, made a movie?" (To be continued......)