While Simon was with Erin on Martha's Vineyard on the East Coast, Daenerys Entertainment hosted a big party in Los Angeles on the West Coast, still in the mansion halfway up the hill in Palisad, where Malibu borders Santa Monica.

Mainly to celebrate the box office of "Annabelle" breaking 100 million and the complete formation of the Conjuring Cinematic Universe, the creators of "Unruly Night", which has been a box office hit recently, and many other Hollywood filmmakers who have befriended Daenerys Entertainment have also been invited, which can be regarded as a large party for connecting feelings at the end of the year.

First of all, I have to talk about the recent overview of the film market.

Today is Friday, November 15th, and the 1996 Thanksgiving schedule officially opens.

In the past box office week, from November 8th to November 14th, "Annabelle", which was released in the third week, continued to earn $27.29 million with a 21% single-week box office decline, and in three weeks, the cumulative box office of this new series of the Conjuring Cinematic Universe reached $1009.2 million, easily advancing to the 100 million yuan club, and at the same time is expected to hit the first film in the Conjuring Cinematic Universe with a local box office of $150 million.

Another "Unruly Night" produced by Daenerys Entertainment's Gaomen Pictures received another $6.69 million in the fourth week of release with a steady decline of 24%, with a cumulative box office of $35.49 million, basically recovering a total of $20 million in production and publicity investment, and entering the profit stage.

In stark contrast to Daenerys Entertainment's two blockbuster films, there is no doubt the pressure and anxiety of other Hollywood studios in this year-end schedule.

This pressure mainly comes from three movies, the new DC Cinematic Universe film "Wonder Woman 2" released on November 22 and the consecutive "Jumanji" and "Breaking Bad" in the Christmas schedule.

Three super bombshells.

Among them, "Wonder Woman 2" is the first DC cinematic universe blockbuster after "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice", which finally reached $1.938 billion at the end of last year, and the industry expects the film's local box office to easily reach $400 million.

As for "Jumanji" and "Breaking Bad", one is a special effects blockbuster with Stallone, and the other is a blockbuster project that has formed a linkage with the 007 series and is expected to develop into a spy movie universe.

As a result, just three super blockbusters basically locked in the box office of $800 million in the two major schedules at the end of the year, leaving a pitiful space for other studio projects to be used.

Speaking of which, since the schedule of the three films has been announced one after another since last year, Hollywood has been planning to actively reduce or delay the development plan in an attempt to circumvent it.

Sony Pictures, which was really under pressure, simply adjusted the schedule of its $80 million investment Ron Howard and Mel Gibson's new film "Ransom Storm" before the marketing launch at the end of September this year, withdrawing from the scheduled 1996 Thanksgiving Day and switching to the summer of 1997.

The reason given by Sony is that it wants the film to get more post-production time, but an old-school crime action movie, not a special effects blockbuster, where does it need too much post-production time?

It is inevitable that there will be a lot of discussions, which will inevitably have a negative impact on the film.

Sony had to do just that.

Not only that, Sony also brought Barbra Streisand's new film "Double Mirror", which was originally scheduled for Christmas, back to the Thanksgiving file, to be precise, the week before the Thanksgiving file on November 8, after all, it was also to get more turnarounds.

The first week from November 8th to November 14th has passed, and Barbra Streisand has directed and acted in another psychological film "Double Mirror" after the acclaimed "The Stormy Waves of Time", with a production cost of $42 million, 2,489 open screens, and a box office of only $16.08 million in seven days of release, with an average of just over $6,000, and the total domestic box office is expected to be only about $40 million.

However, in the industry comments, Sony has taken a barely good move.

If "Double-Way Mirror" is not raised, but continues to collide with a number of new and old blockbusters during the Christmas period, this feature film with a reputation far inferior to "The Stormy Waves of Time" will only end up being reduced to cannon fodder, even if the local 40 million don't think about it, once the local theater release fails to make a splash at all, the follow-up channels will only be more difficult.

Speaking of the beginning of the Thanksgiving file, the week before the release of "Wonder Woman 2", there were still two strong battles, namely "Space Jam" produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount's classic sci-fi series "Star Trek 8".

Needless to say, the "Star Trek" series is a rare Hollywood sci-fi evergreen, and this sequel cost $45 million.

"Space Slam Dunk" is a combination of live-action and animation films, similar to Disney's box office hit "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" that year, and Warner not only used its famous cartoon character Bugs Bunny this time, but also invited legendary basketball superstar Michael Jordan to participate, costing $80 million and full of ambitions.

It's a pity that there is more than one "Wonder Woman 2" in front of ambition, even if the schedule from November 15th to November 21st is bad. Because of the next box office week, November 18 is the much-anticipated fifth Victoria's Secret show TV broadcast, and November 19 and November 21 are the closing episodes of the second "American Idol" autumn file, even if they are all on weekdays, these two phenomenal TV programs that occupy three nights will still seriously impact the viewing data of the first box office week of the Thanksgiving file.

If it weren't for "Ransom Storm" running away in advance, "Slam Dunk in the Air" might not be able to help but run away.

However, thinking about the summer and end of next year, "Tornado", "Solo Day", "Titanic", etc., in fact, there is not much room for escape, and it will not be able to run until 1998.

In the final analysis, the root of all this is that the current Daenerys Entertainment is too strong, the Hollywood plate is so big, Daenerys Entertainment occupies too much, and the living space of other studios is naturally getting smaller and smaller. In order to avoid the film projects invested in continue to become cannon fodder, the rest of Hollywood's studios will only fall into a vicious circle of being forced to scale back their productions, which will lead to further decline of their own strength.

At a party in a mansion on the hillside of Palisad.

The heads of the two talent agency giants, WMA and CAA, happen to be discussing this issue.

Michael Ovitz, who was also a glory in the 80s, was full of emotion: "If the current situation develops, at most five years, the saying of the seven major Hollywood congresses will become a thing of the past, and I think that when the time comes, Daenerys Entertainment will be dominant at the same time, and at most two or three second-tier brands whose strength together cannot compete with it, and other labels will probably only be left." ”

Now they are all younger brothers, so Jonathan Friedman, who was quite calm when he met his former rival, nodded slightly, and asked, "Who do you think can be left?"

"Backed by GE and owning the DC Cinematic Universe, Warner is definitely one. Even if MGM can make the Agent Cinematic Universe a half. The remaining one and a half places will depend on Fox, Disney, Paramount and Sony, as well as their reserve capital, who can hold on more to death, in addition, there is Simon's attitude. ”

"Considering the News Corp factor, I think Fox should be able to count as one. ”

"Not necessarily," Ovitz said: "News Corp. is News Corp., Fox is Fox, Simon will definitely be friends with News Corp., Fox side, even Murdoch himself is not really very concerned, he prefers to make television rather than movies with too much uncertainty." In fact, I also talked to Eisner about this recently, and he is even more sorry for Disney, which fell into the hands of the French, and the decline is the most likely. ”

Friedman agrees: "Simon doesn't seem to like France. However, for Disney's theme park business, Simon should be interested. ”

"That's for sure, so the Disney label will definitely stay, just like Universal Studios. Moreover, even if Universal Studios is already owned, the current Daenerys Entertainment is enough to eat Disney," Ovitz said and couldn't help but sigh: "It's incredible to have achieved this level in ten years." ”

Jonathan Friedman's expression showed a little nostalgia and smiled: "Every time I think of that ambitious young man when I first met Simon, I feel that everything is normal now. ”

"It's a pity that you got cheap back then, otherwise I would have completely knocked the WMA down. ”

"Frankly speaking, with the terrible situation of the WMA at the time, I thought about changing jobs and doing it with you, but fortunately I met Simon. ”

The two said this, looked at each other and smiled, raised their glasses to each other under the light of this cliffside lawn, took a sip of champagne, and Jonathan asked, "Speaking of which, how is the LinkedIn you and Eisner made?"

"The IPO has already started, and if everything goes well, it will be listed in January next year," Mr. Ovitz said, but he was inevitably worried: "I hope we can catch up." ”

Jonathan certainly knows what Ovitz is worried about, and agrees: "The Nasdaq is crazy right now, I sold out all my tech holdings before the election vote, and frankly, I made a lot of money." However, in the future, I plan to buy back some of the Big Three stocks, which is a long-term investment, and I have absolute trust in Simon. ”

"Heh, I cleared the warehouse earlier than you, it was sold out in early October, and recently my wife complained to me, saying that it was sold early, and I hope to buy some more. ”

"Don't listen to women about this kind of thing. ”

"Of course," Ovitz laughed, "I was a little worried that I couldn't control it, so I simply invested it all in a two-year closed-end fund." ”

"Haha, I suddenly found out that I need this too, can you introduce it to me?"

"Then I'll ask the assistant to send you the information tomorrow. ”

The two were chatting when they saw Amy Pascal, who was six months pregnant, walking with her husband Bernard Wamlabb and hurriedly taking a few steps.

"Good evening, Amy, and Bernard. ”

"Good evening, Joe. ”

After Jonathan said hello, Ovitz also stepped forward and hugged Amy gently, looked at her stomach and asked, "Do you know it's a boy or a girl?"

"It's a boy, and we're going to name him Daniel. ”

"Oh, congratulations. ”

"Thank you. ”

After a pleasant greeting, Jonathan asked about a recent thing that Hollywood has been paying attention to: "Amy, I heard that "Titanic" in Australia is very troublesome now?"

"Yes, Tom has already flown to Brisbane to keep an eye on it, but fortunately, if nothing else, it will finally be finished next month. ”

Michael Ovitz was also curious: "What does Simon mean, I remember he went on vacation to Australia last month?"

Amy didn't know what to say about her boss, recalling the whole project, she always felt that her boss was deliberately letting Cameron get out of control, anyway, the current 'big ship' can't be done without two hundred million dollars, but of course this kind of thing can't be said to others casually, just said: "Simon has been staring, everyone has a headache." ”

Jonathan reassured: "It's okay to do this once in a while, Hollywood has always been like this, you should rest more now and pay attention to your children." ”

"Thank you, Joe, for being so sweet. ”

The two did not ignore Amy's husband Bernard, and chatted with each other about some current events after Clinton's recent re-election.

Since she is in her current position, it is impossible for Amy to have much time to rest, and when she saw that the three men were talking about the topic, she greeted her and left alone, and walked to the main creators of "Annabelle" to express her due congratulations.

As the most powerful woman in Hollywood at this time, she happened to be pregnant again, and all the guests took the initiative to greet her attentively and cautiously along the way, and some people couldn't help but be envious when they saw Amy chatting with the director of "Annabelle".

The director of "Annabelle" is named William Malone, 43 years old this year, another typical late bloomer.

Or maybe it's not a late bloomer, William Malone raised $70,000 to shoot his first sci-fi horror feature film back in 1980, which sold well after its release, and later won a Saturn Award nomination for his second work, and was invited to be the director of the drama version of "Ghost Street".

It's a pity that then he fell into the TV circle.

Although he signed a harsh long-term contract with Daenerys Entertainment, and his autonomy as a director is pitiful, with the success of "Annabelle", William Malone has also become famous in one fell swoop, and tonight he has experienced a feeling of stars holding the moon, a 43-year-old middle-aged man, facing the closeness of various big and small coffees around him, and even has an urge to cry.

Hollywood is like that.

There is never a shortage of talents, what is lacking is only opportunities.

When Bernard Wainlawb found his wife, Amy had just finished socializing on the crew of "Unruly Nights" and was talking to Linda Vargas, only to hear about "Saving Private Ryan" when she walked in.

"That's what Simon meant, Steven's strength is undoubted, and we are not involved in anything other than sending an accounting team to follow up on the finances this time. By the way, the actor of "Chrono Contact" has dragged on for so long, does the list you gave Simon a few days ago have eyebrows?"

"Well, Simon finally chose one this time, from Australia, named Hugh Jackman. ”

Amy thought for a while, but she didn't have any impression, but said: "That's good, if the movie starts early next year and the actor can't be figured out, Bob will be crazy, I really don't understand why Simon is entangled in such a small role." ”

Linda laughed: "Simon said he was very religious, and if he chose an actor who didn't look like a priest at all to play a priest, he would have a shadow." ”

Amy just wanted to roll her eyes.

After a few more conversations, Amy waited for her husband to greet Linda, and took him by the arm and walked to the other guests.

Separated from Amy, Linda Vargas looked a little in the crowd of guests, locked on to the target, and walked straight over.

Several men and women who were chatting saw Linda approaching and stopped talking to say hello.

Simon Westeros's royal casting director is hotter than any big director or big producer in Hollywood now, because big directors and big productions may not make actors popular, and the opportunities given by Simon Westeros's spokesperson are much higher.

Linda only nodded slightly to the others, and motioned for a little girl to come to the railing near the cliff with the short-haired man in his thirties who accompanied her.

The man's name is Scott Lambert, he is an agent under WMA, a very ordinary kind, and the most famous customer under his name is only the level of Keefer Sutherland, the son of veteran actor Donald Sutherland, and there are also some child actors, just like the girl next to her at this time, 12 years old this year, who has just played a role in "Annabelle", named Scarlett Johansson.