Entertainment tycoon since 83

after one day.

George had already arrived at Huang Ze's office in Xinghai Film and Television, exhausted.

Although he had been on the plane for half a day and in the car for several hours, George did not look tired at all. The corners of his mouth were raised and he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

"Huang, you are finally willing to make a commercial film again!"

"That's right."

"How much money can you make by making commercial films? They have good reputations and win awards."

"With so many good things to do, we have to do more!"

George really doesn't approve of Huang Ze making Chinese-language films.

Chinese-language films are fine, too, with some kung fu, martial arts, and so on.

He had to make some niche Chinese-language art films. Even though they were based on Huang Ze's name, due to their inherent deficiencies, they ended up making just over 10 million US dollars in the North American market.

He knew clearly that Huang Ze wanted to use this to launch an attack on the Big Three.

But you clearly have the ability to both sell well at the box office and win the three major awards, such as "Pulp Fiction". There is no need to give up the box office!
In his opinion, Huang Ze has finally come to his senses and returned to the right path.

"I'm Chinese. Chinese-language films are my foundation. I have to shoot them occasionally, otherwise it will always look a bit weird." Huang Ze explained with a smile. Without saying anything more, he got straight to the point and handed the script to George.

"Oh, I seem to have seen another movie that has grossed over 100 million yuan in North American box office!"

George raised his eyebrows and took a sniff, as if he smelled the fragrance of US dollars, then he flipped through the script and started reading.

After looking for a while, he was stunned.

"This is, Chicago, the twenties, a musical? You want to make a musical?"

"Yes!" Huang Ze nodded.

"How did you come up with the idea of ​​making a musical?"

"Hmm?" Huang Ze looked at George in confusion, "Musicals, hasn't that always been a good category in Hollywood?"

"But things are not the same now," said George.

"The 1930s and 1940s were indeed the golden age of musicals, but after the 1950s, that heyday was gone, with only a good one coming out every now and then."

“But the time span is getting longer and longer.”

“Can you think of any musicals that were box office hits since the 1990s?”

"Chicago." Huang Ze pointed to the script in George's hand.

Huang Ze's confident look made George, who had been wearing a serious expression, suddenly break down and laugh out loud.

Yes!

Why does he need to tell the man in front of him what he wants to take pictures of?
Among the previous films, which one has the potential to sell well?
The cost of making Pulp Fiction was less than 10 million.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a Chinese-language film, and also a kung fu film that has rarely appeared in the North American market.

Later, they continued to use Chinese actors as the leading actors in action movies, followed by an action comedy.

It can be said that apart from "Speed", no other film has the potential to be a big hit.

But without exception, the box office revenue of all of them exceeded 100 million.

Since Huang is confident, why should I hesitate?
Anyway, musicals don't cost much and are relatively popular with the judges. They might even win an Oscar.

Plus, as it’s the first musical film shot by Huang Ze, it’s not going to lose money!

“How much does it cost?”

"Forty-five million dollars."

"What?" George's hand trembled as he continued to flip through the script, and he almost dropped it. He took a deep breath and looked at Huang Ze with a puzzled look, "This is almost the same as your previous two action movies!" "Speed ​​doesn't even have such a high cost."

"It's true that the filming cost was zero." Huang Ze did not deny it, "But the actors and directors at that time didn't cost much either. The male and female leads together didn't even cost three million dollars, and my director's fee was only five million."

"Now I have two more films that have grossed over 100 million yuan, and one more Palme d'Or."

"How much do you think I should be paid as a director now?"

Huang Ze grinned, deliberately showing his two rows of teeth.

"Ten million!" George straightened his back, "You are definitely worth the price!"

"No, less."

"Fifteen million!" Huang Ze extended the index finger of his left hand, stretched out a palm with his right hand, and stared straight at George.

George could only nod his head and said, "Considering that you have never failed, it's worth it!"

"I also plan to find two famous actors for the male and female lead."

"Their salary is expected to be upwards of US$5 million."

"The remaining twenty-five million dollars is for a movie. That's reasonable, right?"

"You've read the script, and there are quite a few large scenes in it. The key is that if you want to achieve the desired effect, you have to shoot again and again, so the production cost will naturally go up."

"Yeah!" George didn't object.

Huang Ze’s director’s salary has been finalized, and the rest will not be a big problem.

This film must have been shot in the United States, and Warner will also send financial personnel to refund or supplement when the time comes.

Could it be possible that Huang Ze could have eaten up all the costs?
He knew that even if Huang Ze could do it, he would not do it.

At this stage, reputation is also very important.

"Let's talk about our investment allocation and the final distribution of benefits."

"Warner will pay 35 million US dollars, and all North American profits will belong to you." You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing the baby. In order to let Warner make a big effort at the Oscars, Huang Ze was naturally willing to give up some money.

"Is that too much?" George asked. "Don't you think it would be better to split it in half?"

"Well, we'll split it in half, each paying 22.5 million." Huang Ze said, "The North American profits will go to me, and the rest will go to you."

"Forget it, forget it, let's just choose the first option." Realizing that he couldn't fool Huang Ze, George smiled awkwardly.

If it were any other film, given Hollywood's current expansion around the world, it would most likely have achieved overseas box office results similar to or even higher than its North American counterparts.

But this "Chicago" is a musical.

The North American box office will almost account for more than half of the global box office, and may even account for 60% or 70%.

Therefore, the party that pays half the money and gets the North American profits is definitely the one that gets the better deal.

"but……"

"Can this offer be a little lower? Thirty-five million dollars, Huang, you offer ten million, but your director's fee is fifteen million dollars. Doesn't this mean that you, Huang, are just the director, and you not only received five million dollars, but also received the profits of this Chicago outside of North America?"

"What do you mean by just a director?" Huang Ze naturally denied it, "I am also a producer and screenwriter."

"Also, George, if Warner feels that the risk is too great and you are unwilling to cooperate like this, you can just tell me. I won't embarrass my friends."

“Perhaps Sony would be willing to cooperate with me and take a risk?”

After Sony, the tycoon, bought Columbia, it has been stuck in a quagmire and has not seen any improvement.

Huang Ze was confident that if he offered the same conditions to the other party, the other party would definitely not be reluctant to give up a mere 35 million.

After all, it costs a lot to add two zeros to this number, so it's just a little bit, so just sprinkle some water. (End of this chapter)