Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 159 That's My Beloved
Columbia Pictures attaches great importance to the Asian market.

In Asia, there is Columbia Pictures Asia Ltd. located in Hong Kong, which is dedicated to film development for the Asian market. Its president for Asia is Barbara Robinson.

The reason why she followed Executive Director Tom Rothman here was, firstly, that she had a better understanding of the domestic situation and could give Tom Rothman practical advice, and secondly, to discuss co-production of films.

Columbia Pictures Asia is very familiar with co-productions with domestic partners.

Several very famous domestic films at this stage have the participation and investment of Columbia Pictures.

For example, "Qiu Ju Goes to Court", "Big Shot", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "House of Flying Daggers", "Kung Fu", etc.

It can be said that among the seven major Hollywood film companies, Columbia has the closest ties with China.

However, before discussing cooperation in filming, there is one very important thing to discuss, and that is Cao Yang’s treatment.

"Dear Cao, what plan have you prepared?" asked Tom Rossman.

When negotiating with foreigners, don't be humble or polite, otherwise they will think you are guilty.

"As the producer, director, screenwriter and original author of the novel of this film, I will take 15% of the total box office revenue in advance, including but not limited to box office revenue, home video sales, licensing income from film media, and surrounding income generated."

"This is impossible!"

Tom Rothman shook his head like a rattle. "Cao, you haven't proven yourself in the Hollywood box office yet. You can't get a share of the initial total box office."

Looking at Cao Yang, Tom Rothman said very seriously: "Cao, to be frank, with your current status, you are not qualified to get a share of the total box office.

How about this? I can make the decision and give you 10% of the profits. This is the greatest sincerity from Colombia."

"No, no, no, Mr. Rothman, please listen to me. In addition to the 15% advance share of the total box office, I also want an Oscar for Best Director. "Dirty Milk" must win an Oscar for Best Director."

Cao Yang didn't care about Tom Roseman's frown. Who was the old man performing for? I don't believe that you didn't consider this situation in your plan.

"Young man, you are showing no sincerity. Colombia cannot accept these conditions."

Tom Roseman spread his hands to show that he could not accept it.

"15% of the advance box office share is impossible, and the Oscar for Best Director is also impossible. Warner is determined to win the Best Director. I can promise that Columbia will do its best to win the Best Picture Oscar."

I know Best Director is impossible, otherwise why would I add this one.

"Mr. Rothman, I only want the Oscar for Best Director. As I said before, "Meanwhile Milk" has nothing to do with me. If you win the Best Picture, it will only increase your box office, but it has nothing to do with me."

"No, no, no, dear Cao, you can't think like that. The Best Picture Oscar can increase your reputation tremendously. It's not useless. The Best Picture and Best Director awards can bring you the same benefits."

Tom Roseman began to debate the issue.

Barbara Robinson, the president of Asia, can also be persuaded.

“Director Cao, you are a director who has made great achievements in the field of art, just like the Golden Lion Award you won, which is also the best film at the Venice Film Festival, and is more convincing than the best director award at Venice.

In the same way, the Palme d'Or you won is also the best film in Cannes, which is more valuable than the best director in Cannes, so why do you think the best film in the Oscars is worse than the best director?"

"Barbara, don't you feel guilty for deceiving a young person like me? Are the Oscars the same as Venice and Cannes? Although I am young, I still know these common sense.

The Oscar for Best Picture is mainly awarded to the producer, and it is the producer who receives the award.

Hollywood is a producer-centric system. If I were a professional producer, I would certainly feel that the Best Picture award is more convincing and is also an effective guarantee to enhance my producer's resume. But unfortunately, I am a director."

"Cao, don't forget, you are also the producer of "Despicable Milk"."

Cao Yang followed their example and spread his hands. "I told you, I'm a director, not a professional producer. The Best Picture Award has nothing to do with me."

Of course, Cao Yang is definitely exaggerating. As far as China is concerned, if you say that you won the Oscar for Best Picture, people will not think it is worse than Best Director. They will just think it is equally awesome.

As far as the Americans are concerned, winning the Oscar for Best Picture is of great benefit to Cao Yang. At least it proves that Cao Yang is a very capable producer.

The most immediate benefit is that the remuneration of directors and producers will increase significantly.

The conference room fell into silence for a moment.

Tom Rothman and Barbara Robinson looked at each other, not knowing what to say. In their opinion, it seemed that Cao Yang was bound to win the Oscar for Best Director.

This is the most difficult part.

Columbia had communicated with Warner Bros. Warner Bros. wanted to win over Peter Jackson, give "The Lord of the Rings" a decent ending, and was determined to win the Oscar for Best Director.

"Cao, we have shown our sincerity. The five nominations for the Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Screenplay, were all the result of Columbia's operations."

Tom Roseman explained dryly, then looked at Barbara Robinson, as if he had made up his mind.

"Cao, how about Columbia try to find a way to get "Meanwhile Milk" the Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay at the Golden Globe Awards?" Act, then act for me. The two of you looked at each other, you are fooling a fool.

"Not so good. What does the Best Actor award have to do with me? That was handled by Depp and his agency. Don't take the credit for it. I want the Best Director Oscar."

Tom Rothman had a headache and was most afraid of encountering such a paranoid director.

He thought Cao Yang was a paranoid person, which was understandable. Without a paranoid spirit, he would not have achieved such success at such a young age.

Tom Rothman clapped his hands, looked at Cao Yang and said seriously: "Cao, I will do my best to help "Despicable Milk" strive for the Golden Globe Award for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay.

As well as Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay.

And I promise you that if you want to win the Berlin Golden Bear Award, I will use all my personal connections in Columbia to help you get it.

In addition, I can give you 3% of the advance total box office share on behalf of Columbia. Cao, this is my greatest sincerity. "

Cao Yang curled his lips secretly. This old guy was so slick that he equated "Despicable Milk" with himself. It was obvious that he had no sincerity.

You know, whether it was the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor or the Oscar for Best Actor, it was Depp and his agency who were in charge, but this old guy took the credit for himself.

In addition, Columbia is not the only one operating these awards.

Miramax is doing the same thing for the box office of the movie, and Harvey Weinstein is also an expert at winning awards. If they didn't have confidence, they wouldn't have conducted small-scale previews of the movie in order to comply with the Oscar regulations.

However, they finally started to relent and agreed to give a share of the total box office revenue.

If you are not sincere enough, then just drag it out. I don't believe that you can stop working for the sake of the box office of the movie? As the Golden Globe Awards are approaching, let's see who is anxious.

"Mr. Rothman, I want the Oscar for Best Director. This is the one that matters most to me right now."

"4%, 4% of the total box office in advance."

Tom Roseman slammed the table, stood up, and acted as if he was ready to leave at any time.

"Cao, this is Colombia's biggest concession. If we still can't reach an agreement, our cooperation will not be able to proceed."

Cao Yang shook his head and said, "Mr. Rothman, I still insist on winning the Oscar for Best Director. That's what I've always dreamed of."

Tom Roseman stood up and left.

Barbara Robinson also stood up. Seeing that Tom Rossman had already walked to the door of the conference room, she turned around and took two steps. "Tom, wait a moment."

He turned around again, looked at Cao Yang, and said, "Director Cao Yang, as the president of Columbia Asia, with my authority, I can't agree to more conditions, but I can lobby the board of directors.

In addition to what Tom promised, I will give you another promise: 5%, 5% of the total initial box office. I don't want to see such a meaningful cooperation fail. For this condition, I will go to the headquarters and lobby the board of directors. "

"Barbara, the Oscar-winning best director is my obsession and the love I can't let go of," Cao Yang said with a smile.

With a "bang", Tom Roseman slammed the door and left.

Barbara Robinson sighed and followed to the door.

Reaching out to open the door, she turned around and said, "There's really nothing we can do about the Oscar for Best Director. Warner has already spent a lot of time and energy, and there's no way they'll give up."

"I still stick to my opinion. I value the Oscar for Best Director more."

One plays the good guy and the other plays the bad guy, right?

These tricks are left over from our ancestors. All of your negotiation tricks can be found in the history of our ancestors.

"7%, 7% of the total advance box office, this is Columbia's bottom line."

Barbara Robinson opened the door, looked at Cao Yang, waited for Cao Yang's reply, and acted as if she was ready to leave at any time.

Just now I said that if I get 5%, I would have to lobby the board of directors, but now I can directly commit to 7%.

According to Berman, there are very few directors in Hollywood who can get a share of the total box office, and they can probably be counted on one hand.

In other words, Cao Yang owns the copyright of the novel, and he is also the producer and director, and he is also famous enough to ask for a share of the initial total box office.

The main factors here are the copyright of the novel and the small investment in the film, which makes Columbia less concerned.

Even if it's an investment of 100 million or 200 million US dollars, and you still want to talk about the initial share of the total box office, it's impossible.

Cao Yang just wanted to set a precedent with this low-budget movie. As long as it was successful, he would be able to get a share of the total box office revenue in the future.

(End of this chapter)