Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 151: Digging a Corner First

"Hi Aaron, good evening!"

Aaron and Jennifer Connelly were leaving the Hotel Marmont when they ran into Paramount film producer Robert Evans.

"Good evening, Robert," Aaron also shook hands with the other party.

Robert Evans can be considered a veteran Hollywood filmmaker, having been in charge of Paramount in the 1970s;

He has now established his own independent film company to produce films for Paramount.

Aaron glanced over and saw actress Sharon Stone and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas not far away!

"The adaptation rights to Ira Levine's novel 'Peeping Tom' were acquired by Paramount, right?"

Last year, writer Ira Levine published a best-selling erotic novel called Voyeur , and several film companies were bidding for the adaptation rights;

I wonder how much Paramount paid to obtain the adaptation rights?
Robert Evans smiled. "$25 plus a percentage of the box office revenue. I've worked with Ira Levine before."

Aaron blinked, "Looks like Sharon Stone will be the heroine, and Joe Eszterhas has been hired to adapt the script!"

Basic Instinct is the script written by Joe Eszterhas, with Sharon Stone as the heroine;
It’s clear at a glance what kind of work “Voyeur” is!
"Is Shuguang interested in investing? Sherry Lansing is now managing Paramount, and she's very willing to collaborate with other companies on film investments."

In response to Robert Evans' question, Aaron simply replied, "So, can Paramount give up the North American distribution rights for "Voyeur"?

“Aaron, Voyeur is not some action blockbuster, and besides, Paramount is not Carlock;”

“So, the investment in the movie won’t be too high!”

Obviously, Paramount will not offer a sky-high salary for "Voyeur" like Carlock did, so that the budget of the film will not be too high. Paramount will not give up the North American distribution rights...

Because Dawn Pictures was always at a disadvantage in the competition for the adaptation rights of new best-selling novels, Aaron came up with the idea of investing in a publishing company;
However, it is better to have a good relationship with some brokerage companies. With them, there will naturally be more advance information. After all, most novels have already sold the adaptation rights before publication, or at least have signed a right of first refusal!
Cable TV stations, record labels, advertising and publishing companies, home entertainment companies, television production companies, and brand licensing departments;

A collectivized media group with diversified copyright monetization models.

Century City, Fox Plaza Building, Aaron went to visit David Komansky, President of Merrill Lynch West, who was responsible for Merrill Lynch's investment business in the West!
Since 1988, Merrill Lynch has become the world's largest underwriter of stocks and bonds, but because the "cash management account" service is now unstoppable, Merrill Lynch's diversified business model has changed significantly.

"Aaron, Merrill Lynch started streamlining its business in the late 1980s, gradually divesting itself from areas like insurance and real estate;"

“Instead, focus on investment banking and retail!”

David Komansky poured Aaron a glass of wine and said, "Hollywood is an important investment for us, and you are the Hollywood movie mogul I am most optimistic about."

"Movie mogul?" Aaron smiled.

"Okay, Dawn may make some acquisitions next, publishing companies, advertising companies, and other small distributors!" Dawn must have enough film and television copyrights to set up its own home entertainment department. The copyright library of Heritage Entertainment is obviously not enough.

"Orion, are you interested? If there are no new investors next year, the bank will take over. Would that be a good time to make a move?"

Aaron nodded. "It depends on the situation. Orion isn't at the end of its rope yet."

Orion is currently engaged in film production and distribution. Didn’t its art label Orion Classics compete with Dawn for “Raise the Red Lantern”?
As Aaron left the Fox Plaza building, he saw Macaulay Culkin and his family, who had just left the 20th Century Fox studios;
This Christmas, 2th Century Fox's ace series sequel "Home Alone : Lost in New York" will be released!

"Hi, Mr. Anderson," Amy Pascal, deputy to 20th Century Fox President Joe Roth, saw Aaron Anderson and came forward to say hello.

"It's Amy, isn't Mr. Ross here?"

20th Century Fox was in a very bad situation. Not only was it heavily in debt due to the massive acquisitions by its parent company, News Corporation;
The movies produced by themselves are not very successful either, with only one being the "Home Alone" series.

Unfortunately, after Macaulay Culkin, the absolute protagonist of the "Home Alone" series, became famous, his family was extremely disharmonious, and his parents controlled his acting scripts and salary;
The huge sales of works such as "Home Alone" and "Baby Baby" have increased Macaulay Culkin's salary to 500 million US dollars, making him the most expensive child star!

"Are you here to visit Mr. Ross? I can contact him, Mr. Ross is at Universal Studios!"

Amy Paschal explains.

Aaron shook his head. "No need. I'm just concerned about Mr. Ross's health."

Because Joe Ross's situation is not good. After Fox Entertainment Chairman Barry Diller resigned on Valentine's Day this year, Rupert Murdoch is looking for a new Fox Entertainment CEO;

Joe Roth was originally Barry Diller's deputy in charge of 20th Century Fox's film business, and he did not seem to have the trust of the parent company News Corporation.

Amy Pascal smiled and said, "Mr. Ross always regretted not releasing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and supporting Dawn's Ghost!"

"Really?" Aaron shook his head. "A lot of people weren't optimistic at the time."

Then, Aaron looked at Amy Pascal again, "Amy, have you ever thought about leaving 20th Century Fox?"

"Huh?" Amy Pascal opened her eyes wide in disbelief. She was 34 years old now and to be able to be Joe Ross's assistant, she must be capable!
"I think you're great. If you leave 20th Century Fox, Dawn would be happy to invite you to be the production manager."

Because now Dawn Steele of Dawn Productions is more like an operations officer, assisting Aaron in managing the overall operation of the company;

The production department now needs someone who can directly participate in the front-line production work of the film!
Of course, Amy Pascal also wants to go one step further and become a producer who can stand on her own.
Moreover, all female producers in Hollywood now regard Shirley Lansing as their role model, hoping that one day they can also become the helmsman of the seven major film groups in Hollywood.

"Thank you, I think I'll think about it!"

Aaron patted the other person's shoulder and said, "Well, I'll be waiting for your news at any time."

(End of this chapter)