Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 223: Is It Still an Independent Film Company?

At the end of August, Shuguang TV officially launched the project for "Insomnia Cafe" and entered the preparation stage. The script was also renamed "Friends" according to Aaron's wishes.
At the same time, Aaron also specifically gave Jennifer Aniston's contact information to the two persons in charge, David Crane and Marta Kaufman!

However, the real good news is that CVC agreed to sell AMC Cable Network, selling 1% of the shares for $80 million, and Charles Dolan retained 20% of the shares himself.

"It's a pleasure to work with you. Shuguang will definitely make AMC a TV station with high ratings." The other party didn't increase the price much anyway, so Aaron naturally agreed to the other party's request.

"I believe in you!"

Charles Dolan smiled and said that since AMC was in his hands and had no competitiveness, he would let the young Aaron Anderson manage and operate it.

Because AMC mainly broadcasts some classic old movies, it lacks competitiveness in new movies, and its fees are cheap and its advertising fees are not high;

But Aaron is sure to change. AMC must have its own dramas, and in addition to broadcasting old films, new films will also be broadcast.

Afterwards, Aaron met with Jovan Adams, the current head of AMC, and said, "Let's put the premiere of ER, which Dawn is producing, on AMC next year."

"AMC is also going to set up its own production department to produce its own dramas. I will find someone to be in charge of this aspect.

“Also, with the new movies coming out, AMC is also going to join the competition!”

Jovan Adams nodded and agreed to Aaron's arrangement. "TBS is establishing the Turner Classic Movies channel TCM, which is our direct competitor.

"AMC has cooperation agreements with several major Hollywood film studios, but TCM's entry into the competition has increased our costs significantly."

Aaron shrugged, "When does it air on TCM?"

"next year."

TCM is backed by the TBS Group, which is not comparable to the Dolan family's CVC Group. The size gap is too large.

If TCM also wants to enter the old film market, it will indeed be a direct competitor of ACM, and a richer competitor!
"Ted Turner, I've met him before. He also intends to enter Hollywood."

Aaron knocked on the table. The TBS group is probably the second largest television group after CBS/ABC.

TBS's current market value should be similar to Viacom's, but its debt is not low.

The Piano Lesson was released in North America in August. Although Aaron didn't pay much attention to it, it grossed over $8 million at the North American box office within a month of its release.
It seems that Aaron has more expectations for another "Farewell My Concubine"!
At the same time, another film directed by Chinese director Ang Lee, The Wedding Banquet, was released in August. The distributor was Samuel Goldwyn Films and it won the Golden Bear Award at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.

The box office of "The Wedding Banquet" was pretty good, and it exceeded 1000 million US dollars in North America.

As the second film in Ang Lee's "Father Trilogy", he also directed "Pushing Hands" which was released two years ago and received praise from many film critics!

Dawn owns an art film label, Crescent Films, and would certainly be interested in Ang Lee, but the North American distribution rights for the final film in his trilogy, Eat Drink Man Woman, already belonged to Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Aaron met Martin Fisher, the co-founder of Castle Rock and CEO of Castle Rock Entertainment Group, while attending a cocktail party at the Carlyle Hotel in New York!

"Turner Broadcasting is also planning to acquire your Castle Rock Entertainment?"

Aaron was a little confused. "I heard that Ted Turner has his eyes on New Line Cinema."

New Line Cinema has its own distribution system and theater chain, while Castle Rock is just a production company. Martin Fisher shrugged, "New Line Cinema acquired our Castle Rock partner Nielsen Entertainment and became our new partner;"

“Turner Broadcasting is not only acquiring New Line, but they’ve also made an offer for us at Castle Rock!”

This year, there has been a precedent after Miramax was acquired by Disney, where independent film companies have joined large entertainment groups.

Aaron smiled and said, "It seems that the future of Hollywood independent film companies is always bound to be recruited by big studios."

Martin Fisher looked at Aaron and said, "Unless you can be like me, Dawn's current development is at its peak;"

"Even the six major film companies feel threatened by you. Moreover, you just acquired a cable TV station. Congratulations to you."

Strong, popular, and precise, Shuguang Films has achieved the ultimate in being an independent film company. However, with the number of commercial films Shuguang has developed so far, can it still be considered an independent film company?

"It's a good time now. The economic recovery has boosted Hollywood," Aaron said, looking at Stallone not far away.

"Clarks of Valor, starring Sylvester Stallone, seems to be doing pretty well, right?"

Martin Fisher followed Aaron's gaze and looked over. "Yes, $8400 million in North America, plus $1.7 million overseas, for a total global box office of $2.5 million."

"Carlock Films seems to have released another good film."

Like Castle Rock, Carlock is a film production company and has signed distribution cooperation agreements with Sony Columbia.

Aaron smiled and said, "This should be Stallone's most popular and highest-grossing movie in recent years!"

"Aaron, in terms of performance, there's no way they can compare to Dawn Pictures, right?"

Martin Fischer was helpless. Not to mention the several art films that Dawn made in the first half of last year, just look at Dawn's performance in this summer season. Who wouldn't envy it?

Although Four Weddings and a Funeral only grossed $5000 million in North America, it earned $2 million overseas and $2.5 million worldwide, the same as Cliffhanger.
However, "Clarks of the Valley" is an action blockbuster with an investment of 7000 million US dollars, while "Four Weddings and a Funeral" is a low-cost comedy with an investment of less than 1000 million US dollars!

"The Mask of Zorro," with a North American box office of $1.4 million, $1.5 million overseas, and $2.9 million worldwide;
"Speed", which is still in theaters, has already grossed $1.1 million in North America, and has now exceeded $1.8 million overseas.

Even the art film "The Piano Lesson" has performed well overseas. It has now exceeded 3000 million US dollars in North America, and it has already reached 7000 million US dollars overseas!

Aaron raised his glass and clinked it with the other party's. "Haha, let's drink, Martin."

"By the way, how's the Shawshank Redemption filming going at Castle Rock?"

Aaron himself likes this movie very much. Compared with "Forrest Gump", "The Shawshank Redemption" is more touching.

"'The Shawshank Redemption', because the director is a newcomer, so the filming process was a bit slow;"

"It should be finished in October."

(End of this chapter)