Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 39 Sniper Phone Booth

PolyGram's offices in Los Angeles.

Michael Kuhn and Aaron Anderson sat opposite each other. "The script for 'Phone Booth' is very novel. Are you really planning to shoot it?"

Aaron nodded, "I just formed a company called Dawn Films and am planning to rent an office in Burbank;"

"I have already found a director and actors for 'Phone Booth' and have invested $100 million so far;"

"We're still short of funds, so we're planning to use the international distribution rights in exchange for some of the funds!"

Michael Kuhn smiled and said, "You're quite courageous. You're using your own funds to make a movie for the first time."

Aaron spread his hands and said, "This way, I can have control. I can have full confidence in the movie I control."

"Okay, I really like the script for Phone Booth. How about $30 for PolyGram to get the UK distribution rights for your film?"

Aaron touched his forehead and said, "The male lead is Nicolas Cage. His acting skills are pretty good, and he's from the Coppola family, so he has some publicity points!"

He sighed, "How about $300 million and PolyGram giving the European distribution rights?"

Michael Kuhn shook his head. “PolyGram was originally a music company. Publishing records and movies are different.”

"We can handle the UK ourselves, and we are also looking for agents for other parts of Europe;"

"The budget for Phone Booth was $200 million, Aaron, you're greedy!"

"Theaters, TV stations, videotapes, 'Phone Booth' is sure to make a lot of money," Aaron looked at Michael Kuhn.
"It's much more commercial than Lines, Lies and Videotape!"

"Aaron, North America is the world's largest entertainment market, it's different," Michael Kuhn reminded.

Aaron Anderson gained some fame in the independent film circle for discovering "Sex, Lies, and Videotape."

"How about this, $150 million in exchange for the European distribution rights? That's enough for you to make 'Phone Booth'!"

"This is too low. The current exchange rate of pounds to dollars is around 1.6. One million pounds is about 100 million US dollars." Aaron has never thought about how much money he can make in the European market. His main focus is on the North American market.

"However, 'Phone Booth' will start filming soon, so I need immediate funding!"

"Okay, happy cooperation!"

Michael Kuhn and Aaron shook hands.

He could see that the script for Phone Booth was pretty good, and I'm sure others could see that too;

Seeing that Aaron Anderson spent his own money on the filming, we can guess that he is more optimistic about it. It is not a loss to purchase the European distribution rights for $160 million.

After signing the contract, Shuguang quickly received a check from PolyGram;
And "Phone Booth" soon began filming in Los Angeles!

In downtown Los Angeles, on a rough set on Broadway, Nicolas Cage is making a phone call in a phone booth;

David Fincher, behind the camera, was constantly paying attention to the actors' facial expressions.

Aaron and Quentin Tarantino were standing nearby, talking about something. "You mean, you didn't tell these extras around here the script?"

"Yes, when they're shot and killed later, they'll show the most realistic reactions, and the director agrees," Quentin Tarantino explained. "Bang," a gunshot rang out, and the actor who had clashed with the male protagonist in the phone booth fell to the ground. Sure enough, the surrounding extras screamed in fear!

After waiting for a while.

"Click," David Fincher hurried over to the photographer's side. "How was the effect just now? Did you capture it?"

"OK, very good, I captured a lot of frightened expressions," the photographer said with a smile.

Aaron pursed his lips. Fortunately, these were extras and not passers-by!
A little while later, Aaron received a call from Miramax, who wanted to discuss the release of Phone Booth.

Aaron has been very busy recently. In addition to arranging the office of Dawn Film Company, he is also looking for a North American distributor for "Phone Booth".

Not only independent distributors such as Miramax, Samuel Goldwyn and New Line, but also major distributors such as Columbia TriStar, Disney and 20th Century Fox are pursuing it.

Harvey Weinstein of Miramax and Robert Shaye of New Line were both interested, but the other party wanted to buy out the North American distribution rights, but the price was unacceptable to Aaron!
At night, in a club in Hollywood.

Harvey Weinstein looked at Aaron Anderson and smiled. "Now that you've left CAA, are you interested in joining Miramax?"

"Steve Ross and Lew Wasserman both started out as agents. David Geffen, who recently sold Geffen Records to MCA (Music Corporation of America) for $5.5 million in cash and stock, also started out as an agent."

"You might become one of them!"

Steve Ross, current co-CEO of Time Warner;

Lou Wasserman, Chairman and CEO of MCA, the parent company of Universal Film Group!

"So, you still have to enter the entertainment production industry, and the agent is just a transition," Aaron was not impressed by Harvey Weinstein's remarks.

"For $150 million, the North American distribution rights for 'Phone Booth' are sold to Miramax. If the box office exceeds $1000 million, you will receive a cash dividend of between $50 and $100 million!"

Perhaps the success of "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" gave him confidence and he also had ideas about "Phone Booth".

Aaron smiled and said, "Harvey, my expectations for Phone Booth are much higher than Sex, Lies, and Videotape."

"Besides, I've sold the European distribution rights, so I don't need to recover my capital quickly. If you're willing, we can discuss having Miramax commission the distribution!"

If Aaron had just entered Hollywood, he would most likely choose to sell out his first work because it would make money quickly;

It's a pity that Aaron is not in a hurry now, and the current situation is different from the future. There are countless independent distribution companies and theater companies in the United States, and it will take a few years for independent film companies and theater companies to enter the merger and acquisition wave!
"Of course you can entrust it to a distributor. It seems you are very confident. However, Miramax will charge a 20% distribution commission."

Aaron held his forehead with his hand. "Harvey, Miramax isn't even at the top of the Big Six right now. It's not even in the top tier among independent film companies."

"How many publicity and promotion resources do you have?"

This kind of independent film doesn't have any big-name directors or stars, and it's not an action film, so the share that independent distributors get from theaters is estimated to be less than 50%;

If you ask for a 20% commission, only 30% will be left for the producer. After deducting the advertising fee, there will be even less left for the producer!

You are one of the six major distributors, and your film will be shown in hundreds or even thousands of theaters at the opening. Aaron is willing to pay a 20% distribution commission.

"How about this, after we wrap up filming and see the finished film, we can discuss it later."

Miramax, you really don’t have any sincerity!
(End of this chapter)