Chapter Five Hundred and Eighty First My Conditions

Every time I see the soaring box office figures of "The Passion of the Christ", Mel Gibson's pride arises spontaneously. As a person who tends to be arrogant, it is hard not to be proud of it.

But after pride, there is inexplicable irritability.

Because no matter how much the box office figures rise, it will be difficult for him to share the proceeds.

The North American box office of the film has exceeded 200 million US dollars, and how much did he get for selling this film?

Forty million dollars!

Only $40 million!

After excluding the cost of 30 million US dollars, the gross profit is only 10 million US dollars.

This fact makes Mel Gibson feel irritable and dizzy when he thinks about it. All the profits generated by the film have been taken away by the embassy film industry.

Are you willing? Mel Gibson is certainly not reconciled.

Not only him, but anyone else would be unwilling to face a similar situation.

But Mel Gibson only stayed at the level of reluctance, because he signed a copyright buyout contract with Embassy Pictures, and except for the negligibly small share of directors and producers stipulated by the industry union, he It is not possible to share other benefits.

However, the interests are touching, not to mention that Mel Gibson is similar to Ronan in some respects, so he is not a good person.

There is no such thing as good or bad in the face of commercial interests that may belong to you.

Moreover, this is not a few million dollars, nor tens of millions of dollars, but a huge profit of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Since the film was released, Mel Gibson no longer participated in the promotional activities of the Embassy Films. He is not a fool. He knew that the controversy might burn himself, so he kept a low profile and began to prepare for the new film project with Walt Disney. "Revelation".

Michael Eisner stood near the door in Studio Two of the Disney Studios, looking at Mel Gibson who was carefully checking in the studio, and said to Cook Dick, the chief executive of Disney: "This project needs to focus on supporting .”

Cook Dick responded first, then reminded: "Mel Gibson pissed off some people."

Michael Eisner knew what he meant,

He waved his hands casually: "These are nothing, Mel Gibson is still valuable."

Cook-Dick said: "Fortunately, this subject is not as sensitive as "The Passion of the Christ."

Michael Eisner laughed: "There are also a lot of people who are interested in the Mayan culture and the Mayan empire."

Mel Gibson's new project tells the story of the hero who fights and resists the rulers of the Mayan Empire in order to protect himself and his family when the Mayan Empire is about to collapse.

The style of this film has been determined, and it is in line with "The Passion of the Christ". The original and authentic aesthetics of violence has become Mel Gibson's most commendable housekeeping skill.

After experiencing the precipitation of "Braveheart" and "Passion of the Christ", Michael Eisner believes that Mel Gibson is adept at controlling this type of action movie.

Compared to Michael Eisner, who became more and more irritable and domineering, Cook Dick is a rationalist. At this time, he said: "The success of "The Passion of the Christ" is caused by many factors. Mel Gibson's It may be difficult for new films to achieve the same results."

Michael Eisner waved his hand: "It doesn't matter, half of it is fine."

After all, the production budget is not high, only 40 million US dollars.

This is a project that Michael Eisner personally contacted. Although Cook Dick is Michael Eisner's confidant, he can't say too much.

"The North American box office of "The Passion of the Christ" has exceeded 200 million US dollars." Michael Eisner said slowly: "The overseas box office is not expected to be bad."

Cook-Dick said: "There are many predictions that the global box office of this film will be more than 600 million US dollars."

Michael Eisner sighed, and said: "The copyright was sold for $40 million. Mel Gibson's deal is too bad."

"Embassy Pictures' vision is too poisonous." Cook-Dick said enviously: "Relativity Entertainment will make a lot of money again."

Michael Eisner's eyes suddenly sharpened: "Ronan Anderson's Theory of Relativity entertainment is developing too fast, isn't it?"

Cooke-Dick recalled a rumor he'd heard: "It's said that Paramount Pictures and Shirley Lansing suffered a dark loss from Relativity Entertainment."

Michael Eisner rubbed his chin lightly: "According to the current trend, Relativity Entertainment will threaten Disney in a short time."

The Big Six just want fewer studios of the same size, not one more.

The idea here is exactly the same.

Cook-Dick also agreed, but thinking of Disney's current situation, he still reminded: "We should still focus on Disney's internals at this stage?"

Michael Eisner has been self-willed in the past few years, but Cook Dick can listen to what he said, smiled, and said, "That's right, we need to stabilize the interior first."

The traditional forces of Disney headed by Roy Disney are his confidants: "I don't have the energy to take care of outside things, but there are some things that I just need to push."

Cook Dick didn't quite understand, and looked curiously at Michael Eisner.

Michael Eisner said: "Have you been dealing with Mel Gibson a lot lately, and do you think he has a thing for "Passion of the Christ" at the box office?"

"I have an idea." Cook-Dick said pretending to be relaxed: "Not to mention Mel Gibson, the director, producer and investor."

Michael Eisner turned his head and told the assistant who had been standing by: "Find a few people and talk to Mel Gibson in private, how can he not fight for his own interests with such a high income for "The Passion of the Christ" Woolen cloth?"

Cook Dick nodded with a smile, and said to his assistant: "You also do this kind of work."

It's really just a matter of doing it without investing any resources at all.

At the end of the day's work, Mel Gibson accepted the invitation of several partners and went to the bar to drink together. When he returned home at night, he opened another bottle of wine because he was in a bad mood. All smashed.

After thinking about it all night, Mel Gibson called his agent early the next morning. While waiting for the agent to come over, he quickly took a cold shower to let his alcohol-stimulated brain gradually wake up and calm down, but he saw The newly increased box office figures of "The Passion of the Christ" made the already unbalanced heart even more restless.

He was the one who started the project, he was the one who put the money in it, he was the one who made the film, he was the one who started the debate, and he was the one who paid so much for only $10 million in profit.

This is not counting the knife that the tax bureau will cut from it...

It was he who paid the most, and it was Embassy Pictures who took the film and almost made a profit.

The agent quickly rushed to Mel Gibson's mansion. Mel Gibson was a irascible straight-tempered man without any nonsense, and directly told his agent Cameron Sloan what he had considered last night.

"Don't talk about offline revenue, just talk about theater screenings." Mel Gibson said with a snort, "The global box office of "The Passion of the Christ" is expected to exceed 600 million US dollars, even if the embassy pictures are used for promotion and distribution. Counting the investment, the net profit of the film will be more than 100 million US dollars!"

Cameron Sloan didn't answer Mel Gibson's words, but was seriously considering what he had just said.

Mel Gibson's words continued: "Counting offline income, the profit will be higher. And me, the producer and investor, can only get 10 million US dollars in revenue, and the net profit is lower. Is this fair? "

Cameron Sloan could only answer: "Frankly speaking, this is very unfair." But he maintained his rationality, knowing that commercial matters cannot be measured by fairness or unfairness: "We signed a contract with Embassy Pictures. There is a copyright sale agreement, and from a legal perspective, all the income generated by "The Passion of the Christ" has no direct relationship with us."

This was not the answer Mel Gibson wanted to hear. He waved his hand and asked, "Karen, I called you here to ask, how can I get what I deserve!"

Cameron Sloan glanced at him and carefully persuaded: "It's hard..."

Mel Gibson's sharp eyes immediately fell on Cameron Sloan, and said without hesitation: "If you can't do it, I'll find someone else."

"I..." Cameron Sloan was helpless. A irascible customer like Mel Gibson was quite difficult to deal with. After thinking for a while, he said, "I suggest that we first communicate and coordinate with the Embassy Films. "Jesus "The Passion" is a big hit at the box office, and the copyright buyout party should also express it."

Mel Gibson said directly: "10% revenue share or 10% box office share, this is my condition."

Cameron Sloan did not object, and first offered a high-point condition, so that the two parties would have room for bargaining, and said: "I will contact the embassy film industry."

Mel Gibson asked patiently, "Will Embassy Pictures agree?"

Cameron Sloan hesitated a little, and finally said: "The possibility of agreeing is unlikely. After all, we signed an agreement with them."

"What about the legal aspect? For example, I was deceived or deceived." Mel Gibson is a rough guy, and he doesn't particularly believe in the legal aspect: "Should we sue through legal channels?"

As an agent, Cameron Sloan said from the perspective of Mel Gibson's interests, "It's best not to take this step. Embassy Pictures belongs to Relativity Entertainment Group. This company is developing rapidly..."

Mel Gibson interrupted with a wave: "Is it possible to go down the road of prosecution?"

Faced with the employer's request, Cameron Sloan could only tell the truth: "I can go. Generally, this kind of prosecution is settled by the prosecution party through an out-of-court settlement."

Mel Gibson made a decision: "You first communicate and coordinate with the embassy film industry. If you can't satisfy me, find a suitable reason and sue them."