Chapter 1455 1455 Key Links

"Hugo, I thought you didn't think like this." Steven looked at Hugo who was talking eloquently, and showed a faint smile. Hugo tilted his head and looked at Steven with puzzled eyes. "Then what do you think I should think?"

"The work comes first, the script comes first." Steven didn't evade this time, and gave his answer neatly, "You should think that as long as my works are good enough, I won't have to worry about finding a publisher or a publisher. Worrying about not selling at the box office is like 'Before the Sunrise'. James just learned that, didn't he?"

Hugo couldn't help feeling a little shy at Steven's words. Although this was indeed his idea, it seemed awkward to say it from Steven's mouth, "I will take this as a compliment." Steven also smiled, "However, my idea is the actor's position, not the production company's position. If the production company operates according to the actor's position, Steven, I believe you know better than me, it will be a What kind of ending."

A production company that can't make a profit can't talk about sticking to art. This is also the biggest problem facing DreamWorks, how to choose between art and business? Steven and David and Jeffrey chose art, so they left the consortium-backed major studios to create independent labels. But everyone knows that if DreamWorks' work doesn't turn a profit, it's only a matter of time before the company goes out of business.

History also proves this.

DreamWorks' finances in 2004 were a complete mess. Although they produced many successful works, there were too many fiasco works, which dragged down the company's finances. Not only did they make ends meet, but the three giants even paid for themselves. Without the support of the consortium, in the end, it could only be dismantled and reorganized—the animation department was independent, the film department was brought under the umbrella of Paramount, and the music department temporarily cooperated with Disney.

When DreamWorks came to an end, many people were very surprised, because DreamWorks released too many great movies. After New Line Pictures went silent, they quickly rose to become the eighth largest film company in Hollywood, and the only one. Independent film companies, almost by themselves, have changed the situation in which Hollywood has been controlled by Wall Street for nearly half a century.

So, the fiasco actually dragged down the company's finances? This is almost unimaginable.

In the final analysis, it is actually the lack of the distribution department. DreamWorks has handed over the distribution initiative to the major production companies. They can only negotiate the price one work at a time, and the harvest is very meager. Yi's box office dividends directly quarreled with Universal Pictures, which has cooperated for many years, and it was extremely humble.

To put it simply, DreamWorks’ works make money, but most of the money is given to the distribution company. DreamWorks does not make any money; while DreamWorks’ works lose money, the risk shared by the distribution company is very small, and most of the losses are attributed to DreamWorks itself. bear. The results are predictable.

"I thought you didn't know anything about the company." Steven looked at Hugo meaningfully and nodded his chin.

In fact, Steven knew all these truths, but he did not have Hugo's "foreseeing" ability and did not have enough understanding of the seriousness of the problem. After all, before DreamWorks, independent production companies never reached the heights of DreamWorks. They were the first to break the deadlock. Before that, all independent production companies handed over the distribution rights to large-scale production companies. film company.

Even if a company like Summit Entertainment started with distribution and then switched to production, their distribution and production are two independent departments - the works produced by Summit Entertainment are not necessarily released by themselves, and most of the works released by Summit Entertainment are Not made by themselves.

Therefore, you can't blame the DreamWorks Big Three for their lack of thoughtful consideration, because they are the first to eat crabs.

Hugo spread his hands, "Maybe my intuition is wrong? I'm not sure." Steven twitched the corners of his mouth and chuckled, "Then I will now stand in the position of an actor and talk about my thoughts, for example I made 'Before Sunrise' and it was shot exactly as I wanted it to be, as if you and David and Jeffrey were sticking to what you wanted..." Steven, who was sitting opposite, supported He rubbed his chin and listened carefully.

Many times, I understand the truth myself, but I still need to communicate with bystanders to clarify my thoughts. Steven was like that at this time.

"But what if I'm just a little screenwriter with no name? Or when I just won the Raspberry Award? Do you think anyone would be willing to release it?" Hugo's question made Steven laugh outright. When he got up, Steven wanted to refute it of course, but Hugo stopped Steven in advance and said, "You can treat it as Richard Linklater's work, will you be interested? Is Columbia Pictures going to spend a million dollars on distribution rights?"

Steven swallowed the words in his mouth and motioned for Yuguo to continue, "Or, I made 'Before Sunrise', and Columbia Pictures is also willing to release it, but they don't have enough confidence in the movie. , they just formulated a simple distribution strategy with the goal of recovering the cost of one million dollars, or they formulated a wrong distribution strategy, like operating a commercial movie, and it was released directly in 2,000 theaters, and the box office failed miserably. , those audiences who are really willing to appreciate it and can appreciate it will miss this work. This kind of thing, if there is a first time, there will be a second time. What do you think about the future works of DreamWorks?"

Although Steven is a director and a producer, his knowledge of distribution is not detailed or professional enough. A truly professional distributor needs knowledge in collection management, marketing, publicity, planning, etc. The value of an excellent distribution company is even higher than that of an excellent distribution company. The studios themselves are more valuable—because they have the ability to turn rot into magic, and they can get audiences to go to the cinema for a bad movie.

Therefore, Hugo's words easily moved Steven, he could not help but completely silent, did not speak any more, but handed over the initiative to Hugo.

"If you want to shoot works according to your own ideas, of course, I believe you must also want to produce excellent works, but they are no longer under the control of the consortium. Then, when you hand over the distribution initiative to the consortium, what do you think What's going to happen?" Hugo asked a question, but he had no intention of answering it, because Steven knew better than him.

It's like when "Shrek" was produced, it was actually quite difficult to distribute. Major Hollywood studios responded mediocrely to this work, especially at that time, Pixar Animation had already risen strongly and competed with Disney in the entire animation market. The unconventional choice of the factory is really too bold. In the end, Steven still relied on his personal friendship to persuade Universal Pictures to complete the distribution work.

"Profit is always the first factor that a film company considers, Steven, you know this better than I am. You are a dreamer, but not an idealist. You know the difference between a dream and reality." So Steven Wen has always had a keen sense of smell in commercial films, "When there is a conflict between profits and works, you know the choices of those consortia, and when you have the initiative of distribution in your hands, then you can make choices according to your own ideas. .

"Indeed, distribution is a business, which is contrary to the creation itself. As an actor, I don't like this, because you directly equate art with money, not to say it is vulgar, but to affect the creation itself, no People can freely control the erosion of utilitarianism; but as a company, you cannot live in a utopia. Even if DreamWorks smells like copper, it is at least in your hands, as long as the dreams in your heart remain unchanged. , then DreamWorks can become the kingdom of independent films.”

Hugo's words made Steven frown slightly, but he didn't think of that. Because Steven is not the same as Robert Redford, Steven has never paid enough attention to independent films. He founded DreamWorks only to gain more initiative and does not want to be controlled by a consortium. But Hugo's words opened up a new world for him.

"If you have a distribution department, you can also help countless other independent films, tap more film talents, and give more people with dreams a chance to realize their dreams. Steven, you know, the big Hollywood studios don't have Leisurely to pay attention to this part, Robert Redford needs help and DreamWorks needs supporters.”

After Hugo said his thoughts in one breath, he finally relaxed for a while. In fact, he wanted to talk to Steven like this a long time ago, but the identities and positions of the two people were too different before, even if it rained. If so, it won't have any effect. Unexpectedly, things turned around, and Hugo finally got the chance.

"As for the distribution department to win more dividends and more profits for you, I don't need to discuss this matter. You all know that those consortiums are demons that eat people and don't spit out bones. They hold the distribution rights in their hands. Will do everything possible to deprive you of your profits. So, you can go back and let your accountant do the math."

Hugo's words made Steven chuckle, but he didn't speak immediately, but thought silently. Hugo's remarks just now were not much, but the amount of information was too large, and Steven needed a little time to digest it. In fact, why doesn't Steven know these truths? It was only explained by a bystander like Hugo, and he was a top actor, especially a top actor who was extremely picky about scripts and works. The thoughts in Steven's mind began to collide violently, producing countless sparks.

Hugo didn't bother Steven either, just holding the red wine glass quietly, feeling the intoxicating aroma. Time has quieted down at this moment, but history has shifted silently.