Chapter 767: Confident Humility
Mabuli is a cafe near the sea. Chinese people discuss things at the table. After the meal, the things are discussed, and then they find a place to have fun.
Foreigners discuss work over meals. After the meal, they find a place to sit down and have a cup of coffee or something to discuss things.
The setting sun shines into the cafe through the glass, giving the cafe a mysterious color. On the beach not far away, a group of tourists are playing, and the noisy sounds come into the cafe, making the slightly dull atmosphere more cheerful.
In addition to Bob Shea, Joss and Yang Dongxu, there is another person sitting next to the coffee table, the director and producer of this play, Peter Jackson.
If it is just a director, then Peter may sit with a few people on another occasion to discuss things. For example, when the contract is signed and the investment is ready to start filming, he needs to communicate with the financial sponsor.
Therefore, Peter is sitting here not because of his director status, but because he is the producer of the film. Whether it is domestic or foreign, the producer's weight in the film is not as prominent as the director at the end of the announcement, but his power is definitely greater than the director, because he can replace the director at any time.
The director's job is to make a good movie, while the producer is fully responsible for script coordination, pre-production preparation, organizing the crew, filming fund accounting, financial auditing, etc.
In short, the director group can only give instructions on what they shoot and strive to shoot what they want. The producer is the first person in the entire crew who has both power and financial resources.
"I'm not questioning Weta Digital, but compared to Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects you made before are really not outstanding.
So the 15-minute special effects limit, you have the production rights for the first 15 minutes, we are satisfied with the effect of the work, and I have no objection to the special effects production of the whole film, and even the special effects production of the remaining two parts, which can be handed over to Weta Digital.
In general, there is only one prerequisite, to produce a work that is enough to convince me to use Weta Digital instead of Industrial Light & Magic. Otherwise, I think there is no need to discuss this business.
I invest money to make money. It is normal for a star to want to be tied to a big movie and become popular, as long as he gives enough acting skills to convince me. Similarly, I agree that Weta Digital wants to take this opportunity to take another step forward, but it must also show its strength to convince me." Yang Dongxu said very directly.
"15 minutes is not enough, at least 30 minutes, special effects are a kind of coherence and mutual foil. Some can be directly produced at the beginning to shock people, but some are progressive and continuously pushed to the climax. 15 minutes is not a scientific time." Peter hesitated and said.
To be honest, in his impression, the yellow race has always been synonymous with being easy to bully. Even the Japanese in developed countries always bow politely when they are hit in the face, not to mention the Chinese who are cautious in everything they do.
But the Chinese in front of him was obviously beyond his expectations. He was particularly tough in doing things and speaking, and there was no room for maneuver at all, which made him very unhappy.
But he could only endure it for the time being. After all, this is a blockbuster with an investment of 9300 US dollars. This is a rare opportunity for both his directorial career and the Weta Digital he founded.
If this play is popular, he can directly join the ranks of first-line directors, and even be among the top ones. Weta Digital may also strive to win an Oscar for special effects.
If it fails, he can also use this blockbuster shooting to accumulate experience, and the same is true for Weta Digital. So even if he is unhappy, he can only endure it for the time being.
"30 minutes is not impossible, but if the special effects are not satisfactory in 30 minutes, do you need to refund all production costs and compensate?" Yang Dongxu asked lightly.
"This." Peter's face paused. Although the 30-minute production fee was refunded and compensated, it would not cause Weta Digital to go bankrupt directly, but it was definitely a serious injury.
You should know that special effects production companies actually rely on fame and technology, and they don't have much assets. When making special effects for a movie, special effects companies basically just need to complete their own work, and they can make money regardless of whether the movie is a big hit or a flop.
Of course, if the movie is a big hit, you can operate award nominations and gain more fame, so that you can raise the price next time and make more money.
And once the special effects production needs to be refunded because the employer is dissatisfied, although Weta Digital will not go bankrupt, it is actually almost the same as bankruptcy. After all, how can it take business after the reputation is ruined?
"How about this, if the special effects production is not satisfactory, just compensate. Two-thirds of the production cost will be refunded, and the refunded money is yours. New Line Cinema will not take a penny. The money for the subsequent special effects investment will be based on the contract investment ratio. However, a confidentiality agreement must be signed for this matter." Bob Shea, who had been talked about all the time, said.
This was undoubtedly a smooth talk, which made Yang Dongxu look at him in surprise. It was obvious that he and Peter were not just friends, and the relationship between the two was probably more complicated. Otherwise, Shay would not have risked the company's loss of money to protect Peter.
"Then let's do this." Looking at Shay and then at Peter, Yang Dongxu was ready to take a step back. After all, everything had been discussed before, because it was not worth arguing about this little thing, 15 minutes and 20 minutes didn't make much difference to him.
However, although he was ready to take a step back, he still emphasized: "According to the contract, except for a few roles that we have decided on, the rest of the actor selection, crew shooting, and final editing are all yours. After that, we will only invest money and review the finances." . But after the filming is completed, I have to look at the quality of the film."
"No problem." Shay and Peter both nodded happily, after all, it was nothing. Anyway, if there is an award ceremony before the release and I want to win an award, I will find some professionals to watch it in advance.
"That's no problem at all." Yang Dongxu shrugged. Just leave the signing to Joss, because he is the person in charge of this investment. "I wish you all a happy night. I don't have many people here." Come on, I have something to do tomorrow, go see my team.”
"Team, you still have a team?" Bob Shay asked in surprise.
"Uh-huh." Yang Dongxu nodded: "I previously acquired a basketball team, the 76ers, and I was very satisfied with the results after the acquisition, so I am going to take these great guys on vacation to relax, and then talk to the team manager. Let’s talk about whether to continue recruiting. My team reached the finals last season, and I also want to get a ring in the new season, don’t I?”
After speaking, Yang Dongxu waved his hand without waiting for anything else from Xie Yi and Peter, and turned to leave with Joss. His boss has left, and Jos has no intention of staying. The contract has been negotiated. I will ask the secretary to finalize the contract tomorrow, and then find a lawyer to review and notarize it. If there are no problems, just sign it.
The only thing left is to assign a few roles to artists signed by Heiner in the United States, and then the filming has nothing to do with him. As long as he pays attention to the financial review from time to time, he can arrange other work during the rest of the time. .
"Do you think what he said is true?" Peter turned to look at Shay, although he knew that he came to Hollywood with the capital to start a career, and he must have a lot of money in his pocket, otherwise this person would be a liar.
But the investment of 93 million yuan in this major production has dispelled the suspicion that the other party is a liar. But Yang Dongxu suddenly revealed that he had a team, and it was the team that made it to the finals last season. This was undoubtedly a huge shock to him who had always been biased against Chinese people.
"There's no need for him to lie about this, right?" Shea pondered and asked.
In fact, the 76ers turned out to be Yang Dongxu, a Chinese team. He was very surprised and even shocked just now. But his self-regulation ability is obviously better than Peter's.
"It's not necessary." Peter adjusted his sitting posture and nodded: "It's just that our partners seem to be stronger than imagined?"
Those who can afford the team are undoubtedly those with strong capital, especially the owners who can afford the team with the ability to compete in the finals. They don't dare to play without any financial resources.
Because no one can guarantee that their team can always win, can be talked about, and can reach the finals. You must know that more than half of the teams in the NBA are losing money. Who can afford it without any financial resources?
"The stronger the partner, the more beneficial it is to us, right? Even if he is Chinese and may have fewer resources in the United States, we have certain resources and he has money. This is the best cooperation!"
"It is indeed the best cooperation, but our cooperation partner is too strong." Being forced into a corner by Yang Dongxu, a Chinese, and having to use the steps brought by Xie Yi to get off the stage, Peter's heart obviously has not changed for a while. .
"Listen to me, man, if you had as much money as him and could afford to play the team, I think you would be more arrogant than him. With so much initiative in his hands, he has shown Chinese humility by making such a concession. It's just that he doesn't give in to what he wants, which makes you look a little ugly." Shay stood up and patted Peter on the shoulder.
It's okay to help Peter in front of Yang Dongxu. After all, the two are friends, and Peter can help him speak to other shareholders about the company.
But when there are no outsiders, Xie Yi will undoubtedly speak more directly, and there is no need to worry about the face of his friend.
"Okay, what you said makes sense. If I had the bargaining chip in his hand, no one else would be able to interfere in this drama, let alone other rights." Peter had no choice but to admit it, so he nodded: "I just hope that this partner , I am still as humble as I am now after I have established my footing.”
"Then it depends on whether he loses money or makes money on this play. Everyone is happy when making money, and they will naturally behave like a gentleman. If he loses money, I will also lose my temper." Bob Shay said.
Although because he holds the equity of New Line Cinema, even if the film company is acquired by Warner Bros., he still has independent management rights over the film company, but there are undoubtedly two different things between having multiple bosses and being the boss himself.
Therefore, the investment in this film is also extremely important to him. If it succeeds, the pressure from Warner Bros. will be much less on him, and he will be able to gain more freedom, and even take back part of the film company's equity. If it fails, maybe he can retain some of his shares, but it's time to give up the position of president of the film company.