Chapter 1496: Fuck It

During the period in mid-April, Simon was mainly concerned with the upcoming 1999 North American summer program.

This summer, the most watched movie project is undoubtedly "Star Wars Prequel: The Phantom Menace". , Lucasfilm made the decision to move the film's release date to Wednesday, May 19.

In addition, the film will hold a charity premiere in some major North American cities on May 16. Tickets with an official price of 500 US dollars have just started pre-sale recently, and they have already been sold more than ten times. Even some diehard movie fans have recently set up tents directly outside the theater where the charity premiere is planned, as if to see the film for the first time at any cost.

Under such a momentum, all other films in the summer file can only avoid its edge.

Daenerys was not surprised either.

As the recent merger of MGM, Fox and Lucasfilm is advancing, as one of the behind-the-scenes bosses of the new company that is about to be established, Simon has seen the finished film in advance.

In general, Star Wars fans who have waited for more than ten years may be disappointed again.

Why do you say 'again'?

Because of the previous Star Wars prequel series, it was very disappointing.

Especially the first part of the prequel in 1999. At that time, the media's evaluations were basically 'mediocre', 'dull', 'stylized', 'lack of soul' and so on, and the word-of-mouth of the film directly failed.

To put it more bluntly, George Lucas screwed up.

Of course, as the "Journey to the West" of Americans, the feelings of a generation, the film is still very successful commercially, but it is not limited to this. Everyone was having a good time, and then, there was not much after that.

This kind of screw-up can be clearly seen from the box office trend of the former prequel trilogy. The domestic box office of the first prequel reached 470 million. When it came to the second part, because of the disappointment of the first part, the sentimental score was greatly reduced, and it directly fell to 310 million, the third part rebounded to 380 million because it was the finale, but the gap with the first part is still very obvious.

So much so that later, when Disney restarted the Star Wars series, Lucas was still regarded as the backbone of the promotional level, but in the actual creation process, there were only three words for the founder of the Star Wars series: You go away!

George Lucas complained publicly about it, and as a result, nothing came of it.

Because even the viewers who have deep-rooted emotions for the Star Wars series are "traumatized" by the prequel trilogy, and their inner cos is probably similar to Disney: you go away.

It is conceivable that if the prequel trilogy is good enough, fans will definitely rebel if they dare to kick Lucas out when Disney restarts.

The actual reaction has already represented everyone's attitude.

As for another failure of the prequel series, the general public may not care much about it, but Simon remembers it very clearly.

That is the failure of the entire line of peripheral products.

Since the birth of the Star Wars series in 1977, we all know how successful this super IP peripheral is. Therefore, from the start of the prequel series project, a large number of collaborators rushed to the door crying and holding money, hoping to obtain the production authorization of the prequel series peripheral products.

However, due to the unsatisfactory reputation of the first part of the prequel, the sales of various peripheral products that had been confidently prepared in large quantities were far below expectations. In order to obtain the authorization, everyone paid an expensive advance payment in advance. As a result, most of the products this time The surrounding cooperative manufacturers all ended up with huge losses.

From Simon's current standpoint, it is expected that the result of the first episode will only be good for the Westeros system.

The key one, which can minimize the variables of the merger of the three companies.

Even if the merger of the three companies has been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Justice for review, if the first prequel is a big success, it is hard to say whether Lucas will change his mind temporarily, or even have the right to publish the prequel trilogy. Fox, too, may backfire.

Now, as long as the business trend of the first prequel is the same as before, Simon can be sure that the other two will honestly promote this merger that is actually beneficial to everyone.

In addition, for this movie, Simon also focused on another thing.

George Lucas plans to use a certain number of all-digital screenings of the film during its release.

Simon is absolutely supportive.

For traditional film distribution, the cost of thousands of rolls of film copies is often a very large expense. If digital screening can be implemented, this part of the cost can be reduced to almost nothing. Not only that, once the digital projection becomes popular, the 3D mode, and even the 3D-imax mode, will be promoted more easily and quickly.

In recent years, Daenerys has been researching, developing and popularizing related technologies for new film projection modes such as 3D and imax. Digital projection is actually an important direction. It's just that Simon was not in a hurry before, but he didn't expect that Lucas would start to explore the way first, and Simon was of course happy to see the success.

Of course, the Star Wars prequels belong to others after all, and Simon still pays more attention to his own related projects.

This summer, even with the strong pressure of the Star Wars prequels, among the projects that Daenerys Entertainment plans to launch, not to mention other low-cost genre films, there are three super blockbusters that focus on special effects, namely " Godzilla, Armageddon, and The Matrix.

The three films are scheduled for June 11, July 2, and July 23 respectively, plus some other small films, which still cover the entire summer vacation.

Simon's box office expectations for the three films are basically 200 million US dollars, 300 million US dollars, and 400 million US dollars. And for the entire summer, Daenerys needs to earn at least $1 billion at the box office to qualify for Simon, including other small and medium-sized projects such as "Ghost Story 2" and "Fight Club".

Mexico, San Lucas.

After dealing with work, women, children and unborn children, Simon finally sneaked out again and flew to the manor here for a vacation on weekends.

It's April 17th.

Saturday.

Last night, it was a ridiculous night with a group of "ring fat, swallows and thin" that Chen Qing just sent. By the petal swimming pool of the manor, the sun was warm in the morning. Simon, who was snuggling with two gentle girls on one side, was feeling a little drowsy.

Work hard.

Hearing the greeting, Simon opened his eyes and saw Li Fuzhen, but pushed away the waist on the right hand side so thin that Simon couldn't help but push the girl away with his hands, and patted his side: "Come on."

Li Fuzhen is wearing a very real light blue ol suit. From a distance, seeing a group of Yingying Yanyan in cool clothes outside the pool here is unavoidable and inexplicably delicious. At this time, seeing a man say this, it is like calling a cat. , frowning slightly: "Mr. Westeros, I have something serious to talk to you about."

He became even angrier as he spoke.

I have been waiting here for several days, and I came to Mexico from Los Angeles, so I saw someone.

Nasty guy.

Simon opened his eyes and glanced at the slightly angry girl, and said with a smile: "If you want to talk about business, then we can only make an appointment again. Now is my rest time."

Hearing this, Li Fuzhen couldn't help but glared over.

Thinking of that night... what a fickle guy.

It's just that if you want to turn around and leave, you still hold back. Short body carefully sat down on the edge of the recliner that the slender girl gave up just now, looked at the man in beach shorts and sunglasses holding the petite girl on the other side, and wanted to get up and leave for a while.

Simon has always been sympathetic to women, but he didn't want to really drive the girl away. Seeing Li Fuzhen staring at him with a rosy face, he finally sat up, patted the other one away, stretched out his hand, and directly pulled the girl sitting on the edge of the recliner over, covering him Kissed.

I don't know how long it took, Li Fuzhen, who was taken by the maid again to the next wooden house to change into a swimsuit, returned, her face was still rosy, but this time it was obviously different from not long ago.

He walked slowly to the edge of the pool, trying to refuse but still winning, and then was caught by Simon who had already entered the water.

It is definitely a kind of enjoyment to be able to swim in a pool of water in the dry desert climate. Li Fuzhen also felt drowsy after being hugged by a man out of the pool, dried off and returned to the recliner.

so tired.

Like a cat, she lay on the man's broad chest and enjoyed it for a while before finally remembering that the lower leg was entangled with the man and kicked: "Let them all go."

Simon agreed with a smile, and gave instructions to the waitress behind him.

The surrounding Yingying and Yanyan soon disappeared.

Seeing this, Li Fuzhen completely relaxed, and felt inexplicably grateful when he was relaxed, thinking that he was very considerate of him, and then felt that he was worthless, thinking about the bunch of women just now.

Nasty guy.

My thoughts turned and turned, and I spoke again, and I said, "You, Simon, I mean, do you want me to put on sunscreen for you?"

After finishing speaking, I felt that my conversation was too old-fashioned, which seemed to be a common joke in those soap operas.

"I don't like to put those messy things on my body." Simon refused casually, put the stickers around the woman's slender waist, and said with a smile, "It's good like this."

Li Fuzhen hummed, and after waiting for a while, he whispered: "I came this time because I want to..."

Simon interrupted: "Sleep for a while, let's talk about it at lunch, you just exhausted me."

Li Fuzhen was stunned for a moment, his face blushed again, and he really wanted to open his mouth to bite him.

Just now, it was clearly herself... Almost broke.

So he just closed his eyes and didn't speak, and really fell asleep.

feel good.

It was already past noon when I woke up again, and I came to the wooden house by the pool. Instead of wearing a swimsuit all the time, I insisted on changing into a casual home attire, and had lunch with Simon in a restaurant.

A seafood specialty from the Mexican side.

Probably because I was very hungry, I felt that the dishes were very good. After complimenting me, I curiously asked the man across the table: "This is all yours?"

Simon nodded: "I will take you to the sea in the afternoon, diving, fishing, and you can spend the night on the yacht at night, how about it?"

Subconsciously wanted to agree, but couldn't help it, stared at her and asked, "If it wasn't for me, would you be with those women, um, fishing, diving, and spending the night on a yacht?"

Simon shook his head without hesitation: "Of course not."

Knowing that he was lying to himself, he was still quite satisfied.

It feels so silly.

So I stopped entangled, but did not forget to nod slightly, and then continued: "I am here this time, it is about the casino in Jeju Island, that, I am in charge of some hotel business at home, this time is a good opportunity , on Jeju Island, Simon, can Samsung be involved?"

Simon didn't answer immediately, but asked instead: "How do you know about this?"

Li Fuzhen blinked his eyes before he understood, and gave the man opposite him another look: "You think what you did in Korea is very confidential

what? "

Simon was stunned, and shrugged again: "It seems that many people have been robbing Jeju Island to get eight gambling cards recently."

Gambling licenses are actually very rare.

Perhaps in the imagination of ordinary people, the countries and regions that open up the gaming industry should be the kind where the streets and alleys are full of casinos.

Actually not.

Whether it is Las Vegas, Macau, or South Korea, the number of formal gambling cards is often one or two hands. As for others, they are often illegal casinos.

Therefore, the eight gambling cards in Jeju Island are actually quite a lot. However, because the current Jeju Island is far from being as prosperous as it was later, the combined gaming output value created by the eight gambling cards only accounts for a little over 20% of the Korean gaming industry, while the other 80% is concentrated in the park. There are only 4 gambling cards under the group.

When Li Fuzhen saw the man asking, he didn't hide it, and the corner of his mouth curled up in a small smile: "Our Samsung has quietly bought one, so even if you don't agree, we can do it."

Simon just shrugged: "Speaking of which, in San Lucas, I also wanted to develop the gaming industry, but unfortunately I didn't make it."

Li Fuzhen didn't understand why this corner suddenly turned, but subconsciously followed the man's thinking: "Why?"

Simon said with a smile: "Because doing it here is likely to affect the business in Las Vegas, so a bunch of people lobbied me not to do it, and gangsters sent bomb threats to the team trying to prepare related projects here, Although all the gangsters here were killed and fed to the fish, I still gave up the plan to open a casino, I don’t make much money, and I will provoke a lot of people, so it’s not worth it.”

Li Fuzhen understood now, and stared at him unconvinced: "If I must open a casino in Jeju Island, will you kill me?"

Simon looked at the past seriously, until Li Fuzhen felt hairy all over his body, and then he heard him say: "Honey, I'm a civilized person."

Li Fuzhen raised his chin slightly, with an air of arrogance that I don't believe but I'm not afraid of you either.

Simon also curled his mouth and said with great interest: "By the way, I can take you to find a certain place in the afternoon, maybe you can catch a skull."

Li Fuzhen's slender body shrank subconsciously, knowing that the man was still scaring him, but the fluffy feeling was a little more, he insisted on looking at him for a while, and finally his face collapsed, and he said aggrievedly: "Okay, I just don’t do it, and the gambling card is transferred to you.”

Simon nodded slightly in satisfaction, and then said: "Don't do the casino, it will involve a lot of things, and you don't need to get involved. However, on Jeju Island, just an entertainment complex under planning can't eat up all the markets. , Samsung can make a second one, such as hotels, duty-free shops, casinos, etc., and then rent the venue to part of the Paradise Group as a casino.”

This is obviously acceptable.

Li Fuzhen, who had been sluggish at first, regained his spirits, confirmed that he didn't mean to tease him anymore, and looked very serious, so he became a little more high-spirited, and said confidently: "If I want to build an entertainment complex, I don't have that much money, and my father doesn't have much money." If you can’t take it out, you can lend me some.”

Simon knew that this girl used to manage the family's hotel business well, so he was very straightforward: "No problem."