Chapter 189 Buyout

"50% distribution commission? The distribution fee has to be calculated separately?" Xu Ligong understood Hollywood's distribution rules and said: "Mr. Anderson, this movie is released in North America. I remember that the North American distribution commission is not About thirty percent?"

Ronan's complexion is very fair, but his heart is dark: "That's right, when a Hollywood movie is released in North America, the distribution fee is usually around 30%. But! Director Li, Mr. Xu, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" It's not a Hollywood movie, it's a foreign-language film! You only distributed it locally in Zhongguo, and now we're talking about the distribution rights of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in overseas markets!"

Li An and Xu Ligong looked at each other, and found that what the other party said was so reasonable, they suddenly felt speechless.

But Xu Ligong is a businessman, so he immediately put this aside and said: "The distribution fee is too high. Director Li is a well-known Hollywood director. He has a wide reputation in North America. This alone can attract a large number of audiences."

Now that he was talking about business and he was sure that he had a favorable position, Ronan's words became sharp: "Two, with all due respect. Director Li's previous two films, "Ice Storm" invested nearly 20 million U.S. dollars, and the North American box office was only 8 million. Dollar."

He glanced at Li An and said, "I'm sorry, Director Li. I'm just telling the truth."

Li An only had a slightly cramped smile on his face.

Ronan's words were not finished yet: "The production cost of "Ride with the Devil" released last year was as high as 35 million U.S. dollars, and the North American box office was only... 630,000 U.S. dollars. The overseas copyrights are still in the hands of Universal Pictures and cannot be sold. .”

These are all available data, and Li An and Xu Ligong can't refute them at all.

"Because of these two films." Ronan said directly: "Director Li is on the blacklist of many Hollywood companies, isn't it fake?"

Now that he has his eyes on this film, Ronan will definitely make full preparations: "Director Li's previous two films failed, and this "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" has a distinct authorial style, and the risk for the distributor is very high. It's impossible for the two of you to let us take the risk alone?"

Xu Ligong turned his head quickly, and said: "Mr. Anderson, let's not discuss other things. You are proficient in oriental culture, and you must know that there are a large number of Chinese in North America. Among them, there are countless lovers of martial arts movies, and their thinking has long been Westernized. potential audience."

Ronan smiled and said: "As a martial arts film, the form of expression in this film is not good enough, and the setting of martial arts movements is also too romantic, fully emphasizing the scenes of elegance and lightness, which makes people seem not happy enough Although the history of Chinese martial arts is indeed very respectful of swords and qi,

But the concept of martial arts is far more than light and elegant, right? "

"I was sitting among ordinary audiences at the premiere. Do you know how they commented on this film?" Ronan didn't need anyone to answer, and said directly: "Many audiences at the scene said this is a science fiction film!"

Hearing the word science fiction, both Xu Ligong and Li An's faces turned dark.

Regardless of these, Ronan continued: "Don't talk to me about ideas or other metaphysical things. I'm a publisher, and I only talk about marketing and business. The subversive martial arts form and content of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" treat traditional martial arts films Fans are not friendly. In the eyes of ordinary Western audiences, this kind of flying film is simply science fiction.”

He looked at Li An and Xu Ligong: "Don't forget, this is still a foreign language film! How much risk does the distributor have to take for such a film with inherent defects?"

Ang Lee seemed to have been hit a bit, and he didn't say a word. The fiasco of "Riding with the Devil" had damaged his confidence. At this moment, he couldn't help wondering whether it was a mistake to shoot "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".

But after all, he was a relatively determined person, and he quickly stabilized his mind.

For a moment, Xu Ligong wanted to give up the negotiation and simply sell the film to Miramax for 6 million US dollars.

After all, a businessman is only interested in profit, and he will not let go of the opportunity to make more money. Xu Ligong said with a dark face, "50% of the total revenue is too high. Unable to explain to the partner."

Luo Nan frowned, as if he was very embarrassed, and he said after a while: "Director Li, Mr. Xu, I like the martial arts culture in the East. The great chivalrous ones serve the country and the people. I was moved by it. I also want to Recommend what I like to more people, but I also have to be responsible to the company and employees, and I can’t do business at a loss.”

These words are full of voice and emotion, fully showing a person's struggle and hesitation between hobbies and business.

Ronan always believed that the people with the best acting skills in the world have never been Oscar winners or winners of acting awards at the three major European film festivals, but businessmen and politicians.

"For what I like, I can take a step back." Ronan said.

Xu Ligong was overjoyed, this ghost really likes martial arts?

Ronan calmly threw out the real condition: "Embassy Pictures buys out the North American copyright of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and bears the risk!" He gritted his teeth and said, "$5 million, a one-time buyout! "

Hearing this number, Xu Ligong was dissatisfied, but the other party finally made a concession, which showed that there was something to talk about.

Selling out the North American distribution rights might be an option, and it can guarantee stable income for the producers, and the risks are all grafted to the distribution companies.

"The price is too low!" Xu Ligong didn't realize it at all, and was already following Ronan's rhythm. He also dragged Miramax out as a negotiation condition: "Harvey Weinstein of Miramax told me I have been in contact with it, and I want to buy out the North American copyright of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" at a lump sum of... $7 million."

Ronan's heart moved, but there was no expression on his face, and he said, "You really want to cooperate with Miramax. Director Li must have heard of Harvey Weinstein."

Ang Lee didn't speak.

Ronan thought of the Harvey Weinstein buyout case he had seen in his previous life, and asked, "Miramax wants to buy out the copyright in one go. Do they want to pay in one go?"

Xu Ligong immediately heard that there was a problem.

"Isn't it?" Ronan immediately guessed: "Could it be installments?"

He said directly: "As far as I know, Harvey Weinstein used installment payments to deceive the producer more than once. He initially bid 6 million US dollars, but others didn't rob him after seeing this. He gave A deposit of 2 million U.S. dollars, and the rest will be paid after the film gets its income, and then it will be delayed, indefinitely, the contract is signed overseas, and the prosecution is very cumbersome..."

Li An looked at Xu Ligong, Xu Ligong understood what he meant, and nodded his chin quietly.

When it was time to step on competitors, Ronan never hesitated: "The conflict between Miramax and the parent company Walt Disney is extremely acute, and the conflict between the Weinstein brothers and Michael Eisner is even more irreconcilable. -Eisner has been working hard to take back Miramax's independent management rights for the past few years. In this way, the Weinstein brothers can only step down from Miramax, and then they have to pay in installments, and the difficulty will increase exponentially. "

This time, it was replaced by Xu Ligong, who didn't know much about the inside story of Hollywood, and looked at Li An, who also nodded lightly.

There was a trace of cold sweat on Xu Ligong's forehead. The situation was confirmed. What does this mean? He was almost cheated by Harvey Weinstein!

At that time, even if it takes several years to get the money back, how will the time cost be calculated? What about the costs incurred in case of legal proceedings?

This Miramax is a trap!

Ronan said: "I can guarantee that the embassy film company will pay the buyout fee in one lump sum." He raised the conditions in a timely manner: "8 million US dollars, a lump sum payment. I can only say sorry if it is higher."

Xu Ligong quickly calculated in his mind that the public production cost of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was 17 million U.S. dollars, but in fact it was only 15 million U.S. dollars. North America alone could recover more than half of the cost...

After all, martial arts films belong to the minority in North America.

Xu Ligong sighed secretly, and then looked at Luo Nan, who had no intention of continuing to speak, and was just waiting for his reply.

"I need to think about it for a while." Xu Ligong was very cautious: "Mr. Anderson, I will give you an answer in a while."

Ronan nodded and said, "Yes. But don't make me wait too long. I haven't been in Cannes for long, and I'll leave before the closing ceremony."

Xu Ligong said: "There is still a week before the closing ceremony, and I will give you an answer within five days."

It was also impossible for Ronan to force Xu Ligong to respond immediately, saying, "Yes."

Speaking of this, there was basically nothing to say, Ronan shook hands with Li An and Xu Ligong, and left the coffee shop.

In the next few days, Ronan continued to look around at the Cannes Film Festival, looking for other impressive films, but to no avail.

For many of the art films he remembered, the North American copyrights were priced at millions of dollars, and even if they were bought and distributed back to North America, there was not much profit to speak of.

In addition, Ronan also saw Sophie Marceau in person at a premiere, and also went to exchange a few words.

Whether it is Aunt Su or Aunt Mo whom I met earlier, these two screen goddesses who take off their clothes in the movie are as ordinary as drinking water and eating, they can make people clearly feel the sadness of a beauty's twilight.

Fortunately, these two have left countless masterpieces of art with both scale and depth on the screen!

If you think about it carefully, how many little lives in the world have died in front of their artistic lens.

Perhaps, they have also made outstanding contributions to limiting the unlimited increase of the global population.

Ronan remembered that the marriages of these two people were very unfortunate. Haven't Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci discovered it? The two of them are a match made in heaven!

These two great gods get together, and it's touching to think about it.

If Sophie Marceau and Monica Bellucci starred together in a real masterpiece of art, such as a romantic action movie, it would be a sellout.

Four days before the end of the Cannes Film Festival, Ronan received a call from Xu Ligong, and Zongheng International Pictures agreed to hand over "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to Embassy Pictures for distribution.