Chapter 725: Correct thinking
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Bill Michalnik took Howard Stringer to his office and just sat down. Howard Stringer pulled out a document from his briefcase: "Bill, look first. This one."
Bill Michalick took it over and opened it. The first thing that caught his eye was a photo of a behemoth with a piece of dinosaur on his back. Bill Michal didn’t want to blurt out: "Godzilla?"
"Yes, Godzilla," Howard Stringer nodded. He took the coffee from the secretary of Bill Michalnik and set aside, waving his hand to leave, and continued: "Mr. Izui contacted me yesterday. Passing on this information, Sony headquarters has already started to contact Dongbao, and will soon get authorization. He hopes that we can use the most advanced cg special effects technology in Hollywood to bring this monster to the big screen."
Since the appearance of the first "Godzilla" special film in 1954, this monster image, which was born under the nuclear fear of the Japanese, has spread throughout the world and has gathered a very high popularity. In addition to more than 20 Godzilla films produced by Dongbao, the world's comic strips, animations, toys and other products around Godzilla are endless. This monster image is even produced for many movies involving giant beasts. A huge impact.
Bill Michalnik understands that Sony's top executives must have been stimulated by the box office of Jurassic Park 2 again, and they have come to the whim to produce the cg special effects version of Godzilla. Since the Jurassic Park series is used as a reference, the budget of this project will definitely not be less than 100 million US dollars. However, if this project is launched, it will conflict with his development strategy for Colombia.
After a moment of indulging, Bill Michnik asked: "Howard, Mr. Izui’s specific plan for this project, you know, Colombia’s current situation is not so good?"
"I know what you are worried about. Bill," Howard Stringer said with a smile on his face. "There is no problem with the budget," said Mr. Izui. As long as we can get the project done, Sony is willing to bear $150 million. Within the production budget, and will spend 50 million US dollars for the release work, because he hopes that the first part of the film can be famous, and then make a series like Dongbao."
Bill Michalnick listened to Howard Stringer. There is no joy in my heart.
If Sony saves $200 million for this project, then the future global box office must reach at least 500 million to ensure that the project achieves a break-even. Although "Jurassic Park" has pushed Hollywood's highest global box office record to $1 billion two years ago, Bill Michalnik, who has been in Hollywood for 20 years, knows very well, even now In the case of the overall expansion of the global box office market, it is definitely not an easy task to make a movie with a global box office of 500 million.
Last year's Hollywood film market can be described as brilliant with respect to the past, but it has been a whole year. There are only six films in the global box office that broke through $500 million. Bill Michalnik can think that once this 200 million big project fails again, Sony's confidence in running the film business is likely to be devastating, and maybe it will be withdrawn from Hollywood like Panasonic. Every change of the big film company means the turmoil of the management. At that time, his ceo will face an uncertain future.
After hesitating, Bill Michalk still said: "Howard, when I joined the job, I said that if Sony wants to continue the film business for a long time, in the next few years, it should focus on making low-cost movies. Through this conservative business strategy, we steadily repaired the production and distribution system of Colombia's near collapse. At that time, you and Mr. Imai agreed with my business ideas, and why should I take risks now?"
Howard Stringer explained patiently: "Bill. Mr. Izui’s original words are that Sony wants Colombia to have a very large film series."
"Howard, I just think this decision is too stupid. They should know what it will mean once the project fails. And if the Japanese want to maintain a decent, "Black Man" and "The Game of the Brave" The two series are enough," Bill Michal shook his head and said: "Howard, I think we should convince Mr. Iwai to give up this idea. Even if it is to be done, it should be postponed for two or three years, waiting for Colombia to recover. I will make plans after the effort."
Howard Stringer was born in the media industry. He also knows that he has appointed him as Sony's US branch ceo, hoping that he can revitalize Sony's entertainment business. Not only the top of Sony's headquarters, but Howard Stringer himself, after seeing the box office data of Jurassic Park 2, was greatly stimulated. Therefore, after the Sony headquarters threw out the Godzilla project, Howard Stringer also felt that there was much to be done.
However, he did not expect to come here with great enthusiasm, but did not say a few words, in front of Bill Mischanik touched several soft nails.
"Bill, we just want to get rid of the situation of "Black Man" and "The Game of the Brave", we only need to do this project alone. As long as we have our own ace movie series, we will not be subject to others."
Bill Michalnick still wants to say something, but when he sees Howard Stringer’s serious expression, he realizes that he should not continue to be hard-pressed with the direct supervisor. His tone softened and said: "So, Howard, We can do this project, but I think it's better to postpone it for a year. We know the situation in Colombia. Because of Peter Cooper, since the second half of last year, Colombia's production and distribution business has been half. Stalled, although these months have improved, if there is another year..."
"Bill, this is the decision of the headquarters. There is no room for negotiation. All we have to do is execute." Howard Stringer finally lost his patience and interrupted the words of Bill Michnik. "And, I I don't want us to continue to argue. The board of directors absolutely does not allow Colombia to run out of control again. If you don't cooperate, I will report the situation to the board of directors truthfully."
Bill Michal looked blank and he joined the company at the end of April. During this time, the two people got along well. He even thought that Howard Stringer was an easygoing person. But he didn't expect Howard Stringer to have such a self-sufficient side, even threatening himself, and couldn't help but swear a swearing word. Bill Michalnik thought that Sony had just driven away two straw bags. He also hired an idiot that knew nothing about the film industry.
Howard Stringer used to be a journalist and later served as president of the cbs news department. Although he was in the media field, he has not been involved in the film industry from beginning to end. Hollywood non-professional executives abound, but the current Hollywood seven Jeffrey Kasenberg, Michael Eisner, Shirley Lansing and other helm, including himself, are from the bottom of Hollywood Step by step up.
There is no such thing as a layman, just like Paramount, who was infinitely ten years ago, because the layman of Martin Davis frequently intervened in company management. Only then led to the rapid decline of the company, which was eventually acquired by Viacom.
"Well," Bill Michal shrugged slightly. Although he was very resistant, he didn't want to go to the second job so soon. Since the project was decided by Sony's headquarters, he wouldn't even use it if he failed. Bear too much responsibility if it can succeed. That's naturally better: "Howard, in this case, what are you going to do?"
Although Bill Michal made a compromise on the surface, Howard Stringer could still feel the obvious negative attitude on him. After thinking about it, he said, "This way, Bill, this project is personally responsible for me. The production is handed over to Samsung Pictures. You continue to manage the company according to your own ideas. If necessary, cooperate."
Bill Michalnick felt that Sony executives and Howard Stringer had apparently been spurred by the box office of Jurassic Park 2, thinking that they could make a box office movie at random.
He originally thought about how to completely get rid of this risky project, so that the future project is successful, and the improvement of the company's overall strength is also very beneficial to his management company. If it fails, even if it is faced with the risk of losing the job, look for it. At least in the next job, he does not have to carry this big stain.
"Of course, no problem, you can go out in person, naturally no better," Bill Michal nodded without hesitation, smiling.
Seeing that Bill Michnik no longer resisted the plan, but also deliberately decentralized, Howard Stringer was very satisfied, and felt that he had just spoken a little. He is not really a tough guy. The words that he just said are actually repeated in the private sector. The Sony board does not really want to see an uncontrolled manager in Colombia.
However, he and the top of Sony did not realize that the horse may cause the horse to get out of control, but the reins are too tight, and the result is often to kill the horse.
"So, Bill, do you think Hollywood is the best person to direct this film?" With a calming mood, Howard Sterling asked the temperature.
"I think the first thing we should solve is the special effects problem." Although feeling the feelings of Howard Stringer, Bill Michal is still making up his mind to not mix the matter, so he will not recommend it. The director's choice is just saying: "If you want to use GCG technology to put Godzilla on the big screen, Hollywood can take on the special effects of this project, only the digital field, but after the beginning of the year, our relationship with the firefly is now Not very good, although fireflies indicate that the digital domain is operated separately, but no one can guarantee that the fireflies will deliberately set obstacles for us."
"The special effect of the "Mummy" in the world is not done in the digital field," Howard Sterling thought and said: "The relationship between Michael Eisner and Eric Williams is comparable to fireflies. It’s much worse than Colombia.”
"I think this should mainly be the reason why the heroine Nicole Kidman reconciled from it," said Bill Mitnick. "She is a woman of Eric Williams, and she is from the first section of the Mummy." I got a $30 million sky-high salary, which to a large extent should be considered a global price for the success of the Mummy series."
"If Godzilla can succeed, we can't afford it at all," Howard Stringer said for a moment, "So, do you think we can adopt the same strategy as Universal?"
Bill Michal shook his head and said: "I don't think so. Warner's "Fair Game" released at the end of May, the heroine Claudia Schiff is also a woman of Eric Williams, but this one The action movie costing 50 million US dollars, the first week of the box office is less than 10 million US dollars, last weekend in the "Jurassic Park 2" impact, the weekend three days at the box office fell 57%, only got 3 million US dollars, originally There are also assessment agencies that predict that the film box office can reach 30 million, but now it seems that it can be as good as $25 million."
“I heard about it at a business reception a few days ago,” Howard Sterling said: “It is said that during the film preparation period, Eric Williams predicted that the project would fail, Joe. Silvo made a big change to the project and tried to save it. Unfortunately, it didn't have any effect, but I didn't hear about the heroine."
Bill Michalnik thought that at the formal business reception, people would certainly not talk about these gossips, but only a little more attention to Hollywood. These things are never secret: "In short, Howard, we must first solve the special effects. The problem, secondly, such a big project, it is also very important to find a reliable director, this director is best directed by successful special effects blockbusters."
Although not intended to be blended, Bill Michalk led as much as possible to Howard Stringer to take the right path.
Howard Stringer also immediately thought of the recent Jurassic Park 2: "So, maybe we can try to contact Joe Zhuangston."
"If you can succeed, it will be better," Bill Michane agreed to nod, but he didn't expect much. Since Firefly let Joe Zhuangston take over Jurassic Park, he will definitely be with him. Signing a strict option contract, unless someone is willing to pay a huge amount of liquidated damages for him, or the firefly will be promising to release people, otherwise, Jordan Zhuangston is very unlikely to film for other film companies.
[Immediately 515, I hope to continue to impact the 515 red envelope list, until May 15th, the red envelope rain can give back to readers plus promotional works. One piece is also love, definitely better! 】(To be continued.)