I’m in Hollywood

Chapter 259 – The Lion Opened Its Mouth

 

After reading the script, Eric found that there were many differences in detail compared to the actual movie he remembered, but the main plot remained unchanged.
Therefore, when he shoots it in the future, he can easily modify these details.

 

Most importantly, Eric didn't find the song “Unchained Melody” in the script.
The reason why “Ghost” became a classic has a lot to do with the famous “Unchained Melody”.
It can be said that the song is a sublimation of the entire story.
If the insert song was changed to any other one, “Ghost” would never have been as classic as it is today.

 

Eric, sure of the power of the “Butterfly Effect”, was certain that, if the script was not directed by him, “Unchained Melody” would not appear.
Other changes would also be made, and if the script were made into a movie, it would take a miracle to achieve half the results of the past.

 

He closed the script and looked up, asking Bruce: “Mr.
Rubin, I have already read the script.
While there are many places that need modification, it's still good overall.
How much do you plan to sell this script for?” Bruce's eyes glinted slyly behind his glasses, and rather than answering Eric's question, he asked: “Mr.
Williams, what do you think needs to be modified?”

 

Eric stared at Bruce, shaking his head, “It depends on the situation when shooting.” When Bruce saw Eric say this, he didn't continue to ask.
He even felt that Eric's words just now were probably meant to lower the price.
He was confident that the script, which he had revised in detail many times, would not need many modifications as Eric had said.

 

“Actually, Mr.
Williams,” Bruce said, “at the party last night, I promoted my script to some people, and many of them were interested.
Mr.
Charles Jaffe of Paramount promised that if I sold the script to them, he would not only personally act as the producer and fully support the shooting of the movie, but also let me serve as a co-producer and share in the profits of the movie.”

 

Eric smiled coldly in his heart.
Without changing his expression, he asked, “Mr.
Rubin, how much profit sharing does Paramount plan to give you?”

 

Bruce hesitated, wanting to increase the figure, but he didn't dare to tell such a blatant lie.
Thus, he said honestly, “In addition to a 300,000-dollar script fee, Mr.
Jaffe also promised to give me a 1% share of North American profits.”

 

“So, do you think that if this screenplay is made, it could have how much box office success?”

 

Bruce smiled proudly.
“Mr.
Williams, since you like this script, I think it can get at least 100 million dollars, or even more.”

 

Eric said, “You see, even if you give it to other directors to make, the box office can still reach 100 million.
According to the production cost of 20 million and the promotion cost of 10 million, you can only get a commission of 250,000 US dollars, which is less than your basic script fee.”

 

“Of course, I know that,” Bruce shrugged.
“That's why I'm here today, Mr.
Williams.
I don't know how much you plan to offer for this script?”

 

“Fifty thousand,” Eric said.
Of course he wouldn't price it too high at once; otherwise, there would be no room for negotiation.

 

Bruce Joel Rubin gave an incredulous look, raising his voice: “Mr.
Williams, is a script worth one hundred million at the box office, only worth fifty thousand?”

 

Mr.
Rubin, don't be naive and always talk about what one could expect from a hundred million box office, okay? Before a movie is released, no one can predict how much it will make.
So, let's discuss how much you would like to receive?

 

Bruce extended three fingers and gestured to Eric: “Three million.
I also had two scripts made into movies before, so I am familiar with Hollywood's so-called profit sharing.
I don't want profit sharing; I want 1% of the North American box office share.”

 

Even though Eric had some mental preparation, he was still taken aback by the exorbitant price Bruce proposed.
Even he himself had never received such a remuneration; the original script for Return to Seventeen was the lowest priced at 200,000 dollars, without any royalties.

 

Subsequently, for films such as Little Devils at Home, the investor was himself, so in order to prevent future disputes and tax-related issues, the contract clearly stated the remuneration for the scriptwriter and director.
For example, in the recently released “The Others”, the investment of which was only $5 million dollars, and as the scriptwriter, he did not get the basic script fee, but enjoyed a 3% share of North American profits.
According to the box office trend of “The Others”, this money was likely only one million.

 

Eric leaned back in his chair and shook his head with a smile: “Mr.
Rubin, the price you are offering is simply unbelievable.
No Hollywood scriptwriter has ever gotten such treatment.”

 

“No, no, no,” Bruce said, offering a small compliment to Eric.
“Mr.
Williams, compared to the profits this movie can bring, my price is not too much at all, right? Maybe the actor of just one movie will get much more than me.”

 

“You're wrong, Mr.
Rubin,” Eric replied.
“I don't get that much either.
The income that was reported in the newspapers was the total after I took on the roles of investor, director, and scriptwriter.
If I were just a scriptwriter, I wouldn't even get a tenth of those numbers.”

 

“Mr.
Williams,” Bruce continued.
“How about being honest with me? This script is like my child, and I hope there will be an excellent director to make it into a movie.”

 

Eric felt contempt in his heart.
He despised those who always said that xxx was like their child.
While some of them were genuine, most were just pretending.

 

Upon hearing Bruce's words, Eric realized that the middle-aged man before him must be of the latter category; otherwise, he would be discussing the script's content instead of asking for a monetary amount.

 

“Three million dollars for the basic script fee and box office split is out of the question,” Eric said.
“You mentioned that Paramount will be providing a script fee of $300,000 and a 1% profit split.
I'm willing to offer the same price.
Mr.
Rubin, I guarantee that my 1% will be more than Paramount's 1%.”

 

Bruce Joel Rubin immediately shook his head: “Mr.
Williams, I understand your sincerity, but this offer still seems too insincere.”

 

Eric wanted to demonstrate his sincerity; he was not a stingy person.
However, with the greed of the middle-aged man in front of him, Eric understood that if he raised the price too high, the other party would likely go to other film companies to ask for a higher “price of sincerity”.

 

“Mr.
Rubin, I have been very sincere.
My first script only got me $200,000 with no royalties.
Now you still get 1% of the profits.
To be honest, I just think your script is good.
This is the first time I have tried someone else's script.
The risk is great; it may ruin my reputation in a moment.”

 

Bruce took the script back and put it in his bag, then said, “Maybe I should go to other film companies to show it.
Last night, I received a lot of business cards.” Eric stretched out his hand and made a casual expression, adding, “Please, but I don't think anyone will offer a higher price.
And even if you go back to Paramount, according to the film's production and publicity costs, the box office must reach $60 million to break even.
I don't think you will make a lot of money from the box office, because I don't think your script can be directed by someone else and get a high box office.
And if it fails, maybe no one will dare to take your script anymore.”

 

Bruce Joel Rubin hesitated slightly after hearing what Eric said, and still got up to say goodbye.

 

Watching the other person leave, Eric shifted his attention to work and didn't think about it anymore.
Although Bruce Joel Rubin was a little greedy, he was still a smart person who could make a smart choice.
Perhaps the other person does not understand the significance of his last words now, but eventually he will.

 

Since the script was ruined, no one was willing to accept his subsequent scripts.
Therefore, if this script was turned into a movie, then Bruce Joel Rubin's scripts would become highly sought-after.
The only one who could guarantee the script would be filmed and sell well was Eric.

 

It had to be said that Bruce Joel Rubin was a person who could remain patient.
For the following week, he did not contact Eric, and Eric heard no news about the script “Ghost”.

 

At the same time, “The Others” achieved 25.54 million at the box office after its second week of release, although it did not decline as expected, the drop of less than 5% exceeded everyone's expectations, and the total box office has accumulated more than 52 million, which is more than ten times the cost of the film.
Initially, some Disney executives were concerned that Michael Eisner's injection of twice the promotional funds might not be able to recoup the cost.
However, after two weeks of release, Disney has already recouped the promotional cost according to its own share, and any revenue generated by “The Others” afterwards will be pure profit.

 

Other movie companies envy Disney's luck and no longer criticize Michael Eisner's high percentage of the Firefly; instead, they begin to praise Michael Eisner's courage.