Vol 2 Chapter 695: Capital has no conscience

As the last part of the series, even fools know that the upper and lower parts of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will inevitably push the little wizard to an unprecedented climax, and will also bring unimaginable box office and peripheral income. .
At this point, the actors based on the Gryffindor Golden Triangle have become synonymous with their respective roles. There are only the last two films left in the entire series, and the producers will not easily change actors anyway.
The fact is true. Even people like Duke are afraid to change the main actors in the final stage of the series.
This also provides the actors and their agents with an opportunity to ask for prices. Even if the crew increased the Gryffindor Golden Triangle pay to 15 million U.S. dollars, they still refused to sign the actor contract-they demanded a high amount. The box office and surrounding revenue share!
And the British actors in the crew are quite supportive of them.
On the afternoon of Irene Lauder's arrival in Los Angeles, Duke hurriedly left Los Angeles and flew to London with Warner Bros’ ceo Doug Walter to solve the actor's problem.
"How is the negotiation going?"
Walking into the studio's office, Duke asked Robin Grande first, "Or no one is willing to sign?"
Robin Grande shook his head. "All British actors in the crew refused to sign the actor contract."
He looked at Doug Walter again, "We are bound to make concessions this time."
Duke and Doug Walter glanced at each other. They had reached an agreement on the plane when they arrived. Concessions are inevitable, but the income of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is directly related to Duke's interests. As well as Doug Walter's performance and bonuses, the two would not allow the actors to easily take what belonged to them.
Doug Walter asked Robin Grand. "Which step have their requirements come down?"
"The basic salary of 15 million US dollars, plus 8% of the total profit of the film." Robin Grande said with a serious face, "This is the condition of the three actors of Emma Watson."
"Eight percent?" Duke raised his eyebrows. "They just go to grab the bank."
Doug Walter's complexion is not good, but this is the Harry Potter series that has created nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars in output value. Those three are really critical. But when they leave this series, they are nothing.
Of course, he also understands that at this stage, it is unrealistic to change actors.
Changing actors is definitely the last choice, and Duke knows this too. He sits here and looks at the Harry Potter series posters on the wall of the office. The Gryffindor Golden Triangle is very eye-catching.
Even he couldn't deny it. Emma Watson and the three have all the qualifications and rights to be divided, the problem is that he does not want to give it.
8% of the profit share, how big is this?
If Emma Watson is still useful in the future, he can still consider it, but after the end of the Harry Potter series, the value of the three to him is infinitely close to zero...
If it is another well-known actor, you can also star in him or the movie he invested to bring some appeal. With the acting level and solidified image of these three people, I am afraid that not only cannot help. It will also cause some negative effects.
This has nothing to do with personal conflicts and opinions. Since it is one of the most important investors in the film, Duke will inevitably consider the problem from the perspective of his own investment income.
In fact, from the day when this series was established, he considered that today, he treats these three actors who have almost no influence in Hollywood. They are also actors in the agency business of a British agency. The means to respond is not without.
Doug Walter and Robin Grande were still discussing countermeasures. Duke filtered the initial thoughts in his mind and then interrupted them.
"I have an idea."
Hearing what he said, Doug Walter and Robin Grand stopped discussing, turned their heads and looked over. Duke said directly, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, let go for a while, Robin, let the negotiations go on."
The two of them didn't understand what Duke meant, still looking at him.
Duke speeded up his speech and said in simple words, "We spun the Harry Potter Studios from Warner and Duke Studios and established them as a company solely responsible for profit and loss and financial accounting..."
Doug Walter couldn't help laughing and nodding his head lightly. After all, he was the CEO of Warner Bros. Although he didn't think about this, he was reminded by Duke that he had realized what he was going to say.
"The Harry Potter Studio is still an empty shell. It has no funds to launch "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"..."
Hearing this, Doug Walter accepted Duke’s words, "Then Harry Potter Studios raised money from Warner Bros. or your foundation at high interest rates. After the film received income, it not only had to pay off this part of the debt. , And the corresponding interest."
Nodding slightly, Duke curled up his mouth, "That's it."
He turned to Robin Grande and said, "Harry Potter Studios have no publishing capabilities. The film can only be distributed by Warner Bros., and we can raise the distribution cost and publicity cost to the highest level in the industry-although I can't use that much money, but..."
Duke shrugged, "Loan costs, high publicity costs, and transportation and labor costs. From an accounting point of view, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was legally made into a low-profit at the box office. Even films that have lost money at the box office must not be difficult."
"It's a bit difficult." The seriousness on Robin Grand's face has disappeared. He looked at Doug Walter and said, "But it shouldn't be too much trouble for Warner Bros."
"Back to Los Angeles..." Doug Walter fully agreed, "I will call the company's professionals to discuss the feasibility."
"Robin, remember, the third-party guarantee agreement only guarantees their basic salary!" Duke reminded, "Sign a share agreement with them to limit the box office profit as much as possible, and the ratio can be appropriately increased!"
"I know what to do." Robin Grand nodded.
Under Hollywood's cunning accounting system, an originally big-selling movie is legally calculated as a box office loss, which is exactly the tactic used by the producers to deal with actors who are always open.
Just as actors always use various methods to fight for their own rights, producers are also using various methods to defend their own interests.
Hollywood is not a peaceful circle, it is always full of various struggles.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" can only be said to be the epitome of a design actor.
Duke's purpose is simple, to prevent actors from sharing the cake brought by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" as little as possible so that they can share more of them.
If actors, directors, and other types of work, expect investors like Duke to conscientiously discover, and thus give up the revenue share, it is simply unrealistic. Capital has never had a conscience at all.
Besides, Emma Watson is neither a member of his team nor do they have top positions in the industry like Charlize Theron or Tom Cruise. Why did Duke give in?
Trying to suppress and exploit them is in line with his interests.
Duke, Doug Walter, and Robin Grande discussed for a long time afterwards. In addition to this proposal, they also finalized several other alternatives.
In short, it is not easy for the young actors of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" to get a share.
To be precise, they are no longer small actors.
However, compared to childhood, the actors represented by Emma Watson have drawn overwhelming criticism in terms of acting.
This is also a very normal phenomenon. The industry and supporters have high hopes for them. It is just that these actors after becoming famous have basically not improved, and their acting skills are terrible. If not for several consecutive Harry Potter movies, they will bring a lot of attention to the outside world. This role is their own inherent concept, I am afraid that the wave of criticism has already overwhelmed them.
Last year, Duke watched the latest Harry Potter series, when he really wanted to find some teachers to come to London to teach Emma Watson how to perform.
It's just that he quickly gave up this idea.
One is that there is no need at all. After the series is over, the little actors will not have any cooperative relationship with him.
Secondly, Emma Watson did not have time.
Like other child stars in Hollywood, these young actors represented by Emma Watson inevitably become money-making tools in the hands of film companies, agencies and their parents.
In fact, poor acting skills cannot be completely attributed to the talents and efforts of these people, and they are also inseparable from the outside world and time.
Hollywood child stars, how many people can still move towards their goals like Judy Foster or Natalie Portman after becoming famous?
And Harry Potter promotion activities one after another, these little actors need to keep running announcements, like Emma Watson, the mother of lawyers who also serves as her agent, also took over Chanel's endorsement for her. , Advertising campaigns are also continuous, where can I have time to hone my acting skills?
Also, although Emma Watson does not touch drugs like the young famous Drew Barrymore and Revan Phoenix, but the speed of changing contacts is not slower than them. In order to suppress her scandal, It took a lot of effort to maintain a good image of Hermione Grande.
Doug Walter rushed back to Los Angeles before Duke. In just a few days, good news came to London. The professionals of Warner Bros. had begun to formulate rigorous related plans, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" "The establishment of the project is temporarily postponed, and Harry Potter Studios will become a completely financially independent company as quickly as possible.
As long as the company is established, the company that specializes in the Harry Potter series will make loans from Duke's Foundation and Warner Bros. to produce "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". (To be continued...)
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