Chapter 403: Value for money

This kind of film that reflects the chaos and filth of places outside the United States has always been one of the favorite themes of Oscar foreign language films. Ronan knows very well that Zhang Guoshi’s "Hero" has no advantage in front of "City of God". At all.
Moreover, "City of God" naturally has the advantage of competing for the best foreign language film Oscar.
The bidding will begin soon, and after hearing the upset price from the president of Outu, the scene fell silent for an instant.
For a Brazilian film, the base price of five million dollars is quite high.
Ronan looked at Navas next to him. Navas whispered, "The producer is very confident."
"Yeah." Ronan nodded slightly. "I remember that no Brazilian film could sell for $5 million in North America."
Navas shook his head. "Never."
But the "City of God" caused a huge sensation at the Toronto Film Festival, giving the producers enough confidence.
Such a film that has been well received by the media and critics is not lack of next homes.
Ronan did not make an offer, and many people are still hesitating. Navas first offered "6 million US dollars."
Raise the reserve price by one million dollars in one go.
Ronan looked at Navas, and Navas just smiled.
Buyers from Focus Pictures followed closely with "$6.5 million."
Javier of Miramax also offered "$6.6 million."
Compared to Harvey Weinstein's crazy bid in the East, Miramax is now quite conservative.
After all, this is Hollywood, film and Los Angeles investors. It is impossible to treat this film in the same way as ordinary overseas movies.
Cheryl of Fox Searchlight quoted "7 million U.S. dollars."
Just as Navas was about to increase the price, Ronan first said "8 million US dollars!"
This is his psychological bottom line.
The meeting room was quiet for a while, Miramax’s Havel relaxed and leaned on the chair.
Cheryl of Fox Searchlight picked up the glass and drank.
They have obviously given up.
Navas glanced at Ronan and once again offered "9 million US dollars!"
Ronan sighed secretly, and once again calculated in his mind that this film must go the route of winning prizes in order to attract the interest of North American audiences, but how much commercial gain can such a realistic and cruel Brazilian film bring? ?
The film is excellent, there is no doubt about it, but a good film does not mean profit.
Lose money for a good film? Companies that did this in the past are mostly dead.
Ronan knows exactly where he should consider the value of the film.
Navas looked at Ronan again. The awards season was about to begin, and Lionsgate needed excellent films to operate.
Last year's "Dance of Death Row" made Lionsgate a great success in the awards season, and the film also brought a lot of money.
This "City of God" has the potential of Oscar seed, and if it works properly, it has the hope of hitting the best foreign language film of the Oscar.
Navas remembers very clearly that Ronan’s Embassy Films produced "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" out of the North American box office of more than 160 million US dollars through the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
It can be described as fame and fortune.
The quality of "City of God" is obviously higher than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"...
Ronan made no further offer, and the buyer of Focus Pictures suddenly shouted "9.5 million US dollars!"
At this point, Navas will not give up easily and immediately follow up with "10 million US dollars."
Ronan looked at Navas. Navas thought Ronan was going to make an offer, and whispered, "You want to make an offer?"
"No." Ronan replied in a low voice, "I just don't think this film is worth so much."
This seems to be very honest, but in this environment, how can Navas believe it?
"10.5 million dollars." Focus Pictures did not give up either.
This newly established independent film company also needs an outstanding work to break the ground.
Navas gritted his teeth and said aloud, "12 million dollars!"
Ronan couldn't help but shook his head slightly. This bid was too risky.
Focus Pictures finally calmed down and did not make any new offers.
"Are there any new offers?" The president of Outu was very satisfied. After asking three times in a row, he looked at Navas and announced that "The North American copyright of "City of God" belongs to Lionsgate."
Navas finally laughed.
There was a polite applause in the conference room.
Ronan also said to Navas, "Congratulations, congratulations to Lionsgate."
"You are too polite." Although Navas won the copyright at a price exceeding the budget, he felt that it was worth the money and said, "Ronan, we are all small and medium-sized companies in development. We should cooperate rather than compete."
Ronan nodded seemingly in agreement. "What you said makes sense." He asked directly "Navas, do you plan to use this film to compete for the best foreign language film for the Oscars?"
Competing for awards is the most valuable way for independent films to operate. All of you present are experts. Navas did not deny the need, and immediately said, "I have such an idea."
Ronan said directly, "I bought a movie similar to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" from the East, and I am also ready to make the best foreign language film."
"It's the "Hero" during the Toronto Film Festival?" Navas has already seen the film at the film festival. "I know that film. Frankly speaking, there is a gap between this film and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Competitiveness is a bit insufficient."
He seemed to be kind: "Use this film to compete for the best foreign language film. Ronan, you have to control your investment. I think this kind of purely Eastern film will cause a loss if it is not done."
Ronan seems to be very frank, "This film is indeed not as competitive as "City of God", but always try it. Navas, "City of God" should also be controlled and invested..."
Navas smiled, "Thank you for reminding."
What's a joke, as long as "City of God" can get the Oscar for best foreign language film, just like "Dance of Death Row", the investment will definitely be rewarded.
Ronan didn't say much, greeted people from other companies, and then left.
On the way back to the company, I couldn't help but forget about the two films "Hero" and "City of God".
The copyright fee of the former is 5 million US dollars, and the latter is 12 million US dollars.
Ronan plans to invest US$8 million in the total publicity and distribution of "Hero", including Chong Ao. Except for Oscar public relations expenses, most of them are necessary distribution costs such as copying and insurance.
"City of God" really wants to get the Oscar for best foreign language film, and if it uses the Oscar effect to get the box office, the investment in the announcement will only be more than that of "Hero".
After all, Ronan's goal is just an Oscar nomination.
"City of God" is one of the best movies of the year, even if it is made very well, but the total cost of more than 20 million US dollars is really a bit scary.
It's not that there is no possibility of profit, but the risk taken is really big.
Ronan returned to the company and read the latest work email. Shahai Entertainment has issued a recruitment announcement to openly recruit professional staff suitable for the needs of "Survival from the Wild". Connie has reached an agreement with the survey and consulting company that the latter will send staff Well-known universities on the east and west coasts collect information about possible circles.
Shahai Entertainment Animation Studio, after two auditions, finalized Taylor Swift as the voice actor of Peppa Pig.
At present, the animated short film of "Little Pig Peppa" has been filmed, and it is only waiting for the awards season to arrive, before applying for the Oscar nomination for the best animated short film.
The animation studio also delegated the "Little Pig Page" project to a team composed of new and old employees, and Chris Reynolds led other main team members to start planning the early days of the "Little Yellow Man" animated short film.
After this animated short film is completed, Ronan will promote the animation studio's first real animated feature film business, and the first choice is of course "Despicable Me".
Compared with Pixar’s popular animated feature films and Disney’s animation studio projects, "Despicable Me" has relatively low investment and a short filming operation cycle, but the commercial value it can generate is not much.
Like Pixar’s animation productions, they are basically more than 150 million US dollars today, while "Despicable Me" once seemed to be completed in only 60 to 70 million US dollars.
Ronan is not clear about the specific number, but it should not exceed $80 million.
In addition, Ronan called Lindsay Bill.
"Linsey, is the script of "The Queen Bee and the Follower" finished? Ronan asked directly ~EbookFREE.me~ The first draft is already completed. Lindsay Bill replied, "It is currently being revised, and it is estimated that the draft will be finalized by the end of this month. "
Ronan said, "I have a new job for you, a female subject."
Lindsay Bill immediately became interested in "Adaptation or original?"
Ronan shook his head gently. "Neither. At present, you are sitting on some preliminary preparations. In the future, you will be the main member of the screenwriting team. I plan to let you participate in the preliminary preparations."
"No problem," Lindsay Bill said.
Ronan gave to Lindsay Bill the materials that Connie had compiled during her stay in London, and said, "I plan to use some college students from today's prestigious universities as the protagonists. You first look at these materials."
Lindsay Bill took it over and took a serious look, and said after a few minutes, "I didn't expect that a conservative country like the United Kingdom would have such a large-scale thing."
Upon hearing this, Ronan asked curiously, "Do you know this?"
"I heard about it when I was in school." Lindsay Bill said directly. "I have a female classmate who has done this. She looks very beautiful...Well, how do I say it? I'm pretty pretty. She is much more beautiful than me. But her family conditions are worse than mine, so she embarked on this path, initially for tuition and living expenses, but later changed."
Ronan knows the power of money very well. Although Lindsay Bill didn't say it clearly, he could still think of what her female classmate became.
Indeed, many people initially engaged in this industry, there may be various compelling reasons, but after a long time, it is difficult to get rid of.
They are used to making money by lying down, and if they want to work hard, the chance of change is too low.
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