Chapter 110: Sincerity

Jones Butler, who had previously negotiated with Murphy, now looked at him with an expression of disbelief. She had expected him to ask for a high price, but thirty million dollars? That was outrageous.

Thirty million dollars, not yen!

If Miramax were to acquire the film at that price, combined with marketing expenses, they would need global box office earnings to exceed one hundred million dollars just to break even.

His appetite was excessive. Even if it was a starting point for negotiation, it was too much.

Had he forgotten who he was just because a small production achieved a bit of success?

Harvey Weinstein scrutinized Murphy, as if assessing a young, reckless, and headstrong maverick.

Murphy sat calmly, his expression unperturbed.

It was clear that thirty million dollars wasn't a flippant remark. Weinstein could tell this was a well-considered offer, not an impulsive one.

Was such a horror film worth that much? Could such an investment yield sufficient returns? Weinstein, an expert in film operations, reflected on the film's content and Miramax's distribution capabilities. It wasn't difficult to conclude that with a bit of luck, the film might gross ten million dollars at the North American box office. If North America did well, overseas sales wouldn't be far behind.

However, no one could guarantee a film's success. There was always the risk of failure. Investing thirty million dollars in a low-budget horror film was a gamble he wasn't willing to take unless he was insane.

Even with a high chance of success, thirty million dollars was out of the question. Even slashing that amount by more than half seemed unlikely.

Miramax's strategy was to achieve high returns with relatively low investments.

"Do you believe the film is worth that price?" Weinstein didn't wait for Murphy to respond before giving his own answer. "It's not! Young man, this isn't a game."

Weinstein's gaze grew sharper, attempting to exert pressure on Murphy. After a moment, he raised his hand and extended one finger at a time, "Five million dollars."

With that price, even if it didn't hit theaters, he was confident he could recoup the investment through the video market.

Murphy frowned slightly. For a film that had actually cost eighty thousand dollars to produce, five million dollars was a significant return. A sixfold return on investment would make many people's eyes pop.

But he wasn't satisfied. "Mr. Weinstein, I don't feel Miramax's sincerity."

"Sincerity?" Weinstein's lips curled into a cold smile. "You can try other companies and see if anyone else is willing to meet your terms."

The top six Hollywood studios would likely scoff at such a film. Although a few second-tier distribution companies were competitors, they maintained a tacit understanding similar to that among top-tier studios: to squeeze as much as possible out of small production companies.

Some things in Hollywood were intangible yet very real.

No one would offer millions of dollars for a film that didn't look particularly high-budget. The film's brilliance was one thing; managing risks was another.

Murphy Stanton was still an unknown director, and "Saw" wasn't part of any established franchise.

Without enough credentials, Murphy couldn't have the upper hand in such a negotiation. They were in completely different leagues. He couldn't resort to underhanded tactics as he might have in prison; doing so would mean saying goodbye to the film industry.

He remained silent for a while before revisiting an old topic. "I think we can cooperate in another way. We don't have to do an outright buyout, do we?"

Weinstein's smirk grew colder. "Sign a distribution agreement? Shifting all distribution risks onto Miramax?"

If this were a film by Wes Craven or Quentin Tarantino, he might consider it. Even if it were Robert Rodriguez, he might consider it.

Jones Butler, observing Murphy, shook her head. She knew her boss's tough negotiating style too well. This negotiation was destined to end without a deal.

Weinstein's Hollywood success wasn't built on surface-level tactics alone. Like how "Shakespeare in Love" triumphed over "Saving Private Ryan" at the Oscars, he always had his methods to achieve his goals.

Weinstein knew not to apply pressure blindly. Before Murphy could respond, he raised another finger, "I'll add another million. Six million dollars!"

His message was clear: buying the rights was the prerequisite for Miramax's involvement.

Murphy was reluctant to accept this. This wasn't just a standalone film but the beginning of a potential series. Selling the rights would mean selling the future of the series.

While it might be premature to talk about a series without initial success, he wasn't willing to give up so easily.

"Sorry, Mr. Weinstein." Murphy slowly and resolutely shook his head. "I can't accept those terms. I can't justify it to my crew and team."

He spoke as if an entire team were eagerly waiting for "Saw" to sell at a high price.

In Hollywood tradition, successful films often rewarded the crew with bonuses. From this perspective, perhaps the entire crew hoped for a good return on the film.

Few people liked seeing the films they worked on fail.

If it were another film, Weinstein would have given up by now. But the impact of the screening was strong. He saw great market potential in this film. Suppressing his impatience, he made another offer.

"Miramax can sign you for a future film."

This wasn't a random offer. From "Hard Candy" to "Saw," Weinstein saw immense progress in this young director, reminiscent of when he first noticed Quentin Tarantino. "We will invest in your next film and handle its marketing."

Murphy was moved. He immediately thought of Tarantino. Without Miramax and Weinstein's support, "Pulp Fiction" wouldn't have been the success it was.

Impulses surged through his mind, a voice screaming to accept the terms!

It was very tempting. Even Murphy, a rational person, wanted to agree immediately. But remembering there were three other distribution companies to consider, he suppressed his impulse.

The offer was excellent but still not quite what he aimed for.

Most importantly, he wasn't satisfied. With proper marketing, the film's profits could be in the millions. If the first film succeeded, sequels would follow naturally.

Miramax had distribution advantages, no doubt. But thinking of all the potential profits going to them while he got only six million dollars and a possibly unenforceable contract left him feeling uneasy.

He knew many films succeeded, but he didn't have the exact box office figures. "Saw" was an exception. Though circumstances had changed, he believed in the film's potential.

Everyone has greed. Murphy was no exception.

It wasn't time to put all his eggs in one basket with Miramax.

"Can I think about it?" Murphy asked slowly.

Weinstein stood up. "The sooner, the better. Miramax has many projects to handle."

Murphy understood the implication and nodded. "I'll give you a prompt response."

If the other companies didn't offer better terms, Miramax might be a good choice.

The initial negotiation ended there. Murphy reunited with Seth Rogen and James Franco, who were carrying the film copy, and drove out of Burbank, heading towards Santa Monica.

"Six million dollars!"

Hearing the terms Miramax offered, Seth Rogen couldn't stay calm. He leaned over the passenger seat, exclaiming, "That's six million dollars! Our investment would be multiplied six times. What is there to consider?"

James Franco turned and gave Murphy a look. "Can't you see? He's lost his mind! Carey Mulligan must have knocked it out of him!"

Six million dollars... Franco thought about the money, enough to rent a boat and take Lily out to sea countless times.

The group had grown close and comfortable with each other. Seth Rogen leaned over the back of Murphy's seat, shouting, "Why did you refuse? Why? With that money, you could expand the studio and start your own distribution department!"

"Seth!" Murphy called out. "Stop messing with my seat. Do you want us to crash?"

"Sorry..." Seth Rogen pulled back and leaned over Franco's seat.

"Who said I refused?" Murphy turned the car onto a side road. "It's a big decision. I need to think it over."

"Right, it needs careful consideration," Seth Rogen said, scratching his head.

Murphy reminded them, "Don't forget, Miramax isn't the only company interested in 'Saw.'"

James Franco slapped his thigh. "I'll call Jonah and see how things are going on his end."

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