Chapter 185

With MGM joining Sony, DreamWorks being acquired by Paramount, and now Pixar becoming a Disney studio, the Hollywood power conglomerates had completed a new round of integrations. Capet Entertainment, with its remarkable performance over the past two years, suddenly became the leader in the independent film industry.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Departed, and The Da Vinci Code, followed by upcoming releases like Transformers and Iron Man, were all blockbuster after blockbuster.

Furthermore, after completing a new round of billion-dollar bond financing, Capet Entertainment had gained even more fame in Hollywood.

Because the two blockbuster hits from last year, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Wedding Crashers, were distributed by Universal, the credit couldn't be given to Capet Pictures.

However, this year, aside from The Departed, which Universal distributed, all the other films on Capet Pictures' slate were self-distributed.

Los Angeles Times: After the DreamWorks dream shattered, Capet Pictures launched a challenge against Hollywood's six major studios!

Boston Globe: Perhaps Capet Pictures might replace MGM as the true seventh major studio.

"These entertainment papers praising us makes me a bit embarrassed," Charles Capet had coffee with Donna Langley, president of Capet Pictures, at a nearby cafe.

Donna Langley put the paper down and laughed, "That's how entertainment papers are. When you're successful, they lift you to the skies; when you fail, they will surely drag you through the mud!"

Charles shook his head, "I'm just annoyed they are comparing Capet Pictures to MGM. The distribution rights for Bond are with Columbia Pictures now, and the Hobbit series development is a mess because of Peter Jackson's legal battles with New Line. There's only the Pink Panther series left, and this year's film is the tenth installment, right?"

"The rights for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy are different. New Line Cinema only has the production rights for the Hobbit series, but the distribution rights are with MGM. Now everyone knows the Hobbit series will definitely make money, and New Line and MGM will surely develop it.

However, because of the success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, director Peter Jackson's value soared. He's asking for a bigger share, and both sides are heading to court over it. New Line is considering another director for the Hobbit series, and Guillermo del Toro has already been in contact with them.

Not only that, but the Tolkien Estate and movie producer Saul Zaentz, who holds the likeness rights for the Lord of the Rings series, are also suing New Line for a share of the profits.

Saul Zaentz bought the adaptation rights and likeness rights for the novels from the Tolkien Estate in the '70s. He later sold the film adaptation rights for The Lord of the Rings to Miramax, which ultimately led to New Line's massive success after Miramax pulled out. Now, the Tolkien Estate, Miramax, Saul Zaentz, and everyone else want a piece of the pie.

The Hobbit series' future commercial prospects are too good. New Line and MGM will go to great lengths to resolve these issues," Donna Langley was very familiar with the copyright and profit disputes over large IPs like this.

"Can New Line and MGM be at ease without Peter Jackson directing?" Charles smirked.

Donna Langley also laughed. The Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson was too successful; otherwise, Universal wouldn't have offered him a $20 million advance plus 20% of box office profits to direct King Kong.

This was the first time a director's fee was 20+20. After all, big directors like Spielberg generally served as producers and got most of their earnings from profit sharing.

"MGM has Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction coming out this year, and Sharon Stone's return adds some assurance!" Donna said.

Charles immediately laughed and sarcastically said, "Do you know why I look down on those guys at MGM? A nearly 50-year-old woman trying to act sexy again, can she still attract people? Spending $70 million filming Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction and paying an over-the-hill actress $13 million? I heard Sharon Stone also signed thirty, forty additional clauses? Even her pet dog needs special care on set!"

MGM's leadership was a bunch of incompetent fools.

In the '90s, Basic Instinct caused a huge sensation with its thrilling suspense, death, and sex, skyrocketing Sharon Stone's fame.

But that was a sex symbol's reputation!

Donna Langley also didn't understand why MGM let Sharon Stone act like a diva for Basic Instinct 2.

"MGM desperately needs a hit," Donna Langley could only explain.

Sony's investment institutions controlled MGM for profits, and MGM had to find ways to develop promising projects.

"No wonder Michael Ovitz of CAA dared to storm into the CEO's office in the '90s without anyone daring to say a thing," Charles scoffed. In the early '90s, when CAA's package deal trading was at its peak, the arrogant Michael Ovitz dared to storm into the MGM CEO's office to demand a share of the movies' profits.

Weak as MGM was, they had no power to fight back but still dared to call themselves the seventh largest studio. Look at the other six; they would have slapped Michael Ovitz away.

"Forget it, let's not talk about MGM. We'll see next month how stupid they are when Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction comes out," Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction was set to release in March.

"I heard Universal, after the big success of Wedding Crashers last year, developed a similar comedy called You, Me and Dupree, starring Owen Wilson and Seth Rogen?" Charles asked with a smile.

Donna Langley nodded and smiled, "That's right, I was involved in it too. The female lead is the blonde beauty Kate Hudson."

"Wedding Crashers was about disrupting wedding parties; You, Me and Dupree is about disturbing roommates' peace!"

Charles chuckled, "Back to the office."

Universal loved developing those kinds of films, but could they replicate the success of Wedding Crashers? The first one to try always has the best chance.

*****

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