Chapter 77

Simon thought about it for a moment and said, "you can take this as an alternative career experience, Amy. First of all, you only need to spend two years. I have three projects in hand now, and there will be at least three next year. In the next two years, we will cooperate to complete these six projects. Relying on the popularity accumulated by "Lola Run", I believe it is not difficult for another one of the six projects to make it into the top ten at the box office in North America. "

When Amy Pascal heard Simon say this, she couldn't help interrupting: "Simon, although" Lola Run "is very successful, in my opinion, there are too many accidental factors in it. There are about four or five hundred cinema movies in North America every year. It's definitely not as simple as you think if you want to make it into the top ten at the box office. It's not just the quality of a movie itself. "

Simon listened patiently to Amy Pascal's words and then said, "Amy, Lola Run, butterfly effect and death are coming. I don't think you can deny that they are all excellent, right?"

Amy Pascal hesitated and nodded.

Simon went on: "now that I can produce these three excellent scripts, I am confident that I can run six excellent projects in the next two years. This includes "death is coming", in addition to my two future directing works, as for the other three, I will also be very careful. I don't think it's too much of a problem to have six chances and another impact on the top ten box office in North America. If you insist that it's impossible, then we really don't need to talk about it any more. "

Amy Pascal shrugged: "well, Simon, I agree with your hypothesis for the time being. What's next? You don't seem to have given me a reason to work for you? "

"If you didn't interrupt me just now," Simon said, pointing to a round table not far away. Amy didn't refuse. They walked over and sat down together. Simon continued, "so, why. Come and work for me. Compared with your current authority as vice president of fox production, your participation in the next six projects will increase significantly. Even in the future, many people will take this as your credit, because Simon westero is just a kid under 20 years old after all. Moreover, as long as we reach the goal of hitting the top 10 box office list again, it will become your qualification. With this qualification, if you are going to leave in two years, it's easy to find another job in the big seven. If you want to stay, I welcome it. "

Amy Pascal heard Simon's self teasing just now, with a smile on the corner of his mouth. When he finished, he quickly put away his expression and said, "Simon, I found a problem. If you fail in all six projects, the top seven may never accept me again."

"Of course, everything is risky," Simon did not deny, saying, "but what if it works? Even very successful? Your current position is vice president of fox production. As a woman, I think you should understand that this has almost reached the professional ceiling in Hollywood. If you want to go further, maybe it will be ten years later. But choose to work for me for the next two years, if the project in our hands is very successful. Well, those old timers at the top of Hollywood are likely to think, "Oh, maybe you can let that woman have a try."

With Simon's words, Amy Pascal's eyes finally flickered. Noticing the boy looking at herself, the woman sipped her champagne and said, "Simon, this is sexism."

Simon said innocently, "Amy, this is sexism in Hollywood. It has nothing to do with me. If I'm sexist, you won't hear what I just said. "

Amy Pascal hesitated and said, "Simon, what you just described is a very ideal result. To be frank, I think I'm more likely to meet you when I stay in fox. "

"Fox hasn't had a movie with a box office exceeding 100 million for several years, has it?" Simon asked back, and without waiting for Amy to answer, he continued, "I know what you're worried about, Amy. It's crazy to think that a little director who is just emerging in Hollywood is going to recruit a vice president of a big film company. But there are so many great things in the world that start with a crazy idea. You are only 29 years old. Are you going to lose your adventurous spirit like those old men in their 50s and 60s? "

Amy Pascal didn't answer quickly this time, sipping the champagne in her hand.

Simon didn't rush and waited patiently.

After two or three minutes, when she finished the champagne, Amy Pascal looked up at the young man and said, "Simon, it's not impossible for me to work for you. But I want to get a 20% stake in Denise pictures. "

Simon immediately shook his head and said, "Amy, as long as your work is excellent enough, I will definitely give you a certain equity award in the future, but it is definitely not now. But to make up for your crazy choice of moving from seven vice presidents to an independent production company, I can give you a $500000 package salary for the next two years. Of course, the bonus is extra. "In this era, if you don't include the project commission, the annual salary of the vice presidents of big film companies is not high, which is about $100000 to $150000. Simon is very sincere in offering a package salary of $500000 for two years.

However, Amy Pascal was not moved by Simon's salary plan, insisting: "Simon, according to my accumulated experience and contacts, I can also create my own production company without fox, and there is no need to cooperate with you at all. So if you want me to work for you, I have the right to ask for a certain amount of shareholding. Of course, you can spin off "Lola Run" from Denise pictures, and I won't enjoy that part of the revenue. "

The turnover of the top management of big Hollywood film companies has been very frequent. The company's sale, contract expiration, project failure and other reasons will lead to personnel changes.

Those who leave the top of the film company can not switch to other industries. They usually set up a production company, either affiliated with a big film company or working alone. The basic process is to select projects and sell and issue them at the same time. When the film makes money, the investors and distributors take the lead and earn a production fee by themselves; when the film loses money, it is still the investors and distributors who bear the loss, but they can still earn a production fee by themselves.

At the same time, at the right time, these independent producers will be re employed by big film companies.

So many times.

In this kind of production company, which only earns hard work, the equity distribution among partners is usually very even. After all, everyone just invests in labor and doesn't need to inject much capital.

Simon has just negotiated with fox a hard-earned "death is coming". Although the "hard-earned" is a bit high this time, Amy Pascal obviously regards Simon's danilisi film as a similar production company, and only then asks for 20% of the company's equity.

Shaking his head again, Simon said, "Amy, Denise pictures is not just a production company backed by a big studio. If conditions permit, I will try my best to set up the company's own distribution network. In the future, if possible, this company will be involved in the field of TV program production. So, I can't give you shares now, because I will put everything I own into this company, not just simple personal labor. "

Amy Pascal listened to the boy's confident words full of youthful spirit, but said: "Simon, I just remember that Orion announced the establishment of its own TV production department last month. This company was founded in 1978, nine years ago. What's more, all the five Orion founders were senior industry executives who had been in Hollywood for many years, and they had to rely on Warner's publicity channels in the first few years. So, how many years do you think it will take to set up a distribution network and a television department? Or do you think you can achieve that? "

"Last June, I met my agent for the first time. Hearing that I was going to direct my first film, he told me that Simon, Hollywood directors usually only direct their first film after they are 30 years old. You are too young to be in a hurry. Then, I didn't wait from 18 to 30 years old. It was only more than half a year before we saw "Lola Run," Simon said. He waved to a nearby waiter to come over and serve another glass of champagne for Amy Pascal. Then he got up with a smile and said, "Amy, I'm looking forward to seeing you in person. I'll finish the next work in a few years Some, or rather, we'll do it together. By the way, I'm worried about this. How about giving me a reply next Monday? "