Heads Up Hollywood

"Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" is officially released in North America, and the countdown is on!

Twain knew early on that "Star Wars" was American culture and was deeply loved. But the first experience still shocked him.

This feeling... It was like the college entrance examination he had experienced, tense, dignified, and highly anticipated.

"New York Times" issued an article: "After 16 years, Star Wars is about to return, and the countdown is 51 days!"

The "Los Angeles Times" also made a high-profile statement: "Get your movie tickets ready, Star Wars is waiting for you!"

The "Chicago Tribune" is a little more graceful: "George Lucas joined hands with Don Walker, two generations of ghost directors, to create a shocking visual feast for you. On May 19, "Star Wars Episode 1: The Ghost Man" The Menace opens in the U.S.!"

The "New York Post" echoed the public's calmness: "The much-anticipated movie is about to be released, and there is still more than a month before the movie's premiere. Fans who bought tickets in advance have already lined up in front of the major movie theaters. This shows from the side The charm of Star Wars also reminded the publisher."

...

In order to avoid price gouging, Twentieth Century Fox has asked major movie theaters to open the ticket window only the day before the release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace". Tickets are hard to come by.

However, this will affect the interests of the theaters. It is said that the major theaters have jointly registered with the National Theater Association of America, asking them to communicate with 20th Century Fox.

These are all the work of the publisher. Tang En and the entire Star Wars crew are doing large-scale publicity work before the release.

Entering May, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox have confirmed that the premiere of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace" will be held in New York.

And the theaters have also sent feedback. In the first week and the second week of the release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace", almost all movies have adjusted their schedules, and no one likes to be cannon fodder.

Except for two companies with big hearts-DreamWorks and Universal.

Needless to say, DreamWorks, the three heads of the family are all artists, and they are very nervous; as for Universal Pictures...that is, they have confidence in "Notting Hill", a love movie starring Julia Roberts.

Romance movies are originally a type of long-term release, and they don't care too much about the box office results in the first two weeks like commercial blockbusters. And with the precedent of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", Universal's distribution strategy almost copied Twain's model.

After Tang En heard about it, he shook his head again and again, expressing deep sympathy.

It's not that the movie "Notting Hill" will hit the street, but it's actually a sympathy for Universal Pictures' experience.

In the early years, Matsushita Electric acquired Universal, but due to unacceptable conditions, it sold Universal Pictures to Seagram Group, a brewing company from Canada.

In recent years, the Seagram Group has had a huge appetite and has swallowed many entertainment companies one after another. The plates are spread across many aspects such as movies, TV, music, games, publishing, and the Internet.

The Seagram Group seems to have transformed from a brewing company into a media group!

Recently, Twain's acquisition of Marvel is just a small piece of news about commercial mergers and acquisitions in Hollywood. The bigger news is that the Seagram Group acquired the music company Polygram.

Of course, there is even bigger news about mergers and acquisitions. The media giant Viacom Group officially issued a merger invitation to CBS, one of the three major wireless television networks in the United States. The capital... will not be less than 30 billion U.S. dollars!

but……

Seagram is not Viacom!

Viacom has the ability to take over CBS. Seagram is an industrial company. If it wants to transform smoothly, it must pay tuition first.

It is conceivable that Seagram may suffer from indigestion after acquiring PolyGram...

Tang En's brain was wide open, and a bold idea suddenly popped up in his mind, "Maybe after withdrawing from the stock market next year, we can repurchase Universal..."

Film production is very simple for Tang En, the biggest problem is distribution.

The reason why the six major film companies can monopolize Hollywood is not because of the wonderful movies they produce, but because they almost monopolize the distribution market all over the world.

DreamWorks has long opened up the distribution market in North America, and even Lionsgate, Miramax, and New Line have independent distribution channels in North America. However, the release of blockbuster films like "Saving Private Ryan" still has to be handed over to giant companies like Paramount for distribution.

The reason is that the overseas market is too large, the distribution cost and operating cost are too high, there is not enough film source, and even the salaries of the employees cannot be paid.

Tang En, who has been in Hollywood for more than two years, gradually recognized the development model of Hollywood, and gave up the idea of ​​creating another distribution system on a global scale.

Acquisition has become Tang En's best way to solve the problem.

Distribution must be in hand!

The Seagram Group's indigestion is very likely the best way for Twain to get involved in Universal Pictures and obtain Universal's distribution channels all over the world.

Buy Universal?

Snake Tunxiang?

Not necessarily impossible!

...

The time is approaching day by day, and finally it is the premiere of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Man Menace".

Although the premiere location was in New York, Natalie was busy with the final exams of her senior year and was unable to attend. For the first time, Tang En disappeared from her girlfriend.

The premiere was brilliantly lit, making the entire theater the center of this modern international metropolis.

The influence of Star Wars is too great. There are hundreds of policemen on the scene just to maintain order.

Tang En quickly passed the red carpet area. Without his female companion, he was not in the mood to chat with the group of reporters.

"Hey, Tang En, I seem to be very lonely today, do you want me to introduce you to a beautiful girl?"

Tang En turned around and laughed dumbfoundedly, "James, when did you make such a joke?"

James Cameron was a rare gentleman in the circle, and Tang En deeply admired him in this respect.

"It's not a joke, but I really want to introduce you to a girl." Cameron looked serious.

Tang En raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at him in disbelief.

Cameron said angrily: "Where are you thinking? I mean recommend her to act in your movie!"

"my movie?"

"Spider-Man."

Tang En rolled his eyes angrily, "James, I remember you said that you had the idea of ​​shooting Spider-Man."

Cameron shrugged, "Indeed, but now my mind has changed."

In the early 1990s, after shooting "Terminator 2", Cameron had the idea of ​​shooting "X-Men", so he discussed with Carlock Films and bought the copyright; but found that the special effects technology at that time was not enough to shoot "X-Men". Cameron wanted to shoot "Spider-Man", so he bought the copyright of Spider-Man.

However, due to differences in the script, Cameron let go of the pigeon again and turned to filming "True Lies".

This result directly led to the bankruptcy of Carlock Films, the copyright of superheroes was lost several times, "X-Men" was acquired by Fox, and "Spider-Man" returned to the embrace of Marvel.

It can be said that until today, "X-Men" has not been able to return to Marvel, and it is entirely due to James Cameron's continuous skipping tickets!

"Then what are you going to shoot?" Tang En wrinkled tightly.

Cameron said: "I mentioned to you that I am very interested in the sea rescue project."

"Then shoot!"

Cameron said bitterly: "It's not that you don't know. There is a Hollywood proverb, never touch the sea and animals. This is a sea film, and the investment is huge. It is not easy to establish a project."

Tang En was a little displeased, "This Bill is too petty! Didn't I say that you can call me if you have any difficulties."

Cameron looked at him jokingly, "At least 150 million US dollars in investment, can you take it out?"

"Ahem..."

Tang En waved his hand and quickly changed the subject, "Then what should you do? The movie won't be made?"

Cameron said: "Bill promised me that as long as I help produce a drama called "Dark Angel of the Last Days" and it succeeds, he will invest in me and set up a project."

Tang En was quite disdainful, "It's a good thing that a super director can oversee the production of TV series, he can come up with it!"

Cameron shook his head, "Bill also has his difficulties. The scenes at sea... there are too many accidents. After all, the experience of "Titanic" will make everyone afraid."

Tang En waved his hand angrily, "Why don't you come and shoot "Spider-Man" and let Bill and his "Dark Angel" go to hell!"

"Bill will be mad when he hears your words!" Cameron smiled and lowered his voice, "Especially after you handed over the distribution rights of "Wedding Crashers" to Tom Rothman."

Tang En was a little embarrassed, and he was really sorry for Bill McNick, "This is a business negotiation, not a personal relationship."

Cameron laughed naively, "Okay, then let's talk about work and personal relationships."

"What the hell are you trying to say?"

"As I said, I want to recommend a girl to you."

Tang En was confused, "James, what's going on?"

Cameron said with a smile: "Although I have no plans to shoot "Spider-Man", I still pay attention to this film project. I read the announcement, didn't it say that the heroine is a young woman in her twenties? "

Tang En suddenly realized, "You want to recommend an actress to me?"

"Exactly."

Tang En nodded, "No problem, I can't guarantee the heroine, but there will definitely be some scenes."

Back then, in order to gain the support of Endeavor's agency, Tang En promised Eli Emanuel that he would leave the position of the heroine to Endeavor's agency.

Now that Marvel has successfully acquired it, and Eli Emanuel has contributed a lot, Twain has gained the support of almost all Marvel management, so he will naturally fulfill his promise.

"Trust me, Twain, she is an excellent actress with great potential."

Cameron said it very solemnly.

Tang En couldn't help but doubt their relationship, and asked tentatively, "James, are you with her..."

"Stop!" Cameron said with a black line on his forehead, "Twain, don't think I'm like you."

Tang En laughed out loud. Cameron's bouncing ticket is a shortcoming, but his character is unquestionable. "Tell me, which girl is it, who made you fascinated."

Cameron glared at him angrily, "It's the heroine of "Dark Angel of the End Times" that I produced."

"name?"

"Jessica Alba."

"ah?"

Tang En was stunned.