Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

Chapter 329 My Uncle

England, London, North Bank of the River Thames.

Adjacent to the British Museum, adjacent to Coventry Gardens and Charing Cross Station, stands a famous local hotel and the first luxury hotel in British history - the Savoy Hotel.

This hotel, established in 1889, has 250 luxurious rooms, no matter which room you are in, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Thames River, modern installation art and Edwardian design style complement each other, handmade The polished antique-grade furniture can give customers who are deeply involved in it a sense of history that travels through time and space.

Its main entrance is even inside the London theater district, and customers who want to stay need to go through a private path to enter.

No matter what time it is, senior concierges in tuxedos and high hats will greet the reserved guests at the door. The traditional British professional butler service can make you feel meticulous care.

Of course, even if the decoration is luxurious, even if the appliances are worth tens of millions, they still cannot attract the attention of some people.

For the five people sitting in the Thames Hall of the hotel at the moment, the garden-like interior layout could not catch their attention at all. The ceiling is even more vulgar, because the light shining down will make a certain guy's head look like a light bulb.

Of course, this unavoidable accident could not dampen their enthusiasm. After shaking hands and hugging each other, a black-haired middle-aged woman in a red knitted coat immediately thanked the bald man—

"Steven, it's really a surprise to see you in the UK! With a movie released in March and a project starting in April, you can still find time to come to London in person. Thank you so much!"

The words of gratitude made the bald head wave his hands again and again, and shook his head with a smile, "Emma, ​​we are all friends, so there is no need to be so polite."

While speaking, wearing black glasses, he also greeted the middle-aged man beside the woman.

"Christopher's experience is very similar to mine, and we also met because of the same situation, so when good luck comes, isn't it right to join us as a witness? I want to be lucky too!"

The humble words caused the other four people to laugh and nod. Before the words finished, the blond woman in the blue shirt next to the bald head also said: "Yes, Emma, ​​Steven, like your husband, also from Since the independent film was shot, the first work was also obtained through financing. Compared with the 4.5 million you get now, he got even less, only 1.2 million, but the funds were less It doesn't matter, as long as you shoot with your heart, you will succeed in the end!"

"Look at him now, isn't he handling projects worth more than 50 million yuan?"

"You too will succeed!"

Uncompressing general words of relief won the approval of the other four people.

According to the general situation, friends have encouraged themselves. As the person involved, of course they have to respond.

But the problem is, the middle-aged man sitting next to the black-haired lady didn't express anything other than a shy smile when faced with such an encouraging situation. , It gives people an illusion of constipation.

Such a situation made the smiles of everyone on the scene gradually stiffen, and just as they expressed regret at the man's reaction, the only guy present beside the middle-aged man, who was wearing a formal suit and a tie, suddenly grabbed his shoulders, palm He slapped the opponent's arm continuously, "Okay, okay...don't need to put pressure on yourself..."

"Just get up and shake hands with the other party later, and leave the rest to us, okay?"

Such words made the middle-aged man heave a sigh of relief and nodded.

After seeing his affirmative answer, the few people at the scene stopped worrying about his social issues and changed the topic directly.

"We came half an hour early. While it's still early, we can first discuss the problems we may face later."

The woman in the blue shirt cleared her throat, "First of all, the first question is that Roland Allen is interested in the "Memento" we invested in, but he didn't express his attitude, so we have to buy out the entire movie A unanimous decision has to be made on the copyright and the transfer of the distribution rights in North America; but because the adaptation copyright of that film is in the hands of Jonathan, if you disagree with Jonathan, we cannot buy out the copyright of the entire film Discuss with him."

"I'm fine." Hearing this, the young man who was still there to appease the middle-aged man immediately said: "If selling the copyright of the novel adaptation allows my brother's movie to meet the audience smoothly, how much he wants to buy it out, I will buy it out." All agree!"

Whenever people mention DC movies, Christopher Nolan is a pit that can never be bypassed.

Because of his "Batman" trilogy, superhero movies have left a strong mark in the history of film.

The high box office excites the capital, and the word-of-mouth makes the fans marvel. When the two are combined, Nolan also ascends to the altar.

Of course, Nolan is not a deputy who cannot foul after all. He has neither Jamaican African descent nor Indian Tamil descent, nor is he a woman. He does not have a Jewish husband, so some people like it and some people hate it.

People who like it think that Nolan is the only director who can capture the essence of Batman since the birth of Batman, while those who hate it think that Nolan's version of Batman is not a superhero movie at all, but an ordinary movie. Bruce Wayne, who has no financial ability and fighting skills, is not a master at all, but a vigilante who is exhausted in order to maintain justice.

Of course, the question of personal preference is full of subjective colors, and it is impossible to argue for a correct result. What's more, for Roland, as long as the movie is a hit, that's enough.

So after deciding to enjoy Warner's ass, the only thing Roland could look for was him.

As a result, Roland used the helpless method of finding out the truth again, but compared with the needle in a haystack when he was looking for Anne-Hathaway, the information this time was enough, because Nolan was no longer a newcomer in this era. , although the total investment of the first novel "Following" was less than 10,000 knives, it had been released in a serious way, so when Roland assigned the task, the corresponding feedback was like flowing water, constantly gathering.

And when I learned that this guy's famous work "Memory Fragments" had already been filmed and was looking for a publisher—

Eh!

Opportunity, isn't it coming!

Although Warcraft Films is not a serious film company, it is more than enough to release a movie!

As long as he undertakes the film distribution business, won't this kind of timely act of giving charcoal directly increase the favorability of the other party?

Once Nolan's favor has been filled by himself, then everyone can sit down and discuss cooperation!

But after he handed over the work to his subordinates, he realized that he was so wrong!

Because of the movie "Memento", there are quite a lot of people involved!

Apart from Nolan himself, his brother who wrote the original novel, and his wife who is the producer of the movie, the investor of the whole movie is not a serious company, but a private film investment fund. Not only that, George -Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, a good friend of the three guys, Steven Soderbergh is also involved...

╮(╯▽╰)╭

That's right! In this business whose ascending channel has been completely blocked, how can there be such a thing as self-made!

Christopher Nolan is talented! But no one, and don't try to get ahead!

Many media wrote about his life experience as very inspirational, saying that his father is a British advertiser and his career is in the UK, his mother is a flight attendant for American Airlines, and his work is in China, so in order to meet his parents, he has been in the Living in the United Kingdom and the United States back and forth, this migratory life of migrating birds gave him an incomparable understanding of the cultures of the two countries, and it also laid a solid foundation for his future success in Hollywood, so much so that when he was in college, he shot the first surreal film The short film "Tarantella" was selected by PBS to broadcast to audiences across the United States in prime time...

At first glance, this kind of resume does not seem to be a problem.

But the question is, the son of a British advertiser went to university in his home country. Why was the short film shot in the university not broadcast on the British radio and television stations, but went to the American Public Broadcasting Corporation?

Could it be that you want to make your mother who is a flight attendant proud?

But if this is the case, wouldn't it hurt my father's heart?

so…

Ghosts know that the media has covered up the report!

The guy who can be concealed is Nolan's uncle, a NASA engineer who was in charge of the development of the Apollo rocket guidance system!

When Nolan was young, his mother was very busy as a flight attendant, so whenever Nolan went to the United States to find his mother, he was fostered by his mother at his uncle's house, and when they lived in the same room, the uncle and nephew The relationship is very good.

How good is it?

When others were still ten years old, Nolan had already been taken by his uncle to watch the space images shot by NASA; It is a NASA satellite image.

So, when he learned that his nephew really produced a work, the uncle who doted on his nephew sent the short film made by his nephew to the American Public Broadcasting Corporation, which cooperates with NASA, and then...

A reprint of "My District Mayor's Father"!

Of course, Nolan’s uncle was able to let the American Public Broadcasting Company play a short film of his nephew, but he couldn’t help him connect with Hollywood resources, so after that, Nolan went back to China to continue his studies.

But being unable to get a project does not mean that it is impossible to get investment, so when his nephew wanted to make a film, he helped him find a new market and TeamTodd, and these two companies happened to have a relationship with Steven Soderbergh. cooperate.

Because of this, when you ask me and I ask you, contacts will come out.

After the film was cut, according to Steven Soderbergh's suggestion, they would first participate in the Venice Film Festival, then go to the Deauville Film Festival, then participate in the Toronto Film Festival, and finally participate in the Sundance Film Festival.

They want to go through rounds of screenings to find a distributor who thinks the movie is good, but when Roland Allen's Warcraft Film and Television offered them an olive branch, all film festivals became bullshit!

There are companies with global distribution capabilities, and other independent film producers are nothing!

So, after carefully listening to the woman in blue, Susan Todd, the chairman of TeamTodd, explain the copyright transaction to the Nolans and his younger brother, Steven Soderbergh felt that this was a crooked idea. Grid spoke.

"Actually, I don't think things need to be so troublesome."

"What?" The other four looked puzzled.

"Susan, you are friends of Bruce (Willis) and Demi (Moore), you should know Roland's habits."

Steven Soderbergh shrugged and said: "It's impossible for you not to know Roland's preferences, Ang Lee's "The Wedding Banquet", "Eating and Drinking Men and Women", David Fincher's "Seven Deadly Sins", Frank Darabont "The Shawshank Redemption", these are all the films he released, and these films all have a common feature, that is full copyright."

“Although they are all buyouts, investors and creators cannot get a penny of profits from subsequent income, but similarly, omni-channel distribution has also brought a lot of fame to these creators.”

"Ang Lee took on "Sense and Sensibility", and David Fincher followed up with "Psychological Games."

"For directors who have not yet become famous, fame is the most important thing, so the profit at this time is actually something that your investors have to consider, and it has nothing to do with them, because I suggest that they hand over the copyright."

Such words made the Nolan family nod their heads cautiously, while Susan Todd showed embarrassment.

As an investor, it is impossible for her not to consider the company's profits, but it is precisely because of the profits that she wants to tie the Nolan family to the chariot. But two concepts.

For a movie produced by a private equity fund with an investment of 4.5 million, the price of the buyout transaction must be at least 110% to not lose money, which is 4.95 million, because 100% of it is Ten percent is the return for fund investors, and the upward speculation is the company's net profit. How much you can get depends entirely on your mouth.

In this case, if the Nolan family is willing to include the filming copyright of the novel, the remake copyright of the movie, and the production copyright of the derivative series, then there is a lot of room for the investor to stretch.

But if they are not willing to put these copyrights in it, or if they are willing to give it to the buyer separately, then...

The space for private equity fund investors to negotiate is quite limited.

Not to mention, talk to Roland!

What kind of urine is Roland, can people in the circle not know?

"The Wedding Banquet" and "Eating and Drinking Men and Women" are okay, but "The Shawshank Redemption" is the pit of the Castle Rock and I want to cry!

In this case, Steven Soderbergh suddenly picked the Nolan family out, it is really...

"Steven, I don't understand what you mean." Susan Todd smiled.

But the doubts flashing in the eyes are well known to the world.

"I mean to be honest." Steven Soderbergh shook his head slightly, expressing that he was not hostile, "You can sell any copyright you have, and there is no need to include the rights and interests related to independent filmmakers. "

"Of course, I'm not trying to prevent you from making money, but I don't want this kind of packaging to arouse Roland Allen's dislike."

"Since he knows that "Memento" is a private equity film, he must know that the copyright is not complete, and if you suddenly come up with the package copyright, then...he may think that you are temporarily increasing the price."

"For you, this may not matter, but for Christopher, this is very fatal."

"after all…"

“We independent filmmakers make films for the first purpose of becoming famous, and the opportunity to become famous is in front of us, and no one wants to miss it.”

The open and honest words made the four people present understand, and the people-oriented starting point made Susan Todd smile and nod.

After Steven Soderbergh made it clear, she did not continue to discuss the issue of packaging, but sighed, smiled and said to the Nolan family: "Well, it seems that your works are in the hands of Steven Soderbergh. Wen has an unparalleled place in his heart."

Although she did not give a positive response, such words have already reflected her indisputability.

While she expressed her attitude, the Nolans also gave the bald head a thankful look, but for the bald head—

Nodding with a smile is just a normal response, and the secret joy in my heart is the real thought!

because-

If it was only for the sale of "Memory Fragments", he didn't have to accompany a guy he just met to sell goods when "Never Compromise" was about to be released and "**Network" was about to start filming!

Especially when Roland arrived, this guy stood up first, showing unparalleled enthusiasm.

"Hi Roland, I'm Steven Soderbergh, nice to meet you!"

Note: ①Christopher Nolan's creation of "Batman" is actually a power generation for love. Just like Kevin Feige who likes Marvel comics very much, Nolan also likes Batman so much that he puts eggs It was implanted in "Memento". In "Memento", there is a scene where the protagonist Leonardo passes by a comic shop, and on the glass of the comic shop, there is a very clear Batman logo. ②Nolan and his NASA uncle are no longer a secret. When "Interstellar" was endorsed by NASA, he personally said that when he was a child, he edited and played with NASA video data. ③Without Steven Soderbergh, "Memento" might really not be able to be released. In reality, after they found more than a dozen distributors, none of them made a show of editing "Memento" (Mira Mike Stanley's original words) was interested in the film, and it was only released after Soderbergh's public solidarity. After that, Soderbergh recommended Nolan to shoot Warner's "Insomnia" and "Batman" series, and "Insomnia" also acted as a producer. In those years, Soderbergh was filming the "Arhat" series for Warner, and he endorsed it to get the project.