Made in Hollywood

The night is shrouded in the sky above New York. The Times Company building on Manhattan’s 8th Street is still brightly lit even in the early hours of the morning. The new week has begun. The New York Times is waiting for the final layout, and then sent to printing plants across the United States. After dawn, it will appear in front of many families and companies.

As the editorial director of The New York Times, Dean Barquette can decide the typesetting most of the time. Unless something extraordinary happens, the editor-in-chief Howell Rains will generally not interfere with him. jobs.

As the time gradually approached two o'clock in the morning, Dean Barquette had roughly reviewed the layout of the newspaper and was a little relieved. Today's work is about to come to an end, and he can go home to rest.

"Amanda!" Dean Barquette called the assistant in and ordered, "Let's let someone..."

Before he could finish his words, the office door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. Dean Barquette frowned slightly. He just wanted to speak to show his dissatisfaction, but when he saw who came, he immediately suppressed the dissatisfaction. .

The person who walked in was the editor-in-chief Howell Rains. He found him at this time, and Dean Barquette was sure that he wouldn't be here to chat.

Sure enough, Howell Rains asked directly, "What's the headline?"

...︽, "Prince William is going to the Afghan labor force..." Dean Barquette waved his hand to the assistant.

The female assistant named Amanda winked and walked out immediately.

"Remove this news from the headline of the front page." Howell Rains said there is no room for negotiation at all, "On the second page!"

"There is an emergency?"

Although there is no objection, Dean Barquette is a little strange. There is something more eye-catching than Prince William's labor.

"The news I just received." Howell Rains is not the kind of person who is too arbitrary and dictatorial. He explained a few words, "Duke Rosenberg and his movies. Open up North American movies. A new chapter in, a new era is born!"

Dean Barquette immediately understood what the editor-in-chief was talking about. He picked up the phone, dialed a number, and said loudly, "I want Duke Rosenberg and the "Two Towers" to make headlines! Listen well It’s not the headline of the entertainment edition! It’s the headline of the New York Times!"

Although the "New York Times" is a daily newspaper published in New York, it is distributed throughout the United States and the world. It has considerable influence and is one of the first choices for many companies to order newspapers. Universal Pictures is also the audience of this newspaper.

Entering the office, Ron Meyer threw the "New York Times" in his hand on the table, sat down and pressed the intercom, "Is Michael Ovitz here?"

"We arrived ten minutes ago, and we are in the lounge now."

Hear the secretary's reply. Ron Meyer said immediately, "Let him come over!"

Although the relationship between the two parties as the founding veterans of caa later broke down, this did not affect the cooperation between Universal Pictures and the artist management company, and Ron Meyer understood Michael Ovitz’s ability. The last cooperation project "Speed ​​and The great success of "Passion" also proves this.

The two sides are cooperating on a large project, with an investment of more than 150 million U.S. dollars, in the face of this huge investment. Personal contradictions are really nothing.

Just seeing the number on the front page of the "New York Times", and then thinking of Michael Ovitz's suggestion of the release time of "Van Helsing". Ron Meyer would never trust each other blindly.

The door was knocked lightly, and Michael Ovitz pushed the door and walked in and sat directly opposite him.

The two used to be friends but later became enemies. Now they stand together and cooperate, and there is nothing polite at all. They just nodded each other.

"Michael," Ron Meyer didn't want to say anything extra, and went straight to the subject, "Have you seen the box office data last weekend?"

Michael Ovitz nodded slightly.

Ron Meyer raised his voice slightly and asked. "Do you still think "Van Helsing" should be released in May next year?"

"Give yourself some confidence, Ron!" Michael Ovitz seems to have no intention of giving up. "Our movie may not be able to shake Duke Rosenberg! Yes, he did a great job in the summer, but Don’t forget, Stephen Somos has also been a big success in the summer file twice in a row. His ability to direct magic is no worse than anyone else!"

Ovitz’s words were unpleasant, but he was extremely confident, "Hugh Jackman is already a first-line actor, and he is the one with very strong appeal in the first-line. Our total investment is as high as 160 million US dollars. The protagonists in the film, It is also a famous character like Count Dracula..."

"Stop talking, Michael!" Ron Meyer picked up the copy of The New York Times. Throw it directly in front of him, "No matter how much you say, there is no more convincing figure above!"

Michael Ovitz’s rhetoric was instantly dumb, yes, no matter how much he said, in front of Duke Rosenberg’s epoch-making box office data, it was actually a joke.

He sighed softly and his eyes fell on the front page of the New York Times.

"A great moment created by a director! A new era created by a movie!"

"In recent years, the North American film industry has developed rapidly and the market capacity has continued to expand. It has also created directors such as James Cameron and Duke Rosenberg with excellent commercial performance, especially the latter, who have creative energy. It is prosperous, and new works are released almost every year. The magical craze set off by "The Fellowship of the Ring" last year has not passed. The "Two Towers" released last weekend has set a great record!"

"In the past three days of the weekend, "The Two Towers" earned $103.03 million in North America, making it the first North American film to exceed $100 million at the weekend box office. Duke Rosenberg also won this The first person in a feat..."

Seeing this, Michael Ovitz looked away. He really didn't want to put the words of praise in the back.

"Great, glorious, super director..."

He really didn't want to see such descriptive words!

"The first week was over 100 million US dollars!" Ron Meyer spoke again at this time, his voice gradually getting louder, "It is still under the siege of your artist management company, Universal Pictures, Walt Disney and many other companies. The 100 million U.S. dollars arrived, doesn't this explain the problem?"

He didn't give Ovitz a chance to speak, "If it weren't for our siege on the Internet, how much would "The Two Towers" box office be?"

Thinking of this, Ron Meyer felt that his face was dull. With so many companies involved in the cyber siege, either overtly or secretly, Duke Rosenberg still blazed a trail and created such a terrifying one. The box office record is simply that they slapped a slap in the face!

How can Duke Rosenberg not fail? Michael Ovitz frowned tightly. He wanted to teach the young man a profound lesson, but...

"Michael, although I don't want to say frustrating words," Ron Meyer has already made a decision, "but! From box office data, to market response, to the number of supporters, what does Stephen Somos do with Duke Luo? Senberg? You don't really think he can beat Duke Rosenberg, do you?"

If Michael Ovitz still says that Stephen Sommers’ works can compete with Duke Rosenberg, he and Universal Pictures will definitely find a way to kick the artist management company out.

Because that may represent two points, one is that Michael Ovitz has become a fool, and the other is that he has been severely affected by a personal grievance with Duke Rosenberg.

Michael Ovitz was very unwilling. He had done so much, and he couldn't stop the opponent. He mobilized such power. Even half of Hollywood participated in a cyber war. The opponent's films are still selling well, still setting a record. Big sale...

Ron Meyer stopped going in circles and said, ""Van Helsing" will definitely not be released in the time period around "The Return of the King". There is no room for negotiation."

He drove people directly, "Come here today, Michael."

"Van Helsing" must be as far away as possible from that summer lunatic movie! Ron Meyer has only this idea now.

A movie that is super selling will harm the interests of some people, but it will also bring benefits to others.

"The Two Towers" hit its first week. Even the US$407 it received in advance, North America has already received US$177.1 million. This severely squeezed the results of other films released in the same period and ranked No. 1 in the box office at the same weekend. The two's "Damn" only got more than 17 million US dollars.

Such a box-office ratio directly caused the theaters to make a decision that is more biased towards "Two Towers".

Also on Monday morning, the weekly meeting of amg kicked off at the headquarters, and the focus of discussion was only one-"The Two Towers".

"I have only one suggestion!"

As the vice president responsible for the work of the theater, Lynch is a staunch supporter of "The Two Towers". In fact, the entire conference room is basically a supporter of "The Two Towers". "As long as there is a place for the amg theater, There will be a screen showing "The Two Towers", and all amg cinemas will join the show of "The Two Towers"!"

No one expressed dissent, but the voice of support continued.

"Our theaters should continue to increase the filming rate of "The Two Towers". I think 70% of the filming is too conservative, and 80% or higher is the right choice!"

Another executive took the conversation, "The news I got before the meeting, Emperor Entertainment has not only invested in the commercial and art theaters in its hands, but has increased the number of films to 78%. We must be fast!"

"Yes, I agree to continue to increase the film placement rate."

Not only is it arranging films, but during a discussion, the senior executives of amg decided not to reduce the number of theaters of "Two Towers" before "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" is released! (To be continued...)