"I now have a phone call with Cameron at least once a day. The later stage of "Titanic" can basically ensure that it is completed before the end of May. Simon, there are constant negative news about this video in the media. I think the longer the delay is, the more unfavorable it is for us. It is best to release it on time during the summer season."

"Forget it during the summer season, time is too tight. If there are any changes, many plans will be disrupted. In addition, tell Jim to stay in Australia and not come back if he fails to complete "Titanic".

Malibu, Daenerys Cinema.

It was already Wednesday, January 8, 1997.

Starting from Christmas a few days ago, with Simon's insistence, Amy Pascal, who entered the due date, began taking maternity leave for one month. In the corporate management science, I always said that I want to know whether a company is developing healthily, just see if the company can still operate normally after the head leaves for a period of time.

Simon wants to see it, too.

However, as the chairman, since he returned to Los Angeles, Simon has not been able to intervene in professional and cumbersome financial, personnel, legal and other matters. As the core content area of ​​Daenerys Entertainment, he can still take on it in the general direction.

The ongoing meeting was to discuss the production and promotion arrangements for a series of key projects in 1997 with its three label leaders and several other executives, mainly on schedule.

As the three brands begin to go hand in hand, many times, if Simon or Amy does not make a decision in person, the competition for schedules and even various conflicts will inevitably occur. Once this dispute is too fierce, it may cause internal friction, which may hurt the film business fundamentally.

Simon just talked about the Titanic, president of Daenerys Pictures, which was finally successfully completed before Christmas last year.

News about the serious out-of-control project of "Titanic" began to spread frequently in the second half of last year, which finally made everyone see that Simon Westeros also missed. For this movie, Tom Pollack, as the president of Daenerys Films, went to Australia to follow up for more than a month, and finally finished the filming before the end of 1996.

Now the schedule is a problem again.

It is indeed as Pollack said, if you want to break the rumors from the outside world, it is safest to release this summer in the summer schedule according to the initial plan. But not to mention whether Cameron can complete the later stage on time, even if it is completed and the time is too fast, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no other changes, so it is safer to be at the end of the year.

Interior of the conference room.

When everyone heard Simon's last words, they finally felt that someone was still a little angry about it, saying that they would not let someone come back from Australia. Perhaps the subtext was that once the box office of this project completely failed, they would not want to go back to Hollywood again in the future.

Daenerys Entertainment now has the ability to ban a director.

As for the boss, people who come into contact with often can't help but sigh that this young tycoon's calmness and easy-goingness seems to have never been young and frivolous, which makes people easily get close to him. However, if you stand a little further, you will immediately feel something else.

A cruel person!

Seeing Simon make a decision, Tom Pollack had to say: "At the end of the year, the Thanksgiving schedule has been confirmed to be "Agents of the Bugs" and MGM's "Ship Time Contact", and "Titanic" can only be in the Christmas season. However, the Christmas season has "Flash 2", and the first "Flash" box office is average, but after the cross-heating of "Wonder Woman 2", the box office of "Flash 2" may rise to a higher level. If we want to be safe, Simon may be able to switch "Ship Time Contact" with "Titanic" schedule."

As soon as Tom Pollack finished speaking, Mark Belford, vice president of global operations at Daenerys Entertainment next to him, reminded: "Tom, nothing unexpected happens. In order to avoid "Flash 2", Disney has a high chance of putting "Terminator 3" in the gratitude box. Perhaps Sony invests in "Starship Team" by Paul Van Hovin. It is said that the cost is $100 million. It is still unwise to squeeze "Titanic" into the gratitude box."

Tom Pollack retorted: "I have read Paul Van Hovin's "Starship Team" script. It is a very mediocre script, and the possibility of selling is not high. "Titanic" has been transferred to the gratitude file, and the theme does not conflict with "Beasts". The remaining "Terminator 3" will never be higher than "Flash 2".

"I also think "Titanic" is still in Christmas," said Danny Morris, president of New World Pictures. "In addition to "Beasts" and "Space Contact", don't forget that there is also "Wedding Singer" by Adam Sandler, who can't be added to it."

Ella Deutschman, president of Gaomen Pictures, also expressed his opinion: "Why don't we transfer "Flash 2" to the gratitude file similar to "Wonder Woman 2", and we should be able to make Warner compromise?"

"It can't be like this," Nancy Brill, who was originally watching this time, immediately opposed: "The Bugs must ensure that the two schedules are completed, and this project is the most important movie at the end of the year."

Ella Deutchman reacted when he heard this, knowing that he had made up his words.

Pixar's 3D animated film involves much more than the box office itself, but also the sales of peripheral products that cost billions of dollars and even the large number of Daenerys Entertainment's business in family entertainment, theme parks, game development, etc. Even if "Titanic" is completely ruined, the schedule of the animated film "Beasts" must be ensured.

Thinking of this, Ella Deutchman felt more and more that a super bombshell that was expected to burn $200 million will end up similar to "Future Water World" or "Cutting the Throat Island" two years ago.

Simon, who was sitting in the first place, listened to everyone's discussion, lowered his head and studied the 1997 box office weekly sorting table, interrupted the dispute after a moment, and said, "Don't argue, "Titanic" is on Christmas time, and the "Flash 2" schedule is the golden December 19th. This has been confirmed. We will put it on December 12th one week in advance."

Everyone immediately looked at each other and then looked at their boss.

Tom Pollack hesitated a little and said, "Simon, I think it's better to delay one week?"

"The Flash 2" was released in advance one week, and in everyone's opinion, it almost means taking the initiative to lie down and let "The Flash 2" crush, just like the movies of the previous week of a thanksgiving "Wonder Woman 2", if the reputation does not meet expectations, "Titanic" may be completely stopped in one week.

In comparison, if the momentum of "The Flash 2" is delayed by a week, perhaps there is still room for survival for "Titanic".

Simon felt everyone's eyes and probably understood their thoughts, not surprisingly.

If you just want to make "Titanic alive" and take the initiative to avoid the Christmas where "Flash 2" is located to catch the end of the New Year's Day, it is a good choice. However, in this case, you will directly enter the unpopular schedule after New Year's Day. Once "Titanic" gains its former popularity, the counterattack rebound momentum will definitely be worse than that of the popular schedule, and the total local box office will drop by one level.

Besides, if "The Flash 2" is one week ahead of schedule, if you can withstand the pressure of this super bombshell to create miracles, and there is room for the popular schedule at the end of the year to last week, "Titanic" is expected to create the former box office miracle.

Ultimately, the executives present were considering how to make the results of "Titanic" not too ugly, while Simon was looking forward to the film creating another box office miracle.

In fact, if you don’t consider other things, putting "Titanic" on Thanksgiving is the best choice. Once the big ship explodes and continuously crushes two popular schedules, it is not impossible for the local box office to directly exceed 700 million. However, if you do so, other movies will have no way to survive.

After all, it is because the plate is so big, one rises and the other goes down.

After weighing the pros and cons, December 12 is undoubtedly the most suitable schedule.

In addition to Simon's confidence in "Titanic", there is also that "Flash 2" will not be as terrifying as everyone imagines.

Because according to the original agreement, Warner completely retained the copyrights of the two superheroes and did not allow Daenerys Entertainment to participate in the investment condition that the Big Three and the Big Cross movies can use the images of "Cyborg" and "Flash" at will, and "Cyborg" and "Flash", unless Daenerys Entertainment agrees, they can only "fight alone".

The popularity of fighting alone is ultimately impossible for the three heroes to gather together like "Wonder Woman 2".

Re-examining it, Simon said with a final say: "That's it. Titanic is released on December 12. Next, well, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Ella, your plan is to participate in the Cannes Film Festival. This item is cancelled. The positioning of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" should not be an art film. Whether you can win awards or not, it will be of no benefit to the release of this movie. However, this movie can premiere in Cannes. In addition, the schedule will be a little further, and the box office momentum of various blockbusters in mid-July is still there, and it will be in late July."

Ella Deutchman thought about it for a moment but did not object, just said: "Simon, we will give this year's Oscar to "The Patient in the UK". We can always fight for it next year, right?"

Simon's expression paused. He could not say in advance that "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Titanic" are the key points of this year's award-winning awards. For all executives who do not have the advantage of a prophet like Simon, these two movies, judging from the appearance, are successful even if they fail completely, so how can they think of Oscars?

After thinking for a moment, Simon said: "You are following up on several projects we invested in Europe last year, the British "The Six Heroes of Light Pigs", and two Italian movies, Tonadore's "The Pianist on the Sea" and Roberto Benini's "Beautiful Life". They should all have the potential to make award-winning films."

Ella Deutschman nodded and shook his head: "But none of them are mainstream, and the box office size will not be too high. Boss, I want to do "Shapes Love History". This project has been under pressure for two years. Now it is launched and can be placed at the end of the year."

Not to mention "The Pianist at Sea" and "Beautiful Life", the former "The Six Heroes of Light Pig" cost only 2 million pounds and had a global box office of more than 250 million US dollars. Isn't this a large scale?

However, you can't be a charlatan.

Simon could only hold back and turned his mind to "Shapes' Love History", the once controversial Oscar best film in history.

"Shapes' Love History" is a well-known script that has been circulating in Hollywood for a long time. The story idea was born in the late 1980s. In history, Julia Roberts, the most popular girl in Hollywood in the 1990s, personally ran for this project. Due to various reasons, he was unable to invest in the filming. After ten years of going around, it was finally completed by Miramax.

Then it was a big success.

The quality of this movie is of course very excellent. It was only in 1998 that it defeated the even better films such as "Save Private Ryan", "Thin Red Line", and "Beautiful Life" to top the Oscars. Its appearance is a bit ugly, and it also gave birth to the most beautiful actress in Hollywood.

Daenerys Entertainment won this script a few years ago, and Simon kept suppressing her and waiting for the right time. At this time, seeing Ella Deutschman looking at herself expectantly, Simon was also helpless. Since "The Room with Seen the Scenery", which started out, Ella Deutschman has always had a special liking for classical literary and artistic films, and "The History of Shakespeare's Love" has naturally become a favorite.

Faced with the expectations of this executive, Simon can't say that Ella, let's wait any longer, otherwise this movie will become cannon fodder.

Still can't be a charlatan.

After hesitating for a little, Simon nodded at all: "Okay, by the way, have you considered the hero and heroine?"

OK.

Just think that this movie has lost all his character in the "last life" and this time I pay off my debts.

Ella Doichiman nodded when he saw the boss nodding, but was very happy: "I want to invite Daniel Day Lewis, the heroine Julia Roberts. Julia just participated in the "BJ Single Diary" last year and received accent training to get started directly. She also likes this script."

Daniel Day Lewis was once the first male lead in "Shapes Love History". It was just because of the schedule, and he didn't invite him several times.

As for Julia Roberts, Simon was not very satisfied. This actress really lacked a kind of British classical beauty.

Thinking of this, Simon said: "Daniel is fine, as long as you can get it. As for the heroine, let Kate try it first. Kate Beckinsale, she has performed very well in recent movies and also won a Golden Globe supporting actress nomination for "The Mind Catcher". The key is that she is still a British."

Designating the heroine is a great pleasure for her boss.

Not fun for whom?

Ella got the promise to start filming, and of course she wouldn't make herself bored in this matter, not to mention that her boss didn't do anything randomly. Thinking about it for a moment, Kate Beckinsale is indeed more suitable than Julia Roberts. Ella Doichiman couldn't find a reason to refute, so he nodded quickly.

The matter was finalized, and Nancy Brill, who was a little suspicious of joining the fun, said: "Boss, I want to restart "Ghost Street". Shay recently gave a very good plan. Moreover, aren't you also promoting the youth film plan? I think you can try it."

Under Simon's operation, the new line, which should have shined in Hollywood in the 1990s and Miramax, went bankrupt one after another. As the controller of Blockbuster, Nancy Brill once invited the heads of these two companies to the production department of Blockbuster to try roughly Blockbuster. Simon also acquiesced to this matter, which is to lay the foundation for the future streaming era.

The Weinstein brothers were fired by Nancy for misbehaving, leaving only the founder of the new line, Robert Shay.

Simon has also paid attention to it in recent years.

Robert Sheibn was born in the distribution industry. Although the production department of Blockbuster, who was hosting, performed mediocrely and had little resources, he did a very good job in purchasing films, helping Blockbuster to buy many high-quality and low-priced film copyrights.

When Nancy suddenly mentioned it, Simon realized that Shay probably had the intention of making a comeback, and just said, "I haven't seen the memo you gave me in advance. Nancy, how much do you plan to spend and how to set the schedule?"

"15 million US dollars, Shay hopes to use some CG special effects this time. In order to save money, we plan to find a unique special effects studio. Boss, if you think the cost is too high, Blockbuster can invest part of it. In terms of schedule, if you give the green light, I hope it will be released in mid-September."

"Just let's share the investment, you can discuss it with Danny first and submit a memo to me."

After talking about this, Simon took back the initiative in the topic and said: "Next about overseas, last year we launched a number of projects in Europe and Asia, and there will be more in the future. Considering cultural factors, these projects will be first issued in their local areas in the future, and even limited to local local distribution, and will no longer be introduced to North America. This requires our overseas production and distribution network to be further strengthened. Mark, you have always been responsible for this matter, and I hope I will not disappoint you in the future."

Mark Belford nodded confidently: "Of course, boss."

"Specifically, some of the films this year, "Two Big Smoke Bowls" and "Six Heroes of Light Pigs" in the UK have a strong local style. They will be released in the UK first and will be introduced to North America depending on the situation. The same is true for the two films in Italy. These two films will also be used for award-winning operations, which requires Mark and Gaomen Film Team to work together. In China, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is directly introduced, and the others are ignored for the time being."

Mark Belford and Ella Deutchman echoed, saying that they would write down.

After confirming overseas, Simon began to sort out the most important local film list with everyone.

This year, the total number of films released by Daenerys Entertainment's three labels is expected to be more than 40. However, of course, not all films are the focus. For example, Christopher Nolan's first feature film "Following", which was recruited by Simon last year, Quentin's new work "Dangerous Relationship", and a Hong Kong film "Young Wong Feihong: Iron Monkey" bought by Simon after the success of "Black Man" last year, etc., are all secondary.

Of course, there are also opportunities for dark horses to appear among these projects. Perhaps Nolan's "Following" will become a hit. After all, Simon has seen the sample film, which is very Nolan style, and the cost is only 6 million US dollars. It is easy to make a fortune properly, but these projects are not the focus.

Specifically, starting from the Valentine's Day schedule on February 14, the first key project in 1997 was that Simon bought the copyright "BJ Single Diary" starring Julia Roberts last year.

The former "BJ Single Diary", frankly speaking, the global box office is still close to $300 million, which is a miracle when the heroine is hard to describe.

This time, Simon chose the more likable Julia Roberts. The two male protagonists are still Colin Fells and Hugh Grant. In addition, the main creative team behind the scenes is basically unchanged. At least Simon is confident in achieving his former box office results.

Determining Valentine's Day is also a strategy for unpopular counterattacks.

In addition to the overcrowded summer and the end of the year, Valentine's Day is also suitable for "BJ Single Diary".

Then, during the Easter schedule, the four main themes were.

Peter Jackson's "The Ghost of Terror", Jet Lee's version of "Hurricane Rescue", Jim Carrey's "Cable TV Mechanic" and Natasha Hunsquatch's "Alien 2". To be honest, none of the four movies have a local appearance of over 100 million, and this time they win by volume.
To be continued...