Simon didn't have much time to pay attention to the intense controversy caused by "Basic Instinct". He flew to New York on Saturday morning to participate in the official recording of "Who's Gonna Be a Millionaire".

After initially drafting a more than 20-page project plan based on his memory, Simon has been regularly participating in the production meetings of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" in the previous months of preparation, and continues to work on this project

Provided a lot of opinions on the creation of the reality show's question bank, link setting, contestant selection and even the most detailed on-site atmosphere creation.

The recording actually started, and the project team, which had conducted many test shoots and rehearsals in advance, was already at ease. Simon decided to watch the scene in person. After all, the success or failure of this reality show is related to whether Daenerys Pictures can successfully enter the TV show.

production field.

Because "Who Will Be a Millionaire" itself tends to be a variety show, it is relatively simple to produce. The project team started recording seven pilot episodes in one week on Saturday, which allowed them to complete the entire pilot program while filming and broadcasting.

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However, this process is actually not easy.

During the two days on the weekend, everyone in the project team worked more than ten hours, and Simon was no exception. He was busy until ten o'clock late at night on Sunday. I watched the final sample of the first phase with everyone to confirm that it met my expectations.

Simon finally relaxed a little.

Monday, June 20th.

The new week has arrived in a blink of an eye, and the hot media discussion of "Basic Instinct" continues. Simon rarely sleeps in and doesn't get up until nine in the morning.

In the morning, I went to the apartment on Fifth Avenue to check the decoration effect. After that ridiculous night with the three of them, Catherine happened to be in New York to produce "Blue Angel" again, so Janet forced this matter to her to keep an eye on. Catherine

I happened to do some interior design work in the 1970s.

I had dinner with Catherine at noon and talked about some things about "Blue Angel". During the period, the woman refused Simon's suggestion to go to his place tonight, claiming that she would attend a party in the circle that night. Simon expressed that he was very happy to get to know some New York City with her.

People in the film industry just gave her a blank look. After all, women don't want their relationship to be known to too many people.

In the afternoon, I met with James Raybould as usual to discuss some affairs of the Westeros Company.

The debt-for-equity swap plan was confirmed. During this time, James Raybould had once again cleared out the New World Entertainment stocks in Westeros Company. Although Simon was bound to win Marvel, he could save half of the money.

No matter what, I will never choose to be taken advantage of again, and there is no need to secretly buy New World Entertainment stocks.

After completing various acquisitions and investments during this period, the US$100 million loan that Westeros Company had just obtained was once again running out of money, and Simon had no plans to increase his debt in the short term. James Raybould

The next long period of work will be focused on taking care of the existing business of the Westeros Company.

In the past six months, the North American stock market has continued to recover.

However, because the "Westeros Combination" stimulated a strong rebound in the technology stock sector last year, the rise in the technology stock market has slowed down significantly compared to other sectors in recent months.

As of last week, the total value of the technology stock portfolio of listed companies held by Westeros Corporation was approximately US$1.76 billion, and the scale of other unlisted company shares and real estate investments was approximately US$150 million. Due to "When Harry Met Sally" and

Due to the continuous success of "Pulp Fiction", the industry's valuation of Daenerys Pictures is approximately US$300 million, minus the total debt of Daenerys Pictures and Westeros Company of US$200 million. Simon's current personal

Asset size is around US$2 billion.

This year's Forbes list of the world's richest people is expected to be released in August.

If "Who Will Be a Millionaire" and "Basic Instinct" succeed, Simon's net worth will definitely continue to increase. His personal assets of more than 2 billion US dollars are enough for him to enter the top 50 of the world's richest people.

s position.

In the underground parking lot of the building where the Westeros company headquarters is located, James Raybould watched Simon's car leave. A series of data flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a little emotional again. He felt his daughter next to him looking at him in confusion.

After reacting, he smiled and said to Jennifer: "Let's go back. Your mother will prepare dinner tonight."

The father and daughter got into their car, James Raybould started the car and left the parking lot, and then asked his daughter next to him: "Do you think "Who Will Be a Millionaire" can be successful?"

Simon had told James Raybould in advance about his idea of ​​using the reality show project in hand as a bargaining chip in exchange for New World Entertainment from General Electric.

Jennifer heard her father's question and said, "I think it's very interesting. As for the ratings, we'll know tomorrow."

James Raybould paused and asked: "Didn't Simon tell you his expectations for this show?"

Jennifer felt some other meanings in her father's words and felt a little embarrassed, but she still said: "He, he is very confident in this program."

James Raybould turned the steering wheel and turned around a highway. He turned to glance at his daughter and said, "Jenny, you have to know that there are some things that you need to work hard for."

This was already very straightforward, and Jennifer couldn't help but blush a little, remembering everything she had done since working for Simon.

To be fair, it was not that she had never thought of snatching that man away from Janet.

However, when she stayed with him, maybe it was because she was too busy, or maybe because of other things. In short, it was basically difficult for her to have any thoughts about robbing men. In most cases, she just unconsciously believed that as long as she could

It's enough to stay with him and work for him.

She has always felt that she is an easily satisfied person.

The father and daughter returned to their home on the Upper East Side. Jennifer's mother, Carol Raybould, had returned early and was preparing dinner. James and Jennifer went to the kitchen to help. The family of three enjoyed dinner together very warmly, and then very

We had a tacit understanding and stayed together in front of the TV in the living room, chatting about something casually, waiting for the arrival at nine o'clock.

The broadcast time of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is nine o'clock in the evening.

ABC did not give the most prime eight o'clock slot, and of course, it did not drop it to the least important ten o'clock slot. Daenerys Films cannot expect too much from this.

Moreover, because ABC is unwilling to invest money to promote this reality show, Daenerys Films can only invest US$2 million in TV, newspaper and magazine advertising. This expenditure alone is equivalent to a week's pilot episode.

, a lot of money was also invested in the early stage auditions to build momentum for the program.

In addition, in order to retain the initiative as much as possible, Daenerys Films did not find sponsors to share the investment for the pilot episode. Therefore, in the pilot stage only, Daenerys Films’ total investment in all aspects of this project was close to

5 million US dollars. This is equivalent to a quarter of the entire season budget of "Who Will Be a Millionaire".

It is conceivable that if the show fails, Daenerys Pictures's "lavish" investment will definitely become the butt of ridicule in the industry.

Nine o'clock.

On the TV screen, the screen switched, and with host Regis Phil's introduction that could be speeded up, the program officially started.

Regis Fehr was the host of the original "Who Will Be a Millionaire". Before Daenerys Films found him, Regis Fehr was still working as a sports host on a local TV station in New York. After receiving Dan

Invited by Nelise Pictures, and realizing that he could break into the mainstream programs of the four major TV networks, Regis Phil resigned from his original job without hesitation and devoted himself wholeheartedly to "Who Will Be a Millionaire"

in production.

In the living room of the Raybould family, as the elite of this society, because they have a rich private social life, the Rayboulds have never been too interested in TV programs. However, from the beginning of the program and the introduction of the host,

The fiery atmosphere of the scene and even details such as lighting and music unknowingly led them into a certain atmosphere, especially the $1 million ultimate prize specially introduced by Regis Phil. Even the Rayboulds found it difficult to calm down.

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Who wouldn’t want to become a millionaire instantly by simply answering a series of questions?

Coincidentally, the first contestant to appear was a lawyer. He was about forty years old, in the prime of life, and had a very brilliant resume. Regis Phil did not rush to answer the questions, but spoke to the lawyer very skillfully.

Talking about his motivation and determination to participate in this show, such seemingly casual details further enhanced the atmosphere of the scene.

When the question-and-answer session officially began, the expectations of both the guests on site and the audience in front of the TV had reached their highest level.

In the final analysis, the success of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" does not lie in answering questions, but in arousing the emotions of the audience during the answering process. Just looking at a question may determine how much money you will make in a month, a year or even a lifetime.

Money belongs, and it is destined to be difficult to divert the audience's attention.

This is actually the reason why the industry later generally regarded "Who Will Be a Millionaire" as a reality show rather than a traditional variety show.

Because the core of the program is ‘show’.

In front of the TV, when they saw the lawyer on the screen who made a mistake on a question about the Great Lakes and was unfortunately eliminated, and only took away $8,000 in the end, the Raybould family no longer looked down upon him.

Americans are still very familiar with the Great Lakes. At least many people feel that they are very familiar with the Great Lakes.

This is actually a strategy.

In the process of creating the question bank, Simon specifically emphasized looking for questions that are closely related to North American audiences and at least make people feel familiar. After all, if the questions are too biased, the audience will inevitably think that this program is just embarrassing people.

With similar thoughts, it is difficult for the program to gather too much popularity.

However, although these questions are very 'down-to-earth', it is definitely not easy to answer them correctly. This is after the contestants have been selected in advance. After all, if the contestants on the stage can only answer one or two questions correctly

I can't even answer a single question. It's this show that's unlucky.

After the lawyer stepped down a little dejected, Regis Phil quickly introduced another contestant.

Such a heart-tugging competition has already passed an hour before you know it. The program did not deliberately pursue the integrity of the question-answering session. Due to time constraints, after the last contestant answered five questions correctly in a row and accumulated a considerable bonus, the first contestant

The program has officially ended. Although the actual recording has been completed, the follow-up will continue tomorrow. The pilot program in the next week will basically adopt this tail-leaving strategy.

Because of their familiarity with Robert Iger, the Raybould family also had some knowledge of the television network.

When the one-hour TV program ended unconsciously, the Raybould family had a premonition that this program would definitely be very successful.

How could a program like this fail to be successful if it allows one to pass an hour without feeling the passage of time at all, and without being distracted by anything else during the entire process?

However.

The Raybould family still had no idea how successful the show would be.

Because of the busy work of the past few days, Simon took a rest very early last night and did not watch the program in front of the TV. He had watched it too many times during the production stage and it was impossible for him to watch the program while sitting in front of the TV.

The ratings have increased too much.

Simon woke up early the next morning and had to return to the West Coast today. He planned to finalize the casting of "Batman" in the last week or so of this month.

The last surprise drug test eliminated three more candidates from the last ten candidates. Simon was quite satisfied with this result, at least the number of candidates was not reduced by more than half. Moreover, based on all aspects of information, he had basically confirmed the recent few candidates.

Goal, then only need to conduct some auditions and confirm contract details and other issues.

ABC had previously told Simon that the first day's ratings data would probably be notified to him after working hours. However, around 8:30, as Simon had just finished breakfast, the phone in the living room rang.

Simon thought it was someone else, so he came to the living room and answered the phone. Robert Iger's obviously suppressed excitement voice immediately came out: "Good morning, Simon."

"Good morning, Bob," Simon stood by the phone and asked directly with a smile without making too many detours: "How was the result?"

Before it was time to go to work, Robert Iger was already at the ABC Television Network's headquarters in Rockefeller Center in Midtown. Moreover, he was surrounded by many other ABC executives. Even ABC Chairman Tom Murphy showed up.

it's here.

Although there is a time difference between the east and west coasts, based on the long-term experience of sampling statistics by Nielsen and other survey agencies, there will not be much error between the relevant data and the actual ratings.

then.

The preliminary number of viewers on the first day of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" reached 13.65 million.
Chapter completed!