Today is already Friday, June 24th.

Just yesterday, after a new round of voting, the Writers Guild of America once again rejected the new contract proposed by the Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, which means that the Hollywood writers' strike that has lasted for three and a half months will continue.

The Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance represents more than 350 film and television entertainment production and distribution companies in the United States, centered on the seven major Hollywood studios and the four major broadcast networks, but it cannot represent them all. Due to the long strike, business has been disrupted.

To continue.

Since last month, many second- and third-tier small production companies have chosen to sign contracts required by the Writers Guild in advance, including some defecting members of the Producers Guild.

As the strike continues, a lose-lose situation has been completely formed for both parties.

Many people had a premonition that the Producers Alliance would launch a 'settlement' against those compromising production companies, and Simon even remembered the actual progress of the matter. However, standing at the door of an audition room at Daenerys Film Headquarters, Simon

Hearing the sudden news from Amy, he couldn't help but smile bitterly and asked tentatively: "The Producers Alliance didn't mention "Who Will Be a Millionaire" in the announcement?"

Simon has not joined the Writers Guild, and Daenerys Pictures has not joined the Producers Union for the time being. Simon originally wanted to just sit back and watch the entire strike process. However, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" does not require this

The screenwriter is involved in a popular reality show, but it is destined that Daenerys Pictures will find it difficult to stay out of it.

Feeling Simon's hopeful gaze, Amy shook her head regretfully, also showed a wry smile, and said: "I mentioned it."

Jonathan Friedman and the other three listened to a few words of the conversation between Simon and Amy, roughly understood what was going on, and they all wisely avoided it.

Simon returned to the audition table and sat down, frowning and thinking.

Before the strike, several of Simon's scripts last year had been completely ignored by the WGA because he refused to join the Writers Guild, so he won nothing during the awards season, which is actually nothing.

But now, the 'war' between the Writers Guild and the Producers Alliance has reached a fever pitch. Daenerys Pictures has come up with a hit show like "Who Will Be a Millionaire" that can completely throw off the writers, which is equivalent to giving away

The Producers Alliance obtained a 'nuclear weapon' that could determine the outcome of the war.

Moreover, this is not the only nuclear weapon Daenerys Films is preparing.

Yesterday, the Writers Guild once again rejected the Producers Union's contract. "Who Will Be a Millionaire" happened to achieve an outstanding result of 17.3 million viewers last night. The Producers Union immediately announced a banning order today, and also specially removed "Who Will Be a Millionaire"

Will Be a Millionaire" was brought up, and the counterattack was fierce.

It is not difficult to imagine that in the ensuing stalemate and negotiations, the Writers Guild, which is already at the end of its tether, will never gain any advantage.

Daenerys Pictures has completely offended the Writers Guild.

The relationship between the Writers Guild and the production companies is basically that of employees and bosses. The Producers Guild can block those production companies that have signed contracts with the WGA in advance. The Writers Guild cannot in turn block Daenerys Film without a clear reason.

Industry, reality shows such as "Who Will Be a Millionaire" obviously cannot constitute this reason.

However, the Writers Guild will definitely find trouble with Daenerys Pictures whenever it has the opportunity in the future. Most directly, it will be difficult for films produced by Daenerys Pictures to win awards such as the Oscar for Best Screenplay.

Very difficult.

It can be said that Daenerys Pictures, a fish in the pond, has both benefited and suffered from the war between the Producers Alliance and the Writers Guild.

By the time Amy closed the door and came over to sit down, Simon had already made up his mind that things would come to an end. There was no way he would fall to the side of the Writers Guild now, which would be even less beneficial to Daenerys Pictures.

Thinking about this, Simon raised his head and asked Amy: "How was the discussion with Daniel Burke and the others?"

Amy shook her head and said: "ABC rejected our offer of 2 million per issue and only gave us 1 million US dollars."

Calculated based on 20 million viewers, in the 1980s, the price of a 30-second advertisement for such a program in the popular autumn season was about US$200,000. "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is a one-hour program, and the content of the program is actually only

45 minutes, and the other 15 minutes are advertising time.

Based on this calculation, the advertising revenue of each issue of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" can reach 6 million US dollars.

The cost of running a national television network is very high.

Among ABC's more than 200 franchised TV stations in North America, there are actually not many TV stations directly affiliated with the network. A large number of affiliated TV stations rebroadcast the network's programs during the prime time every night, just like theaters distribute studio films.

Enough profits must be shared. Coupled with the operating expenses and program purchase fees of the TV network, the income that the TV network can obtain is actually not much.

Take "Who Will Be a Millionaire" as an example? It is estimated that of the advertising fee of 6 million US dollars per issue, the operating expenses of the TV network itself and the share of the franchised TV stations will account for 50%. The remaining 50% is the TV

The network and producers can use that portion of the revenue to share.

Of the 3 million U.S. dollars in revenue sharing, Daenerys Pictures takes 2 million U.S. dollars, which is actually very reasonable. After all, in theory, Daenerys Pictures has to bear the production costs of the program. But in fact, it is difficult for ABC

Accept that Daenerys Films took away so much.

You know, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is not one of those ordinary 23-episode autumn one-hour shows. If there are only 23 episodes per season and each episode costs 2 million US dollars, Daenerys Films can only get a total of 4,600

Ten thousand US dollars, excluding the theoretical production costs, the net income Daenerys Pictures can obtain is even lower.

but.

According to the initial contract, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" reaches 69 episodes per season, which is three times the number of ordinary one-hour TV episodes, and each episode is worth US$2 million, which is the total income that Daenerys Pictures can obtain.

will surge to US$138 million.

Let’s talk about cost.

According to initial estimates, the production cost of each season of "Who Will Be a Millionaire" is about US$20 million. But in fact, Daenerys Films also has the power to place advertisements in the program, which is the kind of host who

There are a lot of brand names and bottles and cans on the guests' desks. This part of the income is actively let go by ABC so that Daenerys Pictures can offset part of the production costs.

However, with the current popularity of "Who Will Be a Millionaire", there are countless brands willing to spend big money to sponsor it. In the future, just this part of the income will be able to offset the entire production cost of the show and achieve a surplus. Daenerys

When the studio sells the program to ABC, no matter how much it gets per issue, it is equivalent to net income.

It is obviously difficult for ABC to accept that the profits made by program producers are more than double that of itself.

Simon looked at Amy's expression and found that his female executive seemed to be reluctant to accept that her company made more money than ABC, so he smiled and asked: "Amy, how much do you think we can talk about?"

"1.5 million US dollars," Amy noticed the smile on Simon's face. She felt a little guilty inexplicably, but still reported her price, and added: "The company has recently received orders from AT-T, Mars, and HP.

There were sponsorship invitations from many companies such as IBM. Among them, Mars alone made an offer of US$20 million. They requested to be the main sponsor of "Who Will Be a Millionaire". On ABC's side, each issue is US$1.5 million, and everyone will share the profits equally.

, this should be the best result."

Simon was noncommittal and said, "What about the others?"

Amy said: "ABC also asked to change the contract. They hope to participate in the production of the program. In addition, they hope to order more episodes of the program and start broadcasting them officially in July. However, I don't think this is a good idea.

Putting too many programs in a short period of time will quickly cause the audience to experience aesthetic fatigue and shorten the screen life of the program. Therefore, I think one season per year is enough. Keeping a break of half a year can keep the audience as fresh as possible.

"

In Simon's memory, the ABC TV network continued to broadcast this program all year round without restraint, even increasing it to four episodes a week. As a result, "Who Will Be a Millionaire" was poached by all the viewers in just a few years?

potential and was overtaken by "Survivor".

In comparison, "Survivor", which has better rhythm control, has a screen life of more than ten years.

Therefore, Simon very much agrees with Amy's point of view: "You are right, Amy, rushing to produce more programs may bring us large profits in the short term, but it will be difficult to do so in the long term. So, we insist on this,

There is no room for bargaining.”

Amy nodded and continued: "In addition, ABC also hopes to get "Survivor"."

"You can't give them 'Survivor', and you can't give them 'Big Brother,'" Simon rejected without hesitation, saying, "If they still want it, the only one they want is The House of Beverly Hills. By the way, you guys

Have you selected some lovely wives?"

Compared with the emphasis on "Who Will Be a Millionaire" and "Survivor", Simon just wrote a simple project plan for "Big Brother" and "The House of Beverly Hills" and threw it to the TV production department

After all, he didn't have much free time to take care of this at all during this time.

When Amy heard Simon's question, something strange flashed across her expression, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she said: "There were not many people who signed up originally, but after "Who Will Be a Millionaire" started airing, many people signed up in the past few days.

Everyone called me and wanted to participate, but the final candidate has not been finalized yet. How about the company prepares a party and you choose it yourself?"

Simon moved closer to Amy and asked in a low voice: "Will their husbands attend?"

Amy obviously rolled her eyes and said, "Boss, if there's nothing else, I'm going to work."

"Okay, just kidding," Simon sat up straight again, his expression turned serious, and said: "Amy, there is no law that stipulates that we can't make more than the TV network. So, 2 million US dollars per issue, this is what we

There's no bargaining, either. ABC can make $1 million per episode, which is more than most of the network's programming can offer it. Most importantly, "Who's Going to Be a Millionaire?"

It can improve ABC's overall ratings, which is actually of greater significance to the TV network. They cannot be unaware of it. Therefore, there is no negotiation for US$2 million per phase. If ABC does not agree, then the project will be shelved."

Amy's lips moved, but she still nodded and said, "So, Simon, what about "Survivor" and "Big Brother"?"

Amy obviously had no intention of asking about Simon's bad taste.

Simon didn't mind either and said: "I talked to Barry Diller last time. The basic strategy of these two programs is that we gain profits and the TV network gains ratings."

"But we haven't proven that 'Survivor' and 'Big Brother' can be as successful as 'Who Will Be a Millionaire'?"

"So, we can only take a gamble," Simon shrugged and said, "If the TV network doesn't even have the courage to do so, it might as well not talk about it."

After the two chatted, they were about to get up and get busy. Amy suddenly remembered something and said, "Simon, it's almost July, and we should prepare for next year's film project."

"I know this too," Simon spread his hands and said, "But, do you have time recently?"

"No."

Amy shook her head and glanced at Simon, who obviously didn't either.

Studios usually start preparing for next year's film projects a year in advance. If it is a blockbuster film, production will often begin in the second half of the year.

However, the current production plan of Daenerys Pictures, excluding "Batman", may only last until Easter next year at most, and it is basically Catherine's "Blue Angel" and "The Blue Angel" from Shendan.

Si's two low-budget independent films, "Metropolitan" and "Sisters," obviously did not sell well.

However, although the company's scale has continued to expand, now everyone is so busy with a pair of projects under the company that there is no way to take them into consideration until next year.
To be continued...