Kapitel 278: Chapter 278: New Headquarters
The Golden Globe Awards, known as the pre-Oscar event for American film and television, were highly regarded as the first major awards ceremony of the year.
Ridley Scott's The Departed was highly appreciated by the film union and received attention in the Golden Globe Drama category for Best Picture.
However, Babel also garnered attention from the National Board of Review.
As for Clint Eastwood's duo films Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, they portrayed the fierce battle from the perspectives of both the American and Japanese sides.
It wasn't uncommon to split a movie into two parts, but telling the same event from two different perspectives in these "joint films" was an unprecedented bold attempt.
Clint Eastwood succeeded in this endeavor. Flags of Our Fathers, released last October, was widely criticized. However, Letters from Iwo Jima, which followed in mid-December, quickly garnered praise and won the National Society of Film Critics' Best Film of the Year honor.
Thus, this year's Golden Globe Drama Best Film was expected to be one of Letters from Iwo Jima, Babel, and The Departed.
Andy Dick's incident was just a blip in Hollywood, a small fry not worth Charles Capet's energy.
Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman convinced producer Anthony Minghella to recommend The Reader project to Capet Pictures.
Anthony Minghella had already handed over The Reader project to director Stephen Daldry to develop.
The screenplay was also led and adapted by Stephen Daldry, co-produced by American Capet Pictures, Mirage Enterprises, and German Babelsberg Film Studio.
While everyone was pleased on this side, Harvey Weinstein, who had a collaborative relationship with Anthony Minghella, felt frustrated upon hearing the news.
"Anthony, I told you I'd support you in developing The Reader. Weinstein Company can raise over $30 million for it..." Harvey Weinstein ranted non-stop into the phone from his office at the Weinstein Company's New York headquarters.
"Harvey, it's been five years. Stephen Daldry is willing to develop it. I believe he has the ability to direct this novel adaptation, and Capet Pictures has substantial funding. I have no reason to refuse them," said Anthony Minghella from Los Angeles, feeling helpless against Harvey Weinstein's impotent fury.
"Charles Capet, huh?" Harvey Weinstein slammed the phone down and slumped on the sofa, feeling momentarily powerless.
Weinstein Company started producing its own movies in 2005, but had lacked any significant success.
The major shareholders behind Weinstein Company were Britain's biggest advertising and public relations company, WPP plc, and America's top investment bank, Merrill Lynch.
Although the Weinstein brothers controlled the board of Weinstein Company, the shareholders cared about profits.
After leaving Miramax, apart from the impressive results from Dimension Films, the films distributed by Weinstein Company fell short.
Compared with Capet Pictures, now effectively one of Hollywood's leading seven major film companies, there was a huge gap, comparable to the distance of another Universal Studios in between.
In 2006, none of Weinstein Company's films made it into the top 50 North American box office.
Given the contrast between Harvey Weinstein's declining fortunes and Charles Capet's growing momentum, it was clear whom the wise would choose.
Harvey Weinstein now faced the challenge of securing capital injection, as Merrill Lynch and other shareholders wouldn't allow him to pursue awards at the expense of commercial success.
Given Weinstein Company's current diversification strategy, they couldn't independently invest in films and had to seek collaborative film investment partners.
In Los Angeles, at the Capet Pictures' headquarters in Burbank, Charles Capet and CEO Donna Langley chatted in the lounge.
"Charles, since headquarters opened, it seems that employees' work efficiency has also increased," Donna Langley remarked with a smile, obviously in a good mood.
"The company needs to grow, and we'll have more employees over time. The digital media service center, new digital studios, interactive entertainment division, audience studio hall, and upcoming outdoor locations are just the beginning," Charles had numerous plans for Capet Entertainment.
"The quickest construction is the studios. By May, the remaining five studios should be completed, supporting part of our film and TV production," Donna Langley, who had managed Universal Studios' production facilities in Los Angeles before, handled the operations well.
Capet Pictures' headquarters boasted five new studios, three large and two small, equipped with various facilities and offices, warehouses, and rooms for sound recording and editing.
"The future development of Marvel Studios means the Los Angeles lot is quite costly. It might be better to build our production base and filming locations in high tax rebate areas like Georgia," Charles considered maximizing his benefits.
Los Angeles had comprehensive film facilities and abundant talent, but labor costs were high, impractical for large-scale projects requiring many hires.
"How about Atlanta? We should send someone to evaluate if it's suitable for Marvel Studios series films," Donna Langley suggested.
Charles nodded. "Have we signed the contract for collaboration on Anthony Minghella's The Reader project?"
"Yes, we signed both production and distribution contracts. The production budget is estimated to be $33 million, but it's still in the script-adapting stage and will probably start filming later this year," Donna Langley expertly managed such matters.
Charles smiled. "I heard this was a project Harvey Weinstein was interested in, but it hadn't been developed over the years. I wonder what his reaction will be if The Reader succeeds in the future?"
"He might regret it. Weinstein Company developed several new films, but The Reader was suppressed. He didn't believe in Stephen Daldry's directing ability," Donna Langley shook her head.
"A producer who can't attract capital has no standing in Hollywood. Harvey Weinstein's foundation is nearly exhausted!"
Charles laughed along. Capet Pictures' rise would inevitably have stepping stones, and many had been laid under its light over the years.
*****
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