Capítulo 590: Chapter 590: The New Era of Fairy Tale Movies
To dig a hole, one must have the right tools.
Suddenly, Daniel called, and Martin had to think on his feet. Time was of the essence, so he needed a reliable solution.
Just as Bruce had wisely pointed out, it wouldn't be a problem if the opposition didn't step into the trap.
As Martin ruminated, the only thing that came to mind in this short span was movies.
The last time, he had taken advantage of Daniel when the old film library was being remade.
Martin wasn't a saint, so this time, he nonchalantly handed Daniel three projects that could be particularly rewarding.
This time around, Daniel had returned, bringing along the new president of Warner Pictures, which seemed destined.
Martin inquired, "Brother, what kind of Hollywood movies do you think are so expensive to produce that they make your head spin?"
"Soft science fiction that relies heavily on visual effects, superhero movies, and popular action blockbusters," Bruce replied, thinking about Warner Bros.' recent plans for a new trilogy. He added, "Don't forget epic blockbusters, especially those with a touch of magic."
The last statement jogged Martin's memory—among the three old films he'd given to Daniel, there was indeed a magical epic, and Warner Pictures had already given it the green light.
With a production budget of $150 million, it starred Christian Bale and was directed by Ridley Scott.
The other two were also fairy tale adaptations with magical elements.
Unfortunately, the latter two had not yet received approval from Warner's review committee.
Martin tried to recall his past life and remembered reading about Hollywood's major blockbuster failures in the UC Shock Department news.
Movies like "Green Lantern" and the colossal epic helmed by Lao had made quite an impact.
Then there was Disney's "Princess of Mars John Carter," already in production, based on a classic fairy tale, which Martin decided to fuel further.
"Bruce, you need to find a bookstore quickly," Martin instructed. After a quick Google search for the relevant book titles, he continued, "Buy two fairy tale books: 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and 'Jack the Giant Killer.'"
Bruce agreed, "I'll head out right away."
Martin cautioned him, "Make sure the books aren't too new and show signs of having been read."
Bruce nodded, "You can count on me."
Leaving the studio behind, Bruce deliberately ventured away from the immediate vicinity, visiting five different bookstores until he found two suitable books.
Returning to Martin's office, Bruce placed the books on the table.
Martin picked them up. The books were fairly new, but with a closer look, one could see signs of wear and tear.
At that moment, Jessica entered from outside, handed Martin a plan book, and commented, "There's no time; it's completely blank."
Martin replied, "As long as it has a cover."
He handed the plan book to Bruce, saying, "Take your time reading it and flip it over several times."
Bruce accepted it, opened the cover to find all blank pages, pulled up a chair, and began flipping through the empty book repeatedly.
Martin took a moment to familiarize himself with the contents of the two fairy tale books he had long forgotten.
After a satisfying lunch and a brief respite, it was nearly time for Martin's appointment with Daniel. The two quickly discussed and organized the cluttered items on Martin's desk.
Having just returned from Missouri, Martin had a mountain of studio work awaiting him, leaving his desk in a somewhat disheveled state. Several documents, awaiting his signature, were piled on the left side of the desk, while pen holders and various items stood haphazardly on the surface. Other stacks of books and files were scattered about, including the two fairy tale books, "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Jack the Giant Killer." Beneath one of the books, a corner of a folded plan peeked out, revealing the words "project" and "jack."
Given the limited time, Martin had hastily prepared this makeshift trap, hoping that Daniel and Jon Berg would soon walk into it.
At just before 2:30 in the afternoon, Daniel and Jon arrived at the entrance of Davis Studio together.
"Why am I here discussing distribution? What's your angle?" Daniel expressed his slight dissatisfaction.
Jon smiled and replied, "I'm here to meet Martin and get to know him better. We're executives at Warner Bros., both management and distributors, so it's important for us to build relationships with people like Martin."
Daniel offered a warning, "Be careful, Martin is not someone to be trifled with."
Jon's smile faded as he responded, "I understand that Martin is no pushover, but you also have to remember that we are the executives at Warner Bros., the ones who provide opportunities for people like him."
With that, Daniel walked straight into the studio, and Jon followed closely behind.
A receptionist greeted them and led them up to the third floor, where they knocked on the door of an office. Martin promptly welcomed them inside.
"Please, come in." Martin shook hands with Daniel and Jon, saying, "I just returned to Los Angeles from Missouri last night, so today has been a bit chaotic with work. I hope you don't mind."
Jon couldn't help but notice that the office was not particularly spacious, but Martin's desk was cluttered with papers and materials, indicating that he had been busy with tasks when they arrived.
A quick scan of Martin's desk caught Jon's attention—two fairy tale books. Despite Martin's age, the books showed signs of recent reading, with slightly curled corners and noticeably creased covers. This piqued Jon's curiosity, as it was uncommon for someone of Martin's stature to be interested in such tales.
However, Jon concealed his observations, maintaining a composed demeanor. He then introduced himself to Martin, officially meeting him for the first time.
Martin exchanged polite words with Jon and invited both guests to the reception area for their discussion.
Daniel got straight to the point, asking, "Martin, we've heard rumors that you're in discussions with Disney Pictures regarding distribution."
Martin explained, "Alan Horn is an old friend of ours, and he paid a visit some time ago. When it comes to cooperation, it's not easy to decline."
He continued straightforwardly, "The terms offered by Disney Pictures, particularly the North American distribution commission, are three percentage points lower than Warner Bros., encompassing overseas commissions and offline revenues. Based on the first 'John Wick' film, the producers stand to earn tens of millions more."
Daniel offered a reminder, "You've overlooked one crucial factor—'John Wick' achieved such high revenue due to Warner Bros.'s global channel operations. Without Warner Bros.'s extensive reach, the overall earnings of the film would be considerably reduced."
Martin added, "Considering that 'John Wick 2' is a sequel to a blockbuster, a rigid distribution strategy may not be the most suitable approach."
"This involves multiple movies from multiple companies, and the situation is incredibly complex," Daniel acknowledged the challenge of the situation, recognizing that Kevin Tsujihara was unlikely to change, and thus, adjustments had to be made elsewhere. "Warner Bros.'s distribution channels can significantly boost a film's total revenue. The higher the total revenue, the larger the share you can obtain."
The negotiation between the two sides seemed deadlocked, but it was Warner Bros. that could potentially break this impasse. Martin, the current captain, sighed, "Disney's distribution channels might not match up to Warner Bros."
Daniel stressed, "However, Warner Bros. has excelled in Hollywood's various online and offline channels in recent years."
"I've been partnering with Warner Bros. for many years, and we have a history," Martin said, "If the conditions between Warner and Disney aren't too far apart, I'd prioritize cooperation with Warner." At least half of what Martin expressed was genuine.
He glanced at Daniel and continued, "You know, although the film is produced by my studio, it involves numerous investors. Their interests and opinions must be considered."
At this point, words seemed inadequate, and the two parties found themselves in an unbridgeable divide.
Jon had originally prepared to speak at length, but upon seeing the two books on Martin's desk, he held back most of his comments, only occasionally interjecting.
Eventually, Daniel failed to reach an agreement with Martin and departed from Davis Studio with Jon.
After seeing them off, Martin inquired, "How did it go?"
Bruce, who had silently observed from a corner of the office, replied, "The Warner Pictures representative noticed your desk."
Martin chose not to ask further. Instead, he decided to visit Pacific Pictures and meet with Louise.
On the other side, Jon wasted no time. After parting ways with Daniel, he promptly returned to his office, instructing someone to procure two books, "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Jack the Giant Killer," and began reading them again.
Although he had read these tales long ago and had a general recollection of their plots, they were classic stories that had been adapted many times in various forms by film and television companies worldwide.
Jon's thoughts turned to the fact that two of the three projects Daniel had previously presented were centered around fairy tales—specifically, "Peter Pan" and "The Wizard of Oz."
These were projects that had piqued Martin Davis's interest, but Daniel's calculations had prevented Martin from securing the copyrights.
Could Martin be turning his attention to other fairy tale films? Was a new era of fairy tale cinema dawning?
Jon refused to jump to conclusions hastily. He picked up the intercom and summoned his assistant, McDonald, instructing, "Go gather information. Find out if other Hollywood companies have plans or projects to adapt classic fairy tales, particularly those with medium to large investments."
"Of course," McDonald replied promptly.
Before Jon could finish reading "Jack and the Beanstalk," McDonald returned with a stack of printed detailed information, handing it over to his boss as he reported, "Currently, several companies are heavily investing in the remaking of classic fairy tale movies. Relativity Media, for instance, has undertaken a substantial project titled 'Snow White,' with Julia Roberts in a leading role."
As Jon perused the information, McDonald continued, "Universal Pictures is planning a $150 million investment in the production of 'Snow White and the Huntsman,' with Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron already confirmed for the cast. Disney intends to combine fairy tales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and others into a live-action fairy tale musical."
Jon nodded in understanding. It was clear why Martin was showing interest in fairy tales. Numerous Hollywood companies were embarking on similar endeavors.
If others were doing it, it was highly likely that Warner Bros. had plans in this direction as well.
Jon's gaze returned to the two fairy tale books on Martin's desk. A straightforward adaptation of these stories might not suffice. Perhaps combining them was the key to a fresh approach?
The collaborative efforts of major industry players were making Jon's ideas seem increasingly viable. He even considered the possibility that, with the conclusion of the immensely popular Harry Potter fairy tale series, Warner Bros. might seize this opportunity to usher in a new era of fairy tale movies.
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