บท 527: Chapter 527: Summit Entertainment
Manhattan, Rockefeller Center, beneath the NBC headquarters building, many people held signs protesting the Capet layoffs!
Donna Langley, Michael Lynn, and Adam Ferguson were sitting in a conference room with Charles Capet.
"Protesting layoffs? With the economic downturn in recent years, layoffs are everywhere. What's there to protest?" Charles looked out the window but couldn't see much, as he was too high up.
"This time, the layoffs exceeded 4,000 people, which indeed caused quite a reaction," Donna Langley said, not too worried though, as compensations were offered.
"Complete the layoffs as soon as possible. Will the new version of The Incredible Hulk, released under Universal Pictures in December, be on time?" Charles asked.
Adam Ferguson nodded. "Totally doable. Universal's distribution network is well-established. With the Capet Pictures brand quality tagged as well, we can integrate Universal's domestic and international distribution systems by March next year."
Universal International Pictures would merge with Capet International Pictures, with United International Pictures completely withdrawing, and resources would be taken over by Universal International Pictures.
United International Pictures originally controlled over 800 screens in Europe but sold part off during the split with Paramount. Now, Universal International Pictures had more than 100 screens in Europe, over 50 cinemas with 200 screens in North America, and 50 cinemas with over 400 screens in Asia.
Charles nodded. "Move to the Capet Tower as soon as possible. This Rockefeller Center may have a sense of history, but it's just old and outdated. I'll head out first. Dodging reporters these days is quite a hassle!"
"Don't worry. Capet Tower is only a few blocks away, and next year, we'll move NBC's division there. Most people would go to the Burbank headquarters in Los Angeles anyway," Donna Langley laughed.
Moreover, NBC still had production bases and other studios in New York, and Capet already had branches in Lower Manhattan. The group would not lack office space in New York. Capet Tower's office spots are certainly better than Rockefeller Center as an administrative headquarters.
Charles asked Phyllis Jones to stay but left Rockefeller Center alone, driving off from the parking lot.
...
In Santa Monica, Los Angeles, in Summit Entertainment's headquarters office, CEO Robert Freeman and President Eric Feig were discussing something on the sofa.
"Did Universal suddenly sell us the distribution rights for Tom Hanks' comedy Larry Crowne? Is Charles looking down on such low-cost projects?" Robert Freeman smiled.
"Maybe. Capet doesn't win by the number of movies, especially with the DVD decline. The risk of low-cost projects is getting higher," Eric Feig responded.
Summit Entertainment was founded in the early '90s, initially surviving by distributing some low-cost international films in North America. It later started developing its own films, but as an independent distributor, it often co-invested with big studios. Capet collaborated with Universal on the blockbuster Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Universal had Summit Entertainment participate in partial investment.
"This year, although Nicolas Cage starred in Knowing, its box office performance wasn't too successful," Eric Feig said.
"Adding other comedies and horror films, the performance isn't as good as last year. Last year's Road Trip did well," Eric Feig, responsible for Summit's film production business, wished for Summit to become the next Capet.
"Too bad about Twilight. We went to author Stephenie Meyer, but Capet got to it first," Robert Freeman regretted missing the Twilight series, now a global sensation, bringing a sour feeling. No producer or studio had faith in the novel, yet Charles Capet bought it.
"This year's The Hurt Locker received much critical acclaim. Let's try pushing it at the Oscars," Robert Freeman had little expectation for this critically praised but low-box-office film.
Starting this year, the Oscars increased the Best Picture nominees to 10, reducing Oscar viewership and influence.
Eric Feig nodded and looked at Robert Freeman. "Do we want to join the DreamWorks blockbuster Cowboys & Aliens, which Universal abandoned? Though the budget is 160 million dollars, with DreamWorks and Relativity Media's participation, we should have enough to develop it!"
Robert Freeman sighed. "Our DC-adapted movie Red, with a production budget nearing 60 million dollars, is already our highest-budget production. Can we still afford to join such a big project like Cowboys & Aliens?"
"Among secondary distributors, only we and Lionsgate can compete a bit with the Big Six studios," Robert Freeman said, holding his forehead as if recalling something. "Oh, Capet merged with Universal, so now there are six major studios."
"Lionsgate's quarterly financial report showed over 96 million dollars in losses across two quarters. Lionsgate already reduced production, cutting film projects by 70%."
Robert Freeman's point was clear: the reduction in profits from home entertainment DVDs increased the risks for low-cost projects, a bad sign for independent distributors.
Eric Feig understood. "Indeed, for independent distributors like us, losing a major film would be disastrous, leading directly to bankruptcy. Now, the Big Six primarily focus on commercial blockbusters; the mid-to-low budget film market is where we should strive. Lionsgate is too extreme, completely ignoring the mainstream market, which is inadvisable."
Focusing solely on violent, bloody, horror, thriller, political satire, and anti-religious movies would never gain mainstream approval.
At least Summit balanced B-movies and mainstream commercial films, like Vanilla Sky and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It also occasionally produced patriotic American films, like In the Valley of Elah, which was anti-war, and The Hurt Locker this year, a politically correct patriotic film.
Robert Freeman nodded. "Let's focus mainly on Red for now. Other projects are beyond our capacity."
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง