Chapter 713 Universal Pictures 4.0
“BOSS, this is the report of Universal Pictures for the three quarters from 2004 to now.”
Xu Liang was not polite and took over from Lang Mei Ye started looking at the documents in his hand.
Since the acquisition of Universal Entertainment assets.
The animation, comics, games, publishing and other businesses originally owned by Universal Pictures have basically been integrated into Hongmeng North America.
Five dollars remain in the Universal Pictures business.
Film production, theaters, promotion, copyright and peripheral product development.
7 movies were produced.
"Meet the Father 2", "The Bourne Supremacy", "Van Helsing", "Legend of the Galaxy", "The Conjuring", "Transformers" and "Victory Light".
Seven movies have been released, and only "BJ's Diary 2: The Edge of Reason" produced by Miramax has a box office of over 100 million.
Looking at Xu Liang flipping the reports, Lang Meyer felt very uneasy.
"When will it be released?"
"Do you know why "Van Helsing" failed?"
Not only did it make up for the huge losses of "Van Helsing", but it also made some money.
Xu Liang nodded slightly.
The results are now significantly better.
Meyer was relieved.
“This is just one of the reasons.
In comparison, the production cost of this movie was only 20 million US dollars, and the cost of publicity and distribution was less than 50 million.
< br>"Van Helsing 2"? ! ”
"It will be over in half a month, and the early announcements have been arranged." Ron Meyer said quickly.
Audiences go to the cinema to have fun and relax.
The production cost plus publicity and distribution costs exceed 200 million.
Moreover, what puzzles me is that there is clearly "The Mummy" Zhu Yu in front.
Why don’t you learn a little bit?
Wouldn't it be okay to add some relaxing elements to the horror theme to make the overall atmosphere less depressing? ”
As a result, "Van Helsing" directly made them depressed.
Even if DVD and peripheral income are included, this movie caused the company to lose $100 million.
And Horror movies are generally sold on DVD, plus film and television peripherals.
Meyer picked it up and opened it quickly
He thought he would be fired.
In the end, it only earned $300 million at the box office.
"Christmas."
In contrast, "The Conjuring", which the other party strongly advocated for James Wan to film, was released in July and topped the box office with US$41.53 million in its opening weekend. Top of the list.
Xu Liang asked.
"Lang, the company's management has always made clear rewards and punishments. You bear the main responsibility for the failure of "Van Helsing", so your bonus has been deducted this year."
It's no wonder the box office is good.
A "The Conjuring" movie can earn Universal almost US$120 million in net profit.
Looking at Meyer in disbelief, Xu Liang handed over the information he had prepared in advance.
It became the horror movie with the highest opening box office in 2004, setting the best opening box office record for an original horror film.
"BOSS, I accept the company's punishment and thank you very much for your continued trust."
Xu Liang breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Liang nodded, this is indeed a good time.
"Van Helsing", which was strongly opposed by the other party last year, really failed miserably.
“Let’s take a look.”
The company earned a net profit of $80 million from the box office alone.
“The main plot is mixed, and there is too much content mixed in a two-hour movie.” Meyer said quickly.
"BOSS, I want to apologize to you. Because of my negligence, "Van Helsing" caused huge losses to the company."
"Is "Transformers" ready?"
Looking at Meyer who said nothing.
"Find a good screenwriter and polish the script of "Van Helsing 2"."
In my opinion, the biggest failure of "Van Helsing" is that it is too dull. It feels like returning to the depressive Middle Ages. Suffocating.
Currently, the global movie box office has exceeded US$250 million. If some countries that have not yet been released are included, the box office performance will definitely exceed US$300 million.
There are a few words written on the title page.
"Dark Cinematic Universe Development Plan".
"Currently, Universal has created the very successful "The Mummy" series and has also filmed "Van Helsing." Although the latter's box office is not ideal, it has left a deep impression on the audience.
With the ability to continue The value of continued development.
So, I plan to add Dr. Jekyll, The Invisible Man, Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera on the basis of "Van Helsing" and "The Mummy". >However, "Van Helsing" takes place half a century away from "The Mummy"
The function of "Van Helsing 2" is to make up for this half-century, so that the two can achieve temporal harmony. .
But before developing "Van Helsing 2", filming of "The Wolf Man" will begin.
Attention.
The "Werewolf" I want is a powerful monster with supernatural strength, not a strong man with claws. "
In his last life, he had seen "The Wolfman" shot by Universal, and it was another "Van Helsing"-style bad movie.
It was obviously a monster movie, but it turned out to be a literary film. Film.
This cost $160 million in production costs.
"I understand." Meyer agreed quickly.
""The Wolfman" will be released in 2006, and "Van Helsing 2" will be released in 2007."
"Okay."
"In addition, we will film the "Dark Cinematic Universe" "Publish the plan on the company's website to increase the attention of movie fans."
Meyer nodded in agreement.
“Have the filming plans for 2005 been finalized?”
“Currently, there are six filming plans, including "Silence", "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", "Almighty" "Key", "Jarhead", "The Perfect Man" and "King Kong". In addition, they will co-produce "Munich" with DreamWorks and "Golden Producer" with Columbia.
Except for "King Kong", which is a major production worth over 100 million yuan, the others are medium-sized productions. ”
Xu Liang nodded slightly.
Of all the movies, he only remembers "King Kong".
He forgot about the box office, but it was not on the list of bad movies he remembered.
So Xu Liang didn’t say much.
“Does James Wan have any shooting plans next year?”
"Not yet.
But don't worry, we have signed five film contracts with him."
"Don't treat him badly in terms of treatment. James Wan is a master of making horror films."
“Understood.”
As a veteran who has been in Hollywood for half his life, Meyer is not stupid.
The continuous success of "Saw" and "The Conjuring" have proven the value of each other in R-rated films, so of course they must be taken advantage of.
"Have you seen Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code"?"
"Yes."
"The company has bought its film and television adaptation rights Come down and put it into next year’s shooting plan.”
“Okay.”
With the success of "The Conjuring", "Transformers" has not yet been released, but it is a good film.
Let Meyer admire Xu Liang's vision for film investment more and no longer resist his intervention in the company's production.
Xu Liang handed over another document.
"This is a story copyright that the company bought from Croatian illustrator Milan Trik. Take a look, filming will start in the second half of this year and will be released in 2006."
Meier continued Come and take a look.
The title page reads "Amazing Night at the Museum."
When I opened it, it was just a summary of a story about an ordinary middle-aged man who became a night watchman at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
He was surprised to find that when the last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon, everything in the museum came alive.
As if enchanted, it surrounded him alive and began a series of destructive activities.
Tyrannosaurus rex and king hunnu ruined the marble corridors, while lions and monkeys roamed the display cases.
The man is distressed to find a way to restore everything to the way it was.
The intuition gained from many years of experience made Meyer very interested in the idea of this story.
“That’s it for this year’s shooting plan.
“King Kong” and “The Da Vinci Code” are the company’s key projects.
Next year we will produce “The Wolf Man” and “The Da Vinci Code” "Night at the Museum", "Transformers 2"
It's up to you to decide the rest. "
Two to three blockbusters a year, plus Marvel's superhero movies, is enough.
"BOSS, what about medium-sized productions? "Meyer couldn't help but ask.
"Do you still want to replicate the success of "The Conjuring"? ”
Meyer nodded.
"Low investment and high returns are the projects that any film and television company CEO desires."
Xu Liang thought about it.
He has watched many Hollywood movies, including many non-blockbusters.
The "Hangover" series, "Juno", "Little Miss Sunshine", "American Pie" and the like, but most of them forget the plot.
I only remember a rough idea.
A movie like this may not have the same results as the original work.
So he has been hesitant.
See Meyer's expectant eyes.
"Let me think about it and let you know if I have any inspiration. If not, forget it."
Meyer nodded.
"By the way, the director of the "Werewolf" movie is Christopher Nolan."
Xu Liang is not familiar with many Hollywood directors, except for Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Peter In addition to Jackson and George Lucas, there are also Explosive Bay and the 'real-shooting maniac' Nolan.
Blast Bay remains the director of "Transformers" at his request.
He was deeply impressed by Nolan's "Batman" trilogy.
Especially "Batman" is also dark.
If this man can successfully shape "The Wolf Man", "Van Helsing" and the subsequent Dark Universe movies, Universal will make a lot of money.
Meyer did not refuse.
He knows Christopher Nolan.
Director of "Memento".
Although the box office was not high, it was nominated for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Screenplay.
"BOSS, Nolan has taken over Warner's "Batman" and may not have time to shoot "The Wolfman"."
"The price is higher, no one will refuse the money." Xu Liang said directly.
The Nolan now is not the Nolan who became famous and had no shortage of money after filming the "Batman" trilogy.
“OK.”
Universal Pictures currently has $2.18 billion thanks to films like “The Conjuring,” “Meet the Father,” “The Bourne Supremacy” and “Van Helsing” box office revenue.
Promotional revenue was $730 million.
Theatrical revenue was US$840 million.
Peripheral products generated revenue of US$820 million.
Revenue from copyright licensing is US$620 million.
Taken together, Universal Pictures’ total revenue for three consecutive quarters was US$5.19 billion and net profit was US$1.58 billion.
(End of this chapter)