Chapter 259: Asking for the Moon
Chapter 259: Asking for the Moon
After reading through the script, Eric found that it differed in quite a few details from the finished film in his memories, but the main storyline had not changed.
Therefore, when he filmed it in the future, he could easily revise those details.
Most importantly, Eric did not find the song “Unchained Melody” in the script. The reason Ghost became a classic in his previous life had a great deal to do with the widely loved “Unchained Melody.” It could be said that the song elevated the entire story. If the insert song were replaced with any other track, Ghost would never have become as classic as it did in his previous life.
And because of the butterfly effect, Eric was one hundred percent certain that if this script were not personally directed by him, “Unchained Melody” definitely would not appear again. Without that song, and with all the other differences, it would already be a miracle if the resulting film achieved even half the success of the version from his previous life.
“Mr. Rubin, I’ve finished reading the script. Although there are many places that need revision, overall, it’s not bad. How much do you plan to sell this script for?” Eric closed the script, raised his head, and asked.
A trace of craftiness flashed in Bruce’s eyes behind his lenses. He did not answer Eric’s question. Instead, he asked, “Mr. Williams, which parts do you think need revision?”
Eric stared at Bruce and shook his head. “That would depend on the specific circumstances during filming.”
Seeing Eric say that, Bruce did not continue pressing.
In fact, he even felt that Eric’s remark just now was probably only meant to lower the price. He was confident that after revising the script in detail many times, although it had not reached perfection, it would not require as many changes as Eric claimed.
“Actually, here’s the situation, Mr. Williams,” Bruce said. “At last night’s party, I recommended my script to several more people. Quite a few of them were very interested. Mr. Charles Jaffe from Paramount even promised that if I sold the script to Paramount, he would not only personally serve as producer and fully support the film’s production, but also let me be credited as a co-producer and receive a share of the film’s profits.”
Eric sneered inwardly, but his expression did not change. “Mr. Rubin, how much profit participation is Paramount planning to give you?”
Bruce hesitated for a moment. He wanted to hold up a few more fingers, but in the end did not dare tell such an easily exposed lie. He answered honestly, “Aside from a script fee of three hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Jaffe also promised me one percent of the North American profits.”
“Then how much box office do you think this script could earn if it were made into a film?”
Bruce revealed a smug smile. “Mr. Williams, since this is a script you think highly of, then I believe the box office should at least reach one hundred million dollars, perhaps even more.”
Eric said, “Look. Even if you take it to another director, and the box office still reaches one hundred million dollars, calculated with a production cost of twenty million and a marketing cost of ten million, you would only receive two hundred fifty thousand dollars from that profit share in the end. That’s less than your base script fee.”
“Of course I know that,” Bruce shrugged. “That’s why I’m here today, Mr. Williams. I wonder how much you’re willing to offer for this script?”
“Five hundred thousand,” Eric said.
Of course, he would not name too high a price at once. Otherwise, how could there be room for negotiation?
Bruce Joel Rubin showed an incredulous expression and raised his voice. “Mr. Williams, are you saying a script with the potential to earn more than one hundred million dollars at the box office is only worth five hundred thousand?”
“Mr. Rubin, don’t naively keep talking about a one-hundred-million-dollar box office, alright? Before a film is released, no one knows how much it will actually earn. So let’s talk about how much you want.”
Bruce raised three fingers toward Eric. “Three million. And I’ve had two scripts made into films before, so I know what Hollywood’s so-called profit participation really means. I don’t want profit participation. I want one percent of the North American box office.”
Even though Eric had mentally prepared himself, he still had not expected Bruce to demand such an outrageous price. Even Eric himself had never received that kind of compensation. Back then, the script for 17 Again only earned the minimum price of two hundred thousand dollars, with no participation at all.
As for later films such as Home Alone, although Eric himself was the investor, in order to avoid future disputes and issues related to tax reporting, the contracts clearly stated how much he would receive as screenwriter and how much he would receive as director.
For example, with the recently released The Others, because the investment was only five million dollars, he did not take a base script fee as the screenwriter. Instead, he received three percent of North American profits. Based on The Others’ box office trend, that amount would probably only be a little over one million dollars.
Eric leaned back in his leather chair and smiled as he shook his head. “Mr. Rubin, the price you’re asking is simply a fantasy. No screenwriter in Hollywood has ever received such treatment.”
“No, no, no. There’s one sitting right in front of me,” Bruce said, giving Eric a small compliment before continuing, “Mr. Williams, compared to the profits this film can bring, the price I’m asking isn’t excessive at all, is it? Perhaps just the male lead’s salary alone would be much higher than mine.”
“You’re wrong, Mr. Rubin. Even I don’t receive that much. The income of mine exposed in the newspapers is the final sum after combining several identities: investor, director, and screenwriter. If I were only the screenwriter, I wouldn’t receive even one percent of those figures.”
“Mr. Williams, why not give me a more sincere price?” Bruce said. “You should know, this script is like my child, so I hope an excellent director can turn it into a film.”
Eric felt a burst of contempt in his heart.
What he hated most were people who constantly said that some project was “like their child.” Although some people certainly said it sincerely, most were only putting on an act.
And after hearing Bruce’s outrageous demand just now, Eric understood that the middle-aged man before him definitely belonged to the latter group. Otherwise, what he should be discussing with Eric right now would be the script’s content, not how much money he wanted.
“A base fee of three million dollars and box office participation are definitely impossible,” Eric said. “You just said Paramount plans to give you a three-hundred-thousand-dollar script fee and one percent profit participation. Then what I can offer is the same price. Mr. Rubin, I guarantee my one percent will definitely be worth more than Paramount’s one percent.”
Bruce Joel Rubin immediately shook his head. “Mr. Williams, saying that makes you seem far too insincere.”
Eric actually wanted to show his sincerity all at once. He was not a stingy person.
However, with the greed of this middle-aged man before him, Eric understood that the moment he offered too high a price, Bruce would probably turn around and go to other studios demanding even greater “sincerity.”
“Mr. Rubin, I’m already being very sincere. My first script only earned two hundred thousand dollars, with no participation at all. You can now still receive one percent profit participation. To be honest, I only think your script is decent. This would be my first attempt at using someone else’s script. The risk is very high. With the slightest mistake, I could ruin my own brand.”
“Perhaps I should go hint around at other studios again. I received quite a few business cards last night.” Bruce took back the script and placed it in his bag.
Eric stretched out his hand and made an indifferent gesture. “Please feel free. But I don’t think anyone will offer a higher price. And even if you go back to Paramount, based on the film’s production and marketing costs, the box office would have to reach sixty million dollars just to recover costs. I think the possibility of you receiving that profit share is very low, because I don’t believe this script can earn that much if directed by someone else.”
“And once it flops, perhaps no one will ever dare buy your scripts again.”
Hearing Eric say this, Bruce Joel Rubin hesitated slightly, but he still stood up and bid Eric farewell.
Watching him leave, Eric turned his attention back to work after the man walked away and stopped thinking about the matter.
Although Bruce Joel Rubin was somewhat greedy, he was still a smart man. And smart people usually made smart choices.
Perhaps Bruce had not understood the meaning of Eric’s final words yet, but he would soon figure it out.
If a script flopped, no one would dare buy his scripts again. Then conversely, if the script were made into a successful film, the next script Bruce Joel Rubin wrote would definitely be sold for a sky-high price. And the only person who could maximize the chances of the script being turned into a blockbuster was Eric.
It had to be said that Bruce Joel Rubin was truly someone who could keep his composure. For the next week, he did not contact Eric again, and Eric also heard no news about the Ghost script.
At the same time, after its second week in theaters, The Others still earned $25.54 million at the box office. Although it did not achieve the box office increase originally predicted, a decline of less than five percent still exceeded everyone’s expectations. Its cumulative gross had also reached more than $52 million, more than ten times the film’s production cost.
Originally, some Disney executives had worried that Michael Eisner’s insistence on investing promotional funds twice the film’s production cost might fail to recoup costs. However, after two weeks in theaters, Disney had already recovered its marketing costs through its own share. No matter how long The Others continued playing afterward, every share Disney received would be pure profit.
Other studios were all envious of Disney’s good luck. At the same time, they stopped criticizing Michael Eisner’s decision to give Firefly such a high revenue share and even began praising Michael Eisner’s boldness.