Chapter 23 Definition

"What? I heard it right?! Young, you succeeded?!" Zachary said in shock, unable to believe this fact: "Are you kidding? What?! It's really not a joke? Then, I will soon become the leading actor of a movie released!?"

"Wow, man, I just said you will succeed! You didn't disappoint me!" Joshua shouted happily: "My DVD machine will be very valuable soon, and it will be snatched by movie fans!"

"Oh my God...! The merciful Lord agreed to my wish!" Hearing this good news, Jessica shouted in surprise and joy, and was so happy that she couldn't help herself: "Oh my God! This is great! Oh my God, is this true? Young, please tell me it is true!"

After telling Rachel the first time, Wang Yang then called other good friends to share the joy with them. Zachary, Jessica and others were of course very happy and excited, happy for him; only the fat man Harry George received his call and heard the news, he cursed angrily, "Don't believe me!" and hung up the phone.

That night, Wang Yang spent the night in a hotel near the beach in Santa Monica. He slept in bed for a long time but didn't fall asleep. He was so excited that he couldn't close his eyes. He simply got up, moved a chair and sat on the balcony. The beach under the night view seemed so quiet, and the "rustling" sound of waves came faintly. He looked at the dark sea in the distance and the moon in the sky, feeling this tranquility, and his mood slowly calmed down.

The next day, Wang Yang came to the headquarters building of the Lion Gate Company again, with the purpose of naturally discussing the details of the issuance contract with Lion Gate.

"Hello, Mr. Wang." Jennifer, the beautiful white front desk lady, smiled at Wang Yang, her attitude was much more enthusiastic than tomorrow. Obviously, she knew that the company was going to buy Wang Yang's movie. She smiled and said, "Mr. Odenberg was waiting for your arrival very early. Mr. Wang, please come with me."

"Yeah, OK!" Wang Yang followed Jennifer and came to Tom Odenberg's office.

The office door was not closed, Jennifer knocked, Tom Odenberg, who was busy on the desk, looked over and said with a smile: "Hey, please come in!" He looked at Wang Yang who was walking in and asked with interest: "Young man, did you sleep well last night?"

Wang Yang sat down in the chair in front of the desk, shook his head with a smile, and said, "It's not very good, sir." He rolled his eyes and said, "I'm so happy about all this. Once I close my eyes, my head is full of movies. Did I succeed? Did I really succeed? Oh, I can't sleep at all!" He smiled and said, "You know, I'm afraid that this is a dream. After a sleep, I wake up, I'll have nothing."

Tom smiled with understanding and blinked at Wang Yang, saying, "Young man, this is not a dream! Let me tell you good news, our CEO Mr. Bicks, has agreed to the company to release your movie."

"Wow! This is really good news. Thank you, Mr. Odenberg!" Wang Yang clenched his fists secretly, smiled happily, and finally put down the last big stone in his heart. Now that he signed a contract with Lions Gate Company, it is already certain.

"I am now responsible for this deal." Tom smiled. He was the film purchasing manager, and negotiating with Wang Yang naturally fell on him. He took out a contract and handed it to Wang Yang, saying, "This is our plan, you can see."

Wang Yang nodded, took the contract and placed it on the table, and looked carefully at the content inside. The contract shows that he permanently handed over the North American distribution rights, overseas distribution rights, vcd, DVD distribution rights, TV channel distribution rights and other film distribution rights of "Spiritual - Ghost Records" to Lionsgate Film Company. In terms of remuneration, Lionsgate does not pay the acquisition fee, but uses the share model.

The specific proportion of share is that in North America, if the box office profit before tax is less than one million, Wang Yang will get 10% share; if it exceeds five million, 20%, if it exceeds ten million, 30%, if it exceeds fifty million, 40%, if it exceeds one million, 50%, if it ultimately cannot recover the cost and suffers losses, Wang Yang will only get 5% share.

This share ratio is what Wang Yang thought yesterday, but there was an additional loss situation.

In overseas regions, the share ratio is the same; in projects such as vcd, DVD, videotape rental, etc., Lionsgate does not adopt a box office share ratio. They proposed that no matter how much the final profit of these projects is, Wang Yang will only get a 10% share.

Wang Yang probably knows the reason. This should be because Lionsgate is not very optimistic about the box office of this movie, but they are optimistic about the movies that may make a comeback in the DVD market. Some movies are like this. They do not sell in cinemas, but they are extremely popular in the DVD market. Perhaps this type of movie is not suitable for the big screen or cinema, but suitable for watching at home against the computer and TV.

But what made Wang Yang frown was not the share ratio of DVD, but he seemed to have forgotten yesterday that the box office profit statistics were divided into North America and overseas, and in this way, it would be difficult for him to get a 50% share. Because referring to the first DV movie released by "Female Leiblair", it achieved a box office of more than 200 million yuan, but North America and overseas accounted for only half. After dividing the theaters, the pre-tax box office profits in both North America and overseas will not reach more than 100 million yuan, so he naturally won't get a 50% chance.

"Can it be modified to determine the share ratio of global pre-tax box office profit?" Wang Yang looked at Tom and asked, but he knew that his requirements were basically impossible to achieve.

Sure enough, Tom Odenberg shrugged and rejected: "No, you have to know that the box office statistics in North America and overseas are different systems, and in terms of time, they cannot be linked together, which is not conducive to the execution of the share." He gave an example: "For example, after a movie is released in North America, it may be released overseas for half a year or even a year later. Do we have to wait for the previous year to decide how to share the share?"

Wang Yang nodded silently. He knew very well that what Tom said was the fact, so he didn't have the heart to bother with this request anymore.

Tom leaned against his back and said, "Yang, don't worry, we will only consider overseas releases if the movie is good." He spread his pen with his hand and said, "In other words, if it is released overseas, your share ratio is already above 20%, which is not a small amount."

"Well, I know." Wang Yang smiled and continued to look at the contract. He only raised his head until he finished reading it. He said bluntly: "The share ratio of dvd has been increased to 20%. Tom shook his head and said: "At most, 15%, this is the company's decision." Wang Yang nodded after thinking for a moment. He did not have too many bargaining chips to bargain with Lionsgate. He was at a disadvantage in negotiations and could not ask too much. He would not agree if he asked for it.

After agreeing to the DVD share ratio, Wang Yang said again: "The copyright of the sequel, name copyright, etc. of this movie are still mine."

Tom readily agreed to this request: "OK, you can keep those copyrights." In fact, if it weren't for a buyout, these copyrights should have belonged to the producer. Lionsgate didn't think of taking advantage of these things at the beginning. Besides, the movie's results were better to a certain extent before they could make sequels. They didn't think "Artise-Ghost Record" was qualified. Tom smiled and said, "However, our company has priority."

"Of course." Wang Yang nodded and smiled in his heart. In this case, if Lions Gate wants to produce "Spiritual - Ghost Record 2" and "Spiritual - Ghost Record 3", they will need to pay him a fee, which is a small compensation. He shook hands to Tom Odenberg opposite and said, "Sir, I have no other opinions."

Tom put down the pen in his hand, reached out and shook Wang Yang, and smiled and said, "Happy cooperation, young man."

"Happy cooperation!" Wang Yang also smiled.

Although the details of the contract were basically agreed, the two parties did not sign the contract immediately. They agreed to sign the contract in two days. This was because Wang Yang needed professional legal advice. He rushed back to Los Angeles with the revised formal contract. He was going to a law firm to ask a lawyer to take a look at his contract. After all, he is not a legal professional and does not understand all the legal traps. He must be more cautious.

Especially since he has not joined any union or brokerage company now, no one will help him if anything happens.

What will happen? Take a look at the follow-up report of "The Witch Blair". After it achieved a box office miracle of more than 200 million, the Arts and Crafts Company, which originally promised to pay 20% of the producers, was unwilling to pay and owed the dividends of the three young producers. The three young producers took the Arts and Craftsman to court for a long time and fought for two years before they finally got their own share.

Although there has never been such a scandal in the Lions Gate Company in later generations, Wang Yang cannot let himself be lucky in this regard.

After resting in his apartment for one night, Wang Yang took the contract to a law firm called "Heart Trust". This medium-sized law firm was introduced to him by Jessica. He has a good reputation and is very knowledgeable about the laws of films. He is also the legal counsel for her father's real estate company.

Wang Yang consulted a young lawyer in his thirties, named Hebrew Carl. The time fee is 200 US dollars per hour, which is a medium-grade fee. Hebrew Carl took Wang Yang's contract and looked carefully several times before smiling affirmatively at Wang Yang: "Mr. Wang, there is no problem with this contract. You can sign your name with confidence. If the other party is in arrears of dividends, it only takes a lawsuit, and they will definitely lose the lawsuit."

"Oh, thank God." Wang Yang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. Lion Gate Company did not disappoint him.

Then, Hebrew Carl gave Wang Yang some advice. As the only person who owns all the copyrights of this movie, Wang Yang does not need to register a film company, but signs a contract with Lionsgate as an individual. This will eliminate the need to pay a lot of corporate taxes, and only needs to pay personal taxes.

Wang Yang left Chengxin Law Firm with satisfaction. Although he spent 300 US dollars, he was on the verge of not being able to afford the fare again, but the money was absolutely worth it. He did not want to be owed dividends by Lionsgate Company because of the inexplicable terms and inexplicable legal loopholes in the contract.

Back at the apartment, he was about to go to Santa Monica tomorrow to sign the contract. Wang Yang took a shower in a good mood, hummed a song, walked out of the bathroom and came to the living room. Looking at the contract documents on the sofa, he picked it up and kissed it hard, and smiled at the contract: "Oh my God, why are you so cute!" He sat down on the sofa and was about to turn on the TV to watch, but his phone suddenly rang.

"Who?" Wang Yang picked up the phone placed on the TV cabinet, looked at the caller ID, and was stunned. He was actually the film purchasing manager of Yijiang Film Company, Stephen Thomas! What did he call? Wang Yang frowned and answered the channel: "Hello, this is Wang Yang."

"Hello, Mr. Wang, it's me, Stephen Thomas of Artisan Company." It was indeed Thomas' voice.

Artisan Company said they would have internal discussions, so now they have discussed it? Wang Yang asked in confusion: "Oh, Mr. Thomas, hello, is there anything?"

Thomas laughed over there and said mysteriously: "That's right, Mr. Wang, we decided to buy your movie."

Although expected, Wang Yang was still stunned. Artisan Company wanted to buy his movies?! What happened to them? What happened to them changed their minds? Has Thomas' fainting been cured? He couldn't help but shake his head and smile. None of these matters. He refused: "No, Mr. Thomas, my movie has been found to be a publisher."

"What?!" Thomas was even more stunned. He never expected that this Chinese boy's movie was so attractive. He felt unbelievable, but the company had instructions and he had to ask: "Oh, are we one step late? Mr. Wang, have you signed a contract with them?" Wang Yang said: "Not yet."

After getting this answer, Thomas asked again: "So I wonder if we artisans still have a chance? You know, after discussion, we decided to take a risk and try it, and you can get a 200,000 yuan movie copyright fee."

Wang Yang smiled without thinking and refused, "It's still not possible. I have already negotiated with the company. The conditions they offered were very good, and I am very grateful to them for giving me this opportunity." He shrugged and said to his phone: "So sorry, Mr. Thomas." After that, he felt very confused in his heart, why the Art Craftsman Company suddenly had such a great determination. 200,000 is not a small amount for a dv movie costing ten thousand yuan.

In fact, the matter is very simple. Last time he left Yijiang Company, he left a DVD copy disk for them to discuss internally. Originally, Stephen Thomas didn't care at all, so he left the DVD aside and ignored it. But in recent days, by chance, the distribution manager of Yijiang Company watched the DVD. The manager was just for entertainment, but was scared. Afterwards, he thought it was an excellent movie, so he discussed it with Thomas and hoped to buy it back.

But Thomas's position was still quashed, and the manager did not give up. He took the DVD to the company's CEO office. Mr. CeO of Artisan Company was also scared and sweated. He, who would have bought "The Witch Blair" in the future, suddenly realized the extraordinaryness of this DVD movie and felt it was worth taking a risk for it. So he decided to buy "The Legend of the Ghost".

But they were one step late, and Wang Yang had already negotiated with the Lions Gate Company.

Thomas frowned and added a price: "Mr. Wang, what about 300,000?" Wang Yang still said "No", Thomas gritted his teeth and said the company's offer limit: "500,000!?" Wang Yang still smiled softly and said "No". Thomas was helpless and angry, and asked, "Mr. Wang, can you tell me, what price is the company offered?"

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't just say it casually for the time being. This may be a trade secret." Wang Yang smiled and refused to answer Thomas's question, and said directly: "Mr. Thomas, it's a foregone conclusion. Although we haven't signed the contract yet, there will be no change."

Even if the conditions offered by Artisan Company are more favorable than the Lion Gate, Wang Yang would not consider it. Firstly, he is really grateful to the Lion Gate Company; secondly, the limited information in his mind shows that Artisan Company "has" been arrears of dividends from "The Witch Blair", and was later directly acquired by Lion Gate Film Company. Why did he give up a road and go to a dead end?

"Okay, then I won't bother you anymore. Mr. Wang, goodbye." Thomas said in a stiff tone, and the phone rang out a "beep" sound.

Wang Yang hung up the phone with a smile. He really didn't expect that Yijiang Company would suddenly figure it out. Suddenly, he frowned, and an idea flashed through his mind. Yijiang Company's attitude changed. Maybe he could do some articles here and use this to quickly push the release time of "Spiritual - Ghost Records"... He calmed down and thought carefully.

The next day, the Lion Gate headquarters building in Santa Monica was purchased for a film conference room.

Looking at the two formal contracts on the conference table, Wang Yang, dressed in formal clothes, took a deep breath. He looked at the three Lionsgate managers standing next to him, Jon Filtimel, Tom Odenberg, and Michael Parsonneck. They all smiled with encouragement and kindness. Wang Yang nodded to them with a smile, picked up the pen on the table, and signed his name on the contract.

"Congratulations, young man!" Jon and three other managers, and a white lawyer who came to be a notary, all smiled and clapped their hands, congratulating Wang Yang constantly.

"Thank you!" Wang Yang smiled and shook hands with them one by one, his heart full of joy and excitement. Finally, he decided. His movie was really released. He could tell others loudly that I am not a loser! I will not be at McDonald's all my life! My dream will not pass by him, he is realizing his pursuit since childhood!

After signing the contract, Wang Yang came to Jon Filtimel's office. Jon was the distribution manager, so he was responsible for all the subsequent release work of the movie.

"Mr. Philtimer, I want to ask you a question." Wang Yang sat on the chair at his desk, looked at Jon opposite him, and asked, "I don't know when this movie is about to be released by Lionsgate?"

Jon Filtimel smiled and spread his hands, saying, "Wow, young man, what are you anxious about? You are still young." He laughed a few times before he said seriously: "We will release it, but you know, it's late May, and it's the summer vacation schedule soon, and our screening plan has been almost done. Your movie may be more suitable for launching at the end of the year."

At the end of the year, it will be half a year later! As expected, Wang Yang couldn't help frowning. In fact, the contract was released after half a year, and the speed was not slow. Others would not have any objections, but he couldn't. Yes, it was the summer vacation soon. With the end of the semester, the news that he was fired by the USC University will no longer be hidden. If there were no results, it would be difficult not to fight with his parents.

Moreover, he also needs money to live, and needs money as soon as possible, and the release time must be advanced! Wang Yang made up his mind and shook his head and said, "Sir, I think the screening time needs to be advanced. No, it's not that I'm in a hurry. But..." He shrugged and said calmly: "The Art Craftsman Company contacted me yesterday. They bid 500,000 yuan, hoping to buy my works."

Hearing this, Jon was slightly stunned. 500,000? You should know that the purchase fee limit of Lion Gate is only 300,000. He pretended to be indifferent and said, "Oh? Yijiang Film Company? I know it, have you been there before?"

Wang Yang nodded and said, "Yes, I've been there very early. After watching the movie, they said they needed internal considerations. Then they gave me the result yesterday. Of course I rejected them, but I could see that they were reluctant to lose my movie." He smiled sincerely and said, "Sir, I'm not showing off anything. What I want to say is that the Yijiang Company has come to an awakening. Their bid for 500,000 means that they are optimistic about the potential of DV movies. They want to get the title of "the company that releases the first DV movie"!"

Jon finally frowned, nodded slightly, and agreed with Wang Yang's words.

"Sir, you know, my movie only costs 10,000 yuan, and it takes one week to shoot." Wang Yang deliberately said nervously in a very low tone: "The Arts and Craftsman Company is so optimistic about DV movies. What if they just make one by themselves? It doesn't require a good script, but only tens of thousands of yuan. In a week, they can make the movie well, and then rush ahead of us and launch the movie into the market."

"Well..." Jon remained silent. He looked at Wang Yang. If things were really as the young man said, there was indeed this crisis. But was this young man lying? Jon smiled in his heart. Coincidentally, he had a very familiar friend in the Art Craftsman Company. Although he was not a senior executive, he could still find out some situations.

Wang Yang looked at Jon with a calm look. He was not guilty at all because he did not lie. Besides, he hoped Jon would inquire about this matter. Artisan Company did offer 500,000 yuan to acquire his movie. As long as Jon confirmed this information, whether Artisan Company revealed its intention to shoot a DV movie, the Lion Gate would be suspicious.

"I understand." Seeing that Wang Yang's eyes were not as fake, Jon nodded and said, "I will consider it." Wang Yang said, "Okay, Mr. Jon, then I'm fine, goodbye." As soon as Wang Yang left the office, Jon picked up the phone on the table, called the good friend of Yijiang, and talked, "Hi, I heard that you are interested in buying a DV movie? Oh, really? Your Mr. Ceo likes it very much? So what are your plans now..."

After talking for a long time, Jon put down the phone and looked at the ceiling silently. Wang Yang did not lie. Artisan Company really wanted to acquire "The Legend of the Ghosts". Because of the missed opportunity, Stephen Thomas was criticized by the company, but whether they would shoot a DV movie? There is no news for the time being... He thought for a while, picked up a 1998 Lionsgate film release schedule on the table and started watching it silently.

When I returned to Los Angeles, it was already night. Wang Yang opened the door of the apartment and just entered the house, he received a call from Jon.

"Yang, we have decided that "The Legend of the Ghost" will soon enter the publicity stage and will be scheduled to be scheduled for trial screening in early August." Jon Filtimel smiled and said, "Of course, whether it will be released at that time depends on the effect and response of the publicity."
Chapter completed!