A black Lexus sedan drove away from the door of the office building where the Embassy Films was located.

In the car, Mel Gibson, who was not very good-looking in his face, said to Charlemagne: "I don't like Embassy Pictures."

Charlemagne worked with Mel Gibson for many years and knew how to get along with him. He followed his words: "I don't like Embassy Pictures either."

Mel Gibson's anger didn't go completely and said, "Do we have any other choice?"

This is not an act of indignation, Charlemagne quickly said: "Unless you are willing to hand over the video to a new market company for distribution, they are not guaranteed."

"But the Embassy Pictures bid..." Mel Gibson frowned: "$40 million is too low."

Charlemagne was not optimistic about the business prospects of "The Crucifix", but he did not say it directly, but instead indirectly said: "We invested a total of $30 million, which would also have a profit margin of $10 million."

Mel Gibson was silent. Can you understand what this said means. If it really needs to be divided into distribution, can Aiken Pictures make a profit of $10 million?

In fact, there is one aspect that Charlemagne doesn’t say it, but has a clear understanding in his heart. This "The Passion of Jesus" is really too non-mainstream...

As the car drove out of Thirteenth Street in Burbank, Mel Gibson said slowly: "Charleiman, what about your advice?"

Charlemagne said bluntly this time: "We have run through all medium and large distribution companies, and Embassy Pictures is the only one who is willing to..." Seeing Mel Gibson's face turned gloomy, he quickly changed his words: "The Embassy Pictures has the most favorable conditions. We don't like Embassy Pictures, and we don't like that Garcia Rodriguez, but this is a business, and we can't mix too much personal likes and dislikes. We can't give up the profits we may get and choose the option of losing money, right?"

Mel Gibson's face was not very good, and he didn't lose his temper any more. After a while, he waved his hand and said, "Treat as you want."

Charlemagne nodded: "Okay." He reminded again: "Embassy Film still respects you very much, and all activities will be dominated by you during publicity."

Mel Gibson snorted: "If that's not the case, I would rather lose money than cooperate with them."

Sitting in Charlemagne's position, the company's operations must be considered. Charlemagne simply shut up to avoid any words that are unpleasant and causing Mel Gibson to change his mind.

He could only sigh inwardly: It is really not easy to serve such a boss.

Three days later, Embassy Pictures and Aiken Pictures officially signed a buyout agreement, buying out all the copyrights of "The Crucifix" at one time for a high price of US$40 million.

"The Passion of Jesus" has also become a veritable film for relativity entertainment.

Embassy Pictures also announced that "The Passion of Jesus" will be released in North America next year, in late February 2004.

After the buyout contract was signed, Ronan immediately convened a distribution meeting on "The Passion of Jesus" at the Embassy Pictures, asking the company to prepare for a large-scale release of the film.

The reason for holding special meetings is to remind the owners of the Embassy Film Industry in this way to remind the importance of this video.

Another point is to determine the core point of publicity and promotion.

"Mer Gibson himself is a first-line male star and has won the Oscar for Best Director."

In the conference room, David Villa smiled and said, "Because of his personality and temper, there are many controversies surrounding him. This film may lack selling points, but Mel Gibson itself has a lot of selling points."

Ronan reminded: "The controversy in the video is often the selling point."

Garcia Rodriguez agrees with Ronan: "Our past release experience has proved that a good movie may not succeed, but a controversial movie is often more likely to succeed than a good movie."

Ronan reminded again: "Controversy is not a bad thing, but don't let the fire burn on us."

David Villa continued: "Mel Gibson will always be in the front, he is the best shield."

"I have had contact with Mel Gibson many times during the negotiations," Garcia Rodriguez said simply: "This person cannot tolerate others saying that his movie is not good. He will burn his anger a little, and he is a little too confident. I believe he will be a qualified publicity point."

David Villa added: "I will have people make several plans for Mel Gibson. We have worked on "The Witch Blair" before, and we have a lot of experience in this area."

Ronan has long stopped participating in the specific work, but said: "Think about various issues comprehensively. If we can follow the direction we set, there is a potential outbreak in this video."

There are so many movies sold in a row, from Shahai Entertainment to Embassy Films, everyone has inexplicable confidence in Ronan.

Garcia Rodriguez and David Villa are no exception. Since Ronan said that the film may explode, it will really explode in the future.

The "explosion" in the minds of the two has the lowest measurement standard, buying out the copyright for US$40 million, and the minimum box office in North America is over 100 million.

After discussing "The Passion of Jesus", Garcia Rodriguez turned to the table: "The Human Purge 3 was removed from North America yesterday."

Ronan asked: "How much is the box office?"

Garcia Rodriguez recalled and said: "North America's box office is 95.02 million US dollars, and global box office is 172.5 million US dollars."

Ronan smiled and said, "You can continue to plan the fourth part."

Since there is a market and audience, and the investment in the film itself is not high, of course, we must continue to carry out the sequel to the end as always.

After leaving Embassy Pictures, Ronan received a call from Robert Lee, who contacted Dan Brown, the author of "The Da Vinci Code" through Random House.

The small town of Ester in New Hampshire is as quiet and livable as many satellite towns in the United States.

In a cafe near the town middle school, Robert Lee meets Dan Brown and his wife and agent Bryce Newton.

“It’s a great honor to meet two.”

Robert Lee politely shook hands with Dan Brown and introduced himself: "I am Robert Lee, senior president of Hollywood Relativity Entertainment Group."

"Invest in the relativity entertainment for "Pirates of the Caribbean"?" To Robert Lee's expectation, Dan Brown seemed familiar with Hollywood.

Robert Lee was not too surprised when he thought of Dan Brown's identity as a popular writer. The ultimate goal of many popular writers is to turn their works from texts in books to movies on the big screen.

"That's it." Robert Lee said with a smile: "I came for the entertainment of relativity."

Dan Brown glanced at his wife Bryce Newton, and Bryce Newton asked directly: "Mr. Li, are you and the Relativity Entertainment Group you represent for my husband's work?"

Robert Lee took out a copy of "The Da Vinci Code" from his briefcase and placed it in front of the Dan Browns and said, "We are very interested in the latest book published by Mr. Brown and we want to adapt it into a movie."

Instead of answering immediately, the couple looked at each other, with a strange expression on their faces.

Robert Lee had been observing them all the time, and immediately noticed that he was a little confused about what these two people meant.

"Relativity Entertainment is very sincere." Robert Lee said: "Mr. Brown's novels are also suitable for adapting movies."

Bryce Newton smiled, feeling a little embarrassed in his smile, and said, "We are very grateful to your company for paying attention to "Da Vinci Code". This is my honor and Brown, but there is one thing you may not know. We have sold the copyright of "Da Vinci Code" movie adaptation, and it is impossible to sell it for the second time."

This was very surprising. Robert Li frowned slightly: "Has it been sold?"

"Yes." Dan Brown had no need to lie in such matters.

Bryce Newton briefly explained: "In the first week after the novel was published, Mr. Tom Hanks contacted me. He negotiated with us on behalf of Preton and bought the copyright of the film "Da Vinci Code."

Robert Lee knew that Preton was the film production company under Tom Hanks' name, and the company's head was Rita Wilson, who was Tom Hanks' wife.

This company has participated in the production of many films in recent years, and the most famous of them is undoubtedly "My Grand Greek Wedding" which was made by Xiaobiao.

"The Da Vinci Code" was snatched first by Preton!

Robert Lee has been buying copyrights everywhere in recent years, with the goal of some works that have not yet gained fame. It has been going very smoothly. Now it has made people take the lead, which is a bit depressing.

Dan Brown is a very thoughtful writer who doesn't want to offend the big Hollywood company. He said: "Mr. Hanks promises us that the movie will be released in North America within the next five years, and we can't refuse."

Robert Lee had accepted this fact, thought for a while, and said, "I'd like to ask, how much copyright fees Mr. Hanks's Preton company issued for "Da Vinci Code"?"

Dan Brown was about to speak, but Bryce Newton thought of the agreement signed, quickly pulled him and said, "Mr. Li, I'm very sorry, we have signed a confidentiality agreement with Preton and cannot disclose the transaction content to the outside world."

"It's okay." Robert Lee has always been polite: "It's my problem that's too presumptuous."

Bryce Newton and Dan Brown both returned with polite smiles and had a good impression of Robert Lee.

The three of them chatted for a while, and Robert Lee took the initiative to say goodbye, left the cafe, came to the small park with green trees opposite, dialed Ronan's phone number, and told the general situation.

He briefly analyzed: "Tom Hanks' Preton Company has just obtained the copyright, and "Da Vinci Code" is not a well-known work at present. Can we go to Tom Hanks to talk to him and get the copyright from him?"

Ronan looked at the schedule and said, "Charles Rowan invited me to participate in a clip of a 3D animated movie in Warner Bros. Tom Hanks is one of the main voice actors and will participate, so I will talk to him."
Chapter completed!