Chapter 656: Weinstein’s Public Relations Strategy
"This was a magnitude 10 earthquake that would change Hollywood more than any real earthquake in Los Angeles."
In the past few days, all the newspapers in Hollywood have been reporting on this incident. Many of the initial wrong guesses have been corrected.
For example, it is not Microsoft's Chairman Gates who intends to invest in DreamWorks, but the personal behavior of Microsoft's founder Paul Allen. Another example is Gao Li's investor Miky Lee, whose ambitions are greater than Ronald guessed.
, signed the contract with DreamWorks in order to unify the distribution of Hollywood movies in East Asia and even Asia as a whole.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) will be established on January 1 next year. Since Korea and Hong Kong are both members of the original General Agreement on Tariffs, they will automatically become founding members of the WTO.
But they also have to negotiate with other members, especially America and European countries, to determine a list of certain industries. Those industries in the list can be protected by trade protection measures.
In order to join the WTO, Korea also sacrificed a lot of interests in the film and television industry. Because their largest export industries to the United States are steel, shipbuilding, and automobiles. The dominant industries of the Ami family, which are best-selling Hollywood movies all over the world, are important among them.
of one.
In exchange for their advantageous industries and the huge market in America or Europe, Korea made concessions in the film market. In addition to 73 days a year, Korea's cinemas must show at least one locally produced movie in Korea.
There are unlimited screenings of Hollywood movies on all days.
Prior to this, the screen protection period was 146 days. In addition, there was an overall quota limit on imported Hollywood movies each year. In addition to the upper limit on the number of imports, there were also subject matter and other censorship.
Therefore, after the WTO is officially established next year and the trade agreement officially comes into effect, the high-profit film distribution market will definitely receive a very fierce impact from Hollywood movies. CJ Group is not only concerned about the entrepreneurship of a woman who has just graduated from school.
Try it, but there is a lot of visible market potential that could potentially bring huge profits to this venture.
Similar to each other is the Hong Kong market, which has been a free trade port since the British Hong Kong era without any restrictions. Since Jurassic Park broke through cultural and language barriers and satisfied Hong Kong audiences, local film and television production has also fallen into
has reached a trough, and an increasing proportion of the box office has been taken away by Hollywood movies.
As for China's mainland and Ang Lee's hometown, although both sides are in the same boat and have not resumed their status as contracting parties to the General Decision on Tariffs and Trade, they are actively negotiating with America to join the WTO.
The manufacturing of various chips and high-tech equipment from the other side, as well as the export of various textiles, toys and other products from the mainland, all require America to open up a huge market.
It is conceivable that during the negotiations to join the WTO, the film and television industry will not be an industry that they take special care of.
If CJ Group can acquire all the distribution rights of some big-name Hollywood studios in the East Asian market outside of Japan in one fell swoop, then the scope for imagination in this business will be really huge.
Therefore, Wall Street also reacted, and the stock prices of all other companies in the film and television industry, including DDH Media, fell to a certain extent.
When a new giant takes off, it will always encroach into the market. Part of the share of existing players will also dilute the existing average industry profits.
During the negotiation process between Ronald's DDH Media and Koryo's CJ Group, they also discovered the other party's ambition to monopolize distribution rights in Asia, and the negotiations were very unsmooth.
However, compared to a fledgling third-generation rich lady, Ronald also has a lot of personal experience in the transnational film distribution trade, and his experience of this market is deeper.
The story of CJ Group may be more popular on Wall Street, and many analysts will be inclined to approve of the blueprint she has drawn.
But none of the countries in East Asia are easy to mess with. One thing is certain, they have accumulated enough experience in bureaucracy in government operations. In practice, there are many ways to delay the signing of contracts.
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Aside from the strange and incomprehensible experiences that Americans encountered in the mainland market, Ronald himself had a very rich experience in the Japanese market.
One or two giants that control the main distribution channels can do many things in the name of market economy. For example, on the grounds that Hollywood movies are not popular with Japanese people, they use various methods to deny good schedules and
The most prime release time, in the end, the box office of Hollywood movies in Japan always falls short of expectations.
Because he did not believe that CJ Group could unify the Asian distribution market as a giant distributor, Ronald found another distribution industry giant among the top two in Korea, the film import department of Lotte Group, and signed a package distribution deal with them
Cooperation Agreement.
Because Ronald himself and DDH's overseas distribution department have rich experience in dealing with East Asian countries, they know that in the film and television industry, in addition to talking about profits, there are also some things that East Asians like more, which can be used as
Negotiation chips.
For example, we help some films produced in Korea find distribution channels in Korean settlements in America and some art theaters.
Since Ronald helped Yimou win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, and a series of Chinese-language films have been popular in America, Lotte Group found the conditions proposed by DDH Media very convincing.
In addition, they were also shocked by CJ Group's big move, and the two parties quickly reached a cooperation agreement with each other on distribution. Some old movies in DDH Media's film library, as well as newly shot movies and TV series, will be passed through.
Lotte Group distributes in Korea.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! If a Korean film can be distributed in the American Korean community, it may even be invited to participate in B-type film festivals like the Palm Springs Film Festival. Taking it back would be an earth-shattering achievement.
It will greatly stimulate the Korean people's national pride.
Everyone gets what they want, and DDH Media also got a very favorable condition. Although these agreements do not look fancy at all and have not been praised by Wall Street analysts, they cannot fully hedge against the risks caused by the establishment of DreamWorks.
The stock prices of media stocks generally declined.
Especially for Disney, where Eisner worked after he had a falling out with Katzenberg and drove him away. The market may have thought that Disney would lack an important soul, so the stock price dropped significantly, leading to Eisner taking the lead on the board of directors.
A lot of shares were repurchased.
Another unfortunate victim is Paramount Pictures, which was acquired by Viacom. They were already heavily in debt, but now they have a company that competes with them for big stars and big production projects. In addition, they also
There was not enough cash to buy back shares, so the stock price fell even worse than Disney.
"Oh, I still have a lot of their stocks, what should I do now?"
Seeing Viacom's stock price falling all the way, Ronald didn't have a good opportunity to take action, and it almost became a worry for him. At that time, in order to protect his short-selling operation, he left some chips to close the position. Now,
But it has become a trouble that cannot be shaken off.
"That's right, send more champagne to my friends as my congratulations." Ronald put his mind away and asked his assistant Yang Yanzi to prepare the best large champagne and send it to Spielberg and Cardiff.
Went to the opening party of DreamWorks with Sunberg.
As the chairman of DDH, it is not convenient for me to express any comments on their DreamWorks in public. But privately sending a batch of expensive champagne for their opening party is an excellent way to show respect to the Jews.
One way to show goodwill - help them save money.
"By the way, help me ask them if they need a lion dance to celebrate? If so, Huabu in Los Angeles just customized a new lion head from the workshop in Xiangjiang this year. These Jews don't know anything, tell me
They should prepare red envelopes with cash, which will be the most auspicious thing if a lion steps on them."
As a competitor in the industry, Ronald is not suitable to directly express a lot of congratulations. Just do a little superficial work like others. But as an artist and film director, DreamWorks is the first Hollywood company in decades.
A studio founded by artists themselves, this is the biggest piece of good news for artists since Chaplin established United Artists.
The vast majority of actors and directors believe that these studio businessmen will only stifle their wonderful creativity and are the enemies of artists. Therefore, after Chaplin, he was the second three people to establish an artist-led studio.
Hero has received a lot of praise in Hollywood.
The vast majority of these people are also Academy judges, and are eligible to participate in the Oscar nominations and final selection voting. Let them know who they are as an artist, and Ronald is very happy to see this happen.
It will also help him win more votes for his own Forrest Gump in the new awards season that starts at the end of this year.
These people often have unrealistic illusions about DreamWorks being able to produce and produce their scripts. They regard the actions of Spielberg, Katzenberg, and David Geffen as miracles like the resurrection of Jesus.
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So when they see the expensive champagne sponsored by Ronaldo himself at the founding party, they will definitely have a good impression of them.
…
Last week has passed, and the media reviews and film reviews of the two movies Shawshank Redemption and Pulp Fiction have been released.
Contrary to what Ronald himself expected, The Shawshank Redemption received polarized reviews from critics.
Almost all film critics have praised Morgan Freeman's performance as Red. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly said that Freeman made the character of Red appear real and "lifelike".
Janet Maslin said in the New York Times that Freeman's performance was impressive, but unfortunately Red's role in the film was limited to observing Andy. She thought Freeman's performance was strong
Making him a more powerful character than a mere observer, Red's dependence on life within prison walls is especially touching.
Variety's Leonard Clardy suggested that Freeman took on a "more compelling" role that allowed him to "naturally project grace and dignity" without ever becoming mediocre.
DeSean Howey of The Washington Post called Freeman a "master" of comedy and heartfelt beats.
Even Kenneth Turan's Los Angeles Times reviewer, who gave The Shawshank Redemption a low score, praised Freeman, saying his "effortless screen presence brings Shawshank as close to a movie as it can get."
Credibility".
Tim Robbins, who plays the protagonist Andy, has received a lot of bad reviews. Some people say that he wants to be the Gary Cooper of the new era, but he cannot make the audience feel like Gary Cooper.
Some people also maliciously commented that Tim Robbins just played a cheap and sensational story about "Forrest Gump goes to jail". The whole movie is more disgusting than the various plots in Forrest Gump that are designed to appeal to conservatives.
"You are disgusting. Who is this person? Oh..."
Ronald saw this person as the film critic and political reporter of the Washington Post, DeSean Howey. It’s no wonder that in Washington, DC, which is the most supportive of the Donkey Party in the United States (Sr. Ronald once won almost all the votes in his second term)
(excluding the opponent's home state and Washington, D.C.), he must be dissatisfied with Forrest Gump, who has some traditional ideas, and Shawshank, who is full of religious overtones.
As for why, while everyone was criticizing the movie and the protagonist, he admired Morgan Freeman, calling him a master of rhythm and comedy performance. This can be understood from his skin color and the surname he received from his adoptive parents.
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"Are these people trying to push Morgan Freeman to be nominated for Best Actor?" Ronald shook his head. Anyone who is truly knowledgeable knows that Andy, played by Tim Robbins, is the protagonist of the entire story and the reason why this story is
The key is to make it feel real.
Red, played by Freeman, only provides the perspective of a storyteller. If he played it really well, it would take the spotlight and weaken the story itself.
Pulp Fiction, on the other hand, received uniformly positive reviews that were inconsistent with its quality.
Roger Ebert called it "a comedy about blood, guts, violence, strange behavior, drug abuse, fixed matches, corpse disposal, leather weirdos and a watch that travels darkly between generations...Talenti
Novo Roger Avery's script is so well written, in a sleazy fanzine way, that you want to put to shame those zombie writers who took 'screenwriting' classes to learn the 'hit movie' formula."
Time's review wrote: "It towers above other films this year, as commanding and menacing as a gangster in kindergarten. It challenges Hollywood movies to go so far with such profound intelligence. If a good director takes it
Tarantino’s implicit challenge is that cinema might once again be a wonderful place to inhabit.”
Newsweek wrote: "The miracle of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction is that despite being composed of second-hand, devalued parts, it manages to shine as if it were new."
Entertainment Weekly wrote, "You'll be hooked on rediscovering just how enjoyable movies can be. I'm not sure I've ever encountered a film that combines discipline and control with pure wild joy quite like Tarantino's
Producer.”
"The special thrill of watching something so exciting," Rolling Stone wrote, "Pulp Fiction is undeniably great."
It can be seen from the wording of these complimentary words that they are either a pile of so-called professional words that laymen cannot understand and insiders will laugh at, or they only have conceptual adjectives such as great and advanced.
No comments on any details.
This is typical of spending money to buy positive movie reviews, but the movie itself has some lackluster performances. Those movie critics also have their own reputations to protect, and random praise may bring very bad consequences, and they can only remain in the clouds.
Use advanced vocabulary to make random boasts and count.
"Does Miramax want to buy these movie reviews with money and send Pulp Fiction to the Oscars?" Ronald understood the strategy Harvey Weinstein planned to adopt, and he had to respond to it.