Chapter 063 (1/2)

Arizona.

Coolidge town in the south of Phoenix.

It's February 3.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Catherine Bigelow was standing in front of the hotel where the crew was staying. She saw the black Chevrolet SUV coming from the far side of the street. When the car stopped, she subconsciously stepped forward.

Simon pushed the door to get out of the car, looked at Catherine in front of her in a close fitting black sweater and jeans, then opened his arms and hugged the woman, and said, ”you look more delicious in black.”

Katherine gave Simon a slightly angry look and then said, ”I heard the news from the Hollywood Reporter yesterday. Is it really OK for you to come here like this?”

”Of course not. It's almost done. We'll wait for the show. What's more, I think I should leave for a while. Some things are too much for me. ”

Catherine nodded vaguely, motioned behind her and said, ”I've prepared your room for you. Besides, have you had lunch?”

Simon shook his head and said with a smile, ”not yet. I'd like to come and treat you as soon as possible.”

Catherine glanced at him again and pointed to the side of the road. ”Let's go over there. There's a restaurant there.”

When they passed through the wide asphalt road of the small town, Simon looked at the street where few people were seen. He thought of the boundless Gobi desert on both sides of the intercontinental highway when he came all the way. He said with some emotion, ”it's a vacuum here.”

”There are about 6000 people in Coolidge, already a lot of them,” Catherine said as she walked beside Simon, adding, ”you didn't intend to cooperate with Fox pictures, how did you become Orion again?”

”I can't get along with you,” Simon said helplessly. ”Orion is easier to communicate.”

Katherine nodded understandably and asked, ”what are the conditions given by Orion?”

Outside the restaurant, Simon helped the woman to open the door, and then said, ”they only take the distribution rights of North American cinema lines for the time being, and other channels will be given priority. Our share is 15%.”

Katherine walked into the restaurant and was surprised to hear Simon say, ”15% is very good.”

Hollywood film companies with publicity channels are very strong. They usually take more than 30% of the box office share of a film when they pay for publicity, distribution and commission.

On the other hand, due to the low attendance rate, non mainstream art films generally get a low share from the cinema operators, and some films can only get less than 30% of the box office from the cinema.

Combined, Simon was able to win 15% of the box office share for a low-cost film like ”Lola Run”, which surprised Katherine a little.

They sat down at the table. Simon ordered a lunch and asked the waiter to bring a pot of coffee. Then he explained, ”it's not as good as you think. It's conditional. We have to pay for the copy. Besides, I signed a package contract with Orion for screenwriter and director

Simon and Mike medova spent the whole day last Saturday fighting for the 15% share, almost pushing one more decimal point.

Even if there are two additional conditions, it's also a tug of war.

Michael medova believes that since Simon is willing to bear the cost of copying, he should pay for it first. Simon can't get the money now, so he can't agree. In the end, Orion will pay in advance and deduct it from the box office share in the future.

As for the package contract, Michael medova was the first to see ”death is coming” and wanted to sign it for $500000.

Among them, 300000 dollars is Simon's director's remuneration and 200000 dollars is for the script of ”death is coming”. Of course, although he is not a member of the two major trade unions, director and screenwriter, according to the industry practice, Simon can still enjoy the share terms similar to those of trade union members.

”Death is coming” has been favored by Fox, but the other side is still waiting for the response of ”Butterfly Effect” and has not made an offer. Of course, according to the exception clause in Simon's contract with Fox, if he is willing to direct, it's no problem for him to hand over death to Orion.

However, Simon has no interest in directing the film in person. He only hopes to sign a blank contract that does not involve any details for the time being. When he has a script that he is interested in, he can talk about specific cooperation.

Mike medova, of course, could not agree.

In the end, both sides made some compromises. Simon signed a blank contract with a basic salary of $500000, but reserved the right to renegotiate the sharing terms.

In the restaurant, Katherine holds a cup of coffee and listens to Simon explain the details of his ”battle of wits and braves” with Mike medova. She says with a smile, ”half a million dollars. What else can you not be satisfied with? I only have 150000 dollars.”

Simon took back his arm on the table, asked the waiter to put down his lunch, picked up the tableware, tasted the spaghetti, and said, ”when I have money, I will give you a blank contract, how much investment I want, how much pay I will fill in.”Catherine dodged Simon's eyes and said, ”I don't need your money.”

”I'll help you invest in the future.”

”I can do it myself.”

Simon nodded: ”Oh, yes.”

Catherine looked at Simon and began to eat. She pursed her lips and said, ”you, you don't think I can make a good movie?”