Chapter 206 (1/2)
Jack Valenti resisted being guided by the young people in front of him: ”Simon, the answer to this question is obvious.”
”Yes, it's obvious that writers want to get more pay and higher treatment,” Simon said simply for Jack Valenti, and then continued, ”but it's basically because the writers and producers alliance have totally different positions. Different positions lead to conflicts of interest, and conflicts are bound to be losses, or even both, just like the past six months. ”
Jack Valenti felt the cool and sharp eyes of the young man across the table. He suddenly felt that he was really old: ”Simon, I know what you mean. This is not a wise choice. You can't fight against the whole Hollywood.”
Simon shook his head and said, ”Jack, you don't understand. I have no plan to fight against the whole of Hollywood. Although I am not afraid of this, now we are discussing the issue of position. ”
Jack Valenti showed a puzzled expression: ”position problem?”
”Yes, it's a matter of position,” Simon nodded. ”Jack, I don't resent the differentiated rating strategy of the rating committee. It's the instinct of almost any industry that vested interests protect their own privileges. The traditional seven major film companies are the vested interests of Hollywood. Even Orion, who can join MPAA, is in the same vein as the seven major film companies. They are the ”players” in the industry and the makers of rules. The weak second and third tier film companies can only submit to the rules like ”chess”. This is very unfair, but it is also very fair. Now the problem is that Denise entertainment has the strength to become a ”player” in Hollywood, but some people still treat this company as a ”pawn”. This is pushing Denise entertainment to a completely opposite position. ”
”Simon, since you understand this, you should also know that the transformation of status and class in the world is never easy. You can't expect Denise entertainment to be accepted by Hollywood traditional forces so soon.”
”Whether active or forced, people have to face the reality,” Simon said slowly, leaning forward and looking at Jack Valenti. ”Next Monday, Denise entertainment will re submit the rating review of scream. This is the last time this year, and it also determines Denise Entertainment's position. If ”scream” still fails to pass the r-level review, I will face the reality, cancel the schedule of this film, and confirm my ”chess” position. Then, I will stand in my own position and lead other ”chess pieces” to resist the unfair treatment of second - and third tier film companies by the MPAA rating committee for a long time. ”
Jack Valenti leaned back on the back of the chair without any trace, but he didn't avoid the eyes of the young man opposite him and said, ”Simon, do you think no one has ever done this?”
”It's hard for a real chess player to resist the rules when he's in the game, but Denise's entertainment is different. The production cost of scream is US $10 million, which may be an investment for many independent producers to decide whether the company will go bankrupt or not. If they encounter similar repression, they usually have to bow to the big film companies and take the initiative to hand over the distribution rights to the big seven to avoid losses. But I don't care, Jack. It doesn't matter to me if I lose all the ten million dollars. Hollywood can't find another person who has more money than me, ”Simon said, adding suddenly,” but I'm not willing to bear the loss. They put a 'player' who has the ability to break the rules on the chessboard. Don't blame me for breaking the rules wantonly . If scream still fails to pass the review, first of all, there will be a press release on the mainstream media in North America that the film has been unfairly treated in the rating process, but this is only the beginning. Then, I will invest another $10 million to make a documentary about the unfair treatment of independent Hollywood producers since the emergence of the ”voluntary film rating system”. Jack, I've asked people to list more than 30 similar films, which are intended to be the research focus of this documentary. You can continue to open the documents in front of you. ”
Jack Valenti subconsciously re opened the folder in front of him. After the rating review memos of instinct and scream, there was a long list of films, many of which were familiar.
Without waiting for Jack Valenti to respond, Simon continued: ”it's very easy to prove the unfair rating of these independent producers' films by comparing the simplest seven produced films with similar plots of these films. Then, as a ”player” who has been pushed to the ”chess piece” position, I will lead all the ”chess pieces” to change this extremely unfair film rating system. Since the positions are different, I think the rating committee should not be controlled by MPAA at all. It should either become an official agency of the federal government, or be led by the Federation of film and television producers, which has a wider membership system, so as to maintain its independence and impartiality as far as possible. If necessary, I can spend another 10 million dollars to lobby the federal government. I believe that once the matter is launched, those independent producers who have been suppressed for a long time will contribute their own strength in the process. Finally, I can even set up a special foundation to sue MPAA for huge compensation for the films that suffered commercial box office losses due to over rating in the past 20 years. Even if I can't win, I will stick to it. At that time, I am very curious whether the annual budget of MPAA can maintain the high litigation costs. Jack, do you want me to go on? ”Jack Valenti felt like he was sweating between his back.
If the documentary in Simon's narration really appears, MPAA will immediately fall into a very passive situation. Not to mention the list of 30 films in the document, it's just two very obvious rating review results of instinct and scream. Once published, it will be enough to make Denise entertainment occupy the public opinion advantage.
Once the public opinion storm rises, the federal government will have to take it seriously, which creates the possibility for Denise entertainment to lobby.
Finally, the establishment of a special foundation for litigation bombing, which can be called a rogue method, is absolutely very effective. No company or industry association can resist this kind of fatigue attack for a long time.
Public opinion offensive, money strategy, litigation bombing.
Combined with the three, sometimes subverting a regime is enough, let alone MPAA, which is only an industry association supported by several companies in the final analysis.
At a certain moment, Jack Valenti even had a strong doubt about how this young man, who is only 20 years old this year, produced these confrontation strategies which are more pungent and sophisticated than many senior politicians.
There are obviously other materials after the list of 30 movies in the folder, but Jack Valenti finds that he is afraid to turn over and close the increasingly heavy folder again. He looks up at the young man opposite: ”Simon, it's not good for you to do this.”
”I understand,” Simon said seriously, ”but it's a matter of position, and it's the choice of some people. Jack, since he has chosen opposition, this is the inevitable result.”
”Just for a scream?”
”If we can't solve this problem thoroughly, Denise entertainment will face more similar situations in the future, so Jack, I won't give in.”
Jack Valenti pondered for a moment and said, ”Simon, you shouldn't have said that to me.”
”You are the chairman of MPAA, Jack. You have the obligation to lobby the federal government for a bill that is conducive to the Hollywood film industry. You also have the obligation to let the big Hollywood film companies understand their situation. Moreover, the old men are very good face, face to face speaking of these, I am afraid they are too ugly, even angry. So, I'm still a good junior. ”
”An aggressive, respectful young man,” Jack Valenti said, tugging at the corners of his mouth. ”Simon, don't you see that I'm an old man, too?”
Simon shrugged. ”I'm sorry, Jack, but it's your job.”