Chapter 22 - Buyout

Amy Pascal showed a very direct interest in Eric: "Eric, you're younger than I thought. I had just entered college when I was your age."

"You look very young, Ms. Pascal." Eric complimented.

Amy Pascal laughed: "Thank you, Eric. Amy is fine. I read Jurassic Park and I really like your writing, so, are the movie rights still in your hands?"

Eric jolted slightly: "Of course."

With the Jurassic Park fame growing, numerous film companies had contacted Eric for the movie rights but were turned down by him. Before he was powerful enough to fight for his interests, he didn't plan on selling them.

"Well, I wonder if you'd be willing to sell those rights to Columbia? We won't be stingy when it comes to the price."

Eric said: "Amy, we didn't come here to discuss this today. Also, technology for special effects hasn't matured enough, so I don't plan on selling Jurassic Park's rights any time soon."

"Ah, that's a shame. Let's talk about Home Alone then. I understand Jeffrey watched and appreciated the movie. I heard that you intended to release it through the 20th Century Fox, how did it go?"

Eric shrugged and told her the truth: "The head of the 20th Century Fox Distribution Department, Mr. Carter Hunt, bluntly refused. He wouldn't even watch the movie."

"Carter Hunt, huh, I know him, a very arrogant man." Amy Pascal smiled and said: "Well, let's take a look at the movie first."

Eric nodded and the three of them went straight to an auditorium at Columbia Pictures' headquarters. Eric gave a copy to the projectionist and they sat on the leather seats.

"Eric, you don't quite seem to look forward to it?" Amy Pascal caught a glance at Eric and quipped before the film started screening.

Eric helplessly smiled: "Amy, I made the movie from start to end, my mind is filled with every shot, and I've also seen it many times. However, I believe you definitely will not be disappointed."

The theater lights dimmed as Amy Pascal nodded and looked back. She had mixed emotions and couldn't help but sigh in the dark. Columbia Pictures was lacking a good project and was reduced to turning their sights on a high school student's movie.

As one of the top management, Amy Pascal was quite familiar with Columbia Pictures position. This year's profits weren't good, and if it weren't for the accumulated earnings of the past few years, the company would be facing huge losses.

Compared to the thriving Disney and 20th Century Fox or Paramount under Barry Diller, Columbia was like a very old, lazy man. After Ghost-busters got second place in the box office in 1984, Columbia hadn't been able to squeeze a movie in the top ten for three consecutive years, and this year seemed no exception. This old giant of the movie world had become a disgrace.

Columbia's parent company, Coca-Cola, had suffered heavy losses last year, and if Columbia doesn't make any profits for them, it would likely be sold. In fact, the Sony consortium had already made an offer.

Amy Pascal had some understanding of Eric. This boy had just graduated from high school, and within a few months, had published the science fiction novel Jurassic Park, wrote the script for 17 Again and startled 20th Century Fox with his acting. If not for him giving people so many surprises, perhaps Amy Pascal would have also dismissed him as Carter Hunt had.

Columbia Pictures had also received the 17 Again script, and several producers in the company had been interested. When they saw Eric's condition to star as a lead, they had ultimately given up on it as they couldn't afford to take the risk.

She had heard that Barry Diller had personally approved of 17 Again. Comparing him to the mediocre CEO of Columbia Mr. Blount Cohen, Amy couldn't help but sigh. If the company was in its current situation, it was because of the higher-ups' lack of boldness and vision. (TL: Character that the author made up, I did some research and couldn't find anything about him.)

Right from the start, with the interesting plot and Stuart Runkle's pranks, Amy Pascal's thoughts scattered and she focused on the screen.

By the end of the movie, Amy Pascal was stunned silly. She couldn't believe that such a great comedy was the work of an eighteen-year-old boy.

She excitedly stood and faced Eric with a grin saying: "Eric, can you wait here while I make a phone call?"

Seeing Amy's expression, Eric was sure it was in the bag.

Half an hour later, the President of Columbia, Mr. Blount Cohen, and seventy-eight other Columbia Pictures executives gathered in the theater, and Home Alone was screened once again.

They watched the movie in an optimistic mood, and although commuting time was near, none were eager to leave. After 45 minutes of screening, the higher-ups had already started whispering to each other.

Later, in the President's office of Columbia Pictures, Eric and Jeffrey were sitting opposite Blount Cohen. The latter sipped leisurely sipped his cup of coffee before saying: "Eric, we are very optimistic about Home Alone, and willing to offer 10 million dollars to buy all the rights, what do you think ?"

Hearing the price, Jeffrey Hanson who was sitting next to Eric, became incredibly joyful. A one million dollar project and they were willing to offer ten times that, if the decision was his, he would have immediately nodded.

Blount Cohen noted Jeffrey's expression and revealed a smile of satisfaction. The company estimated the movie's box office at 50 million $ and they could easily shoot a sequel. So after some deliberation, they had decided to directly offer a high price and buy the copyrights.

Buy Home Alone for ten million dollars? The hell! I would rather go bankrupt! Eric couldn't help but swear in his mind.

"Mr. Cohen, you must have made your preliminary estimates on Home Alone's box office, right? Do you mind telling me what the results were ?"

Seeing Eric not immediately agreeing, Blount Cohen was a little disappointed, but he still said: "Of course, we feel that, if done properly, the Home Alone's North American box office should be around 30 million $. Under the established practice, you, as producers, can get twenty percent of the benefits. A 10 million $ buyout price is very reasonable. The cost of making the film shouldn't have been that high, so Eric, what are you hesitating for? Just sign the agreement, and you'll become one of the youngest multimillionaires in Hollywood."