For the business

Lyman calmly looked at Harvey Weinstein's stiff smile, his expression indifferent and composed, as if he had no idea how much damage his words had inflicted on Harvey. It was reminiscent of the deep meaning behind Harvey's refusal to negotiate with Lyman in the past. There was no point in discussing it.

Harvey furrowed his brows slightly, carefully examining the young man in front of him. It seemed that at this moment, he truly understood Lyman's character. A sudden surge of anger welled up in his heart, contradicting his previous thoughts when he approached Lyman. Miramax was the first to extend an olive branch, and even if it meant some loss and sharing profits with EuropaCorp, it was worth it. The most important thing was establishing a connection with director Lyman for future collaborations.

But now, faced with such ruthlessness and no room for negotiation, Harvey's emotions were indeed getting out of control. It had been many years since he, leading Miramax, had made a name for himself in the independent film industry. Even top directors like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas would give him face, yet here he was being harassed by an "insignificant pawn".

However, the stifled anger in his chest was quickly suppressed, and all his fury was temporarily concealed, his face still wearing a smile as always. This was a party scene, and he had to save face for the host.

Indeed, Harvey could simply turn around and leave, venting his emotions face to face, and even use his accumulated connections to make life difficult for Lyman. But such an approach was short-sighted and not Harvey's style. He had his own standards to measure who could be bullied and who couldn't.

Lyman was no longer the aspiring director without any connections. He had aligned himself with EuropaCorp, with his base in France. Regardless, there were limits, and Miramax couldn't reach that far.

"Alright, I understand. I'll find the person in charge of EuropaCorp to negotiate about "3 Idiots". Although the current intercourse hasn't produced anything meaningful, I still hope there will be an opportunity for us to collaborate in the future, Lyman. You're a talented director, and I believe the ultimate recognition for you will be the Oscars." Harvey subtly remarked, then turned and left.

Lyman watched Harvey's figure disappear into the crowd, and continued walking steadily in the direction where George was. Harvey truly lived up to his reputation as a cunning fox in the independent film industry. He had insight and considerations. Despite the past grievances between them, he still maintained his composure and managed to navigate the mockery and courtesy. When faced with the matter at hand, he answered concisely and directly, leaving no room for further discussion before he decisively departed.

Throughout the conversation, it showcased Harvey's qualities of a shrewd leader and resoluteness. Because of this, Lyman held Harvey in even higher regard. Unfortunately, there was no basis for collaboration between them to begin with.

Time had passed and all the twists and turns that had led to the current situation were still fresh in his memory, including the cause of his predecessor's suicide.

He couldn't be like Harvey, who could open his mouth for collaboration despite their grievances. Lyman acknowledged that he couldn't do it. Although the last sentence Harvey said held intriguing implications. After all, from the perspective of the awards season competition, Miramax, led by the Weinstein brothers, indeed had a unique and effective approach. If Lyman truly wanted "3 Idiots" to make an impact at the Oscars, it seemed wise to choose collaboration.

But when it came down to it, it crossed Lyman's bottom line. Therefore, in response to Harvey's final remark, Lyman didn't acknowledge it.

"Sorry, gentlemen, let me introduce you. This is Lyman, the director of "3 Idiots"." George looked at Lyman as he approached and immediately interrupted the conversation to introduce him.

"Oh, truly a talented young person," unexpectedly, Kevin, the distribution manager at Warner Bros., was the first to greet him. He had a warm smile on his face and proactively extended his hand to Lyman. "An impressive work, but seeing someone as young as you, I don't even know how to praise you." Kevin's confident and slightly humorous words made Lyman, George, and Robert Redford beside him chuckle lightly.

Lyman politely shook hands. "I believe praising the work would be more satisfying."

"Well, let's get back to business." Seeing that the two of them still had the desire to chat, Robert took the initiative to steer the conversation back on track.

Robert Redford was a slightly overweight old man. He was already 65 years old this year, and his gray hair gave him a touch of aging. His face was filled with a hearty smile, giving off a sense of warmth. As he spoke, coupled with his vivid expressions, the atmosphere immediately livened up.

"Oh, right, where were we just now?" Kevin chuckled.

"Talking about the possibility of collaboration?" prompted by Robert, Kevin said directly, "Yes, that's right. I wanted to inquire whether "3 Idiots" has found a suitable distribution company. If not, Warner Bros. is very interested."

After the pleasantries, they immediately delved into the main topic. After all, this was the Sundance Film Festival, and there were more films on display or seeking distribution than just this one. Kevin had come with the intention of gaining something, and the topic of discussion was focused on films and only films. Lyman looked at George, signaling him to take over. After all, George, as a negotiation professional, was more suitable for this role.

"We haven't yet entered into a specific partnership with any distribution company," George honestly replied. As expected, a flicker of delight flashed through Kevin's eyes. He hadn't expected that the distribution rights for this film were still in the hands of EuropaCorp. After all, normally they would work with Paramount Pictures for distribution. But this time, they had changed their minds.

Unlike Harvey, Kevin didn't conduct a deep investigation. Their considerations and priorities were different. Warner Bros. wasn't lacking good projects, and they didn't attach much importance to independent film development. They preferred capital operations and big film projects that would bring in more profits. In contrast, Miramax focused on exploring the battlefield of independent production and conducted thorough investigations to make more precise investments.

Of course, if a real opportunity presented itself, Warner Bros. behind Kevin wouldn't miss out. "In my opinion, "3 Idiots" is a great work. However, achieving success at the box office is not an easy task. What are your thoughts, either of you or the production company, EuropaCorp? What's your collaboration strategy?" George continued, "Compared to awards, we have higher expectations for box office numbers."

These words surprised Kevin, and he jokingly asked Lyman, "As the director, do you think the same way?"

"Of course, I've always seen myself as a businessman, and whether the film can be profitable is something I've always paid attention to," Lyman candidly replied.

Lyman's frankness piqued Kevin's interest even more. He had never seen a director like him before. Because awards could truly reflect a director's value and honor, but it seemed that Lyman wasn't swayed by that.

"Great, so how about a 35% box office share? You don't need to consider the distribution and promotion, EuropaCorp." In a lighthearted manner, Warner Bros., as a large company, displayed its financial might. Unlike the competition and tug of war at the Venice Film Festival, Warner Bros. didn't care about minor profits. As long as they could acquire the film and achieve success during awards season, strategically speaking, it would be worth it for Warner Bros.

Hearing the figure of 35%, Lyman felt a moment of excitement, but he didn't show it on the surface and continued to look at George for the response. He was the one in charge of this matter.

"I'm thinking that I should check with my boss right away. Maybe I need to make a phone call because you're showing great sincerity," George said.

Kevin found it amusing. "Sure, go ahead and make a phone call."

His face carried a relaxed smile, and he added, "I think we can sit down and have a proper discussion the day after tomorrow."

George's hesitation in his words conveyed his intentions. He simply wanted to compare the conditions with several other distributors first and didn't want to commit too quickly. So they directly set a time for the next meeting.

George didn't nod or shake his head, indicating that he had agreed to the arrangement. Even though he had great autonomy in this matter, he still needed to see the overall situation before making a decision. After all, it was necessary to compare multiple options. Besides, even if they couldn't collaborate, it was good to become more familiar and build connections.

At this point, only three days had passed since the start of the entire film festival, and there was no need to rush anything. Observing the trajectory of "3 Idiots" in terms of word-of-mouth would also provide more leverage for future negotiation contacts, creating more favorable conditions for negotiation battles.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, George bid farewell to Lyman and took his leave.

The party was far from over.