Chapter 312

Near the end of July, the hot summer vacation in North America gradually cooled down. After the North American box office of "The Matrix" exceeded 300 million US dollars, the popularity basically subsided, and the growth rate became abnormally slow. From the Independence Day holiday to the present two weeks, only take At over 6 million U.S. dollars, even though the North American box office has exceeded 310 million U.S. dollars, the market potential is basically exhausted.

The overseas growth rate has also slowed down significantly. The Far East has become the final box office feast of The Matrix. Today, the global box office totals 585 million U.S. dollars. To break through the 600 million U.S. dollar mark, it is necessary for the remaining screening market to be able to Continue to exert strength in the next step.

With the decrease in box office popularity, the peripheral sales of "The Matrix" have also fallen sharply. Up to now, peripheral sales in North America have reached US$288.5 million, and peripheral sales in overseas markets have also exceeded the US$200 million mark. Reached $221.5 million.

However, the peak season of the film has passed, and subsequent peripheral sales have to accumulate slowly over time.

Even so, according to the 30% sales rake agreement signed between Duke Studios and major manufacturers, the film can also receive US$127.5 million, plus US$20 million from advertising sponsorship, and the film's global box office After more than 500 million US dollars, an increase of 10% of the sponsorship limit is 20♂, 0 million US dollars, even if the TV copyright and the copyright of the discs and video tapes have not been sold, there are nearly 150 million US dollars in the peripheral and advertising of the film. income.

This figure seems not high compared to the box office figure of nearly $600 million, but don't forget that the box office has to be shared with marketers such as cinema issuers, and this revenue is almost gross profit.

As long as the box office of the film can be guaranteed, peripheral products will often become low-input and high-income products. Some so-called luxury suits or limited collections-such as Neo's limited edition windbreaker-except for the collection value brought by the fiery film . In fact, the cost is extremely low for businesses, and the profits created are often very amazing.

It is not unreasonable that major businessmen actively participate in the peripheral production of the film and spend a lot of money to obtain the image authorization.

The most typical ones are several manufacturers participating in The Matrix. After hearing that Duke's new project passed the review of Warner Bros., he immediately took the initiative to find Warner Bros. and the Duke's studio and asked to sponsor the film again.

As long as it can meet the overall requirements of the film, Duke will not reject these manufacturers.

"Seeing that your films are always selling big and various peripheral products create huge profits, I can't help but want to invest in Hollywood."

On the long trestle bridge on the small pier of Manor Beach, Mrs. Leah looked at Duke and Scarlett Johansson who were holding the fishing rod, and said, "But reason told me again. You are only an isolated phenomenon."

Duke smiled and didn't say anything. He knew his mother was just a little emotional.

Mrs. Leah checked the time, stood up and walked out of the area covered by the umbrella, "I'm going to make a call."

The gentle sea breeze blowing from the west brought a rare refreshment to the hot weather in Southern California, and Dukla picked up his fishing rod. Looking at the empty hook, re-hang the bait. Throw it back into the sea.

"Nothing?"

Scarlett Johansson sat on the other side of the sun umbrella, took off the sunglasses stuck on her face, took a cold drink, took a big sip, and said, "Your luck is really bad. I haven't caught it until now. Pass a fish."

Hearing the girl's words, Duke turned to look at her, "Fish don't like me."

The blonde girl next to her snorted and said nothing.

Time is indeed an invisible killer, every year when the mother comes. He only saw Scarlett a few times, and the relationship between the two inevitably became unfamiliar. Not only did the fourteen-year-old girl grow taller, her body began to grow, and she developed extremely fast, gradually taking on the appearance she once remembered.

Corresponding to the change in her appearance, there is also the expression on her face, Scarlett Johansson's eyes, except when she looks at her mother, they always have obvious coldness, and the chattering problems in childhood have almost completely disappeared. Most of the time All are taciturn.

Duke knew what was the cause of all these changes, it was just the pain of family breakdown, and only time could it be gradually eliminated.

"What are you looking at?"

Presumably noticing Duke's gaze, Scarlett turned her head and asked, "Don't you recognize me?"

Duke shook his head and pointed to his nose. Scarlett immediately understood what was going on and raised her hand to touch it. "Last year, there was a period of time when I was in a bad mood, so I went to fight with a few classmates. One, but the godmother didn't like it, so I removed the nose ring and threw it away."

Hearing Scarlett's words, Duke sighed in his heart and comforted, "My dear, everything will pass."

"Yeah, everything will pass."

Gently shook his blond head, Scarlett suddenly gave a wry smile, "I just don't understand. Even if he wants to divorce his mother, he can leave. Does he have to go to court to divide his property? Obviously he Derailed, he made a mistake..."

"Can anyone who makes mistakes be so arrogant?" Scarlett seemed puzzled.

Duke shook his head at her and said, "My dear, you have to understand that many times children are right and wrong, and adults only look at the pros and cons."

"Oh..." Scarlett thought for a while, just nodded.

She suddenly scratched her face and asked, "This is the same with your cooperation with Warner Bros.?"

"What do you think?" Duke took his own cup of drink, took a sip, and felt a refreshing sensation through his chest and abdomen, and then turned the subject, "Scar, you performed very well in The Horse Whisperer." "

Speaking of the movie, Scarlett Johansson smiled, "Yes, when I saw Sophia some time ago, she said the same, and she invited me to star in her new movie."

The sun gradually moved to the west, getting closer and closer to the sea level. Duke packed up his fishing tackle and walked towards the villa with Scarlett Johansson, who was carrying a net bag. A few small fish could be seen in the net bag. jump.

Fishing is a rare leisure for Duke after his busy work.

My mother was also busy with work. She returned to New York without staying in Los Angeles for too long. Duke's Duke Studio also ushered in an important moment. Major investors and marketers will settle the North American earnings of "Titanic" as of the end of June.

Although the film is still being screened in North America, starting from July, the producer and distributor will no longer participate in the North American box office share of the film, and all the box office produced during the last period will be owned by the theater.

How can a film be shown in theaters for such a long time without paying a certain price?

Don't talk about "Titanic". It is the "Star Wars" that has the most large-scale screenings. In the next few screenings, Lucasfilm can only get more shares than nothing, but every large-scale screening will bring about a boom in peripheral product sales. .

Duke Studios has already taken away 40 million U.S. dollars from the last North American box office share. This time it was a late share that was dominated by the theaters. In addition, the film excluding the publicity fee, and some directors who paid James Cameron Divided, the Duke's studio only received 15 million US dollars from it.

So far. The North American box office share settlement was completed, and the Duke's Studio received $55 million.

However, overseas income is destined to be the bulk. Also in this settlement, the Duke's studio received an overseas box office share of 125 million U.S. dollars and generated peripherals including TV, discs, and video tapes in some countries and regions that have been negotiated. Of 75 million U.S. dollars.

Even if there will be a large amount of income in the future, Duke's $50 million investment has already generated several times the profit.

According to the predictions of relevant agencies, in the next year, "Titanic" will eliminate the North American box office of US$665.62 million and US$1.215.20 million in overseas box office. It will also create at least $1.5 billion in peripheral income.

Duke's accountant David also made some predictions. He thought Duke's $50 million investment. It will generate a pre-tax profit of about US$400 million to US$550 million.

In late July, Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox jointly released the DVD and videotape of "Titanic". The influence of this film is amazing!

In the first week of its release, DVDs sold up to 35.25 million U.S. dollars; video tapes sold 32.3 million U.S. dollars, and the sum of the two was up to 67.55 million U.S. dollars.

In addition, there is also the first-round TV broadcast rights of the film. Was bid by cbs at a sky-high price of 8 million US dollars!

Facts have once again proved that the great ship is infinitely powerful and has unlimited market potential.

After entering August, "Titanic" continued to sail on the North American theaters, and the three-month-old "The Matrix" gradually reached the moment of painting. The film will be downgraded within 14 weeks of screening. This is not only related to the rapid drop in the box office, but also to the Duke Studio and Warner Bros.'s desire to launch DVDs and video tapes as soon as possible while the hacking boom has not yet dissipated.

Since the end of July, Duke has re-edited the theater screenings, added appropriate editing plots, and cut out a filming and production highlights, which is also increasing the appeal of DVDs and video tapes to the audience.

VCD has never been popular in North America. Video tapes have always dominated in the past few years. It was not until the emergence of DVDs in 1996, and after the vigorous promotion of Sony and many other manufacturers in the past two years, that the status of video tapes was shaken, especially in 1998. Since then, with the increase in sales of DVD playback equipment in North America, the sales of DVD versions of films have gradually caught up with the revenue from video tapes.

Hollywood initially resisted DVDs, but after seeing the huge storage capacity and low cost, the profit-seeking companies immediately invested their greatest enthusiasm, and DVDs have already emerged in North America.

Duke remembers very clearly that in the next ten years, DVDs will become the basis for the profitability of Hollywood movies. Many box-office movies will eventually rely on DVDs' low cost and high profits to recover costs and even achieve profitability. . (To be continued...)