Beverly Hills, ETA Agency.
Evelyn arrived at the company. Since last year, Evelyn felt like her luck had turned. Not only did her son now open a film company, but a low-budget film became the biggest dark horse in this year's box office market.
The North America box office is definitely in the top ten of this year's box office rankings.
Her actresses also had no shortage of projects. Naomi Watts, a late bloomer, participated in the filming of three movies this year.
the ring, filmed last year, is also set to be released in October. She's turned her life around!
"Evelyn, Capet Pictures now?" In the office of Ari Emanuel, one of ETA's partners and Vice President of ETA.
Evelyn had barely started work today when she was called into the Vice President's office to discuss matters.
"Capet Pictures has just moved to Burbank. Sofia Coppola's film also went to Tokyo for filming, and Charles is currently looking for suitable scripts for development," Evelyn understood that Capet Pictures was also her asset now, but she still had to keep business and personal matters separate.
How much did Charles earn from one movie? How much was her own salary a year before?
"Evelyn, we need to deepen our cooperation with Charles. Outsiders don't know the specifics of my big fat greek wedding, but we in the industry know that his vision is very good," Ari Emanuel didn't mind deepening his relationship with a young producer.
"Don't worry, I know. Charles will tell me in advance who he needs!"
After leaving Ari Emanuel's office, Evelyn received a call from her son.
"The adaptation rights for the novel brokeback mountain?" Evelyn heard her son inquiring about this information.
She then started to look it up. brokeback mountain is a short story published in The New Yorker magazine in 1997, telling the story of two Wyoming cowboys who fall in love while herding together in 1963, and then continue their on-again, off-again relationship as heterosexuals, husbands, and fathers over the next 20 years.
"Charles, you should know this story is very controversial. Some people have tried to adapt it over the years, but they all gave up for various reasons. The adaptation rights are still with the original author, Annie Proulx!"
"I know it's a sensitive subject. Right now, Capet Pictures can only take an unconventional approach. For low-budget independent films, there are genres like horror, religious, political, and romantic comedies. Homosexual themes are sensitive, but also suitable for us to develop now."
Evelyn could only agree, especially since low-budget horror and gore films are the surest way for small film companies to survive.
"All right, Mom will go and meet Annie Proulx to buy the novel's adaptation rights for you. However, the novel has already been adapted into a film script by writers Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana, you can take a look!"
"Just go and negotiate the price!"
Evelyn shook her head. The script adapted from such a popular novel wouldn't be cheap. It was pretty much a complete script now.
In late September, the lost in translation crew, who had been filming in Tokyo, returned.
In the Capet Pictures editing room, Charles looked at a somewhat tired Sofia Coppola and said with praise, "Sofia, you only stayed in Tokyo for a little over a month, right?"
Sofia nodded and said, "Indeed, we stayed for a little over a month, but our filming time was only 28 days."
"Next, we'll proceed with editing, scoring, and other post-production."
"Hmm, you can make a rough cut first. I'll have someone send a copy to the distributor," Charles definitely had to find a way for the film's distribution.
The next day, Evelyn and Scarlett Johansson came together.
"Hmm, you just finished filming, no rest?" Charles saw Scarlett also come along and hugged the Lady.
"No, I'm discussing the promotion of a currently showing film with Ms. Capet. Ms. Capet said she needed to see you, so I came along to see," Scarlett said with a smile.
"I see. You rest!" After settling Scarlett Johansson, Charles returned to his office to see his mother.
"3 million dollars, and the brokeback mountain script is yours. The price can't go any lower!" Evelyn stated the other party's bottom line.
"3 million dollars!" Charles walked a few steps, then turned around.
"Bought it!"
18 million dollars, with over 10 million for acquiring Netflix shares, and now the script cost another 3 million dollars.
Next, lost in translation is about to be released, and the funds for new projects will definitely not be enough. He'll have to find a way to get a bank loan.
"Are you really serious about making this movie?" Evelyn asked somewhat uncertainly.
"Hmm, I spent 3 million dollars to buy it, I can't just leave it in a warehouse to gather dust, can I?" Charles definitely wanted to produce it, but not now, definitely not until next year.
"Wait until lost in translation is released?"
Charles nodded. That was exactly his thought. By then, it should be enough to develop brokeback mountain. Art films are cheap.
"Oh, by the way, Mom rented a detached villa for you by Santa Monica Beach. You should move there from North Hollywood as soon as possible," Evelyn added.
"Santa Monica, that's not bad," Charles had no objections. Although North Hollywood was closer to Burbank, the environment was indeed much worse.
Charles had also paid Evelyn over a million dollars in remuneration before. Mother and son couldn't work for free. After all, she had helped a lot.
Evelyn handed Charles the keys and a card with the address from her bag, then waved and left.
Then, Charles moved that same day with his assistant Donna, leaving North Hollywood where he had lived for a while.
At the Santa Monica villa, Charles had thought it was truly a beachfront villa where you could walk out directly onto the beach, but it was still a few minutes' walk away.
Well, it didn't matter. Charles didn't have many things and quickly tidied up.
"Donna, is my understanding of a villa different, or is this a bit small? There's no swimming pool, just a small garden, though the decoration is decent!"
Donna smiled helplessly and replied, "This isn't small. It's over 2,500 square feet, with four rooms, three bathrooms, and the living area isn't small. It's very large for one person!"
"Never mind. How are the Netflix shares acquisitions coming along?" Charles asked, concerned.
"It's almost %, and we're currently negotiating with some shareholders. Many shareholders want to sell, but the price hasn't been agreed upon yet," Donna explained.
Charles nodded and said, "Up to 12 million dollars for 10% of the shares is acceptable!"
He estimated Netflix would rise next year. By then, he could use the shares to get a bank loan. Several million could still be borrowed.