Afterwards, Charles and the others celebrated until the early morning at a private club on Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills before returning home.
The Golden Globe Awards are, after all, chosen by a group of journalists. While they have a certain level of professionalism, they cannot compare to the Oscar in terms of authority.
The next day, newspapers and magazines such as The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle, and Vanity Fair all extensively reported on the grandeur of the Golden Globe Awards.
lost in translation became the biggest winner, taking home three major awards, while many other films also won two awards.
One newspaper expressed considerable dissatisfaction with Chicago losing the best picture in the musical or comedy category to lost in translation.
However, Charles no longer cared; Cape Pictures was running low on funds, and it was time to sell the overseas distribution rights, DVD, and television rights for lost in translation to generate cash flow.
"Columbia TriStar International Films hopes to acquire overseas rights beyond North America, not just the Asian market!"
The distribution director of Columbia TriStar International Films, a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment, came to Cape Pictures to handle the negotiations.
In the office of Cape Pictures, Charles looked at the director, shook his head, and smiled, "For Germany, we have an agreement with Constantin Film. For Australia and New Zealand, we have an agreement with Village Roadshow Pictures."
"Besides Germany and Australia, Columbia TriStar International Films has its own channels in Europe and Latin America," Sony Entertainment's North American distribution is primarily handled by Sony Pictures, while the overseas market is handled by Columbia TriStar International Films.
"lost in translation is projected to gross no less than 40 million US dollars in the North American market, and this type of film is even more popular in Europe. With the Golden Globe Awards and potentially the Oscar to follow, we are confident that the price for overseas rights will not be low," Charles said with a smile.
"Moreover, the overseas rights for lost in translation include theatrical release, the DVD market, television broadcasting, and a series of distribution rights. We can sell them outright!"
"How much does Cape Pictures want?"
Charles slowly extended five fingers, and the Columbia TriStar International Films distribution director opposite him excitedly exclaimed, "Charles, that's impossible! How much box office can the overseas market generate?"
"Wait, listen to me," Charles pressed his hands down to calm the other party. Don't you understand the concept of asking for a high price and then negotiating down? Don't get so excited!
"According to my predictions, the overseas market will be at least twice the size of the North American market. lost in translation is highly artistic, and Hollywood is overly commercialized; you know all this;"
"Moreover, lost in translation was filmed entirely in Tokyo, Japan, essentially making it an advertising promotional film for Tokyo. Sony Group also hopes to better promote Japanese culture, and lost in translation fits perfectly!"
"Even so, 50 million US dollars is impossible, especially without the German and Australian markets," the director seemed not to have fully recovered.
"20 million US dollars. Columbia TriStar International Films will take the overseas distribution rights, excluding Germany and Australia."
"Mr. John, that's too low," Charles leaned closer to the director and analyzed, "The overseas market is predicted to have at least 80 million US dollars in box office revenue. Even if we deduct 10 million US dollars for Germany and Australia, there's still about 70 million US dollars in box office, plus DVD and television broadcasting. How much can Columbia TriStar International Films earn?"
"With the good reputation from North America, the advertising costs for overseas distribution will be very low. From theatrical release rights alone, the distributor will have about 30 million US dollars in revenue, right? The DVD market won't be lower than the box office market, and what about television broadcasting? What about the soft promotion for Tokyo?"
"Charles, you can't calculate it that way? We don't know if the overseas market can achieve twice the North American box office, and we still have to wait for the release. The DVD market will take even more time!"
"So, 22 million US dollars!"
"Not enough. Sony will also benefit greatly from promoting Japanese culture globally. If your price is reasonable, the North American DVD and television broadcasting rights can also be yours." Charles dropped another bombshell.
For the DVD market, he lacked channels, so selling outright was a good choice, as the distributor's home entertainment company was equally ruthless.
DVD market distribution fees are around 20%-30% in North America and typically 40%-50% overseas. Adding 30% for costs, the producer's share of revenue is only 20%-40%.
"Alright, with the North American home entertainment market included, Columbia TriStar International Films can offer 30 million US dollars!"
"Mr. John, I need sincerity," Charles frowned, "The North American home entertainment market is a big market, 50 million US dollars for everything isn't too much."
"Charles, time. It will take us at least one or two years to operate this. 35 million US dollars!"
The negotiations lasted for a week, with Charles firmly holding out for 50 million US dollars. Columbia TriStar International Films, indeed very interested in promoting Japanese culture, had raised their offer to 40 million US dollars.
Meanwhile, Charles also sold the German and Australian rights separately to Constantin Film and Village Roadshow Pictures, receiving 5.5 million US dollars!
By the end of January, Charles received a message from Ang Lee to discuss brokeback mountain. Ultimately, Cape Pictures sold the North American home entertainment market and overseas rights, excluding Germany and Australia, to Columbia TriStar International Films for 45 million US dollars.
Cape Pictures was finally fully revived, with over 50 million US dollars soon to be in its account!
Evelyn, returning to Los Angeles from New York, immediately made time to celebrate with her son, as Naomi Watts was filming in Europe and Scarlett Johansson was promoting lost in translation.
Keira Knightley, who came from the United Kingdom, also attended the celebration.
"Keira, long time no see!" Charles hugged the now 18-year-old and graceful Keira Knightley, smiling.
"Charles, you're amazing! lost in translation is very good!" Keira Knightley also praised him.
"Alright, Charles, congratulations! Mom was in New York earlier, then went to Park City in Utah," Evelyn also came over.
"Park City," Charles heard, and at first, didn't react.
"Saint-Denis Film Festival, it just ended, and Mom came back," Evelyn reminded him.
The Saint-Denis Film Festival is held annually for about ten days in late January, a grand event for independent films, where many directors are discovered by film companies.
"Saint-Denis Film Festival," Charles suddenly looked at his watch.
Saint-Denis Film Festival, wasn't saw discovered by Lionsgate Films this year? Wasn't James Wan's short film, just a few minutes long, picked up by Lionsgate to develop the saw series?
He actually forgot! Low-budget films, Charles's favorite!