At Capet Pictures, the unceasing smile on Charles's face as he sat in his boss's chair made one want to slap him.
"Boss, are you that happy?" Fili Jones asked deliberately while massaging Charles's shoulders.
"Of course, I'm happy! Look, Saw II has already grossed 88 million USD in North America, and it's estimated to reach 90 million USD by the end of its run. Overseas, it has already exceeded 30 million USD."
Could Charles not be happy? That was impossible. Without other distributors taking a cut, he had earned nearly 10 million USD from the North American market alone.
According to the split, Capet Pictures' revenue from North American box office was 47 million USD. Deducting 10 million USD for distribution and promotion, there was still a net income of 37 million USD!
What was the cost? Only 5 million USD? The net profit from the North American box office alone was 32 million USD!
Oh, the creative team's film share needed to be paid? Based on a 30% commission for self-distribution, 27 million USD would go to the distribution company. The net profit for the production company was 32 million USD minus this 27 million USD, leaving a base of 5 million USD.
Charles was a relatively generous person. The creative team could receive 25% of the production company's total profit, which meant they could get 1.25 million USD!
"The saw series is now our trump card series. Matrix Pictures is also releasing the horror film hostel next year. I wonder if it will be as successful!" Fili Jones quickly thought of the developing hostel.
Charles reached out and playfully poked the Lady's chin, then smiled, "You're really greedy. A series like saw is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Knock, knock, it's Donna!" Donna's knocking sound came from the door.
"Come in!" Charles said.
Donna Williams pushed the door open, casually glanced at Fili, then handed Charles an invitation, explaining, "Director Ridley Scott is inviting the boss to the 20th Century Fox screening room to watch the medieval epic war film kingdom of heaven!"
"He's back in Los Angeles," Charles didn't care about kingdom of heaven at all; instead, he wanted to discuss the departed with Ridley Scott.
"Also, brokeback mountain, which is currently in limited release, has encountered obstacles in Utah, and its wide release next week will face many problems!" Donna reminded him again.
"Utah again? What did they do? Are they going to ban it entirely in Utah?" Charles frowned, clearly displeased.
"The chairman of Utah's Eagle Alliance expressed his opinion that the plan to screen the film should be revoked and told young people that some of the content in this film is highly problematic!" Donna Williams explained to Charles.
Charles shook his head and said, "These guys just make trouble. By the way, how many opening theaters did Focus Features secure?"
"There were 15 for the limited release, and it should reach around 200 for the wide release this weekend. Our Pacific Theatres will also be showing it," Donna replied.
"Relying on word-of-mouth again!" Charles was helpless. Was Focus Features not optimistic about the film's box office prospects, or was the pressure too great?
The next day, in Los Angeles, Century City, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation headquarters.
In the screening room, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation co-chairman Gia Knoppros and Tom Rothman, along with 20th Century Fox Film Corporation president Jeffrey Godsick, executive vice president Emma Watts, and other executives, plus Charles, and the creative team of kingdom of heaven, including director Ridley Scott, together enjoyed the director's cut of kingdom of heaven.
In the 12th century, Baron Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson) from the Kingdom of Jerusalem went to France to find his estranged son Balian (Orlando Bloom), guiding him to become a knight and join the Crusades to Jerusalem;
Godfrey was framed and injured by his brother. After returning to Jerusalem, he bequeathed his title and fiefdom to his son Balian before his death;
During his time in Jerusalem, Balian met the King of Jerusalem, the masked leper King Baldwin IV, as well as the beautiful Princess Sibylla of the kingdom, and also Guy, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar who was eager to expand the war and was Sibylla's consort;
Balian was brave and skilled in battle, possessed chivalry, and managed his fiefdom of Ibelin in an orderly manner, thus winning the heart of the Princess of Jerusalem;
After Baldwin IV's untimely death, Guy inherited power and launched a major war against Islam, suffering a crushing defeat against the Islamic leader Saladin;
Saladin led the Islamic army to besiege Jerusalem, vowing to reclaim control of the holy city of Jerusalem from the Christians. Balian, entrusted with a critical mission, led the remaining forces to defend Jerusalem... Charles watched with great interest, because the war scenes were indeed well-shot. The realistic filming techniques of the Knights Templar, Hospitaler Knights, and Islamic Mamluk cavalry, as well as siege towers, made people's blood boil.
Finally, after Balian defeated Saladin's attack, he offered to surrender the holy city of Jerusalem if Saladin would not massacre the city. Saladin agreed.
Balian asked, "What is Jerusalem?"
Saladin responded, "Nothing!" Then he turned and left, walked a few steps, and then turned back to Balian, smiling, "It is everything!"
The ending was that Balian and Sibylla returned to France to live in seclusion, and then Richard the Lionheart continued to lead the Crusaders on the Third Crusade to Jerusalem.
Clap, clap, clap! After the movie ended, Charles clapped along with everyone.