Chapter 194: Three-Pronged Approach

Since Wu Yuchen said he had worked very happily with the seven majors in the past, David Geffen didn't refute him, but instead talked to him about the future.

Wu Yuchen frowned upon hearing this. Although he knew clearly that the other party was trying to alienate him from the seven majors to pull him into DreamWorks, he had to admit that the other party's words weren't just nonsense.

The seven major studios have stood in this Hollywood vanity fair for so many years, and they aren't running charity factories—they are capitalists!

Watching Wu Yuchen earn large amounts of profit from several films, especially these last two where so much money flowed into his own pockets, can they not be jealous?

However, Wu Yuchen wasn't quite sure: the seven majors might cooperate, but would they unite so tightly? And what would be the scale of their suppression against him?

Wu Yuchen didn't know, but since the David Geffen in front of him had come to his door and taken the initiative to raise the issue, he could probably learn a bit more from his mouth.

"Mr. Geffen, I certainly don't know Hollywood as well as you do. I haven't experienced the possibility you mentioned, but would the seven majors rather not earn money than target me?"

David Geffen smiled and shook his head: "Wu, you should know that the seven majors together form the MPAA. In many things, the seven majors actually communicate with each other. Of course, they won't treat you like an enemy, but if you insist on independent production, they will maintain the necessary tacit understanding until you compromise."

Since Wu Yuchen had always wanted to insist on independent production, David Geffen would first extinguish this hope of his. Only then would Wu Yuchen have the idea of joining a force.

"Mr. Geffen, do you mean that only after I compromise will the seven majors engage in internal competition again and use means to win me over?"

David Geffen nodded and smiled:

"Yes, first force you, then release some small profits to take you under their command. This is their usual method~"

"Thank you very much, Mr. Geffen, for clearing up my confusion. This is very helpful to me~"

Wu Yuchen expressed his sincere gratitude to David Geffen and then asked directly:

"Mr. Geffen, since you have come here, what conditions will DreamWorks offer me?"

In Hollywood, there's no need to beat around the bush like in the country. Just put the interest exchange on the table; foreigners might not guess if you keep playing riddles.

David Geffen was happy upon hearing this. Since Wu Yuchen asked about conditions, it meant he had already started considering their DreamWorks.

"Wu, at DreamWorks, you will enjoy the best treatment and enjoy unlimited freedom. No one will interfere with your creation. You will have final cut authority!"

Final cut authority is a right many directors dream of, but very few people in Hollywood can enjoy it. Currently, those in Hollywood who can get final cut authority from the seven majors don't exceed the number of fingers on one hand.

In David Geffen's view, Wu Yuchen is so young and is in a stage of surging creative desire and passion, so he definitely can't stand being controlled. His wanting to produce independently naturally has reasons for not wanting to be bound. And giving him final cut authority means not interfering with his artistic creation, which is crucial for a director.

And the reason David Geffen dared to generously promise final cut authority to Wu Yuchen was also because it could be seen from the two successive films, *Phone Booth* and *The Sixth Sense*, that Wu Yuchen isn't the kind of director who blindly pursues art. He has a brain, especially this *The Sixth Sense*, which achieved a certain artistic balance while maintaining commercial value. This shows that Wu Yuchen is a director who understands Hollywood very well and also has a sense of proportion, which is why he said Wu Yuchen would be the next Spielberg, because the two are really similar to some extent.

"Secondly, connections. Wu, I think you should also be able to feel that Hollywood is a place that values human relationships very much. At the same time, Hollywood is also a very small circle. Its top level is actually very small, and Spielberg happens to be one of them."

"We all appreciate you very much. If you are willing, Spielberg will introduce you into his circle, including me and Katzenberg. Trust me, this will save you at least ten years of time!"

David Geffen said the second benefit to Wu Yuchen with certainty.

To tell the truth, this is indeed very tempting for most directors, especially for someone like Wu Yuchen. Because he isn't a native American, and at the same time, the power of Chinese in Hollywood is also very weak, which destined that he couldn't have anything like the Italian gang, Australian gang, or Irish gang to rely on in Hollywood.

This is also one of Wu Yuchen's weaknesses that David Geffen saw. If he wants to dig deep in Hollywood and wants to become a big shot, then connections are indeed a very important resource. If he wants to develop in Hollywood for a long time and wants to become a big shot, then joining Spielberg's circle will be a great help to him.

Although the seven majors are powerful, it's the company that is powerful. Any senior executive of the seven majors, in terms of personal connections and energy, wouldn't dare to say they are stronger than Spielberg.

Then David Geffen gave Wu Yuchen a slightly ambiguous smile:

"Wu, actually Hollywood still has many top-tier enjoyments. These services have no way to get started without a guide. But we can provide you with anything you want, as well as content you can't even imagine."

"Not just women, but also men, even if you want something more stimulating, it's not unavailable. Some people specifically built top-tier resorts on private islands. If you want to go, I can take you to experience it. Maybe it will open the door to a new world for you~"

Wu Yuchen's heart tightened upon hearing this, and he immediately thought of David Geffen's background. This guy is one of the most powerful gay men in the United States and one of the leaders of their group. He is very influential and has always been advocating for the right to speak for LGBT.

"Uh, Mr. Geffen, I am a very dedicated person, I only like beauties!" Wu Yuchen had to emphasize slightly, lest the other party have a misunderstanding.

As for the private island, it immediately made him think of Epstein. This guy seems to have bought Little St. James Island last year, and it might have already opened for business now. Could what the other party is talking about be this thing?

Once he thought of this, Wu Yuchen shook his head in his heart. He didn't want to go there. Even if he went to the island and didn't do anything, he would be unable to wash himself clean in the future and would be covered in a foul smell. It is rumored that Leonardo was also summoned by Hillary there, just don't know which year it was.

David Geffen didn't know that this supplementary remark of his instead made Wu Yuchen want to distance himself. He was still self-satisfied. After all, how many men can withstand the temptation of these top-tier enjoyments?

"Mr. Geffen, may I ask if I can invest myself?" Wu Yuchen asked the core question he cared about most—how many shares he could occupy in the film.

To tell the truth, the first two conditions, although very tempting for most directors, didn't include Wu Yuchen.

After filming *The Sixth Sense*, his weight in the hearts of the seven majors would clearly be heavier. Even if they suppressed him, it would be aimed at investment, but he believed he could already strive for final cut authority.

And this second condition, joining Spielberg's circle to expand connections. He isn't an American, his roots are in China. He came to America with the attitude of earning money and gilding himself. As for the "big ocean horses" (foreign women), that's just to loosen his muscles and bones after fatigue and stimulate creative passion.

Therefore, if you say he wants to cultivate his own party in Hollywood and establish a faction, stop joking, he doesn't have the energy to do this!

As long as he keeps filming profitable movies, everyone around him will be a good person, which is already completely enough for him to use. Rooting in Hollywood isn't his wish.

Therefore, the key to this question is what Wu Yuchen asked: you DreamWorks, stop coming with these empty things, say something real.

Listening to Wu Yuchen's words and observing his demeanor at this time, David Geffen thought to himself that the young man in front of him is indeed not simple, being able to withstand the temptation of the two big pictures he painted earlier. But this isn't strange, after all, money is what everyone cares about most.

David Geffen smiled and said: "Wu, I know you are successful in succession now and are very confident in yourself. But you also have to know that any director has times when they fail. Investing in films itself is a high-risk event. I think you don't need to keep using your own money to invest in films..."

Wu Yuchen immediately thought to himself, good heavens, you don't want to let out even a single share? Damn, you aren't even as good as the seven majors!

However, David Geffen then said:

"Of course, we will give you the best conditions."

"After this *The Sixth Sense*, your film salary in Hollywood will rise to 20 million. At the same time, if you are willing to exchange your salary for a share, the seven majors will give you a maximum of 20% of the North American box office share."

"And our DreamWorks will give conditions far superior to the seven majors!"

Wu Yuchen also knew the meat of the matter was coming, listening intently to what conditions the other party would offer.

David Geffen smiled, stretched out two fingers, and said:

"20% full copyright share. Remember, not North American box office share, but full copyright!"

David Geffen naturally knew that DreamWorks was in a weak position compared to the seven majors. If they didn't give out some meat, why would they attract talent like Wu Yuchen to join the factory?

"Wu, I think you have also heard that Spielberg was exposed to have earned 250 million USD with a *Jurassic Park*. Although Spielberg has never responded to the outside world, I can tell you, this is true!"

"And the reason he was able to earn so much is because he took a full copyright share back then! This is a profit far exceeding the North American share! This is also the greatest sincerity our DreamWorks can give you!" David Geffen said passionately.

Wu Yuchen let out a light breath. He naturally knew how terrifying a full copyright share was.

Take his *The Sixth Sense*—this time he only took a 10% North American box office share. Calculated at 350 million, that's 35 million. And *Jurassic Park*'s North American box office back then was 350 million. Calculated at this 20% share, Spielberg only got 70 million.

But its global total box office was 978 million, and there were also massive disc and videotape revenues, as well as very terrifying peripherals. Think about those dinosaur toys, picture books, models, and various peripheral revenues from amusement parks. Therefore, this led to Spielberg earning 250 million USD from one film!

It was also because of this reason that Spielberg pulled David Geffen and Katzenberg together the following year to establish DreamWorks. Wealth moves people's hearts. He had 250 million from a 20% share, and that was after the accounts were cooked. One can imagine how much Universal earned. So much money was created by him, so Spielberg naturally wanted to come out and work alone instead of working for others. It's just a pity that he never filmed a series as explosive and profitable as *Jurassic Park* again.

20% full copyright revenue—this time DreamWorks really spent a lot of money!

At the same time, Wu Yuchen was also considering whether the seven majors would give him this treatment?

He recalled Spielberg's experience. After filming *Jaws*, *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, and *E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial* in succession, Spielberg's weight back then was definitely heavier than his, because *Jaws* and *Raiders of the Lost Ark* could both film sequels. And his three films weren't as easy to film sequels as those two.

And even so, Spielberg later filmed the second and third parts of *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, served as a producer to create the *Back to the Future* trilogy, and only got this treatment 10 years later when filming *Jurassic Park*.

Wu Yuchen, compared to Spielberg when filming *Jurassic Park*, seems to still have a lot of weight missing. From this, it can be seen that DreamWorks coming to invite him this time really brought out some real things!

Since the other party wasn't just painting a big picture but came with sincerity, Wu Yuchen wouldn't fool him, saying sincerely:

"Mr. Geffen, thank you very much for your and Mr. Spielberg's appreciation of me. I also felt the full sincerity of DreamWorks. However, this isn't a small matter, I need to consider it carefully."

"And most of my energy now is still on *The Sixth Sense*. Before everything about *The Sixth Sense* is settled, I temporarily have no way to be distracted. So I'm sorry, I can't give you an answer for the time being."

David Geffen wasn't surprised at all, smiling kindly at Wu Yuchen:

"Of course, Wu, I understand. Anyone who encounters such a big event related to the future must make decisions carefully. We aren't in a hurry. I just showed you our sincerity and truth. You and DreamWorks are a match made in heaven. The door of DreamWorks is always open for you~"

Afterward, the two finished the business, the atmosphere relaxed, and they chatted about quite a few romantic things. David Geffen shared quite a few interesting stories and secrets of Hollywood with Wu Yuchen intentionally or unintentionally, which also made him gain quite a bit of knowledge.

Shaking hands and saying goodbye to David Geffen, watching his back as he left, Wu Yuchen couldn't help but sigh—this guy is truly remarkable!

Artistic freedom, circle connections, plus the real money condition of full copyright—three-pronged approach. To tell the truth, he was already very tempted. If he weren't a reborn person, he would have really wished to agree immediately! ===== CHAPTER 195 =====