Chapter 192: Selling Copyright

From the premiere until the official release of *Hero* on August 27th, Harvey spent these ten-plus days exhausting all his connections. In modern terms, he was buying trending searches everywhere.

*The Washington Post*, *Los Angeles Times*, *The New York Times*, *International Herald Tribune*, and many other newspapers were all reporting on this film.

There were also numerous film critics.

Some critics even remarked that American Hollywood directors were setting their sights on the lucrative overseas market, producing films like *Troy*.

The film's scale was getting larger, the dialogue was getting dumber, and there was less and less American culture.

While Hollywood directors were making films for the world, who was making films for America? Perhaps it was a director like Zhang Yimou...

Hearing this, it always felt a bit awkward. This was likely Harvey's way of promoting, though it was unclear what Zhang Yimou thought after hearing it.

Zhang Yimou was still quite unyielding when making art-house films and possessed the demeanor of an artist, but after switching to commercial films, he changed very quickly. Could it be the pressure of the box office?

August 27th was a Friday. Miramax arranged for a release in over a thousand theaters; Harvey was cautiously testing the market.

However, the box office for that day was 7.2 million USD, ranking first on the North American daily box office chart.

This result stunned not only Harvey but also the American newspapers and film critics.

Harvey was the first to react, increasing the number of screening theaters to 2,031 in one go, hoping to create a box office miracle.

In the first three-day weekend, *Hero* achieved 18.4 million USD, surpassing the second-place *Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid* at 13.2 million USD, and topped the weekend box office chart.

In the second week, *Hero* took another 9.5 million USD, remaining at the top of the box office chart during this North American off-season.

Harvey's hanging heart finally settled.

Hollywood has its own calculation formula, using the first three-day weekend box office as a benchmark to look at the drop in the second weekend's three-day box office, in order to estimate the film's total box office performance.

Although this formula is not 100% accurate, it is close enough, and most films follow this pattern.

Based on the drop of *Hero*, Harvey roughly estimated that the film's box office should be between 53 million and 55 million USD.

This was the North American box office. He had spent a little over 20 million USD; besides North America, he also held the copyright for this film in many European countries.

Just from the box office, he could make a small profit.

Added to the subsequent disc and peripheral income, he would be grinning from ear to ear.

Harvey hadn't expected that he had originally quoted a high price, wanting to trap the other party, but because the parent company, Disney, gritted its teeth and swallowed the bitter pill.

Who knew the situation would turn around? This film was actually so strong; despite the high cost, he could still make a significant profit!

Then, he thought of the other Chinese-language film in Cao Yang's hands, also a large-scale period piece. As for the cast, it had a Berlin Film Festival Best Actress and a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress; it wasn't bad at all.

When the film finished post-production, China Film Group had invited many potential overseas distributors to hold a screening.

Harvey had gone at that time, and after watching the film, he had tentatively quoted Cao Yang 6 million USD, wanting to buy out the North American copyright.

Treating Cao Yang, everyone knew the score; he definitely couldn't use the old methods to fool him.

So the price, naturally, wouldn't be too high.

At the time, he thought that Chinese-language films with better box office in North America, such as Cheng Long's films, mostly had box office returns of over 10 million.

Quoting Cao Yang 6 million was considered reasonable.

At that time, he had already equated Cao Yang's appeal and influence to Cheng Long's.

However, Cao Yang didn't pay him any mind at all; the Japanese side had even quoted 4.5 million USD back then.

Harvey, for the sake of prudence, extinguished his thoughts.

Now, he definitely couldn't look at it with old eyes.

*Hero* should be able to have a box office of over 50 million; with Cao Yang's fame and influence, could it be worse than *Hero*?

Thus, Harvey Weinstein came to find Cao Yang again.

"I came this time, firstly to thank you for your strong support of *Hero* last time by attending the premiere, and secondly to ask if the Chinese period film you have in your hands could sell its North American copyright to Miramax?"

Harvey Weinstein said directly: "Cao, we are friends, very good friends. Miramax has always been committed to promoting Chinese-language films. I think you are very clear about this, so Miramax is your best partner."

Cao Yang couldn't help but glance at Harvey; this guy's skin was truly thick, definitely on par with Zhang Weiping.

You, damn it, are committed to promoting Chinese-language films? Fine, if trapping the copyright of a Chinese-language film and then vigorously promoting it abroad to make money counts as promotion, then Cao Yang really had nothing to say.

"Still 6 million?" Cao Yang asked with a smile.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! What are you saying?"

Harvey said with a righteous face: "Last time was just a joke; how could you take it seriously?"

Subsequently, he cautiously probed: "15 million USD, for the global copyright excluding the Greater China region, how about it?"

Why don't you go rob someone? You really dare to open your mouth like a lion.

My film invested 75 million.

Uh, 15 million USD, according to the current exchange rate, is about 8.27, which converts to 124 million.

However, accounts aren't calculated this way. *Hero* exploded at the box office and is very influential; now *Painted Skin* is not lacking buyers.

Columbia's executive director, Tang Mu Luo Si, even asked yesterday.

!

Fox Searchlight also called to probe his stance.

It seems that Hollywood film companies are very enthusiastic about projects that can make money.

"Harvey, let's talk about friendship between us. I feel that our friendship shouldn't be mixed with material things. For example, you'd better not mention buying the film's copyright again."

Cao Yang couldn't help but think, is this way of refusing very American?

"No, no, no, it is precisely because of our pure friendship that I should help a friend even more."

Harvey held up two fingers, "20 million, I only want the European and American copyright. This is enough to show my sincerity."

You, damn it, are truly shameless. Buying my film's copyright, yet talking like it's poverty alleviation.

"Harvey, you spent 21 million USD to buy the copyright for *Hero*. Is my influence in North America not as good as Director Zhang Yimou's?"

Cao Yang shook his head and refused: "I don't see your sincerity, so let's talk about friendship."

"That was the publicly announced 21 million; actually, it was 20.38 million USD..."

Harvey said this himself, his voice lowering. What is the substantial difference between 20.38 million and 21 million?

After a moment of silence, Harvey Weinstein wore a bitter face, spread his hands, and began to play the victim.

"Cao, you know, I worried about that film for more than a year. Its box office might just be a coincidence; there hasn't been a Chinese-language film that could achieve a box office of over 50 million..."

"*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*."

"No, no, no, that's different. That was the result of Sony Classics' full-force operation, and the result of ten Oscar nominations."

Harvey looked at Cao Yang with seemingly sincere eyes and said: "Fine, Cao, I will bear the risk. I only want the European and American copyright, 21 million USD, how about it? I am doing this for the sake of our friendship."

"Harvey, actually, it's meaningless for us to haggle like this. For the sake of our friendship, I will give you the lowest price. If you think it's okay, then it's okay; if not, then forget it, and there's no need to talk about this matter again.

25 million USD, European and American copyright, full payment settled within ten days from the date of signing."

"This is impossible!"

Harvey jumped up directly, "There is no such way of doing business; settling within ten days is simply impossible."

Cao Yang just looked at him without speaking.

Harvey subsequently fell silent, and finally gritted his teeth and made a decision.

"24 million USD, this is my bottom line. Cao, I have to bear a very large risk. You know the film market is very strange; no one knows if the next one will succeed."

Harvey still hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed, "As for what you said about settling within ten days, I can agree to that."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 193 =====