"What do you think I'm worried about?" President Smith said.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're worried that insufficient promotional funding will affect theater scheduling and screen allocations, right?" Lin Yuan said.
A film's release mainly involved three parties: the production company, the distributor, and the theaters.
The distributor was responsible for promotional costs and the overall marketing campaign. Universal Pictures generally handled both production and distribution.
To secure prime release dates and higher screen allocations from theaters, distributors needed all kinds of leverage to make their case: major stars, huge promotional budgets, and even guaranteed box office commitments with a gambling element.
All of it was meant to boost the theaters' confidence.
By agreeing to Director Sommers's demand, Lin Yuan had given up nearly forty million dollars in promotional funding at once.
That left both The Fast and the Furious and Jurassic Park 3 facing a shortage of promotional funds.
Under those circumstances, theaters might even refuse to give them screens during prime release windows.
No wonder President Smith had tried to stop it.
"So which movie are you planning to sacrifice? Haha, Director Johnston, did you know your box office would flop, so you deliberately cut the promotional budget to dump the blame later?" Director Sommers mocked.
Director Sommers sneered, ready to watch the show. With insufficient promotional funding, the two films would have no choice but to fight each other for resources.
Otherwise, there was no way theaters would schedule them during a prime season like the summer window.
"It's fine, President Smith. We can promote the two films jointly. I'll come up with a basic plan," Lin Yuan offered as his solution.
"Joint promotion? It's not impossible, but it still carries risks." President Smith remained cautious and refused.
"How about this? If my plan can't satisfy the theaters, we'll increase the promotional investment until we meet their requirements," Lin Yuan said confidently.
"Increase the investment if you can't satisfy the theaters?" President Smith suddenly remembered that Lin Yuan was Mr. Eisen's representative.
Though Mr. Eisen had not directly invested in films in recent years, he still wielded enormous influence in the film industry.
But theaters were businesses, after all. They were unlikely to make an exception just for Mr. Eisen, were they?
Still, since Lin Yuan had offered a guaranteed solution, he had no reason to refuse.
President Smith said, "All right. Then I'll wait for the results of your negotiations with the theaters."
"President Smith, please believe that my joint promotion plan will surprise you."
"Kid, I look forward to seeing your miracle."
In truth, President Smith still did not think highly of joint promotion. Promoting them together would save money, but the results would generally be weaker.
Unless the two films could create some kind of chemistry and achieve an effect where one plus one was greater than two.
What was there between The Fast and the Furious and Jurassic Park 3 that could elevate each other?
"Now that the promotional budget is settled, let's confirm the release dates." President Smith continued, "There are two slots: May 4 and June 22. How do you want to divide them?"
"Director Sommers is the star of the show. He should make his dazzling entrance first. We'll follow behind and benefit from the momentum. Leave June 22 to us," Lin Yuan replied.
"No problem."
"I agree."
Both directors agreed without hesitation.
In the North American film market, the summer season from May to September and the Christmas season were the hottest release windows each year, together accounting for more than seventy percent of annual box office revenue.
During these two highly coveted periods, competition among major film companies was exceptionally fierce.
In theory, May 4 was definitely a better date than June 22, so Director Sommers raised no objection.
"I have no problem with the release date, but I have another suggestion," Director Sommers said.
"Go ahead." President Smith's brow furrowed slightly.
"These three films were all made with the company's heavy investment. If they lose money, someone has to take responsibility, right? Otherwise, anyone can throw together some random joint promotion scheme in the future."
Director Sommers's target was obvious. Even after taking the largest share of the promotional resources, he still refused to let it go.
"What are you trying to do?" Director Cohen flew into a rage, rising from his chair. His gleaming bald head reddened with anger.
"Director, it's fine." Lin Yuan pulled him back down and soothed him.
"You're right. Adults should pay for their mistakes." Lin Yuan smiled at Director Sommers, but his eyes were ice-cold.
"Whichever film loses money, its director gets out of Hollywood and is never allowed back!" Director Sommers was surprised that Lin Yuan actually dared to take him on.
He immediately revealed his true intentions and played his trump card. He had been sick of Lin Yuan's group for a long time.
In Director Sommers's eyes, Hollywood should belong to white people.
Director Cohen, with his mixed-race heritage, and Director Johnston, who had actually cast an Asian man as the lead, were both cancers on Hollywood.
They had to be cleansed and purged.
Today was a very good opportunity, as long as they dared to accept the challenge.
Faced with Director Sommers's aggressive pressure, Lin Yuan instead fell silent.
He could gamble his own safety on the success or failure of an action scene, but he could not risk the two directors' careers.
Even if he believed he would definitely win, he had no right to gamble with someone else's future.
"Lin Yuan, we believe in you," Director Cohen said.
"Bet with him. What are we afraid of? At worst, we retire early!" Director Johnston said as well.
They had long been fed up with Director Sommers, their stomachs full of pent-up anger.
Even if it were not for Lin Yuan, they still wanted to teach him a brutal lesson.
As for what if they really lost?
The two directors did not care. They were both over fifty anyway. If they lost money on two more big-budget productions, they probably would not have many opportunities left in the future. They might as well retire.
So in truth, it was a risk-free gamble.
"Fine! Whichever film loses money, its director gets out of Hollywood." With their support, Lin Yuan finally answered officially.
"I'll add one more condition. Even if a film doesn't lose money, the side with the lower profit must still get out!" Afraid that his goal would not be achieved, Director Sommers added another clause.
That was hardly fair. The Mummy Returns was a big-budget production and had taken the largest share of the promotional funds, yet he wanted to compare profits?
He was absolutely shameless!
President Smith's expression turned ugly when he heard Director Sommers's words.
Though he had always been close friends with Director Sommers, his performance today was truly appalling.
It also made President Smith reconsider the man, and whether their friendship should continue.
Strictly speaking, President Smith also held white supremacist views.
But he put profit first. As long as the benefits were great enough, he could work with anyone rather than completely excluding and rejecting them.
He would not, like Director Sommers, engage in a gamble that harmed others without benefiting himself.
Lin Yuan smiled and nodded. "Then it's settled. Cherish every day you have left in Hollywood."
Before you continue