Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 553 New Record for Film Salaries

Since 95, the North American film box office market has grown at an accelerated rate, increasing at an annual growth rate of 8.5%–10%.

In 1997, the North American box office market had already exceeded $60 billion, while the videotape market exceeded $80 billion, not to mention the international market, television broadcasting market, and so on.

The booming development of the film industry has attracted more and more capital to enter the market, and MGM and DreamWorks are such products.
The seven major Hollywood film studios have divided up the market and have also set their sights on the independent film industry. There are now almost no purely independent film companies in Hollywood.
They either get acquired by a major film company or they have to leave the stage!
The star independent film companies of that era included Dawn, Carlock, New Line, Orion, Samuel Gowin, and others.

Dawn's rapid rise led to the acquisition of Orion and Samuel Gowin, and ultimately it acquired Universal Pictures. New Line Cinema was acquired by Time Warner, and after Carlock went bankrupt, it was also acquired by MGM.

As Christmas 1998 approached, Aaron also came to Osaka, Japan, and organized a large party at the InterContinental Hotel in Osaka to celebrate Christmas with the employees of Dawn Japan Company!

"The expansion project of Kansai International Airport started last year and will become more and more convenient in the future."

Takeshi Narita, the manager of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, reported to Aaron.

Kansai International Airport is located 5 kilometers offshore in the waters off Quanzhou in the southeast of Osaka Bay. It is an artificial island airport that began operations in 1994.
It was designed to compensate for the shortcomings of Osaka International Airport, while Kansai International Airport has an airport rail link that connects directly to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka!
Aaron asked, "Are there still staff members training and learning at Universal Studios Orlando?"

Narita Takeshi nodded. "Yes, we recruit and send staff to learn in batches!"

Aaron took a sip of his drink. "Universal Studios Japan in Osaka opens next year, and it will be competing head-on with Tokyo Disneyland."

"Tokyo Disneyland has been open for many years and has a steady stream of visitors. Now that Tokyo DisneySea is under construction, the future of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is also under great pressure."

The first phase of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka involved an investment of over 1500 billion yen. Whether there will be a second phase depends on the revenue performance of Universal Studios Japan Resort!
"I understand, Mr. Anderson. We will definitely provide excellent service and hospitality after the Universal Studios Japan Resort in Osaka opens."

"And conduct thorough market research to identify the most attractive profit points for tourists."

Hearing Narita Takeshi's response, Aaron simply nodded casually. "Japan has always been a market that the Dawn Group values. Disney gained an early advantage, so we just need to catch up!"

Hollywood's internationalization strategy is now very clear, and all Hollywood film companies attach great importance to Japan as an important market.

Currently, the Japanese film market is basically dominated by Hollywood. Apart from animated films, which can hold a place, other Japanese films are simply unable to withstand the impact of Hollywood.

In this year's Japanese box office, Titanic topped the list with 160 billion yen, followed by Arrest, 83 billion yen, and Deep Impact with 47 billion yen.

Dawn Universal also had films like Notting Hill, City of Angels, The Man in the Iron Mask, and A Bug's Life that all grossed over 10 billion yen. But what excited Aaron the most was that the animated films adapted from the monster game, Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back and Pokémon: Summer Vacation, were released together and grossed 41.5 billion yen!

……

After leaving Osaka, Aaron went straight to Tokyo and took Norika Fujiwara to Hakone to enjoy the hot springs.

"I never expected the yen to appreciate so sharply?"

With the snowy scenery and hot springs complementing each other, Aaron leaned comfortably against the stone wall, muttering to himself, with Mount Fuji in the distance. The exchange rate of the yen to the dollar is now around 114; back in August, it was 148!

Compared to the impact of the financial crisis, South Korea suffered far more than Japan. This year alone, two Japanese banks went bankrupt and were acquired by foreign capital: the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan and the Japan Bond Credit Bank.

"Onii-san, wasn't this year's Pokémon anime amazing?!"

Norika Fujiwara came to Aaron's side, poured him a glass of wine from the tray, and handed it to him.

"It's not just impressive, it's astonishing!"

Aaron laughed and finished his drink, adding that two more Pokémon animated films based on the monster games would be released next year.
Acquiring Monster Games back then was such a great deal.

"By the way, I heard that Toho is making a new movie called 'Godzilla 2000'?"

Aaron put his arm around Norika Fujiwara and asked.

This year, although Sony's American version of "Godzilla" did not meet expectations in terms of critical reception, the $1.3 million investment yielded a good result of $1.3 million in North America and $3.7 million in global box office.
Moreover, the American version of "Godzilla" also grossed 30 billion yen in Japan.

"Yes, Toho invested 12 billion yen in the production of 'Godzilla 2000,' which is scheduled for release next year."

"This 'Godzilla 2000' is the most expensive Godzilla film ever made by Toho!"

As Fujiwara Norika spoke, she kissed Aaron on the cheek.

Aaron nodded, reached out and touched Norika Fujiwara in his arms, and kissed her passionately on the lips!

Japan has Godzilla, and the United States has King Kong, which is a Universal Monster.

Roland Emmerich rose to fame after directing MGM's "Stargate" and Universal's "Independence Day";

Although Godzilla, a collaboration with Sony, did not receive high praise, it was a commercial success.

This year, Roland Emmerich collaborated with Sony again on a low-budget sci-fi film, The Thirteenth Floor.
It's a US-German co-production; Roland Emmerich served as the film's producer, not the director.

Of course, Aaron wouldn't pay much attention to this kind of work, but another project that Roland Emmerich is currently working on with Sony has received a lot of attention.
"The Patriot," a war film produced and directed by Roland Emmerich, starring Hollywood action star Mel Gibson, had a budget of $1.1 million, and Mel Gibson's $2500 million salary set a new record.

The $2500 million salary is currently the highest single-film salary in Hollywood besides revenue sharing. After all, films like Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible and Schwarzenegger's Two Brothers all rely on revenue sharing!

Mel Gibson received a $2500 million advance payment for starring in "The Patriot".

(End of this chapter)