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After Simon came up with the "Basic Instinct" script, Jonathan and Amy have been busy with this project for the past week.

原版的《本能》在1992年以4900万美元制作成本斩获了全球超过3亿5000万美元的高票房。这部电影之所以能够大获成功，主要依靠影片题材所引起的强烈争议和近乎NC 17级的超大尺度，莎朗·斯通那个翘腿露底的镜头直到很多年后依旧让很多观众记忆深刻。

Even, the box office hit of "Basic Instinct" led the whole 90s trend of shooting thriller pornographic films with femme fatales as gimmicks.

The original director of "Basic Instinct" is the Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, who has directed films such as "Total Recall" and "Starship Troopers".However, Simon passed the story directly to Brian De Palma after completing the script outline.

Compared to Paul Verhoeven, Brian De Palma, who prefers the subject of voyeurism, is obviously more suitable for directing this film.

Although Simon made it clear during the communication with Brian De Palma that this movie is like "Butterfly Effect", the future media reputation will still not be very good, and it may cause great controversy. Brian De Palma Erma quickly nodded in agreement.

The next actor, Simon is still inclined to Michael Douglas.

Michael Douglas also happened to be a client of WMA. The unexpected success of "Fatal Attraction" made the career of this middle-aged male star from a film family even better. After several contacts, the other party quickly agreed to participate.

After the two main creators were settled, Jonathan and Amy officially started negotiations with Fox Films.Now that enough capital has been accumulated and the business prospects of "Instinct" are very secure, Simon decided to participate in the investment decisively this time.

Simon initially hoped to have the film fully funded by Daenerys Films, and then distributed by Fox, while closing the contract of the original three scripts.

However, after the success of the three films "Run Lola Run", "Butterfly Effect" and "Death Comes", although the story that Simon came up with is still deviated from the mainstream, there are three characters from Simon, De Palma and Douglas. With the participation of big names in the box office, Fox is naturally unwilling to let go.

After a week of negotiations, Fox and Daenerys Films formally negotiated a production plan.

After "The Butterfly Effect" and "Fatal Attraction", the quotations of Brian De Palma and Michael Douglas both rose to 600 million US dollars, and Simon's script was still priced at a symbolic price of 1 US dollar. The budget of the film was initially determined as $2000 million.

With a production budget of 2000 million US dollars, Fox Films and Daenerys Films will each bear 1000 million US dollars. Daenerys Films will be solely responsible for the production of the film. Fox will ensure the release and directly determine the schedule on July 7 next year. The number of guaranteed screens has increased to 15.

benefit distribution.

After several rounds of see-saw, it was finally determined that all channel revenue of the film would be settled according to the investment ratio of [-]-[-].To put it simply, the publicity budget invested by Fox will no longer be used as a film investment cost to participate in the distribution of benefits, which also allows Daenerys Films to avoid the most watery area in the "Hollywood Accounts".

The cost of publicity and distribution of Hollywood movies usually reaches about half of the production cost.

"Basic Instinct" has a production budget of $2000 million, and a theoretical publicity budget of $1000 million.The [-]-[-] split with Daenerys Films according to the investment ratio seems to be a big loss for Fox Films, but it is not.

Daenerys Pictures did not invest a single penny in the "Death Comes" project, and it is estimated that the proceeds will reach 1000 million US dollars.

This time, if he does not participate in the investment, Simon can at least get a sharing clause comparable to that of "Reaper" on the "Basic Instinct" project.Now, Daenerys Films has given up this part of the extra income. At the same time, Fox Films has also given up the due income of the announcement budget, and the investment of both parties is still equal.

Moreover, the contract between the two parties has detailed a series of clauses that stipulate how long the TV trailer needs to be played, which can also ensure that Fox invests enough publicity resources.

Fox Studios.

It's Tuesday, November 11th.

Ronald Goldberg, Amy Pascal, Jonathan Friedman and other executives from Fox, Daenerys and WMA in a conference room in the studio's executive building, Several investment and actor participation contracts related to the "Basic Instinct" project were formally signed by a group of stars and agents.

However, Simon was not present today.

After the official press conference, at the next dinner arranged by Fox Films, Ronald Goldberg found Amy Pascal and asked about Simon's recent past, even though he had received an explanation call from Simon in advance. trend.

Since the middle of last month, many people around Simon have noticed that he is obviously absent-minded during this time. Norman Broca, the president of Orion Films, can't help but complain about the slow progress of "Pulp Fiction". For many months, the rough cut of the film has not been completed.

Amy Pascal heard Ronald Goldberg's inquiry, recalling Simon's erratic recent period, she could only shake her head in her heart, but on the surface she still wanted to speak for her boss, saying: "Ron De, you know, Simon has been busy for a whole year since last year, and it should be okay to relax a little now."

Ronald Goldberg didn't believe Amy's excuse, he hesitated for a while holding the red wine in his pocket, lowered his voice slightly, and said, "Amy, tell me the truth, did Simon get him out of here?" Put the money you made in Run Lola Run into the stock market and lose it?"

Amy immediately thought of Simon not coming to the company for a week after the North American stock market crashed last month.

During this period, although the North American stock market has stabilized, the Dow Jones Index is still hovering around 2000 points, far below the highest point of 2700 points in August.Simon has earned more than 1 million US dollars with "Run Lola Run" in the past six months. When the stock market was still booming, it is hard to guarantee that he will not want to make another fortune.

"Well, Ronald, I'm really not sure." Although she had already guessed, Amy shook her head again, thought for a while and added: "However, Ronald, you can rest assured that in any case, this It will not affect Daenerys Films' investment in Instinct."

Ronald Goldberg continued to ask a few more questions, but failed to find out anything from Amy, so he had to turn and leave.

Amy Pascal watched Ronald Goldberg go away with a frown.I couldn't help but think of Simon discussing with himself the investment in "Basic Instinct" some time ago.

Although I don't think it is a good choice to invest my own money in movies, Amy originally thought that Simon would use the money he earned from "Run Lola Run" to participate in this investment.Simon's decision deviated from Amy's prediction. He hoped that Amy would take the contract of "Death Comes" to the bank as a mortgage, and use the loan to invest in "Instinct".

A large part of the production funds of Hollywood movies comes from bank loans.

Daenerys Pictures did not have enough background to obtain production funds from banks during the financing process of "When Harry Met Sally".Now, Simon has successfully made three films in a row, and "Instinct" is a script written by Simon himself. It is not too difficult to obtain a loan from the bank.

However, in connection with this matter, and after the end of October, Simon suddenly rushed to New York yesterday morning without any explanation, and even missed today's signing ceremony.After connecting these series of clues a little bit, it is obvious that my little boss and his girlfriend must have lost a lot of money in the stock market crash.

More than 1 million US dollars, I don't know how much I lost.

Thinking about the tragedy of the stock market crash on October 10th, Amy couldn't help shaking her head, after all, she was still young.

just.

I don't know if the little boss will encounter such Waterloo in the next movie.

You know, the proceeds of "Death is Coming" should still have 5% of her income.For "Basic Instinct", or most of Hollywood's films that use loans to produce, usually the film's pre-sale contract should be used to apply for a loan from the bank, but Fox and Simon do not agree with the pre-sale, and film production funds must be needed. Mortgage, Daenerys Pictures can only use the income contract of "Death Comes" as a bargaining chip.

If "Basic Instinct" fails.

If "When Harry Met Sally" also failed.

Even, if Pulp Fiction flops.

Then I will have to work in vain for more than a year, and I may have to find a job again.

These thoughts flashed through Amy Pascal's mind, and the more she thought about it, the more worried she became. After the dinner, just after returning to her residence in Palisades, Amy couldn't help picking up the phone, thinking that it was already early morning on the east coast , That's why I didn't call rashly.

Drunk last night, slept with worry, and made a pathetic nightmare of myself begging Ronald Goldberg to return to Fox after Daenerys Pictures went bust, when the phone call Woke up by the bell, Amy Pascal looked at her watch, it was just past four o'clock in the morning.

Oh my goodness.

Four o'clock, what's the rush now?

Are aliens attacking Earth?

Everyone is going to flee?

After complaining like this, Amy still touched the microphone.

The call came from Jonathan Friedman, and the agent didn't talk nonsense, and asked Amy to receive the fax.

After a while.

Pulling out a page clipping from the fax machine, Amy Pascal just glanced at it, and immediately opened her eyes wide, completely sweeping away the sleepiness just now.

"Simon Westeros Miracles Again, Hollywood Kid Makes $16 Billion"

This.

Must be a joke, right?

It might as well be that the aliens have arrived in Los Angeles, and I can drive to Mexico to hide, and I want to take a break recently.

The fax machine didn't stop after receiving a page clipping, and then several more clippings were sent.

"7500 million to 16 billion US dollars, the youngest billionaire born"

"Westeros is being questioned by the CFTC over possible insider trading"

Quantum Fund Sues Lehman Brothers, Involving Simon Westeros

Simon Westeros hits tech stocks with $11 billion

"..."

After reading several newspaper clippings in a row, Amy Pascal finally confirmed that although it looked unreal no matter how you looked at it, it was definitely not a joke.

My own little boss has somehow become a billionaire.

wrong.

$ 16 billion.

God, how did he do it.

At the same time that Amy received the fax from Jonathan Friedman, the sky had not yet dawned in Los Angeles, and countless people's telephones and faxes began to operate crazily. Got and repeatedly confirmed some explosive news.

In just a few months, Simon Westero made a crazy profit of more than 16 billion US dollars through the operation of the stock index futures market.

Although many people also subconsciously think about taxes, anyway, suddenly, a certain little guy who has just emerged in this circle has become one of the richest people in Hollywood, with a personal net worth even exceeding Most of the people behind the seven scenes control people's wealth.

How on earth did he do it?

what's going on?

Is this a big joke being played on Hollywood by the 'unscrupulous media' on the east coast?

but.

The "New York Times", "Wall Street Journal", "Washington Post" and other newspapers obviously would not rashly make such a bad joke, and today is not April Fool's Day.

However, the news came out almost on the same day, and many people still smelled something different.

Something big is bound to happen next.

After confirming the news, Amy Pascal, Jonathan Friedman, George Norman and others related to Simon all flew to New York.Either way, it's exciting when your employer or client suddenly becomes a billionaire.

East Coast.

In the presidential suite of the Plaza Hotel, Simon stood on the terrace and looked at the road in front of the hotel. He also felt his scalp tingling when he saw the dense crowd of 200 reporters.

Last week, Simon suddenly received a notice from the Federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission, asking him to submit all the transaction records of Westeros on the S&P 500 index futures and even stocks during this period. Simon knew that trouble was coming.

However, according to the request of the other party, Simon unreservedly passed a series of documents to Washington, and there was nothing illegal about his operation after all.

However, today's incident once again made Simon realize that this incident may have just begun, and in the eyes of many people, he may have become a fat sheep.It's just that Simon didn't expect that when things really broke out, they would appear so aggressive.

Chapter 125 Eavesdropping

Janet came to the terrace, hugged Simon's arm and looked downstairs, she just curled her lips and said, "The parents of your ponytail assistant are here."

Listening to the woman's sour tone, Simon smiled and patted her on the waist, then turned and entered the living room of the suite.

There were two men and two women standing in the entrance. Simon recognized at a glance that the older middle-aged couple should be Jennifer's parents, James Raybould and Carol Raybould. The couple are well-known financial lawyers in Manhattan. The Raybould firm they founded provides legal support for corporate financing, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and other operations.

Jonathan Friedman, Pat Kingsley, George Norman and others are still on their way to New York.The news came back to Los Angeles in the morning, and George Norman strongly recommended the Rayboulds on the phone to help Simon deal with the current situation.

Everyone introduced each other, and Simon also looked at the Leiboud couple.

Both of them looked very young in their 40s.James Raybould was taller than Simon, wearing a neat black suit, with some stubble on his face, and meticulously groomed hair.Carol Raybould was wearing a white women's suit, and her eyebrows and eyes looked very similar to Jennifer's. The bun made her look a bit more intellectual than a mature woman.

The Rayboulds were also looking at the young man who 'abducted' their daughter while they were talking. Carol Raybould gave the woman a few more meaningful glances when shaking hands with Janet.

After exchanging simple greetings, James Raybould rejected Simon's invitation to sit down. He glanced around the presidential suite, then gestured to the door, and said, "Simon, let's go out and chat."

Simon was a little confused, so he followed James Raybould to the corridor outside the suite.

When he came outside the corridor, James Raybould was not polite, and directly ordered the couple's assistants and the bodyguards of Simon and Janet to guard the two sides of the corridor, and just led Simon to stand still in the middle of the corridor.

Both Jennifer and Carol took the initiative to stay at the door of the suite and did not come.

Glancing around again, James Raybould looked at the young man in front of him, and said in a serious tone: "Simon, first of all, I must confirm one thing, and you don't have to answer it directly. However, if the answer is no, this matter Maybe Carol and I don't need to participate. Then, is the money exposed in the media belonged to you and Miss Johnston? Or, are you just an agent?"

Simon understood that many people should be holding such doubts, and said without hesitation: "Jim, you must have read the newspapers. The current money is a step-by-step process of using 5 million U.S. dollars in the previous five and a half months. It’s reversed. The $7500 million principal came from the proceeds Jenny and I sold the publishing rights to Run Lola Run. So, yes, the money is entirely mine and Jenny’s.”

As a professional financial lawyer, James Raybould has figured out how Simon doubled his principal of US$7500 million to US$16 billion in recent months just from the information exposed in the media.It's just that he also felt that this matter seemed a bit too incredible, so he asked this question.

Hearing Simon's personal confirmation, James Raybould stopped talking and continued: "Simon, in my opinion, there are two possibilities for the current situation. First, someone has transferred your account transactions in recent months The record was sold to several major newspapers. However, you should also understand that the probability of this is very low."

Simon nodded in approval. If someone just broke the news to the media, it would be impossible for him to appear in the most influential newspapers on the East Coast on the same day: "Jim, what about the second possibility?"

"Actually, I probably already guessed who is manipulating this matter," James Raybould said with a smile on his face, "Simon, do you know Rudy Giuliani?"

Simon thought for a while, and the title 'Mayor of the United States' flashed in his mind.

In my memory, Rudy Giuliani once served as the mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, and won the title of "Mayor of the United States" by virtue of his command in the 911/[-] incident, and later ran for president. A standard political star.

Further on.

Combining the news obtained from the newspaper media after rebirth, Simon quickly spelled out a series of materials. Rudy Giuliani is now serving as the prosecutor of the Southern District Court of New York. Since he took office in 1983, the other side has begun to take tough measures Fight financial and gangster crime in New York.

Nodding slightly, Simon said with some doubts: "Jim, you think Giuliani did this."

"Since taking office, Giuliani has liked to put pressure on the parties by disclosing the news to the media in advance, which can not only accumulate reputation for himself in the process of handling the case, but also force the target person to voluntarily submit under the pressure of public opinion. Moreover, this prosecutor’s methods are definitely more than these, wiretapping, anonymous letters, threatening phone calls, as long as he can achieve his own goals, he has used them all.” James Raybould said, glanced at the door of Simon’s suite, Said: "Another point is that the headquarters of the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission are in Washington, but you are being questioned in New York. Most of the investigations and trials of financial cases are conducted here. So, Simon, I hope you haven't said anything you shouldn't have said in the room in recent days."

Simon followed James Raybould's gaze to the door of the presidential suite, and said, "Jim, this is the Plaza Hotel. And, are you sure you were talking about the Federal Court, not the Mafia?"

"I very much hope that I am wrong in my judgment, but what I just said is my personal experience. You have to believe that an ambitious politician is definitely not comparable to the Mafia," James Raybould gestured to his assistant, Taking a Motorola mobile phone from the other party, he said, "Simon, I have been in touch with some security companies. Do you need them to send an anti-tapping team to check? I believe you should not care about this bill now."

Simon was suspicious, but still nodded.

Half an hour later, looking at the bugs collected from the landline of the suite, the sofa, the mattress, and even the soles of his own shoes, Simon forcibly suppressed it for a long time, but he still couldn't suppress the strong anger that his personal privacy was violated. He picked up a vase in the suite and slammed it on the wall, turned around and walked outside.

Paul Aikman, the room manager of the Plaza Hotel, who was still expressing strong dissatisfaction with Simon's invitation to the anti-tapping team to inspect the suite, woke up from his stupor after everyone had left.The somewhat bald middle-aged man tremblingly took out his handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat off his face, hurriedly chased out of the suite, followed Simon into the elevator, and said in a hurry: "Mr. Westeros, this must be a misunderstanding, you Rest assured, we will definitely find out who is behind these pranks."