I'm in Hollywood

CHAPTER 23 - GENIUS, MADMAN

CHAPTER 23 – GENIUS, MADMAN
Posted on February 12, 2017 by Elawn

Sitting next to Jeffrey Hanson, Eric felt that there was no room for bargaining, he still said: "I'm sorry, Mr. Cohen, I don't intend to sell Home Alone, but we can still talk about a sharing agreement, right ?"

Blount Cohen frowned as he unhappily said: "Eric, if we're going to share, I can only give you 18%."

"Mr. Cohen, didn't you just say you'd give us 20% ?" Jeffrey retorted.

Blount Cohen lightly said: "That was just under average circumstances, if we are to release Home Alone, then the cost of the release will certainly be much higher than the cost of production, so 18% is very reasonable."

Jeffrey was about to argue, but Eric stopped him from acting on impulse and said: "Well, Mr. Cohen, I have another idea, how about signing a contract based on a bet ?"

Although gambling agreements were widespread in the industry, Blount Cohen laugh loudly in his heart, what made this brat think that he was qualified to gamble with Columbia ? However, he feigned interest and gestured to Eric to keep going, he'd like to hear what this kid had on his mind.

Eric acted as if he hadn't seen Blount's face full of ridicule, he smiled and said: "Columbia will use 5 million dollars, at the least, to promote the movie. If Home Alone makes less than 50 million $ at the box office, I will give up the entirety of the rights to you for free."

After these words, if Blount Cohen said he wasn't moved, he would be lying. The company had already estimated that Home Alone would make about 50 million at the box office, so if he signed an agreement on gambling, as long as the time was right, even controlling the box office so that it didn't grow over 50 million was a very simple matter. Blount Cohen felt Eric was stupid, but he also admired the young man for his courage.

Jeffrey Hanson abruptly got up, and shouted in disbelief: "Eric are you crazy ?!"

Eric patted Jeffrey on the shoulder and motioned him to sit down, before saying: "If the box office is between 50 million to 100 million $, I want twenty percent of the share. If the box office is over 100 million dollars, then for every additional 10 million dollars, I want my share ratio to be increased by 1%."

Eric finished, and calmly started to drink his coffee, no longer saying anything. Jeffrey Hanson was fidgeting, he kept sweeping his gaze between the two people, he was a bit worried Blount Cohen would agree to Eric's ridiculous agreement, if he did, they would lose the 10 million $ buyout fee. 10 million dollars, ah, how many people had ever seen so much money ?

Unfortunately, Blount Cohen's courage was really lacking, he hesitated for a full five minutes, before finally saying: "Eric, this is something I need to discuss in a meeting, can I give you my answer tomorrow ?"

Eric nodded, directly got up and left.

In the parking lot, Jeffrey didn't get in his car, but sat in Eric's passenger's seat instead.

"Eric, you're too impulsive. That was 10 million $ you know ? Looking at all these years, although comedy can generally get good box office, there are always exceptions. Tomorrow let's just directly take their buyout offer, you may be able to fight again for the price, what do you say ? Listen to me, you'll probably get this kind of lifetime opportunity only once or twice, if you miss on it, it will never happen again, with 10 million $, you can continue to shoot movies, you can do a lot of things."