Sequel movies are like a double-edged sword—they have both advantages and disadvantages. But before the movie hits the screens, no one knows if the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa.
Of course, this kind of gamble is also part of the fun.
After a light tease, Edgar quickly returned to the topic. "So, what do you think? If you're sure about this, I can confirm it with Sony Columbia, and we can sign the deal in New York soon."
Anson smiled. "Captain, to me, it's just a string of numbers. As long as we're not adding or missing a zero, it doesn't make much of a difference. I'll go with your judgment."
"But…"
"You flew all the way from Los Angeles overnight. Kate's situation is tricky, but that can't be all of it, right?"
"So, do you have another suggestion?"
Anson caught onto a keyword: signing in New York.
With a bit of thought, a bold guess formed in his mind.
Edgar thought he was used to Anson's perceptiveness, but he still couldn't help but smile. "Nothing gets past you, does it?"
"Yes, things are basically settled, and a 5% box office bonus is acceptable."
"According to Sony Columbia's expectations, if the North American box office hits $300 million, your total pay will be $15 million. If it hits $400 million, it goes up to $20 million."
"This way, you indirectly receive 'the $20 million club' treatment, without drawing too much attention or jealousy from other film companies."
"No matter how much you earn, other studios will have to keep quiet."
Lately, there's been a tug-of-war in Hollywood over Anson's pay. Nobody expected Anson to take a different route by choosing "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," completely disrupting pay estimates and other studios' plans.
Meanwhile, Sony Columbia, in the spotlight, isn't simple either.
In the midst of all the attention and negotiations, they've managed to strike a delicate balance, satisfying Anson's needs, protecting their own interests, and silencing other eager voices.
You have to admit, Sony Columbia knows what they're doing.
Thinking about it, it's not surprising—
Ten years later, Disney will establish a new empire in Hollywood with Marvel films, and they'll want to buy Spider-Man's rights back from Sony Columbia. However, Sony Columbia will firmly refuse.
If they just refused and went their own way, it would mean they were tough and understood the value of holding onto those rights. Smart, but not wise.
But Sony Columbia goes further.
They actually cooperate with Disney, throwing Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers. At the same time, they develop Spider-Man across films, animation, and TV. The critically acclaimed and commercially successful animated film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" will carve out a path through Disney's dominance.
That's true brilliance.
Looking at it now, Sony Columbia's leadership definitely knows what they're doing.
The downside is that the negotiations are getting tougher.
The upside is that they know when to advance and when to retreat.
If you're not smart enough, Sony Columbia might sell you out without you knowing—like Tobey Maguire in the past. The collaboration on "Spider-Man 3" completely angered Sony Columbia, shattering Tobey's dream of reaching the pinnacle of Hollywood.
But if you're smart enough, you might be able to achieve a win-win situation with Sony Columbia.
That's what Edgar is planning.
It seems like things have been settled; Sony Columbia has played their cards well. However, Edgar believes there's still room for negotiation.
"I came all the way to New York hoping to push a little further. I think Sony Columbia won't refuse."
"I suggest a tiered bonus structure starting from $200 million in North American box office."
"At $200 million, 4%; at $300 million, 6%; at $400 million, 8%."
"After $500 million, regardless of the final number, every additional $100 million should come with a bonus of $1 million. Even if it's just $501 million, the same applies to $600 million, $700 million, and so on."
In simple terms, it's about directly tying Anson's compensation to the box office, making Sony Columbia aware of his market value.
Anson didn't interrupt—
The whole thing is too intricate and bothersome. He knows that Edgar has a reason for doing this; the focus isn't on those few million dollars.
Sure enough, Edgar wasn't done talking.
"We need to prepare for the third installment."
"Though we're just shooting the second film, we all know, including Sony Columbia, that regardless of the sequel's performance, as long as it doesn't flop and only make around $100 million in North America, a third movie is inevitable."
"We're planning, and Sony Columbia is also preparing and being cautious."
"If your pay is too high, leading to escalating production costs, Sony Columbia will face immense pressure, and our collaboration could run into trouble."
"So, my plan is to let Sony Columbia realize your market draw. But instead of demanding guarantees from them, we're willing to share the risk through a box office bonus."
"They'll need to make concessions, and they'll lose quite a bit. However, we help them lower costs and are willing to share the risk together."
"This is a deal. By working together on the second film, we can test each other out. I think it's a good thing."
That makes sense.
Anson raised his chin slightly. He knew Edgar was plotting more, showing no hesitation even when dealing with top-tier film companies like Sony Columbia.
"Honestly, Captain, what's your ultimate goal?" Anson suddenly got curious.
Edgar paused—
Up to now, whether it was about Kate or the pay for "Spider-Man 2," Anson had been lounging on the couch, lazily half-awake.
Now, Anson suddenly sat up, cross-legged, his eyes bright with interest.
Edgar was a bit helpless.
But he still thought about it seriously, "There isn't a precedent for this right now, so I want us to become the industry standard, the model other actors try to emulate."
"Generally speaking, film studios' box office bonuses are around 40%, with about 10% going to the main creative team. But I think there's room for adjustment, possibly up to 15% or even 20%."
"So, my goal is to get as much of that bonus as possible."
"Hey, if an actor has that much influence, even more than the director, producer, and writer, then they deserve such treatment."
Crazy!
In the next twenty years, only Tom Cruise will achieve this, specifically with the "Mission: Impossible" series.
Other actors will try to follow in Tom Cruise's footsteps, like Vin Diesel with "Fast & Furious," but none will succeed.
Edgar is ambitious; and more importantly, he has indeed foreseen the industry's future trends.
However, this also means Anson will have to bear immense pressure and put in countless efforts. Otherwise, no matter how eloquent Edgar is, it would be all for nothing.