Getting the profit share from The Rock* in North Arica as quickly as possible is not easy. According to the contract signed between Duke and Warner Bros., the latter will settle within six months after the film leaves theaters. Compared to the situation with 20th Century Fox, which had to make paynts for *Speed* due to the involvent of Lucasfilm, this tiline may seem long, but it is actually quite normal in Hollywood.
As a director, Duke cannot always rely on Lucasfilm and George Lucas for assistance. Warner Bros. might not necessarily buy into Lucasfilm’s reasoning. Frankly speaking, six months is almost the shortest settlent ti Nancy could negotiate.
In Hollywood, settling the investnt share of a film can be very complicated, often dragging on for years. There’s almost no place to complain except for the courts, and many companies investing in films endure long waits until their firms go bankrupt, often receiving nothing owed to them.
As for directors, if a production company does not want to continue working together, the paynt they should receive can also be delayed for a long ti. Prominent directors like Michael Bay and Peter Jackson have faced such situations.
Fortunately, Duke had cast a line early on, demonstrating that he had the ability to turn that line into a big catch. Warner Bros. is actively pushing forward the preliminary investigation for the *Independence Day* project, and both sides are expected to collaborate in the future, so receiving the North Arican share on ti should not pose significant issues. Warner Bros. might play so tricks overseas, but it would be kept within a range that Duke can tolerate.
Even if Duke hires a professional legal and accounting team to supervise, it cannot fully guarantee the authenticity of the final overseas earnings; it can only keep it within a manageable range.
Compared to overseas, North Arica is subject to much stricter oversight. Shortly after *The Rock* left theaters, Duke’s accountants, Rock Studios, and Warner Bros. all sent over detailed accounts.
The accounts are very clear, even for soone like Duke, who isn’t particularly knowledgeable about finances, to understand.
*The Rock* had a total North Arican box office of $157.52 million. According to the signed distribution agreent, after the theater chain deducted taxes and other fixed expenses, Warner Bros. received a total of $76.5 million from the North Arican box office.
Although Warner Bros. utilized a tax refund for *The Rock*, amounting to $2.8 million, according to the agreent, this amount does not count towards the film’s earnings. However, the $3.5 million in advertising revenue from Humr and Ferrari is included in the earnings.
Thus, the film generated $80 million in revenue. Warner Bros. deducted 10% of the North Arican box office as a distribution fee, and after deducting $15 million for marketing expenses, the remaining amount was $49.25 million.
This also needs to deduct the $870,000 worth of equipnt and props destroyed in the fire, as well as pay remaining salaries to the cast and crew and other industry association expenses, leaving a balance of $45 million.
This ti, there is no company like Lucasfilm that will take a cut of the production earnings. Duke’s Duke Studios, Warner Bros., and AUG Film Investnt Fund and other investors can share according to their respective investnt proportions.
Duke’s Duke Studios accounted for one-fifth of the production costs, aning they could take ho $9 million. Although taxes would still need to be paid, this gave him hope that he could repay his mother’s loan solely through the film’s North Arican earnings.
After *The Rock* left theaters in North Arica, Warner Bros. began negotiating the basic transfer fees and rental sales shares for video tapes with the largest video rental chain, Blockbuster. This represented long-term inco, which did not have much to do with Duke Studios. After four rounds of negotiations, they agreed on a figure of $8.5 million.
Next up is the North Arican television broadcast rights, which is also a revenue source for Duke Studios. The basic transfer fee of $6.5 million is consistent with the film’s box office performance and value.
Warner Bros. can take a cut from both long-term incos, while Duke Studios only signed for short-term revenue sharing, allowing them to receive $3 million from this.
Thus, Duke Studios would be able to collect a total of $12 million in net inco six months later, although $120,000 of that would go to Nancy Josephson and the legal and accounting team, each taking 5% of Duke Studios’ earnings from *The Rock*.
Successful films are not solely the work of one director; they require the collaboration of an entire team. Without an agent, Duke would have to negotiate with various companies himself, making it impossible to focus on filming. The role of a professional legal and accounting team is also indispensable, as capital has no conscience.
This inco is still in the future tense; it would be comndable if Warner Bros. could settle before 1994. As for the overseas revenue share, that would take ti.
After focusing on expected earnings, Duke returned to a more relaxed state, entrusting work and new film projects to Nancy. Over the past two years, he had been on edge; if he continued like this, he might just break.
Even after his mother finished her business in New York and returned to Los Angeles, Duke temporarily moved back to his house in Santa Monica.
"Do you rember the suggestion you made about Victoria’s Secret?"
During dinner, Mrs. Leah suddenly brought up sothing Duke had nearly forgotten. "Santa Fia has already drawn up a detailed promotional plan, and the managent of Victoria’s Secret basically agrees with our plan. If all goes well, the halfti show at next year’s Super Bowl will be a lingerie fashion show."
"If I have the ti," Duke said with great interest, "I could go see it live."
It seems that the most famous angels are still young girls, right?
After chatting with his mother for a bit, Duke learned that the headlining models would be Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. In this era, the most famous nas still belong to the big five supermodels.
"Next month, I plan to go to Israel."
Putting down her knife and fork, Mrs. Leah added, "If you have ti, check on the house here."
"I know, Mom," Duke stood up with her. "Be careful."
In his mind, Israel was a war-torn place where terrorists could erge at any mont as human bombs.
After thinking for a mont, Duke said, "Mom, if work isn’t busy, I’ll go with you."
Knowing Duke’s focus on work and that his new film project was progressing, Mrs. Leah waved her hand casually, obviously not taking his words seriously, and walked straight out of the villa to take a stroll along the beachfront.
Suddenly, his phone rang. Duke picked it up and pressed the answer button; it was Naomi Watts.
"Hi, Duke, long ti no see."
Her voice was faintly soft and sweet, reminding Duke that it had indeed been a long ti since he had seen the Australian actress. He asked, "Yeah, it’s been a while. What have you been up to lately, Naomi?"
"I... I moved!" There was a slight hesitation in her voice before she continued, "I just wanted to call and let you know."
"Oh, where did you move to?" Duke asked appropriately.
"To the outskirts of Beverly Hills." There was so noise on the line, and Duke switched hands. Naomi Watts continued, "I rented a standalone house."
Naomi Watts had managed to establish herself in Hollywood, but being a star is not as easy as it seems. The status one has needs to match the image and residence, especially for female actresses, where image is even more crucial. The costs associated with this can add up to a considerable amount, and many newly famous stars even end up in debt for this.
"Why did you move there?"
If Hollywood is a lting pot, then Beverly Hills, as a gathering place for stars, is its epito.
"Mary’s suggestion, and Nancy helped with the paperwork."
As if fearing Duke wouldn’t understand, she explained, "Mary is Nicole Kidman. She suggested we live closer to each other to look out for one another."
"Look out for one another?" Duke scoffed.
At this point, Naomi Watts’s standing and fa in the industry were far less than those of Nicole Kidman. In a pairing of strong and weak, they could still coexist harmoniously. However, if Naomi Watts were to rise quickly and create competition with Nicole Kidman, their sisterly bond would undoubtedly evaporate like smoke.
In contrast, even if male actors compete, they often don’t end up completely severing ties. Female actresses are different; perhaps it’s in a woman’s nature that if there’s direct or indirect competition, the atmosphere will be one where they would love nothing more than to draw blood.
Of course, this is also related to the shorter shelf life of female actors and the narrower paths they have in Hollywood. Even after twenty years, this industry remains a male-dominated sphere.
Compared to Nicole Kidman, Duke feels more like an outsider. His relationship with Naomi Watts is purely physical, and he wouldn’t be foolish enough to say anything. When she tentatively asked if they could share a late-night snack, he simply agreed.
He left a note for his mother and drove away from Santa Monica, heading straight for the western side of Beverly Hills. Such a relationship, devoid of emotional and responsibility pressures, was the best way for him to relax.
This delicate woman lacks the fierce combativeness of Shania Twain but possesses her own unique charm.
Although Naomi Watts was not a particularly good bed partner, Duke would show up at her apartnt from ti to ti while waiting for news from Nancy, and would occasionally et her friends in the circle, who did not show any strange look on his face. Perhaps in their opinion, Naomi Watts’s ability to get the most important female role in "The Rock" must have sothing to do with director Duke.
On one occasion, Duke also t Nicole Kidman, but the two did not interact very closely and just laughed it off.
Ti slowly passed to August, and when "The Rock" had grossed over 320 million U.S. dollars worldwide, good news ca from Nancy.
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