Chapter 299 Why did I receive a pie? !

In fact, Michael Ovitz asked him to send him the script.

Since last year, Michael Ovitz has thought of many ways to retaliate against Link and suppress Guess the Picture Company.

This includes using scandals to discredit Link, poaching talents from Guess the Movie, suppressing its publicity and distribution, and this "poison pill plan".

The poison pill plan was a clever trick that Michael Ovitz discovered when he was reading the autobiography of Louis Mayer, the founder of MGM Pictures and the "King of Hollywood." The plan is to fabricate a script that looks good but actually has big problems, send it to a rival company through secret channels, and invest in filming, ultimately causing the rival company to lose money.

For example, the "Cleopatra" project was a luxurious commercial blockbuster produced by MGM Studios' rival 20th Century Fox after the successful release of the blockbuster "Ben-Hur". The production cost was 44 million US dollars, but the global box office was only 26 million US dollars, which almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox.

This plan looks simple, but it is extremely difficult to implement. First, you need a script that is suitable for deceiving people. The script must look good and have a high production cost. Second, you must be able to successfully deliver the script to the rival company and ensure that the film project is successfully established and filmed.

To this end, Michael Ovitz found more than a dozen top screenwriters and gold medal producers, and asked them to help review the scripts of commercial blockbusters that were eliminated by the seven major film studios, and find a script project that looks good, has a large investment, and will definitely lose money after being made into a movie.

More than a dozen top screenwriters and producers worked hard for two or three months and finally selected "The Rock" from hundreds of scripts.

The script looked good at first glance, but after being reviewed by many top producers, it was found that the script had many serious flaws, including a plot that was too old-fashioned, thin character images, and too high production costs. There was a 90% chance that the script would lose money if it was filmed.

After consulting with many people, Michael Ovitz decided to use this script to trick Guess What Pictures.

In order to convince Link that the project was worth investing in, Michael Ovitz invited the gold medal producer Donald Simpson to lobby Link.

Donald Simpson had a good personal relationship with Michael and did not refuse.

However, when it came to persuading Link to join the game, they repeatedly studied many methods and finally chose to use "sincerity" to impress Link.

He prepared a lot of lines before coming, and originally wanted to use them to convince Link after he finished reading the script. As a result, after reading the script, Link said it was good and worth investing in.

This also resulted in many lines not being spoken until the contract was signed.

The whole thing went extremely smoothly.

Thinking of Link's performance in this matter, Donald Simpson shook his head, very disappointed. Before meeting Link, he had heard how powerful and amazing Link was, and that even the seven major film studios combined could not defeat him.

After seeing him, I found that Link was just like that.

Ding-a-ling!

The cell phone rang.

Donald Simpson picked it up, looked at it, and laughed, "Mike, what's the matter with the call?"

"Donald, stop pretending and tell me what the result is. Did you sign the contract?" Michael Ovitz asked excitedly.

"all the best!"

"Successful? You signed the contract. That's great, Donald. Tell me everything quickly, not a single word can be left out."

"Haha, don't worry, I'll tell you slowly."

Donald Simpson took a sip of soda and slowly recounted the process of lobbying Link.

In order to show that he had made a great contribution in this matter, he deliberately exaggerated his performance, saying that when he met Link, he used many exquisite remarks to deeply move Link, and made Link admire him very much. When he spoke, Link would listen very carefully, not missing a word, and he was very honored that he came to Guess Pictures to seek cooperation, and hoped that both sides would have more opportunities for cooperation.

"Haha, in the end, Link offered me $2 million to be the producer of this film. Including the $500,000 adaptation fee, the project hasn't even started yet. Guess what, the studio has already spent $2.5 million."

"So this project has been taken over by Guess Pictures and is set to be made into a movie within three years?"

"Yes, according to Link, the filming should begin this year."

"Great, great, Donald, thank you for your hard work. You did a great job. The production cost of this project is $100 million. No matter how it is filmed, it is impossible to make a profit. He will definitely lose money on this project, hahaha~"

Michael Ovitz broke out into laughter on the phone.

Donald Simpson also laughed, "Michael, I think you guys overestimate Link. He is not as smart and capable as the rumors say. In my opinion, the reason why the film industry is not bankrupt is because of Daniel DeVito and Michael Leeson, not Link."

"Donald, don't underestimate Link. He's not easy to deal with, especially in movies. He rarely makes mistakes."

Michael Ovitz said in a measured tone.

“Haha, Michael, you know what I discovered when I first met Link?

I saw half a lip mark on Link's neck, the air was filled with the scent of women's perfume, and half a pair of stockings was stuck in the folder.

This means that before I went in to find him, he was making out with a woman in the office. How can a man who fools around during working hours be a smart and capable manager?

If he was really smart and could not make mistakes, why would he choose such a hopeless script? "

Donald Simpson said disdainfully.

"This guy is playing with women in the office? Hehe, this guy is indeed a lecher. But Donald, don't be too careless. Before the film is invested and approved, you should go to Guess the Film Company more often and ask them to invest as soon as possible.

Only when this project enters the filming stage can Link jump into the pit we dug. Now it is just signing the contract, and we cannot say we have won yet. "

Michael Ovitz exhorted.

"Don't worry, I promise to let Link make the movie according to what I say."

Donald Simpson said, patting his chest.

Michael Ovitz hung up the phone and smiled coldly, 'Link, even if you are a genius, you will fall into the trap I dug for you this time.'

Over the past year or so, he underestimated Link and did not give his all every time he made a move, which led to Link gradually growing up in Hollywood, surpassing him in one fell swoop, and ranking first on Vanity Fair's 1994 Power List.

Link stole the reputation that was rightfully his.

He was filled with remorse.

I really regret not using my full strength when I first dealt with Link, and destroying him when he was weak.

So much so that Link is given too much time and resources to have the opportunity to grow.

Now that he knows how powerful Link is, he will no longer underestimate him.

This time he will use a multi-pronged approach to severely suppress Link and regain the honor of being the number one person on the Hollywood power list.

(End of this chapter)