Chapter 4: Saint Denis Film Festival
Park City, Utah, is a famous ski resort where you can enjoy skiing while attending the film festival!
Unfortunately, Aaron Anderson has no money and is not in the mood to enjoy skiing and hot springs.
On the cold streets of Park City, Aaron tightened his scarf and coat, exhaled a breath of white hot air, and kept looking for memorable movies on the posters at the entrances of various theaters!
"Let's go, Bob, let's go back to the hotel to rest for a while and come out later."
"Harvey, did you call a woman in the hotel again?"
"Ah, hahaha, how can you come here without a woman!"
Two fat men came over and passed by Aaron...
For three consecutive days, Aaron almost walked through all the theaters and open-air screenings in Park City, but still did not find any memorable works!
At noon that day, Aaron came to a newly opened cinema, holding a cup of Starbucks, and stood in front of a simple poster.
"Sex, Lies and Videotape!" Aaron finally smiled. He didn't expect to get something before the closing ceremony.
This is a work that won the Cannes Golden Palm Award. It is one of the representative works of the rise of Hollywood independent films.
I immediately bought a ticket to enter the theater to enjoy this independent film. The typical American art film is very different from the Hollywood business model!
The movie mainly tells the story of John Minelli, the owner of a middle-class family, taking in his old friend Graham who likes photography. Graham uses a camera to record some of the family's privacy, which causes a series of storms;
cheating, desire, privacy, sex life, voyeurism and psychological defects, there are many contents involved!
There is "sex" in the title of the movie, but the plot of the movie is not to attract attention with sex. Sex may just be a gimmick.
Four main characters, a middle-class family couple, the male owner's good friend and the female owner's sister;
seven or eight scenes, a lot of dialogue, but the middle-aged family, marriage, and extramarital affairs are expressed in a very personal way!
Director Steven Soderbergh is a young man who is only 26 years old this year. The appeal of "Sex, Lies and Videotape" is not weak, and it has also attracted the attention of many people;
after all, the independent film circle highly respects this anti-Hollywood model.
In the afternoon, Aaron met Steven Soderbergh in a cafe near the cinema!
"Hello, I am Aaron Anderson, an agent of CAA," Aaron shook hands with the other party and handed him a business card,
"Well, it's a good movie!"
"Thank you," Steven Soderbergh smiled and sat down, "Such a young agent is indeed surprising."
"A young director like you is the most surprising!"
"Aaron, do you want to sign me?" Steven Soderbergh asked with a smile.
"Of course, I have this idea," Aaron admitted directly, "but with the appearance of "Sex, Lies, and Videotape", you will definitely have no shortage of suitors;"
"So, instead of just talking big here, I think I still need to show some results, that will be more convincing!"
Steven Soderbergh became interested, "What do you mean?"
"Although this movie has some good responses, there shouldn't be any distributors asking for the price now, right?" Aaron asked.
Steven Soderbergh shrugged, "Tomorrow is the closing ceremony, and the St. Denis Film Festival will announce some winning works at that time!"
Aaron nodded. "Yes, award-winning works may indeed be noticed and enter theaters."
"Two hundred thousand or three hundred thousand dollars? There haven't been any famous works released at the St. Denis Film Festival in recent years, and there aren't many distribution companies that can be attracted."
Steven Soderbergh certainly understood, after all, he is also a young man. "Aaron, just tell me what you think. I spent two weeks writing the script, two weeks shooting, and three weeks editing Sex, Lies, and Videotape."
"It cost $1.2 million. I know it's hard to attract the attention of distributors. There are no action car chases or love scenes."
Aaron laughed. Young people just can't keep their cool.
Then, he slowly said; "I have the confidence that I can help you sell "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" at a price you can't imagine!"
"Well, why should I believe you?"
"Because I'm CAA's agent, and this is a test for me to sign you," Aaron Anderson shrugged, "Anyway, you just wasted these two or three days. Isn't it good to have someone help you deal with those harsh distributors?"
"Even if I fail, there will be no loss to you, right?"
Aaron Anderson, who was sitting on the chair, looked calm and confident. Did he directly make Steven Soderbergh unable to do anything?
"You mean, help me promote for free?"
Aaron looked up at the other party, "What are you thinking, I help you for free, do you dare to use it?"
"I will charge a 10% commission, which is also the amount that the company usually charges artists, unless you are a big-name artist, it will be less than this ratio;"
"Now you haven't signed with CAA, so this commission is what I want to earn!"
"I see," Steven Soderbergh breathed a sigh of relief, but why is this guy so confident?
"I promise you, but the final decision is in my hands!"
Aaron nodded, "Of course, I'm just your representative, the movie is yours."
"Okay, I'll come to you tomorrow. If someone comes to you to discuss the distribution rights of the movie, just push them to me," Aaron said, and stood up, ready to leave and go back to the hotel.
"Okay, these negotiations are really not my strong point," Steven Soderbergh also nodded. Having someone to handle these things will save him trouble after all;
the only thing that worries him is that Aaron Anderson is too young, but his identity as a CAA agent cannot be faked.
Aaron patted the other person's shoulder and said, "I will give you a surprise when the time comes. Don't worry, go to the closing ceremony of the St. Denis Film Festival. Robert Redford and others will attend!"
"Okay, thank you for your help," Steven Soderbergh did go to the closing ceremony, hoping that the film would be recognized by the St. Denis Film Festival, so that the distribution rights can be better promoted.
Steven Soderbergh certainly does not fully trust Aaron Anderson, but the final decision is in his hands. He has the final say on how much to sell it for;
after all, he is also worried that Aaron Anderson will be sold at a bargain price, right?
END OF THE CHAPTER.....