Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 182: Riding the Wind

"Hello, this is Renly Hall. I think I missed your call. Please leave a message if you need anything."

The sound of a recording machine came from the phone. Andy Rogers didn't leave a message; he hung up and looked at Rodrigo Cortez, who was sitting in front of him. "He went out for a walk. After another full day of work, he needed some time to rest and adjust."

For three consecutive days, Renly had been interviewed by over 120 media outlets, with one wave of journalists leaving and another arriving. This number might not compare to hits like "Black Swan" or "The Town," but it was far ahead in the realm of independent films, a scenario Rodrigo and Andy had not anticipated.

Rodrigo, however, didn't mind at all. He nodded, "I understand. I only did half a day of interviews today and already started to get a headache." He still looked a bit unsettled. "I used to hear people say that interviews are exhausting, but I didn't understand it until now. It's really a physical job."

To outsiders, an interview seems like just sitting on a sofa and answering questions, but experiencing it firsthand reveals that it requires both mental and physical effort. By the end of the interviews, the brain feels foggy and sluggish.

"He should be back soon. Is there something urgent you need?" Andy's face remained warm and friendly, but his style was swift and efficient, quickly getting to the point.

There was only one day left until the end of the Toronto Film Festival. Although it was almost impossible for "Buried" to win the People's Choice Award, the focus wasn't on the awards but on the fact that Toronto was part of the broader award season landscape. So, Andy had a lot of groundwork to complete.

Rodrigo, who had met with Andy several times, shed his usual laid-back Spanish demeanor and spoke immediately. "Actually, I'm here to ask for your opinion. So far, I've received four distribution offers. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but I'm not very familiar with distribution, and I'm a bit overwhelmed. I need some advice to help me think clearly."

"Four?" Andy was a bit surprised; the number was less than he expected.

This was Toronto, not Sundance or Venice. Toronto itself was a huge distribution market, and it was the last major market of the year. Missing it meant only a few smaller festivals were left, and the remaining films would likely struggle to find distributors. Therefore, almost all distributors were here, looking for promising films.

Considering the trend and momentum over the past few days, "Buried" was on a continuously rising curve in terms of buzz and audience reception. Distributors should be more optimistic about this work. Although "Buried" might not have a strong hook and Renly's star power was still limited, this also meant the distribution rights wouldn't be too expensive, allowing even smaller companies to compete.

But only four offers? That wasn't a positive sign.

"Yes, four." Rodrigo didn't catch the doubt in Andy's voice and smiled brightly. "One is from Focus Features, and the other from Fox Searchlight."

Andy's eyebrow twitched slightly, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.

These were currently the two largest independent labels in North America, competing fiercely with The Weinstein Company during the awards season. Whether or not their films won, these three companies always led in nominations. "Buried" getting recognition from these two distributors was already a cause for celebration. Once word got out, other companies would be eager to join the competition.

Invitations from these two companies were worth more than offers from twenty others.

"And the other two are Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions." Rodrigo recalled carefully before speaking, "I haven't heard of them, so I'm not sure if I'm saying it right."

Andy nodded, understanding. These two companies weren't as well-known as the first two but were by no means insignificant.

Lionsgate had a slightly bigger reputation, starting with distribution before moving into production, known for films like "Saw," "American Psycho," and "Requiem for a Dream." Recently, they had secured their place among the second-tier distributors.

Roadside Attractions might be less familiar but focused solely on distribution. After years of steady growth, they had a breakthrough last year with "The Cove" and "I Love You Phillip Morris," with the former winning the Oscar for Best Documentary.

These four distributors were indeed formidable, far exceeding Andy's expectations.

As he expected, the strong buzz and positive reception for "Buried" had great appeal for distributors. Even if the awards season prospects were uncertain, the film could draw enough box office attention upon release, and with the relatively low cost of acquiring its distribution rights, many companies were interested.

Seeing four reputable companies vying for "Buried" was indeed a pleasant surprise.

"What do you think?" Andy didn't immediately draw a conclusion. He was Renly's agent, not the producer of "Buried," and couldn't make the decision for Rodrigo. Strategy was needed in their discussion.

Rodrigo's straightforward answer amused Andy. "If it were up to me, I'd choose the most famous ones. Don't more famous companies have more resources?"

Andy chuckled at the simple logic. "Yes, but the more famous they are, the more projects they handle. Take Fox Searchlight, for example."

Due to Natalie's involvement, Andy had done extensive research on "Black Swan" and Fox Searchlight to avoid them taking advantage of Renly again. Renly, being a newcomer, was in a vulnerable position, and without thorough preparation, they could easily be disadvantaged.

"They currently have 'Black Swan,' '127 Hours,' and 'Never Let Me Go,' all featuring highly acclaimed lead performances. Their promotional resources are limited. Where do you think 'Buried' would rank among them?"

Andy's point left Rodrigo looking stunned. "'127 Hours' is theirs too? Why would they still approach us then? Isn't '127 Hours' already doing much better than us?"

Andy had no definitive answer but a few guesses. For instance, Fox Searchlight could buy the distribution rights to "Buried" and have Renly and Natalie promote it together, benefiting both films. Or they could play a waiting game, seeing which film gains more traction and then focusing their resources accordingly, ensuring their overall strong presence in the awards season.

"That's not important. What's important is, do you have confidence in securing a strong position in their lineup?" Andy asked pointedly. Rodrigo hesitated, then shook his head, looking somewhat deflated. "So, should we choose one of the smaller companies?"

"Smaller companies have the advantage of limited resources, meaning they'll focus all their efforts on one project to ensure its success," Andy explained, reigniting Rodrigo's hope. "But Roadside Attractions is out of the question this year. They've already acquired 'Winter's Bone' and 'Biutiful,' reaching their capacity."

Andy didn't mention that one of these films might be sacrificed, likely "Biutiful," since it was a foreign language film with a different campaign system for the Oscars.

In other words, regardless of "Winter's Bone's" awards season prospects, Roadside Attractions was already saturated. Their interest in "Buried" was probably just a strategic inquiry, given the film's likely affordable distribution rights.

Rodrigo's shoulders slumped, clearly feeling the strain. Independent filmmaking was indeed an uphill battle.

Andy smiled, "What I just said only pertains to the awards season. If you just want the film to be released in theaters, any of these companies would be satisfactory. Their distribution capabilities are solid. Just pick one with a suitable offer and package, and you can sign the deal."

Rodrigo sighed deeply, "I know I'm being greedy. But..."

Before the Toronto Film Festival, his goal was simply to find a distributor, considering the slim chances at subsequent festivals. However, the film's success at Toronto, receiving praise and creating a buzz, had been almost dreamlike, inevitably fueling his ambition. If "Buried" could advance further in the awards season, if he could secure a nomination, if the film could become a notable contender...

The anxiety of aiming too high was palpable.

Seeing Rodrigo's expression, Andy knew the time was right to offer his own thoughts. "Do you want to hear my opinion?"

Rodrigo's eyes lit up with hope. "Of course, that's why I'm here! What do you suggest?"

Before Andy could respond, the door opened, and both he and Rodrigo looked over.

It was Renly.

---

Halt, you are under arrest for trying to escape law and not paying your toll fe... The suspect.. the suspect is escaping. Catch that bastard...