"Hello, this is Renly Hall. I believe I missed your call. If you have something urgent, please leave a message."
The voice of the answering machine sounded over the phone. Andy Rogers didn't leave a message; he simply hung up and turned to Rodrigo Cortés, who was seated before him. "He's gone out for a walk. Another full day of work today; he needs some time to rest and recuperate."
Three consecutive days of interviews had seen one batch of media depart and another arrive. In total, Renly had been interviewed by over 120 media outlets. Naturally, this number couldn't compare to the popularity of works like "Black Swan" or "The Town", but in the realm of independent films, it stood head and shoulders above the rest. This turn of events was beyond both Rodrigo and Andy's expectations.
However, Rodrigo remained unfazed, nodding in understanding. "I see. I've been conducting interviews for half a day, and I'm already getting a headache. I used to hear people say that interviews were tiring, but I didn't quite get it. Now I understand that interviewing is physically demanding."
To outsiders, interviews appeared as simple as sitting on the sand, asking and answering questions. But only those who had experienced it firsthand knew that interviews required not just mental agility but also physical endurance. By the second half of the interview, the feeling of mental fog was indeed quite real.
"He should be back soon. Do you have an urgent matter for coming over?" Andy always wore a warm smile on his face, but his approach was no-nonsense, swift and direct, wasting no time in getting to the point.
With just one day left until the conclusion of the Toronto Film Festival, while they knew winning the People's Choice Award for "Buried" was almost impossible, the focus wasn't solely on awards. Rather, it was on the fact that Toronto was part of the broader awards season landscape. Therefore, many groundwork tasks remained to be done.
Having interacted with Rodrigo and Andy several times by now, Rodrigo discarded the Spaniard's typical laid-back demeanor and immediately got to the point. "Actually, I've come to seek your advice. So far, I've received four distribution offers, each with its pros and cons. I must admit that I'm not well-versed in distribution matters, and it's been overwhelming. I need some objective opinions to help me think clearly."
"Four offers?" Andy found this somewhat surprising, as the number was less than expected.
This was Toronto, not Sundance or Venice. Toronto was, in itself, a massive distribution market and the final major one of the year. Missing out on Toronto meant that while there were a few scattered film festivals afterward, after the major players had been taken into account, those remaining without distribution deals wouldn't likely be of the best quality. Thus, almost all distribution companies were on the lookout here, sifting through possibilities.
Based on the trajectory and momentum of the past few days, whether it was the buzz effect or audience word of mouth, "Buried" was on a constant upward trajectory. Distribution companies should be more bullish on this film. While "Buried" itself lacked sensationalism, even with the added appeal of Renly, its allure remained limited. However, this also meant that the cost of distribution rights wouldn't be too high. Even smaller distribution companies could enter the competition.
But only four so far? That wasn't exactly a positive sign.
"Yes, four of them," Rodrigo didn't catch the hint of doubt in Andy's tone. A brilliant smile appeared on his face. "One is Focus Features, another is Fox Searchlight."
Andy's eyebrow lifted ever so slightly, and a glint of understanding shone in his eyes.
These were currently the two largest independent studios in North America. Their competitive strength during awards season was on par with The Weinstein Company, not to mention who would eventually secure the awards each year, but in terms of nominations, these three studios were unquestionably the leaders. For "Buried" to receive recognition from these two distribution giants was something to be happy about. Once word spread, other observing distribution companies would be willing to join the competition.
The invitations from these two distribution giants were comparable to the offers from twenty other companies.
"Then there are two other companies, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions." Rodrigo thought for a moment before recalling, then continued, "I haven't heard their names before, so I'm not entirely sure if I'm right."
Andy nodded in understanding. The recognition of these two companies wasn't as high-profile as the previous two, but they certainly weren't unknowns either.
Lionsgate had a slightly more prominent reputation. This Canadian-based company began as a distribution company and then expanded into production. It had its roots in horror, thriller, and suspense films like "Saw", "American Psycho", and "Requiem for a Dream". In recent years, it had gradually moved into the ranks of the second-tier distribution companies.
Roadside Attractions might be less well-known but was more focused. It dealt exclusively with distribution. After years of buildup and slow growth, it had experienced a comprehensive rise last year. Works like "The Cove" and "I Love You Phillip Morris" were well received during awards season. The former even won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
These four distribution companies were by no means inferior in strength, a fact that far exceeded Andy's expectations.
As Andy had anticipated, the recent formidable buzz and upward trajectory of "Buried" over the past few days undoubtedly held immense attraction for distribution companies. Regardless of the outlook for awards season, the film was poised to attract a considerable box office upon its release. Additionally, the cost of distributing this film wouldn't be too high, so many distribution companies were willing to get involved.
From what he could see, all four companies interested in distributing the film had recognizable names, which was indeed a pleasant surprise.
"What's your opinion?" Andy didn't immediately draw a conclusion. He was Renly's agent, not the producer of "Buried". He couldn't make decisions on Rodrigo's behalf; thus, a discussion was needed.
Rodrigo flashed a brilliant, somewhat naïve smile but didn't conceal his excitement. "If it were up to me, I would definitely choose the more famous ones. Isn't it true that the bigger the reputation, the more resources they have?"
Andy was amused by such a candid and straightforward answer. "Yes, but at the same time, the bigger the reputation, the more cards they hold. Take Fox Searchlight, for instance."
Due to the Natalie incident, Andy had conducted extensive research behind the scenes, gaining in-depth understanding of "Black Swan" and Fox Searchlight. He wasn't targeting them, but he wanted to avoid them using Renly's current passive position to their advantage. If they weren't fully prepared, the situation could easily turn unfavorable.
"They've already secured the distribution rights for "Black Swan", "127 Hours", and "Never Let Me Go". These three works all share a common point: unanimous praise for the lead performances. Their promotional resources are limited. In terms of distribution and utilization, where do you think "Buried" should position itself?"
Andy's words left Rodrigo with a puzzled expression. "They have "127 Hours" too? Then why are they coming to talk to us? Isn't "127 Hours" doing much better than us now?"
Faced with Rodrigo's question, Andy didn't have a precise answer. He had several guesses, such as Fox Searchlight buying the distribution rights for "Buried" to coordinate its awards season campaign for "Black Swan". It would be a win-win situation, and Andy knew he wouldn't reject that option. Another possibility was that they could wait and see, monitor the subsequent performance of "127 Hours" and "Buried" to ensure a backup plan. After entering January, they could abandon the weaker one to secure their overall strength this year.
"That's not important. What matters is whether you have confidence in gaining an advantageous position in the competition," Andy cut to the chase, which momentarily stunned Rodrigo. He shook his head with a somewhat desolate expression and asked in turn, "Shouldn't we consider the other two smaller distribution companies then?"
"The advantage of smaller distribution companies lies in their limited resources. They allocate all their resources toward a single work to ensure its success," Andy explained. This reignited hope in Rodrigo. "However, Roadside Attractions is out of the question this year. They've already secured the distribution rights for "Winter's Bone" at Sundance Film Festival and later secured "Blue Valentine" in Europe. Their capacity has reached its limit."
What Andy didn't say was that it was quite likely one of these two works would have to be sacrificed, most likely "Blue Valentine" as it was a foreign language film. The Oscar's Best Foreign Language Film category was separate and operated differently in terms of public relations.
In other words, regardless of the prospects for "Winter's Bone" during awards season, Roadside Attractions was already saturated. Their offer for "Buried" was likely more of a strategic inquiry. After all, the distribution rights for "Buried" probably wouldn't be too expensive.
Rodrigo's shoulders slumped noticeably, seemingly struck by the news. Independent filmmaking was indeed an uphill battle.
Andy offered a smile. "What I said earlier only pertains to awards season. If you're merely aiming for the film's theatrical release, then you can pick any of them. I'm confident you won't be disappointed. All four of these distributors have proven capabilities. Choose a preferred budget and package service, confirm your satisfaction, and you can proceed to sign the contract directly."
Rodrigo sighed deeply. "I know I'm being greedy. But..."
Before the Toronto International Film Festival, he had merely hoped to find a distributor for the film, which would have been a perfect outcome. Once they missed Toronto, their hopes for the subsequent film festivals would dwindle. However, after the film received so much acclaim in Toronto and generated such fervor, the past few days felt like a dream. Inevitably, ambition had sprouted within him: If "Buried" could advance further during awards season, if he could secure a nomination at one of the ceremonies, if the film could become a prominent piece during awards season...
This wavering between hope and uncertainty was truly challenging.
Seeing Rodrigo's expression, Andy knew that his own emotions were simmering enough. So, he spoke again, "Would you like to hear my opinion?"
Rodrigo immediately lifted his head, a glimmer of hope flickering in his previously bewildered eyes. "Of course, that's exactly why I came here! Do you have any suggestions?"
Before Andy could respond, the room's door swung open, capturing the attention of both Andy and Rodrigo.
It was Renly.