Back in the office at Davis Studio.
Martin handed Louise a bottle of water and asked, "What are you thinking?"
Louise replied, "Since the mid-90s, Pacific Pictures has been working with Warner Bros. on distribution. It's been fifteen years now, and Warner has changed its chairman and CEO several times. The distribution cut has not increased for the first time, but it has only ever jumped by 1% at most."
Martin had heard from Nicholson that, in the era when resources were not as concentrated as they are now, the distribution cuts of major Hollywood companies often accounted for only 20% of the North American box office receipts, excluding marketing and publicity costs.
Now the average is around 30%, and for works by new companies or novice directors, it can even exceed 35%.
