After seeing Serge Hassenfeld off, Eric decided it was time to leave Park City.
The main purpose of his visit was to get away from problems, with film scouting being a secondary task. He had already gone through the catalog and found only one film, "Whale Rider," that truly stood out.
Contacting the festival organizers and asking them to notify the director, Eric went to wait at a nearby cafe.
"Whale Rider" told a simple story: a little girl from an ancient tribe saves a whale, which the tribe considers a sacred animal. Thanks to this, she is proclaimed the new leader of the tribe.
Eric had watched part of the film and was impressed by the director's skill. He was particularly struck by the underwater scenes, which looked stunning and provided true visual enjoyment.
The main idea of the film – environmental protection and animal conservation – made it promising, as environmental and animal protection have always been important political topics in the USA and the West, attracting many activists.
Since these themes always resonate, Eric was confident that MGM could successfully promote this artistic film and make a decent box office.
After a short wait, Eric saw a blonde with long hair, an attractive woman around 30, entering the cafe. She looked around, noticed him smiling at her, and took off her thick coat, handing it to the waiter. Under her tight sweater, her excellent figure was evident.
"I didn't expect the director of this film to be such a beautiful woman," Eric stood up and extended his hand to her.
"I didn't expect the vice president of MGM to be so young and attractive," she replied, shaking his hand.
"Haha, don't you watch the news? If you follow the entertainment section, you should have seen me often these days."
The woman slightly shook her head:
"I'm from New Zealand, here specifically for Sundance. I've been so busy these days that I haven't had time to follow the news and gossip."
"Nice to meet you. Eric Cooper."
"Hello, Niki Caro."
They sat down again, the waiter brought coffee, and Niki sighed lightly:
"Winter in America is too cold. After a few days here, I started missing New Zealand, where it's the most beautiful time of the year right now."
"You're right, it's summer there now. But isn't winter in New Zealand also cold?" Eric asked.
"No, it rarely snows in New Zealand, except in the mountains. It's always warm, and I never wear a thick down jacket."
Eric agreed:
"I don't like down jackets either. They make us too bulky."
"Men don't like them at all!" Niki joked.
As an experienced connoisseur, Eric instantly caught her hint. They both laughed. Both from their industry circle, they perfectly understood the ins and outs of the film world.
After a short conversation, they felt closer to each other, which was not surprising, as attractive people always have an advantage in such situations.
"Niki, I watched 'Whale Rider.' It's a very delicate and emotional film. MGM wants to buy it," Eric said.
Niki Caro sipped her coffee:
"Eric, you're the first to express interest in buying the film. But I'd like to know, does MGM plan to show it in theaters or on television?"
She understood perfectly that the disc market was not suitable for an artistic film, and it would be difficult for it in theaters, so most likely, the path lay through television. However, as a director, she still hoped that her work would appear on the big screen, even if it didn't bring big box office returns.
Eric caught her thoughts. This was natural for most directors. Considering the theme of environmental protection and animals, the big screen was mandatory.
"Niki, I understand your concerns. I promise the film will be released on the big screen. If everything goes according to plan, you'll see your work in theaters in February, although we'll start with a limited release. I hope you understand."
Niki's voice trembled with excitement:
"Of course, 'Whale Rider' is an artistic film, I understand everything."
"Now about the money. I learned that the film's budget is around $3.5 million, right?"
Niki nodded, surprised by Eric's insight, who quickly gathered key information.
"I offer to buy all rights to the film for $6 million. Think about it."
Eric was talking about buying all rights, which meant that the film would remain associated with Niki Caro's name as the director, but all further commercial rights would belong to MGM. The film would bring income to the studio, and Niki and her team wouldn't be able to use it for commercial purposes.
Niki was delighted. Reputation was important, but money was also important. The actual costs of the film were less than $3 million, including her fee. Selling the film for $6 million was a great deal. After paying the investors, she and her team would still receive a decent amount.
"Eric, I don't mind selling the rights, but I can't decide alone. Please give me some time."
"Of course. But I'm leaving Park City tomorrow. If I don't get an answer by evening, I'll have to contact the company," Eric said, standing up and shaking her hand goodbye.
Other films weren't of interest, and instead of spending time searching, Eric decided to meet with Chloe Sevigny again.
He called her and invited her to the mansion.
"I was promoting the film, what's up?" Chloe expressed her dissatisfaction.
"I'm leaving tomorrow," Eric said, indicating his desires.
Understanding the hint, Chloe obediently complied.
In the midst of their activity, the phone unexpectedly rang. It was Niki Caro. Apparently, she had made a decision.
"Niki, I didn't expect you to call so soon."
"Eric, I discussed everything with the team. We're ready to sign the contract. By the way, what's that noise?" she asked, hearing strange sounds.
Beneath Eric, Chloe, hearing the call, began moving even more energetically, making loud moans.
"Nothing special. Let's meet at the same cafe, but you'll have to wait for half an hour!"
"Just half an hour?" Her voice had a playful tone.
"You can check!" Eric replied.