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I am ashamed to admit it but I do love money. There is no nobility in using the survey code on top of McDonald's receipt, or selling plasma, or doing almost anything to get by, so when Doug asked that question I responded with, "10 million with 20 percent of gross profit."
There was a large silence and Damien looked at me somewhat shocked, Doug laughed.
"10 million dollars? We bought Spider-Man for 10 million dollars, can you save New York City?" He chuckled to himself but I did not change my expression at all.
He saw that I was serious and he went by to Michael for a second. Eventually, they both left the room and I was alone with Damien.
"What?" He said, "I was going to say yes for about 4 million." He lowered his back and put his hands on his knees.
"We could even go more but it's the 20 percent that you deserve. This film will do well."
"Why do you seem so sure? I mean I know CMBYN is doing well but we got jazz." He smiled.
The theatre was still playing the credits, all the way from Tim Simonec—who was the jazz conductor—to Tom Cross who was the film editor. I could remember the film's ending song, Overture, and the way it shook me up. I mean, everyone was leaning into their seats.
"If we take 4 million, Jason Blum recoups, the financiers are happy and we go to Park City," Damien continued.
"That Barker guy was holding his chest like he had a heart attack," I remembered when I had a panic attack, "Hell, I know JK will be nominated so there is no need to rush," I said.
Before Damien could answer, the heavy door swung open. Doug entered first and he looked completely unreadable while Michael trailed behind him, slipping his phone into his pocket.
"All right," Doug said. "Nobody pays ten million outright for an unrated indie drama about drummers." He smiled and I responded with, I felt weird saying it, "You're buying five Oscar nominations and the indie of the year. You got Call Me By Your Name doing nine million on eight hundred screens right now. You know what my name on the film does for the platform." I smiled, "Put me across JK, back it with awards press and I will thank Michael Barker and Doug Belgrad on that stage."
Damien choked on something or laughed but Michael looked almost impressed. Barker cut me off, "I wasn't finished Ryan. We want a long partnership with you and we are not," he looked at Doug, "going to ruin it with this film. You are a terrific actor, I mean everyone knows this. We received some concessions from Mark. Six million cash floor. On top of that, Sony Classics will guarantee minimum theatrical commitment: 600 screens opening weekend, expanding to 1,100 nationwide following the guild nominations. Furthermore, for Call Me By Your Name, we will expand theatres to 1,200 screens nationwide."
Barker stepped forward, "We also write into the contract a dedicated four million dollar awards campaign budget. We submit Simmons for Supporting Actor. We submit Chazelle for Adapted Screenplay and Director. We submit Stone for Lead Actor. Full double-page spreads in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, private member screenings at the DGA and BAFTA in London, screener mailers to all six thousand voting members by November."
He bombarded me with data so for a second I didn't know what to do. Four million dollars in pure awards push. In my previous life, I would kill for an audition for a single line in a project with that kind of backing, but the president of Sony Pictures Classics offered it up like it was some coupon.
I glanced beside me. Damien was practically vibrating next to me, I was worried he might just fall on the carpet.
"October," I said.
Michael looked confused, "Excuse me?"
"October platform," I said, holding his gaze. "No January dumping ground. We take this show worldwide: we premiere at Sundance, Grand Jury Prize, play in Cannes, and drop the limited release in New York and LA the second week of October. We let word of mouth build for three full months while you can sip a martini or something."
Doug let out a whistle and Barker just looked at me for three seconds. He extended his right arm, "October eighth," Barker said. "We close the festival in Toronto and open four days later. Do we have a deal, Mr. Stone?"
My name seemed foreign to me as if someone stole it and I was staring down at Find My iPhone to look for it. I gripped his hand, it was a movie scene and it felt so cliché.
"We have a deal."
@RyanStoneDaily – Dec 22, 2012
Box office: 'Call Me By Your Name' pulls an unbelievable $9M across just 800 screens this weekend! Sony will be releasing 1,200 screens worldwide next weekend! On a sub-$4M budget, this is officially one of the most profitable and critically acclaimed releases of this decade!
Sony is planning an aggressive, all-out Academy Awards campaign starting this week
💬 Tweet replies:
@OliverElioEndgame: NINE MILLION ON AN ARTHOUSE RUN??? Ryan Stone you have redeemed yourself 😭👏
@CinephileJack: $11,250 per-theater average on a period bi romance is absurd. Turns out audience actually cares if a good movie is showing
@indie_darling99: The way the entire theater was sobbing during the fireplace scene. Give him the Oscar nomination right now.
@boxoffice_nerd: Less than $4M production budget and already at $9M domestic on limited screens. Sony Classics just struck gold.
@velvet_armchair: Remember when industry trades claimed nobody would turn out for this film? Look at the numbers now.
@stone_updates: Best Picture. Best Actor. Best Adapted Screenplay. Best Original Song.
@LATimesArts – Dec 22, 2012
"I mean I got to be in a Luca Guadagnino film and what that means to be in a boundary-less expression of an idea"
Ahead of Oscar season, Ryan Stone sits down at the Chateau Marmont to discuss the historic success of 'Call Me by Your Name', family screenings on an old plasma tv, and moving forward from relationships.
Tweet replies:
@StoneDailyNews: Can yall stop asking Ryan about his ex? I mean both people moved on and there's a lot more interesting things about him
@cinemabruno: Fax. She obviously lied, Ryan looks uncomfortable by the question and serves no purpose. I think his friendship with Andrew is so sweet.
@AHS_updates: "I wish Emma nothing the best and look forward to her projects like American Horror Story" – class act response. He shut that down gracefully.
@awardsbrothers: Anyone surprised with how many projects Ryan has done. Hopefully he doesn't burn himself out.
@lucasantarpia7: He's taking drugs
I scrolled on Twitter in the car ride back to my home and laughed at the comment. But my thumb froze over the glass screen.
He's taking drugs.
They have no idea. I looked up into the rearview mirror. Rebecca caught my eye, "What's so funny?" she asked, slipping her phone into her purse.
"I'm thinking of giving you a raise," I smiled.
"And that's so funny?"
I smirked and was about to say the amount but I received a call from Andrew.
His voice was loud, "9 million fucking dollars? Bloody hell, what did you do?"
"I have no idea."
"My next day is packed, I see you tomorrow?"
Rebecca looked at me and Andrew said, "Yeah. Good Morning America. They want us color coordinated," he laughed, "I thought he was joking—"
"Direct orders"
"Okay" I chuckled to myself.
Andrew let out a laugh, "CAA is losing its mind. How have they not approached you yet?"
I shook my head, "I like Mark."
"I don't know what to like about him. I mean he must be good, I heard your other project is coming during Sundance? Do you just like taking other young actor's jobs away?"
I laugh, "Are you ready for the circus?"
"Not my first time. Better give Rebecca a raise."
She looked up, "I was planning on too."
"See you tomorrow."
I hung up tossing the phone on the seat beside me and Rebecca after a while said, "Does Andrew need a publicist?"
"You signed a 360, your here for life."
She looked genuinely confused and I regretted what I said, "There's a small break before Sundance, go to Cabo or somewhere. I am going back to New York, do you think I need an assistant by the way."
"Yes, please. We have sent you applications but you been to busy."
"Just hire the best or most qualified one." She nodded her head.
I thought about New York: Tessa, Bob, and Rick who are all excited about the movie's release. Tessa is probably bragging about it to her friends in salsa class and Rick who probably doesn't get the movie but is still happy for me.
We eventually reached home and saw a swarm of bright lights against the car. My heart raced and paparazzi were inches away from the car.
The driver swore at them and I just sat there looking at the black floor.
"Ryan! Over here!"
"Ryan, are you a homosexual?"
"Get out the car!"
Flashbulbs strobed across the leather seats, bouncing white lightning off the glass. The driver fought through the shouting crowd, riding the brakes until the car crept past the perimeter.
I pushed the door open, kept my chin buried deep into my coat, and moved fast. Voices clamored over each other, lenses clicking like automatic fire, hands reaching past the iron bars. I slipped past the posts, pulled the gate shut, and the heavy latch slammed into place behind me.
I entered the arched gate. I was safe inside and I realized that there was no turning back.