CASE:

Blockbusters Incorporated, a leading producer of movies, is currently negotiating with Liam Goodlooking, the biggest box-office attraction in the movie industry, to star in an adventure film. For a starring role, Liam normally receives a salary of $20,000,000 plus 5% of the receipts to the producer. (The producer normally receives 40% of the total paid admissions wherever the movie is shown.) However, Liam is quite optimistic about the prospects of the film and has expressed some interests in a special contract that would give him only 25% of his normal salary but increase his portion of the receipts to the producer to 20%. Other than Goodlookings pay, costs of producing the picture are expected to be $45,000,000.

Both the producing company and prospective star have given further thought to the contract terms and concluded that some provision probably should be made for revenues to be earned from contracts authorizing showings of the movie on television. After lengthy negotiations, Goodlookings agent proposed the following terms:

(a) a payment of $10,000,000, plus

(b) 15% of the receipts to the producer from theatre admissions, plus

(c) 10% of the revenues from sales of television rights.

Blockbusters negotiating team leaves the negotiations to study the potential effect of the new compensation scheme.

A study of past productions indicates that the producer can expect revenues from sales of television rights to be approximately one-eighth (12.5%) of producers revenues from theatre admissions. Blockbusters president is pleased with the opportunity to lower the fixed-payment part of the contract but is concerned about the magnitude of the two off-the-top percentages.

The president of Blockbusters Incorporated has reviewed the preliminary analysis of the two contract alternatives and wishes to give further consideration to the arrangement with Goodlooking.

Goodlooking's agent also having second thoughts about the alternatives and is wondering what is best for his client.

Required:

Answer the following questions, calling the alternative compensation schemes R (for the regular contract) and S (for the special contract).

1. Assume that, because of Blockbusters delay in accepting the new contract offer, Goodlookings agent decides that his client should also receive a percentage of the revenues Blockbusters will derive from the sale of screening rights in foreign countries, revenues which typically amount to 20% of domestic theater receipts. If the agent proposes a 5% cut of those revenues for Goodlooking, what is the break-even point for Blockbusters Incorporated?