J. K. Roodwin is a successful author whose books are frequently on the New York Times bestseller list. She obtains revenues of $8 million per year from the sale of her books and her cost of capital is 10%. Recently (Fall 2020), she has been approached by a famous movie producer to write a screenplay based on one of her books. If she accepts the project, she will also act as a consultant during the production of the movie and will receive royalty payments for several years after the movie is released. The movie will take 3 years to produce (starting in 2021) and will be released at the end of 2023. She is offered one lump-sum payment of $5 million right now (2020). In addition, at the end of the first year that the movie is released (i.e., in 2024), she will receive another lump-sum payment of $5 million. Her royalty payments will start with $2 million in 2024 and will increase by 3% per year until 2029 and thereafter they will decline by 20% per year forever. If she accepts the project, Roodwin will not have the time to write any books for the duration of the movie production. What is the net present value of the movie project? (Draw the timelines.)

Select one:

a. $1.532

b. -$2.314 million

c. -$1.860 million

d. -$1.270 million

e. $1.659 million