"'You look familiar, I guess I didn't recognize you because you're dressed', haha, Simon, how did you come up with this monologue in Celebration? If I didn't know your age, I'd definitely think the person who wrote it was a seasoned playboy. ”

Inside a restaurant in Santa Monica.

Madonna across the table leaned slightly towards Simon, discussing the song Simon had written for her last time.

"Vulgar" was in the final stage of sound editing, and Simon was not satisfied with the recording of a few lines in Sean Penn and Madonna's scenes, and called to see if they could find time to re-dub it, and the couple, who also happened to be back on the West Coast during this time, readily agreed.

After completing the dubbing work in the morning, Simon naturally did not skimp on a lunch.

If Sean Penn wasn't there, Simon wouldn't mind teasing a few words in reverse, so he just smiled and said, "Speaking of which, how much does "You-Can-Dance" sell?"

When Madonna heard this question, she immediately became excited: "2.16 million in North America, about 3.35 million overseas, a total of 5.51 million, I originally thought that a total of 5 million microphones would be good, but now, this number can at least double." So, Simon, when are you going to give me the next song?"

Simon said: "I must wait for your next album, I can't just write a song, right?"

"It doesn't matter if you write a song at will, as long as it's good enough, I can create an album based on your songs," Madonna looked like she had tasted the sweetness, and said: "In addition, Simon, do you have a small role that suits me, this time I don't need money, just make a cameo and a song at a time." ”

Simon said: "A school thriller in which a girl receives a call from a psychopathic murderer and is quickly killed, and her body is not only hung from a tree, but also disemboweled. Are you going to act?"

Madonna immediately shook her head: "No, this situation is easy to be imitated by extreme fans, I don't want to be like John Lennon." ”

Simon shrugged: "Then there is nothing else." ”

Madonna hesitated and said, "Is there really such a character?"

"Yes, though, I'm a little worried about what you just said, so I still won't give it to you," Simon shook his head, turned to Sean Penn, and skilfully found a topic, "Sean, how did you do with Robert Duvall's Colored Rattlesnake?"

"The schedule has been confirmed, and on April 15th, I think the finished film is very good, but Orion's confidence in this movie is not too high," Sean Penn said in a somewhat regretful tone, "Simon, I heard that you signed the "Rain Man" that Ovitz has been personally promoting?"

Simon remembered the reaction of the newspaper media and even some people around him in recent days, and said with a smile: "Yes, I am now a recognized fat sheep, you won't laugh at me too, right?"

Sean Penn was a little hesitant when he heard this.

Madonna said bluntly: "Sean also wants to be a director, Simon, you are so rich now, help us invest some." ”

Simon nodded with a smile and said, "Let me read the script first, if I can, my fat sheep has not been eaten by then, then it will be no problem." ”

Madonna said enviously: "$1.6 billion, I think it's enough for me to talk for a lifetime." ”

Simon glanced at Sean Penn: "Sean, it seems that you are going to work hard to make money, this woman plans to spend 1.6 billion in her lifetime." ”

Sean Penn shrugged manly: "I don't have so many thoughts when I get a beating." ”

Madonna slapped Sean Penn on the shoulder and said, "Maybe I'll make that much money myself." ”

After the three of them had lunch, Simon saw off the couple and had just gotten into his car, when Neil Bennett in the front row said, "Mr. Westeros, Ms. Pascal has just called, and Mr. George Corgo, the president of the Writers Guild, wants to talk to you, he is already in the company." ”

Simon looked at the table below, he was going to go to the MA headquarters in the afternoon, but since Amy called in person, this matter obviously couldn't be shirked, so he had to say, "Then let's go back to the company first." ”

Neil Bennett started the car, Simon picked up the car phone and said hello to Jonathan Friedman, and after a few words, the SUV was parked outside Daenerys Pictures headquarters.

Seeing Simon's car, Amy greeted him.

On the way back, Simon had already roughly guessed the intention of GA Chairman George Corgo, and Amy's explanation also confirmed Simon's guess.

GA is divided into two major chapters on the east and west coasts, to be precise, George Corgo should be the president of the GA west chapter, Simon met each other in his office, this is an old man in his early sixties, round face, silver hair, and very strong spirits.

After a brief conversation, George Corgo explained his intentions again: "Simon, as you must know, we are negotiating with the Producers Alliance. As one of Hollywood's best young screenwriters, we would love for you to join GA and make your voice heard by the screenwriters. ”

Simon had a look of embarrassment on his face and said, "Mr. Kego, I now have my own production company, and if I join the Writers Guild, once GA goes on strike, I won't be able to comply with the strike regulations at all." ”

George Corgo shook his head and smiled: "Simon, the negotiations are still going on, and they will not necessarily go to the level of a strike. And there are always exceptions, and even if a strike does happen, you just have to stay out of script writing for a while and stop signing new contracts with big studios. ”

When Simon heard George Corgo say this, he realized that the other side was clearly an optimist, and did not realize how serious the next strike would be.

With a five-month-long strike, and a series of ongoing projects at Daenerys Films, it is impossible to hire professional screenwriters, and if Simon keeps himself under the rules of GA, the company will close its doors.

Shaking his head firmly, Simon said regretfully: "George, I'm really sorry, it's really not convenient for me to join GA right now. ”

George Corgo did not give up easily, and continued to lobby for more than ten minutes, and saw Simon's insistence before he had to get up and leave.

Politely sending George Corgo out of the company's headquarters, watching the other party's car leave the parking lot, Amy said to Simon: "The Writers Guild of America Awards nominations will be announced next week. ”

Simon didn't rush to MA's side, and returned to the office building with Amy, saying, "You want me to join GA?"

Amy nodded and said, "The voting for the Oscar screenwriting award is also in the hands of GA members, and the screenwriting award is your most promising project this year." Rejected George Corgo, "Lola Run" is definitely hopeless. ”

Simon smiled bitterly: "GA lacks me, it shouldn't be nothing, right?"

Amy said with a smile: "Your three scripts last year, "Lola Run", "Butterfly Effect" and "Death is Coming", all squeezed into the top ten of the annual box office list, if such screenwriters are not GA members, they will lack the confidence to strike." ”

Simon was a little helpless, but he actually understood what George Corgo and Amy were thinking.

Neither of them apparently felt how serious this year's strike would be, or even that GA would definitely go on strike.

If Simon, a gold-medal screenwriter who is in the limelight in Hollywood, joins GA at this time and expresses his support for the negotiations between GA and the producer alliance, it will be a very beneficial thing for both parties.

At an important juncture in voting in this awards season, Simon's statement will definitely win the favor of many screenwriters with voting rights.

Opposite.

If GA goes on strike, and Simon, the top screenwriter who created three films that squeezed into the annual box office list last year, breaks away from the strike group, not only creates freely without restraint, but also continues to sign contracts with studios, then the scene will be too much of a slap in the face, and even embarrassing the entire GA.

After last year's "Lola Run", Simon has become famous in Hollywood, and he has also met the criteria to join GA, but GA has never taken the initiative to express it, and it is not accidental that he has not sent an invitation until now.

In fact, everyone can easily understand the subtext of this.

Like Amy just said.

Nominations for the Writers Guild of America Awards will be announced next week.

Obviously, if Simon agrees to join GA at this time, next week's nomination, and even the next awards, he will be the 'big favorite'.

But.

Simon, who is well aware of the events that will unfold in the next few months, simply cannot agree to GA's invitation now.