"Hi Simon, how's it going?"

"Busy, Brian, what about you?"

"I just came back from New York, and I went to see the Metropolitan Opera show with Bob, and it was so beautiful that Martin said he planned to add it to his work in the future. ”

"Speaking of Martin, hasn't he always wanted to shoot Gangs of New York all these years, and I was about to talk to him. ”

"Oh, that's great news, Martin has been waiting for more than a decade. Simon, if you're not kidding, I'll call him when this meeting is over?"

"Certainly not a joke. ”

In another conference room, with several sets of sofas and projectors hanging on the wall, more like a lounge, Simon exchanged a few words with Brian de Palma, and briefly greeted Ella Deutchman, the president of Heighton Pictures, and Linda Vargas, the casting head who had followed him for many years, and everyone sat down on the sofa.

Straight to the point.

The project discussed today is called "L.A. Confidential", which is the third part of the famous American criminary James Elory's "L.A. Tetralogy", and the first part of the four-part is "Black Dahlia" of the same name, which is based on the "Black Dahlia" murder case in Los Angeles in 1947.

After the first part of the series became famous, Elori wrote three other films of the same era in a row.

As for the copyright of the Los Angeles tetralogy, the earliest "Black Dahlia" was bought by Universal that year, and it was refrigerated after producing an unsuccessful miniseries, and was taken over by Daenerys Entertainment after the MCA merger and acquisition, and "Los Angeles Confidential" was completed in 1990 and bought by Daenerys Entertainment.

The other two films, "Endless Wasteland" and "White Jazz", Simon was not very interested and let other studios steal them.

Because it has not been scheduled, it was not until the end of last year that "L.A. Confidential" was put on the agenda.

If Simon is bent on stability, he can pull up the original team, but he doesn't do it, and instead intends to make Brian de Palma the director.

It was a bit of a risky decision.

Because the 2007 version of "Black Dahlia" was directed by Brian De Palma, it was scolded after its release, and the box office was also dismal. With an investment of $50 million, the global box office is only close to $50 million.

However, Simon has seen Parma's version of "Black Dahlia", whether from the perspective of a filmmaker or an ordinary audience, this film is definitely not as bad as the outside world criticizes, such as the scene of the discovery of the body of the black Dahlia, the camera scheduling is amazing, and the performance of Elizabeth Short played by Mia Koschner in the film is a stunning video record, which makes many critics think that it has reached the level of an Oscar nomination.

It can be said that Brian De Palma's directing level is completely fine.

What's the problem?

Screenplay!

This can be described as the most direct reason for the failure of "Black Dahlia",

As long as they have watched "L.A. Confidential" and then watched "Black Dahlia", blind people can feel the producer's ambition to create a second "L.A. Confidential", whether it is the character matching or the story structure, the traces of imitating "L.A. Confidential" are too heavy.

So it was self-defeating.

What the audience wants to see is Elizabeth Short, the murder of the black dahlia, but the black dahlia case in the film is almost reduced to the background of the story, but the narrative focuses on the various trivialities of the two pairs of male and female protagonists.

As for why this is the case, dig deeper, the original director of "Black Dahlia" was David Fincher, and the script has been completed, but Finch wanted to make a three-hour black-and-white film, and the producer was finished as soon as he heard it, so Finch withdrew, and went around and fell into the hands of Parma, who had not been able to get out of the trough for several years because of the box office failure of "Mission to Mars" in 2000.

Parma, who has been idle for several years, wants to take on this job, but can only follow the producer's thoughts.

The results can be imagined.

Let's talk about "L.A. Confidential".

The original version of "L.A. Confidential", of course, is excellent, it is just a script that perfectly blends the structure of three male protagonists, and the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay is well deserved.

It's just that the film as a whole is a bit decent after all.

It's like a big dish that is flat and stable, the overall level is not low, but it lacks something eye-catching.

Therefore, Simon gave up the original director Curtis Hansen and chose Brian de Palma, in addition to the friendship that Parma helped him accumulate from the era of "Lola Run", and also hoped that this film could go to a higher level, on the basis of the original version, with more Palma style bright colors.

Thinking about this, Simon sat down, took a folder from Girl A, who had placed the Johnson sisters and came quickly, and asked Parma while watching the female assistant distribute the documents to several other people, "So, Brian, what do you think of the script for "L.A. Confidential?"

"It's been wonderful, and frankly, Simon, I'm a little worried about whether I'm going to be in control of the project. I've roughly counted that there are more than 80 characters with lines in the entire script, and in addition, not counting the interior, there are more than 60 exterior scenes, which is a big test for shooting and editing. I've tried to streamline it, but I don't have any superfluous features. Simon, it's certainly not something that the screenwriter named Brian Hellgrande can do, and I think you can only do it yourself, right?"

Simon smiled and shook his head: "I don't have that much time to complete a script by myself now, mainly because Elory is good enough, but the outline is indeed provided by me, and I have also asked Helgrande to rewrite and revise it several times before it reaches the current level." ”

"I've already seen it," said Brian de Palma, pausing but not continuing, the talent of the young man next to him, he had already understood ten years ago, there is no need to be too emotional, and continue to the topic: "Simon, in my opinion, this script is a wonderful ukiyo-e of Los Angeles in the forties and fifties, because there are many characters in the scene, the choice of the protagonist is very important, if their acting skills, temperament and other aspects cannot support this story, the final film will be very mediocre." However, if you pick the best actor, Simon, you know, the cost will be very high. ”

"Since you've agreed to be the director, that's what we're talking about today," Simon said, gesturing to Linda Vargas, "I've asked Linda to start preparing a little bit in advance. ”

Linda Vargas, who had just sat down for a while, saw her boss signaling to her, got up and walked over to turn on the projector, and did not return, but sat next to the console where a laptop was placed.

A photo soon appeared on the projection screen.

Nicole Kidman.

In the photo, Nicole is dressed in a close-fitting silver silk low-cut dress, with fur shoulders on her shoulders, blonde wavy curls, and flaming red lips, giving people a fiery and dazzling feeling of a Hollywood golden age actress at a glance.

Simon saw the people around him looking at the screen together and said, "According to my personal understanding, the greed, sin, decay, and depravity of the City of Angels depicted in the book are ...... At the end of the day, it's all about desire. And the desire of men and women is undoubtedly the easiest desire for people to feel. The heroine, Lynne Bracken, as a high-class call girl, may not seem to have many scenes, but she is not only a key to driving the storyline forward, but also a symbol of the desires of all the people in the City of Angels in this film. That's why the alternate role was shown in the first place. Therefore, aside from the setting in the book, I think she should be about 30 years old, with the temperament of a Hollywood golden age actress, who can trigger a man's desire to conquer and protect at the same time, and Nicole is the most satisfying one for me in all aspects. ”

In the original version of Kim Basinger, Simon is really indifferent.

Moreover, Kim Basinger won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the role in "L.A. Confidential", obviously the public relations component is the majority, not to mention others, Julian Moore's performance in "Unruly Night" in the same year is enough to throw off Basinger several streets, but it is a pity that the producer of "Uninhibited Night" was a new line film that basically has no public relations ability, and Julian Moore does not have such strong connections and qualifications as Basinger in Hollywood, so he unfortunately lost.

Linda Vargas kept switching between Nicole's special looks for the film, Brian De Palma carefully appreciated the taste, and Ella Deutchman whispered to Simon: "Boss, Miss Kidman's salary should be too high?"

Since he plans to let Gaomen Pictures be responsible, Ella Deutchman has learned in advance that his boss plans to use 30 million to 40 million to finish this movie.

It's really stressful.

First of all, Brian De Palma's directorial salary needs $5 million, and now, the heroine uses Nicole Kidman, the actress who started from "Vulgar" to the later "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" series vase heroine and then to the "Batman" series of Poison Ivy Girl reached its peak, and now the price of commercial films also starts at $5 million.

Even if Gaomen Pictures is in charge, "Los Angeles Confidential" cannot be regarded as a literary film, this is a commercial crime drama film, and it is impossible to ask actors to take low salaries for literary films.

Simon heard Deutschman's question and shook his head slightly: "Linda has already communicated with Nicole, $3 million, plus an Oscar supporting actress." ”

Lynne Brecken must be the heroine in "L.A. Confidential", however, because there are not many scenes, it is no problem to say that it is a supporting actress, and the former Kim Basinger is the heroine to report the supporting actress to get the little golden man, otherwise, if you sign up for the heroine, there will definitely be no drama.

$3 million, that's acceptable.

It's just that before the film started, he promised to give someone an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, which was inevitably a little rash.

What if you can't cash it in?

Ella Deutchman thought so, and was more worried about the back.

If it's all Nicole Kidman's casting level, let alone a budget of 30 or 40 million, 50 million US dollars may not be able to be filmed.

Such a noir crime drama with a long duration and a non-popular theme will cost 50 million, plus a $20 million announcement, and the global box office will not be able to recover until $150 million to $200 million.

Frankly, Ella Deutchman has no confidence at all.

Maybe it's better to shoot "Black Dahlia", after all, the copyright is also in Daenerys's hands, and the fame is much higher than "Los Angeles Confidential", which makes it easier to succeed.

Simon ignored Doychman's concerns, he had a plan for the budget of "L.A. Confidential", 35 million, which is comparable to the original version, mainly because Nicole is actually the biggest name in this movie, and the salary of 3 million is also the highest.

After a few discussions, Parma also approves of Nicole's casting, and Linda moves on to the next one.

Simon continued to explain himself: "Jack Vincennes seems to be a bad cop on the surface, sleek and sophisticated, seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages, and even mixing in the Los Angeles Police Department with a playful attitude, but he did not completely abandon his conscience as a police officer, and finally took the initiative to help two young people track down the truth, so he died. It's a very complicated person, and I'm leaning towards Kevin Spacey for that role, who had a great performance in "The Seven Deadly Sins" and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor last year for another "The Usual Suspects." ”

In the past, "L.A. Confidential", compared with the later "Black Dahlia", the most successful thing was the role selection, and the three leading actors, two of whom were Oscar-winning actors, successfully supported this movie.

For the role of the original Kevin Spacey, Simon is still the same this time.

As for the of Spacey in his memory, Simon can't care so much, if he cares about these, there are really not many people who can use it up and down Hollywood, Kevin Spacey is just picked up. Simon occasionally even thought that it would be better to get back the Weinstein brothers who didn't know where they were at this time, after all, this is also a pair of talents, but thinking that the two brothers are too difficult to suppress, so he will give up.

Except for Nicole, who was just directly finalized by Simon, Simon did not make a decision on Kevin Spacey, but asked Parma and Deutchman to contact Spacey in person, if they were not satisfied, they really had to be replaced, and if they could come up with actors who were more satisfactory to Simon, it would be no problem.

Next, Ed Exley, who once starred in Guy Pierce, and Russell Crowe, who was actually the first male lead, starred in Bud White, Simon didn't force it, and on the basis of the two actors in the original version, he also recommended several other alternatives, the standard is that the salary is cheap and the acting skills are good enough.

Among them, Bard, who struggles with his inner struggle, is irritable and has no lack of cold side, and Simon focuses on recommending Hugh Jackman this time.

"Chrono Contact", which will start filming next week, struggled for a long time last year for one of the original priest roles starring Matthew McConaughey, Simon didn't think Matthew McConaughey looked like a pastor at all, and finally found a candidate in Australia that satisfied Simon, it was Hugh Jackman.

Uncle Wolf got up and played a handsome and personable priest, which was more than enough.

However, Uncle Wolf went berserk, with a block of 1.9 meters and a full body of muscles, it was also more than enough to play a Bard who happened to be such an image in the original book.

Now of course, Wolverine has no shadow, Linda shows the poster and footage of Hugh Jackman's TV series "Behind Bars" starring in Australia two years ago, in which Hugh Jackman who plays a prisoner has short hair, stubble, tattoos, and gloomy and cold eyes, and the style can almost be used as a Bud White. Compared with Russell Crowe, the temperament of being young and irritable and with childhood trauma is more prominent.

In addition, Matthew McConaughey entered the Ed Exley alternative this time.

Ella Deutschman began to think that Nicole Kidman was too expensive, and when she got to the back, she felt that the coffee position of a group of alternative actors was too low, and when Linda finished introducing it, she said again: "Simon, the role of Budd, I think I can let Pete try it, he is the first male lead after all," Seeing Parma come over, Deutchman added: "It's Brad Pitt." ”

Simon immediately shook his head: "Actually, I also considered that Pitt's superhuman image is too profound, and if you want to change the potential impression of the audience, you must form a certain contrast, so I let him star in "Changing Face". If it's this movie, he is not suitable for Bud who is positive after all, but he can try the role of Eddard, the problem is that Ed is actually the third male lead, and he is not as important as Lynn, so Pete's coffee position and salary are too high. ”

Deutchman said: "Pitt has taken the initiative to contact me a few times, and he has always hoped to open up his own acting career outside of Superman, and the salary is not a problem. Simon, why don't you let him try, Bard and Ed, both see the effect. ”

Simon thought about it a little and said: "Spacey's salary is $1.5 million, and if Pitt wants to participate, whether it is Bud or Eddard, the salary cannot exceed this number, otherwise there is no need to talk about it." ”

Deutchman pondered for a moment and nodded, "It should be fine." ”

Simon smiled: "Then you'd better sign the contract before the release of "Changing Face", I am very optimistic about "Changing Face". ”

If the new version of "Changing Face" starring Brad Pitt in the summer file is successful, the actor will break through the shackles of 'Superman' to a certain extent, and it will not be so easy to talk about the project.

Deutchman understood.

Later, several people discussed the details of the script, preliminary preparations, etc., and the time seemed to be very insufficient again, and it was already noon in a blink of an eye. The main points have been pointed, and the rest is left to Deutschman and Parma, and Simon only needs to make some final decisions.

Because the discussion was too engrossed, I left the conference room, and the time was already past 12 o'clock.

Simon casually invited Deutchman and Parma to lunch together, only to react after going out, and a pair of little sisters were almost forgotten by themselves, so they could only shout together. However, when entering the executive-only restaurant in the studio, in order to avoid some topics being heard by the two little girls, Simon still sent Girl A to accompany them to another table, and sat with Parma and them.

And so on until after lunch, while continuing the afternoon's work, Simon asked Linda Vargas to arrange a small audition for Scarlett's sister Vanessa.

The results were disastrous.

Compared with her sister, Vanessa is only in better appearance conditions, and in terms of performance, according to Linda's original words, it is similar to wood.

That's not a problem for Simon, though.

Acting skills, most people learn it the day after tomorrow, and there are very few Hollywood stars who dare to say that they have never attended an acting class at all.

instructed Linda to arrange Vanessa's acting class, and Simon also gave a small incentive, if the acting skills are up to standard, you can get the role of a high school girl in the comet hitting the earth blockbuster "Heaven and Earth Collision" that Daenerys is preparing, which is the role of the original Lily Sobosky.

Well.

Speaking of which, Lily Sobosky is more in line with Simon's aesthetic than Vanessa.

It's not hard to guess just by looking at the name.

simply asked his casting director to look for it, the little girl is 14 years old this year, she is also a child star, but it is easy to find, so she arranged it and received it in the bowl in advance, so as not to be taken away by others.