If the military cooperates in the shooting, this film can save at least about 40 million US dollars, as long as the crew is willing to cooperate, the military will fully cooperate with the crew from equipment to base to soldiers.

In fact, the military's request is very simple, that is, they want a gorgeous advertising blockbuster.

This coincides with the line of Duke, the male protagonist in the film, and Ronan certainly won't refuse.

Besides, it's not uncommon for Hollywood to cooperate with the military to make blockbusters, especially conscription films.

The most typical, "Top Gun" starring Tom Cruise that year was simply a super recruitment advertisement for the US Navy, and it is said that after the film was released, the Navy was particularly good at recruiting.

The military's joint team also came to Los Angeles to discuss matters related to the script with Ronan and Michael Bay, in fact, the conditions they put forward were not excessive, and they were not much different from the first part of "Transformers", not asking the US military to monoclonally antibody alien robots, but to show as much modern military equipment as possible through the screen.

Ronan understood that this was not so much a conscription advertisement as a weapon advertisement.

Tell the world through a movie that may be widely popular, I have the best weapons on the planet, hurry up and buy them.

The military has cooperated with Hollywood a lot, and it also understands Hollywood's creative model, so there is no need for American GIs to be afraid of the air.

Michael Bay's cooperation with the military began with the famous "Brave Island", and the military's image in it was actually not very good.

Propaganda sometimes doesn't have to be lofty.

One of Ronan's purposes for inviting Michael Bay to direct the series was also fully fulfilled.

He knew that Director Pei had a good relationship with the military, and not only did he provide him with all kinds of the latest equipment, but even the Pentagon could let his crew be stationed in the filming.

If you change to another director, it is difficult to have this kind of treatment.

The two sides were already interested in cooperating, and the negotiations between the crew and the military went very smoothly, and under the leadership of Michael Bay, a series of weapons and equipment to participate in the filming were determined.

For example, the Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, the F-117 that is about to be retired, the famous Black Hawk, the M1 main battle tank, the C-130, the Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine and the entire Nimitz-class aircraft carrier formation, etc.

And, of course, there's the F-22 Raptor, which just made its official debut around the world this year.

The military deliberately emphasized this point to the crew, requiring the crew to focus on displaying the F-22 Raptor fighter.

Ronan is as good as a stream, and directly makes the F-22 a flying form of a red spider.

As for all kinds of individual equipment, there are too many in Hollywood movies, and even if the military does not provide it, you can rent a large number of props.

As we all know, the US military relies extremely much on equipment for its operations, and in the middle and late stages of World War II, its equipment was simply overwhelming in the Pacific theater.

For example, the Zero of the island country, at the beginning of the Pacific War, the Zero had an absolute advantage, but within a few years, after the United States developed a fighter against the Zero, the Zero had a new nickname - the Zero Lighter.

While negotiating with the military, the crew was also engaged in another business.

Embassy Pictures has set up a special team for "Transformers", intervened in the project in advance during the preparation period of the film, and cooperated with Shahai Entertainment to pull advertising sponsorship for the film all over the world.

As a modern sci-fi film, there will also be a large number of cars and shops in it, and it would be a waste not to pull advertising sponsorships.

From store advertisements to car advertisements to daily necessities advertisements, it is too trivial to get dozens of product placement advertisements in the film, and the team of Embassy Pictures and Shahai Entertainment is currently negotiating.

For example, Bumblebee will appear in the classic Beetle shape in cartoons, and then it will be transformed into a cool sports car, and those top supercar brands are relatively cold in advertising and have no interest in it.

But the mass genre is very interested.

Chevrolet, Mustang and Mercedes-Benz are all interested in product placement for Bumblebee at the moment.

The other main King Kong characters are also the focus of business attention.

Since it is a commercial film, Ronan will certainly not refuse advertising, and according to the negotiation and contact of the embassy films, it is estimated that the advertising revenue of the entire film may reach more than 30 million US dollars.

However, Ronan has communicated with Michael Bay about the focus of product placement, and ad placement must be natural and smooth, not hard placement.

Michael Bay is an advertising director, and if he really cares, this aspect will not be a problem at all.

The appearance of eating in the past was too ugly.

Things like soothing milk and going over a hill to Hong Kong City, etc., can be said to be typical of implant failure.

Ronan would never allow such an ad to appear.

Whether it is a military equipment advertisement or a pure commercial advertisement, it can effectively reduce the actual investment of the film, and the real production cost will not be as exaggerated as announced to the public.

The reason why Michael Bay, a director, is so popular with production companies in Hollywood is that he actually has many advantages.

For example, filming and production will strictly follow the budget plan, not only will the filming not exceed the budget, but often after the planned effect is achieved, there will be a budget balance.

This is very rare among Hollywood directors.

What is the routine operation of a great director? The power is never big enough, the budget is never enough, and the film is never long enough......

From a producer's point of view, Michael Bay is really likable.

Michael Eisner and Jerry Bruckheimer once said that Michael Bay is one of the greatest commercial directors Hollywood has ever seen.

This is a very high rating.

Compared to "Transformers" and Michael Bay, "Alice in Wonderland" and Robert Zemeckis have a $200 million budget that is not discounted.

This is a fantasy project, and it is impossible to place ads.

The cost of 3D production can be said to have as much effect as the amount of money invested.

Soon after the preparation of "Alice in Wonderland" began, Robert Zemeckis came to Ronan's office in the Relativity Building and paid a visit.

"The first $25 million start-up capital is running out. Robert Zemeckis was also not polite to Ronan and said directly: "The second fund needs to be in place as soon as possible." ”

Ronan nodded slightly: "Don't worry, Shahai Entertainment has coordinated with the Pacific Investment Foundation, and the second investment of $30 million will arrive next week." ”

Robert Zemeckis breathed a sigh of relief: "Excellent 3D effect, completely burned with money. ”

Ronan said, "I understand. Robert, even if you put your heart back in your belly, the budget promised by the project will not be less than a penny. ”

At this point in time, 3D is just really being commercialized in Hollywood, and the cost of its technology is quite staggering.

Robert Zemeckis asked, "By the way, the crew is about to start casting, do you have any specific ideas for the heroine?"

Ronan shook his head: "I don't have the right person." Audition for casting, it's not hard to find the right one. ”

"How about I recommend a candidate?" Robert Zemeckis said with a smile, "You know that too, Bryce." ”

Ronan asked, "Bryce Dallas Howard Lang's daughter?"

Robert Zemeckis said: "That's her. When Dallas heard about the program, he signed up for an audition. ”

Ronan thought for a moment and said, "The investment in this project is too big, and I can't make an easy decision without seeing the audition results." ”

Robert Zemeckis understood what Ronan meant: "Then let's see her audition." ”

He can understand that the production budget alone is as high as 200 million US dollars, and what about the publicity and distribution costs? Such a huge amount of investment is no longer something that Ron Howard's daughter can decide.

Ronan recalled Bryce Howard's appearance, the two had met before, Bryce Howard had not yet been blessed, and the last time I heard Ron Howard mention it, she had entered the "Spider-Man 3" crew and played Gwen Stacy.

But will this typical big-boned and sturdy woman play Alice, will it be inappropriate?

In the past, Ronan's biggest impression of Bryce Howard was wearing a pair of hateful and fierce men, running wildly in the jungle.

Later, Bryce Howard seems to be getting thicker and stronger, and he is not inferior to the embarrassing Star-Lord.

Ronan didn't make a decision right away, waiting until he saw the audition.

Moreover, Anne Hathaway is also interested in the role of Alice.

After returning from Mumbai, India, Ronan and Anne Hathaway had a daytime get-together, during which they mentioned the project Alice in Wonderland.

Originally, Ronan wanted to ask Anne Hathaway if she was interested in the role of the White Queen, but Anne Hathaway wanted to audition for the heroine Alice.

Anne Hathaway is at her best, her appearance is at her peak, and her acting skills are guaranteed, and Ronan will certainly not refuse.

What's more, Anne Hathaway was really attentive, and in her exaggerated words, she almost had stomach bleeding that day.

Frankly speaking, apart from the identity of Ron Howard's daughter, Bryce Howard has no competition in front of Anne Hathaway.

Anne Hathaway is also currently preparing for the audition, one of which is to lose weight.

There's also the Mad Hatter character.

Robert Zemeckis certainly not Tim Burton who has to bring Johnny Depp into the set, and the cast for this role also has to be resolved through auditions.

At present, a number of actors have signed up for auditions, such as Bradley Cooper, who just finished filming "The Hangover", and James Franco, the little green devil in the "Spider-Man" series, and so on.

Who to choose depends on the audition effect.

For the special effects production of this project, Shahai Entertainment is still working with George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic.

Lucasfilm is becoming a more regular partner of Relativity Entertainment.

Ronan also co-founded the USC Film School Career Foundation with George Lucas, which aims to help USC Film School students integrate into the film industry more quickly after stepping out of campus.

This is also good for the development of relativistic entertainment, which can ensure a steady stream of fresh blood.

Graduates of the USC Film School who have gone through professional study and practice are more professional than those who have become monks halfway.

People like James Cameron are, after all, a minority of the few.