There was a knock on the office door, Ronan said please come in, and Eva pushed the door in and said, "Mr. Anderson, Director Paul Greengrass is here, and he wants to see you." ”

Ronan handed the book and the first third of the script to Paul Greengrass just yesterday and asked, "Did he come alone?" or with an agent?"

Coming alone is completely different from bringing an agent, and the strategy he has to use on his side is completely different.

Eva replied, "Alone." ”

Ronan had a plan in his heart, thought for a while, and said, "Please come in with Director Greengrass." ”

Paul Greengrass is undoubtedly easier to convince than an agent, and it will be much easier to reach an agreement with Paul Greengrass and negotiate with Dean later.

Paul Greengrass entered the office with his briefcase, sat down and greeted with a smile: "Good morning, Mr. Anderson. ”

"Good morning, Director Greengrass. Ronan secretly observed that Paul Greengrass was tired, with black bags under his eyes, and his long hair was scattered, but it made people feel excited, as if he hadn't fallen asleep because of excitement. He quickly made a judgment and asked tentatively, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Paul Greengrass is a relatively pure director, he didn't think much about it at all, opened his briefcase, took out the original book and thin script of "The Identity of Bourne", and said: "I went back yesterday and have been studying the original book and the original, and the role of Jason Bourne is much better than the setting of the previous agent." ”

He made no secret of his thoughts: "Mr. Anderson, this script and character are very suitable for my style, can you give me this project to direct?"

Ronan didn't answer, seemingly hesitating.

"I know that the last 'Ace Agent' failed. Paul Greengrass couldn't escape the question: "Now the North American box office is almost nine million dollars, which shows that there are a lot of people who can accept my style of film, and Jason Bourne is an orthodox American character......"

Ronan was not in a hurry to express his position, but said: "Director Greengrass, did you inform Dean? According to the rules of the industry, I can't talk to you about work without the presence of an agent." ”

This is of course meant to make Paul Greengrass feel like he hasn't made a decision yet.

Paul Greengrass studied the script all night, and made all kinds of ideas, and even some of the pictures were preliminarily constructed in his head, and he didn't take the agent to heart at all, and said directly: "It's not a problem on Dean's side." ”

After the failure of "Ace Agent", he understood one thing, his unique film style needed a suitable carrier.

"Ace Agent" is inherently flawed, but "The Identity of Bourne" is a perfect fit.

If you don't return to the world cinema center to prove yourself again, will you have to nest in Britain for the rest of your life?

The more Paul Greengrass took the initiative, the less rushed Ronan became.

"I've just started the director selection for this project, and I've had a number of directors contact with me. Ronan said unhurriedly: "Some people have already got the original book and part of the script from me. ”

Paul Greengrass instantly remembered the man from yesterday and said, "Mr. Anderson, we worked together once, and you know me, and I know you. We had almost the same philosophy, and we both wanted to create an extraordinary spy movie, and you've seen the action scenes I've filmed, which is more suitable for a civilian agent like Bourne. ”

Ronan folded his hands in his desk, as if seriously considering Paul Greengrass's words.

"Quick cuts and handheld photography?" Ronan nodded slightly, "I like this style......"

Paul Greengrass did not want to go back to the UK, saying: "This style complements the tone set by the original author and the screenwriter of the adaptation, the protagonist Jason Bourne is an agent who is constantly searching for his true identity and at the same time evading the CIA assassination, and the insecurity caused by this amnesia, and the anxiety of not knowing his identity, cannot be presented in Spielberg's almost classical narrative lens, nor can it be created in Quentin's playful and playful images, which is more suitable for the documentary style that handheld photography can bring!"

Ronan tapped his fingers, combined with Paul Greengrass's words, recalling the movies that confirmed his memory and the original books he had read, as well as the scripts.

I have to say that what Paul Greengrass said is very consistent with the movie in memory.

Perhaps, Paul Greengrass, a journalist-turned-director, was born for the "Spy" series.

Seeing that Ronan did not express his position, Paul Greengrass said: "After reading the original book and the script yesterday, I thought about it a lot. He also has ideas for future filming and filmmaking. ”

He glanced at Ronan and continued: "The shaky chase action, the incomplete scene composition, and the fast and sharp editing technique can cover every area where Jason Byrne resides like an airtight canopy, and if there is anything else that can accurately describe this closed story structure and the wandering of the characters, it can only be found in hand-held shake photography and fragmented editing!"

Speaking of this, Paul Greengrass's confidence was greatly increased: "So, it's not that this project is looking for this way, but that 'The Identity of Bourne' needs this kind of image!"

The hesitation on Ronan's face faded away, as if he had been moved by Paul Greengrass.

"Times have changed. Ronan said slowly: "What you said makes sense, spy movies are not just about beautiful women and bombs, sometimes the mental stimulation brought by extraordinary people walking off the altar is often much more impressive than the tedium caused by lingering on the altar." ”

Paul Greengrass nodded hurriedly: "Yes! That's what I mean!"

Ronan smiled: "Frankly speaking, I have met several directors during this time, many of them are famous, but I always feel that they are missing something, especially when it comes to spy movies, these directors always like to lean on James Bond and Ethan Hant." ”

He sighed: "Actually, I always knew what was most needed for this project. Director Greengrass, your style is so unique that I will never forget it. ”

Hearing this, Paul Greengrass breathed a sigh of relief.

Ronan seemed to have made a decision with great difficulty: "I am personally willing to work with you, but there are some things that need to be said up front. ”

Flying from England to Los Angeles and tossing around for another night to study the script, Paul Greengrass felt that there was nothing unacceptable, Ronan Anderson couldn't unsubtly rule him, right?

"Just say. Paul Greengrass said.

Ronan said calmly: "First of all, your salary. Director Greengrass, you must know that Hollywood has a perfect system for evaluating directors and actors. ”

Paul Greengrass nodded: "I know. ”

"Shahai Entertainment also has regulations in this regard, and I can't violate the company's regulations. Ronan said: "So, your salary will not be higher than that of "Ace Agent"...... Well, I can guarantee $500,000. No matter how high it is, I can't explain it to the whole company. ”

What Paul Greengrass wants is this directorial position and the opportunity to prove it, the salary is the second level of consideration, and maintaining the salary level of "Ace Agent" is basically in line with his current status.

"Yes. Paul Greengrass answered straight up.

Ronan picked up the original book of "Byrne's Identity" and asked, "You have read the original book, you should know that this is a trilogy series, right?"

There is a note on the back cover of the book, which Paul Greengrass saw yesterday: ""Bourne's Supremacy and Bourne's Ultimatum, I haven't read it yet. ”

Ronan put down the book and said: "The film copyright of these two books is also in my hands, once the first one is successful, the next two will inevitably be adapted into the movie, which will be a complete trilogy series." In order to guarantee the continuity and consistency of the trilogy's style content, I needed a stable director. ”

He knew that he couldn't suppress it all at once, and said: "Paul, your personal style is too strong and unique, others can't imitate it at all, if "Byrne's Identity" is successful and the director is changed later, the future of this series is worrying." ”

Paul Greengrass, of course, understood what he meant, and hesitated for a moment.

Ronan didn't seem to see the hesitation on his face, and said to himself: "I can guarantee that you have the permission to shoot and produce "Ace Agent", I heard that you worked with George Clint very well last time, and Shahai can let George be the production manager." ”

The cooperation between the producer, who has the highest authority on the crew, and the production manager, who is responsible for handling the day-to-day affairs, is crucial to the director's job, and Paul Greengrass naturally knows this, and he is also willing to work with a moderate producer like Ronan in terms of feelings and feelings.

But the trilogy ......

Ronan has done so much to get Paul Greengrass to sign a trilogy contract at a time, otherwise the follow-up single salary negotiation will be very troublesome.

"The budget for the first part is $50 million, and $500,000 accounts for one percent of the budget. Ronan threw out a killer idea: "The next two sequels, each with a budget of no less than $50 million." If you have a second film, your director's salary is 3% of the budget, and the third is 6% of the budget. ”

Without such a contract, and if the film can achieve the success of the previous life, by the time of the second part, Paul Greengrass's request for $5 million plus a certain post-production share is very reasonable, and it is not a problem for the third film to get a total salary of more than $20 million.

Although this kind of contract can be modified to a certain extent in the future, as long as the trilogy director contract is signed, the initiative will be held on the side of Shahai Entertainment.

The salary of the second part was tripled, and the third part was tripled, and Paul Greengrass thought for a while, and finally said: "Mr. Anderson, I am willing to work with Shahai on the trilogy!"

Ronan stood up and shook his hand with a smile: "Let Dean come and talk to me about the specific contract." However, you need to communicate with him beforehand. ”

Paul Greengrass nodded: "No problem. ”