"What's the matter with me?" Ronan asked for two glasses of water and handed one of them to Chris, "We've been friends for many years, and we have something to say." ”

Chris didn't say it directly, but asked, "Ronan, how many years have we known each other?"

Ronan didn't quite understand what he meant, but replied, "We met in 1998 when I was looking for a publisher for Project Human Erasure, and you ended up buying out the international distribution rights for Project Human Erasure on behalf of Sony Entertainment. ”

Chris laughed, "yes, we've been friends for eight years. ”

Ronan picked up the water glass, took a sip, and said, "Chris, we are friends, you can just say something directly." ”

"I'm a little worried. Chris also picked up the water glass and said before drinking: "Jared Katzenberg's DreamWorks Animation Studio, the first animated feature film that left Relativity Entertainment, pounced ......so badly"

Ronan shook his head: "You think too much, DreamWorks took back the distribution rights of animated feature films, and they took it back by way of trading." ”

Chris put down the water glass, and his eyes fell on Ronan, although the other party's young appearance had not changed much compared to a few years ago, he knew that he could not measure the person sitting opposite with his previous gaze.

"There's something I'd like to ask you about as a personal friend. Chris said slowly.

Ronan understood: "Are you worried that because of the competition between Sony Columbia Pictures and Relativity Entertainment, not only will I not help, but I will also take the initiative to trick you, right?"

This said to Chris's heart, he smiled embarrassedly and gestured: "I'm just a little worried, only a little." ”

Ronan asked rhetorically, "Chris, have I ever cheated you before?"

"Nope. Chris said without hesitation: "You are a good friend, even if you have a conflict with Sony Columbia Pictures because of "Spider-Man", you actually don't feel sorry for me." ”

He understood the meaning behind Ronan's words, so he simply let go of his concerns and said directly: "The response of the new James Bond movie, that is, "007 v Casino Royale" in North America is a bit poor, Sony Columbia Pictures bought out the rights from MGM very early, and it is impossible to let this successful series go downhill and finish, so after the box office came out in the first week, the new James Bond movie was in charge of me." ”

Ronan raised his glass to Chris, "Congratulations." ”

"Congratulations?" Chris picked up the cup and touched it with Ronan, but there was no joy to speak of, "It's a heavy burden." ”

Ronan said lightly: "Don't say you don't have ideas. ”

If he didn't have an idea, Chris wouldn't have come over and ask Ronan for advice as a personal friend: "There are some ideas, but there are more difficulties." Director Martin Campbell was poached by Warner Bros. to direct the hell "Green Lantern", what a beep dog Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsuhara!"

Ronan had heard about these things, Martin Campbell had a rich resume, and Warner Bros. and DC Comics deliberately chose him as the director of "Green Lantern," the beginning of the DC Justice League cinematic universe.

"Before I could take over, the director was poached. Chris seemed to be complaining, and seemed to be deliberately saying to Ronan: "James Bond's style change doesn't seem to be very successful, and many people say that Bond has become Bourne, not like Bond......"

Ronan was just listening, and didn't interject, because Chris was an experienced and capable man, and these words were just saying.

Chris picked up the glass of water, drank half of it in one go, and said: "Everyone says that Bond's transformation is a failure, but I don't think so, this new Bond is still very attractive. A lot of people are nostalgic for Pierce-Brosnan-style Bond, but they deliberately ignore that Brosnan's last two Bond films didn't do well at the box office and word-of-mouth! ”

He suddenly looked at Ronan: "I'm going to ask Paul Greengrass to be the director of the next Bond film." Ronan, do you think it's okay?"

If someone else asks about it, Ronan will only say something casually, but Chris has known him for many years after all, and he is also a good friend, and the personal relationship is here, and there is no conflict of interest between them.

Therefore, Ronan thought for a moment and said, "In my personal opinion, Paul Greengrass is a better choice than Martin Campbell. ”

Chris immediately said, "I'll go to Paul Greengrass myself tomorrow." ”

Ronan smiled: "Paul is not the Paul of the past, if you want to invite him, you need to be sincere enough." ”

The huge success of the "Spy" trilogy has made Paul Greengrass one of Hollywood's first-line directors, and his value and status have skyrocketed, and it is impossible to come back and sign a trilogy contract at a small price like Shahai Entertainment.

After receiving Ronan's suggestion, Chris seemed to have more confidence out of thin air, chatted with Ronan for a while, and then left, saying that he was preparing to meet Paul Greengrass tomorrow.

When Ronan left the charity reception after Chris and returned to Beverly Hills in the car, he couldn't help but look forward to the possible future Paul Greengrass version of James Bond movies.

In terms of treating friends, Ronan didn't dare to say how good he was, but at least he promised not to cheat his friends.

This is a hundred times stronger than many people in the circle.

Chris has a friendship with Ronan and has helped him, so Ronan never thought of going to pit Chris.

As for Sony Columbia Pictures, it is not in the plans of Relativity Entertainment for the time being.

Relativity Entertainment has a number of partnerships with Sony Electronics, which is currently one of Hollywood's largest equipment suppliers.

For example, the crews of Relativistic Entertainment such as "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland" basically use all the photographic equipment made by Sony Electronics.

In this regard, we must face up to the technological advantages of the people of the island countries.

Sony Electronics is also a long-term partner of James Cameron.

Ronan also attaches great importance to the development and research of James Cameron and Sony Electronics in new technologies, and the sequel to "Avatar" has become a lifetime series, but it can't be blamed entirely on James Cameron's procrastination, which has something to do with technical problems.

Thinking of the crew of "Avatar", which is being filmed and produced in Wellington, New Zealand, Ronan is also thinking about what method to use to urge James Cameron not to really become a fan's lifetime series.

When watching the first "Avatar", the fan was still a young man, but by the time he finished watching the trilogy, he was already gray-haired......

How miserable that was.

Maybe the trilogy can't be filmed, and James Cameron will be blessed by God?

Ronan felt it was very necessary to keep James Cameron in the decade...... No, even within twelve years, complete the trilogy of the "Avatar" series.

It's an incredibly difficult task, and Ronan feels harder than Relativity Entertainment is to take the rights to those classic cartoons from Disney.

Back at the Future World Manor, Ronan asked the housekeeper Nikia to make a cup of tea and went straight to the study.

During the day, George Clint called him, and the screenwriting department of Shahai Entertainment had completed the first draft of the live-action script for "Beauty and the Beast" and sent it to his work mailbox.

Ronan watched it carefully, and the screenwriting team completely followed his requirements, and the script basically copied the plot of the classic animated feature film without making too many changes.

One of the main selling points of this kind of film is feelings and memories, and it is the most stupid to change it rashly.

In addition, Relativity Entertainment also has the right to use any music and songs from animated feature films, which can easily evoke memories in the audience.

Nikia personally carried the teacup into the study at this time, and Ronan asked casually, "Have you seen Disney's animated movie Beauty and the Beast?"

"Yes. Nikia replied softly, "I first saw it in the theater, and then I saw it in the theater later." ”

Ronan is not asking a blind question, but a large proportion of the audience of Beauty and the Beast is women, and the opinions of women who have seen animated feature films are very informative: "Nikia, who do you think is the most suitable young actress in Hollywood to play Bale?"

Nikia thought for a moment and said, "Didn't Miss Anne Hathaway play a Disney princess?"

Ronan shook his head: "She's not suitable, and she may not want to act." ”

Anne Hathaway finally got rid of the idol image of the princess, how could she easily drive back and play the princess again?

"I'm not particularly familiar with young actresses in Hollywood. Nikia uttered a name anyway: "I think Emma Watson might be good." ”

Ronan smiled, "Hermione?"

The former live-action version of Bell, which seems to be played by Emma Watson, was a huge success.

Emma Watson now seems to be a little young, right?

There is no rush to make a decision in this regard, after all, among the actresses born in the 85s and 90s in Hollywood, there are many outstanding looks.

But Ronan has certain doubts about Emma Watson, and now Hermione Granger is too popular, and Emma Watson plays Hermione Granger in everything.

In addition, Emma Watson's salary is also a problem, with the current popularity of the "Harry Potter" series, it is estimated that it will cost tens of millions of dollars to invite Emma Watson to play the heroine.

This is not a good value for money at all.

As for Emma Watson's arrogant and difficult rumors, these are not on Ronan's radar.

After reading the script, Ronan resent it back to the screenwriting department of Shahai Entertainment, asking them to refine the script to meet the needs of future filming.

If it goes well, the project will start next year, and it will be released in the 2008 holiday or 2009 summer season.

Ronan also has a plan on the budget, in addition to the main emotional card of the film, the picture must be beautiful, like a real fairy tale world, so the money invested in special effects must be very high.

Shahai Entertainment has set an initial production budget of up to $150 million for Beauty and the Beast.