Walking out of the Relativity Building, John Waters has a faint smile on his emaciated face, this trip has not been in vain, and Ronan Anderson has reached a preliminary cooperation intention.

It depends on the next negotiations.

As for New Line Pictures and Robert Shea, John Waters can't care so much.

Robert Shea wasted two years on him.

As early as after the success of "Chicago" that year, he wanted to make "Hairspray" into a movie again, but he did not receive the corresponding attention.

John Waters is a freelance director-producer who doesn't tie his future to a studio.

Song and dance films are now in the resurgence period, and we must hurry up.

In October, the film market was not shocked, and there were even fewer films that really caused a sensation, and in the second week of the North American release of "Mamma Mia", Sony Columbia's "The Legend of Zorro" officially opened in North America.

It's a sequel to the 1998 film Zorro's Mask.

The first part was a success, but the second part dragged on for too long, until Antonio Banderas was old and Catherine Zeta-Jones was late.

And Hollywood is no longer the Hollywood of the nineties, and the film market is changing too fast and too much.

In terms of action movies, the audience has experienced the baptism of various special effects spectacles, and it is difficult to be obsessed with a grand theft movie as before.

"The Legend of Zorro" didn't have much of an impact on "Mamma Mia", and only got $16.32 million at the box office in its first weekend in North America, far lower than the $23.51 million that "Mamma Mia" earned the following weekend.

Relativity Entertainment's song and dance film is very stable, with a total box office of $77.78 million in just ten days of release in North America.

It is inevitable that the North American box office will exceed 100 million.

According to an internal forecast released by Embassy Pictures, "Mamma Mia" will be able to recoup the total cost of production budget and publicity investment just by relying on the North American box office.

Overseas revenue will be the film's net profit.

Since this weekend, "Mamma Mia" has also landed in many overseas markets, and since the revue first appeared in London's West End, the film has also performed best commercially in the UK.

The UK box office in its opening weekend was a whopping $13.15 million!

Combined with other overseas markets, "Mamma Mia" earned nearly $30 million in its overseas opening weekend.

If nothing else, the film's overseas box office total of more than $100 million is not a problem.

Meanwhile, the soundtrack of "Mamma Mia" topped Billboard's album sales charts as expected.

For the soundtrack alone, Embassy Pictures has earned more than $4 million.

The success of "Mamma Mia" also made Ronan completely determined to continue to develop the genre of musical and dance films.

Shahai Entertainment quickly negotiated with John Waters to invest $30 million to produce the film of the same name based on the multi-Tony Award-winning revue "Hairspray."

It includes John Waters' $5 million copyright transfer fee and project grants.

After all, this is a famous Tony Award-winning musical and dance show, and the copyright is in the hands of an industry veteran like John Waters, and there is no possibility of getting it at a low price.

"Hairspray" will be officially established within this year, and strive to be released at the end of next year or in the first half of 2007.

One of the main determining factors comes from the choice of actress for the heroine.

Young actresses who can sing and dance are not hard to find in Hollywood, and it is no exaggeration to say that people like Taylor Swift, who is preparing for an audition for "Hannah Montana", can find something similar in Hollywood.

But on top of these conditions, plus the option of being fat, it is quite difficult.

can sing and dance, has certain acting skills, and is still a big fat man, such a young actress, even in Hollywood, is not something that can be found by looking for it.

According to John Waters, the best thing to do is to find the right actress and then let her gain weight quickly and become a big fat person.

In the case of male actors, the problem is not very big, but it is really hard to say whether the girls are willing to sacrifice for this.

It is estimated that actresses would rather compensate the director or producer for their nonsense than make such a choice.

If you can't get back the weight, it will be a tragedy.

Even if you lose weight, sagging skin and the like are terrible.

Not every actress has Charlize Theron's courage.

Moreover, this film requires far more fat than Charlize Theron did in the first place.

The audience of "Hairspray" will not be a problem, at least not narrower than "Mamma Mia", and anti-discrimination is also one of the values recognized by the public.

The social situation in the United States is changing rapidly, and this is not Ronan himself, but people who are a little more sensitive to touch around him can basically feel it.

The black movement has become more radical, various anti-discrimination activities have emerged one after another, the call for women's rights has been sounding day by day, and the gay community has raised rainbow flags and marched at every turn......

All of these will have a profound impact on Hollywood's film production and market response.

In October, gay and lesbian marches erupted again in the Hollywood area in solidarity with the Canadian group next door fighting for the right to legally marry this year.

In Los Angeles, this is already the fifth time this year.

Last year, Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize gay marriage, and more states in the United States are seeking to legalize marriage.

California seems to be open, but in fact it is very resistant.

That's why gay and lesbian parades are so frequent in Los Angeles.

"Equal rights, this will become a theme that will never go out of fashion in American society for the next decade or so. ”

Standing in front of the window of his office, Ronan looked at the rainbow flag fluttering outside the Relativity Building and said, "Movies related to this will also become popular." ”

Jessica Filton stood next to Ronan with a cup of coffee and also looked outside: "So, you deliberately chose to make Brokeback Mountain during this time period?"

Ronan smiled and said, "It's in line with the social trend." ”

Today's parade, where thousands of gay and lesbian people set off from North Hollywood, traveled through the entire Hollywood area, and finally arrived in Century City in Beverly Hills.

Jessica Felton said: "It is said that quite a few pro-gay Hollywood stars also participated in the march. ”

Ronan was pretty sure: "As far as I know, Charlize Theron and Sophia Loren and others have gone, and they're right next door in front of the film school. The promoters of this event are also there. ”

"They're smart. Jessica Filton immediately thought of the meaning behind this: "Hollywood has always liked to get ahead of the curve, and the publicity of movies and television is huge. ”

She looked at Ronan: "If 'Brokeback Mountain' wins, Relativity Entertainment will be ahead of everyone in Hollywood." ”

Ronan said, "Just one step ahead. ”

Jessica Felton suddenly asked, "Ronan, are you rooting for them?"

Ronan wouldn't have answered this question at all, but Jessica Felton, like Robert Lee and George Clint, is someone he can trust.

And this is his office, and the words can't be heard outside at all.

"Support can't be talked about. Ronan said truthfully: "Don't object, don't support, let it be." ”

He turned to Jessica Felton and asked, "What about you? As far as I know, you haven't had a boyfriend, have you?"

"Me?" Jessica Filton wondered.

Ronan deliberately joked: "You won't carry the rainbow flag one day, right?"

"No, it won't. Jessica Filton bluntly stated: "Absolutely not. ”

She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip: "I don't support or oppose this group. ”

"I specifically asked people to investigate, and when the New Year comes, they will have a huge parade, and 'Brokeback Mountain' will be released in North America before then," Ronan said. ”

Jessica Felton smiled, "You're the best at taking advantage of the social situation." ”

Ronan smiled: "Such a good condition, it can't be wasted, right?"

"This "Hairspray" is also a social situation that takes advantage of anti-discrimination and affirmative action. Jessica Felton said, "Do you want this revue to hit the Oscars?"

Ronan shook his head: "It's not decided yet, I'll talk about it when the film is made." He thought for a moment and then said, "Jesse, this project John Waters is both a director and a producer, but the position of first producer can't be given to him, you can take care of it." ”

Jessica Filton nodded: "The filming of "Juno" is going well, and I am not too busy here, and the pre-production stage can be taken into account, but when the filming and production are completed, the final review work will still be done by you." ”

Ronan said, "Okay, wait until you go back to Shahai Entertainment and meet John Waters." ”

"It's almost time, I'm going back. Jessica Filton picked up her coffee cup and turned around as she sipped.

This is an action that a normal person can easily complete, but because of the sudden shaking of the tall peak, Jessica Filton's hand trembled, and the coffee inevitably spilled from the cup he picked up.

Due to the protrusion of the peak, which blocked the fall of the coffee, the brown liquid landed on Jessica Felton's white thread shirt.

Ronan hurriedly took the coffee cup in her hand, and because the position was too sensitive, it was difficult to touch, so he could only ask, "Are you okay?"

"It's fine. Jessica Filton looked annoyed: "It's been a long time since I've been like this!"

Ronan tested the temperature of the cup and said, "It's good that it's not hot." ”

Quickly came to the desk, pulled out some tissues and handed them to Jessica Felton, Jessica Felton took it and wiped the shirt gently, the smudge on the white was too obvious.

Jessica Filton simply didn't wipe it: "I'll go back and change my clothes." ”

Ronan pointed and asked, "Are you alright?" or I'll ask Connie to buy you one. ”

"No, I don't. Jessica Filton waved her hand: "I'm used to this situation, just see it." ”

Ronan didn't say anything more and sent Jessica Felton out of the office.

Jessica Felton didn't seem to really care, and generously walked through the hallway and into the elevator room.

Ronan shook his head, confessed to Connie, and went to the floor below to talk to Ang Lee about the awards season and Oscar public relations.