"That's a very exciting project, yes...... Yes!! don't worry, OK, bye-bye. ”

The microphone was put down, Wang Yang pressed his forehead against the back of the chair, and exhaled, what the hell is going on!? These people reacted much more violently than he expected, just because Jon Favreau screwed up "Zathura", and he had previously asked Favreau to direct "Iron Man".

In fact, in the eyes of Wang Yang as an audience and filmmaker, "Zathura" has merits, its visual effects are very good, and it can grasp the atmosphere and rhythm of adventure and thriller, etc.; but there is always a reason for failure, and he believes that one of the key points is that it claims to be a sequel to "Jumanji" in publicity, yes, 1995's "Jumanji" has a global box office of 262 million, with a strong influence, he loved it very much back then, and the film is interesting and fun at the same time, so this is an impression label.

"Zathura" and "Jumanji" are both board game modes, not only do the plot characters have no continuity, but also none of the actors are from the previous work, the then 13-year-old Kirsten Dunst is now "Spider-Man's girlfriend", they don't even have the same title, but it is a "sequel", under the pressure of the fans of the previous game, ten years ago, children and teenagers are now pursuing "sun, beach, beauty" of young people, he's almost a dad, and you can expect them to enjoy a sequel to a children's movie? nostalgia? Of course they're bored watching it now, and today's kids don't want to watch a sequel.

If "Zathura" hadn't had so much to do with "Jumanji," it probably wouldn't have failed so badly, and it had to say that it was a sequel, but it didn't think that times were different.

So it must not be said that it is completely Jon Favreau's fault that "Zathura" messed up, although he has a certain responsibility, but the script and publicity are mainly responsible, the script mistakenly chose space as the background of the story, and the publicity was incorrectly positioned as a sequel, which is the fault of Columbia, but they blindly use Favreau as a scapegoat, in fact, if you think about it, you know that it is not his fault, which must be the reason why Marvel & Paramount dared to invite him to direct "Iron Man" later.

Wang Yang has explained to the heads of the new line and Warner Bros., and he is also telling Michael Lynn the truth, the failure of "Zathura" has given Jon Favreau more motivation, he wants to prove himself, no matter what, he is the best "Iron Man" director candidate at the moment.

Mark Slunter, who was dressed in a formal suit, knocked on the door and walked in, he sat down on the chair in front of the desk and asked, "What's wrong?" Wang Yang looked at him and spread his hands: "I don't know! Everyone is like crazy, for Fei Ru, for Nolan...... What is this?"

Mark Slunt shrugged his shoulders with his glasses, Favreau was just a fuse for a small thing to become bigger, the key was that they didn't trust him enough, and they weren't satisfied with the bold production ideas, after all, this is the first time that Flame Movies has taken the initiative to cooperate with others, and it is a blockbuster with a budget of 120 million, look at how Lionsgate has nervous "Ghost 3", Mark Slant said: "You used to make things too perfect, and after you look forward to it, a little change will make people pay special attention." ”

"Really? I thought I had just brought down a film company. Wang Yang shook his head helplessly, and Mark Slant smiled and said, "You can take it as a good thing, Favreau will like the microphone of "Iron Man", but he really can?" Wang Yang grabbed a paper ball and threw it at him, and said in a calm tone: "I never doubt that, don't ask this kind of question again! Mark Slunt took the paper ball and put it on the table, reminding, "Young, it's better not to get too unpleasant with them." ”

"I know, there's nothing unpleasant, but if you keep going, haha!" Wang Yang smiled, if he didn't have patience, then no one in the world did, but those old people...... God knows if they will deliberately increase the pressure in order to force change? They won't be so stupid, right? Wang Yang seriously ordered: "So I called you over, you can get them for me! I don't want to coax them anymore, damn it, I'm not their husband." Mark Slunt said, "These guys are even more difficult than wives. WANG YANG POINTED AT HIM WITH THE INDEX FINGER OF BOTH HANDS: "MY-MAN, YOUR BUSINESS!"

After the two talked a few more words, Mark Slunt got up to leave, Wang Yang looked at the perpetual motion instrument spinning around on the table, thought silently for a while, and suddenly said to himself: "It's time to have a good talk with Will." ”

"But first......" Wang Yang picked up his mobile phone and dialed Fei Ru, from the voice of "hello", it could be heard that Fei Ru's mood was very low, Wang Yang greeted: "Hi, Jon, I'm sorry about Zathura, but I don't think it's your fault......"

Listening to Wang Yang's insights and comfort, Jon Favreau felt quite comfortable, and said at intervals: "Yes, thank you, yes...... Thank you. Hearing Wang Yang's topic change again, "The matter of "Iron Man", his heart suddenly burst out, in fact, a few days ago the box office of "Zathura" came out on the first day, he no longer expected to direct "Iron Man", and he is really injured now, he needs some time to lick his wounds, Wang Yang said "I think you have to rest for a while", sure enough! Those are just polite words of comfort.

Although he had expected it, Fei Ru still received some blows, and he couldn't blame Magic Yang for being mean, who made him so poisonous? Fei Ru was stunned, and couldn't help but ask, "What?

"What are you talking about? You think what I just said is a lie, don't you?" Wang Yang laughed, Fei Ru over there also laughed, and did not mean to embarrass him, Wang Yang smiled in the microphone: "Seriously, I think Zathura is just a failure in operation, Jon, I know you can do it......"

After listening to him for a while, Fei Ru dared to be sure, this is not a joke! Magical Young really wants to ask him to direct "Iron Man", "Zathura" 13.42 million first weekend box office, this is really ...... He had all kinds of feelings in his heart, surprise, surprise, surprise, disbelief, and some self-doubt and hesitation, his voice was a little soft: "Do you think I can do a good job in "Iron Man"?" Wang Yang laughed: "I don't believe you, and I believe me, but it's better to believe in yourself, don't ask stupid questions!" Jon, now you don't pay attention to what others say, enjoy your vacation, it won't be too long, "Iron Man" will be released in the summer of 2007. ”

"Oh, I will...... Take a good rest for a while. The two continued to talk for a while, hung up the phone, and after a while, Fei Ru gradually came back to his senses and sighed: "Oh, my God!"

An afternoon was about to end, and the editing work of "500 Days with Shamo" was taken care of by Margaret, because of these production and company affairs, Wang Yang stayed in the office but was still busy, close to the standard end time, the assistant called and said that there was an appointment to arrive, and he nodded in a good mood: "Please let him in." ”

Accompanied by the assistant opening the door, a black-haired Asian teenager in a jacket and jeans walked in, and when he saw Wang Yang, a trace of excitement flashed on his face, and he didn't know where to put his hands: "Mr. Wang, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm David-Ren ......"

Teenager is the Chinese director of FM's upcoming film "Shanghai Kiss" David Ren (David-Ren, Ren Yi), born on November 5, 1986 in Shanghai, China, grew up in Queens, New York, in 2003, 17-year-old Ren Yi moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career, and is currently studying at the School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Redlands, a private university, but despite his young age, he has married his fiancée Athena-Hu (Athena-Hu) this year.

After coming to Los Angeles, Ren Yi actively sought investment for the script "Shanghai Kiss" written by himself, and then received investment from the Koniser brothers and others, co-directed with Kern-Koniser, and found Ken Leung, Kelly Hu, Haydn Panettie and others to star, which is also the 16-year-old popular child star Haydn Panettiere's film with the lowest salary since he started filming. This year, after filming from July 4 to September 2 during the summer vacation, the film entered the post-production stage and faced a difficult search for distribution.

"Shanghai Kiss" is a film of Chinese actors, about the theme type of second-generation immigrants who are confused and painful about their own identity, such a small-budget movie, such an unknown team, 19-year-old Chinese director? Amazing Young? In addition to Panettie, how many people know each other? How many people know Penettie? The rough cut version of FM believes that "Shanghai Kiss" has too many shortcomings, the market potential is very limited, and it does not have the ability to be released in theaters, but there is a successful case of "Hot Maji", with its comedy characteristics, it can still try the distribution strategy of DVD and test screening, and the film and television library does not think that there are many films, so they negotiated to serve as its distributor in the form of a small advance payment and dividends.

"Hello, nice to meet you. After Wang Yang learned about this, he invited Ren Yi to come over to meet and talk, because "Shanghai Kiss" was not in the film and television information database in his mind, and he didn't know what would happen to Ren Yi, but FM would do a good job. Wang Yang got up to greet him, shook hands with Ren Yi and patted him on the shoulder, walked to the chair, and asked him to sit down and smiled: "David, don't be restrained, you know that I am also 19 years old, we are both young people, and we are mature married men." ”

"Hehe!" finally saw the idol since childhood, Ren Yi was so excited that his heart was about to stop beating, although he had been in the rivers and lakes for a few years, he was stupid for a while, he was speechless, so handsome! God, if he could work on the set with Magic Young...... He was a little confused, sat down in a chair in front of the desk, couldn't help but smile, and said with a smile: "Yang...... I don't know how to say it, I'm a big fan of yours. ”

Wang Yang looked at his childish young face with a smile, remembering the scene when he went to many film companies in the early summer of that year, it seemed to be a long time ago, and it seemed that it was just yesterday, he suddenly laughed: "Thank you, but I won't sign it for you, VVV, it's too old-fashioned." "Sometimes I sit in the office for too long, but I miss the hard years of running on the street, and suddenly I feel that those old people are not so annoying, he got a burst of energy from Ren Yi, no matter what, go forward!

"Oh, okay......" Ren Yile smiled, knowing what he meant, Magic Yang didn't want their relationship to be like an idol fan, he was very happy, and said, "Can you sign one for my wife Athena?" Wang Yang smiled and nodded: "OK, both Chinese and English." So how is your Chinese level? Do you watch a football game? Knicks fans?"Queens is the mecca of streetball in New York, and there are many NBA players. Ren Yi replied ashamedly: "I'm not very proficient in Chinese, and the ball game is okay, not a senior fan." Wang Yang dispelled the idea of communicating in Mandarin, and said with a smile: "Is "Shanghai Kiss" cut......?" Although Wang Yang asked Ren Yi not to be restrained, Ren Yi was still in a state of excitement that was almost blank in his mind, and slowly calmed down comfortably. Because he didn't know the specific situation of "Shanghai Kiss", Wang Yang couldn't give any advice on the film itself, and it was already in the completion stage, but he still had a lot of experience to tell Ren Yi and answer his questions, the two talked for a long time, and it was not until after a long time off work that the meeting ended, and FM will release "Shanghai Kiss" next spring.

After listening to a lot of Mark Snent's words, the two old men of the new line, the Warner Bros. executives are still very distressed, should they believe 100% in Magic Young? In fact, they are not unreasonable stupid people, Magic Young does have his reasons, but ...... Is it possible to make him change his mind!

When the curtain came down on November 11-17, the atmosphere of Thanksgiving became more and more intense, "Chicken Boys" won the North American weekly box office championship with 35.63 million US dollars, "Jedi Dragon" with 15.31 million and "Jumanji 2" with 15.18 million shared the second and third places, and "Saw 3" in the third week of release took 14.44 million box office (-45.8%, 3240 theaters, average $4,458) and ranked fifth, with a total box office of 94.72 million.

"Zathura" only grossed a sad 1.76 million in the first four days of its first week! How could it not be ridiculed and ridiculed by the blackmails? "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was fully released on the 18th, announcing its complete end. The owners of 3,223 theaters were crying so much that their eyes were swollen, and if Jon Favreau suddenly stood in front of them, the consequences would be unimaginable. The media's doubts about Fei Ru and Wang Yang are still in full swing, and there are more discussions, which has become a topic that fans and fans must talk about these days.

"Excuse me!?What are you talking about?" At a party at a friend's house, I heard someone say that Magic Yang is crazy, and Evelyn, a die-hard fan, opened her mouth in shock, who is crazy!?Everyone around looked at the white boy who was questioned, he shrugged his shoulders and said: "I just think Wang Yang has been like a fool recently......" Evelyn laughed: "What do you mean? "Firefly" is almost 1.8 billion box office, and the DVD has sold more than 14 million copies?" The boy said urgently: "He was tricked by Jon Favreau! He is ready to destroy "Spider-Man", "" Iron Man. Evelyn excitedly shouted to the crowd, "I seriously disagree with him! I think Jan doesn't care about Zathura, Favreau is part of his plan......"

"Haha!" The boy laughed a few times, and several people around him laughed, probably thinking that Wang Yang was really caught off guard this time......! BOO! It's like Favreau. Evelyn sneered, "I only knew that Miraculous Jan would give you a blow, BOO!BOOBOO!"

"Favreau's Zathura wasn't Magic Young's idea! and it was a good movie. Another friend party, Claire was helplessly explaining the ins and outs to everyone, and there were still people who thought that "Zathura" was produced by Wang Yang, and they didn't know where to confuse the news!

However, there are also some professional film fans who oppose it, not to mention the opposition of film critics who are eager to try, and their reasonable and well-founded views make Yang fans unable to refute for a while, don't Wang Yang's projects all have huge risks? Aren't they almost a dead end? Even if the producer is not a magical Yang, these doubts will exist! Different projects and different people, maybe there is no problem; now all the dead ends are Wang Yang's walking, and he is crazy.

"Let's see!" said the Yang fans, the neutrals said so, and the Yang blacks said the same, "Let's see!" Before seeing the results of those films, let's see if he will replace Favreau?

Fantastic Young said that "Iron Man" will not change the director. For Yang fans, great, everything is in Wang Yang's hands! For Yang blacks, great, the hard-mouthed Wang Yang will not admit his mistake! Although Jon Favreau has been questioned a lot, Wang Yang still has high hopes for him, and he told the Los Angeles Times: "Favreau is still the director of "Iron Man", and we are close to completing the signing. Of course I've heard about Zathura, but I don't think it has anything to do with it, Favreau's abilities don't need to be doubted, and I'm confident in Iron Man. ”

Because it is rumored in the industry that Warner Bros. is very dissatisfied with the director of "The Dark Knight", and even withdraws the cooperation with Flame, on the other hand, it is rumored that Nolan Brothers is retiring because of too much pressure. When asked if the plans for this new "Batman" series have changed, Wang Yang looked very inexplicable: "Are you kidding? What does this have to do with "The Dark Knight"? The director must be Christopher Nolan, this will not change. ”

Fans don't know what's going on under Warner Bros., New Line and the flames, but this weekend is destined to be interesting, and Fantastic Young suddenly announced on his blog that he will be directing and producing "I Am Legend"!

(To be continued)