In 1954, Gold Press published a new book by science fiction horror writer Richard Matheson, I-Am-Legend, set in Los Angeles and starring Robert Neville, the sole survivor of a vampire-like virus pandemic, who haunts by day and hides at night, trying to research a vaccine to cure the disease while destroying the society of new human zombies.

"I Am Legend" is hailed as the first modern vampire book and has had a profound influence on the later zombie genre. In 1964, AIP, now out of business for 25 years, adapted it into the film "The-Last-Man-on-Earth," which, despite its lack of box office success, has a reputation and status, four years before 1968's Night of the Living Dead.

"Night of the Living Dead" grossed $42 million with a budget of 114,000 and rose to 200 million after adjusting for inflation, which can be said to be the "Ghost Record" of the year, and it also established the title of George A. Romero as the "father of modern zombie movies", although the horror master's recent "Land of the Living Dead" ended dismally. Romero once frankly admitted that "I Am Legend" and the movie "The Last Man on Earth" are the source material for "Land of the Living Dead", and no fan can deny Robert Neville's legendary status.

So in 1971, Warner Bros., which had acquired the filming rights, adapted it into the film "The-Omega-Man", the story is still in Los Angeles, due to the outbreak of the plague virus...... "The Last Man" did not do well at the box office, even if it was praised as a classic by many cult film lovers.

A high-level meeting is taking place in a brightly lit conference room at the headquarters of the Santa Monica Flame Film Company.

"The rights to shoot 'I Am Legend' are still with Warner Bros. One of the themes of today's meeting is a number of new films of the flame, and the young boss has a new plan to direct, but he has encountered this big problem! Seeing Wang Yang asked thoughtfully: "Is there a way to buy it?" Mark Slant pointed to the information file on the table, and said helplessly: "If the object of purchase is not us, the bid is high enough, there will be a great chance, but we have to buy ......"

Wang Yang opened the same information file in front of him and looked at it, Mark Slant laughed at himself: "Now we are the public enemies of Hollywood." Production manager Sandy Pikes, president Michael Burns, investment director Peter Wilkes and others all showed a helpless smile, you can't deliberately fail a few times, right? ”

This also leads to the fact that what the flame movie wants to get, it often pays a greater price, but fortunately, the greater the cost, the greater the gain, and the tricks of fiction and reality have also been miraculous, but this time it is ineffective for Warner Bros., who has the initiative.

In fact, Warner Bros. did not pay much attention to "I Am Legend", and the sci-fi horror style became popular again in the late 90s of the last century, which gave birth to films such as "Idle Hands", as early as 1995, Warner Bros. began to develop the "I Am Legend" film project, and Mark Prutosevich wrote the first draft screenplay, which takes place in San Francisco in 2000 and has many similarities with the original book.

Then Warner Bros. hired Neil H. Moritz as producer, Ridley Scott as director, Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson and other big names are Neville's candidates, but the company prefers Arnold Schwarzenegger. After Scott and Schwarzenegger finalized their contracts, it was July 1997. Filming was scheduled to start in September of that year, but Warner Bros. suddenly reconsidered the script because of the film's lack of commercial appeal and sales potential.

Although Ridley Scott rewrote the script to reduce the budget by 20 million, "I Am Legend", which still had a production budget of 88 million, was shelved because "Batman and Robin" starring Schwarzenegger gave Warner Bros. a heavy punch that summer.

In August 1998, Rob Bowman, the director of "I Am Legend," hired Mark Plutosevich to write a third new draft script for his own proposal, but Warner Bros. ignored him, and Rob Bowman later made the loss-making "Fire Doomsday" (2002) for Disney.

In March 2002, Arnold Schwarzenegger became the producer of "I Am Legend", and he lobbied hard to direct Michael Bay and star Will Smith, and they both joined and tried to reduce the budget for the project. However, due to Warner Bros. president Alan F. Horn's disgust and disapproval of that script, the project was once again shelved. By 2004, Warner Bros. production director Jeff Robinoff brought in Aziva Gossman, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for A Beautiful Mind, to rewrite the script for "I Am Legend."

The project has been going on for a full decade, and there is still no definite news of the start of construction.

Although it is not difficult to find a screenwriter to create a new sci-fi script with a zombie apocalypse theme and the same genre, it may be classic or vulgar, such as "Land of the Living Dead", but the reputation, status, and fan base of "I Am Legend" are all there, and it is undoubtedly the best choice for zombie movies.

"Warner Bros. is unlikely to say yes to us, and our interest will only give them confidence in the project. Mark Slunt said that everyone also understands the truth, even if Warner Bros. has not spent much money on "I Am Legend" in the past ten years, it only takes a magical sentence to go from not optimistic to optimistic. Maas-Slant frowned, and there was even more bad news: "And they are about to decide on the director, and they are expected to start production next year." He added, "Of course, maybe then another temporary stay." ”

Thinking of the 2007 version of "I Am Legend" in the future film and television information database, Wang Yang held his chin with his left hand and shook his head: "I don't think so, Aziva Gossman gave them enough confidence." ”

"It seems so. Mark Slunt and others nodded in agreement, and it was clear that Gossman was more convincing than Prutosevic, who currently only has his debut film, "Brain Cell Invasion". Mark Slant said suddenly, "But I'm sure if you want to take over 'I Am Legend,' Warners will agree." Peter Wilkes, across the table, agreed: "Yes, for sure. Everyone laughed, but they agreed? The Warner Bros. people are going to die laughing!

"What I wish I could see at the beginning of the film is the animation of the fire movie. Wang Yang didn't smile, closed the information file, and looked serious: "Let's ask first! ”

Mark Slunt and others made a note of it, and Sandy Pikes, considering the company's swappable resources, said, "We need to have a gift ready." Michael Burns suggested: "Horn is very optimistic about this project, but Robinoff is more confident that we should choose to contact Horn first." Mark Slent nodded in agreement: "Impressing Horn is the breakthrough." Wang Yang suddenly felt a tingling pain in his head, and couldn't help but tense his face and pressed his forehead, and when Slunt and several people saw this, they asked with concern: "Yang, are you okay?", "Are you okay?" ...... "It's nothing, it's just reminding me that two days ago, I was still in a coma in the hospital bed." Wang Yang smiled at everyone, clicked, and snapped his fingers with his left hand: "Go on, I probably know what Warner Bros. wants, hehe, promise they willing." He opened the company's new film project list and said with a smile: "Next, let's talk about dog movies." Everyone nodded.

In the second half of this year, Flame Films has four plans for large-scale release of new films, namely "Dance Out of My Life 2" (2005-9-23), "Chainsaw 3" (2005-10-28), "Brokeback Mountain" (2005-12-16) and "500 Days with Shamo" (2005-12-23). The first two were commercial films, "Brokeback Mountain" will adopt a strategy of first starting small and then slowly expanding, and "500 Days of Love" is highly anticipated by theater owners.

It is expected that Flame will release a total of 7 new films on a large scale throughout the year, needless to say that this summer harvest will be a bumper harvest, and the three films with a production cost of more than 100 million yuan have a good reputation.

You must know that today's flame company just relies on the profits generated by the film and television library, which is enough to maintain the company's daily expenses and salaries, and the profits of the box office of new films are like a pig's cage into water, and the financial and gross index of the flame is getting higher and higher.

At the same time, after years of step-by-step development, Flame Films has either discovered new talents or made gold shine, and has a good relationship with many producers, directors, screenwriters, actors, agents, media reporters, etc., and has established its own power from scratch. The energetic FF has already risen to become a well-deserved independent film company, and the new film schedule for the next two years has a number of plans on the line, including next year in 2006: "Ice Age 3", "The Hangover 3", "Furious Speed 2", "Mamma Mia", "Saw 4", "Deadly Magic".

The first four will attack the summer and summer files, and the last two are half-year plans.

The production of the three blockbuster sequels is proceeding in an orderly manner, and whether Wen Ziren will direct "SA4" needs to wait for the release of "SA3" before negotiating; "Mamma Mia" will be adapted and produced by the original cast of the stage play, first produced by Judy Kramer, written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Felida Lloyd, and invited Meryl Streep and others to star; The Nolan Brothers have already started production, and both films are expected to start shooting early next year.

The year after 2007, there is only one summer vacation blockbuster "The Green Hornet", and Flame Movies has been looking for someone who can ease Stephen Chow and Jim Carrey and make them have chemistry, and at the same time be able to produce the film, so that he can rest assured that he will give the director's microphone to Stephen Zhou, if Wang Yang is willing to go out in person, it will not be a problem, and now looking for it, the Flame Production Department found that the person was in Blue Sky Studio, "Kung Fu Panda" director Steve Odelcock!

O'Decock (1961) and Jim Carrey (1962) are old friends who have a good relationship, and the two have collaborated on "Vivid Colors" (screenwriter), "Wonderful Hands" (screenwriter + co-producer), "Fake God" (screenwriter + planner); Culturally different types of serious creative differences.

Steve O'Delcock, Stephen Chow and Wang Yang will co-create the script for "The Green Hornet"; Stephen Chow directs the film, but he does not have the final cutting rights; Odelcock's first production producer, Wang Yang, will also serve as executive producer, and the film is expected to start shooting next summer.

Of course, Odelcock will also be involved in the production of "Kung Fu Panda 2" aimed at the summer vacation of 2008, but now the meeting is discussing 2007, whether "League of Assassins 2" can make it still needs to wait and see the box office results of the first part, Blue Sky Studios is looking for a new animated project; excluding the temporary uncertainty of "I Am Legend", the Flame executives feel that it is time to add a new film project released in 07.

"Have you ever heard of the classic Japanese dog movie "The Tale of Hachiko the Loyal Dog"? It's a very moving story, and there is a bronze statue of Hachiko in Shibuya, Tokyo. Wang Yang glanced around the crowd with a smile and said his plan: "I think we can adapt it and remake it into a Hollywood version." ”

Everyone looked at the relevant documents in front of them, and Mark Slunter, who knew the plan in advance, said: "The remake rights of "The Tale of Hachiko the Loyal Dog" are still in the hands of Shochiku Co., Ltd., and if we buy it, we just need to pay attention to dealing with those who are scrambling." ”

Although convinced by the young boss, Peter Wilkes played his role as investment director, and he voiced his opinion: "Young, I mean the commercial appeal of this project is not high, and people prefer to watch animal comedy rather than the main character dies. ”

Now all the dog-starring movies from 1974 to the present, the North American box office champion is "Scooby-Doo" (153 million) in 2002, the runner-up is "101 Dalmatians" (136 million) in 1996, the third place is "Cats and Dogs Wars" (93.38 million) in 2001, and the next "Scooby-Doo 2", "Ice Dog Mission", "Turner and Hodge", "102 Dalmatians" ...... These high-grossing dog movies all have the classification of "family/comedy/adventure", and you can't see Japanese-style tear-jerking movies like "The Tale of Hachiko the Loyal Dog" and "Little Q the Guide Dog".

The story of "The Tale of Hachiko" is indeed moving, but it is also really sad, looking at the tenth place on the list, "K-9" only has 43.24 million North American box office, you can know that this genre is not a gold mine, so the remake of "Hachiko" is of course not favored, and it is estimated that no one will compete for it this time.

"We have many, many dog comedies, and yes, they're more profitable. Wang Yang looked at everyone's calm faces with a serious face, and said in his heart: "I also like to watch them and make you laugh for a night, but I also like to watch dog movies that move you to cry for a night, they have a different kind of touch." Seeing everyone nodding, Wang Yang continued: "No matter how the remake of "The Tale of the Loyal Dog Hachiko" is, it will not be a big production, the cost of 230 million is enough, and even if the North American market is abandoned, I think the Asian market alone is enough to pay off." ”

He made a decision to knock on the blue document of "Hachiko" and said to everyone: "I don't think there is anything to worry about about this project, we can't pursue 200 million or 300 million box office for every movie, sometimes we just want to make it, and now I think about it." ”

“OK。 "That's right. "I have no objection. The high-level Flame executives all smiled, this is not a plan that will inevitably lose money, and why should you doubt Magic Yang's gaze? A low-to-medium budget film, he can do whatever he wants! Besides, no one blames him for losing 100 million or 200 million.

"Thank you. Wang Yang smiled and thanked everyone for their support, and suddenly raised his voice: "But, we don't have this plan, I said that I like dog comedy, and I must repay my good boy Danny for saving his life, otherwise my wife will not let me go." Everyone chuckled a few times, Wang Yang pointed to a red document on the desktop, and said with a smile: "So we have a second plan, Labrador, "Marley and Me". ”

Marley & Me: Life-and-Love-ith-the-orlds-orst-Dog is a recent best-selling autobiography on the book market, written by John Grogan as a reporter for The New York Times, who tells the story of 13 years of living with Marley and his family in the first person. Often destroying their property (but completely devoid of malice) and often living up to the expectations of others...... The book was an instant hit, and is now a top seller in the New York Times, but it wasn't considered a suitable film adaptation because of the size of the book, and the fact that it was full of interesting daily events and no themes, seemed more suitable for a TV sitcom. How do you put it together into a screenplay? It's a really unpopular job, but for now, the studios don't pay much attention to "Marley and Me."

Looking at the relevant materials, Peter Wilkes frowned and said: "This theme has its selling points, but I have to read that book to know the specific feeling." ”

"'Marley and Me' is very interesting, some of the events seem to be exaggerated, but you can find the shadow of your own dog, but the ending is very sad. Wang Yang looked at Sandy Pikes and instructed, "Do whatever it takes to get its film rights, this is a project with huge market potential!" He laughed, "I really like that book!" Danny is also a Labrador, he has too many similarities with Marley, and now he is also preparing to welcome the first baby of the family. ”

Everyone is more optimistic about "Marley and Me", and naturally there is no objection.

After talking about the new film plan discussed at today's meeting, everyone talked about the DreamWorks acquisition, and the way Flame Films participated was to buy some film copyrights and script rights from the DreamWorks Library with cash, in other words, to go shopping at the "DreamWorks Supermarket". Because whether NBCUniversal or Paramount eventually buys DreamWorks, they will sell those ribs to other companies or private equity investors in order to finance the acquisition.

The Big Stomach Flame movie has cash, and it hopes to follow the usual style and find something in the DreamWorks supermarket that no one wants.

"Wang Yang took a fancy to "I Am Legend" !?"

In the spacious office, hearing Mark Snent's call, Warner Bros. President Alan F. Horn's heart pounded, what! That boring script? That big trouble that has been delayed for 10 years? Marvelous Young actually wants to buy "I Am Legend"!? Horn's first reaction was: "Don't give it to him, don't give it to him! Whatever Wang Yang likes, if you have it, keep it!" "Calm down! Calm down! I rarely heard that Marvelous Young will ask people in this regard, whether it is sold or not, this time Warner Bros. can sit on the ground and raise the price...... Horn quickly calmed down his shock, shook his legs leisurely, and asked, "Mark, why do you want to buy 'I Am Legend'?" Mark Slunt over there complained: "I don't know! Jan must shoot it, it is said that he had a similar dream when he was unconscious, you know directors have a lot of dreams." Horn plucked his ears comfortably: "Then he can come over and take it over, we welcome to see this." Mark Slunt serious: "He's a quirky guy who likes to invest on his own, which means not worrying about any possible surprises, a control freak idea." ”

The two talked back and forth for a while, the treacherous Horn was not bewitched and misled, he knew that there must be something special about "I Am Legend", and the flame would take a fancy to it, but he also knew that this was different from "Crash", at most it showed that the theme of "I Am Legend" was not garbage, it did not mean how the script in Warner's hands and how successful the future movie would be, Wang Yang's directing ability is the key, just like "Batman and Robin" and "Batman: Time to War" If he is at the helm...... After talking for a while, Horn had already made up his mind, and he began to speak directly: "Mark, give us a reason to agree?" What good can the flames give Warner? If the chips are exciting, everything is negotiable.

"Batman. Mark Slunt's crisp words seemed to have a penetrating power, and Horn's heart suddenly pounded, "Batman"!?Magical Jan is willing to take over Gotham Town!?He couldn't help but take a deep breath secretly, and his voice was a little urgent: "I'll talk to Jan personally!"

In an almost nervous mood, Horn soon heard Wang Yang's voice, heard him laugh and said: "Warner Bros. transferred the filming rights of "I Am Legend" to us, the North American distribution rights belong to Flame, and the overseas distribution rights are everyone's cooperation, and then the sequel to "Batman" is handed over to me to produce, I find the director, I find the screenwriter, and I find the actors...... Warners will see a resurrected Wayne, you know, no less than 500 million at the global box office. ”

Wow——! Horn held his breath, 500 million!!He hasn't seen a film with a global box office of 500 million, but dear God, the "Batman" series has been mired in the quagmire for 8 years!!The 125 million production fee of "Batman and Robin" received 107 million in North America, 238 million in the global box office, and 135 million in this summer's production fee "Batman: Time to War" is now about to be drawn, only a pitiful global box office of 151 million!!

The whole Warner Bros. up and down, no one knows how to clean up this mess, saying that Darren Aronofsky can't be blamed, and the question is how to shoot the second part of this series?

Either wait for a few years, and if the later stage sells well, start the sequel plan, and if the later stage doesn't work, start a new cycle. However, if the sequel has Magic Young in charge and receives 500 million global box office, it means that the brand and series come alive! This is not only a "Batman 2" thing, but also about the entire Batman peripheral product chain, as well as "Batman 3" and "Batman 4"!

"Hmm. Horn thought a little confused, a little natural: "500 million?" Over there, Wang Yang suddenly said: "If you are too little, 600 million." ”

"Oh...... What if "Batman 2" doesn't have the results you guarantee?" Horn felt that this was very casual and childish, but he was inevitably moved, the good thing about the magic Yang is that he never! Wang Yang over there smiled and asked: "Then what do you want to do?" Horn thought for a while and said a preliminary plan: "We can write clearly on the contract, if the box office does not reach 500 million...... 600 million! Then you will personally direct a summer movie with an investment of more than 100 million yuan for Warner Bros., no, no, no, two, two!"

"Then I'm also going to add a new clause, "The Dark Knight" is completely in my hands, and its promotion cost is at least 100 million. Wang Yang's non-negotiable voice came from the microphone, but Horn was puzzled for a moment: "What? "The Dark Knight" Wang Yang explained: "The title, the title of "Batman 2". Horn was surprised again: "What do you mean...... You don't plan to use 'Batman'?" Wang Yang smiled: "Yes, obviously, everyone hates 'Batman'. ”

Horn scolded hell!

(To be continued)