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In the following week, Matthew joined the preparation of "The Three Hundred Spartan Warriors", where he was mainly responsible for leading and supervising all the actors participating in the Spartan Warriors in fitness and swordsmanship training, and occasionally communicating with the action director crew to coordinate the design of Leonidas's action scenes.

Just entering February, news came from Aziva Gosman's side that he and investor Warner Bros. had chosen Francis Lawrence as the director of "I Am Legend".

Matthew specifically let Helen Herman know about Francis Lawrence, a relatively junior film director, like Zack Schneider, who was born as an advertising and MV director, and has previously shot MVs for singers such as Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne and Beyoncé North, and there is currently only one film work, the film "Constantine" released by Warner Bros. and adapted from DC Comics.

That is, Keanu Reeves's movie last year.

With a production cost of $100 million, more than $70 million in North America and $230 million worldwide, the film was not a huge success at the box office alone.

Who was the director of the "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith, Matthew didn't know at all, he was just attracted by the name of one man and one dog and watched the movie at that time, how could he specifically remember the director's name.

Matthew called Keanu Reeves, and even though Keanu Reeves didn't treat him very well lately, he chatted with him in detail, and Keanu Reeves spoke highly of Francis Lawrence, believing that he was a conscientious and talented director.

Zack Schneider is also from the MV and advertising director circles, and he also knows Francis Lawrence, and when Matthew talked to him, Zack Schneider also said that Francis Lawrence is quite good.

Aziva Gossman and Warner Bros. Ken chose Francis Lawrence as the director, and Francis Lawrence is said to have come up with a whole set of plans that impressed them.

As an actor, it is difficult to have a say in the choice of directors, even if it is an A-list actor like Matthew, unless it is like "The Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta", he initiates the project, or the actor of the project must be him.

Both Aziva Gosman and Warner Bros. were happy to pick him as the leading actor, but he didn't have to.

Of course, if Matthew is not satisfied with the director, he can also communicate with Aziva Gosman and Warner Bros., the two sides are so different that he can walk out of the project.

Matthew was not dissatisfied with Francis Lawrence, the only doubt was that "Constantine" was not a box office success, so he still let Helen Herman and Aziva Gossman continue to contact and negotiate, the project "I Am Legend" has just entered the preparatory stage, and it is still far from confirming the actors.

Although Helen Herman's negotiations with the crew have only just begun, Matthew has already given a lot of thought to the male lead in this project.

"I Am Legend" can be said to be a complete one-man show, which used to focus more on a dog at the beginning, but now looking back, the actor Will Smith almost supported the entire film with his personal charm.

The requirements for the actor are higher, if it is a one-man show of a literary film, Matthew will definitely give up, he knows that his acting skills do not meet the standards of that type, but such a typical commercial film is different, the actor's personal charm and appeal are more important than his acting skills, and he is confident that after several years of training, he can be qualified for this role.

Indeed, his acting skills are not outstanding, even if he has been the leading actor in many films, after several years of training, looking at the whole of Hollywood, it is a medium level.

But Will Smith's acting skills are not much better.

Although this black actor has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for "Boxer Ali", everyone knows that the Oscar acting award does not necessarily mean how good the acting skills are, Will Smith has never been an acting school, but a recognized business superstar, and he has taken a similar route.

Even if it is for the media and film critics to evaluate, when it comes to acting, Will Smith may not be much better than him.

When it comes to other aspects, just like acting, Matthew thinks that he is no worse than Will Smith today, his five consecutive starring films are super hits, among the first-line stars, it is definitely one of the highest commercial value, and the style is distinctive, the image is prominent, and it has a large fan audience, and the box office appeal has been fully proven.

The only downside may be that he is not as politically correct as Will Smith.

But this kind of Hollywood-style political correctness has both gains and losses, and many states in the southern United States still do not want to see blacks.

Of course, now that Hollywood is on the white left, someone will suggest to Aziva Gossman and Warner Bros. that a black star be used as the leading actor, and maybe someone will suggest it.

Compared with the project "I Am Legend", which can only be used as the male lead, Matthew has more say in "The Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta", and in addition to the starring role, he also named the producer.

Since the "911 incident", the so-called political correctness that has become more and more prevalent in Hollywood has also affected the crew of "The Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta".

"That's how it is today......"

In the office of Warner Studios, the bearded Jack said with a hint of helplessness on his face, "Most commercial films will choose a black character in important positive character creation. ”

Zack Schneider frowned, David Ellison didn't say a word, and Matthew was silent.

Bearded Jack continued, "For example, Maximus' black partner in 'Gladiator' is a specially created black character, so in the later part of the film, the black character has fewer and fewer scenes, as if it is completely separated from the male lead. ”

Screenwriter Curt Johnstad continued, "Jack has a point, not to mention Ridley Scott, even George Lucas has compromised, one of the strongest Jedi Knight and leaders of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, is also a black man. ”

Seeing that even screenwriter Curt Johnstad was speaking out in support, Matthew couldn't help but say, "That doesn't seem appropriate, right?"

He glanced at Zack Schneider and said simply, "I haven't studied it carefully, and I haven't received any relevant historical education, I just want to ask one thing, are there any records in various historical documents that the city-states of ancient Greece used blacks as real warriors?"

Of course, Bearded Jack didn't want to add a black character to the Spartans, but he wanted to add a positive black character to the Tinikians who came to help.

Zack Schneider was very tacit and immediately replied, "No!

"Isn't that very simple?" said Ma Xiu, of course, "since there is no record in the history books, why should we add such a character?"

The bearded Jack sighed and said, "This is just for the past in case, but now the group of black actors and directors is becoming more and more extreme, and they use the lack of important black characters in the film as an excuse to show their presence." ”

Matthew was tempted to say that this was all done by people like you, but he held back and said, "With Frank Miller's original comics, we have more than enough excuses." ”

Zack Schneider added, "There's no need to add such a character. ”

The two sponsors of the project objected, and David Ellison duly said, "I think Matthew and Zach have a point. ”

The bearded Jack was also thinking about the film, and seeing that the other three were collectively opposed, he thought for a while and said, "Okay, I don't need to consider this suggestion of mine." ”

This was the end of the meeting with the top of the crew, and Matthew and Zack Snyder were the first to leave the office and walk out of the studio's office building towards the studio.

"Jack is well-intentioned. Matthew said to Zack Snyder as he walked, "Don't take it personally. ”

Zack Snyder smiled, "I know. He then sighed, "If this continues, black actors will really think of themselves as a special group." ”

Matthew spread his hands, "Who knows what those people in the circle think, especially the academy that leads the value orientation in the circle, could it be that those middle-aged and elderly whites, after decades of pampering, have all found out with their conscience?"

"Who knows. Zack Schneider spread his hands, "They are politically correct, but they want others to pay." ”

Matthew patted Zack Snyder's arm lightly and said, "Someday, they're going to reap the consequences." ”

Zack Schneider suddenly remembered something, "By the way, did you sign a contract with the crew of "I Am Legend"?"

"Not yet. Matthew shook his head slightly, "Helen Herman is still negotiating with Aziva Gossman, and I want a very high salary, and it is estimated that I will have to bargain for a long time." ”

"A word of caution. Zack Snyder always thought of Matthew as a confidant, saying, "Didn't you ask me about Francis Lawrence last time? Isn't he the director of that project?"

Seeing Matthew nodding, he added, "Francis Lawrence is a strong supporter of this idea, and it's better not to say it in front of him if we just said that we didn't want black actors." ”

"Hmm. Matthew wasn't stupid, "I'll take notice." ”

What he just said did not involve any sensitive words or topics, but were all about facts under the banner of history.

Although I am a little curious about what Zack Schneider said about Francis Lawrence, Matthew is not an accident, this kind of political correctness in Hollywood is not only caused by the social situation, there are indeed a large number of people in the circle who are very sympathetic and even support black actors.

In the strange land of America and in the fantastic circle of Hollywood, it is not uncommon for white skin and black hearts to occur.