As one of the few outstanding films in Brazil, Eric has seen "City of God". The biggest shock of this film to him was the feeling of powerlessness that he was born with no choice but to struggle to survive in an environment full of violence.

Taking the book handed over by Braulio Mantovani, Eric did not open it, and he did not have much free time to read such a book of five or six hundred pages now, but asked directly about the details of the film's production.

"City of God" is a film that took Brazilian writer Paulo Lins a decade to complete, reflecting the life of Brazil's low-class slum society.

Two years ago, it was published and quickly received a strong response and was quickly translated into various other languages.

Subsequently, Studio-chnal Productions, a subsidiary of the French Vivendi Group, bought the film and television rights and began to write the script. After several twists and turns, this project fell into Catherine's hands, so today's meeting with the writers of "City of God" came to us.

After chatting for more than ten minutes, Braulio Mantovani found that some of Eric's ideas about the film were even more than his own, which made him admire the young Hollywood tycoon in front of him. However, although he really wanted to continue to have a closer relationship with Eric, he still took the initiative to get up and say goodbye when he remembered what had just happened.

Eric waited for Braurio Mantovani to leave, then looked at the woman who was still holding the coffee cup in her hand and asked, "How's it going?"

Awakened from her absent-minded state, she felt that she shouldn't be too passive in front of this little man, she hurriedly pretended to put down the cup easily, and said, "Very good, what about you?"

Eric looked sideways at the woman in front of him and smiled, "It's not bad either." ”

I wanted to make fun of him as if he was everywhere in the media during this time, but I didn't want him to know that he paid attention to these things, so he mentioned the movie just now: "What do you think of "City of God"?"

"You're right about using a realistic documentary approach. However, if you want to go further, it is better to use informal actors, for example, to select some children directly from the slums of Rio for simple training, so that the end result of the film will be more realistic. It is also important to shoot in Portuguese. Eric said this, and then said, "So, this film is not for you, you don't seem to know Portuguese, do you?"

Catherine originally agreed with Eric's words, but when she heard the end, she was immediately a little unconvinced: "I actually know a little, and besides, there is a translator." ”

"That's also very difficult to communicate with the actors," Eric still shook his head, watching the woman staring at him, and suddenly shrugged his shoulders and said, "Okay, I know you can do that." Actually, I don't want you to go to Brazil to make this film, the slums of Rio are too dangerous. ”

Catherine didn't expect Eric to say this suddenly, and immediately didn't dare to look at the little man in front of her anymore, and subconsciously picked up the coffee cup in front of her, but found that it was already empty, so she stood up, avoided his eyes and said, "I, I should go back." ”

"Well, I should go back too," Eric stood up casually, and when he saw Catherine's figure immediately frozen, he smiled, "Well, I promise not to bully you, it's like a shy little girl, and people don't feel a sense of accomplishment at all." Now, I haven't seen each other for so long, so it's always okay to walk together, right?"

Hearing him say so calmly and hatefully, he gave him a fierce look, but he didn't refuse, and after turning around, he couldn't help but pause.

Walking side by side to the deck, Catherine took the initiative to speak this time: "On your side, how are the auditions for the actors of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?"

"I've been busy with this lately," Eric said, feeling the woman's tone of wanting to speak, "Is there anyone you want to recommend to me?"

"Sean called me last week," Catherine said, and took the initiative to explain, "Sean Penn, we worked together last time on Red Alert. ”

Eric immediately understood, and said the name of a person he had just met that afternoon: "Jim Caviezer." ”

Jim Caviezer also participated in "Red Alert", although in a kind of big name, his coffee position seems insignificant, but he has a very bright performance in the original film.

Catherine was a little surprised, but nodded anyway and said, "Sean asked me if I could say a few words for Jim, and I refused. However, since I met you...... Actually, Jim is a good actor and a very sincere person, but he has never been able to get too good opportunities. ”

Eric got to know Jim Caviezer during the day's auditions, and said, "I didn't expect him to be good friends with Sean Penn." ”

Catherine said with a smile: "Jim is actually good friends with Kevin Costner, he knows a lot of people, but he rarely takes the initiative to ask everyone to help, which may be the reason why everyone is willing to make friends with him, there are very few people in Hollywood who don't have any heart to interact with people." Sean called me, and I guess Jim didn't know either. ”

There is no shortage of superstars in Hollywood who are mixed up with chickens and dogs for various reasons, but there are also many well-traveled celebrities like Sean Penn, although he has a hot temper in front of the paparazzi, but in the circle, Sean Penn is definitely a representative of righteousness.

Thinking so, Eric said: "The Hulk for Cavezer's audition has just been confirmed in the afternoon, and I won't hide it from you, he is one of the last two candidates, but I think the other person is more suitable." ”

Catherine just mumbled, and the two spoke, and soon came to the parking lot outside the north gate of the studio.

Finding her car, Catherine opened the door of the white BMW, saw Eric still standing beside her, and said, "You?"

"You should still be living in Coldwater Canyon, right?" said Eric, with a harmless look on his face, "I happen to be going to Strausdale Manor, can I get a ride?"

Catherine's movements froze, with a bit of tremor in her tone, and her eyes were resentful: "You just said, something." ”

"Okay," Eric couldn't stand the woman's eyes, raised his hand, and said, "Just kidding, besides, about "City of God", I really don't recommend you to do it yourself, you can hang up the producer, find a local director from Brazil, in fact, it's the same." ”

"Well, I'll think about it. ”

Catherine answered, sat in the driver's seat, confirmed that the little man outside had no intention of forcing in, and felt a little lost inexplicably, but said goodbye and started the car slowly.

Although he likes to verbally tease Catherine and look at her at a loss, if a woman does show resistance, Eric will never force it. He also understood why Catherine was in this state, the age gap between the two was indeed too big.

After this night's encounter, Eric continued to pay attention to the City of God in the days that followed.

Since Vivendi also has a stake in MGM, the film will have a collaboration between MGM and Studio-Chnal.

However, Catherine did not take the initiative to give up the project, and Eric understood some of the woman's petty stubbornness, and did not persuade again. Thinking about it, even if she really went to the slums of Rio to shoot at that time, Catherine's safety must be very guaranteed. After all, the Brazilian government would not allow an Oscar-winning director to have any surprises when shooting a film in his own country.

At the same time, the casting of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still progressing steadily.

After the male lead of "The Incredible Hulk" was identified as Christian Bale, some controversy was almost inevitable in the media.

However, this kind of thing is almost inevitable for superhero casting. Many superhero cosplayers are almost always questioned when they first get their roles. Then, after the movie is released, as long as the quality of the film is good and the actors' performance is up to standard, fans of the movie and manga will often start to change their stance very undisciplinedly.

And, although very cautious in the casting process, even if the characters are really not very successful, as long as they can jump and maintain continuity, the audience will often be able to accept it.

After the Hulk actor was confirmed, some other roles were quickly finalized.

Since Chris Evans has just turned eighteen, the role of Captain America certainly doesn't fall to him this time.

After layers of screening, this role was finally finalized as Josh Duhamel, who was once Captain Reynolds in "Transformers".

Josh Duhamel is 26 years old this year, and he meets the age requirements. Moreover, the image of the American GI played by Josh Duhamel in the "Transformers" series is also very deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Captain America, in the final analysis, is also an American soldier, and the selection of this role is somewhat of the standard of thick eyebrows, big eyes and a righteous face when choosing the actor of the main theme film on the other side of the ocean.

After Iron Man and Spider-Man, the three main characters of Captain America, Thor, and Hulk were all finalized, and the framework of the first phase of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe was basically built.

Of course, there is also a more key role, Black Widow Natasha Romanoff, and Eric has never been able to find a very suitable actor.

However, after several months of auditions, the final candidates also fell to two people.

Maybe Hollywood is just a small circle after all, and the last two candidates, Eric, are also very familiar with them, Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich.

As from a purely intellectual point of view, both women are undoubtedly well-suited for the role of Black Widow.

It's just that the two women also have their own problems.

Jolie's problems are undoubtedly the most serious, and the actress has been addicted to drugs in recent years and shows no signs of going ashore.

If it weren't for the family's connections in Hollywood, Jolie would not have gotten any roles in recent years. Even, the reason why he was able to break through to the final round of the audition, in addition to the fact that Julie herself is really suitable for this role, is largely the result of the mediation of Julie's father Jon Voight, and now Julie has not broken with her father.

Moreover, even if Julie can successfully quit drug addiction, her self-guided personality is a big hidden danger.

At the end of the day, Eric needs a more obedient actor.

As for Milla Jovovich, Eric wasn't too cold about the actress a long time ago. During the audition for "Black Angel of the Last Days", because he was not in a good mood that day, Eric casually sent Milla Jovovich, who participated in the audition, away.

"It's a long-term series that needs to last at least five years and involves nine big movies, and we have to make sure the characters are foolproof," Eric asked bluntly in the audition room of Firefly Studios, looking at the thick-lipped girl sitting in the chair across from him, "So, how do you guarantee that you will never touch those things again in the process?"

Hearing Eric's question, Julie was obviously a little anxious, but she said patiently and respectfully: "Mr. Williams, my agent has already communicated with Firefly about this issue. You can send someone to test me for drugs at any time during the filming. ”

"Of course we can, but everybody knows that the root cause is still on you, and if you insist on touching those things, we can't be around you all the time. Moreover, once it happens, the entire movie plan of the Firefly Group will be harmed, and when the time comes, even if we sue you to the point of bankruptcy, it will not help, and even, we may have to take the initiative to help you hide it, Julie, have you ever thought so?"

Angelina Jolie's eyes flashed, and she didn't answer Eric's question directly, as if she felt that she might not be able to get the role, and said with a bit of self-defeat: "So, Mr. Williams, I'm eliminated, right?"

"If that's what you think," Eric said, gesturing in the direction of the door, "you can go out now." ”

Angelina Jolie subconsciously wanted to get up, but after hesitating for a moment, she honestly sat down in the chair.

Eric nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Then, on another issue, the contract of the Firefly Group for this role is also very harsh. Once you take the role, until you complete the contract, you can only participate in one other film a year except for playing Black Widow, and the production cost cannot exceed $50 million, are you willing to accept it?"

The former Hollywood series of big movies only began to rise after 2000, and the rules that Eric refers to are actually more of a general restriction on roles in the TV industry, which has rarely been used in movies before.

Therefore, Julie was obviously hesitant, but after a moment, she nodded: "Yes." ”

"That's all for today, then," Eric said, "you can go back and wait for news." ”

Julie heard Eric say this, stood up, and politely said goodbye to the crowd before turning to leave.

Eric said to Joss Whedon beside him, "So, what do you think?"

This is already the third audition for the last few candidates this week, and before Jolie, Milla Jovovich has also just left.

Joss Whedon didn't quite understand why Eric bothered so much about the role of Black Widow. However, thinking about the series of classic female characters that Eric has created since his debut, Joss Whedon did not question Eric's harshness too much, but just said businesslikely: "If you exclude all other factors, these two are very suitable." However, if I had to choose, I would choose Mira, she is safer. Eric, you seem to be leaning more towards Julie, right?"

Eric nodded and said, "If she didn't have a drug addiction and her personality was more obedient, this role might have fallen on her." ”

"This is Hollywood," Joss Whedon smiled, "There are so many good babies in Hollywood, Eric, your request was unrealistic from the beginning." ”