Sending Amy Pascal home, Eric took Jonathan Demy's random café to the neighborhood. After asking for two cups of coffee and some snacks, Eric was the first to speak, "Jonathan, tell me about your understanding of this script. ”

Jonathan Demmy, like a student in an exam, straightened out his thoughts and said: "Compared to those movies that rely on violent plasma, tricky sound effects or weird makeup to achieve horror effects, there is no doubt that a new type of psychological thriller horror film will be created." The script is full of Hitchcockian suspense settings, although the plot is not complicated, it can always firmly grasp the curiosity of the audience, and the final truth reveals the reversal of the ghost and the ghost, which is even more surprising. Eric, many people feel that your current success is due to the favor of God. But if they read this script that you created, I'm sure no one would think so, your talent is simply amazing. ”

As he spoke, Jonathan Demmy couldn't help but compliment, and Eric saw that the other party was really complimenting from the heart, not to please himself, and smiled: "Thank you for the compliment, Jonathan, you understand this script very well." However, this is not enough for me to hand over this film to you, although I have not had time to pay attention to the replies of the other two director candidates, but I believe that the other party will also be interested in this film. What do you think is the best thing about yourself compared to Wes Craven and William Fredkin, the two masters of horror?"

"Malleability," Jonathan Demi replied without hesitation, "Eric, I'm more malleable than they are." ”

Eric looked at the middle-aged man in his forties, and wondered, "Plasticity?"

Jonathan Demmy explained unhurriedly: "Yes, Eric, because I have never made a horror film before, this is my greatest strength, I have been in the industry for almost 20 years, I believe that my professional level as a director must be fine, I can completely shoot according to the psychological thriller concept of the script you wrote." But if it were to be directed by two long-established horror masters, the two of them would definitely bring their own personal shooting styles to the film, which may not be their personal intentions, but the power of habit is very powerful. Therefore, they are likely to make the traditional horror film model, which will certainly have a good scary effect, but it will also inevitably weaken the sensational effect of the reversal of the ghost at the end of the script. ”

After Jonathan Demie finished speaking, he noticed the looseness in Eric's expression, and hurriedly took out a thick stack of prepared materials from the backpack he was carrying, but did not hand it to Eric. He knew that if he did this, the other party would probably not have the patience to watch. So just picked the most important pages and handed them to Eric.

"You see, Eric, here are some of my ideas for the shoot, and a couple of storyboards that I envisioned. In my opinion, the film should focus on the creation of horror suspense when shooting, and throw out one suspense after another that arouses the curiosity of the audience, so as to cover up the weaknesses of the script scene and plot to the greatest extent, and not make the audience feel dull. In terms of atmosphere creation, more emphasis should be placed on psychological oppression rather than sensory stimulation. ”

Eric looked down and read Jonathan Demy's list of shooting ideas, then carefully looked at a few storyboard sketches, and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table.

Jonathan Demmi knew that the most crucial moment was coming, and his right hand under the table was clenched into a fist.

Compared to Eric's god-like smooth sailing experience, Jonathan's journey in Hollywood was much more bumpy, and he had a strong interest in cinema since he was a child. Therefore, although he studied veterinary medicine in college, he did not embark on that path, but entered the United States, which was still very prosperous at that time, without hesitation, and started as a handyman at the bottom.

It wasn't until the age of 30 that he had the opportunity to work on some low-budget B-grade films, and in 1977, Jonathan finally got the opportunity to direct a film for the first time, but the satirical drama about civilian radio life was a mess at the box office, despite the constant acclaim of critics.

To be precise, there was no box office at all, and Jonathan had to pay out of his own pocket for a New York theater to show the film to the audience for free in order to make his work available to more people, but there were still few viewers.

That blow silenced Jonathan for three years, and in 1980 Jonathan's career took another look after winning two Oscars. But until now, his work has not done much commercial good. The box office is generally only a few million, and the highest one can exceed 10 million.

In Hollywood, if you want to be recognized as a director, it is completely impossible to make a movie without a box office hit. When researching Eric's personal experience before, Jonathan found that the biggest common denominator of the three movies related to Eric was that the three movies were written by him.

It's unclear why Eric Williams offered him the director's invitation, but that didn't stop Jonathan from wanting to take the chance.

After receiving the invitation, Jonathan Demmy stayed up all night reading the script many times, and more than once marveled at Eric's clever reversal setup. Early the next morning, he replied to Jeffrey Hansen that he was willing to direct the film.

I thought that the other party would contact me soon to discuss signing a contract or something, but after waiting patiently for a few days, there was no follow-up.

Jonathan Demmy hurriedly rushed to the Firefly headquarters in person, found Jeffrey, and after learning the reason, Jonathan realized that compared with the other two long-established horror film masters, himself, a director without any experience in shooting horror films, seems to be the least competitive one.

But Jonathan did not give up, although Jonathan Demmy's personal film performance is not good, but his vision is not bad, he keenly feels that if this film is filmed, it will make a difference at the box office and awards. Therefore, it is even more urgent to get this opportunity regardless of the situation.

It took a few days for Jonathan to come up with a convincing rhetoric to convince Eric. At the same time, he also made a more profound analysis and made a lot of meticulous preparations. In order to rush and prevent the script director from being decided in advance, Jonathan has been sleeping no more than three hours a day for a week.

The reason why he can still sit in front of Eric and talk eloquently is probably because that breath is hanging as if it were nothing.

Eric didn't notice Jonathan Demmy's apprehension, knocked on the table and thought for a while before looking up and saying, "Jonathan, can you wait a minute, I'll make a call." ”

"Absolutely. Jonathan didn't understand the purpose of Eric's move, but he still nodded, Eric didn't make a decision directly, which gave Jonathan a little more hope in his heart.

Eric got up and walked to the counter of the café, spoke to the waiter, picked up the phone on the counter and dialed the number in Jeffrey's office.

"Jeffrey, it's me...... There's one thing I forgot to ask, it's about the director...... Yes, Wes Craven and William Fredkin, did they respond...... Well...... Well...... Okay, I got it...... Actually, Jonathan Demmy came to me personally, and I thought he had a good idea, and he was very enthusiastic about the film, so I thought I could give him a chance...... Yes, reject him, that's all, then I'll hang up...... I know that I have a sense of proportion. ”

Hanging up, Eric returned to his seat.

Jonathan knew that the final moment was coming, and involuntarily sat up slightly straight, looking at Eric expectantly.

"Jonathan, when I sent out the invitation before, I said that the heroine of this movie has been decided, do you have any opinion on this?"

Jonathan Demmy had a smile on his face, and he knew that Eric's question would be tantamount to handing the film to him: "No, I have no opinion. The choice of actors is inherently the producer's right. After a moment's hesitation, Jonathan still couldn't help but ask, "Eric, who is the heroine...... Is that your girlfriend named Jennifer Aniston?"

Eric shook his head and said, "No. ”

Jonathan Demmy just couldn't let go of his worries to ask this question, and after getting a negative answer, he decisively closed his mouth, not Jennifer Aniston, Jonathan Demmy was worried that Eric specifically mentioned this condition in order to make his girlfriend popular.

But that girl is too young after all, to play the single mother Grace in the script, makeup alone is embarrassing enough.

As for the relationship between the real heroine and Eric, that's not something Jonathan needs to pay attention to.

"So, Eric, isn't it ......?"

Eric nodded, "Yes, Jonathan, you've got the chance to direct this film." Mr. William Friedkin happened to be directing another film, and naturally turned down the invitation. Mr. Wes Craven was equally interested in the script. But I have some concerns about the heroine who is predetermined, and there is some truth to what you just persuaded me, so I asked Jeffrey to reject him. ”