Most geniuses have quirks, and Xiansen often excuses himself with this sentence.

As a director, Xiansen has his own attitude towards the choice of actors, which is why he gave the role of Al Capone, the second male lead in "Atlantic Empire", to Stephen Graham so easily, his attitude is

"I choose, I like it!"

Sitting in the conference hall, Xiansen stubbornly slapped a few photos in his hand on the table, and there were seven or eight people sitting in the small conference hall, including the three assistant directors including Bella Marceau, and a few people sent by HBO TV to negotiate.

"I said, I want these people, it's absolutely impossible to change! Moreover, I will not let Leo join this TV series, because without his role, I can't add an inconsequential character specifically for him, that's my attitude. ”

Maybe he was really a little angry, Xiansen sat on the office chair and turned around, closed his eyes and said in an indifferent tone: "My movie, you must completely abide by my rules, you have only one choice, that is, agree, or leave!" ”

For Xiansen's attitude, the few people sent by HBO TV to negotiate were not annoyed, but showed a helpless smile. As the TV station's special negotiators, they have dealt with many directors with strange surnames and all kinds of directors, so that they will not be emotionally dissatisfied because of such a few words.

"Director Mister, you should be able to tell that our HBO attitude is very sincere."

Seeing Xiansen turn around, Tony Towne, the general manager of HBO TV's negotiation cooperation project, said calmly: "You asked for an investment of at least $20 million for the filming of the first episode, and we agreed, for a gangster TV series, such an investment is unprecedented at present; At the same time, you asked for at least $8 million for each subsequent episode, and we agreed, 8 million, which is twice the production cost of each episode of "The Underworld Family" and 5 million more than the production cost of "Prison Storm". Director Mister, we know that a good work requires a lot of investment, and we also believe that your ability can make our investment pay off. ”

This remark sounds like he is completely touting Xiansen, and it belongs to the kind of quiet sycophancy, so Xiansen also feels quite comfortable after listening to it, after all, everyone likes to listen to good words.

"But!"

Tony Towne's words changed sharply, and continued: "For the actors you proposed, to be honest, we are really not very optimistic, this is not their acting skills, nor is it a question of your vision, this is a concern about their fame." ”

As he spoke, Tony Towne picked up a photo from the table and pointed, "Steve Buscemi, yes, we saw his wonderful performance in your movie Shutter Island, and I love his role as Dr. John Cowley." However, to put it mildly, his fame is too low, he has always played supporting roles, and before "Shutter Island", most of the time he was playing some out-of-the-box roles. ”

After a pause, Tony Towne sighed: "Now, you let him play the lead role of "Atlantic Empire", oh, the main character, even if the investment is so high, I'm not sure the audience will buy it!" ”

Saying that, Tony Towne pulled out another photo and continued to say bitterly: "Stephen Graham, forgive me, I didn't know who this guy was before this, so I went to check his information, British, starred in two movies, of course, it's a trick, I heard that the current part-time driver, it seems to have been fired because of a mistake recently!" ”

Hearing the last sentence, Xiansen's face couldn't help but turn red, if he guessed correctly, he should have nothing to do with it, which also strengthened his attitude, since he caused others to lose their jobs, then of course he had to give the other party a better job.

"Director Mister, actually, our purpose is the same, and I won't pick on it for no reason, which doesn't do any good for cooperation. However, with such a cast, how can you make us feel at ease? ”

Tony Towne's words were indeed sincere, at least much more straightforward than the group of people who came from CBS, which is why the latter was sent off by Xiansen after only talking for three minutes. After listening to these words, Xiansen also felt that his attitude just now was a little impulsive, from the other party's point of view, such a cast is indeed difficult to understand, but Xiansen's attitude towards himself will never change.

"Ahem"

After a few dry coughs, Xiansen turned the office chair around, looked at Tony Towne and the rest of the people in charge who were sitting below, smiled, took out one of the photos on the table, and pointed to the person in the photo: "Look, don't I also have a good image." ”

The photo shows a brown-haired man with deep eyes and a handsome face, looking young and charming.

"Jack Gyllenshill, what a handsome young man, look at his innocent eyes, he will surely charm a group of girls."

Putting down the photo, Xiansen picked up another one and said, "Julie Barrymore, I think you must be familiar with it, American sweetheart, oh, her fame should be enough." ”

"And this, Keira Knightley, Stephen's fellow countryman, isn't that old, but it looks pretty, doesn't it?"

Xiansen took out several photos in a row and introduced them one by one: "This is a gangster-themed TV series, and it is different from the traditional gangster TV series. Let's be quiet for a moment and imagine when Steve turns into the mob boss Thomson, yes, with a pipe in his mouth, just like in Shutter Island. Stephen becomes his partner Al Capone, Julie Barrymore becomes the voluptuous Margaret, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Jimmy, a young guy who wants to topple Thomson, and of course, our lovely Kayla, who is Jimmy's sister Angela. How perfect it all looked, perfect! ”

Xiansen only emphasized a few actors, and most of them listened expressionlessly, except for Meg Jackson, one of the three assistant directors, shaking her head intoxicatedly, as if the whole person was substituted into the picture described by Xiansen.

Scattering the photos on the table, Xiansen walked up to Tony Towne, looked him in the eyes seriously, and said confidently: "Actually, you still ignore one person, and that is me!" Mister Sen! Maybe the audience won't buy their fame, but, I think, with my fame, it should be enough to attract the audience's attention, right? Unprecedented investment, the new work of the king of R-rated films, gangster movies directed by gangsters, and the re-cooperation of American sweethearts, so many gimmicks, how can they be more attractive than the joining of a few big-name stars, right? ”

The last paragraph of Xiansen's tone is very proud, he has always been such a proud person, and he has never changed.

After hearing this, Tony Towne doesn't know what else to say, if he continues to dwell on such a topic, it is to clearly say that he doesn't believe in Mister, before coming, HBO actually gave Tony Towne's bottom line very wide, in short, there are only two requirements: one is that the production cost of each episode cannot exceed 10 million US dollars, and the other is that it must be directed and filmed by Mister himself.

The TV series is currently set for 12 episodes, although the first episode Xiansen asked for 20 million filming funds, but it was evenly spread, and the production cost of each episode was 9 million US dollars, and Xiansen also fully agreed with the fact that he directed it himself.

Of course, although the company's bottom line has been satisfied, as a negotiator, Tony Towne will try his best to fight for more benefits for the company, such as asking big-name stars to join, these are all requirements he has prepared in advance, that is, even if there are big names in Xiansen's cast list, he will try his best to come up with reasons to make this request.

The more sincere people seem on the surface, the more deceitful they are, which may be the reason why Tony Downe only took three years to become the manager of the business negotiation department of HBO TV.

"Well, Mr. Mister, we have complete confidence in your abilities, so since you have said so, I will not say anything more."

For a person who is good at business negotiations, sometimes, such a small means can obtain a lot of benefits, which may not be superficial, but the effect is full, such as making partners more attentive to their work. No, Xiansen secretly said in his heart that for this kind of trust, he must use 120% of his energy to shoot "Atlantic Empire" well.

"Oh, by the way, Mr. Mister, I have one more small request."

Tony Towne saw that Xiansen was in a good mood right now, and took advantage of the situation to propose: "Can our TV station use the gimmicks you just mentioned to promote the TV series?" This kind of official propaganda is definitely more effective than other media, and of course, it requires your cooperation, you know, it's a win-win option. ”

“ok！”

Xiansen agreed without hesitation, he relied on publicity and hype to get to where he is today, in his eyes, for a good work, it doesn't matter if you use a little hype. Moreover, he believes that he will be able to make good works, and this confidence is not blind, and the three previous works have proved this very well.

"Happy working together!"

"Happy working together!"

In this way, the two of them signed the contract with a smile, and Mister Sen and HBO TV agreed on a collaboration on the TV series "Atlantic Empire", a perfect cooperation!

After sending Tony Towne and his party out of the conference hall, Xiansen returned to his office, and Bella Marceau followed him inside, closing the door with him.

"How's that, perfect cooperation, Bella, is my talent very high in business economics?"

Sitting in the boss's chair, Xiansen snapped his fingers proudly.

"Well, it's really high, one day someone sells you, and you probably are still counting the money for him!"

Bella Marceau said very unceremoniously at this time: "Your request does not meet their bottom line at all, and moreover, they have been deceived of more benefits, such as the last one to cooperate with the publicity, these are all chips that you can take out to make more requests, just like that, all given to them." ”

After saying that, Bella Marceau shook her head helplessly, she could see that Tony Towne was getting more benefits for HBO step by step, but Xiansen couldn't see it.

"Amount"

After listening to Bella Marceau's words, Xiansen thought about it carefully, and it seemed that he did give away a lot of benefits, and these were one of the bargaining chips that could be used to make more demands on him.

"Bella, now that you know, why didn't you remind me?"

As for the matter of cooperation, Xiansen actually didn't feel anything, after all, several of his requirements were met, even if he could actually put forward more requirements. The only thing he is worried about is that Bella Marceau sees that others are playing tricks on him but doesn't remind him, why is this?

"From a psychological point of view, never point out in front of people the stupid mistakes made by a proud person, who will not only not be grateful to you, but will resent you for losing his face. For a proud person, self-esteem is inviolable. ”

With that, Bella Marceau put the contract on her desk, then picked up a mug on the table and walked out.

"Hey, what are you doing with my cup?"

"Get some iced orange juice for our pride, I squeezed it"

Looking at Bella Marceau's swaying back, Xiansen smiled helplessly, in front of this woman, he will always be the one who loses the wind

Three days ago, at dusk, Los Angeles Beach.

Leaning against the railing of the sea, Keira Knightley had a populated candy in her mouth, letting the sea breeze blow her cheeks, and her long, silky, pretty brown hair.

"Brother Stephen, are you tired?"

Keira Knightley shook her long hair, and looked at the distant sea level with some melancholy, sparkling waves, and the end of the sun, very beautiful, very beautiful

"Kayla, when there is a belief that sustains me, even when I am tired, I smile."

Leaning on the railing not far away was Stephen Graham, who was Keira Knightley's father's driver, and it should be said that it was, and today, because of the audition, he missed the o'clock and was fired.

After handing over the keys and leaving, Stephen Graham went to Los Angeles Beach, which he liked because, on the other side of the sea, was in the direction of England.

Keira Knightley secretly followed him here, she had a good relationship with Stephen, this seemingly honest driver in the family was usually like a big brother, always amused her, she didn't want her father to fire Stephen, but unfortunately, she couldn't call the shots. She knew that Stephen loved acting, and she knew that he would rarely get a chance.

"Brother Stephen, you know, I don't like America, and I don't like Hollywood, not at all. Here, I have to do all kinds of training every day, I hate dancing, I hate the piano, I hate everything here. ”

Keira Knightley crushed the popla candy hard, and then said: "Two years ago, under my father's arrangement, I participated in "Star Wars 1", of course, it was only a supporting role, I was the lady-in-waiting of the disgusting queen, and the queen secretly slapped me, I was 13 years old that year, I don't know if the director saw it, maybe he saw it, but he didn't say it. I didn't tell anyone from the Child Protection Society because I later snuck her clothes and then while filming, she was gone."

At this, a sly smile appeared on Keira Knightley's face, she crushed the populate and swallowed it, turned around, looked at the sea, and continued: "Later, I participated in "Rogue Princess" and "Haunted Place", in "Rogue Princess", I played Robin Hood's daughter, Robin Hood, how cool it sounds. ”

He took out another wave candy from his pocket, tore open the candy paper, and licked it gently: "That Robin Hood will show me a lot of interesting things after every filming, you would never have imagined that there is also a sincere and benevolent vibrator mixed with those toys!" That's right, it's that thing, I saw my mom secretly used it before. ”

Hearing this, Stephen Graham almost fell off the railing, and now the little girl really dares to say anything.

"On the set, he secretly asked me if I could play with this toy, and said that he could teach me and let me go to his house as a guest, hehe, his eyes were really disgusting when he said that."

Maybe she was a little tired, maybe it was getting late, Keira Knightley walked up to Stephen Graham, tried to stand on tiptoe, looked into Stephen's eyes and asked, "Brother Stephen, can you tell me, is Hollywood really that good?" ”

Stephen didn't know how to answer questions like Keira Knightley, he was perfectly aware of the squalor and ugliness of Hollywood, but when it came out of the mouth of a sixteen-year-old girl, it always made him feel a little hard to accept.

With a long sigh, Stephen suddenly laughed, reached out and took out a polavia candy from Keira Knightley's pocket, pointed to the candy and said, "Hollywood is sometimes like this candy, it looks beautiful, but when you walk into those candy factories, you will find that these beautiful things are made of something sticky, cloudy, and even dirty and poisonous." Still, as long as I feel sweet while eating the sugar, it's enough. ”

After speaking, Stephen took the populace into his mouth, looked at the sea level in the distance and said, "Besides, this time, I feel that I have met a factory with a conscience!" ”

Keira Knightley nodded as if she didn't understand, looked at the sky, raised her head, and said with a sly smile: "Brother Stephen, you have eaten my candy, now, you can send me back, it's late, I don't dare to walk at night." ”

"Haha, okay, I'm fooled by you again."

Under the slanting sun, two figures walked into the distance, and in their hands, there was a round wave candy

The next day, at the Beverly Hills audition, Keira Knightley auditioned.

"Brother Stephen, I also want to see what a conscientious factory looks like!"

[There is another chapter at 12 o'clock, thank you for the reward of "Passerby A D" friends, thank you for the affirmation of melon seeds! ] Melon seeds will write more exciting! The role-playing building in the book review area received a lot of messages from friends, mostly Chinese names, in fact, if you can, it is best to bring an English name, saying that some characters are already being arranged, eh, I hope that when I see the arrangement of the character by melon, cough, don't kick me]

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