"Your mom called me."

On Monday morning, will Scarlett? Johnson dropped off at the school gate, and Duke told her, "She'll pick you up after school today, don't run around, understand?" ”

After getting out of the car, the little girl staggered towards the school, and it was not until he saw her enter the school gate that Duke started the car and left, and when he arrived at the Duke's studio, the agent Nancy? Josephson was already waiting in the office.

Recently, Nancy's main focus has been on the negotiation of "Saving Private Ryan", and she has been in frequent contact with the senior management of several major Hollywood companies, and the negotiations have gradually reached preliminary results.

"Both Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox have clear investment intentions."

Sitting across from Duke, Nancy? Josephson briefly described the current situation, "The two companies are interested in continuing to work together because of the success of Independence Day, and they have the most confidence in you." The only trouble now is that Walt Disney wants to be a part of it, and like Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox, they have pushed the project into the pre-review stage after receiving our script. ”

"What about Warner and Fox's attitude?" Duke asked.

"The revenue that Independence Day can bring in is too high." Nancy? Josephson smiled wryly with a hint of delight, "Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox don't want to share benefits with others on 'Saving Private Ryan'. f↘”

"When will they be able to get through guò?"

That's what Duke is most concerned about, "I want to know the approximate time for the project!" ”

"It won't be until October at the earliest." Nancy? Josephson was also a little helpless, "It's been so long, and you must know very well that Duke, every investment from Hollywood production companies is not a simple matter. ”

Duke could only nod. If it was really as rumored, a Hollywood CEO could decide to invest tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars in a film project in a few words, he would not be so troublesome and waiting every time.

Unfortunately, any commercial company has a mature operating system and power constraints, and each investment is both risky and cautious.

"And, Duke." Nancy? Josephson continued. "Disney doesn't want to give up, their people are still in talks with Warner Bros. and Twentieth Century Fox, Michael? Eisner called me personally yesterday to ask about your attitude towards Disney's investment. ”

"Do you have any thoughts about Disney?" She asked.

"The support of one more major studio is only good for our films."

Although Michael? Eisner's reputation for dictatorship is not good, but it has nothing to do with Duke: "As long as Disney doesn't interfere too much in the film's production, I personally welcome it, and if they support my proposed director's share agreement, then I welcome it with both hands." ”

Now. Duke gets the top director treatment and gets the directorial rights, including the final editing rights, which is basically a matter of course, the specific terms Nancy? Josephson is still waiting for the preliminary review of the project to be cleared, and then he will talk to the co-producers at that time.

Of course, according to Nancy? Josephson said that if Duke personally expressed his support for Disney to join the investment ranks, then the other party also owed him a small favor, and if Disney would be useful in the future. And not too much to ask for, to Michael? Eisner's credibility will not be denied either.

Hollywood is both competitive and cooperative. Some of these relationships are quite delicate to deal with, and the premise of this is that Duke, like Spielberg, already has the capital to negotiate with major companies.

The difference between the status and treatment of rookie directors and directors who have achieved top box office results in Hollywood is so great that even the gap cannot be described.

The two discussed a few more words about "Saving Private Ryan" and the investor. The conversation gradually shifted to something else.

"I just got the news, Duke."

Nancy? Josephson mentioned ICM's rival, "Michael? Ovitz has left CAA and will move to Walt Disney as CEO starting next month. ”

"Who is CAA taking over?" Duke immediately became interested.

"Your old acquaintance. One of the founders of CAA, Martin? Bob defeated Ino? Martin became the new controller of CAA. ”

Hearing Nancy's words, Duke nodded slowly, the other party is one of the giants of CAA, and in CAA, no matter how senior or powerful, is only second to Michael? Ovitz is no surprise to win this internal competition.

The completion of the handover of the controller of CAA means the end of internal competition, and this giant in the entertainment brokerage industry, as long as it is driven by the inherent model, will inevitably continue to move forward, and even more and more Hollywood stars and directors will be able to be gathered.

If memory serves, the next internal friction will go to Walt Disney, although I don't know if once Michael? The time when Ovitz took office and left office, but the brokerage giant, who was once exaggerated by the media as the most powerful person in Hollywood, will soon retire from the stage of Hollywood history and gradually be forgotten.

It turns out that with Michael? Eisner is a giant of a film media company compared to Michael? Ovitz is a lot worse in terms of ability and other aspects.

Just Duke vs. Nancy? As Josephson discussed his next film project, many people walked into a conference room at CAA's headquarters in Century City to prepare for CAA's major project.

"Mel, long time no see."

Suit and leather shoes, a new look Sean? Connelly took the initiative to walk over and hug Mel? Gibson, "Thank you for having me. ”

"There's no better Hollywood guy to play the Scottish aristocracy than you."

Pull away a little, Mel? Gibson laughed heartily, "This film is about Scottish independence, how can I forget the people who have been pursuing Scottish independence." ”

Hollywood directors and stars often have their own political factions and political demands, which has been the case since many years ago, and many films packaged under political policies often achieve unexpected results and effects.

The last person to walk into the conference room was Shirley, CEO of Paramount Pictures, the investor? Lansing, from this aspect, it can also be seen that Paramount Pictures attaches great importance to this packaging project.

After a brief greeting from several parties, the preparatory meeting officially kicked off.

"The actors identified at the moment are me and Sean."

Mel as a director and actor? Gibson quickly brought the meeting to the point, "In terms of the heroine, am I going to invite the French actress Sophie?" Marceau, the other party meets the role setting, has a certain international reputation, and has always wanted to enter Hollywood, and the salary will not be high. ”

This was built yì no one objected, and as the project first made zuò people Mel? Gibson, who clearly has a fair share of the say, continued, "The film was built at a cost of $55 million, the title will be officially titled Braveheart, the main location will be in Ireland, and the Irish military has agreed to provide us with the necessary help. ”

He looked at Shirley? Lansing, "Has Paramount set a release date?" ”

"We'll take your advice." Shirley? Lansing said directly, "The film's North American release will be set on the weekend before Memorial Day. ”

This is another important schedule outside the Independence Day holiday in the summer file, the time is the last Monday of May every year, and it is also a legal holiday, which is connected with the weekend for two days, forming a short holiday of three consecutive days, which can be said to be the release schedule of the commercial blockbuster zuò very favorite.

"Shirley, CAA will cooperate with Paramount."

This is the first packaging project led by the CAA after taking control, Martin? Bob naturally wanted to be successful, "I think from the beginning of the film's official preparation, we need to invest resources in a series of publicity to get the market to know that there will be such a big production on Memorial Day next year." ”

"Paramount has a well-developed publicity plan."

Although Paramount Pictures' "Forrest Gump" was a super hit, it was a project left over from his predecessor, and Shirley, who took over as CEO? Lansing also needs a blockbuster production to secure his position, "In fact, from next week, the pre-promotion plan for the film will be launched, and Viacom will use media resources, including CBS. ”

The investment of more than 50 million US dollars, in today's era, can already be classified into the category of large-scale zuò, plus Mel? Gibson's appeal, as long as the publicity is in place, it is not difficult to attract the attention of fans.

"Will there be strong competition films released in the same period?" Mel? Gibson asked suddenly.

"No ...... for the time being"

Martin? Bob flipped through the information in front of him and said, "Judging from the films released so far, there are no big productions in the same schedule. ”

"Mel, with your achievements in the past few years."

Another agent of CAA said with a smile, "With the full support of CAA and Paramount Pictures, as long as we announce that the film will be released on Memorial Day, even if other films have plans for the same schedule, I believe we will take the initiative to make adjustments." ”

Mel? Gibson's personality is already unruly, and he nodded directly in agreement at this time, and the films he has starred in in recent years have been sold one after another, and he really deserves such praise.

When the new Monday arrived, CAA and Paramount Pictures jointly held a press conference to officially announce the new project "Braveheart" between the two sides, and also announced the release date of the film. Gibson's self-directed and self-acting still caused a certain sensational effect.

Duke hasn't noticed any of this, and in recent times, Sophia? Coppola, Zach? Schneider and John? Schwarzman and others have ended their vacations, and he has reassembled his team, working on storyboard sketches and scripts while waiting for Nancy? The outcome of Josephson's negotiations with the film companies.

Of course, Duke also has to pay attention to the real-time box office of "Independence Day", after all, this is directly related to his actual income, especially the overseas box office, if it can achieve the expected effect, the revenue will directly exceed the North American box office. (To be continued......)

PS: Ask for subscription! Collect! Ask for a referral ticket!