Inviting yourself to take over as the director of "Titanic"?

After hearing this, Duke was slightly stunned, and then turned his head to look at Townsend? Rothman, the CEO of Fox, looked stern, obviously not joking, and no one would joke about this kind of thing, and the meaning of the other party's words was that this matter was not a sudden decision made by slapping the brain, but the result of discussions between the investor Fox and Paramount.

Do it yourself to be a pick-up man?

It's true that anyone can turn without Hollywood, but the big ship is already in James? Under Cameron's control, it has been running for almost two years, and how difficult is it for others to rush to take over?

If nothing else, let's just say that after the change of director, how long will it take for the complex personnel relationship conflicts that will inevitably arise in the crew to be straightened out? James? Will Cameron have a smooth handover with him? The main departments on the set are all members of his team, should these people be replaced? If you change it, how long will it take for newcomers to get started? If you don't change it, oh...... Then Rosario is wonderful......

It is not surprising that the crew changed directors when they first began to prepare, but after such a long period of preparation, the risk of changing directors was too great, and the new director simply did not have enough preparation, and in Duke's opinion, it was even more difficult to take over such a project than to start a project of the same scale.

To be a pick-up man, it's not as simple as taking on the project, you can continue to prepare, and then start filming along the way!

"Townsend, I have a few questions." Duke didn't directly refuse, "James? Cameron's request for additional investment can make Fox embarrassed, presumably not a small number? ”

Thomson? Rothman nodded solemnly. Duke continued, "It's clear to all of Hollywood what Cameron's style is, and he likes to see big scenes. I also like big scenes. I don't know the specifics of the project, but have you ever thought that even if I were to be the director, I might need to make a big investment? ”

"But how many of your past films," Townsend? Rothman obviously has a different view, "Always use the most efficient use of funds to make a big enough scene." And all of them were successful! ”

"You're ignoring one thing." Duke pointed to his forehead, "Past projects." It's all been thinking about it for a long time, and how much money do you think I could save on a completely unfamiliar project? ”

He shook his head, "So." Townsend, I don't think I'm the right person to take over. ”

Seeing Duke's resolute face, soup? Rothman understood that this matter was extremely difficult, and after thinking about it, he said, "What about the other Tiyì?" Fox defer your share of the payment? ”

Duke didn't speak, and put on a thoughtful look, as if he was very embarrassed.

"Can you know how big the funding gap is for the project?" Duke asked.

This project, which even the banks refuse to lend, has pushed Fox into a situation where it is impossible to advance or retreat. Although they are also asking James? Cameron exerted pressure, but even if the tyrant on the set was forced to commit suicide by jumping into the sea, the huge investment must be recovered somehow.

Just hesitated slightly. Soup? Rothman said, "Cameron is asking for an additional $30 million!" You should know his style, this number will definitely increase, without 50 million dollars, "Titanic" will definitely not be completed! ”

"What is the total investment?" Duke asked again.

"Twentieth Century Fox and Paramount have invested a total of $150 million!"

Hear Townsend? Rothman said the numbers, and Duke gradually made up his mind to make a decision. "Townsend, the share of 'Saving Private Ryan' can be handed over to Fawkes for the time being."

Thomson? The expression on Rothman's face relaxed slightly. Then he asked, "Say, Duke, what's the condition?" ”

"Don't you want to put this part of the money into Titanic?"

See Townsend? Rothman nodded, Duke slowly knocked on the armrest of the sofa, and said with a chuckle, "This is the Duke's studio's investment in Titanic, what do you think?" ”

He wants to invest in Titanic? Thomson? Rothman frowned, Fox's lack of funding was one thing, and it was another thing entirely to let outside money get into their project with Paramount.

This will involve all kinds of problems, Duke is very clear, and he does not count on Townsend? Rothman replied immediately, and in the absence of Paramount Pictures, he, the CEO of Fox, did not have so much power.

"Townsend, it's just a build."

What kind of difficulties did "Titanic" encounter in terms of funding, and Duke still has a little memory, combined with Townsend? The situation that Rothman was talking about, that scene was undoubtedly playing out, "James? I believe you know better than I know how big Cameron's appetite is, and I think replacing him is the worst option, and if the Duke Studios can join in, I can make up for your lack of funding. ”

"I can't give you an answer." Thomson? Rothman thought for a moment, then said, "This needs to be negotiated between Fox and Paramount Pictures." ”

Duke just leaves a possibility for himself to intervene in this project, and the investment is definitely not as simple as words, who knows what kind of changes will be made on the set of Rosario? He always had to confirm something before he could actually talk to Fawkes and Paramount.

At the end of the week, Duke asked Leonardo out a date? DiCaprio, under the pretext of accompanying him, the male protagonist, to the crew for inspection, deliberately flew to Rosario, Baja California, and witnessed the crazy crew and the Titanic model ship standing in a huge artificial lake in a one-to-one ratio, and learned from Leonardo that the heroine is an actress from the United Kingdom, Kate, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the last Oscar for "Sense and Sensibility"? Winslet.

The main cast and crew in the crew, Duke vaguely has some impressions, not to mention Jeff who almost forced his ass and Jeff who was forced to commit suicide? Cameron.

This information was enough for him to make some judgments, although the future is unpredictable, but any investment is risky, and there is no doubt about a 100% profitable investment, and after returning to Los Angeles from Baja California, Duke has already made a decision.

Nancy? Josephson was once again pushed to the front line of negotiations by him, and frequently contacted Fox and Paramount, unlike Fox's hesitation, Paramount Pictures was very happy to say that it would support Duke's participation in the investment, in fact, this project that lasted for nearly two years, and I don't know when it will start shooting, has long become a gold-absorbing black hole in Paramount's eyes, and they wish that there would be a pick-up man, so as to change the current situation.

Duke has also done enough research and understanding, and the situation is similar to the rumors he saw in his previous life, and the project has been established for nearly two years, from the media to the Hollywood industry to the film company, and no one is optimistic about James anymore? Cameron's project, cynicism continues to appear, and even some media reporters and film critics have opened a special section in the weekly column, just to ridicule James? Cameron and his Titanic.

At the same time, Duke also learned about the huge difficulties faced by Fox, because the project's expected profitability and credibility index continued to decline, and Fox's contacts with banks and film funds all ended in failure, after all, "Titanic" has smashed nearly 150 million US dollars, not to mention the transfer to post-production, and it is not even certain when it will be able to start shooting, and no one knows when it will be completed, or even whether it can be completed.

Among other things, even the third-party American AIA insurance company that acts as the guarantee for the completion of the film is moving around Wall Street, trying to sell the completion guarantee agreement or find a receiver who shares the risk with them.

In other words, twentieth century Fox and James? Cameron is at his own inflection point.

This is a very good starting point, and after getting through this difficult phase, Twentieth Century Fox may grit his teeth and hold on to it until the end.

As Paramount Pictures wanted to get out of this funding hole, Nancy quickly reached an agreement with them, and in the following half a month, he began lengthy negotiations with Twentieth Century Fox. Cameron rushed back to Los Angeles from Baja California for the three-way talks.

Fox's internal voice is not unified, to Townsend? People led by Rothman believe that Duke's Duke Studio should not be allowed to participate in "Titanic" casually, and a group of people led by the financial director, who are facing huge financial pressure, are actively looking for external funds to prevent Fox from collapsing due to the rupture of the capital chain.

As for James? Cameron, as long as there is money for him to complete this maritime epic, he doesn't care about the source of funds.

Negotiations continued until mid-July, and due to a series of setbacks in other funding, Twentieth Century Fox finally decided to accept the funds from the Duke's studio - in fact, the share has been on Fox's account all the time - and at the same time, after the conclusion of the joint negotiation meeting between Cameron, Paramount, Fox and the Duke's studio, the parties signed a formal agreement, and the Duke's studio officially injected $50 million into the Titanic, thus piling up the project's production cost to an unprecedented $200 million!

According to the agreement, Duke Studios takes a quarter of the investment and naturally enjoys an equal share of the revenue from the North American box office, overseas box office and all peripherals, but does not own any rights to the film.

Compared with the investment two years ago, the pledge period is shorter and relatively cost-effective, and the most important thing is that Duke is not as short of money as it was two years ago.

Although investment comes with risk, and like other small companies, they can't get the rights to the film from the giants, but Duke is quite satisfied with the agreement, if the film really goes on track, what is the income of a quarter of it? It's not just the box office!

At the same time, Duke also agreed to Fox to defer the payment of the remaining share in order to ease their financial pressure, so that Fox owes him a favor.

After getting the investment in "Titanic", Duke's energy was all transferred back to the filming of "Chicago", the film started in early April and has lasted for more than three months now, which is also the longest shooting time and the most difficult film since Duke's filming, and the whole crew has finally come to an end after more than 100 days of suffering. (To be continued)