Walking into the specially built dance rehearsal room in the studio, Duke stood in the doorway, watching the actresses prepare for the event, Lily? Fred and her assistants, scattered in Naomi? Watts and Catherine? Zeta? Jones and several other main actors are nearby, explaining the most basic movements and precautions.

Although he is not a complete layman, Duke does not have the professionalism of singing and dancing, and most of the time he just watches and rarely expresses his opinions.

Lily? Not only is Fred a Broadway veteran, but he has also been nominated for several Tony Awards, and several sequences have been approved by Duke.

"Duke, I have something I want to talk to you about."

See Duke, Lily? Fred walked over and said directly, "I have a bit of a disagreement about the setting of the cabaret scene. ”

"Just say yes."

The other party is a professional, and Duke is not a dictator on the set who doesn't listen to anything.

"Shall we go to the studio, then?"

After Duke nodded in agreement, Lily? Fred and Duke left the dance rehearsal room and walked into the adjacent studio, where they went straight to a scene building area about the prison, where the setting work was relatively simple, and a row of sliding props had been installed on the prison door.

Spend all this time, Lily? Fred knew Duke's attitude towards work, and instead of going around in circles, he stood directly in front of the iron door of the prison and said, "I think six chairs are enough as props in this song and dance scene." ”

Duke looked at her and made a gesture to continue.

Lily? Fred elaborates, "It's the darkest and most oppressive song and dance in the whole play, and according to my vision, the prop only needs six chairs, and each woman takes turns to go to the stage to defend her husband alone, and then let out the deepest roar together." Simple and powerful. ”

She pointed to the iron gate, "I've seen your idea, in addition to these, there are pas de deux, group dances and choruses, and the actors need to add a piece of red silk cloth in their hands, so that the overly complex and gorgeous stage background will weaken the charm of the actors' performances." There is even a suspicion of dominating the guests. ”

"The simplest props, solo dancing and singing, with the performance of the actors to render the atmosphere." Duke walked over there, touched the iron door made of plastic, and asked, "Lily, is that so?" ”

"Yes!" Lily? Fred immediately replied, "I think it's the most appropriate way to express art." ”

"Your idea is not wrong, and the building is also very pertinent." Duke gestured around. "But one thing that is overlooked is that we make a film, not a stage play, which is a form of expression of the huge difference between the two forms."

"Movies aren't just about actors!" Duke walked past the iron gate, "I needed more props, dance, and chorus to support the scene to make it more visually striking." Use movable iron gates, red ribbons to symbolize blood and death, and multi-person dances and choruses. They do diminish the actors' performances, but they can flesh out the scenes. Looks more attractive. ”

When the audience watches a stage play, they can completely focus their eyes on the actors, but movies are different, if only a dry actor performs a one-man show, even if he is Meryl? Streep and Tom? Hanks is combined, and it does not fail to attract the attention of most audiences.

From the day this film was chosen. Duke set the character for "Chicago", which is a musical and dance film, but it is also a commercial film!

Maybe Lily? The way Fred said is more in line with the requirements of art, and the shooting will be more pleasing to some professionals. Even if the actor plays well, it is easier to win the award, but Duke will not use it, he is the investor of this film, and these methods that do not meet the rules of commercial films can only be sidelined.

Solved this little trouble, Duke and Lily again? Fred traveled to other sets that were being built and exchanged views on many of the props and sets, one as a director and the other as a singing and dancing director, and communication between them was extremely important.

All sorts of pre-preparations have to be summed up in the end, Duke and Robin? Grande had been busy all morning, and it wasn't until noon time to eat that Duke felt a little lighter.

"Croissants, beef stewed with potatoes, a glass of juice, thank you."

In the dining room of Warner Studios, Duke finished lunch and walked to the table area with a plate, because there are often crews working in the studio, many big stars and directors are regular customers of this seemingly ordinary restaurant.

Sitting at a white dining table, Duke had just lowered his head and took a sip of juice when he heard someone on the other side.

"Can I sit here?"

Raising his head, Duke glanced at Catherine, who was holding a plate? Zeta? Jones said, "Just sit down." ”

"Thank you!"

Catherine? Zeta? Jones sat down across from her, putting down her plate and tucking her long, damp hair back at the back of her head, Duke looked at the loose sweatshirt she was wearing, guessing that the other party must have just taken a shower after practice.

"I haven't had a chance to say thank you."

Seeing that Duke just bowed his head to eat, and had no intention of speaking, Catherine? Zeta? Jones had no choice but to take the initiative to break the silence, "Thank you for giving me the role of Velma." ”

"You're welcome." Duke smiled at her, "This is what you got in exchange for your excellent appearance." ”

If the other party's audition results are not satisfactory, Duke will definitely not choose her, even if she is Catherine? Zeta? Jones, she might give something, and he wouldn't risk his investment for nothing.

Career and these actresses are more important, for him, there is no need to choose.

Like most actresses, Catherine? Zeta? Jones ate only a small amount of food and focused on Duke.

"I was going to treat you to dinner last weekend to thank you, but my mum came from Wales."

Not far in front of Duke, Zeta? Jones blinked his charming eyes, "Is there time for this weekend?" ”

"Sorry......"

Thinking about his schedule, Duke could only shake his head slowly, "I'm going to visit my mother in New York, and I made an appointment early." ”

The deliberate disappointment is fleeting, Zeta? Jones immediately changed the subject, "You can hear that you have a good relationship with your mother. ”

"I only have one relative, my mother."

Duke put down his knife and fork, Zeta? Jones immediately handed over a white, fragrant napkin, and Duke took it to wipe the grease stains off his mouth, "Mom taught me a lot, without her, I wouldn't be where I am today." ”

His mother was proud of him, and he was not proud of himself for having such a mother.

From the conversation just now, Zeta? Jones quickly found a suitable topic to break through, "A great mother who can help us a lot. ”

Duke couldn't agree more, "That's true. ”

"I'll never forget my mom." Zeta? Jones seemed to be stuck in the memory, his eyes were still a little red, "My original dream was to become a singer, but at the age of sixteen, I had a serious illness, and my vocal cords were a little damaged, and I couldn't bear the burden of singing a lot, and I felt like the whole world was falling apart......"

There was a faint sadness in her voice, full of contagion, "It was my mother who kept encouraging me to get back on my feet, and with her encouragement, I went to London to get a professional dance training, and then I have this little achievement now." ”

"Of course, I would also like to thank you for your help." Zeta? Jones said sincerely, "Duke, you gave me the opportunity to come back to Hollywood and prove myself. ”

"In that case, the film has to be successful." Duke shrugged his shoulders.

Zeta? Jones asked suspiciously, "Will it fail?" I never thought so. ”

"No one can guarantee the success of a film."

Hear Duke, Zeta? Jones retorted without hesitation, "I think you are the guarantee of the success of the film, how many directors in the world can make four consecutive blockbusters?" ”

Duke laughed, "You're more confident than I am." ”

"I'm just stating the most basic facts."

For the topic that unknowingly guided the two of them, Zeta? Jones was very satisfied, and the smile on his face looked even more attractive, "I've been following 'Saving Private Ryan', and your style has actually changed in this film, and it's been so successful. ”

She took her juice, took a sip, and continued, "I watched the box office statistics yesterday, the North American box office is $298.75 million, and the global box office is $612.14 million, the highest-grossing R-rated film in history!" ”

"Soon there will be more high-grossing R-rated films."

Looking at his watch, Duke stood up and prepared to leave, "It's almost time, it's time to get back to work." ”

In addition to preparing for "Chicago", Duke also paid attention to the situation of "Saving Private Ryan", which was recently thrown aside, due to classification and other reasons, the stamina of this war film is obviously not as strong as "Independence Day", by the end of November, the film has been released from AMG, Emperor Entertainment and National Artists and other commercial theater chains, and the theaters that are still showing are basically independent theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

The strategy of the distributor, Twentieth Century Fox, is clear, which is to target the Oscars for the awards season.

Time slowly entered December, the traditional awards season of the North American film industry officially kicked off, and actors, directors and film companies who hope to hit the academy awards, as well as their public relations and agents, are caught in the busiest season of the year, even people like Duke, who don't care much about the Oscars, have to participate in several public relations activities in a row according to the director's contract.

The Oscars in this era have significantly increased the commercial income of the film, although they know that they have almost no possibility of winning the best director, but there is still some hope for the little golden man who cooperates with the producer and distributor to compete for the best picture.

The Oscars actually have a tradition, if the director and producer of the film don't care about the Oscars, the film will not win a heavyweight award under normal circumstances.

In order to share the revenue that is closely related to him, Duke held a party at his home before Christmas, at the request of Warner and Fox. (To be continued......)

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