Most of the crew is composed of old members, compared to the just-concluded Lord of the Rings trilogy, "Hurricane Rescue" can really only be regarded as a small project, according to the project's planning, the crew will go to Paris for location, but all the indoor scenes, Duke does not plan to go to Paris to shoot, there are no tax incentives on the French side, the labor cost in Paris is higher than that in Los Angeles, and this drama will be filmed in Warner Studios in Burbank.

It took less than a week, Charles? Rowan got it with Liam? Neeson's negotiations, the other party also became the first actor officially confirmed by the crew.

As always, Duke will be involved in the preparation and control of the entire project. Rowan, Anna? Prinz and Wallace? Lee is in charge of each other.

The film does not need many main actors, and the two roles that Duke attaches the most importance to are undoubtedly the agent father and daughter, the former finalized Liam? Neeson, the latter, he didn't want to use the one he remembered at all.

For one, he couldn't remember the other party's name; Second, as an important vase, the appearance should be beautiful enough.

Duke never minded his film appearing as a vase actor who played a foiling and decorating role.

However, his requirements for vases are also relatively high, and vases also have the style of vases, and finding a vase that does not match the film will not do anything at all.

For example, for this daughter role, Duke asked the crew to send out a notice and audition for selection, although there was no explanation, but all Latinos, African Americans and Asian actors will not be considered.

Liam? Nissen's identity as a father has determined that it is impossible for his daughter to pull a vase casually.

Because of the Caucasian nature, Duke set the age of the cast to be between 16 and 21 years old, and the role of this daughter is not very good, and it is impossible to attract some of the best actresses in this age group.

First audition Duke completely threw it to Anna? Prinz and Wallace? Lee, it's enough for him to do the final checks.

The lead time for the project was four months. It's just getting started, and there's no need to be too anxious, and with Duke's status and appeal in Hollywood, there is no need to worry about finding the right actor, from mid-July to the end of the month, Wallace? Lee auditioned for nearly sixty young actresses. A number of candidates for a second audition were also confirmed.

In addition to reviewing the work of various departments, Duke is more concerned with the commercial development of the film, which is an action movie closely connected to modern society, in which everything from mobile phones to players to cars and so on will appear frequently and in large quantities.

Choosing the right brand sponsorship, Duke has no psychological pressure at all, and in the face of a new work from a director who has grossed more than $1 billion in three consecutive films worldwide, even if it costs only $40 million to make. The price of any kind of product placement starts at $3 million.

And the mobile opportunity as the focus is the most important of them.

Nowadays, although the camera phone is not as popular as in the future, it has also become a must-have for many mobile phone manufacturers for high-end machines, including Nokia, Philips, Siemens, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, and many manufacturers, all want to win the mobile phone advertising placement of the film.

Duke has been working with Nokia since the beginning of The Matrix, and this time was no exception, with Nokia at a price of $6 million. Got the product placement ads for four mobile phones, and Sony Electronics packaged all the playback electronics that appeared in the film for $5 million. Audi paid $4 million for the car category.

If the film grosses more than $500 million worldwide, the advertiser will also pay an additional 20 percent of the advertising cost.

The film has not yet started filming, and it has been determined that it can recover $15 million.

In addition, there are several ad placements in negotiations, and when the advertisers are finalized, they can conservatively recover $20 million.

Now Duke. is no longer a small director who once ran into walls everywhere, but has become one of the hottest people in Hollywood and even in the United States.

By early August, preparations for the new project were well underway, and "Return of the King," which was still in theaters, grossed nearly $40 million throughout July, with a total of $554.25 million in North America.

Overseas, too, is slowing down. During the same period, it earned nearly $50 million, and the global box office of the film added up to $1,442.18 million.

Another Duke-related work, "Matrix Revolutions" grossed $262.74 million in North America and surpassed $500 million worldwide, which is definitely a success.

So, when August arrived, Warner Bros. threw another big celebration party, Duke and Zack? Schneider and the two are still the protagonists of the party.

Of course, it's not just people who are already in Hollywood who are partying, but also people who want to make it to Hollywood.

"James, are you familiar with him?"

In the corner of the banquet hall, a young man in his twenties asked the actor standing next to him, "When did you introduce me?" ”

The rebel of the young man on the man's unruly face had not yet disappeared, and the short blond-brown hair on his head stood on end, just like his words, full of confidence, as if the whole world was in his hands.

James? Franco, despite his age, has a lot of respect for young people, looking at Duke, who is surrounded by many people, and says, "I only met him once on the set of "Spider-Man", so I don't know him very well. David, there are too many people now, it's not the time to talk about things, let's wait a while and then come over. ”

The young man named David frowned, although he was contaminated with a lot of his father's arrogance, but he also knew what kind of things to do on what occasions, and asked the waiter for two glasses of champagne, while sipping champagne, with James? Franco chatted.

"David, if you want to invest in Hollywood, or want to invest in Hollywood projects," James? Franco is clearly dedicated, "The project of a famous director is the first choice, which means more possibilities for success, even if the film does not sell well, or even fails at the box office, it can often recoup the investment through the surrounding market." ”

"I understand that," David nodded, "and don't forget, I'm a student at USC Film School and still know a little bit about this circle." ”

There was a lot of confidence in his words.

James? Franco smiled helplessly, and had to remind him slightly, "Hollywood investors divide directors into different grades, and determine the reliability of investment according to their achievements in the past few years. Rosenberg is undoubtedly one of the best of them all. ”

"Indeed!" David nodded approvingly.

"Now what you need to do most of all, David...... "James? Franco touched his glass, "How are you going to impress Duke?" Rosenberg, in order to get him to agree to your investment. ”

"Isn't his new film budget only $40 million?" David said, "As long as I accept my investment, I can completely double the production budget to $80 million, and his director and producer remuneration can also be doubled!" ”

Hear that, James? Frank rolled his eyes without a trace, and then said, "Investing in movies is more than just money, Duke?" Neither Rosenberg nor Warner Bros. are short of money......"

"Is that a personal problem?" David curled the corners of his mouth and smiled, "What does he like about limited-edition sports cars, luxury yachts, seaside holiday villas, beautiful models, and even business jets?" None of this is a problem! ”

Speaking of this, he raised his chin slightly, "The most important thing is that if you cooperate with me, he will win David?" Ellison's friendship! ”

James? Franco shut his mouth, he didn't know what to say, the other party has a super-rich dad who can be ranked among the top five in the world, he has lived a smooth life since he was a child, and his personality is also contaminated with some of the confidence and arrogance of that super dad, and it is not something that others will easily change in a few words.

Rich, inexperienced, self-confident, or the most competitive age, James? Franco is not stupid, and he is sure that the other party will not listen to him, so he simply stops persuading.

David? Ellison looked at Duke over there, who was still socializing.

It was a celebratory party, and the guests invited were naturally carefully selected by Duke and Warner Bros., most of whom were members of the academy, as well as some of the most influential people Duke had invited to use his Jewish status.

Although these people are all very old, they have long reached the age of retirement, but they firmly hold the identity of senior members of the academy, and they will never give up until the day of death, and as they get older, their thinking is becoming more and more conservative, in recent years, the academy seems to be showing a change attitude to the outside world, absorbing many young members, but the average age of the academy members is increasing, even approaching 55 years old.

In this respect, the reform of the academy is basically ineffective, and the people who really hold the power of the academy do not want to make this reform effective.

The reason is actually very simple, compared with the vigorous and enterprising young generation of Hollywood, these old men in the twilight, except for being able to show their authority in the academy, have no sense of existence at other times, many of them have been in fame and fortune, how can they easily give up the last fame and fortune?

These core of the academy, which is composed of people in their 60s and even 70s, is no longer likely to develop their careers in directing, filming, or acting, and the so-called rapid retreat in any industry is basically too idealistic.

"Hi Duke,"

Just when there are fewer people around, George? Lucas walked over and said, "Well done!" ”

"Thank you." Duke raised his glass and touched it with him, saying unceremoniously, "I need your help, George." ”

"I know what to do." George? Lucas had a drink with Duke and said before leaving, "Although most of them don't like me either, I can still talk to some people." ”

George? As soon as Lucas left, Duke was reminded by Ivanka and turned to look, only to see the little green goblin in Spider-Man and another young man walking over. (To be continued......)

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