When it comes to the 20th Century Fox Company, the first reaction of later audiences may be the majestic and high-spirited searchlight factory logo and the iconic symbolic music, in addition, I am afraid that it is "Titanic", "Star Wars" and a number of movies produced by the company.

But 20th Century Fox in 1940 was still a little brother in Hollywood.

Unlike established companies such as Paramount and MGM, it was only in 1935 that Twentieth Century Film and Fox announced their merger, making the company the latest major Hollywood company to be founded.

But this does not mean that this company has no heritage. In fact, as early as 1915, William Fox founded the Fox Company, a Hungarian Jew who started a movie theater on the streets of New York, a distribution company and a studio.

In 1917, William Fox came to Hollywood, and in 1926 built a huge and advanced studio, Fox Company gained a firm foothold in Hollywood, especially William Fox through the acquisition of MGM helmsman Marskolov's shares after his death, Shili soared, but this directly stimulated MGM General Manager Louis Meyer, so that MGM began a series of counteroffensives against Fox, William Fox was embarrassed, and the ensuing economic depression, Most of his wealth was wiped out and he went to prison.

In this case, in 1935, Twentieth Century merged with Fox, which is known as a rat swallowing an elephant, because Twentieth Century did not have a distribution network, and the only thing to do was a bunch of stars.

By 1940, after five years of development, 20th Century Fox had become one of the most profitable companies in Hollywood, and its momentum was monstrous.

So, when standing in front of the illustrious corporate gate of 20th Century Fox, Victor felt a little shocked.

In John Ford's office, Victor and Leo waited for more than an hour and still couldn't see Ford, Leo was so anxious that he cursed, but Victor stood by the window, very interested in the busy scene outside.

In Hollywood, the division of labor within the film company is very fine, and each has its own role. The screenwriter puts forward the intention, the structure of the main plot, the director department has the main director and the assistant director of various types of films, the actors are divided into many types of cameras and moves, photography, recording, costumes, props, etc. are also their own duties, but the most bullish is the producer.

Because Hollywood has always pursued not a director-centered system, but a producer-centered system. These producers, mostly European immigrants, do not ask much questions, but they are good at catering to the audience's tastes, he can modify the plot of the movie, can decide the cast, can cut the film, and even, can directly fire the director.

Therefore, Hollywood in this period was like a huge production line, with directors, screenwriters, actors, etc. being just one part of it, and producers being the actual commanders from above.

Therefore, the busy employees outside the window do not have much autonomy. The professional division of labor and the conveyor-belt studio system have made Hollywood myths, but they have also swallowed up the space for individuals to play.

"One day, Lao Tzu will break William's shitty head!" John Ford stormed into his office in a rage, slammed a thick stack of script scripts on the table, and shook the ground.

Victor and Leo looked at each other, looking at each other.

Ford poured a glass of spirits, shook his head, seemed to lose his breath, and smiled bitterly at Victor: "Victor, I'm sorry, this time, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you." ”

"What's wrong?" Victor asked softly.

John Ford was a straightforward man who would never break his word unless absolutely necessary.

Ford pointed to the script on the table, "This thing of mine was killed by William Fox." This Hungarian guy even said that my movie is scattered like a toothpick falling on the ground, which is not attractive at all! What I'm pursuing is to explore the fate of the characters, to explore the difficulties of the people who survive in this shit, he counts money all day long, knows a fart!? ”

Victor looked at Ford's script and smiled.

If he remembers correctly, in 1940, John Ford did make a movie, and this film also became a classic in the history of cinema, and there have been remakes of this film for generations, called "The Grapes of Wrath".

"Uncle John, may I take a look?" Victor laughed.

"You?" John Ford looked at Victor like a monster: "You know the script? ”

Victor secretly rejoiced in his heart: How can Lao Tzu not only understand the script?!

"I just look and learn." Victor Road.

John Ford got up and threw the script to Victor: "Well, you see, it's said that the opinion of the outsider is the most pertinent. See for yourself if this movie is nothing that William bastard said! This shit, it's a bastard. ”

Victor couldn't help but laugh and opened the script by John Ford.

The script of this era is very different from that of later generations. In later Hollywood, movie scripts had a strict format, strict situation requirements, and extremely detailed content, but John Ford's scripts added up to less than ten pages, and the framing pictures he drew with graffiti on them are not counted.

It's full of calculations, two or three thousand words, and tells a story.

After reading this story, Victor was very sure that the script in his hand was the first draft of "The Grapes of Wrath", but it now has a very funny name, "The Farmer".

"How!? Not bad!? After Victor finished reading it, John Ford pointed to the script, and said with great confidence: "Today's Hollywood is not the Hollywood of twenty years ago at all, from top to bottom, they are fucking staring at money, and making money has become the only reason for them to live!" I really miss Hollywood when I was young, so many directors with personality, so many movies full of artistic pursuits, but now, all the fucking disappeared, you go to the cinema to see, there are so many movies every year, how many of them make people's hearts tremble after watching them? ”

"So, you wrote this script?" Victor raised the script in Young's hand.

John Ford nodded vigorously: "Mr. Griffith said that movies should not only be about making money, but also about conscience. That's what I'm going to do, at least starting with this movie! I'm going to talk about the poor peasants of the moment. ”

Victor nodded.

Ford's idea, Ford's realm, he really admires, to be precise, it is precisely because of such a realm that he will be called a generation of film masters.

"Tell me, Victor, what the hell is this script?" John Ford narrowed his eyes at Victor.

Victor laughed: "Do you want to hear the truth or lie?" ”

"Of course it's true."

Victor took a deep breath, put down the script, and looked into John Ford's eyes: "Uncle John, if I were William Fox, not only would I throw this script to you, but I would also tell you to roll up and get out!" ”

"What!?" John Ford stood up with a bang!