While Alex was busy selling hula hoops and preparing for DreamWorks, Morris suddenly brought two people in.

One is a handsome man with a beard, and the other is a middle-aged man who looks fancy.

As soon as Morris came in, he said unceremoniously, "Alex! How are your hula hoops selling? Did you make $8 million? ”

Alex looked at him a little inexplicably and said, "How can it be so fast! Are you looking for something with me? ”

"Uh-huh! Can't I talk to you if I don't have something to do? ”

Morris has been familiar with Alex these days, and he knows that he is not like an ordinary child, so he no longer teases, he said: "I am here to help you find a way to make money this time." ”

This is a bit abrupt, but Morris has known Alex's father for so long, and of course he will not watch Alex spend all his money coldly, and as a result, he will not be able to shoot "The Sound of Music". He also began to understand that the Carpenter were intent on exercising Alex. But he was a man who couldn't stand idly by, so he used his methods to help.

Alex looked at the two people who came with him, and he didn't know what the other party could do, so he asked, "You say come and listen, if it's a good way, I'll do it according to yours." ”

Morris introduced the identity of the middle-aged man in flowery clothes, saying: "This is Dalton Trumber, he is a screenwriter. ”

Later, he introduced the man with the beard and said, "This is William Whitt, he's a director." I've known each other since France, and we're old friends. ”

At the end of the day, Morris introduced Alex to two of his friends, saying, "As for this boy, I think you all know each other." It's Alex from the Carpenter brothers! ”

Alex shook hands with the two men and said hello. He now kind of understands that Morris wants him to make a movie to make money. This method is really worthy of being thought up by the director. What should I do if I lack money to make a movie? Of course, it's to make a movie and make money to make a movie.

"Are you so sure that the movies they make will make money?" Alex was a little unconvinced.

Morris didn't argue either, saying, "You read the script of the movie first." ”

The screenwriter, Dalton, handed over his script, and Alex almost screamed with excitement when he saw the name on it.

A few big words written on the script - "Roman Holiday"!

Is this a time to run, I didn't expect Morris to bring this movie!

Alex calmly flipped through the script, and while reading it, he thought: "It just so happened that Hepburn signed in, and a good script was delivered to the door immediately." It's really a coincidence, it's just that these two people didn't go to a big company, but they found me. ”

Morris and the others were not in a hurry, and waited silently.

Alex was about to ask clearly, and after he finished reading the script, he said, "Have you asked other companies about this film?" ”

"Of course they did, but they didn't agree to our conditions." It was the screenwriter Dalton who spoke.

"On what terms?" Alex didn't know much about the filming background of the film and wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes.

"We have to shoot on location, and we have to be the producer and director ourselves." Director William said, his voice a little muffled.

Morris shrugged his shoulders and said, "I've read their script, it's pretty good, maybe the subject matter is a bit old, but the audience is quite wide." In addition, I know William's strength better, as long as the funds are guaranteed, he will definitely be able to hand over a good masterpiece. ”

Screenwriter Dalton said angrily: "Those big companies refused to agree to our conditions, and they had to arrange for other directors to make this film, but I don't think other people can make the feeling I want." Only William knew best what I wanted. ”

Director William nodded lightly in agreement, saying, "We went to Universal Pictures, Fox, Columbia and Paramount, and they all wanted to modify the film, but we didn't agree. Except for Paramount, who was still interested in continuing the conversation, the other companies all rejected our offer. ”

Morris continued: "Actually, as early as 1949, there were people who wanted to make this film. That man was Frank Capra, but his production company was in financial trouble and pulled out of the film's plans. It's been delayed until now, and I'll introduce the two of them to you after I know the Tao. ”

So that's the case, no wonder Morris was able to pull them over. After all, DreamWorks hasn't made a film in Alex's hands yet, who is so brave to come and test the water. This also just shows that Morris has a lot of influence in the film industry and can persuade these people who can't get what they want to come.

However, Morris did not tell Alex the full truth. The McCarthyist movement has begun to spread to all parts of the United States, especially in the cultural sphere, where people are being segregated and censored by the authorities on a daily basis. Unfortunately, both the director and the screenwriter were targeted by those crazy people. That's why the big companies don't dare to invest in the film, they want to change the director.

As early as 1947, William Whitt was blacklisted by the American Committee on Un-American Activities. Think he sympathizes with communism and the Communist Party. William was one of the famous "Ten Gentlemen" at the time, and instead of succumbing to pressure, he made accusations and rebuttals.

In the end, William was suspended from directing the film. Now he is seeking to make a comeback, but no one dares to lend a hand.

Not only is director William at risk of being targeted by McCarthyists, but even screenwriter Dalton has major problems. At this time, William had not been out of the blacklist for a short time, but Dalton was still on the list.

It wasn't until the film was finished and William sent the film credits that Alex found out that Dalton's name couldn't be found on it. At this time, he realized that he was kept in the dark by these three people, but fortunately, there were no taboo scenes in this film, so it was not banned.

Alex looked at the few people in front of him, and quickly decided, he said, "Then what is your budget?" Who are you going to look for to star in? ”

As soon as Morris and the others heard it, there was a play! It's all coming soon, especially William, who plans to be a director and producer.

Director William immediately said: "We had a budget of $1.5 million, and we were going to find Gary Grant, and the actor in this script was originally written based on him. But he was rejected by the other party, and later found Gregory Peck to be the leading actor, and he agreed. As for the heroine, it has not yet been decided. ”

Alex was a little embarrassed to hear this, he happened to be a little nervous now, and if he took out another $1.5 million at once, I was afraid that it would be a little troublesome in the future.

After seeing Alex's expression, screenwriter Dalton quickly explained: "We plan to make this film into a color film, so the budget is higher. ”

Color films? Isn't it a black-and-white movie? This era coincided with a period of fierce competition between color films and black and white films. In a few years, black and white cinema will eventually fall back, and this "Roman Holiday" will be the classic of the most radical black and white films.

Alex reacted immediately, and he asked Dalton, "How much do you estimate it would cost if it were made into a black and white movie?" ”

Dalton looked a little unpleasant, but he still said: "We have calculated the budget for making a black and white film, and it should be within $1 million." ”

After hearing this, Alex was relieved, if he was $1 million, he could still get it.

"Then I'll only give you $1 million, but there's no more."

Morris, who had been listening to them, couldn't hold back any longer, and he said to Dalton and them, "Alex, you don't have to be so stingy. It's just $500,000 more, which isn't more than what you can make with a record. ”

Alex shook his head and smiled, "It's different now, I can't move half a cent of the money I make from my records." You know, how I spent the $8 million I had in my hand, and now I have less than $2 million left, and if you take $1.5 million from me, it will be over. ”

After listening to Alex's sincere language, Morris and the others knew that it was impossible to get more money to make this film. As for $1 million, it's enough for them to make a black-and-white film.

"No, I think we have to make a color movie." Director William strongly disagreed, believing that this would make the film not show the beauty of Rome.

Alex still insisted on his opinion, only $1 million, too much is not enough.

Morris had to patiently persuade director William, saying: "Black and white films can make good films." ”

Director William thought for a while before reaching out to Alex and saying, "So be it." You give me $1 million, and I'll make a good work for you. ”

Alex also reached out and shook the other party's hand, and said, "If you want to be the heroine, I have a good candidate here." You must meet her. ”

After receiving the news, Audrey Hepburn immediately rushed from Europe, and she originally thought that she would have to wait for more than a year before she started making movies. Previously, Alex also let Hepburn go home, and everyone didn't expect that there would be a new opportunity so soon.

Director William and screenwriter Dalton both felt that Hepburn was too thin and her face did not meet the aesthetics of Westerners at first, and they did not agree with her as the heroine. Alex insisted that they observe for a few days before making a decision right away.

Unexpectedly, the longer they got along with Hepburn, the more they felt that she had to shoot the role of Princess Anne.

Especially one day, after they saw Hepburn, who was dressed plainly but looked noble and elegant, they made a decision on the spot to let her play the heroine of "Roman Holiday". They believe that there is no one who can have a pure, innocent and noble temperament like Hepburn.

"Really? Can I really play the heroine? ”

Hepburn jumped for joy, and she hurriedly ran to director William and screenwriter Dalton and gave them a warm hug each. Of course, she didn't forget Alex and gave him a hug as well, plus a light kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you, thank you." She said with some excitement. Since the filming of the last movie, she has been waiting for a new opportunity, and she has waited until now.

Hepburn's original dream was to become the principal actress of the ballet company, but due to the prolonged starvation during the war, her muscle development was too tall and thin, and her appearance did not match the aesthetics of Westerners. This made her feel a little inferior in her heart, thinking that she was too ugly for no one to marry her.

Now someone has asked her to play a princess! Becoming a princess is something that all girls dream of. Hepburn, of course, would have been thrilled by this.

The hero and heroine have been selected, and the money given by Alex has also arrived. William, who is also a director and producer, immediately laid out his worksheet and was ready to start shooting. The manpower and filming equipment they needed were readily available at DreamWorks, which saved them a lot of trouble.

As a result, DreamWorks began filming their first film, and the filming of their film went quietly. In less than a week, they were already flying to Rome for a live location shoot.

After sending off the "Roman Holiday" filming team, Alex was busy with hula hoops again. Under his guidance, more and more people began to use hula hoop as a kind of sports competition, and many countries began to become popular as this fashionable sport.

At this time, Alex was about to cramp when he counted the money, and manufacturers in various countries remitted the patent fees they should pay. More than a year later, by the end of 1953, Alex had earned more than $9 million from hula hoops, excluding taxes and other expenses.

After making a fortune, Alex certainly couldn't forget about the others, and he first rewarded Chuck with $200,000. Then he wrapped Sam in a big package of $300,000 and then offered $500,000 as an employee bonus. The staff here includes people from the hula hoop factory and DreamWorks.

A total of $1 million as a prize money is already a lot of money in this day and age. Alex is so generous, Chuck and others are even more grateful, in layman's terms, loyalty has risen by another 5 points.

As for the Carpenters, they shook their heads and felt that Alex simply didn't take money as a money. But they can't do anything, after all, Alex earned all this money by himself. At the beginning, I also said that I would let Alex deal with it himself.

Since the success of the hula hoop money-making scheme, Alex's status in the family has obviously risen a lot. At least, he is now able to make his own decisions, and having money in his hand is different.