Studio.

Thinking about it, Ji Cheng took the initiative to invite: "Mr. Hughes, since you said that you want to show me the script, why don't we have a meal together in the evening, how about you bring the script to me then?" ”

John. Hughes was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Okay, I'll book a restaurant." ”

Ji Cheng said bluntly: "Don't book a restaurant, I'm just after the filming is over, you can take my company's car and go together." ”

"Okay." John. Hughes readily agreed, and then he seemed to think of something, and looked at Amy, who was beside him. Hecklin, "I'm here to visit Amy today, you see...... Can I invite her over for dinner? ”

Although Ji Cheng knew that Amy. Hecklin didn't do much except to direct "Flying Over Innocence", and it didn't matter if he was wooed or not, but now he wanted to learn from John. Hughes got "Home Alone" in his hand, and this face still has to be given, "Of course it's no problem, I just want to invite a few people to the banquet together, and there will be more people." ”

Dinner was set in a few words.

Ji Cheng then turned his head and said, "Li Kai, Kevin, Ms. Siccone, Ms. Aniston, and Mr. Travofta, do you have time?" If you have time, you can just eat together. ”

John. Travofta is the actor who plays Billy, and he said with a wry smile: "Sir, I may not be available, the crew of "Flying Innocence" next door has a scene to shoot at night." ”

Amy. Hecklin hurriedly said: "I won't shoot tonight, I will shoot tomorrow." ”

Ji Cheng was stunned for a moment, "Travofta also participated in "Flying Over Innocence"? ”

"Otherwise, why do you think we went to Chicago to rent a studio to shoot? No way, who made our actor so popular, and "Flying Over Innocence" is almost finished, in order to avoid John running at both ends may delay the progress, I specially applied for a rented studio with Mr. Li Kai. "Amy. Hecklin laughed.

Ji Cheng was dizzy for a moment and looked to the side, ""Flying Over Innocence" is also our company's project? Why didn't I see "Flying Over Innocence" on the list of projects at Columbia Pictures before? ”

"It's a project from an affiliate, Samsung Productions, and you're looking at the list of projects from Columbia Pictures." Li Kai explained: "Because Samsung Productions is an independent subsidiary, the projects must not be put together and shown to you, and you didn't ask for Samsung Productions projects at that time." ”

All right.

It seems that I was negligent.

However, Ji Cheng inadvertently got a good news, that is, "Flying Over Innocence", which ranked third at the North American box office this year, was actually his own company's work, and he began to calculate wildly in his head, according to his memory, "Chicago", "Flying Over Innocence" and "Home Alone" The three movies have achieved very good box office results, and then he and Sony will have a greater negotiating advantage.

"Okay, since it's all my own company's project, then I, the boss, announced that I would invite all the two crews to finish eating together and eat openly, and tonight's consumption will be counted on my head." Ji Cheng boldly gave the order.

The people of the two crews all cheered when they heard this.

"Oh yes!"

"Haha, Mr. Ji is so good!"

"I actually invited all of our two crews to dinner."

"We can eat open tonight, Mr. Ji is not short of money."

"That is, how can the richest man in the world be short of money? Hmm, there's something delicious tonight, Mr. Ji is so good. ”

Everyone was excited.

Ji Cheng took the opportunity to greet the few people whose names he had just called, and then asked Amy. Hecklin called the producer of "Flying Over Innocence" with him, but he didn't shout anything about the assistant director, after all, there may be several assistant directors in a movie, and there are too many people at the table to talk.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly thought of something, and looked at the assistant director who had saddled himself before, "You can come with you." ”

The assistant director didn't expect to receive Ji Cheng's dinner invitation, and was immediately flattered, and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Mr. Ji." ”

As soon as everyone saw Ji Chengcheng, they understood what he meant by inviting the assistant director to share dinner together, it was nothing more than knocking on the rest of the crew, so that everyone could understand who was the boss of the company, the assistant director's fart just now was really good, and having dinner together was Ji Cheng's reward for him!

The group of assistant directors couldn't help but show envious eyes, and they secretly regretted that they didn't rush to shoot Ji Cheng's ass just now, and missed the good opportunity to have dinner with the company's big boss.

"Let's go."

Ji Cheng took the lead and walked out.

A group of men followed.

Seeing that they were about to walk out of the studio.

Suddenly, there was a call from behind him. Bruckner's voice, "Mr. Cheng! ”

Everyone turned their heads to look at it, and it was clear that they didn't understand Howard. Bruckner shouted at this time what happened to Ji Cheng.

Ji Cheng didn't know so he looked over, just now Howard. Bruckner has already said that he will resign voluntarily, and he has agreed to it, but the oral agreement in the beautiful country has legal effect, especially when so many people can be witnesses at the scene, it can be said that Huaying Pictures fired Howard. Bruckner will not have any trouble at all, and he will not even have to compensate for liquidated damages, after all, it is the other party who resigned on his own initiative.

In this case, why did the other party suddenly shout at him?

Ji Cheng really didn't quite understand, he frowned and looked at Howard. Bruckner, "What else do you have?" ”

"I was wrong, I realized what I was wrong." At the moment Howard. Bruckner can't care about face anymore, if Ji Cheng runs away like this, he will definitely not be able to direct the play "Chicago" anymore, and Howard. Bruckner also knew that his time was running out, and that if he missed the play, his life would be over, so he had to get back his directorship, "Can you let me continue directing Chicago?" ”

Ji Cheng shook his head expressionlessly, "I'm sorry, I can't." ”

Howard. Bruckner pleaded, "I really realize my mistake, and the proverb says that no one is wrong, can't you give me a chance to mend my ways?" ”

Ji Cheng smiled, "I remember that there is a proverb in the beautiful country that says, don't smash your own job, first of all, as the boss of the company, I make a request to you, and if you don't listen, forget it, and in turn attack me personally, secondly, the voluntary resignation was proposed by yourself, I gave you enough face, and I personally wrote a script, plus five shots, and now you have smashed your own rice bowl, and you still want me to serve you a bowl of rice to eat?" How can there be such a good thing in the world! ”

"Yes."

"This Howard is too shameless."

"If you don't listen to the opinions of the boss of the company, forget it, and make personal attacks, thanks to Mr. Ji's reasonableness, and he took the initiative to prove himself, and if he was someone else, I am afraid that he will directly fire Howard, You Yu, he still has the face to continue directing "Chicago"?"

"I've seen shameless, but I've never seen such a shameless person."

"Ahh

It's not just the two crews of "Chicago" and "Flying Over Innocence" who despise Howard over there. Bruckner, even the other crew and the group of actors who have nothing to do with Ji Cheng's company, can't help but scold at this moment.

Howard. Bruckner's face was blue and red when everyone said what they said, and it was extremely ugly, but he was still dead-faced, "You fired me, and you can't find a suitable director for a while, right?" I'm familiar with this film, and I swear I'll make it according to your ideas in the future......"

Before he finished speaking, Ji Cheng chuckled lightly and interrupted unceremoniously: "Do you think you are the only one in the world who will be the director?" It's not that I look down on you Howard. Bruckner, to put it mildly, I can find any director to direct this "Chicago" and shoot it better than you. As he spoke, he deliberately looked at the assistant director, "You are here to direct this movie." ”

The assistant director was stunned for a moment, and then said ecstatically: "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Ji." ”

Howard. Bruckner's face turned red when he brushed the ground, he never thought that Ji Cheng would humiliate him so deeply, and he actually directly replaced him with an assistant director, and combined with the words just now, isn't he talking about him Howard. Bruckner can't even compare to an assistant director? This is naked humiliation!

His whole body trembled with anger, and he said viciously: "Just him, Rob. Marshall, a choreographer I got from Broadway, do you expect him to do Chicago well? He laughed like crazy, "Haha, you don't really think he's a professional director, do you?" He's just a choreographer, and I asked him to come over and design the dance because of the fact that Chicago is a musical comedy, and he was given the status of an assistant director......"

What?

This man is Rob. Marshall?

Ji Cheng was stunned, he never thought that this assistant director was actually the original director of the movie "Chicago", originally he casually directed "Chicago" to the assistant director It was completely humiliating to Howard. Bruckner, anyway, will eventually invite other directors to command the overall situation, which is nothing more than asking the assistant director to put on the name of a director.

However, when he learned that the assistant director in front of him was Rob. After Marshall. Changing his mind in an instant, he looked at Howard with even more mocking eyes. Bruckner, "What's wrong with him?" To put it mildly, even if he doesn't shoot well, I will lose one or two million US dollars, this money is nothing to me at all, but you, today's news is out, do you think there is any other company willing to ask you to be a director? ”

Speaking of which, Ji Cheng was too lazy to talk nonsense, "He's not the person hired by our company now, kick him out of the studio!" ”

A few supporting actors next to him have long watched Howard. Bruckner was not pleasing to the eye, and when he heard Ji Cheng say this, he immediately volunteered to step forward, and several people grabbed the grip of the hand, lifted the foot of the foot, and directly put Howard. Bruckner was lifted out of the studio and thrown out.

Howard. Bruckner was desperate, he never thought that the consequences of offending Ji Cheng would be so serious, not only did he lose his job as a director, but he would never be able to receive invitations from other production companies in the days when his time was short, yes, he understood that everything Ji Cheng said would come true, no company would hire such a director who did not cooperate with the company, after all, he was not Spielberg.

Howard. Bruckner's bowels of regret are blue at the moment.

Ji Cheng and the others didn't care about Howard anymore. How about Bruckner, the crowd left with a smile and a look of despair. Bruckner is a stark contrast.

Who won?

Who lost?

Glance!

Many people glanced at Howard with disdain. Bruckner, of course they understand why this guy dares to argue with Ji Cheng, it is nothing more than relying on the director's status in Hollywood to get higher and higher, plus "Chicago" has already started filming, and generally no matter what, the director will not be changed temporarily, but unfortunately, Howard. Bruckner couldn't figure out his status, and didn't understand that the investment of one or two hundred million was just a drizzle in Ji Cheng's eyes, and Ji Cheng also proved with practical actions who knew better about film art. Bruckner's face crackled, and it could only be said that he was self-inflicted!

……

Everyone came to Chicago's famous oriole restaurant.

The price of this restaurant is still relatively expensive, and the per capita consumption in the current era is about 300 US dollars, you must know that in the current era, more than 100 US dollars can eat a good meal, and the per capita consumption here has reached 300 US dollars, you can imagine how expensive the price is.

Ji Cheng ordered himself A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, Spanish crimson prawns, Hudson River foie gras, silver cod and fried food.

Because the local customs are not used to talking about business when eating, Ji Cheng naturally did not sweep everyone's interest.

The meal took about an hour or so.

After eating, Ji Cheng dismissed everyone and took only John with him. Hughes and Li Kai came to their own room in the hotel.

in the house.

John. Hughes took out the script and carefully put it in front of Ji Cheng, after all, it was created with painstaking efforts, so he naturally looked very careful, "Mr. Ji, this is the script of "Home Alone" that I created, and please give me some valuable advice after looking at it." ”

Li Kai, who was sitting next to him, didn't understand what Ji Cheng had called him with him at first, but now he understood a little bit when he saw the script.

Ji Cheng snorted and pretended to say, "I'll take a look." ”

"I'm sorry for you." John. Hughes said modestly.

Ji Cheng was very satisfied with the other party's attitude, and opened the script and watched it carefully.

He found that the script was a little different from the plot of the "Home Alone" movie that he was familiar with, well, this is a normal thing, after all, the movie is edited after filming, and there may be a lot of more plots when shooting, naturally, it is normal for the normal screenwriter to have more or less content than the content of the movie.

The general framework is correct, it is indeed the script of "Home Alone".

Ji Cheng asked while reading it: "Is this script registered with the Screenwriters Association?" ”

"After registering, I also asked the agency to help cast the script to many production companies, and I just voted it out two days ago, and I haven't received feedback yet." John. Hughes volunteered.

Ji Cheng couldn't sit still when he heard it, according to his understanding of the filming time of "Home Alone", if at this time, John. If Hughes has already submitted the script to the major production companies, it is very likely that it will be robbed by Fox, so he simply didn't read the script, raised his head and said: "I took a few general glances, and I feel that this story is very interesting, John, are you interested in handing over this script to us Huaying Pictures to shoot?" ”

John. Hughes originally had this purpose, what made Ji Cheng point out the script was all a pretext, and seeing that the goal was achieved, he hurriedly said: "Of course I'm interested, okay, since Mr. Ji has personally spoken, then this script will be handed over to Huaying Pictures for development." ”

"Okay, let's talk about the price." Ji Cheng said quickly: "How much money do you want?" ”

John. Hughes said bluntly: "At present, the single original script of Hollywood is about 15,000 US dollars, and the starting salary of a gold medal screenwriter is often 200,000 US dollars for a single script, although I am not the top screenwriter, but I am not too much to pay for this script of 100,000 US dollars, right?" ”

"According to the Writers Guild regulations, screenwriters can also get a 5% net revenue share after the original script is released, Mr. Hughes, is it too much for you to ask for $100,000?" Li Kai also wanted to suppress the price.

John. Hughes rolled his eyes and said, "Mr. Li, do you think I'm stupid?" Under the Hollywood accounting system, is the net income not in the air? You can make me a box office of 500 million without net income, and my price of $100,000 is really not expensive. ”

That's right, the accountants of Hollywood Productions are not vegetarians.

What else did Li Kai want to say.

Ji Cheng said directly: "In this way, I will give you 150,000 US dollars for this script, but I have a request, if the movie made by this script achieves good box office results, and the company wants to make a second part, you have to continue to be the screenwriter." ”

John. When Hughes heard that the request was so simple, he agreed without hesitation: "I can agree to this." ”

Ji Cheng was afraid that something would happen, so he looked sideways at Li Kai, "Xiao Li, go and draw up a contract." ”

Li Kai was stunned, "Now? ”

Ji Chengdao: "Yes." ”

Li Kai saw that Ji Cheng was so serious, and thought back to what happened on the set in the afternoon, he immediately got up and said, "Okay, I'll let people draw up the contract." ”

And with that, he went out.

Ji Cheng and John. Hughes discussed the script, usually this kind of screenwriter script needs to be revised, he has seen the "Home Alone" movie, so he can naturally put forward better opinions.

John. Hughes clapped his hands again and again after listening to Ji Cheng's suggestion, and took out a pen on the spot to record it, obviously, he really listened to Ji Cheng's suggestion.

About thirty minutes later, Li Kai returned.

Production companies usually have a model contract, and they only need to modify the content slightly and print it out.

The reason why it took me 30 minutes to come back was probably to wait for the company to fax it.

"John, you see if there are any problems with the contract, and if there are no problems, we will sign the contract, right?" Ji Cheng handed over the contract.

John. Hughes responded, "Okay." ”

He looked down at the contract, and after ten minutes, he was sure that there was no problem, and the two sides immediately signed the contract.

Here you go!

Home Alone is finally here!

Ji Cheng was excited.

A few more words here, John. Hughes was about to go back to rest when suddenly, his mobile phone rang, "Hey, hello, I'm John. Hughes...... Oh, you're the project development manager at Fox...... I'm sorry, but I sold the script of "Home Alone" to someone else...... OK, next time there is a chance to cooperate. ”

Ji Cheng didn't ask and knew what was going on!

Fox came to the door to buy Home Alone!

it!

Fortunately, buddies took the lead, otherwise "Home Alone" would have been snatched away by Fox!

Ji Cheng couldn't help but secretly rejoice that he was thanks to Howard today. Bruckner made a contradiction to put John. Hughes and others were attracted to come and watch and then because they showed their level of cinematic art and John. Hughes knew and got the script, otherwise I'm afraid I would have really missed it. Hughes is not a dedicated screenwriter of Huaying Pictures, and he is just here to visit the class today, if there is no afternoon play, it would be strange not to miss "Home Alone"!

Call.

It's good that you didn't miss it.

Ji Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time secretly excited in his heart, this is "Home Alone", and he can still film "Home Alone 2" later, as for three, four, five, he is not ready to shoot, after all, the box office is not good, but the global box office of these two or two films together must be almost a billion dollars, not to mention that they can be made into videotapes and streaming media royalties in the future, and the film company gets far more from digital media businesses such as DVDs than from the box office revenue of theaters.

To put it simply, the "Home Alone" series has the potential to make Ji Cheng gain two billion dollars.

Just and Howard. Bruckner made a fuss, and it was possible to earn two billion dollars!

Ji Chengxin said, okay, this time with Howard. Bruckner made such a good fuss that he let himself pick up such a staggering film project as "Home Alone" for nothing.