In the president's office of Warner Pictures, Alan Horn listened to what Thomas said on the phone, and his face was somewhat ugly.

The invitation sent out in person was turned down.

Although in a very tactful way, using the excuse of preparing to compete for roles on the Nolan and Finch projects, Alan Horn is still not very comfortable.

This also directly declared his Plan A bankrupt.

There was a knock on the office door, and Paul Haggis came in from outside, sat across from Allen, and asked, "Heard something unexpected?" ”

"Martin Davis replied, saying that the schedule was not suitable and declined our invitation." Allen did not carry any emotional overtones, as if to explain the facts of the incident from the perspective of a bystander: "The day before yesterday, Louise Mayer called me and said that Pacific Pictures was going to determine another big project to invest in Warner, and it couldn't draw the funds. ”

Paul Haggis immediately understood the current situation, the absence of the actor with strong market appeal means that the Atlanta money and Asian money behind him are also gone.

There are many rumors in the circle about Louise Mayer and Martin Davis of Pacific Pictures, and it is not surprising that she refused, and Martin also refused.

Alan Horn tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said, "Our plans are about to change. ”

"The rookie actor didn't meet our requirements." Paul Haggis didn't want to risk using a newcomer as the lead actor in a project of such a huge investment: "The investment is too big. ”

Allen nodded: "It must be a first-line star-level actor, we still have time to find it." He frowned: "In fact, the key is funding, there was always a lot of hot money into Hollywood in the past, and it was not difficult for Warner Pictures to attract investment in the project, but since the end of last year, the situation has changed a lot, and the hot money pouring into the circle has decreased sharply, and even Spielberg has gone to India to pull investment." ”

Although he is good at making movies, he has been in a high position for many years and has a keen sense of smell, and he feels that something seems to be wrong with the American economy.

Most notably, Wall Street's enthusiasm for investing in Hollywood has plummeted.

Paul Haggis doesn't understand this, he's a pure filmmaker, just thinking about it from a film investment perspective: "Can we bypass Martin Davis and connect with the Atlanta money and the Asian money behind him?" ”

Alan is not lacking in decisiveness: "I'll let people try. ”

When Paul Haggis left, he called his subordinate, Lauren, and asked her to reach out to people in Atlanta and Asia.

Paul Haggis exited the office and went downstairs to the lobby where he met Jon, the creative director of Legendary Pictures.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and Haggis asked, "You should know about the new project I lead, and you don't plan to invest in it?" ”

Although Warner Pictures and Legendary Pictures are under the same Warner Bros. umbrella, the two sides are not affiliated, but rather side-by-side, Jon shrugged: "Legendary Pictures' focus for the coming year is on the Batman sequel, and there is nothing else that can be done. ”

Haggis wondered: "Didn't you raise a lot of money from private Wall Street shareholders and hedge firms?" ”

Jon replied casually: "The small investors on Wall Street are also short of money. ”

Footsteps sounded nearby, and Christian Bale came over from Warner Bros., greeted him, and asked, "What are you talking about, I see that you are very engaged." ”

Jon smiled, "Money, of course. ”

"A lot of big projects are looking for money," Haggis said. ”

Bell didn't understand any of this and said, "Actually, I'm looking for money too." ”

The three laughed, and Jon quickly took his leave.

Bell is also leaving,

Haggis suddenly remembered what Alan had just said, and hurriedly called out to Bell: "Chris, let's talk a little alone." ”

Bell pointed to the relaxation area, "Over there." ”

The two went over to sit down, and Haggis said directly: "Warner Pictures and I are working on a new installment of the Terminator series, with an investment of about $200 million, and the actor has not yet been decided." ”

"I'm also going to play Bruce Wayne," Bell said. ”

"I asked Jon about the date, and there was no conflict between the two," Haggis said. ”

The first "Time to Go to War" revitalized the Batman movie, Warner and DC are confident in the sequel, and the fourth Terminator will definitely be released after Batman.

Haggis thought about it for a moment, and with the good foundation laid by the first one, the new Batman movie should be a big hit, so that it can borrow Bell's momentum......

As for the salary and the like, it's not a problem, making such a high budget is planning to invite first-line stars.

Bell is a very good person, and he didn't say yes or no: "By industry rules, I can't talk about roles and job acquisition when my agent isn't there. ”

"I'll contact your agent," Haggis said. He opened his briefcase and gave Bell a copy of the script and proposal: "Take a look." ”

Bell said, "Paul, thank you for your attention and invitation. ”

The agent, Patrick, was waiting for him in the car outside.

Bell got into the car, handed him the papers, and said, "An invitation has been received." ”

Patrick flipped through it and said, "I've heard about the project and supposedly invited Martin Davis to play the lead role. ”

Bale immediately came interested: "Martin Davis? ”

Patrick said: "Alan Horn and he met privately. He mentioned the most crucial point: "The budget for the new Terminator will not be less than $180 million, and if you can win this role, I can negotiate a minimum of $15 million for you." ”

Mixed with Vanity Fair, how can there be anyone who is not interested in money, hearing this figure, Bell became even more interested: "Try to contact Warner Pictures, Paul Haggis has talked with Legendary Pictures here, and the schedules on both sides do not conflict." ”

…………

After receiving instructions from her boss Alan Horn, Lauren immediately went into action, researched all the film projects starring Martin Davis, and quickly identified four major sources of investment funding to support Martin.

Pacific Pictures in the Hollywood industry, Gray Films, Atlanta's largest film company, Beast House Entertainment, also from Atlanta, and Wu Maoting, a wealthy Asian businessman.

The heads of the first two, Louise Mayer and Kelly Gray, are too deeply involved with Martin, who is far away in Asia and will not be able to meet in person anytime soon, and Lauren has put aside for the time being, planning to contact Beast House Entertainment in Atlanta first.

They also have an office in Los Angeles.

Lauren inquired that one of the owners of the House of the Beast had recently arrived in Los Angeles.

He immediately drove to Nanbo Great Street, found the office of the House of the Beast, and once inside, he made sure to the people who greeted him: "I'm Lauren Turner of Warner Pictures, and I'm visiting Ms. Sophia. ”

"Wait a minute." The person who came turned around and walked inside.

A moment later, a middle-aged man came out and beckoned Lauren: "Follow me." ”

Lauren noticed that the man was walking in a rather strange way, with his legs stretched out, and his steps were crutching and crutching, as if his buttocks had been hurt by something.

Scott turned his head suddenly, and Lauren followed him into a reception room without squinting, as if he hadn't seen anything.

"Sit." The woman who spoke made the corners of Lauren's mouth twitch.

The sportswear couldn't cover the woman's muscular body, and the bulging muscles between her gestures were more exaggerated than the current Dwayne Johnson.

Lauren's head only found one suitable description: the female version of King Kong!

Then, he reacted that the head of Pacific Pictures was a woman, the head of Gray Pictures was a woman, and the head of the House of the Beast was also a woman.

Martin Davis has a good appetite, right? This can also go down, so you are not afraid of breaking?

Lauren is also well-informed, thinks a lot, but her face is normal, and she introduces herself: "Hello, ma'am, I'm Lauren Kona from Warner Pictures' Planning Department......"

Sophia has always been direct in doing things, interrupting him: "Do you have something to say?" ”

Lauren had made preparations before she arrived, and quickly talked about Warner Pictures' project and sincerity.

Sophia didn't answer much, but she was listening carefully.

…………

On Rodeo Avenue, in Brioni's boutique store, Martin, who finished filming a new season of promotional advertising, is trying on a formal dress.

This is Brioni's specially hand-crafted Oscar shirt based on his body figures, and it will come in handy this weekend.

The store manager, Clydia, was on the side, looked at Martin carefully, and said, "Perfect! Martin, you have a well-proportioned body and a skeleton like a model, which perfectly shows Brioni's outstanding elegance. ”

Martin smiled and said, "Thank you, I'm very satisfied." ”

In the eyes of people like him, who don't have much fashion cultivation, men's formal dresses are nothing more than that, and people like him who need a mature and stable style must choose dark colors in public.

In the rest area, Bruce, who was holding Martin's mobile phone, answered the phone, and when he heard Sophia's voice, his heart tightened inexplicably, and his legs trembled unconsciously.

But what Sophia said was serious, he listened patiently, quickly hung up the phone, went to Martin, and whispered, "Sophia wants to see you." ”

Martin asked, "Something?" ”

Bruce said: "The people at Warner Pictures approached Sophia and wanted to get investment. ”

Martin nodded: "You tell her, I'll go over now." ”

He went to the locker room to change his clothes.

Bruce thought about making a phone call, but he really didn't want to listen to Sophia's voice, so he simply sent a text message.

Martin changed his clothes, said hello to Claudia, went downstairs with Lao Bu, and drove to Burbank.

Knowing that Martin had recently turned down an offer from Warner Pictures, Bruce asked, "Could it have something to do with Alan Horn?" ”

"Alan Horn is the president of Warner Pictures, bringing in a new investor, and he definitely wants his head at the end," Martin said. ”

Bruce frowned slightly: "He wants to dig up our roots!" ”

Martin closed his eyes and pondered, combined with the situation in Hollywood, and the investment income of the House of the Beast, and thought about the conversation with Sophia.

The car soon came to Nanbo Great Street, where the Los Angeles branch of the House of the Beast was located.

Martin and Bruce go upstairs and see Scott first.

I haven't seen Scott for more than half a year, and Scott's legs have not expanded to the sides, but the appearance of walking seems to be fixed, and he always splits his legs.

(End of chapter)