What is the most important thing about a film project? Not the script, not the director, but the funding.
At the critical moment, Martin called the Georgia support team again.
He revealed the existence of this project to Vincent and Sophia over the phone.
Then I called Kelly Gray.
"As long as The Eye Beyond the Mountain succeeds at the box office, I will definitely participate in your new project platter." Kelly put forward two new conditions: "But I have two requirements."
Martin first looked at what it was specifically: "Just say it."
Kelly's first request was normal: "Since it's a project led by you and Dracula, is it okay to come to Atlanta to shoot? Is it normal to sign a venue rental contract with Atlanta's number one film and television shooting base?"
Martin thought of the tax benefits in Georgia and responded: "That's what I was thinking about, so I called you."
Kelly suddenly lowered her voice: "Another condition, you bring Louise to Atlanta, I want to take revenge on her, this slut dares to let me listen for half the night! I want you to tie her up, and I can't help but let her listen, We have to make it visible but not tangible to her!”
Martin thought to himself, sure enough, there are still unwritten rules.
If he writes an autobiography in the future, the title will definitely be: The Soft Rice Man Who Uses Women to Gain Power.
For the sake of future and future, Martin recognized these hidden rules! He said bravely: "No problem."
Kelly seemed to hate it very much: "We have agreed, if you can't do it, don't blame me for falling out with you and throwing you into the Atlantic Ocean to feed the fish."
After hanging up the phone, Martin recalled the history of Kelly and Louise's rise, which was full of blood.
It can be called a history of blood and tears.
As for luring Louise to Atlanta, there is no rush, the project is already underway.
…………
Beast House Club.
After receiving Vincent's call, Sophia rushed over.
When she came to the stairs, Scott, who was carrying a bag behind, crossed his legs and walked slowly into the club.
Hart was drinking in front of the bar. When he saw Scott, he pulled out a high chair: "Dude, sit down."
Scott waved his hands repeatedly: "No, I can't sit down for the moment."
"We've always wanted to go to Thailand." Hart drank down the beer in the cup: "You don't even have to go to Thailand."
Scott is very elegant: "You don't understand the happiness in it. This is for true love."
Hart couldn't bear it anymore and hurried to the backstage for fear of vomiting on the spot.
In the office on the second floor, Vincent described the situation that Martin said in detail.
Sophia rubbed the bruises on her face and said, "I watched the filming of "The Mountain Has Eyes" and the situation was exactly what Martin told us. The crew was working very hard on making the movie."
Vincent raised his cowboy hat and said: "The global box office of the Horror Wax Museum has exceeded 80 million US dollars. Martin is very popular." He picked up some newspapers and handed them to Sophia: "The Californian entertainment newspapers praised him a lot. Hollywood supernova, new power in Hollywood, the most powerful man in Hollywood, there are many similar reports."
"It feels like Martin is very popular." Sofia felt it intuitively. She asked: "Has Eyes Beyond the Mountain confirmed the release date?"
Vincent took out a routine bulletin and handed it to her: "The weekend after the Super Bowl, the publisher Warner Bros. is very interested and will advertise on the Super Bowl."
Sofia read it quickly: "Martin is still credible."
Vincent asked: "Continue investing?"
"Why not? Our funds have to go somewhere." Sofia still had the same attitude as before: "You write back to Martin. As long as there are no problems with Eyes on the Mountain, we will continue to invest in him."
Vincent thought this was the safest way and said, "Then wait until The Mountain Has Eyes is released."
"I'm going on vacation soon. Don't disturb me if you have nothing to do." Sophia was about to leave.
Vincent reminded: "Change it, don't cripple the person."
Sophia didn't care at all: "You don't understand Scott's kindness."
She said no more and went straight downstairs.
That same day, Vincent wrote back to Martin.
After several cooperations, the two parties have a certain foundation of trust.
Martin found Louise for help and pushed forward pre-planning as soon as possible.
Such as the script.
Screenwriters have a low status in Hollywood, but scripts are one of the foundations of film projects.
After Martin secured the rights to "Wanted," he immediately contacted the original project planner, Michael Bradett, who had participated in the production of two films.
On this day, the two made an appointment to meet at Pacific Pictures.
"Hello, Michael, I watched Fast and Furious 2 and Thief. It's a great work." Martin specially watched the movie in order to understand the screenwriter.
Bradett is in his early thirties and looks less like a screenwriter and more like an actor. He is very confident and promotes himself: "The two projects I participated in were all commercial successes."
Martin has specifically looked for relevant data. Needless to say, Fast and Furious 2 and Kid Alone did not have a high box office, but they received a very good response in the home entertainment market.
Commercially speaking, both films were successful.
This is also one of the reasons why Martin took the initiative to find Bradt.
Successful people are more likely to succeed.
Martin introduced Louise next to him: "This is Ms. Louise Meyer, the president of Pacific Pictures."
Louise shook hands with Bradt slightly and stepped aside: "You guys talk."
Bradt said directly: "I am surprised that you bought the copyright so quickly."
Martin didn't beat around the bush: "The original comics are too cult, and I don't think they are suitable for movies. In the comics, the male protagonist Wesley killed all the good people in the world. It would be a dead end to make a movie like this. What you said last time about the distinction between good and evil , I think it makes sense.”
The copyright has already been handed over to the other party, and Bradt simply said in detail: "The film I envision is a very cool action gun battle type. Some scenes are closer to The Matrix. Of course it's the first one, not the last two. That crappy thing."
He picked up two cups and placed them on both sides of the coffee table: "So, we can only intercept part of the content and settings of the comics, and set them into two factions with clear distinctions between good and evil, a traditional Hollywood model."
Martin has been recalling the movies he has watched these days. Except for the curved bullet, the miserable male protagonist and Julie, and a loom, the rest of his impressions are very weak.
There seems to be scenes similar to The Matrix's "Bullet Time".
Bradett added: "I discovered this project in the first half of the year. Not only Pacific Pictures, but other companies basically submitted it, but unfortunately no one paid attention to it. The original comic was too little famous and too cult. I originally thought it might be It will take five or ten years, when there are more comics readers, before anyone will really pay attention."
Martin asked some more story ideas, and Bradt's idea was similar to what he remembered. He simply said: "Michael, I would like to invite you to be the screenwriter of this project and adapt the comics into a script suitable for commercial movies. "
Bradt is full of confidence: "Then you have found the right person. I have carefully considered the adaptation in the first half of the year. In three months at most, I will be able to come up with the first draft of the script."
Martin knows it will take patience: "I have to see the first draft of the script by March."
Bradett nodded: "No problem."
The two parties have reached an intention to cooperate, and professionals will be responsible for specific contract negotiations.
A production manager under Louise has rich business experience and is responsible for the specific matters of early planning.
"I suggest that if A Eye on the Mountain succeeds, you continue to cooperate with Warner Bros." Louise said: "With me here, I can at least guarantee your normal income."
She has rich experience and has been cooperating with Warner Bros. for many years. Martin can listen to her: "Introducing Warner Bros. is also a guarantee."
Without Louise, he wouldn't dare to do this. The Big Six in Hollywood are a trap.
Louise said: "The premise is that A Eye on the Mountain can be successful. If you succeed two movies in a row, Warner Bros.'s evaluation of you will naturally rise to a higher level, and they will be happy to continue to cooperate with you."
Martin said: "My initial investment in purchasing the copyright will be all included in the cost of the film?"
Louise nodded slightly: "Same as before, set up a separate film studio."
Martin thought of the person who would come forward to register the studio - Mene.
As long as Mene is given a supporting role in a leading role, he should be fine.
Martin collected the materials and asked: "How high is Angelina Jolie's salary now?"
"Do you want her to star in Fox?" Louise had just heard Martin and Bradt discussing the plot, and it was not difficult to guess: "Jolie and Pitt just filmed "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", and she received a salary of 10 million US dollars."
She thought for a while and then said: "Tomb Raider 2 failed, and Jolie's box office appeal is questionable."
Martin asked again: "When will Mr. and Mrs. Smith be released?"
Louise said: "It seems that the summer holiday next year will be in May or June, I can't remember clearly."
Martin has a rough impression that the turning point in Jolie's Hollywood career was not the Oscars, but Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and her appeal has skyrocketed since then.
Lace scandals are sometimes not necessarily a bad thing for Hollywood stars.
Louise reminded: "You should consider the director more. The script does not mean anything. In the past ten years, good scripts have been made into bad movies, and bad scripts have been made into box office hits. I have seen too many of them. Why is the status of screenwriters so low? Because no matter how well the script is written, the words are still words, not images.”
Martin asked: "Do you have the right person?"
Louise said matter-of-factly: "For a cool action and gunfight movie, my first choices would be Michael Bay and the Wachowski brothers, but they are not suitable and the pay is too high."
Martin understands the importance of directors to film production: "Send a notice at the Directors Guild...Well, I asked Thomas to report the project to WMA. There may be suitable candidates within the agency. Also, let some news go overseas."
Who the hell remembers who the original director was?
This is an action and gunfight movie, and there is another very critical position: "action director or action director."
Louise said: "You ask your boss to go to the Directors Guild."
Martin called Bruce, and after discussing it together, Bruce took the materials and left.
The next day, the director's union's recruitment bulletin board posted news about recruiting for two positions: action shootout director and action director.
Of course you must have relevant experience.
After brief negotiations, Bradt joined the project as a screenwriter, adapting the script.
In addition, when the project is officially approved, he will be named as the executive producer, with a total remuneration of US$120,000.
The third update is here, please vote for me!
(End of chapter)
