Los Angeles Country Club is one of the most famous clubs in California. The golf course here has also hosted the Pan American Open.
Cody Horn drove a battery cart, pulling her father, Alan Horn, and producer Paul Haggis to the beginner's batting area.
She entered the VIP area under a separate package. Martin Davis was swinging the ball in an awkward posture. Although the posture was not standard and the ball was flying around, he was handsome and had a good figure. He looked good no matter how he looked. .
Thomas came up and led the group into the VIP area.
Martin hit the ball away again, looked back and saw the man approaching, put down his club, went over to greet him, and took the lead in shaking hands with Alan Horn: "Listen to Thomas, Alan, you are a good golfer, you need to give good advice today. Stop me, a newbie."
Allen smiled: "Okay, I'm responsible for getting you out of the novice stage as soon as possible and becoming an amateur master."
Martin shook hands with Paul Haggis again: "'Crash' is a masterpiece. I hope we can have the opportunity to cooperate."
Paul Haggis said: "Hopefully we can work together this time."
Martin looked at the only woman: "Hi, Cody, we meet again."
Cody picked up the golf club next to him: "Do you want me to teach you how to play golf?"
"I'm in need of a teacher," Martin said.
That being said, the group of people who came here were actually not golfers.
After chatting about golf for a while, Allen Horn quickly turned to film projects.
He said to Martin: "I heard that you haven't decided on your next project or role yet?"
Martin knew his purpose and responded: "There are only a few intentions for the time being, and the details cannot be determined."
Alan Horn is the talker of Warner Pictures. When facing movie stars, he naturally has a psychological advantage: "Well, Warner has a project here. I think you are very suitable for the male lead. Come over and continue to cooperate. "
Thomas answered the question at the right time: "Can I ask about the specifics of the project?"
Allen looked at Paul Haggis, who took out the script and handed it to Martin: "Read it first."
Martin took it over. There was only a code name T on the cover of the script, and there was no specific name.
Allen still has some patience in waiting, seemingly casually, but what comes to mind is that "Never Ending" has exceeded 200 million U.S. dollars in box office in North America and around the world.
Starting from "The Mountain Has Eyes", Martin has continuously proven his marketability. With this film, he even proved his ability to resist the box office alone.
The "Terminator" series is a copyright deal that Alan Horn vigorously promoted. After Warner Pictures spent money to purchase the sequel production rights, it must make new movies if it wants to recoup its investment.
Discounting the third film released by Warner Bros., the revenue from the first two films has nothing to do with Warner.
Although Terminator 3 was not very successful, it was still profitable. Alan Horn specially hired Paul Haggis to write the script and produce, hoping to bring this series back to the heights of the second film.
The reason why Allen took the initiative to find Martin was not only because of Martin's strong market appeal, but also because Martin could attract investment!
If you want to make the Terminator series shine again, it will definitely not work without huge investment. Back then, Carlock Films also spent an unprecedented more than 100 million US dollars to create the glory of Terminator 2.
Allen has made preliminary plans. If this film includes publicity and distribution, it will definitely exceed US$250 million, and may even reach US$300 million.
Warner cannot take it alone, the risk is too great.
Martin was flipping through the script, and after reading a few pages, he was absolutely sure that this was a Terminator.
Recalling it carefully, it should be the fourth "Terminator 2018", which is an ugly one.
Martin doesn’t remember the exact box office, but he knows that this movie probably wasn’t very successful, because it was then rebooted, and then rebooted again…
Terminator reboots endlessly.
As long as the film is slightly successful, such as the third one, there will definitely not be a reboot in the future.
In a previous life, a big boss in the group said that the Terminator that left James Cameron was not a Terminator at all, it was all hellish stuff.
In an interview, James Cameron said that the story of the Terminator will be completed in the second film.
If Hollywood's sequel movies are mostly continuations, the Terminator series starting with the third film must be a typical example.
Martin read dozens of pages of the script, closed it and asked, "The new Terminator?"
Paul Haggis replied: "Yes, Alan and I are planning to promote a new one, and the plot will be set after Judgment Day."
Allen thought that Martin could raise funds and said: "The production cost is expected to be around US$180 million. It is a top-notch commercial production and you will star in the famous John Connor."
He threw out a reward that was like a gift: "You can bring money to join the team, the salary will be similar to the wanted order, and serve as a producer."
Martin looked at Paul Haggis, and then at Alan Horn, who is the head of a studio affiliated with Warner Bros., one of the six major Hollywood companies. Even if he wants to refuse, it is best to be tactful.
He said: "Alan, give me some time and let me think about it. Such a big project is not a trivial matter."
"Okay." Alan Horn thought for a while and said, "Okay, give me a clear answer before the Oscars."
"No problem," Martin said.
Seeing that the two sides were chatting happily, Thomas asked: "Paul, will you be the director?"
Paul Haggis shook his head: "I am a screenwriter and producer, and the director will choose someone more suitable for the science fiction theme."
Next to him, Cody Horn said to Martin: "I'll teach you how to play golf."
Martin said politely to Allen, picked up the club and followed Cody to the driving range. According to the posture Cody said, he played golf in a serious manner, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
After a while, Allen and Paul Haggis said goodbye and left.
Cody specifically exchanged contact information with Martin.
Later, Martin and Thomas also left the country club.
After getting into the Escalade driven by Bruce, Martin handed the script to Thomas and said: "You can think of a suitable reason and excuse to turn down Alan Horn's invitation."
Thomas was slightly surprised, but not too surprised: "You don't like this series?"
Martin gave an excuse: "I'm not interested in being a savior."
Thomas didn't ask any more questions, which was one of his great strengths. If Martin didn't accept it, he wouldn't keep persuading him.
Moreover, judging from the current situation, Martin has a good sense in selecting films, and there is no need for him to express random opinions.
Thomas was thinking more about how to reject Allen Horn in a reasonable and reasonable way. After all, the other party was the head of Warner Pictures. If he declined the invitation after taking the initiative, it might hurt his face.
Martin left the hardest part to Thomas and stopped thinking about it. He found his cell phone and called Chad Starski to ask him about the progress of the project.
Chad said directly: "The gunfight scene is almost designed, and the next step is to combine literature and drama. I found Bradt and asked him to participate."
Bradett had already collaborated with Martin on "Wanted" and "Never Again," and Martin knew and had confidence in his abilities, saying, "I'll ask Jessica to call him."
Chad added: "In terms of melee combat, I need a more professional action guide."
"I'll find a way to find it." Martin thought for a while and said to Thomas, "Do you know Yuan Heping?"
Thomas nodded: "The action director of the "The Matrix" series."
"Find a way to contact him and send him an invitation," Martin said.
Thomas knows something: "He probably won't accept it, and Hollywood hasn't been kind to him and his team."
Martin roughly heard from Chad that many action directors secretly filmed the action routines of Yuan Heping's team and used technological means to analyze them frame by frame.
He said: "Give it a try. If it doesn't work, look for someone else."
Thomas wrote it down and went back to what he just said: "Although "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is not directed by Alan Horn, it is still a Warner project. If we can reach a cooperation with David Fincher's crew, maybe we can Use scheduling conflicts to reject Allen’s invitation.”
Martin said: "Okay, just try to be tactful."
This heavy burden rested on Thomas's shoulders, and he might have been thinking a lot. The sun fell on him through the car window, and his forehead shone brightly.
Martin had just returned to Burbank when Louise called and asked him to have lunch with him.
After a short rest, Martin went to the smoke room near Warner Studios.
Louise came a little earlier than him and was waiting for him in the booth.
The waiter brought the menu.
Martin discovered that it was Mia from the studio's cold drink shop.
"Why are you here?" Martin asked.
Mia whispered: "One part-time job makes too little money, so I found a new part-time job." As she spoke, she looked at Sebastian, who was playing piano music on the stage: "In order to be able to His music is often heard.”
After Martin finished ordering his meal, he said, "I wish you all your wishes will come true."
"Thank you." Mia replied politely and left.
Louise also recognized Mia and said, "There may be hundreds of thousands of girls like her in Los Angeles."
Martin said: "There are more and more second-generation stars in the industry, and it is too difficult for ordinary actors to get ahead."
"Ability, opportunity, courage, courage..." Louise said: "Your successful experience is difficult to replicate."
"It's mainly my luck that I met you." Martin asked, "You said something happened?"
Louise said: "One thing, I want to ask your opinion." She felt that Martin's vision was unique in selecting films: "Yesterday, Alan Horn from Warner Pictures invited me to ask Would I be interested in investing in a big project, the fourth installment in the Terminator series?"
Martin couldn't help but laugh: "What a coincidence, he made an appointment with me this morning and invited me to play the leading role of John Connor. He also made a promise that if I join the team, he will give me the opportunity to bring money to join the team."
"The production cost can reach 180 million US dollars. If it succeeds..." Louise reacted and said, "You rejected Alan Horn?"
Martin said: "I asked Thomas to find a way to decline the invitation as tactfully as possible."
Louise understood: "You don't like this sequel?"
Martin easily found a reason, saying: "Is a Terminator leaving James Cameron still a Terminator?"
Louise nodded: "I'm also worried that it will become the next Alexander the Great. I originally thought about the reputation and appeal of the Terminator series..."
Martin said: "Aren't you prepared to invest in the new Batman sequel? Can you still spare funds to invest in other projects?"
Louise thought of everything that had happened in the past three years and said, "Forget it, I don't care about such a complicated matter, so I'll decline the invitation."
(End of chapter)
