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Hollywood Hunter - Chapter 1086

Published at 26th of October 2021 08:48:39 AM


Chapter 1086: 1086

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"Hi, Simon. How are you doing?"

"Busy, Brian, and you?"

"Just came back from New York, Bob and I went to see the performance of the Metropolitan Opera House together. It was so beautiful. Martin also said that he planned to add it to his works in the future."

"Speaking of Martin, he's been trying to shoot" New York gangster "all these years. I'm just going to talk to him."

"Oh, that's good news. Martin has been waiting for more than ten years. Simon, if you're not kidding, I'll call him at the end of this meeting? "

"No joke, of course."

In another conference room with several sofas and projectors hanging on the wall, which is more like a rest room, Simon exchanged greetings with Brian De Palma, and exchanged greetings with Ella doechman, President of gaomen pictures, and Linda WAGGS, director of casting who has been with him for many years. Everyone sat down on the sofa.

Get to the point.

The project under discussion today is Los Angeles secret, which is the third of the famous American crime novelist James arrow's "Los Angeles Quartet", and the first of the four is based on the novel of the same name "Black Dahlia", which was adapted from the murder of "Black Dahlia" in Los Angeles in 1947.

After the first song became famous, arrow wrote three other novels of the same theme in succession.

As for the copyright of the Los Angeles trilogy, the earliest "Black Dahlia" was purchased by universal in that year. It was refrigerated after producing an unsuccessful miniseries. After the MCA merger, it was taken over by Denise entertainment. The Los Angeles secret was completed in 1990 and bought by Denise entertainment.

Simon was not interested in the other two films, endless waste and white jazz, and let other studios take them away.

It was not until the end of last year that L.A. secret was put on the agenda because it could not be arranged.

If Simon is determined to be stable, he can pull up the original team, but instead of doing so, he intends to let Brian De Palma be the director.

It's actually a bit of a risky decision.

Because the 2007 version of "Black Dahlia" was directed by Brian De Palma. After the release, there was a lot of abuse and the box office was dismal. With an investment of 50 million US dollars, the global box office is only close to 50 million US dollars.

However, Simon has seen Palma's version of Black Dahlia. From the point of view of a filmmaker or an ordinary audience, this film is absolutely not as bad as the external criticism. For example, the scene of the discovery of the body of Black Dahlia, the camera scheduling is amazing, and the performances of Elisabeth short played by MIA koshner in the film can be regarded as excellent The amazing video record makes many critics think it has reached the level of Oscar nomination.

It can be said that Bryan De Palma's level of directing is not a problem at all.

What's the problem?

Script!

This can be said to be the most direct reason for the failure of Black Dahlia.

as long as you have seen L.A. secret and then Black Dahlia, blind people can feel the producer's ambition to create a second L.A. secret. Whether it's role matching or story structure, the traces of imitating L.A. secret are too heavy.

So it's self defeating.

What the audience wants to see is Elizabeth short, the murder of Black Dahlia. As a result, the Black Dahlia case in the film is almost reduced to the background of the story. Instead, the focus of the narrative is repeatedly placed on the trivial affairs of the two leading men and women, and it is only when they do not fail that they see the ghost.

As for why this is the case, the director of "Black Dahlia" is David Finch, and the script has been finished. As a result, Finch wants to make a three hour black-and-white film, and the producers are finished as soon as they listen to it. So finch quits and goes to Palma because of the box office failure of "Mars mission" in 2000, and he has not been able to get out of the trough for several years In hand.

Palma, who has been idle for several years, wants to take the job, but he can only follow the producers' mind.

The results are predictable.

And L.A. secrets.

How about the original Los Angeles secret? Of course, it's excellent. It's just a perfect combination of three men's main structure. The Oscar for best adapted screenplay is well deserved.

It's just that the film as a whole is in line.

It's just like a stable dish. The overall standard is not low, just the lack of something that makes people shine.

Therefore, Simon gave up the original director Curtis Hansen and chose Brian De Palma. In addition to the friendship that Palma helped him accumulate from the era of "Lola Run", Simon also hoped that the film could go to a higher level and have more Palma style colors on the basis of the original version.

With all this in mind, Simon sat down and took a folder from girl a, who had arranged for Johnson sisters to arrive soon. As he watched the female assistant distribute documents to other people, he asked Palma, "so, Brian, how do you feel about the script of Los Angeles secret?"

"It's wonderful. Frankly, Simon, I'm a little worried about whether I can control the project. I have roughly counted that there are more than 80 characters with lines in the whole script. In addition, there are more than 60 outdoor scenes, not counting indoor scenes. This is a great test for shooting and editing. I've tried to be lean, but there's nothing redundant. Simon, it's certainly not a screenwriter named Brian helgrande who can do it. I think you can only do it yourself, right? "Simon smiles and shakes his head: "I don't have so much time to finish a script myself now. The main reason is that arrow's novel is excellent enough. However, the outline is really provided by me. Besides, it has been rewritten and revised several times by Hale grand to reach the present level."

"I've read a novel," said Brian De Palma, but after a pause, he didn't go on. The talent of the young man beside him had been appreciated ten years ago. There's no need to feel too much about it, so he went on to the main topic: "Simon, in my opinion, this play is a wonderful ukiyo painting of the 1940s and 1950s in Los Angeles, because there are so many roles in the scene and the choice of the protagonists If their acting skills, temperament and other aspects can not support the story, the final film will be very mediocre. But if you pick the best actor, Simon, you know, it's going to be very expensive. "

"Now that you've agreed to be a director, that's what we're talking about today," Simon said, gesturing to Linda Vargas, "I've asked Linda to start preparing some time in advance."

Linda Vargas, who had just sat down for a while, saw her boss gesturing to her, got up and went to turn on the projector. Instead of returning, she sat near the operating desk where a laptop was placed.

A picture soon appeared on the projection screen.

Nicole Kidman.

In the photo, Nicole is wearing a silver silk dress with a fur jacket on her shoulders. Her golden wavy hair and fiery red lips give her a dazzling feeling of Hollywood's golden age.

Simon saw the people around him looking at the screen and said, "according to my personal understanding, the greed, sin, decay, depravity of the city of angels depicted in the book After all, it's all about desire. The desire of men and women is undoubtedly the most easily felt one. As a senior call girl, the heroine Lynn bracken doesn't seem to play much, but she is not only a key to the development of the story, but also a symbol of the desire of all people in the city of angels in the film. It's also the reason to show the alternative role first. Therefore, regardless of the setting in the book, I think she should be about 30 years old, with the temperament of a Hollywood golden age actress, and can trigger a man's desire for conquest and protection at the same time. Nicole is the one who satisfies me most in all aspects. "

The original Kim Basinger, Simon has no feeling.

What's more, Kim Basinger won the Oscar for best female partner for his role in "La City Secrets". It's obvious that most of the public relations elements are public relations. In the same year, Julian Moore's performance in "uninhibited night" was enough to get rid of Basinger for several streets. Unfortunately, the producer of "uninhibited night" was a new line of film industry with little public relations ability, and Julian Moore didn't either It's a pity that Basinger failed because of his strong connections and qualifications in Hollywood.

Linda WAGGS keeps changing the style Nicole specially made for the film. Brian De Palma appreciates the film seriously, while Ella doechman whispers to Simon, "boss, Miss Kidman's pay should be on the high side?"

Now that she plans to put gaomen film in charge, Ella doechman has learned in advance that her boss plans to use 30 million to 40 million to make the film.

It's really nervous.

First of all, Bryan De Palma's director's salary needs $5 million. Now, the heroine uses Nicole Kidman, who started from "vulgar novel" to "Ninja Turtle" series vase owner, and then to "Batman" series poison ivy to reach the peak. Now the commercial film's price is also $5 million.

Even if gaomen film is in charge of it, "Los Angeles secret" can't be regarded as a literary film. It's a commercial crime drama, and it's impossible to ask actors to get low salaries for literary films.

Simon heard doechman's question and shook his head slightly: "Linda and Nicole have been through a deal, three million dollars, plus an Oscar supporting actress."

Lynn bracken is definitely the heroine in LA city secrets. However, because there are not many parts in the play, it's no problem to say that it's a female match. Once upon a time, Kim Basinger was the female match of the heroine newspaper to get the little golden man. Otherwise, if she signed up for the heroine, it would be no good.

Three million dollars is acceptable.

However, the film has not yet started shooting, promised to give others an Oscar for best woman, which is inevitably a little rash.

What if I can't cash it?

That's what Ella doichman thought, more worried about the back.

If it's Nicole Kidman's casting standard, not to mention the $30 million or $40 million budget, it won't be able to finish the shooting.

The cost of such a black crime feature film, which is certainly not short-term in duration, nor popular in subject matter, reaches 50 million, plus at least 20 million US dollars of publicity, the global box office will be 150 million to 200 million US dollars.

To be honest, Ella doechman has no confidence at all.

Maybe it's better to shoot "Black Dahlia". After all, the copyright is in danielis' hands, and the fame is much higher than "La City secret". This is easier to succeed.

Simon doesn't pay attention to the worries of doechman. He knows the budget of secret Los Angeles, which is 35 million yuan, which is equivalent to the original. The main reason is that Nicole is actually the biggest card in the film, and the film's salary of 3 million yuan is also the highest.After a few words of discussion, Palma agreed with Nicole's casting, and Linda turned to the next one.

Simon went on to explain in person: "Jack vincens seems to be a bad policeman on the surface. He is tactful and worldly. He pursues advantages and avoids disadvantages. He even sneaks into the Los Angeles police department with a playful attitude. However, he does not completely abandon his conscience as a policeman. Finally, he takes the initiative to help two young people trace the truth, so he dies. This is a very complicated person. I prefer Kevin Spacey to play this role. He had a wonderful performance in seven crimes and won the best supporting actor Oscar last year for another film "very suspect."

Compared with the later "Black Dahlia", the most successful part of the former "La City secret" was the role selection. The three leading actors, two of whom were Oscar winners, successfully supported the film.

For the original character of Kevin Spacey, Simon remains the same this time.

Simon can't manage so many things about spacey in his memory. If he cares about them, there are not many people in Hollywood who can use them. Kevin Spacey is just picked out. Simon sometimes even thinks that it's better to find the Weinstein brothers who don't know where they are at this time. After all, they are also a pair of talents. However, considering that the two brothers are too hard to suppress, he just gives up.

In addition to Nicole, who has just been determined by Simon, Simon doesn't make a decision about Kevin Spacey. Instead, he asks Palma and doichman to contact spacey in person. If they are not satisfied, they really need to change, and if they can produce more satisfying actors, that's no problem.

Next, ed exley, who once starred in guy Pierce, and Russell Crowe, who was actually the first actor, starred in bud white. Simon didn't insist. On the basis of the original two actors, he also recommended several other candidates. The standard is that the film is cheap and the acting skills are excellent enough.

Among them, bud, who is struggling, irritable and cold, Simon recommended Hugh Jackman this time.

Super time contact, which is about to be filmed next week, has been tangled for a long time last year for one of the original pastor roles starred by Matthew McConnell. Simon doesn't think Matthew McConnell looks like a pastor at all. Finally, he found a candidate in Australia that satisfied Simon, that is, Hugh Jackman.

Wolf uncle gentleman up, play a handsome appearance of the minister, more than enough.

However, uncle wolf is furious. He is 1.9 meters tall and full of muscles. It's also more than enough to play bud, who happens to be such an image in the original work.

Now, of course, wolverine is not in sight. What Linda shows is the poster and lens of Hugh Jackman, who starred in Australia two years ago in a TV series "iron window". In this series, Hugh Jackman, who plays a prisoner, has short hair, stubble and tattoos. His eyes are gloomy and cold. His modeling can almost be directly used as bud white. Compared with Russell Crowe, that kind of young and irritable temperament with childhood trauma is more obvious.

In addition, Matthew McConaughey is in ED exley's choice this time.

Ella doechman began to think that Nicole Kidman was too expensive. At the back, she felt that a group of potential actors were too low. After Linda's introduction, she said again, "Simon, the role of bud, I think we can let Pete try. After all, he is the first man." seeing Palma, doechman added, "it's Brad Pitt."

Simon immediately shook his head: "in fact, I have considered that Peter's Superman image is too deep. If we want to change the audience's potential impression, we must form a certain contrast, so I let him play" face changing ". If it's this movie, he's not suitable for bud, who is positive after all. Instead, he can try the role of ED. the problem is that ED is actually the third man, and he's not as important as Lynn, so Peter's coffee seat and film pay are too high. "

"Pete has contacted me several times on his own initiative. He has always hoped to develop his own way of acting outside Superman. The pay is not a problem," said doichman. Simon, why don't you let him try, bud and ED, and see the effect. "

Simon slightly thought about it and said: "Spacey's film salary is $1.5 million. If Pete wants to participate in the film, no matter bud or ED, the film salary can't exceed this figure, otherwise it's not necessary to talk about it."

Doechman thought it over a little, nodded and said, "it should be OK."

Simon said with a smile: "then you'd better sign the contract before the release of face change. I'm very optimistic about face change."

If Brad Pitt's new version of "face changing" is a success, the actor will break through the shackles of "Superman" to a certain extent. When it comes to the project, it won't be so easy to talk about.

Doichman made it clear.

Later, several people discussed the details of the script and the preparatory work, and the time was not enough again. It was already noon in the twinkling of an eye. The key points have been pointed out. The rest are left to doechman and Parma. Simon only needs to make some final decisions.

I left the meeting room because I was too involved in the discussion. It was past 12 o'clock.

Simon casually invited doichman and Palma to have lunch together. When he went out, he reflected that there was a little sister who was almost forgotten by himself and could only shout together. However, entering the exclusive restaurant for senior executives in the studio, in order to avoid some topics being heard by the two girls, Simon still sent girl a to accompany them to another table and sat with them.So until after lunch, while continuing to work in the afternoon, Simon asked Linda Vargas to arrange a small audition for Scarlett's sister Vanessa.

The results were appalling.

Compared with her sister, Vanessa's appearance is better. In terms of performance, according to Linda's original words, it's similar to wood.

But that's not a problem for Simon.

Most people learn acting skills the day after tomorrow. Few Hollywood stars dare to say that they have never been to acting classes.

Linda is instructed to arrange the performance class for Vanessa. Simon also gives a small incentive. If her acting skills are up to the standard, she can get the role of a female high school student in the comet hit the earth blockbuster "the great collision of heaven and earth", which is the role of the original Lily soborsky.

Yeah.

Lily sobowski, by the way, is more in line with Simon's aesthetic than Vanessa.

It's not hard to guess the name.

She is 14 years old, and she is also a child star. She is easy to find. So she arranged to receive it in advance, so as not to be pinched away by others.




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