Chapter 957: The Most Difficult Film Adaptation

Ever since he started planning the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Peter Jackson's first identity was as a director, and then people in the industry paid attention to him as the boss of a special effects company.

Before the filming of "The Lord of the Rings", Weta Studios was not an exaggeration to say that it was a film special effects workshop, but Weta seized the golden opportunity of Peter Jackson as the director of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and quickly broke through and rose , becoming a special effects studio that directly catches up with Industrial Light and Magic.

Ronan stood in Peter Jackson's office, carefully looking at some items on the walls and cabinets. With his eyes, he could see that these props were all over the filming of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

For example, the golden ring locked in the cupboard is clearly the Supreme Lord of the Rings.

Peter Jackson brought coffee and asked tentatively, "Mr. Anderson is interested in The Lord of the Rings?"

Ronan looked back and said, "Peter, call me Ronan, you're welcome."

Peter Jackson responded with a smile.

Ronan added: "Can I say... I am a crazy "Lord of the Rings" fan?"

Hearing this, Peter Jackson was quite surprised and said, "This is...my honor."

Ronan said directly: "I like these three movies you shot very much. Even the Star Wars trilogy or other movies can't compare. I think the Battle of Pelenno Plains is definitely one of the most inspiring shots in film history. .”

Peter Jackson never expected that Ronan would give such a high evaluation, and quickly said: "I just try to do the best I can."

Ronan said softly: "Peter, you have created an era."

The meaning behind these words, Peter Jackson could not understand.

That is to say, from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, from the fact that Gandalf had to be changed in order to save money, the industry of wizards or wizards has a new professional characteristic on the Internet.

No wizard who doesn't hit people with his stick is a bad Gandalf.

It seems that after the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Gandalf, after being promoted to the white robe, did not miss a few spells at all, and more of them rolled up his sleeves and hacked people.

Peter Jackson said at this time: "I heard that you came to the Weta studio, come back quickly, and finally saw you."

Ronan asked curiously, "What do you need from me?"

He knew Peter Jackson, but apart from the business of "Avatar" and Weta Studios, there was little intersection in other aspects.

Peter Jackson himself is also a top Hollywood director, so he didn't need to beat around the bush, let alone lower his posture, and said directly to Ronan: "I got the film adaptation copyright of a novel some time ago, and I plan to direct this project myself. Determine the production company, you just came to Wellington, can we consider cooperation?"

Ronan's heart moved, and he asked, "Peter, aren't you talking about "The Hobbit"?"

"No, not "The Hobbit." Peter Jackson quickly explained: "The film and television adaptation rights of "The Hobbit" are not in my hands. After New Line Pictures integrated the copyright of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, " The copyright of The Hobbit went to New Line Pictures, and later was taken away by Warner Bros., the parent company of New Line.”

Ronan was somewhat disappointed: "I thought you were talking about The Hobbit."

Someone once concluded that Peter Jackson who photographed Tolkien and Peter Jackson who photographed other works,

It is completely two directors with very different levels.

Anyway, Ronan has some impressions that even in his last year, Peter Jackson still hasn't escaped from Tolkien's works, as if he, the director, was born to visualize Tolkien's works.

Peter Jackson opened the filing cabinet, took out a novel, and handed it to Ronan: "This is the original."

Ronan next glanced at the cover, the name was very familiar - "The Lovely Bones".

Then, he remembered more information, not the past, but the present, because Connie had collected some information about this work.

The novel was published as early as 2002, and it stayed on the New York Times list for more than seventy weeks at one point.

It is no exaggeration to say that The Lovely Bones is a veritable bestseller.

Because Connie and the assistant team have not interrupted the work of collecting literary works, Ronan has seen this novel before, and even browsed some of it.

But Ronan was not moved at that time.

Ronan put down the novel and said, "I read it some time ago, I don't remember if it was a year ago or two years ago."

Peter Jackson asked: "I watched it earlier. After seeing it, I bought the copyright and wanted to adapt it into a movie."

"When I see a literary work I like, I have a strong idea of ​​adapting it to a movie." Ronan said with a smile: "This is a common problem for people in our industry."

Peter Jackson asked: "Adaptation requires investment, publicity and distribution, Ronan, are you not interested?"

Ronan did not answer directly, but instead asked: "I remember you have been cooperating with Universal Pictures."

The fat on Peter Jackson's face moved: "My cooperation with Universal Pictures is over."

Ronan roughly understood that after "King Kong", Universal Pictures would not easily cooperate with Peter Jackson again.

Back then, "The Lord of the Rings 3: The Return of the King" was a big hit at the word-of-mouth and at the box office. Peter Jackson, with the prestige of Oscar for best director, reached an agreement with Universal Pictures to direct the new version of "King Kong". The post-production of the film team is divided into one item, accounting for 20% of the film's global box office!

This is the early share, not the later profit share.

It is conceivable that with the box office of "King Kong", Peter Jackson made a lot of money, and Universal Pictures didn't say that he was in pain, but he couldn't feel much better.

Ronan looked at the novel in front of him and asked, "Peter, there are a few things I need to ask."

Peter Jackson nodded: "Just ask."

Ronan asked directly: "How do you plan to shoot and produce this film?"

"A small work project." Peter Jackson generally understands that people like Ronan are most concerned about investment and returns: "Big movies can certainly conquer countless movie fans, but for me, shooting "Lord of the Rings" or "King Kong" is not enough. It is an extremely tiring job. The pressure of shooting that kind of movie is unimaginable for ordinary people. Huge investment, strict shooting plan, and team management of hundreds of people... these things will hover in my mind For more than half a year, I couldn't stop at all."

He shrugs: "So, I'm going to focus on smaller projects, and The Lovely Bones is my pick."

Ronan was full of doubts: "I remember many people said that the original "Lovely Bones" is one of the most difficult literary works to adapt to film."

Peter Jackson waved his hand confidently: "There are not so many troubles. In fact, the so-called difficulty of this story lies in grasping the transition between tragedy and comedy. This is a sad and angry story, because it is this deformity. An outbreak of the dark side of society tells the story of an innocent little girl being brutally murdered. Although many directors have filmed similar themes, the whole thing may be a gimmick from the perspective of the dead little girl. one time."

He said with certainty: "This will give the film a fresh appeal to the audience."

"What about the budget?" Ronan asked the most critical question: "How much budget do you need for this small project?"

If it can be done for 10 to 20 million dollars, it can be considered, after all, the influence of the original book and Peter Jackson is still obvious.

Peter Jackson said with a smile: "If you don't invite first-line star actors, it will be about 60 million US dollars."

As soon as the number came out, Ronan was a little taken aback, isn't it a small project that was agreed upon? $60 million small project, is Peter Jackson joking, or is he wrong about the concept of small projects?

Ronan shook his head slowly: "Peter, are you sure?"

Peter Jackson frowned slightly and said, "$60 million may not be enough."

Ronan said: "This is not a small project, 60 million US dollars is already a medium-scale investment. The production cost of the film "Three Hundred Warriors of Sparta" under Relativity Entertainment this year is only 60 million US dollars."

Peter Jackson understood the meaning of Ronan's words, and still wanted to fight for it, and said, "Ronan, listen to me..."

But Ronan interrupted Peter Jackson: "If the budget is within 20 million US dollars, Peter, you can bring the project to Shahai Entertainment for negotiation. If it exceeds this figure, especially the 60 million US dollars you mentioned, I will not consider it. "

Out of respect for Peter Jackson, Ronan further explained: "This is not decided by me, nor by you, but by the market. I have generally read the original "Lovely Bones", no matter No matter how you adapt it, you can't change the essence of it being just a niche movie theme. Niche themes naturally have huge defects in the audience. It doesn't mean that the audience will go to the theater obediently if the film is good. The high investment brings It will only be a huge risk, if something goes wrong with the film, the investors will lose all their money.”

After listening to these words, Peter Jackson said: "I understand." He changed the subject: "Ronan, how many days are you staying in Wellington? Tomorrow I will show you around the Weta studio."

Ronan said: "Thank you. Time does not permit, I will leave New Zealand tonight."

As for whether Peter Jackson listened to it, it was not for Ronan to decide. Anyway, it is absolutely impossible for him to invest in such a niche subject with 60 million US dollars.

"It's a shame," Peter Jackson said.

Ronan also couldn't tell whether the regret he said was because he was leaving or the two sides could not cooperate.

But it is impossible for him to lower the risk control requirements of the project just because the opposite is Peter Jackson.

20 million US dollars is too far away from 60 million US dollars, and the two parties are doomed to fail to reach a cooperation.

That night, after Ronan invited the main creators of "Avatar" to have dinner together, he returned to Los Angeles on a business jet.