Chapter 1124 1124 Sincerity

Columbia Pictures had a tough 1994.

In this year when the best works gathered and created the peak, Columbia Pictures contributed three excellent works, "The Burning Years", "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Little Women". However, in terms of box office, Columbia Pictures was lackluster. They did not have any work in the North American box office that exceeded 100 million yuan in the whole year, ranking the bottom among the eight major film companies.

What's even more tragic is that among the works of Columbia Pictures, the annual North American box office champion is "The Years of Love", which only has a box office of 66 million US dollars, and only three films have exceeded 50 million at the North American box office. . It's an absolute shame.

How could Columbia Pictures president Mark Canton not be in a hurry?

Therefore, making up the relationship with Hugo is one of the important reasons, but Columbia Pictures is so proactive in seeking cooperation, it is more because Hugo's strong box office appeal is now in the sky, and they need a superstar like Hugo.

Hugo glanced at the script submitted by Columbia Pictures, and Rick explained it appropriately. It must be admitted that Columbia Pictures is indeed sincere. The scripts they submitted to Hugo were diverse, diverse, and their main markets were very different, and they could feel their desire for this cooperation.

Among them are romantic comedies such as "The. American. President". This work obviously wants to replicate the success of "Sleepless in Seattle" the previous year. "The writer-director duo of Aaron Sorkin and Rob Reiner, hoping to build the Iron Triangle again. This work, which costs more than 60 million, is very willing to pay Hugo 10 million US dollars.

Rick mentioned that they are also willing to hand over the heroine's choice to Hugo, which is one step closer than the original "speed of life and death", which also means that Hugo is big enough to choose his partner. Obviously a huge improvement.

There are also excellent adaptations of famous books such as "Sense. And. Sensibility", which invited Emma Thompson to write the script. Rick mentioned that if Hugo is interested, he can work with Emma to complete the script. change work. However, this project is only in the preparatory stage, and the cast and production cast have not been determined. Columbia Pictures said that they hope this work can become a real masterpiece. Although the investment is not high, it will make a difference in the art film market.

Of course, Hugo knew very well that this work was directed by Lee. An's first official work in the European and American film market is also a blockbuster masterpiece.

There is also a $70 million action blockbuster "Money. Train", which is willing to pay Hugo $15 million in the hope that he can reproduce the box office glory of "Speed ​​of Life".

Two of the most notable titles, "Man. In. Black" and "Air. Force. One", both sold for $20 million. The remuneration is obviously a work that Columbia Pictures has high hopes for.

Needless to say, "Men in Black", this work allowed Will Smith to complete the feat of three consecutive works, and successfully entered the ranks of superstars, and the great success of this work also spawned two sequels. They are all very good, and can be regarded as one of the best humorous classics in science fiction movies.

Columbia Pictures had so much confidence in the production because they convinced Steven Spielberg to be the producer, and they gave 90 million with a wave of the script while the script was still unfinished. The US dollar budget - excluding Hugo's 20 million salary for the time being, in other words, if Hugo is willing to play, Columbia Pictures is willing to pay a cost of 110 million US dollars for this work.

Relying on Steven's personal friendship, Columbia Pictures has high hopes for Hugo to be invited to play in this work. However, the script is less than half completed at present, and the script and outline submitted to Hugo are only the first fifteen pages of the script and outline. Obviously, it still takes some time to prepare.

The quality of "Air Force One" is quite satisfactory. It is a typical popcorn commercial blockbuster, a typical American-style personal heroism work, and has become another Harrison-Ford work with outstanding box office. If Hugo remembers correctly, The North American box office of this work approached 200 million that year, and it was also considered to be introduced in China. Although it did not make it in the end, it still attracted a lot of attention.

Columbia Pictures' greatest confidence in this work comes from screenwriter Andrew. W. Marlowe, not because he's famous - on the contrary it's just his debut, but because Andrew wrote In this script, the prototype in my mind is Hugo, which can be said to be a work tailored for Hugo. So Columbia Pictures also made a big stroke and gave a budget of 80 million - Hugo's salary is calculated separately, provided that Hugo is willing to take on this work.

This is just the screenplay that Rick has screened, and the quality level is very good. It is conceivable that the screenplay from Columbia Pictures that Rick has in his hands is in double digits. The sincerity of Columbia Pictures is evident. They have considered it from almost every angle, and they have also checked the quality of the script very well. Obviously, they have absolute confidence in this cooperation.

The several Colombian scripts that Rick brought over today have their own merits. "Men in Black", "Air Force One" and "Money Train" are all commercial movies, among which "Men in Black" is the best. The script of "Men in Black" is full of imagination, and the rhythm of the humorous points is also very good. As an entertainment commercial film, even after 20 years, it is a masterpiece worthy of people's aftertaste.

But unexpectedly, Hugo flipped through the "Men in Black" script in his hand, which was far from the finished product in his impression. Just the first five or six pages showed a huge gap. It is almost impossible to believe that this is the "man in black" who has been loved by countless people in later generations.

Watching Hugo begin to open "Men in Black", Rick also felt very happy, and began to explain, "Columbia Pictures is now seeking Quentin to be the director, and I don't know what the result will be." Hugo was a little surprised, he remembered The director of the "Men in Black" series should be Barry Sonnenfeld (Barry. Sonnenfeld), who made his name on the "Adams Family". If Quentin were to direct it, I really don't know what it would look like.

Rick continued to drop bombs, "There are still several actors competing for your role, Chris O'Donnell, David Schwimmer are all very interested, but Columbia Pictures has not given it. Respond, they are still waiting for your reply."

Hugo was stunned again. Although Chris O'Donnell missed the role of "Scent and Knowing a Woman", he still successfully became Robin in "Batman. Forever". This work It will be released this summer and is recognized by many film critics as a box-office giant; and David Hummer is the famous Ross in "Friends". Although this comedy is still on the air in its first season, the actors in the play All have gained great popularity.

Unexpectedly, they are also competing for the male lead in "Men in Black", which means that the original male lead in the story is set to be white, but in the end it was Will Smith who made the film.

There were countless interesting thoughts flashing through Hugo's mind for a while, but his brain was still running fast.

Objectively speaking, the scripts of "Air Force One" and "Money Train" are too simple and not too attractive. Even if the former is tailored for Hugo, it is more of a repetition of Hugo's "speed of life and death". "In the image, not only does not have any breakthroughs, but the script is not as fast as "life and death".

As for "Men in Black", firstly, the original script was too bad, and it must be greatly revised, otherwise it would definitely hit the street; secondly, Hugo always insisted that the film can be successful, Will and Tommy-Lee Jones The black and white collocation is one of the elements. If he replaced Will and partnered with Tommy, it is estimated that the success of the work will be more difficult.

After thinking about it carefully, Hugo still put all three scripts on the left hand side. Rick saw Hugo's action and classified the three scripts together, which was obviously a hint of dissatisfaction. Rick couldn't help but paused and sighed helplessly - without covering it up, it annoyed Joseph and Samora laughed beside him.

As for the two works "The White House Romance" and "Sense and Sensibility", the script is absolutely excellent, and the quality is outstanding, which is really eye-catching. The former shows that Allen later created the "social network" and "newsroom" with a sharp style of writing, which is much more mature than the period of "Yihai Xiongfeng"; the latter is the best proof of Emma as a talented woman, and the adaptation of famous works needs Strong literary heritage, clear thinking and grand outlook are all available.

However, the former repeated the style of "Sleepless in Seattle", and the breakthrough was not great. Hugo could not feel the enthusiastic sense of challenge, and his attitude was relatively less positive; the latter's breakthrough was a group of female characters, saying It's a bit ugly, the male character is more like a symbol and a vase in Jane Austen's works, and the real depth has always been in women - the movie finally chose Hugh Grant to play, so Hugo didn't too much. Much interest.

But after thinking about it carefully, Hugo still put these two scripts on the right hand side, which are considered pending works. It takes fate and a little luck to meet a good script, so there is no need to cut off all possibilities now.

"Hugo, don't you think about watching this work anymore?" Rick considered his tone and said, Hugo cast his gaze over, and the script in Rick's hand was "Men in Black", "You know , Steven called me yesterday."

Hugo couldn't help but smile. From the audience's point of view, Hugo liked the work "Men in Black" very much, but... Hugo raised his head and saw the expectation in Rick's eyes, hesitated, and then reached out to take it. He took the script and put it on the right hand side, "This script is so bad, if Steven calls you, remember to remind him of this."

Hugo understands what Rick means, no matter whether Hugo is willing to take on the work of "Men in Black", but if there is news that "Hugo is considering", the 20 million salary plus Steven will be the producer. The project will immediately become a topic of conversation, which will be helpful for the next actions of Endeavour Elite Brokerage Company. On the one hand, it can relieve the current pressure on the brokerage circle about Hugo's salary, and on the other hand, it can also make people feel more about Endeavour. The capabilities of elite brokerage firms are impressive.

So, all Hugo needs to do is put this script on hold, and that's enough.