Chapter 1834: 1834 The Chess Game
It was past four o'clock in the morning when Hugo returned to his apartment in Beverly Hills. Recently, because he was filming in the city, Hugo lived in the apartment and did not go back to Malibu.
Pushing open the door of the apartment, Hugo saw the creamy yellow lights in the house. Rick Rosen, who was sitting in the living room and flipping through the "Los Angeles Times", looked up, "It ended earlier than I expected. This morning What time do you start working?"
Hugo looked back at Joseph, who was following him, and cast a puzzled look - on the way back just now, Joseph didn't tell him that Rick would come, "The scene with Charlize will start this afternoon, and Russell will be filmed first in the morning." part." Hugo still explained.
Seeing Hugo's sight, Rick put the newspaper on the coffee table, "Joe hasn't had a chance to talk to you about what happened today, has he?" Hugo's puzzled face was filled with question marks of "What happened today", obviously Had no idea what Rick was talking about. Rick was not in a hurry, "Today's matter is a bit more complicated, you go take a bath and relax first, and we will talk about it in detail after you come out."
Hugo looked back and forth between Joseph and Rick, and finally shrugged helplessly, turned around and walked towards the bathroom, and Zamora shouted behind him, "I'm making supper, who is there?" Want something to eat?"
Standing in the bathroom, the warm water slapped Hugo's head, which gradually calmed down the turbulent heart tonight. It is rare that Hugo took a long time to take a bath this time. When he came out, Rick and Joseph sat quietly in the hall without speaking, and Zamora stood behind the sofa with a piece of pizza and gnawed. The atmosphere seemed a little weird.
"So, what happened today?" Hugo walked to the sofa and sat down while wiping his hair. Samora compared the pizza in his hand and asked Hugo if he wanted to eat it. Hugo shook his head, "Please give me a cup of coffee, thank you, I'm a little tired now."
Rick and Joseph looked at each other, and finally Rick said, "Today—in fact, it was already yesterday. Steven invited you to star in 'Saving Private Ryan', right? What do you think?"
"Yes, I'm also wondering what happened. Didn't the company find a suitable actor for the role of James Ryan?" Hugo directly raised his question without thinking too much. Yesterday's filming was a bit too full, so Hugo kept his doubts in his heart and didn't bring them up. Only now did he gain some room to think, "Steven also told me that now the actors and casts have not been found. Complete, so, is there something wrong with this project?"
Hugo really doesn't know much about the company's business, but it doesn't mean he doesn't know anything. After receiving Steven's call, Hugo also sensitively noticed the changes behind it.
Rick didn't answer Hugo's question directly, but instead asked, "So, what do you think? Do you want to act in this script? Anyway, this is Steven's project. You also mentioned before However, it would be great to have the opportunity to work with him again; this script also got your approval, didn't it?"
Rick and Hugo have been working together for three years. They renewed their cooperation contract last year. Rick has a good grasp of Hugo's personality and preferences. The cooperation between the two has always been very relaxed and happy.
At this time, Samora came over with coffee, and Hugo took the boiling coffee, and the familiar aroma of coffee relieved his tired brain a little, "Rick, objectively speaking, 'Saving Private Ryan' is indeed Is a very good script, I think this script is completely comparable to 'Schindler's List', even I would like Ryan more; moreover, Steven is my friend, Tom is too, if there is If there is an opportunity to cooperate, I will not refuse."
No matter from which point of view, "Saving Private Ryan" is a very worthy script. Even the role of James Ryan itself is challenging to a certain extent. It is a very interesting thing to dig further into the movie.
"However, from a personal point of view, I am actually more inclined not to act." Although Hugo has not yet made a final decision, in fact, after answering Steven's call today, he had a preliminary idea, "You guys As you all know, I have been busy writing a script recently. If possible, I hope to focus on this script next. If I star in "Saving Private Ryan", at least within half a year, my script will have to be put on hold. After finishing speaking, Hugo paused, and carefully looked at the expressions of Rick and Joseph. He could clearly feel that the two were full of thoughts, "But... I haven't made a final decision yet."
As far as Steven Spielberg's friendship is concerned, Hugo will not easily refuse, not to mention that "Saving Private Ryan" is such an excellent project, from the script to the characters to the cast, it is a rare project. A once-in-a-lifetime item.
Holding the coffee, Hugo paused for a while, and glanced back between Rick and Joseph, "So, I can clearly feel that something is wrong. Is there anything you haven't told me? Could it be that the company and the history Something went wrong with Steven's cooperation? Is there anything I can do to help?"
Although Hugo and Steven have a good personal relationship, and the cooperation between Endeavor Elite Brokerage Company and DreamWorks is on the right track, business is business. No matter what decision Steven makes, he will always take "Saving Private Ryan" as his goal. starting point. Therefore, Hugo is not sure whether he can help.
Rick showed a bitter smile, adjusted his sitting posture, leaned forward slightly, looked at Hugo and said seriously, "Actually, things are more complicated. It should start with...uh, last year's summer vacation?" Rick didn't go into too many details, but just gave the main idea, but even so, he said for nearly a quarter of an hour, "So, Steven did nothing wrong, even if he chose other actors, we can't do anything wrong." Words can be said."
"You mean, Steven has already met Matt Damon?" Hugo glanced at Joseph, and Joseph helplessly raised his hands in surrender, expressing that he didn't care - after all, those things It's been a few years, and he doesn't need to worry about it.
"Yes, twice." Rick nodded.
Hugo took a sip of coffee, trying to clear his mind, "So, you mean, whether I take on the role of James Ryan or not, there will be things waiting for us later?"
"From the overall point of view, it is indeed the case." Rick nodded. He also had a seven-hour meeting in the company last night, and now his brain is a little slow, "But we can't be confused because of the opponent's footsteps." , we can only make adjustments according to our own situation. So, if you nod and agree to take over the role, we will naturally push forward the project of "Saving Private Ryan" with all our strength. As for the things that have not happened in the future, we can't do it Presupposition; if you refuse, then we need to make some adjustments to our plan, for example, the script you are writing now, or another script for you, we don’t know what the situation will be for the time being... "
When playing chess, it is not easy to grasp the overall situation, because there are too many possibilities on a chessboard. Hugo has no way of knowing what is going on behind the scenes of the International Innovation Management Company, nor can he know what roles William Morris Agency, Creative Artists Agency, and United Elite Agency play in this chess game. What Hugo can do now is to focus on the present moment and clarify the questions raised by Rick.
"Wait, if I understand correctly, the question is not whether I am willing to play the role of James Ryan, but whether the actors provided by our company can meet Steven's requirements, right?" Hugo Brain Suddenly there was a light, and he put forward his own idea.
Rick froze for a moment, thought carefully, and then shrugged, "Of course, from the very beginning, Steven didn't want you to join the crew, but he could only consider you when he had no choice. .For the company, the most perfect situation is that Steven finds an actor he is satisfied with, and you can free up your schedule to start another project... This is also our original plan."
Simply put, Hugo's commercial value is immeasurable. It is actually a waste to let him play a "James Ryan" and get together with Tom Hanks. If it wasn't for no choice, Steven wouldn't call Hugo either. From this point of view, the reason why Steven called Hugo meant that he still hoped to cooperate with Endeavor Elite Agency, and Matt Damon was still not the best choice.
Hugo pursed his lips slightly, and the bitter coffee aroma lingered between his lips and teeth, "You just said that this is a difficulty and an opportunity for the company. If we can handle it well, then maybe we will meet Come to a whole new situation?"
After "Independence Day" and "L.A. Confidential", the successful "Saving Private Ryan" was created-and under the premise of making the most efficient use of company resources, if Hugo starred in another successful film works, then... "Indeed, if we can handle it well, the company will usher in a qualitative leap." Rick nodded.
The same is true of any challenge. After going all out, you will either be defeated and smashed to pieces, or you will break through the difficulties and leap into the dragon's gate. The more difficult the challenge, the greater the opportunity. This is the biggest crisis since the establishment of Endeavor Elite Brokerage Company, but it is also the biggest opportunity.
Hugo gently brushed the upper part of his teeth with the tip of his tongue, savoring the sweetness after the bitterness, then raised his eyes and looked at Rick and Joseph with a smile, "Maybe, I have a solution."