Chapter 203 203 Fatal Attraction

Joseph was stunned for a while. He didn't expect that Rick actually prepared a gift for Hugo. What's the matter? When he was distracted just now, Hugo and Rick talked about something, but even if he regretted it, Joseph had no choice but to follow the footsteps of the two and walked to Rick's office.

After Rick entered the office, he didn't take out the gift, but waited for Joseph to close the door of the room, and then said in a low voice, "Hugo, this topic is very sensitive in the company now, it's better not to talk about it outside."

Hugo smiled awkwardly, "I thought it was just a project, and it doesn't matter if it was known to others. I didn't expect it to be kept secret. My fault."

Joseph was at a loss, he obviously didn't know what the two people in front of him were talking about. Hugo saw the confusion on Joseph's face at a glance. Although he didn't know the reason, he still briefly explained, "I asked about Universal Pictures' big project just now, and he was pulled in by him."

Hugo's words still didn't answer Joseph's doubts, still with a question mark on his face, Hugo couldn't help reminding, "The project that Lang, Tracy and Universal Pictures were planning last time." Joseph immediately understood.

Hugo and Rick were chatting just now, but he didn't think much about it. He just mentioned this project jokingly, expressing his curiosity about what project is even more eye-catching than the "sugar-coated trap" with a budget of 60 million. Ke asked Hugo to stop talking with a mysterious expression on his face, and then came to the office under the pretext of a gift.

"In fact, nothing has been decided on this project. Even Universal Pictures is watching and has not confirmed that they want to invest. Currently, Paramount and Columbia Pictures are also considering it." Rick's connections are obviously stronger than Joseph's. Not a little bit, he knew a lot about the ins and outs of the whole thing, but just this little information surprised Hugo.

"I thought this project was in Tracy's hands." Hugo directly threw out his inner doubts.

In Hollywood, there are many ways to set up a film project, but the most common way is: a top producer seeks out a new project, and then takes this project to find directors and actors who are interested in cooperating with an agent. , and then seek investment from the production company. After getting the funds, the project is established, the crew is constructed, and the filming is started.

Of course, this order can also be changed. The starting point can be top directors, top screenwriters or top actors, and then integrate resources and set up projects through the power of agents. Most of the time, though, the producers still exist as promoters. In addition, it also includes the film company setting up its own project and choosing the partner; after producing the finished product at a low cost, it seeks the favor of the distributor.

This method of filmmaking was sublimated in the late 1980s by Creative Artists Agency, one of the three major agencies today - which is Brad Pitt's agency, and that is bundling. Specifically, the relationship between the agent and the producer is close. Once a project is confirmed, the director, screenwriter, and actor all choose their own clients from the same company, and sell the selected creative lineup together with the script to the studio. As a result, the studio will lose a lot of power, such as selecting directors or starring roles, and the power of producers and agents will also increase.

It is also worth mentioning that the increase in the remuneration of directors and actors and the box office dividends that appeared after 1986 are also strategies of innovative artist management companies. This has triggered a continuous increase in the salary of the entire Hollywood, resulting in a continuous increase in the total cost of the production industry, but the major studios have no choice but to succumb.

Against this background, Hugo always believed that the so-called big project was in the hands of Tracy, and then Tracy joined Lang to build her own director and actor team, and then sought investment from Universal Pictures. But listening to Rick's tone, it wasn't like that at all.

Rick shook his head with a smile, "If it's in Tracy's hands, it's no secret. Tracy will definitely cooperate with Lang, and we don't need to come into the office." Joseph finally entered the state at this time. , He temporarily put aside all the doubts in his mind just now, he realized the importance of this conversation.

"This project is actually in the hands of Spielberg." Rick briefly introduced, "He has been planning this project for ten years, but it still hasn't happened. There are many people who want to join this project now. Lacey and Lang are just a part of it, and there are actually many people in the company who have been watching, if we talk outside, there are probably a lot of ears waiting."

If Steven Spielberg, one of the most powerful directors in Hollywood today, has a project in his hands, it's no wonder that there's so much competition. It is no wonder that Tracy and Lang are so proactive. Although both of them have achieved very good results, they are still a grade behind Steven. The opportunity to get on the line with Steven is also beneficial to Tracy and Lang.

"What about you? Do you want to join this project too?" Joseph suddenly thought that Lang might just use this project to lure him. The person who confuses Hugo is Steven Spielberg. Few people can refuse such an invitation. Even Joseph himself feels excited. But this kind of excitement made Joseph more and more frustrated, so when he asked Rick, his tone was inevitably a little eager and a little stiff, which made Rick glance at Joseph.

Rick wasn't quite sure what was going on with Joseph's attitude, but he didn't care either. He chuckled and shook his head, "No, I don't have any interest." This surprised Joseph and Hugo, and Rick also He didn't continue to sell off, and then explained, "Although Spielberg has the decision-making power for this project, it is not such an easy project. Spielberg has planned for ten years, not because it has been brewing and preparing, but Because the project is so difficult that it will break if you don't pay attention, so he has to be careful."

This is a paradoxical issue. On the one hand, Steven persisted for ten years, still unwilling to give up this project, which is indeed tempting. On the other hand, it has not been possible to make the trip for ten years. It can be seen that the major production companies are hesitant about this.

"Actually, it's still the same now. The reason why Tracy, Lang and the others can participate in the competition is because no part of the entire project is finalized, not to mention the director, producers, actors, and even the script has not been completed." K smiled bitterly, obviously not optimistic about the project, "The script has been written ten years ago, this is an adaptation of the original novel, the author of the original novel has never been able to complete the task, and the script is as long as two hundred years. Twenty pages."

Hugo couldn't help but stunned. The script of "Smell the Fragrance and Know a Woman" was 160 pages long and took 160 minutes to shoot, and this script actually had 60 pages more, "Is this a 'Gone with the Wind (Gone with the Wind)? Gone. With. The. Wind)?" "Gone with the Wind" is a 238-minute masterpiece!

Rick smiled and didn't answer, but went on to say, "After that, Kurt. Luedtke, the screenwriter of 'Out of Africa' took over, he wrote it for four years, and finally gave up. Now the script It fell into the hands of Steven Zailian, the screenwriter of 'Silent Asking the Sky'. At the beginning of the year, he finished the script, which caused a stir," It seems that Tracy was eyeing at that time. This project, "but the script was rejected again by Spielberg, and it is still being revised."

The adaptation process of just one screenwriter has lasted for a whole ten years, and the difficulties of this project can be seen here.

"The director also went from Roman Polanski to Sidney Pollack, to Martin Scorsese, to Billy Wilder, still undecided. "Every one of them is a big director, and every word of Rick is a bomb." But the latest news is that Steven is considering the possibility of directing himself. Before, he was worried that he would not be able to control the film. But right now, it doesn't seem like there are many options left for him."

The script is still difficult to give birth, the director is still undecided, let alone the actors, this project is really out of dystocia.

"In fact, although it is a project of Universal Pictures, they have not made a final decision, because the producers and directors are not sure, they are not willing to take risks, and other competitors are also waiting for opportunities." Rick added. "This project is too sensitive, too heavy and too difficult, and the major production companies are very hesitant. I heard that Universal Pictures is only willing to give a budget of 50 million, but this is obviously not enough."

This kind of dystocia project is actually very risky, because it is very difficult to produce, and the possibility of failure of the release will skyrocket. From Rick's few words, it can be inferred that although this project is feasible and expected, but the difficulty is too great, which makes the major production companies hesitate, leaving aside the previous nine years, this March Nine months have passed since Tracy started trying, but Universal Pictures is still reluctant to make a decision, which shows their hesitation and struggle.

A similar project, Hugo, does not know why he thinks of "The. Lone. Ranger" released in 2013. This film was a disaster from the beginning of production, and finally it was finally released, which cost the producer Disney two One hundred million U.S. dollars.

So the current form is that there are many opportunists like Tracy and Lang who want to have the courage to try, but they all lack hard power, and the production company is still unable to make up their minds, which makes this project stuck here, unable to get on or off. . More people are watching the good show like Rick, and then waiting for the opportunity to see if they can get a little benefit.

Lang's big picture is not credible, and Rick says he doesn't care or credible—if he didn't care he wouldn't know so much.

Hugo suddenly became curious about this project. He didn't have any ideas at first. Now, when he heard Rick's description, he became curious. What exactly is this project? A project that left its mark on history? Is it a miserable or an excellent project?

"Does this project currently have a name?" Hugo asked with a smile.

Joseph glanced at Hugo, the anticipation on his face made his heart sink, while Rick didn't think so much, he nodded, "Of course. 'Schindler's. List)' ."

uh... what? !