Chapter 973 967 Lucy

Chapter 973 967. Lucy

John Wick is a retired assassin.

A killer?

Wow, cool.

A killer's story~

Keanu Reeves looked at the beginning of the script and gave a "thumbs up" in his heart.

In fact, it's not that this profession is so good or so great...people are like this. When people are happy, they feel refreshed.

As a director, his debut work was recognized by Cannes and received a lot of praise there, so he was naturally in a good mood. And when people are in a good mood, let alone reading a script, even if they see a pile of shit, the color is authentic Nico brown.

In his acting career, he has read countless scripts. At this stage, whether the script is good or bad, it actually depends on whether he is interested in it or not.

At this moment, his interest is quite strong.

It is naturally a happy thing to meet friends again.

So, in summary, his current mood can be summed up in two words.

"Pleasure."

When he finished reading the general direction of the story, he subconsciously rubbed his chin.

A retired assassin wiped out the gang because of a dog?

Well...

It's OK.

This movie is pretty refreshing.

I just don't know how the drama is.

But at least the whole story is very exciting.

Especially Mr. Wick can kill three people with a pencil...a pencil?

How did he do it?

He is more interested.

But...

"Knock, knock."

The door was knocked.

Yang Mi opened the door and walked in:

"It's time to eat."

...

"Is this Japanese food?"

Keanu Reeves sat at the dining table, looking at the large and small plates of the separate dining system, and looked at Yang Mi curiously:

"Yang, I thought I could eat Chinese food today."

"If it's Chinese food, I don't need to find a chef."

Yang Mi joked with a smile, and then, as the hostess, she picked up the red wine glass:

"Come on~ Cheers~~~"

Hearing this, even the two children raised the juice glasses in their hands.

As for Xu Xin... He looked down at the fried abalone in front of him and subconsciously complained:

"Why do we have to eat like in a Japanese restaurant when we eat at home... This is not enough for one bite."

"It's a sense of ritual."

After Yang Mi finished speaking, Liu Momo chuckled:

"I suddenly remembered last time... who told me? You go to a Japanese restaurant to eat and let them make a fuss?"

"What are you talking about?"

Looking at the curious Keanu Reeves, Liu Momo explained the whole story in Xu Xin's speechless eyes.

Then...

"Hahahaha..."

A burst of laughter sounded.

Then it disappeared for less than a second...

"Ahahahaha~"

You really don't say.

The hearty laughter of the melancholy handsome guy is indeed pleasing to the eye.

"Neo", who still had some youth on his face, looked at Xu Xin:

"Xu... ah hahahahahaha... this is the funniest joke I've heard this year."

"But I'm right, isn't it? Eating at home, this kind of ritual is very strange."

"Hahaha, of course. Indeed, if this meal can be served with a Texas barbecue and a plate of macaroni, I'll be happier."

When Xu Xin heard this, he knew that he was really hungry.

So he waved his hand directly to the servant standing in the corner:

"Tell the chef to bring up the remaining dishes. I don't like this way of serving dishes. Let her bring them all up, don't make so many plates and bowls."

The servant nodded and hurried to the kitchen.

Yang Mi wanted to say something, but...

"This is mine!!"

Turning around, I saw that my daughter had finished her abalone slices and was reaching for her brother's bowl.

Yang Yang obviously didn't let her eat, and protected the bowl in his arms.

The brother and sister started to fight for it...

"Okay, okay, it will be up soon..."

Obviously, the two children were hungry too.

Then let's not have any sense of ceremony.

Just eat heartily.

Soon, several large plates were brought up.

Seafood, grilled side dishes, cream stew, salt-grilled sea fish, etc.

Except for the main course, a piece of Kobe beef was still being grilled, and the rest were placed on the table.

Now, not only Xu Xin was happy, but everyone else was also comfortable.

"Come on, friends. Let's toast~"

Keanu Reeves took the initiative to raise a glass of wine.

Then he asked curiously:

"Xu, you came here very suddenly this time. Didn't you say you would treat me to roast duck two days ago? Why did you suddenly come to the United States?"

Xu Xin pointed at the two children:

"Didn't Yang's movie start to be promoted? The children miss their mother. And Paramount also hopes that I will come to read the script."

Originally, when Keanu Reeves heard the previous reason, he just subconsciously nodded to show his understanding.

But when he heard the latter part, he was stunned:

"You are going to cooperate with Paramount?"

"Yes. In July, my movie "Perfect Stranger" will be released here. They are the distributor, and they will also help this movie to operate the Oscars..."

There is nothing to hide about this kind of thing.

It is not a secret.

But I didn't expect...

"Speaking of this...Xu, do you have an English translation of "Perfect"? "

Xu Xin was stunned:

"Why?"

"When I went to Cannes this time, your movie had already been released in France. I also bought a ticket, but... you know, the original Italian soundtrack and the French translation..."

"I see. I'll send you a copy later."

"Haha, thank you, friend. I'm really curious about this movie."

After thinking for a while, he said:

"Maybe, the people at Paramount are the easier to work with among these Hollywood companies. In my opinion, the most difficult ones are Warner. Warner and Disney are the two most difficult companies to deal with. They don't care about the opinions of actors or directors, and only obey orders and money. But Paramount is the kind of company that will maintain a good cooperative relationship with you if you can prove your ability. But if you fail, they won't be particularly alienated from you, but the time for cooperation again will be extended until you have re-proven your competitiveness..."

As one of the top stars in Hollywood, the nature of these companies that he said was naturally very accurate.

Think about it, if Warner or Disney doesn't even care about his status, it's very intuitive that the famous Keanu Reeves feels this way, then it may be even more exaggerated for those small actors and directors.

At this time, Liu Momo asked:

"Xu and I are working with them now. In the form of a company, how many problems do they usually have with small partners like us?"

"Two points. Molly~ The first is the right to speak. If it is a small company, they usually have the habit of mergers and acquisitions or investments. But usually, they don't care about your company, but what you own. For example, your company controls the IP of a certain script, for example, like "Saw"... Of course, I'm referring to all Hollywood film companies here. Everyone knows that "Saw", "Pirates of the Caribbean" 》The importance of these series IPs...

If they propose a merger or investment, then usually they want to take away your movie IP. As for how to cooperate after the IP is obtained, it depends on the follow-up. So, you have to have a certain say. Since it is a cooperation, we are equal.

Another point is the long-term contract. Hollywood companies like to add some clauses to the contract. For example, like the script MR. Wick that I just read, usually they add a clause in the production contract. If it is Molly, you actively hope that these big companies will invest in the film, and if they think the script is also good, they will add a sequel clause to the contract.

As for the relevant conditions of this clause, some are to pay a fee, and some are to give you the full investment... The conditions are not quite the same, but there is only one purpose, that is, to get the right to invest in the sequel. Because the box office of the movie is not clear yet, the cost of this clause is not high, but if the movie is popular, when the sequel is invested, they can use the contract terms to block other people from contacting the movie.

This clause is not only true for movies, directors and actors. For the first part, they will ask for the right to shoot the sequel. If the movie After the movie becomes popular, they will also raise the price, but they will sign a long-term contract with you. For example, they will shoot the third and fourth films in the series.

If the sequel fails and they stop shooting other sequels, it will not affect anyone. But if the sequel also has great results, they can guarantee their own complete interests... Of course, what I said is not bad, but as a company, you also need to consider a long-term development for yourself. "

Liu Momo nodded:

"Thank you for your advice, Keanu, I understand. "

In fact, Keanu Reeves' answer was not what she wanted.

What she really wanted to ask was whether there were many factions inside Paramount. A small company like Nifeng could easily become a victim if it got involved without knowing anything.

I wanted to see if the other party, as a person who had experienced it, had any experience in this area.

Unfortunately, it seemed that he didn't know either.

As for what he said... In fact, it's not just big companies.

Small companies are also using this model.

Other companies are like this, and so is Nifeng.

Just like when Liu Momo bought the script of "John Wick" before, Xu Xin asked her if the price was a bit high, and her answer was that part of the money was "connections".

In the script purchase contract, Nifeng also has the right of first refusal.

She also has the sequel clause.

Big companies versus small companies, small companies versus works produced by individual screenwriters.

We are all grasshoppers on the same rope.

The eldest brother doesn't talk about the second brother.

Then, Keanu Reeves looked at Xu Xin again:

"Xu, if you encounter some scripts that you particularly like, but they are not interested, you don't have to just stare at them. Their main business now is actually distribution. You can find other companies to invest in filming, and then give them the distribution rights. This is their strongest point."

"Okay, I understand."

Xu Xin nodded.

...

After a meal, Yang Mi was actually the most dissatisfied.

Originally, she planned to let her husband meet with Sister Mo at noon, and she would be affectionate with her husband for a while after coaxing the baby to take a nap in the afternoon.

As a result...

What do you think an American would do with the "one cigarette after dinner" tune?

I went into the cigar bar with my husband and Sister Mo and never came out.

Oh...

It's annoying!

With this irritable mood, she pulled the two children upstairs.

Inside the cigar bar.

Xu Xin was reading the script with a cigarette in his mouth.

Liu Momo was holding her cell phone and clicking loudly, not knowing what she was doing.

Keanu Reeves is also reading the script.

I even enjoyed watching it.

At this time, Xu Xin handed the script in his hand to Liu Momo:

"This story is good, I quite like it."

After hearing this, Liu Momo took it and took a look at the name of the script.

《LUCY》

The corner of his mouth twitched and he shook his head:

"Don't even think about this story."

"……how?"

Xu Xin was a little puzzled.

He quite liked the story.

When I first watched it, I thought it was an anti-drug police film, but later I found out that it was not.

This movie is actually a science fiction movie.

It later became that kind of superpower movie, but it wasn't too much. It was about how the human brain would become omnipotent when it reaches 100% development... and it also involved an ape named Lucy.

This part of the setting touched a bit on his intellectual blind spot, but he liked the time and space paradox in it very much.

The later scene where the ape-man Lucy and "Lucy" met made his eyes light up.

Although the story touched on some of his knowledge blind spots, within this rough outline, he found that he could extend... or imagine a lot of things.

The theory of evolution, which is almost like a religious ritual, feels like it would be brilliant when photographed.

He would like to film this if he could.

As a result, a basin of cold water was poured on him:

"Here, this is the screenwriter."

Xu Xin looked at the name above and subconsciously spelled out:

"Lu C...Luke...Beisen...Luke Beisen?"

Keanu Reeves, who heard his voice, also looked over, and then showed a surprised look:

""This killer is not too cold"?"

Xu Xin was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and asked in Chinese:

"Luc Besson?"

Liu Momo nodded, looked at Xu Xin and said:

"Do you still remember which film and television company I worked for before?"

"...I don't remember."

"..."

Liu Momo looked at Xu Xin dumbfounded and said to herself, "You are a stinky brother."

That's too much.

You really don’t want to treat me like a dish?

"Vivendi, French Vivendi."

"Oh yes, I remembered it."

Compared to Xu Xin's surprise, Keanu Reeves was a little surprised.

That is the largest film and television company in France.

"When I was studying abroad, his daughter Juliette and I were best friends. We had a very good relationship... Speaking of being able to enter Vivendi as a Chinese, it was actually him. I approached Juliette for this script last year. When I was playing, I happened to meet Luc Besson who was writing a script. Juliette knew that I was now working in a film and television company in Hollywood, so she showed me the script and then..."

She shrugged:

"In short, this script is in my hands now. If I want to invest, I can shoot it. But the director..."

Xu Xin understood the meaning and felt a little regretful.

But he nodded immediately:

"This story can. It can be extended in many directions."

Seeing him expressing his views, Liu Momo asked a very essential question:

"Can you make money?"

"How could I know..."

A very simple eye roll was given to this sister.

Is this a money thing?

What we do is art!

As he said that, he picked up another script and planned to continue looking for a suitable one.

At this time, Keanu Reeves said:

"Xu, I think this story is pretty good."

Xu Xin turned around and found that he was still watching "John Wick".

Liu Momo's eyes lit up:

"Keanu, are you interested? This is also the script I accepted. What do you think?"

"Well……"

Seeing Xu Xin looking at him with interest, Keanu Reeves thought for a while and said:

"Frankly speaking, the reason why I am interested in this story is because it is relatively rare...Xu, do you know what some film critics said when I was in Cannes this time?"

"how?"

"The general meaning is: I finally see something refreshing in Hollywood. It is no longer the traditional hero saving the beauty, nor is it the brainless muscular man doing violent demolition work. There is not even a love line, there is It’s just the collision of light and shadow. Rather than saying this movie is a Hollywood-style martial arts film, it’s more like a confrontation between two human thoughts with a touch of Zen..."

Xu Xin nodded slightly.

The following paragraph is actually his idea when designing this story.

Film critics see it as normal.

"But I think it's right. You know Hollywood has fixed rules for some genre films. The film needs a beautiful woman to have feelings for the protagonist. It needs a villain who does all evil. Even the protagonist cannot be particularly smart, he must have a mental process. The curve of the story is that the female protagonist finds the male protagonist, a misunderstanding occurs, the truth becomes clear, the male protagonist or the female protagonist crosses the boundary of justice, the two characters merge into one, and defeat the villain... This is almost a formula for the police and gangster genre. .

But the story seems interesting to me. There is no need for a heroine, and even the story line is simple. John Wick talks very little. He just carried out a hearty revenge... Haha, Xu, are you going to try this movie? If you try, I can play it. If you're not interested, how about leaving this film to me? "

Xu Xinxin said good guy.

You are really addicted to being a director.

But...

He held out his hand.

Keanu Reeves handed him the script.

It took a while for Xu Xin to sort out the story line again.

You know what...

My friend was right.

When he read this story at that time, he just felt that the main line was simple.

But now from the other side's perspective, it is really a refreshing scene about revenge.

It's rough, short and straight throughout.

There is no reason. You killed my dog ​​and stole my car, so I will kill you.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

It feels a bit like those American westerns I watched when I was a child.

"Hmm..."

After thinking about it, he said:

"This script is really good. I'll put it in the candidate list first. How about it? I'm going to give them a few scripts these two days for them to choose. If they are interested in this story, I'll bring you in. If not interested... then we can work together?"

"Okay."

Keanu Reeves agreed very readily.

He actually wanted to work with Xu Xin.

A director who can elevate a story just by changing the script has unquestionable talent.

In addition, the story suits his taste.

Now that he has reached his position, the script he chooses is more based on his taste rather than the pressure from the agency.

There is no problem in agreeing to it.

So.

At around 3 pm, the script of "John Wick" was put into the file bag by Liu Momo, along with two other stories that Xu Xin thought were okay.

Next... it depends on what Paramount chooses.