Chapter 423

Los Angeles, Fox Tower.

In a medium-sized conference room of the 20th Century Fox production company, a conference call is being held.

No matter which time and space it is in, it is almost impossible for a big production like "Titanic" to be produced by a sole proprietorship. It's not necessarily that a studio really can't afford the money, the point is that the risk is too great.

In this time and space, this movie is co-produced by Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. There are six producers, but the others are in charge of meetings. Twenty Century Fox sent producer John Days. Of course, it is the producer and director, James Cameron, who really holds all the power of the entire crew.

Today's meeting involved the post-production soundtrack of "Titanic", a major production that has cost more than 300 million U.S. dollars. One producer, four of the other five producers were present, and the other one appointed his secretary to attend the meeting via telephone connection... This certainly shows that the producers are interested in this An attitude that takes things very seriously.

With the contacts of Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros., John Dice and James Cameron, they still got the most detailed information on people and events in countries thousands of miles away in the East on the second day. intelligence.

About Minghu Cultural Company, about the Four Great Beauties, about Li Qian, and about Liao Liao.

After getting the information, Cameron's first reaction was - "Wow!"

In terms of achievements, status, and the explosiveness of gossip news, even though James Cameron doesn't know much about that distant country, he still knows that this young man, who is only 21 years old, can live in such a vast country. It is obvious that he will not be an ordinary person when the market with more than a dozen or so billion people has come to where it is today, and it has been completed in just a few years.

Moreover, the album has been released for 12 days and has sold 7 million copies in East and Southeast Asia... Even if this achievement is placed in the Western world, it is really enough to make everyone awe-inspiring.

Even if he is not as popular as Jerry Karen in the entire world, in Cameron's view, it is probably not a problem to say that he is the king of music in the eastern world-it is said that his own Records, and the records he produced as a producer, have repeatedly set sales records! Even the media in that eastern country believed that he was the navigator of the music scene there.

Therefore, Cameron felt that there was no need to question his musical attainments.

And it is said that he is an excellent actor himself, and a director - he is making a TV series of oriental mythology!

That's even better! It couldn't have been better!

A musician has the perspective of a musician. In this regard, Cameron has shot so many movies before, and has been in contact with so many American musicians and soundtrack masters, so he has a deep understanding of this.

However, film directors also have their own perspectives and considerations.

Film soundtracks, of course, require musicians to create music that must serve the entire film. Musicians are well aware of this, but sometimes they are too stubborn, and they always believe that their thinking is correct Yes, but there is no way to consider these issues from the lens language of a film director.

But this "Li" from the magical country in the East is very likely to be a person who understands both music and movies.

So...perfect!

However, several other producers, including John Days, apparently disagreed with him.

The problem of the level of musicians in the Eastern countries, the production cycle has been repeatedly delayed, and the entry of newcomers will inevitably slow down the progress again. Under the two countries and two cultural backgrounds, Chinese musicians have different understandings of Western love. ·White is already a well-known music master, and he cannot be directly denied just because his work is not satisfactory...In short, there are various problems.

The meeting lasted 30 minutes, and various questions were thrown out by several producers. Although Cameron answered them one by one, trying to persuade them, however, including the producer who participated in the meeting by phone, Inside, there is still no one who agrees with Cameron's point of view. Everyone agrees that Jane White is completely suitable and qualified to play the soundtrack.

So, unconsciously, Cameron's voice began to rise.

He has been in Hollywood for more than 20 years, and he has shot five or six films successively. He has sufficient experience in fighting with investors, producers, agents, and actors!

Although... all the struggles, in the end, must be mutual compromises.

And this time, obviously no exception.

James Cameron's passionate speech did not impress a group of experienced old foxes. Everyone listened to his speech patiently, and then the argument was pulled back again...

Changing the soundtrack means breaking the contract, adding the liquidated damages of the new contract to the old contract means overspending, which is not in line with the budget-conscious style of Hollywood producers, and this movie has been overspending again and again until now , if the existing funds still cannot produce it, then Cameron will not get even a penny from the production company!

Well, this is Cameron's Achilles' heel!

In today's era when an investment of 100 million US dollars is an absolute big production, his film has burned more than 340 million yuan so far, and it was even close to being suspended twice because of serious overruns in the middle. Now, after nearly three years, Cameron, as a producer and director, naturally knows better than anyone else that he has spent a lot of money.

To be honest, if it wasn’t for its great reputation, if it wasn’t for 20th Century Fox’s investment of more than 100 million yuan from the very beginning, if they didn’t insist on finishing this film, they would lose all their money, then maybe this film It is really possible for the play to die halfway!

And now, it's just a matter of soundtrack, is it really worth getting yourself into trouble again because of this?

Cameron took several deep breaths, looking extremely furious.

Producers, however, were unimpressed.

In the end, the meeting ended without any results, and it was decided to discuss it at the next meeting.

When everyone left one after another, John Dess put his arms around Cameron's shoulders and said, "Jamie, you see, it's not that I won't help you, it's that we can't convince them of this matter at all!"

Cameron was expressionless.

So, John Days continued: "However, if you can consider my plan, maybe I can help you persuade them."

Cameron finally turned to look at him when he heard this.

Don't say it at the meeting just now, but insist on saying it at this time. Cameron knows that this will definitely be another compromise.

However, he knew that there was nothing he could do.

Although he is the most powerful of the few producers, he is not powerful enough to change the entire operating system of Hollywood. Without the signatures of several other producers, his decision would be illegal, and it would be impossible to get a check from the finance department.

John Deiss has traveled in Hollywood for many years and has rich experience in film production. He is even more proficient in negotiating, compromising, and winning. When he was under pressure to continue investing, it was he who helped build the bridge and brought in Time Warner, and finally Warner Bros. injected capital, which helped the crew complete the filming.

So, at this moment, even though he knew that what he was going to face next would definitely not make him too happy, he still acted as if he was listening—John Dyce sat down beside him and said: "We will not Will change the scorer...yes, Jamie, you know, that's the premise! Jane White has to be the scorer! Because only in this way, we don't have to pay liquidated damages, and we can try not to overrun again, Realize your ideas."

Cameron was speechless and shrugged, but did not leave.

So, John Dess continued: "You like the work of this person, no problem, he is the contracted publicist of our movie, we have a basis for cooperation, next, I will fly to China to talk to This guy said we could buy him the rights to the song, we could even try to get him on the score... yeah, I'll talk, Jane White, I know he's going to be a problem, But, no problem, I'll talk!"

After a pause, seeing that Cameron did not express any objection, he continued: "You know, Jamie, I always support you! We are one, right? Believe me, this is the solution to the problem You like that guy's music, I know, but, maybe even if we all agree to let him take over the soundtrack, but he doesn't really have any intention?... I know, I know, he took the initiative to send the work to Show us that he has ideas for you and this movie, and that's even better! Think about it, Jamie, how much those Orientals want to enter our market! To be able to participate in To work on a soundtrack for a big production with an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars is a great opportunity for us to give them, isn't it?"

Cameron thought for a while, and after a while, he took a deep breath and said, "Buy that song?"

John Dess responded: "Yes, buy it, I believe no problem, we can do it! We can ask them to make a richer arrangement of this song, and then record a better and more perfect song." Then, of course, we can choose to have that singer, that guy’s lover continue to sing, or we can choose to have other singers sing, this needs us to talk about it a little bit.”

Cameron finally nodded slowly.

After a pause, he stared at the other party, and said seriously: "I request that the whole movie must use this song as the main theme and keynote, not just as a theme song, that would be too abrupt!"

John Dyce frowned slightly when he heard the words, but in the end, he still said: "I understand what you mean, Jamie, you know, I will always help you! But, this requires us to go a little bit A bit of work, no? At least we need to convince the producers to include this song you like in this thing, right?"

Cameron nodded again helplessly.

Well, if there is no other solution, perhaps, this is a feasible way.

But after a while, he couldn't help exhorting again: "John, man, it's not that I don't believe you, I just want to remind you again, whether it's Jane or Li, they are all accomplished musicians. So, believe me, I know, they're all as proud as I am, so please, don't screw it up! I need a good soundtrack, you know, a good soundtrack, always at the right moment Use the most appropriate melody to bring out the effect of the movie to perfection!"

John Deiss shrugged, "Of course, we always respect artists, don't we? Just as I always respect you, Jamie!"

This time, it was Cameron's turn to shrug.

…………

It was still the same client from last time, the executive president of Rolling Stone Records East Asia and the general manager of Rolling Stone Records China, Michael Johnson. After receiving the commission from John Dyce, he sent the news the next day , said that he had already contacted Li Qian, and the other party agreed to discuss the right to use the song, but the other party was a little hesitant about taking over the soundtrack of the movie "Titanic" - not for any other reason , just because he didn't seem to have enough time to take over the matter.

For John Days, this was exactly what he wanted.

He immediately expressed that he was willing to fly to Shuntian Mansion in person to discuss the right to use the song with the other party, and entrusted Michael Johnson to contact him on his behalf to make an appointment in advance for a meeting time.

And then, of course, after a lot of lobbying, after he had won the approval of several other producers with his compromise plan, finally, he went to Jane with the piano version of "My-heart-will-go-on" ·White, strive to overcome this most difficult big difficulty.

However, after listening to this song, Jane White certainly appreciated it greatly. However, although John Days's proposal was quite tactful, Jane White remained silent. The requirement for the main tone of the soundtrack of the entire film means that I need to consider it.

John Dyce was full of confidence.

In his opinion, since Jane White also appreciates this work so much, there is only one step left before the final impetus of this matter—so he contacted Michael Johnson in Shuntian Mansion , and soon finalized the meeting time with Li Qian and prepared to fly to China.

However, just one day before he boarded the plane, Jane White's agent suddenly called. Jane White had decided to terminate the contract with the producer of "Titanic" and agreed to mark it as a voluntary termination of the contract. In other words, no one has to pay liquidated damages to the other party.

All of a sudden, John Dyce was a little confused.

He rushed to Jane White's studio, but only got the CD, and was told by the agent that Jane White had traveled to Europe, and he thought he needed to relax before starting the next phase of his new work. All negotiations with the producer have been entrusted to him to handle.

So, when boarding the plane to China, John Dyce was full of frustration.

***

Believe me, I am really trying to update 10,000 words a day, but every time I try, the result tells me that as long as I write 10,000 words a day, then I will not want to write a word for at least several days... ...I can't do speed flow!

Ask for comfort!