Chapter 54 Pirates of the Caribbean?

The crew of "Departures" was preparing in an orderly manner. The actors were experiencing life. Director Wu Yuan was perfecting the script while preparing for the crew.

The crew staff was easy to deal with. China Film had several teams that could be used.

However, the movie "Departures" needed a very good music master.

The music of the original movie was completed by Joe Hisaishi.

There is no need to elaborate on how good Joe Hisaishi is. Jiang Wen loves him to death.

Wu Yuan didn't have a Joe Hisaishi plot. Although he also liked the music of Joe Hisaishi's movies, after "Departures" confirmed that the male lead played the suona as an instrument, it was not appropriate to find Joe Hisaishi to do the music.

RB friends don't understand the suona instrument!

Wu Yuan still had to find a music master in China to complete the music of this movie.

After discussing with Mr. Han, Wu Yuan contacted Teacher Xu Jingqing through the relationship with China Film.

When it comes to the name of Mr. Xu Jingqing, most ordinary people may not know him and look confused.

But when it comes to the Yungong Xunyin of the 1983 version of "Journey to the West", everyone will immediately understand.

Mr. Xu Jingqing is not only a national first-class composer, but also composed all 15 songs and nearly 100 background music of "Journey to the West" by him alone.

Moreover, the soundtrack of the TV series "Journey to the West" pioneered the combination of electronic music, folk music and orchestra in TV series.

In other words, Mr. Xu Jingqing is not only very professional in folk music and orchestra, but he also keeps up with the trend and understands electronic music.

After persuading Mr. Xu Jingqing to produce the soundtrack for "Departures", Wu Yuan's last worry was finally relieved.

Next, we just need to wait for the actors to finish their experience of life and get used to each other, and then we can start the formal filming.

Wu Yuan also has time to focus his attention on the United States across the ocean.

The release of "Juno" in North America has come to an end.

Perhaps because the adapted version is indeed not so American, "Juno" only made $121 million in North America, more than $20 million less than the original.

This is because Wu Yuan's version of "Juno" attracted a large number of middle-aged people to the cinema to watch it, which achieved such a result!

However, "Juno" has also been released in other countries around the world. The earliest ones were Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hong Kong and Taiwan, and they have achieved good box office results.

Traditional European box office such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy will also be released in October and November.

Fox Searchlight predicts that the global box office of "Juno" should be able to exceed $200 million, which will be the best-selling movie since the establishment of Fox Searchlight.

Fox Searchlight is also actively promoting the Oscars for "Juno"!

But after all, they are not the parent company 20th Century Fox, and Wu Yuan is not a contracted director of Fox Searchlight, and he is not even an American.

So it is almost impossible for "Juno" to win an Oscar, especially a big award.

However, there will still be a lot of nominations. After all, this is an original script movie with a box office of over 100 million in North America. The Oscars cannot really turn a blind eye to it.

Wu Yuan is not as obsessed with Oscars as the fifth-generation directors.

He cares more about when the share of "Juno" will arrive.

Under John's constant urging and Fox Searchlight's desire to maintain its relationship with Wu Yuan, the North American box office share of "Juno" was paid to the account of Light Age in advance, and Fox Searchlight paid the settlement first.

John, who got the money, immediately started the "Hangover" project and was looking for actors and directors in Hollywood to ensure that the film could be released smoothly in the second half of 2002!

Wu Yuan's daily work has also increased. He has to make overseas calls with John almost every day, and even occasionally needs to hold video conferences to follow up on the "Hangover" project together.

John wanted to find Ryan Reynolds, who had starred in the comedy film "Dick", to play the male lead of "The Hangover", but he was very distressed about how to get the other three members of the Hangover group together, so he asked Wu Yuan for advice.

Wu Yuan didn't know the current Hollywood actors as well as John, and he couldn't think of a suitable actor for a while.

The two could only hold meetings every night with the actor list of the actors' union...

During the day, Wu Yuan had to improve the script of "Departures", and chat, study and work with the actors and undertakers.

This busy life lasted until the end of October, which made Wu Yuan feel relieved.

The life experience of "Departures" was over, and the actors who deeply experienced the profession of undertakers had made all preparations, and the movie could officially start.

Things in the United States were almost dealt with, and John could handle the preparation and shooting of the next project of "The Hangover".

Everything seemed to be developing in a good way.

Just when everything was going smoothly, on the eve of the official launch of "Departures", Wu Yuan received an unexpected call.

"Excuse me, is this Daniel Wu, Director Wu?"

Wu Yuan, who was about to take a break, frowned when he saw the overseas call on his mobile phone: "Yes, I am Daniel Wu."

"Oh, I am very sorry to disturb your rest. I know it is evening time in China now."

A gentleman's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I am Jerry Bruckheimer, a producer at Disney."

"Director Wu, on behalf of Walt Disney Pictures, I solemnly invite you to direct our biggest film project next year."

"The film is expected to invest more than 120 million US dollars, and it is a commercial blockbuster aimed at the global market!"

"The film is tentatively named "Pirates of the Caribbean", a fantasy adventure film."

Before he finished his introduction, Wu Yuan interrupted and said, "Why did you find me?"

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is a well-known Hollywood commercial series of blockbusters. The global box office of the five films in the series is nearly 5 billion US dollars. It is a money-making monster!

But Wu Yuan didn't expect Disney to contact him and hope that he would direct this movie.

Isn't this a joke?

Finding a Chinese director to direct a story about Pirates of the Caribbean is too funny.

Wu Yuan didn't know that Jerry Bruckheimer on the other end of the phone was also very depressed.

If he had no choice, he actually didn't want to contact Wu Yuan.

There is no way. Although Hollywood has many directors of commercial films that are popular, they are all very specific.

It is also difficult for Disney to find a director who is willing to take over a new series of commercial films.

Steven Spielberg is busy with his "Minority Report" and "Catch Me If You Can" will be released later.

James Cameron never takes on any outside projects. He always writes his own scripts and shoots them himself.

Quentin has "Kill Bill" to make, and he is not a director who likes to take on outside projects.

Peter Jackson does take on outside projects, but the "Lord of the Rings" series he took on was enough to keep him busy for ten years.

The same is true for Chris Columbus, who directed "Harry Potter".

As for Alfonso Cuarón, who succeeded him, he is still just a younger brother like Nolan.

First-line directors such as David Fincher, Li An, and Robert Zemeckis also have their own things to do and are unwilling to take over Disney's new projects.

Disney wants to make Pirates of the Caribbean, just like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Once the first movie is a hit, it will be made into a series of movies.

They must find a reliable director.

Originally, when there was really no choice, the producers found a small director who debuted in 1996 and only made a comedy and an American version of The Ring.

But Wu Yuan suddenly appeared.

No matter from which aspect, Wu Yuan is better than a small director who has only made a comedy and The Ring!

Although Wu Yuan is a Chinese director, there may be some cultural barriers.

But the Pirates of the Caribbean crew can invite professional historians. The customs and clothing details of the time, as well as daily life, navigation and military conditions, etc., do not need to be worried about by the director. There are professionals in charge.

Wu Yuan only needs to follow the script and shoot the story well!

After all, this movie is just a fantasy adventure movie, a Hollywood popcorn commercial film, not an art film. The director is just a big tool man, not an irreplaceable soul!

With the support of the Hollywood industrial system, the crew has a clear division of labor, and most of the crew work is done by professionals, Wu Yuan only needs to do his own job, that is, to judge the performance of the actors, and call "cut" and "pass".

"Director Wu, after repeated consideration, we think you are the best choice for the director of this movie."

"This invitation is really full of sincerity."

Jerry said sincerely on the phone: "I really hope to invite Director Wu to meet, and we will talk about the details of this movie in person. This is a very cool fantasy adventure movie, I believe you will like it."

Don't hit a smiling person.

Faced with Jerry's sincere words, Wu Yuan couldn't respond coldly, so he had to reply tactfully: "Hey, my new movie starts shooting tomorrow, and I may not have time to go to the United States next time."

"I am honored to be invited by Disney to cooperate, but unfortunately, the schedule may not match."

"No!" Jerry heard that there was no strong rejection in Wu Yuan's tone, and immediately said: "It doesn't matter, these are all negotiable!"

"This movie requires a long preparation time, and the actual start may have to wait until the second half of next year."

"I will book a flight to China as soon as possible!"

"We can meet and talk in detail."

"Pirates of the Caribbean 1" actually found a small director who had only shot a comedy and the Ring, and the box office of the two movies combined was not much, which was really bold.

But I counted, and it was true that at that time, no first-line director had time to take over this movie, and they were all busy with their own projects.