America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 158 Project Prototype (asking for monthly ticket)

What is the most important thing for a film project? It's not the script or the director, but the funding.

At the critical moment, Martin called on the Georgia support team again.

He revealed the existence of the project to Vincent and Sofia over the phone.

Then I called Kelly Gray.

"As long as Eyes Across the Mountain is a box office success, I will definitely participate in your new project." Kelly proposed two new conditions: "But I have two requests."

Martin looked at what it was first: "Just tell me."

Kelly's first request was normal: "Since it's a project led by you and the drunkard, is it okay to shoot in Atlanta? It's also normal to sign a site lease contract with Atlanta's number one filming base, right?"

Martin thought of Georgia's tax incentives and said, "That's what I was thinking, so I called you."

Kelly suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Another condition is that you bring Louise to Atlanta. I want to avenge her. This bitch actually dared to let me listen to her for half the night! I want you to tie her up, so that she can not only listen, but also see but not touch!"

Martin thought to himself, as expected, the unspoken rules are still used.

If he writes an autobiography in the future, the title will definitely be: A gigolo who uses women to get ahead.

For the sake of his future, Martin accepted these unspoken rules! He gritted his teeth and said, "No problem."

Kelly seemed to hate it very much: "We have a deal. If you can't do it, don't blame me for turning against you and throwing you into the Atlantic Ocean to feed the fish."

After hanging up the phone, Martin recalled the bloody history of how he borrowed Kelly and Louise to take over.

It can be called a history of blood and tears.

As for getting Louise to Atlanta, there is no rush as the project is still underway.

…………

Beast House Club.

After receiving Vincent's call, Sophia rushed over.

When she reached the stairs, Scott, who was carrying a bag behind her, walked into the club slowly, with his legs crossed.

Hart was drinking at the bar. When he saw Scott, he pulled out a high chair and said, "Sit down, man."

Scott waved his hands repeatedly: “No, there is no room for the time being.”

"We've always wanted to go to Thailand." Hart finished his beer. "You don't even have to go to Thailand."

Scott said in style: "You don't understand the happiness in it. This is the sacrifice for true love."

Hart couldn't stand it and was afraid of vomiting on the spot, so he hurried backstage.

In the office on the second floor, Vincent described in detail what Martin had said.

Sophia stroked the fat on her face and said, "I watched the filming of The Hills Have Eyes. The situation was exactly the same as what Martin told us. The crew was very dedicated in making the movie."

Vincent raised his cowboy hat and said, "House of Wax has grossed over $8000 million worldwide. Martin has received a lot of attention." He picked up some newspapers and handed them to Sofia. "There are a lot of California entertainment newspapers that praise him, such as Hollywood supernova, Hollywood new force, Hollywood's No. hunk, and similar reports."

"It seems that Martin is very popular." Sophia's intuitive feeling, she asked: "Has the release date been confirmed?"

Vincent took out a routine notice and handed it to her: "The weekend after the Super Bowl, the distributor Warner Bros. is very interested and will advertise during the Super Bowl."

Sophia quickly read it over: "Martin is still trustworthy."

Vincent asked, "Continue to invest?"

"Why not? Our funds have to go somewhere." Sophia still had the same attitude as before: "Write back to Martin. As long as there is no problem, we will continue to invest in him."

Vincent thought this was the safest way and said, "Then wait for The Eyes Across the Hill to be released."

"I'm going on vacation soon, so don't bother me unless necessary." Sophia was about to leave.

Vincent reminded: "Change it, don't cripple him."

Sophia didn't care at all: "You don't understand Scott's goodness."

She said no more and went downstairs.

Vincent wrote back to Martin that same day.

After several collaborations, the two sides have a certain basis of trust.

Martin asked Louise for help to start the preliminary planning as soon as possible.

For example, the script.

Screenwriters have a low status in Hollywood, but the script is one of the foundations of a film project.

After Martin obtained the copyright of "Wanted", he immediately contacted Michael Bradt, the original project planner who had participated in the production of two films.

That day, the two made an appointment to meet at Pacific Pictures.

"Hello, Michael, I watched 2 Fast Furious and Little Big Women, they are great movies." Martin re-watched the movies to get to know the screenwriters.

Bradt is in his early thirties and looks more like an actor than a screenwriter. He is very confident and promotes himself: "The two projects I participated in were both commercially successful."

Martin has specifically looked for relevant data. Needless to say, Fast and Furious 2 and The Gremlins didn't do very well at the box office, but they did very well in the home entertainment market. Commercially speaking, both films are successful.

This is also one of the reasons why Martin took the initiative to find Bradt.

Successful people are more likely to succeed.

Martin introduced Louise next to him: "This is Ms. Louise Mayer, the president of Pacific Pictures."

Louise shook hands with Bradt briefly and took the initiative to step aside: "You guys talk."

Bradt said directly: "I am surprised that you bought the copyright so quickly."

Martin didn't beat around the bush: "The original comic is too cult, I don't think it's suitable for a movie. In the comic, the hero Wesley killed all the good people in the world, so it's doomed to fail in a movie. I think your statement about the clear distinction between good and evil makes a lot of sense."

The copyright has already been in the hands of the other party, so Bradt simply elaborated: "The film I envision is a very cool action-gun type, and some scenes are closer to The Matrix, of course, the first one, not the latter two. The crap stuff."

He picked up two cups and placed them on both sides of the coffee table. “So, we can only extract part of the comics’ content and settings, and set them up as two distinct factions of good and evil, the traditional Hollywood model.”

Martin has been recalling the movies he has watched these days. Apart from the curved bullets, the miserable male protagonist and Julie, and a loom, his impression of the rest is very vague.

Some of them seem to be similar to the "bullet time" in The Matrix.

Bradt added: "I discovered this project in the first half of the year. Not only Pacific Pictures, but other companies have also submitted applications. Unfortunately, no one is interested. The original comics are too unknown and too cult. I originally thought that it might take five or ten years, until there are more comic readers, before people will really pay attention to it."

Martin asked about some story ideas. Bradt's ideas were similar to what he remembered, so he simply said, "Michael, I would like to invite you to be the screenwriter of this project and adapt the comics into a script suitable for commercial movies."

Bradt was full of confidence: "Then you have found the right person. I have carefully considered the adaptation in the first half of the year. I will be able to produce a first draft of the script in three months at most."

Martin knows this will require patience: "I want to see a first draft of the script by March."

Brad nodded: "No problem."

The two parties have reached a cooperation intention, and the specific contract negotiations will be handled by professionals.

Louise has a production manager who is very experienced in the business and is responsible for the specific matters of the early planning.

"I suggest that if The Hills Have Eyes is successful, you continue to cooperate with Warner Bros." Louise said, "With me here, at least I can guarantee your normal income."

She is experienced and has worked with Warner for many years, so Martin understands: "Bringing in Warner Bros. is also a guarantee."

Without Louise, he wouldn't dare to do this, the Hollywood Big Six are very deceptive.

Louise said, "The premise is that The Hills Have Eyes can be successful. If you succeed in two films in a row, Warner Bros.'s evaluation of you will naturally go up a level, and they will be happy to continue working with you."

Martin said: "Is the initial investment I made in purchasing the copyright all included in the cost of the film?"

Louise nodded slightly: "Just like before, set up a separate film studio."

Martin thought of the person who would register the studio - Mene.

As long as Mene is given a major supporting role, he shouldn't have a problem.

Martin gathered the materials and asked, "How much is Angelina Jolie's salary now?"

"You want her to star in Fox?" Louise had just heard Martin and Bradt discussing the plot, and it was not difficult to guess: "Jolie and Pitt just filmed Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and she got $1000 million for it."

She thought for a moment and then added, "Tomb Raider 2 failed, and Jolie's box office appeal is questionable."

Martin then asked, "When is Mr. and Mrs. Smith coming out?"

Louise said, "It seems to be next summer, either in May or June, I can't remember."

Martin had a general impression that the turning point of Jolie's Hollywood career was not the Oscar, but Mr. and Mrs. Smith, from which her appeal skyrocketed.

Gossip scandals are sometimes not necessarily bad things for Hollywood stars.

Louise reminded him, "You should think more about the director. The script doesn't mean anything. In the past ten years, I have seen too many good scripts turned into bad movies and bad scripts turned into box office hits. Why do screenwriters have a low status? Because no matter how well the script is written, the words are still words, not images."

Martin asked, “Do you have the right person?”

Louise said as a matter of course: "It's a cool action-gun movie. Michael Bay and the Wachowski brothers are my first choices, but they are not suitable. The salary is too high."

Martin understood the importance of directors to film production: "Send a notice to the Directors Guild... Well, I'll ask Thomas to report the project to WMA. There may be a suitable candidate within the agency. Also, spread some news overseas."

Who the hell remembers who the original director was.

This is an action-packed film, and there is another very crucial position: "Action director or action director."

Louise said, "Tell your old man to go to the Directors Guild."

Martin called Bruce over, and after discussing it together, Bruce took the materials and left.

The next day, the Directors Guild posted a notice on its recruitment bulletin board regarding the recruitment of two positions: action shootout director and action instructor.

Of course, relevant experience is required.

After brief negotiations, Bradt joined the project as screenwriter and was responsible for adapting the script.

In addition, once the project is officially approved, he will be listed as the executive producer with a total remuneration of US$12.

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(End of this chapter)