Perfect Life

Los Angeles, Fox Tower. ◢Щщш.suimeng.lā

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

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

In this time and space, this movie was co-produced by Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. There are six producers together, but the others are all in charge of meetings, and the one who is really in charge of the team from start to finish is 20 Producer John Dyce from Century Fox. Of course, it is the producer and director, James Cameron, who really wields all the power of the entire crew.

And today's meeting involves the post-production soundtrack of "Titanic", a big production that has cost more than three hundred million dollars. Obviously, it's not a small problem. Not only James Cameron was present in person, trying to persuade several others. One producer, four of the other five producers were also present, and the other one appointed his secretary to be present to attend the meeting by telephone... This of course shows that the producers are very concerned about this issue. The attitude of taking things very seriously.

Taking the contacts of 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., John Days and James Cameron, they still got the most detailed information the next day, even if they were people and things in countries far away in the East. intelligence.

About Minghu Culture Company, about the four 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 lace news, even James Cameron doesn't know much about that distant country, but he knows that this young man of only 21 years old can live in such a vast country. With a market of more than a dozen or nearly two billion people reaching this stage, and it has been completed in just a few years, he obviously will not be an ordinary person.

Moreover, the album sold 7 million copies in East Asia and Southeast Asia within 12 days of its release... Even in the Western world, this achievement is really enough to awe everyone.

Even if he can't compare to Jerry Cullen, the king of pop in the whole world, but in Cameron's view, saying he is the king of music in the eastern world is probably not a problem - it is said that his own The records, and the ones he's produced as a producer, have repeatedly set sales records! Even the media in that eastern country thought he was the leader of the music scene there.

Therefore, for his musical attainments, Cameron feels that there is no need to question it.

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

That's even better! It just couldn't be better!

Musicians have a musician's perspective. Cameron has made so many movies before and has come into 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 their own considerations.

Film soundtrack, of course, requires the music created by the musicians, and must serve the entire film. Musicians know this well, but sometimes, they are too stubborn, and they always believe that their ideas are correct. , but there is no way to consider these issues from the lens language of a film director.

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

So...perfect!

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

The problem of the level of musicians in the eastern countries, the production cycle has been delayed repeatedly, and the entry of newbies will inevitably slow down the progress again. In the two countries and two cultural backgrounds, Chinese musicians have different understandings of Western love. · White is already a famous music master, and he cannot be directly denied because his piece is not satisfactory... In short, all kinds of problems.

The meeting went on for thirty minutes, and various questions were thrown by several producers, although Cameron answered them one by one and tried to convince them, but, including the producer who attended the meeting by phone, There is still no one who agrees with Cameron's point of view. The unanimous view is that Jane White is completely suitable and qualified to serve as the soundtrack.

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

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

Although... all 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 battle-hardened old foxes. Everyone patiently listened to his speech, and then the argument was pulled back again...

Changing the soundtrack means a breach of contract, and the new contract plus the liquidated damages from the old contract means overspending, which is not in line with the style of Hollywood producers who are meticulous in their budgeting, and the play has been overrun again and again. , If the existing funds still can't make it, then Cameron will not get even a cent from the studio!

Well, this is Cameron's Achilles heel!

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

To be honest, if it wasn't for their reputation, if it wasn't for 20th Century Fox, who had already invested more than 100 million yuan in the beginning, and didn't insist on finishing the film, they would have lost everything, then maybe this movie There is a real possibility that the play will die in the middle of it!

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

Cameron took several deep breaths, looking extremely furious.

However, the producers were indifferent.

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

When everyone left, John Dyce put his arms around Cameron's shoulders and said, "Jammie, you see, it's not that I'm not helping you, it's this matter that we can't convince them at all!"

Cameron was expressionless.

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

Cameron heard the words and finally turned to look at him.

I didn't say it at the meeting just now. I had to get it at this time. Cameron knew that this would definitely be a new compromise.

However, he knew there was nothing he could do.

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

John Days has traveled in Hollywood for many years, and has rich production experience. He is proficient in negotiating, compromising, and fighting for these things. Among the previous partners, everyone gets along fairly well, and in 20th Century Fox, he is incapable of When he was under the pressure of continuing to invest, it was he who helped to make connections, brought in Time Warner, and finally invested by Warner Bros., which helped the crew complete the shooting.

So, at this moment, although he knew what he was going to face next, he would definitely not make himself too happy, but he still listened - John Dyce sat down beside him and said, "We will not Will change the soundtrack... Yes, Jamie, you know, that's the premise! Jane White has to be the soundtrack! Because that's the only way we don't have to pay liquidated damages, and we can try not to overspend again. Realize your idea."

Cameron was speechless and shrugged, but did not leave.

So John Days continued: "You like this person's song, no problem, he is the contract promoter of our film, and we have a basis for cooperation. Next, I will personally fly to China to talk to me about it. This guy talks, we can buy the rights to his song, we can even get him to work on the soundtrack... Yes, 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 object, he continued: "You know, Jamie, I always support you! We are one, right? Trust me, this is the solution to the problem. You like that guy's music, I know, but, maybe even if we all agreed to let him take over the soundtrack, but he doesn't really have any intention of it?...I know, I know, he took the initiative to send the work Show us that he has ideas for you and for this movie, that's even better! Think about how much Jamie, those Orientals, want to enter our market! To be able to participate To work on a soundtrack for a major production that costs hundreds of millions of dollars is a great opportunity in itself, isn't it?"

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

John Days replied: "Yes, buy it, I believe no problem, we can do it! We can ask them to make a richer arrangement of the song, and then record a better and more perfect version, and then, of course, we can choose to have that singer, that lad's lover, continue to sing, or we can choose to sing it by another singer, which we need to talk about a little bit."

Cameron finally nodded slowly.

After a pause, he stared at the other party and said earnestly: "I demand that the whole movie must use this song as the main melody and main tone, not just as the theme song, that's too abrupt!"

John Days 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! However, this requires us to go a little A little bit of work, no? At least we need to convince the producers to include this song you like into this thing, right?"

Cameron reluctantly nodded again.

Well, if there is no other solution, maybe, this is the way to go.

But after a while, he couldn't help but exhort again: "John, man, it's not that I don't believe you, I just want to remind again, whether Jane or Li, they are both accomplished musicians. So trust 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 perfect the effect of the movie!"

John Days 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.

…………

Still the same client from last time, the executive president of Rolling Stones East Asia, and the general manager of Rolling Stones China, Michael Johnson, after receiving the commission from John Days, he heard the news the next day. , said that he had already been in contact with Li Qian, and the other party agreed to discuss the issue of the right to use the song, but the other party was a little hesitant to take over the soundtrack of the movie "Titanic" - not for any other reason , just because he doesn't seem to have enough time to take over the matter.

For John Days, this is just right.

He immediately said that he was willing to fly to Shuntianfu in person to talk to the other party about the right to use the song, and entrusted Michael Johnson to contact him and make an appointment for a meeting in advance.

Then, of course, after a bit of lobbying, and after his compromise was approved by several other producers, he finally went to see Jane with the piano version of "My-heart-will-go-on." · White, try to overcome this most difficult one of the big difficulties.

However, after listening to this song, Jane White certainly appreciated it greatly, but although John Dyth's proposal was quite euphemistic, Jane White was silent, and she was very concerned about using this song and this melody as a The requirements of the main tone of the whole film soundtrack indicate that you need to consider it.

John Dyess is full of confidence.

In his opinion, since Jane White also appreciates this work so much, then, facing the final promotion of this matter, it will only be the last step - so, through his contact with Michael Johnson on the side of Shuntianfu ~www.wuxiaspot.com~ We soon settled on a meeting time with Li Qian and were ready to fly to China.

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

Suddenly, John Dyce was a little stunned.

He rushed to Jane White's studio, but only got the CD, and was told by the agent that Jane White had already traveled to Europe, and he thought he needed to relax and start the next stage of his new job. All the negotiation with the producer has been entrusted to him to handle.

So, when boarding a plane to China, John Days looked frustrated.

***

Believe me, I'm really trying to write 10,000 words a day, but every time I try, the results tell me that as long as I write 10,000 words a day, I don't want to write a word for at least several days... ...I can't do speed flow!

Ask for votes for consolation! (To be continued.)