Chapter 413 You plot against me, I plot against you
"Zhang, actually you don't have to be like this..."
Eli Roth suddenly patted Zhang Chen on the shoulder.
Alexander Ajia also sent a hug: "Yes, Zhang, we are all in horror movies. Our hearts are extremely strong, but we are not as fragile as you think..."
"Oh my god, is this the legendary Chinese tenderness?"
Everyone started talking, but Zhang Chen was confused.
"Wait, what are you talking about, what's happening?"
Wen Ziren smiled and gave him a hug: "Okay, I know you are afraid that we will be embarrassed, but you really don't need to.
You are willing to provide job opportunities for brothers, we thank you before it is too late..."
After listening to what others said, Zhang Chen finally understood what was going on.
Emotionally, they thought they were tying the two movies together to take care of their egos.
He finally realized that he had gone astray.
Ordinary directors are simply not as productive as him.
It’s pretty good to have one work published a year.
Many of them take several years to produce a work.
Just like Eli Roth, the market response to "House of Skin" was good, and he immediately launched the sequel, but even so, "Hotel of Skin 2" will not be released until two years later.
In other words, the director's window period is very long.
Unlike actors, they can work seamlessly.
It’s not uncommon for a director to get an opportunity to work only once every few years.
Zhang Chen had expected that these horror film masters would look down on movies like "Crocodile" because they were indeed mediocre.
But he thought wrong.
There are indeed directors who choose scripts. If the script is not good, they would rather not film it, but those are all great directors.
In reality, many people have no choice at all. If there is a job opportunity, they must seize it immediately.
Can you believe that the director of "Deadpool" was only paid $250,000?
Why should I accept it even though it is much lower than the market price? Because this is an opportunity, an opportunity to become famous.
Zhang Chen thought that everyone present was a master of horror movies, and they were very capable.
I won’t give in to five buckets of rice.
But he ignored that horror films are a niche genre around the world. The box office generally does not exceed US$20 million, and the director's salary is even less likely to be too high.
But the master of horror movies also needs to eat.
Last time it was "I Saw the Devil", this time it's "Crocodile" and "Dead Silence".
Zhang Chen pretended to be troubled about not being able to find a director, but come on, this is Hollywood.
There is nothing else in Hollywood. There are as many film and television talents from all over the world as there are.
The members of the Huala Gang naturally thought that Zhang Chen was taking care of their self-esteem.
Zhang Chen provided a job opportunity, but since we were friends, he was afraid of hurting their self-esteem, so he deliberately said he was asking for help.
All I can say is that people are really too nice.
"This is a good script, and no director will refuse it. So, next time you have such an opportunity, just say it directly. We can't ask for it, and we won't feel embarrassed..."
In the end, it was Alexander Aga who spoke his mind for everyone.
Others echoed.
Zhang Chen looked at everyone. Should he explain such a beautiful misunderstanding or not?
"Okay, I'm over-worrying. If you don't mind, there will be a steady stream of good projects coming to you in the future..."
In the end, Zhang Chen decided to continue this character design.
But he is not bragging. Cube is positioned as a cult film. In addition to the "Breathless" series, it will also continuously copy other series, such as "The Purge", "Ghost Chronicles" and "Happy Death Day"... …
These are all series films, enough for them to film for several years.
This misunderstanding made Zhang Chen's status in the hearts of the Hua La Gang members improve a lot. Not only can he help other members, but he also knows how to take care of everyone's emotions.
Such a person deserves to be a boss~
……
The next day, Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. is a giant company, of which Warner Bros. Pictures is only one of its subsidiaries, but it is also a giant and one of the six major companies in Hollywood.
The person Zhang Chen was going to meet today was a senior producer from Warner Bros. Pictures.
In the office, producer David Heyman is checking the progress of his staff.
"Is everything going well over there at Harry Potter?"
"It went well. I just came back from there yesterday. The young actors are very honest~" Assistant Jim replied.
David Heyman is the producer of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Hearing this, he nodded.
There was some trouble in "Harry Potter" some time ago. The director was replaced by David Yates. The young actors are no longer satisfied with the fixed salary and are clamoring for a salary increase, and it is a lion's share of the box office. .
Of course the head office would not agree.
Taking a share of the box office is a treatment that only top actors in Hollywood can get.
The success of the "Harry Potter" movie is all due to the strong popularity of the IP and the company's strong promotion capabilities, and it has a rough relationship with the actors~
For this reason, David Heyman came up with a dirty trick and tricked them into changing the box office share to profit share.
Of course, you must get their lawyers in advance.
Hehe, the process is simpler than imagined.
The young actors were very happy and immersed in the fantasy of getting rich instantly. After the movie was released, there were times when they cried.
David Heyman took a sip of coffee and looked at his watch: "By the way, what time is our appointment with that Chinese guy?"
"Ten o'clock."
Jim's tone was relaxed. He also looked at his watch. There were still five minutes until ten o'clock.
"Head, I don't understand why we waste time on such boring things. A Chinese makes science fiction movies. Oh my God, when will Chinese people also make science fiction movies? They make kung fu movies, action movies, etc. The genre is okay, but I think it would be a disaster to make a science fiction film..."
David Heyman also nodded with deep understanding: "I think so too, but I can't help it. The vice president personally told me this, so we have to go even if it's a formality..."
Jim is very good at observing words and expressions. He had already guessed David Hayman's attitude, and what he said just now was deliberately following his words.
Sure enough, David Heyman was not optimistic about this project.
Seeing that there was no one around, Jim suddenly lowered his voice and said: "Boss, can we also..."
Jim said and made a gesture, "Just like the Germans in the past two years~"
In the past few years, due to the adjustment of Germany's tax-free policy, a large number of Germans invested their spare money in Hollywood, and a large number of platter movies were produced, and then they almost lost their pants.
Since then, platter movies have become synonymous with pig-butchering platters.
David Hyman hesitated for a moment, but finally shook his head: "I'm afraid this won't work~. This involves China's official power. If we cheat them, it will probably affect the head office's strategy in China..."< br>
When Jim heard that the consequences were so serious, he shut up. He was an adulterer, not a fool.
If the company's interests in China are really frustrated because of this small profit, not even him, not even David Heyman will be able to take advantage of it.
As he was talking, the pager on the table suddenly rang: "Mr. Heyman, the Chinese guests who made the reservation have arrived."
"Okay, Maria, ask them to wait for me in the reception room, I'll be out right away~"
After releasing the intercom button, David Heyman stood up, adjusted his tie, and walked out of the door first. Behind him, Jim hurriedly followed.
Reception room
The two parties met. After Zhang Chen and others introduced themselves, Jim also introduced everyone on Warner's side.
David Heyman said very gentlemanly: "Oh, young Chinese director, I know you, your "Shark Beach" and "Taken" are very good, especially "Taken", which is loved by all men. Genre film..."
David Heyman acted very approachable, without the airs of a big producer at all. When he spoke, he also imitated Liang Jiahui's classic moves in the movie.
The three people opposite smiled and Zhang Chen said: "Thank you~"
"Okay, everyone's time is precious, let's talk about your project~"
Seeing David Heyman get straight to the point, Zhang Chen was so happy that he didn't need to continue the pleasantries.
""Pacific Rim" is a science fiction film about mechas and monsters. This is the script and related information..."
While Zhang Chen was speaking, Dai An distributed the information to everyone.
On Warner's side, there were not only David Heyman and Jim, but also people from the evaluation department, as many as seven or eight people.
Everyone received the information package and opened it, and the first thing they saw was the concept rendering.
A huge robot, dragging a boat as a weapon, opposite him is a huge monster with a ferocious face.
Next to the robots and monsters are high-rise buildings. Obviously, these two are very huge guys.
“A bit interesting~”
This was David Heyman's first reaction when he saw the concept drawing.
Continuing to scroll through, the second picture shows a dark coastline. Three huge mechas suspended by helicopters are suspended in the air. Under the light, the huge metal texture reveals a strong oppression.
Turning over again, the third picture is a view from above - a huge mecha is crossing over the head.
First person perspective, this is very immersive.
Keep turning, the scenes of mechas and monsters fighting...
Seeing this, David Heyman and Jim next to him looked at each other. This Chinese project did not seem to be as unbearable as they imagined.
"The background of the story is set around 2050. A space-time wormhole appeared on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, and extraterrestrial monsters invaded the earth through the wormhole.
The first monster appeared in San Francisco. Planes, artillery and tanks fought for three days but failed to kill the monster. Finally, nuclear bombs were used to kill the monster. However, San Francisco was also seriously polluted and could no longer be inhabited.
Then every once in a while, there will be a monster invasion, sometimes one, sometimes two. China, Japan, and Sri Lanka have all been invaded by monsters, and Japan was even destroyed...
Although humans still won in the end, it was a tragic victory, and because nuclear bombs were used to eliminate the monsters, that area could no longer be inhabited. This is how Japan was destroyed..."
Zhang Chen told the background of the story, and someone in the evaluation team was holding back a laugh. Apparently he understood the feud between China and Japan, and even in the movie they wanted to destroy each other. Zhang Chen continued: "Human beings realized that they could no longer use nuclear weapons to deal with monsters, and began to look for alternative methods. In the end, countries reached a consensus that physical means could only be used.
Since then, countries have begun to put aside their prejudices, share resources, and start making their own monsters-mechas.
The world's resources began to gather towards the most developed countries in the Pacific Rim. Various technical problems were overcome one by one. With the sharing of technology, each company's mechas were gradually rolled off the production line.
Since then, in the battle between humans and monsters, humans have gradually gained the upper hand, but there are exceptions. One time, the one who came through the wormhole turned into a third-level high-level monster.
The combat power of level three monsters is not comparable to that of level two and level one monsters in the past.
Mechas from China, the United States and Russia went into battle at the same time to attack the monsters, but they were almost killed by the monsters.
In the end, the monster was killed, but most of the Three Kingdoms' mechas were also damaged, and almost all the pilots died.
Binbin was one of the Chinese pilots and the only mecha pilot to survive that battle.
In that battle, although the monster was killed, it finally broke through the coastline and entered the interior.
When the monster died, its body happened to fall near the zoo, and its poisonous blood contaminated the animals and staff in the zoo.
Please...you...collect_6_9_书_吧 (六//九//书//吧)
The monster's blood was poisonous, and a large number of contaminated animals and staff died. Only a young panda survived, but it was also seriously injured.
Binbin lost his partner in that battle and was disheartened and chose to quit the front line. In order to make up for his inner uneasiness, he took on the task of taking care of the panda and became its keeper.
The relationship between one person and one animal is getting better, and Binbin named the red panda Honghuang.
After being infected by the poisonous blood, Honghuang gradually developed some unusual mutations, becoming increasingly larger and more difficult to control.
The country felt that this was an opportunity to reveal the secrets of the monsters and launch research into the ancient world.
As the only person Honghuang cares about, Binbin also joined the project team to cooperate in controlling Honghuang.
With the mutation, Honghuang became more and more violent. Binbin still tried to communicate with it, but many times, he needed to use the mecha to violently subdue him.
Gradually, Honghuang got used to interacting with Binbin's mecha.
At this time, more advanced monsters came to the earth through the wormhole again, and all mankind's most advanced mechas were destroyed.
In desperation, the governments of various countries could only order the decommissioned mechas from the rear to temporarily take over, and Binbin happened to be among them.
The retired mecha was also no match for the monsters and was mostly destroyed. At this time, Honghuang happened to mutate again and finally became an adult.
The adult body has a strong sense of territoriality. Honghuang sensed the monster's breath and appeared near the battlefield.
When the two monsters met, they were extremely jealous.
The monster abandons other mechas and fights with Anhuang.
But Honghuang was also no match for the monster. In the end, Honghuang used the tacit understanding he developed while playing with Binbin's mecha to defeat the monster. However, during the battle, Honghuang also fell into a time and space wormhole~"
What Zhang Chen is talking about is the second version of the script, which has been optimized in terms of rationality compared to the first version, and has strengthened the growth lines with Binbin and Honghuang.
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, no one in Warner across the way spoke.
David Heyman looked at his assistant again. These Chinese people were much smarter than they thought.
"You are very smart. The design of the mecha is obviously to take advantage of the popularity of "Transformers"..."
David Heyman felt like he saw through the essence of the film at a glance.
"Not only that, from the design of Honghuang, it can be seen that you want to create a giant beast that belongs to China, just like King Kong in the United States and Godzilla in Japan~"
As soon as David Heyman finished speaking, the staff behind him immediately showed expressions of relief.
When they heard the background of the story just now, they felt a sense of déjà vu, and it turned out to be like this.
"Yes, you are right. We want to ride on the popularity of "Transformers" and also want to create our own behemoth..."
Zhang Chen was not embarrassed at all by being exposed, that was what he thought.
Even if David Heyman doesn't say it, he's going to say it.
David Heyman did not express his opinion, but said to the people behind him: "What do you think?"
Someone raised their hand: "I'm curious. I saw the conceptual design drawings of mechas and monsters in the information. Why are there no pandas?"
Zhang Chen shrugged, showing some helplessness: "Because we haven't finalized the setting of the panda yet.
The giant beast should be ferocious, but the international image of pandas has always been cute. Our design team has not yet decided which style we should adopt, or a combination of both..."
His answer made several staff members across from him smile. Pandas really have such an image. They are naive, as if they are harmless to humans and animals, like a fool~
But if you really think of it as a fool, you would be wrong. The name panda is actually ambiguous, and the correct name should be panda.
There are some more detailed settings that Zhang Chen did not mention. The prehistoric appearance in the movie is not a reference to the current giant panda, but the more ancient Basin giant panda.
The Bastard's giant panda was larger and more ferocious than the current giant panda.
The so-called iron-eating beast is actually the giant panda.
David Heyman felt that there was nothing wrong with the design of this project, so he asked about other aspects.
"What about the budget? What is the budget for this project?"
"One hundred million dollars."
David Heyman thought about it and realized that US$100 million was not high to make a science fiction film, but it should be enough for a project like this.
"How do you hope to work with Warner?"
"Of the US$100 million investment, we have reserved 25% of the investment share for Warner, and Warner is responsible for the global distribution of the film~"
David Heyman frowned, a 25% share is 25 million US dollars, which is not a small sum.
"I'm sorry, but I think it's a risk to invest 25 million US dollars in a Chinese science fiction project, and it's run by a team without any science fiction experience.
I have two options here:
First, the production team is handed over to an experienced Hollywood team, and the leading actors are replaced by white actors. Warner can help recommend this.
Second, if the above conditions cannot be met, then Warner is only willing to take over the distribution business~"
David Heyman's attitude is very strong. He not only wants to take advantage, but also doesn't want to take any risks.
Assistant Jim was also assisting: "Yes, China has never had a successful science fiction film. I think it is more feasible to replace the director and actors with white actors..."
Unexpectedly, Zhang Chen shook his head: "This is impossible. First of all, this is a Chinese project. What we want to do is a local Chinese science fiction film.
Only with our participation can this film be made into a co-production and enjoy the benefits of a co-production.
This is the bottom line!
So the creative team must have the final say.
Even if we don't have you, we can still complete it ourselves. Requiring Warner to invest 25% is nothing more than hoping that everyone's interests will be consistent. If you think this is taking a risk, then we can find other companies. I think in addition to Warner, the other five companies must have Those who are interested in the Chinese market..."
Zhang Chen's tough attitude immediately made David Heyman frown. He didn't expect that the opponent would be so tough and even use the other five to suppress him.
The Huaxia Market is indeed a piece of cake that the six major powers covet.
After the WTO, although China must open its own film market, it is others who have the final say on who can enter and who cannot.
Seeing that the negotiations were reaching a deadlock, Jim immediately changed the subject and said, "Let's talk about the special effects part. How are you going to do the special effects? The biggest selling point of this film is the special effects. I suggest leaving it to Warner to complete it. If so, We may consider investing appropriately..."
Zhang Chen knew this was another trap.
Jim's intention is obvious, that is to outsource all the special effects to Warner. If this is the case, then it is not just Warner who says how much money is spent.
In the end, the little money they invested may be all earned from the special effects. Isn't that just a waste of money?
These guys from Hollywood really eat people without spitting out their bones.
Seeing that Zhang Chen was silent, Jim was afraid that something might change, so he continued to persuade: "After all, you are just a Chinese company. I think Warner knows more about special effects than you do."
It sounds reasonable, but in fact it's all bullshit.
Zhang Chen did not speak this time, but winked at Drizzt next to him.
Drizzt also realized that it was time to show his value. He cleared his throat and said: "Sorry, I am the person in charge of the special effects of this movie. I will answer your questions about the special effects.
First of all, we are not planning to cover all special effects, but will use subcontracting to different special effects companies according to functions, scenes, and difficulty levels.
It has been initially determined that Industrial Light and Magic will be responsible for the main part, and another 3 to 5 special effects companies will be found to be responsible for the remaining parts..."
As soon as Jim heard what the other person said, he knew that he was knowledgeable. It would probably be impossible to make a fortune from special effects.
David Heyman was a little annoyed when he saw that the opponent failed to make any progress in two consecutive proposals, and Warner did not take any advantage.
If the vice president hadn't personally told him this, he might have started cursing by now.
"Okay, I have a general understanding of this project. Warner needs to do an internal evaluation, which will take about ten to fifteen days. If there is good news, Warner will notify you..."
David Heyman is ready to see him off.
If you want to make money while working with Warner, there is nothing like this in the world.
He planned to show off the opponent for a few days and kill the opponent's arrogance.
Zhang Chen and the others stood up and prepared to leave.
Zhang Chen complained in Chinese: "It seems that there is no chance, Diane, what date do we have with Universal?"
"The day after tomorrow, Boss~"
"Oh, then go back and prepare yourself~"
After they left, a member of Warner's evaluation team suddenly approached David Heyman: "Mr. Heyman, I just heard them say in Chinese that they had an appointment with Universal the day after tomorrow..."
"Are you sure?"
"Sure, they just said it in Chinese, and I happen to know Chinese~"
David Heyman was silent for two seconds: "Okay, I know about this. In addition, I ask you to keep it secret for the time being. By the way, what is your name?"
"XXX~"
"Okay, I remember your name."
David Heyman left with his assistant, and the man was secretly happy. He seemed to have just grasped an opportunity for success.
Outside Warner's headquarters, the three of them waited until they returned to their car. Only then did Diane dare to ask: "Boss, do you think our little trick just now will work?"
Zhang Chen shook his head: "I don't know either, but when I told the background of the story just now, I said that Japan was destroyed. There was a Chinese guy behind him who smiled, which means that he at least understands Chinese and Japanese culture. I bet he also understands Chinese. ~”
(End of chapter)