Chapter 175 The Best Actor and the Best Actress
Cao Yang promised to return to China in three days, and Fox Searchlight really couldn't sit still.
They contacted Cao Yang again and said they wanted to buy the film adaptation rights of "Juno".
Then make an appointment to talk.
To show their attention, Fox Searchlight invited the production manager and a vice president of the company.
Regarding the film adaptation rights, Cao Yang put forward several requirements:
The first is the film adaptation rights sold to Fox Searchlight's "Juno". The project must be filmed within one year, otherwise the adaptation rights will be unconditionally withdrawn.
Second, the movie must be released within two years, otherwise it will be a breach of contract, and not only will the adaptation rights be withdrawn, but there will also be corresponding liquidated damages.
Third, the adaptation of the script cannot deviate from the main line of the novel.
If the above conditions are met, Cao Yang will only receive 15% of the global box office and dividends from the film's subsequent peripherals as copyright fees.
Another option is that if one and two remain unchanged, Cao Yang can write the script and name himself as producer or supervisor.
If he chooses this, Cao Yang will receive 20% of the global box office and dividends from subsequent peripherals of the film.
This movie has neither big scenes nor special effects. It doesn't even need to hire big-name actors, and the production cost is very low.
The risk taken by Fox Searchlight is not big, and Cao Yang believes that they will not refuse.
Fox Searchlight also wanted to bargain, but Cao Yang refused directly.
"Gentlemen, I will return to China the day after tomorrow. Before that, I have to audition for a new movie. I don't have time to talk to you here, so this is my bottom line. The two choices are not harsh. You can either You can choose to decline.”
After looking at the two senior executives of Fox Searchlight, Cao Yang continued.
"I think you should have noticed that my second novel has sold very well and has a large base of young people, which may be converted into movie audiences.
Moreover, "Juno" is a very controversial story, so controversy will arouse widespread discussion. This is probably why you value it. ”
The two Fox Searchlight executives looked at each other. This condition was a bit beyond their expectations. Their bottom line was 13%, and Cao Yang was to be the producer.
To put it simply, I want to use Cao Yang's current popularity to promote this movie and add an extra layer of insurance to the movie.
But Cao Yang just won the Oscar for Best Screenplay. If he wrote the script himself, it would be a big publicity stunt.
They could consider it, but they couldn't agree immediately.
So, they said they would go back to the company to discuss and would reply to Cao Yang as soon as possible.
Cao Yang naturally has no objection. To him, it doesn't matter whether it can be sold or not. What matters to him is the two figures of 15% and 20%.
This thing is a "precedent". With this, next time we talk about other adaptations, there will be "trace" to follow, and others will also take this into consideration.
Regarding the casting of "District 9", Depp has been chosen as the protagonist. The commander will choose a Chinese, and Cao Yang will be directly responsible.
The remaining three main roles, one of which is the father-in-law of the male protagonist, can be cast by Colombia. Depp's 40% off salary will allow the budget to be a little more, so he should be able to find a golden supporting role with a good reputation.
Another thoughtful leader among aliens, originally Columbia wanted to use all computer special effects and then find someone to dub it.
However, after discussing with Cao Yang later, I felt that using a headgear combined with computer special effects would be faster and cheaper.
Then open the mold and make it.
And in this case, it is necessary to hire an actor. Although he does not show his face, he can be regarded as one of the male protagonists.
So Cao Yang took the opportunity to ask for this role and prepared to find an actor in China - even if he didn't show his face, as one of the nominal protagonists, he was definitely in demand.
Colombia is a faceless character, and it doesn't matter who they look for.
There is also a gang leader. Since this is a movie that reflects racial discrimination, of course the black uncle is indispensable, so the gang leader is very suitable.
Nowadays, it is not as exaggerated as in later generations. Many movies have black people as villains.
This gang leader is not actually a villain. He also saved the protagonist, although his purpose was not pure.
Cao Yang initially wanted to shoot in Johannesburg, South Africa. Shooting there was cheap and could be done on-site, but considering the chaotic situation there, he hesitated for a while.
In his opinion, the story could be set in South Africa, but it doesn't necessarily have to be shot there.
Like several of his films, the story takes place in Hong Kong, but it was never filmed there.
There are some places in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, that are very suitable.
In addition, North Africa, which is close to Europe, will also work.
After Colombia learned of Cao Yang's concerns, they reassured him that South Africa ended its apartheid system as early as 1994 and is now relatively stable.
Moreover, Colombia has partners in South Africa and is very powerful, so there is no need to worry about security issues.
He also advised Cao Yang that if a world-famous director like him goes to film locally, the local government will only welcome and protect him and will never cause any trouble.
Absolutely no trouble is allowed.
Well, Cao Yang really doesn’t know much about South Africa.
But there are people who understand.
This year's Oscar winner, Charlize Theron, took the initiative to chat with Cao Yang for a while at the Oscar dinner and exchanged contact information.
Charlize Theron's father is French and her mother is German. She was born in South Africa and grew up there. She should know South Africa very well. So, Cao Yang called Theron and asked about things in South Africa, mainly about security.
He didn't want to be kidnapped and blackmailed by gangsters there.
In a chaotic country, literally anything can happen.
"Would you like to shoot your new movie in South Africa?"
"Yes, there is a relevant plot in the movie, and it would be more realistic to go there to shoot the scene." Cao Yang replied.
"Don't worry, the security there is pretty good now, especially in Johannesburg. You don't need to worry too much."
Charlize Theron smiled on the other end of the phone and replied: "In addition, because I won the Oscar for Best Actress, President Mandela personally called me and invited me to come back to China to promote the movie and will also meet with me.
I can tell him about this at that time. If a world-class director goes to South Africa to make a movie, he will definitely be very happy, and he will probably send you an invitation personally. ”
"Mandela?"
Cao Yang was a little confused. Wasn't he already the president of South Africa?
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Charlize Theron solved Cao Yang's doubts in one sentence.
"The current President of South Africa, Mbeki, has served as Mandela's deputy for many years."
Okay, got it.
Finally, Theron asked jokingly, "Director Cao Yang, since your new movie is about South Africa, as a South African, are there any suitable roles? I can make a guest appearance."
Then, he added with a smile, "My salary is quite high now, but don't worry, if it's just a guest appearance, I can do it for free. I don't charge any money."
It's obviously a show of goodwill. Even if you win the Best Actress Award, you still have to lower your posture in front of a big director.
Cao Yang thought for a while and realized that there was indeed a character with a small role and few appearances. She was the hero's wife.
He originally wanted Anne Hathaway to make a cameo, but Charlize Theron would certainly be better.
Hey, in this way, the new Oscar winner and best actress will be gathered in the movie. This is also a big publicity stunt.
It's a pity that Mark Ruffalo, the Oscar-winning supporting actor, is too young. Otherwise, having him be the father-in-law of the leading actor would have had more publicity advantages.
Before Cao Yang returned to China, Colombia quickly identified the actor's father-in-law and the gang leader, two actors with more important roles.
The gang leader chose Samuel L. Jackson, the man known as M-F-Man, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Avengers.
Even though he was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1995, and won the Berlin Best Actor at the 48th Berlin Film Festival in 1998, the salary was really cheap.
If it were a white actor, with this achievement, the minimum salary would be 5 million, but this guy's current salary is only 1 million.
Americans are like that. They say they can't be racially discriminatory, and they engage in affirmative action from time to time... But in real life, discrimination is everywhere, that is, they don't shout it out, it has long been tacitly understood.
You must know that Samuel L. Jackson had appeared in many popular movies before 2004.
Like "Pulp Fiction", "Die Hard 3", "A Time to Kill", "Dangerous Liaisons", "Ace vs. Ace", "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace", "The Undead", "Star Wars: The Prequel" 2: Attack of the Clones", "Kill Bill 2", etc.
He was actually quite unlucky. Later, he signed a dozen movie contracts with Marvel at one time, and his salary was a little more than 1 million...
When he played the role of Director of SHIELD in "Avengers", his salary was still more than 1 million. He was booked into so many movies at once. I don't know how the salary problem was solved later.
The actor's father-in-law, Columbia chose Ian McKellen, who is Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" and Eric Magneto in "X-Men".
In this way, all the main roles in "District 9" were selected except for Chinese.
The leading actor is Oscar-winning actor Depp.
The titular heroine is new Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron.
The actor's father-in-law, the leader of the multinational syndicate, is Ian McKellen.
The gang leader was Samuel L. Jackson.
This lineup has already surpassed the original "District 9" by nine streets. The original "District 9" did not have a single well-known actor.
The director is also Cao Yang, who is hot in Hollywood these days. The original director was still an unknown person when filming "District 9".
No matter how you look at it, as long as the filming is not bad, the box office will definitely exceed the original work.
Just when Cao Yang was about to return to China, Fox Searchlight came over again for consultation.
It can be seen that they really want the rights to adapt "Juno".
This time, I wasn't too polite. I gave Cao Yang 18% of the global box office and subsequent peripheral dividends, but Cao Yang was required to write the script and serve as producer and supervisor.
Cao Yang refused.
Seeing that Cao Yang was unwilling, Fox Searchlight changed another method of cooperation.
It can give 20% of the global box office and subsequent peripheral dividends. In addition to asking Cao Yang to write the script and serve as the producer, Cao Yang also needs to be the director and direct the film.
Cao Yang hesitated a little. Isn't this embarrassing? I have many projects on hand right now, so how can I have time to direct "Juno"?
(End of chapter)