Chapter 551 Interstellar
Wang Shu is meeting with Paramount staff at the moment.
"Shu, we have a project here. I wonder if you are interested?" someone from Paramount said.
“What project?” Wang Shu was confused.
“A science fiction film project.” The person from Paramount answered with a smile.
"This project was originally led by Steven Spielberg, but recently Steven moved his studio DreamWorks to Disney Pictures, so a new director is now needed to direct the film."
When Wang Shu heard this, he suddenly felt familiar and quickly reacted.
Steven Spielberg directed this science fiction film project. It was originally his project, but then because Steven left for Disney, Paramount’s science fiction film project changed directors
Isn't this science fiction movie project "Interstellar"?
Of course, it is not "Interstellar" yet, but its predecessor.
The background premise of the classic science fiction film "Interstellar" was conceived by filmmaker Linda Obst and theoretical physicist Kip S. Thorne.
The two collaborated in the 1997 film "Contact" and got to know each other after being introduced by astronomer Carl Sagan.
Then, the two conceived two plans based on Thorne’s results in scientific research work.
Subsequently, the magical topic of space exploration attracted the interest of filmmaker Steven Spielberg in directing.
As a result, development of the film began in June 2006.
At that time, Spielberg and Paramount Pictures announced plans for an eight-page science fiction film to be written by Linda Obst and Kip Thorne.
In March 2007, Jonathan Nolan was hired to write the script for the film.
This Jonathan Nolan is the younger brother of Christopher Nolan.
Right now, the project is on hold due to Spielberg leaving for Disney.
It was not until around 2012 that this project began to advance again.
In the original timeline, Christopher Nolan was confirmed as the film's director in 2013.
He was selected as the director of "Interstellar" and starred in "The Dark Knight" in 2008, "Inception" in 2010, and "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012. success.
The success of these movies allowed Paramount to see Christopher Nolan’s ability to direct science fiction movies.
But now, there is a director who can also make science fiction movies, has won an Oscar for Best Director, and can write scripts.
Paramount Pictures then set its sights on Wang Shu and sent people to negotiate with him.
"A science fiction movie?" Wang Shu showed interest when he heard this.
When the people from Paramount saw this, they immediately smiled and roughly explained the script.
After hearing this, Wang Shu pretended to frown and said: "To be honest, I am very interested in this project, but if I am the director, I hope that I can create a script based on my ideas."
In the original timeline, the script for "Interstellar" had been largely created due to four years of hard work by Steven Steelberg.
However, some details and context in this script are different from the version directed by Christopher Nolan.
When Christopher Nolan was asked to direct the film in 2013, he expressed to Paramount and Warner that he wanted to co-write the script with his brother Jonathan Nolan based on his ideas.
Paramount and Warner agreed to this matter through discussions and decided that Christopher Nolan would direct it.
Subsequently, Christopher Nolan based the original script, added his own ideas to it, and worked with his brother to come up with the latest version of the script.
If Wang Shu wants to make Christopher Nolan's version of "Interstellar," then he will have to propose revisions to the script.
Otherwise, the story of the original script will be different from Christopher Nolan's version.
As for breaking away from Paramount and leading the production of the "Interstellar" movie on its own, that's pure nonsense.
Although this movie was released in 2014, development began in 2006.
The rough script was available in 2007, but it has been in the process of being polished.
If he directs an "Interstellar" on his own, Paramount will look at the script in its hands and its head will be full of question marks.
I want to say, why are there many similarities between your movie and the script I have written and polished for many years?
At that time, there will inevitably be wrangling, questions, doubts, etc.
After all, in terms of time, Paramount had already started development in 2006.
Any time Wang Shu does it later than this time, he will be suspected and questioned.
As for "Interstellar" being released before 2006
It can only be said that at this time, the domestic film and television industry did not have the corresponding special effects technology, and the Chinese film with the highest box office in the whole year And it’s just “The Golden Armor” that broke 200 million.
There is no problem if I want to shoot "Interstellar". I invest more than ten or two billion. First, I went to Iceland to shoot on location. Later, I took it to the United States and handed it over to an American special effects company for production.
That’s it.
It’s just.
It was released in theaters and was a box office hit, setting a record and earning 300 million.
It was also a hit when it was released overseas, earning 200 million yuan.
A total of 500 million yuan.
In other words, a movie with an investment of more than 10 to 20 billion, even if the domestic box office is a hit, and the overseas revenue will only be about 40 to 500 million.
Coupled with other income, it would be worth five or six billion.
And this is still under the premise of optimism.
If you are not optimistic, you might invest more than 10 to 20 billion and get only 2 to 3 billion in return.
Investment and return are not proportional.
Anyone can tell that this kind of project has never taken off in China at this time.
Since it cannot be produced in China before 2006, if Wang Shu has an idea for this movie after 2006, he can only cooperate with Paramount.
"Create a script based on your ideas?" Paramount staff were stunned when they heard this.
Then I thought that Wang Shu himself is a director who can write and direct himself. Whether it is "Time Traveler", "Terror Cruise" or "Travel to Taipei", they are all written by him himself. Script written.
It is reasonable to ask for scripts to be created from his ideas.
However, for the other party to make this request, it is obviously not satisfied with the existing story.
The Paramount staff thought for a while and said, "Shu, I can't agree to this directly. I need to discuss it with the company before I can give you an answer."
This person also Understand that although Wang Shu's request was to create the script according to his ideas, the extension was that the crew had to obey the other party's arrangements.
In Hollywood, only a few big directors can make movies according to their own ideas. Most directors just follow the script to make the movie and do not have the right to modify the script.
Whatever the script looks like, that’s how it should be shot.
Wang Shu’s request is already a treatment only a great director can have.
However, the other party is the youngest Oscar-winning director in history, so he is indeed qualified to make such a request.
"Okay." Wang Shu also knew that the other party could not make the decision, so he smiled and nodded.
If it was for domestic entertainment, his suggestion would be nothing at all. Because domestic entertainment is a director-centered system, even if there is a script, the movie is actually shot according to the director's ideas.
Many times in the end, the finished film differs greatly from the original script.
But Hollywood is a producer-centered system. Directors need to strictly follow the script and cannot shoot according to their own ideas.
He is really interested in the movie "Interstellar".
If nothing else, let’s just say that director Chen Kaige and Chen Da publicly praised this movie in front of everyone.
Wang Shu wanted to know, if he had made this movie, would Director Chen have given it a thumbs up?
In the afternoon, Wang Shu received a call from Elizabeth Fox.
"Shu, does Paramount also want to participate in the co-production?" Elizabeth asked.
Wang Shu was confused when he heard the words, and asked in surprise: "Where did you hear about it?"
Elizabeth heard Wang Shu's surprised tone and was a little confused. She said: "Everyone. There's news about your meeting with someone from Paramount."
Wang Shu suddenly realized when he heard this. As the saying goes, the wind is the rain. This morning, I just met with people from Paramount. Unexpectedly, the news would come out in the afternoon.
Not to mention the news, I didn’t expect that Paramount also came to ask for participation in a co-production...
Pure rumors.
"Nothing." Wang Shu explained, "Although I met with people from Paramount today, the conversation was not about a co-production."
"It is not a co-production. "What's that?" Elizabeth asked doubtfully.
Wang Shu smiled and said: "Yili, I can only assure you that it is not a co-production. As for the specific matter, you will know when the time comes."
"When the time comes, I will "You know?" Elizabeth listened to Pin's words and then said tentatively, "Not long ago, Steven took his DreamWorks to Disney. Paramount has a science fiction film that has been in preparation for three or four years. It seems to have been put on hold because of this."
"Science fiction movies."
"Shu, you happen to be good at making science fiction movies."
"Paramount is looking for you just for this reason. This movie project?”
Wang Shu fell silent upon hearing this. After all, there are many smart people in the world.
Unexpectedly, the other party guessed the movie "Interstellar" without even mentioning it. He just kept guaranteeing that it was not a co-production.
Seeing that Wang Shu was silent, Elisabeth understood what was going on, and then smiled and said: "Shu, the matter of Steven taking his DreamWorks to Disney is a big deal in Hollywood. , many people know about it.”
“Similarly, many people also know about the shelving of Steven’s previous science fiction film project with Paramount.”
This was said. Tell Wang Shu that this matter is not difficult to guess.
Anyone with a little knowledge of the situation can deduce it.
Although Elizabeth has deduced it, Wang Shu will not admit it.
Not to mention that this matter has not yet been revealed, but to say that this matter has been discussed beforehand and the exact answer comes from him, doesn’t it seem that he can’t wait to show off his cooperation with Paramount, one of the eight major Hollywood film companies? matter?
"Eli, I can only say that I did meet with people from Paramount today, but we didn't talk about co-production." Wang Shu said.
“I know.” Elizabeth smiled and said, “Shu, since it’s not the tree, then I won’t disturb your work.”
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Wang Shu answered.
After finishing the phone call with Elizabeth, Wang Shu immediately turned on his computer and saw the news of his meeting with people from Paramount.
"Is it the news released by Paramount?" Wang Shu pondered.
His meeting with people from Paramount today was not secret, but it was impossible for them to meet one person and then be posted online.
Especially since the Paramount staff member he met did not have the word "Paramount" engraved on his forehead, and the other person was not famous. How could anyone know at a glance that the other person was from Paramount?
Couldn’t it be someone from Warner or Fox?
It can be seen that nine times out of ten, the news was deliberately released by Paramount.
As for the reason why Paramount did this.
Did the other party also have contacts with other directors to exert pressure?
No matter what, the matter has come to an end and Wang Shu is too lazy to think about it.
The movie "Interstellar" should be made if there is a chance, but if there is no chance, forget it.
Don’t force it.
At the same time, the matter is also being discussed online.
“Damn it, is Hollywood so optimistic about Director Wang?”
Some netizens posted on the forum with such a title.
Then the content reads: "This co-production directed by Wang is known to have already been produced by Warner Bros. and Fox, both of which are one of the eight major film companies in Hollywood."
"Now , another one of the top eight in Hollywood, Paramount, is here."
"How optimistic are you about Director Wang?"
"Bullshit!"
"I can only say that Director Wang is really bullshit!"
Some netizens also posted: "We already know that Warner and Fox are involved, and now Paramount is here. This All three are one of the eight major film and television companies in Hollywood.”
“Tsk, tsk, with the distribution capabilities of these three companies, the actors who can participate in this co-production are definitely top-notch actors who can enter the international stage. Resources!”
Many netizens also know that whether a movie covers a wide area and the number of screens it occupies depends entirely on the distribution capabilities of the distributor.
Now, in addition to Warner and Fox, there is another Paramount, which has shown that overseas distribution capabilities are not bad.
If it cooperates with several more overseas distribution companies in the future, its overseas distribution capabilities can reach a higher level.
As long as a movie has strong distribution capabilities, it can still achieve good box office results even if the quality is mediocre.
This matter was discussed on the Internet, but Wang Shu received a call from Han Sanping.
“Does Paramount also want to participate in the co-production?” Han Sanping asked.
He also got the news and saw that the rumors were true. He thought that Paramount would contact Wang Shu first, and then Wang Shu would take the lead in negotiations.
The same way Fox got involved at the time.
"It's nothing, people outside are spreading rumors." Wang Shu knew that Han Sanping didn't want too many film and television companies to get involved, so he explained.
"What's going on?" Han Sanping looked slightly stunned when he heard Wang Shu's denial.
Wang Shu explained with a smile: "Paramount has a movie project in hand and wants to cooperate with me."
"Ah?" Han Sanping was surprised when he heard this.
(End of this chapter)