Chapter 1107 Dare to take action
Edgar hung up the phone, sat there, and thought about it carefully.
In conversation, it is naturally impossible to directly hit the key point. Instead, we can grasp fragments in casual daily life, look for clues from seemingly ordinary events, and finally find signs of an approaching storm.
Kitcher and Mangold just showed up at Sony Columbia. Although no one knew the purpose of their trip; they came out less than five minutes after entering the conference room.
The atmosphere is slightly weird.
Then, Mangold hung up on Edgar.
If - just a hypothesis, if Sony Columbia CEO Michael Linton regards Anson as an important bargaining chip, containing Anson is equivalent to containing Amy Pascal.
So, is it possible to use "Walking with Songs" as a tool?
After all, "Walking with Songs" is not a high-profile project.
Even further, maybe Michael Linton is not optimistic about the "Walking with Songs" project at all. He does not think this project is worth investing in, and is trying to cut it off and further squeeze Amy Pascal's hands. a bargaining chip; and Anson is just an excuse to launch?
If you think about it seriously, the project "Walking with Songs" has been going around for ten years but has never entered the actual production stage. It is reasonable for Michael to choose this place to create a situation where Amy "repeatedly makes wrong decisions"; and by the way, it is a trap Anson gave it a try and took a little revenge.
Things are a little interesting.
Edgar thought he would agree with Michael, and persuaded Anson to get out of this project that was uncertain.
However, after speculating on such a possibility, Edgar instead sided with Anson.
The fundamental reason is that Michael is a businessman. His consideration of the movie is entirely in the project manager mode, analyzing some objective conditions on paper and judging success or failure numerically, but he does not know much about the movie itself.
The advantage of Michael Linton is that he can discuss matters objectively and rationally. Running a top company requires such calmness and professionalism.
The disadvantage is that I know nothing about movies. Movies are not numbers. According to paper analysis, there are countless cases where movies that should be successful fail on the street and even their own mothers don’t recognize them. There are indeed certain laws in the movie market, but The root soil of regularity is still the movie itself.
The key point is to balance the relationship between the two.
Edgar believed in Michael's judgment, after all, he himself tended to this side; but Edgar believed in Anson's intuition more, especially after experiencing the incident of "Princess Diaries 2", he thought that he should Trust Anson.
So, what should they do?
despair. despair. despair.
Edgar tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his brain running at high speed, and he quickly looked around among different possibilities and different plans.
Then Edgar picked up the phone receiver and started to get busy.
After making a series of calls, Edgar finally dialed the number.
Everything is as expected——
No answer.
Edgar was not surprised, but further confirmed his suspicion.
Edgar dialed a second time, and this time it simply went to voicemail.
Edgar didn't leave a message, hung up, and then called a third time.
Finally, the call was connected.
"Hey, Edgar, I'm sorry, I'm driving." Mangold's voice trembled slightly, with hesitation and panic. He obviously didn't know how to deal with such a situation. He tried his best to smile but still ended up with a slightly trembling voice. Revealing a hint of uneasiness.
On the contrary, Edgar seemed particularly relaxed, "Are you still in that tunnel?" Where in Los Angeles can there be such a long tunnel and you can't find the exit in thirty minutes?
In fact, Mangold and Kitcher were still in the underground parking lot of Sony Columbia. The two of them scratched their hair for a long time without thinking.
Mangold chuckled dryly, "No, no. I came out early."
Edgar had no intention of exposing Mangold and went straight to the point, "Director, if I remember correctly, you have discussed cooperation with the production company, but have not signed an agreement yet, is that right?"
This sentence seems to have profound meaning.
First, Edgar did not mention Sony Columbia’s name directly.
Second, the focus of Edgar’s words is that “no agreement was signed”.
Mangold is a smart man, and he is always panicked, but he tasted some subtext and immediately followed Edgar's words and nodded his head in affirmation.
"Yes, it is still under discussion."
Edgar seemed completely unaware of the tug-of-war between the two James and Sony Columbia, "That would be great. You know, Anson really likes this project and sincerely Looking forward to completing this role."
"If necessary, Anson is willing to help find some investment for the crew."
Mangold's eyes lit up and he turned to look at Ji. thorough.
Kitcher didn't hear Edgar's words and didn't know why.
Mangold quickly turned on the speakerphone, and Edgar's voice came from the receiver.
"...Anson himself has served as a producer. He knows that the tug of war between directors, producers and film companies is obviously not that simple."
"We just want to do it wholeheartedly. Shoot an excellent work, but the only thing the film company cares about is the production cost and box office revenue."
"Anson is very clear that a script like "Walking with a Song" may be a failure in the eyes of the film company. Trouble, they don't care about Johnny Cash, they don't care about Joan Carter, that's history, the only thing they care about is that the movie doesn't look like a hit."
"This is a disaster."
After just a few words, Kitcher already had the idea of death after a bloody mess. Hot tears filled his eyes, and all kinds of thoughts surged in his chest.
“Of course, we can always seek cooperation from Focus Features or Searchlight Pictures. Biographical films are completely in line with their market positioning; but obviously they have more trouble than the studios and need the script to be completely in accordance with the awards season. The Oscar template was created, and that was also a disaster.”
Kitcher nodded wildly on the other end of the phone. All these years of grievance and pain finally found a soulmate, and only he knew the bitterness.
“If it is Anson, Anson is willing to respect the characteristics of each project, each script, each director, and each actor. They do not need to evolve into another template in the Hollywood formula, but follow their own "So, Anson is very happy to recommend you to a new production company, with funding from Silicon Valley, lack of experience, or even no experience at all; but precisely because of the lack of experience, So they are willing to trust producers and directors and leave professional matters to professionals.”
"If you are interested, I can give you the contact information of their person in charge."
From beginning to end, Edgar did not mention the high-level struggle at Sony Colombia, nor did he mention that Sony Colombia might be oppressing the two James; but completed the recommendation quietly in another way, providing a possibility for Mangold and Kitcher.
While respecting the pride of the two James, he also provided a solution——
Everything is perfect.
(End of this chapter)