Hollywood Hunter

"The biggest difficulty in the adaptation of "Batman" is how to show the power of Bruce Wayne. In the comics setting, the superhero's intelligence value and force value have reached a limit that humans can reach, and he is also strong Backed by the financial resources and various high-tech equipment. If it is a manga, anime or TV series, these can of course be shown a little bit through the plot, but in a movie usually only about two hours, it is difficult to highlight these , A little carelessness may make Batman very mediocre."

Inheriting the memories of more than a dozen people, Simon has detailed information about each version of the "Batman" movie.

From the first "Batman" of Tim Burton, Bruce Wayne was almost habitually grabbed by the villains, and even in the later "League of Justice", Batman, who should be the team leader, was completely reduced to The marginalized passerby character simply did not show any charm that this enduring superhero should have.

It’s been half a century since Batman’s role was born in 1939, and there are also some live-action versions during the period, but they basically did not leave any impression on the audience. This is actually the main reason for Warner’s worries about launching the movie version. .Superman can also show all kinds of super powers in heaven, Batman is only a mortal after all, no one knows what style and style to use to put this superhero on the big screen.

Inside the restaurant.

Terry Semel listened to Simon's analysis and asked, "Simon, do you think you can solve these problems?"

Simon took a sip of the mineral water next to him, put down the glass, and said, "Of course, otherwise I would not be interested in the film adaptation of Batman."

Terry Semel showed a curious expression: "Tell me carefully."

Simon’s plan is to start the DC superhero universe in advance, linking Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and other characters together.Compared with the higher special effect technology requirements of Marvel superheroes, it is not too difficult for the current technical conditions to meet the DC universe.

but.

These are certainly not available to Terry Semel and Pan, and Simon also prepared another rhetoric in advance.

"Batman has been endowed with too many skills in the half-century comic creation. This is definitely a trade-off. Therefore, I intend to focus on showing Batman's personal force value and the high-tech equipment he has, such as the Batmobile , Bat fighter, etc., compared to Bruce Wayne’s wisdom and strategy, these elements are most likely to surprise the audience. If Warner is willing to give this project to Daenerys, I will set up a special effects and technical team. solve these problems."

Terry Semel shook his head: "Simon, your narrative is too general."

Simon Road: "In terms of personal force show, Terry, in my opinion, Hollywood basically doesn't yet have a commendable action movie. I plan to draw some experience from the martial arts movies across the ocean, martial arts movies ,do you know?"

Terry Semel nodded: "Probably, I know some."

Simon smiled and said: "If you are interested, I can recommend several videos to you. Oriental martial arts have a history of thousands of years. Their martial arts novels are similar to superhero comics, and they are all about some people. In order to maintain the story of justice, punishment, and evil. In addition, compared with the boxing fighting technology that has almost no aesthetic sense, the impact of Oriental Kung Fu on the screen will be very shocking."

Terry Semel said suddenly: "I remember, Bruce Lee."

"Yes, it's Bruce Lee's kind of kung fu."

Terry Semel was hesitant again: "I still have some impressions of Bruce Lee's movie, Simon, you think his action skills can be used on Batman."

Simon said: "According to the settings in the comics, Batman masters more than one hundred fighting skills, a large part of which are Eastern Kung Fu. And of course, I will not copy the Eastern martial arts movies,

Terry Semel looked at Simon: "You?"

Simon raised the cutlery and flexibly took a knife in his hand, and smiled to Terry Semel: "Terry, I know some fighting techniques. And, if necessary, I will also hire some more professional ones. Action instruction."

There are too many classic action scenes in my mind.

Simon's positioning of Batman's fighting style is simple and sharp. It is completely easy to create a set of action designs for Bruce Wayne from the movies, TV and video games in memory, even without specially inviting action directed.

In fact, Hollywood has no professional action directors at all. This profession only gradually flourished in the late 1990s as filmmakers from across the ocean entered Hollywood, and Hollywood action movies began to take some interest after that.

Right now, the action scenes in Hollywood movies are basically the level of street fights by drunkards.

Terry Semel, however, remembered that Simon broke the legs of five young men with one enemy and five at the end of the previous year. He no longer doubted that this young man could design a special action shot for Batman.But, he couldn't help feeling a little bit again, what could this little guy who broke into Hollywood suddenly.

"Simon, if I understand correctly, what did you just mean and want to fully undertake the production of "Batman"?"

"Yes, I will write the script and direct the film myself. Terry, you know, I have always been used to completely controlling my projects. So far, several of the films I have produced have been very successful."

Terry Semel asked: "What about the movie you owe to Disney?"

"I recently intend to redeem the director's contract signed with Disney. If Disney disagrees, it will be ranked after "Batman". The contract does not stipulate that I must fulfill the contract with Disney before shooting other movies."

At first, because of the success of "Rola Run", the contract between Disney and Simon was very loose.

This is actually the treatment of many first-line directors in Hollywood.Like Spielberg, the four films he signed with Global after "Great White Shark" have not yet been completed, but they have frequently collaborated with Paramount and Warner over the years.

"Since you already have so many ideas, Simon, budget, how much money do you plan to use to make this movie?"

Simon blurted out: "50 million dollars."

Terry Semel was obviously taken aback: "One?"

"of course."

Simon nodded, and he understood why Terry Semel asked that.

Ten years ago, the production budget of "Superman" was 55 million US dollars, setting a record cost of film production at that time.

But in fact, the first US$55 million investment in "Superman" was a one-time shot of the material of the trilogy, and even until the original "Superman Returns" in 2006, it was still using the original Marlon Brando. Shot taken.

Hollywood movie budgets have shown an explosive trend, but few budgets can reach 50 million dollars.

In Simon’s plan, he intends to use the next six months to perfect the technical aspects of "Batman". Daenerys will also set up his own special effects studio like Lucas produced "Star Wars". These all need to invest huge amounts of money.

On the other hand, Simon reported a budget of US$50 million, in fact, to push Warner out of the project as much as possible.

In the original time and space, Tim Burton's "Batman" production budget was only $35 million, and it was the result of Warner's introduction of the joint investment of the British record giant PolyGram, which also led to the success of the first part of "Batman". In many of the sequels that followed, Warner had to continue to take Polycom as an investor.

Even in order to save budget, Warner signed a omnichannel profit sharing contract with Jack Nicholson who played the clown in Hollywood history.

After the success of "Batman", Jack Nicholson received more than 50 million US dollars from the box office, video sales, peripheral products and other channels. This pay record was not broken until 2000.

After the success of the film, Batman IP became a big gold mine, and it was difficult for outsiders to understand why Warner made such a series of stupid decisions.But the reason is actually very simple. In the final analysis, Warner does not have any confidence in the "Batman" movie.

In all fairness, Simon actually thinks that Tim Bolton's version of "Batman" doesn't have many highlights at all, even very bad.Bruce Wayne played by Michael Keaton does not have any Batman temperament at all. The lead actress Kim Basinger's acting is completely dropped. Even the famous clown is just the average level of Jack Nicholson.To be more mean, the reason why Jack Nicholson's clown is so good is that the protagonist is too bad.

So why is Bolton's "Batman" so successful?

The reason is actually very simple.

As a superhero character that has continued for half a century, the popularity of "Batman" in the hearts of Americans is very similar to "Journey to the West" on the other side of the ocean.Everyone knows that Bruce Wayne embarked on the path of punishment and evil because he witnessed his parents being killed by gangsters, just as the people across the ocean knew that a monkey popped out of a rock.

then.

This superhero that has been in the hearts of generations of Americans was seriously put on the big screen for the first time with high-budget live-action film specifications. Many people are not even interested in comics at all, just because they have heard too many times since childhood. Batman's name is likely to enter the cinema.Not to mention fans who grew up with comics.

Therefore, for the first time to put Batman on the big screen, as long as the film is not too bad, it is destined to sell.

Tim Burton's films always carry a very weird naivety, which is simply not suitable for shooting superhero movies.The success of "Batman" is just a coincidence.

Later facts also proved this. Bolton continued to direct the sequel "Return of Batman", the budget cost has more than doubled, but the box office has fallen sharply compared to the first one, and later several continue the Bolton style "Batman" The sequel is even worse than one, and eventually rotted completely after Batman and Robin.Batman IP was not resurrected by Nolan until many years later, and then DC was also taken to another big pit by Nolan without a surprise.

at this time.

In a restaurant near Warner Studios in Burbank, confirming that Simon intends to invest US$50 million in the filming of "Batman", Terry Semel showed a hesitant look. Simon noticed Terry Semel The expression was not too urgent, and the two began to eat quietly.

After two or three minutes, Terry Semel said again: "Simon, Warner is looking forward to directing Batman, but we do not intend to let go of this project completely. At least, we must definitely participate in part of the investment In this case, the $50 million production budget is too high."

Simon shook his head and said: "Terry, a superhero movie like "Batman" can only be approved by the audience if we are willing to invest more. Just like "Superman", the production budget of the first "Superman" is $55 million The global box office reached 300 million. Last year's "Superman 4", Canon Pictures cut the budget cost to 17 million US dollars, the North American box office immediately fell to the early 15 million, and there was no splash overseas."

Terry Semel is clearly more aware of these situations than Simon. He was silent for a while and said, "So, Simon, why don't you write the script first, let's evaluate together, maybe it doesn't need $50 million."

"According to my plan, US$50 million will only be higher, and definitely not lower," Simon shook his head. "Terry, I know Warner can't bear the investment risk of US$50 million, so I plan to come by myself. Give me Batman. Maybe, I can make another annual box office champion like "Laura Run". Of course, the distribution rights must be Warner. This is a win-win situation."

Terry Semel thought about it for a moment and said, "Simon, if you plan to make Batman alone, you can, but Warner will only grant Daenerys filming rights, and the copyright still belongs to us."

Simon asked: "Is it like "Superman 4" that Canon Pictures and Salkind cooperated with?"

Last summer's "Superman 4", Canon Pictures only got the shooting rights of Superman, and the copyright is still in the hands of British producer Alexander Salkind.

Terry Semel nodded: "Yes."

Simon shook his head: "Terry, I can't make the movie, and then kicked off by Warner."

Terry Semel denied: "We certainly wouldn't do it."

Simon said: "It's not as good as this. We signed a five-year license agreement. Within five years, Daenerys failed to start the sequel, and the copyright returned to DC."

Terry Semel thought about it and said, "Five years is too long, up to three years, and Warner needs to retain the investment rights of the sequel."

Simon insisted: "Three years is too short, it must be five years. Moreover, if Warner wants to invest in the sequel, Daenerys Pictures must also retain certain distribution rights."

The two of you came and went and bargained for more than ten minutes, and finally finally finalized a cooperation plan.

Daenerys Pictures acquired the copyright of "Batman" with the usual five-year copyright term.Within five years, Daenerys cannot start a sequel, and copyright automatically returns to DC.

However, in many details such as the sequel to the investment rights and distribution rights and the profit distribution of the surrounding products, Simon and Terry Semel have not yet reached a specific agreement, and the two parties need to conduct more detailed consultations, but this result has been Simon was overjoyed.