Hollywood Hunter

Malibu, Daenerys Studios.

The time is April 12.

This is already the 12th day of Peter Jackson’s arrival in Los Angeles. Yesterday I was informed that Simon Westero was going to meet with him to discuss the movie "Horror Ghost" he was preparing and another submission about "The Lord of the Rings." "The production plan of the series, so I didn't have a good rest all night, repeatedly weighing how to deal with a young Hollywood tycoon.

The agreed time was 4:30 pm, and Jackson arrived at Daenerys Studios one hour in advance.

Being too early and being late are often not too pleasant. Peter Jackson, who is actually very smooth in character, did not ignore these details. He parked the car in the administrative area of ​​Daenerys Studios, and he did not rush to the No. 1 office directly. Building, but sitting in a cafe inside the studio in the administrative district, bought a "Hollywood Reporter", while reading Hollywood's current affairs while drinking coffee to kill the waiting time.

The Easter period in North America ended yesterday. This issue of The Hollywood Reporter is mainly a summary of the Easter period.

In addition to the "Batman Vs Superman Justice Dawn" with a box office breakthrough of US$6.5 billion, there are also two new films "Detective Aircraft Head 2" and "Ghost Mortality 2" produced by Daenerys Entertainment.

The new film "King Detective Aircraft Head 2", which was drawn on March 29, won US$45.51 million at the box office in the first week, and fell 40 during the following week, and received another US$27.27 million.Two weeks after the painting began, the sequel to "Detective Aircraft Head", which made Kim Carey famous two days before Easter, had a cumulative box office of $72.78 million.

According to the step-by-step accounting rules, Daenerys Entertainment easily recovered all the production and announcement costs of $50 million in two weeks and realized profitability.

This was followed by "The Mortuary Haunted Event 2" on April 5.

From the opening week of April 5th to April 11th, the box office of the fourth movie in the Spiritual Universe series performed even better, with the same scale of production and announcement as "Detective Aircraft Head 2". $51.69 million.

Another hundred million box office club member nailed on the board.

Daenerys Entertainment’s focus on the soul-moving film universe series in recent years, although the commercial volume is far from comparable to the dc movie universe series, but counted in the previous "soul", "mortuary haunted incident" and "soul 2" The entire series of four consecutive movies can achieve 100 million yuan, which is a big miracle in Hollywood.

What's more, the cost of this series is low enough.

Even if the global box office of the first three films is in the range of 200 million to 300 million US dollars, it may not be as good as the local box office of the dc movie universe blockbuster, but on the other hand, the production cost of this series is taken from "The Morgue 2 in the Morgue 2" It is only 30 million US dollars, which is just a fraction of the production cost of the Super Bat War.

Daenerys Entertainment's production cost control of the dc movie universe series is quite excellent. The production budget of "Batman vs. Superman Justice Dawn" still reached $13.5 billion, which is equivalent to "Batman Dark Knight Rise" two years ago.

Looking at the news in The Hollywood Reporter, there is no shortage of Peter Jackson who is ambitious in this circle and only feels the ups and downs.

It has been eight years since I was accidentally hired as a director assistant in Batman’s Battle Moment when I ran to Melbourne. Now, the talented teenager who had just been born in Hollywood is now in a position where everyone can only look up. , Peter Jackson has not stopped his pace in recent years.

Whether it is the mad "Fatty Variety Show" or the most recent pseudo-documentary "Forgotten Movies", it has achieved a certain response in the industry. "Sin Angel" also won the Venice Silver Lion Award two years ago.

If you really enter this industry, you will understand that there are thousands of movies produced every year worldwide, and most of them have not even splashed.

Therefore, no matter from what aspect, as long as your film can attract attention,

Moreover, Peter Jackson can clearly feel that he has been in Daenerys Entertainment or, to be precise, Simon Westero’s attention for many years. From the original "Crazy Fatty Variety Show" "To last year's "Forgotten Movies", and the middle "Group of Corpses Played the World" and "Sin Angel", eight years, four movies, every time Daenerys Entertainment is very active in contact with him In fact, this makes it difficult for many filmmakers to cross the threshold for funding projects on his side.

This is clearly the case with a recent script "Ghost of Horror" and his proposal for the "Lord of the Rings" series.

This time it was more clear.

Simon Westero is going to interview him. Obviously, the other party has not forgotten the director's assistant at the beginning of "Batman Moments".

Keeping an eye on the time, at 4:25, Jackson rushed to the office of Simon Westero, the office building of Administrative District No. 1.

Just waiting for a while in the lounge, a young man who has barely changed his appearance over the years soon appeared, which made Jackson slightly surprised by the punctuality of the other party.The Hollywood circle consciously has a position. Whether it is a lot of studio seniors or those big-time celebrities, non-punctuality is almost the norm. Many people obviously do this deliberately in order to take a posture.

However, Peter Jackson soon understood.Simon Westero doesn't need such a small trick at all. Compared with the current position, the other party can still do this, but it is more admirable.

Thinking about it this way, Jackson had quickly stood up and smiled and reached out to Simon who was approaching. "Hello, Mr. Westeros."

Simon and Jackson shook hands and smiled. "Simply call me Simon, just like Batman Studios. By the way, how are you doing?"

Peter Jackson also smiled "Not bad."

He didn't ask the other person in accordance with the convention. It was mainly a kind of instinctive restraint to see the superior, and how is Simon Westero's life going? Needless to say?

Simon did not talk too much with Jackson too deliberately. After greeting, the two entered the office and sat down together in the reception area.

The girl A who followed up placed the two documents in front of Simon and Jackson, and another female assistant brought coffee to the two, and then both quickly retreated.

Simon turned over the information in his hand and went straight to the point. "Let me talk about "Ghost of Horror", Peter. I have read the memo of your production meeting on this project last week. Everyone's positioning of the film is another "Ghostbusters" ", this direction is very good. However, I found a problem that the scale between horror and comedy is very critical. Just like "Ghostbusters", although it is "Ghostbusters", its positioning is fantasy comedy, and No horror, the overall feeling of the audience watching this film is very happy. And the positioning of "Ghost of Horror" is a horror comedy. You also depict a lot of horror scenes in the script. If you don’t pay attention, there may be neither horror nor The awkward situation of comedy, have you thought about this problem?"

Peter Jackson didn’t expect Simon to be so direct, and almost didn’t keep up with the idea, but he quickly got up and said, “Of course, Simon, I’ve been discussing this with the team recently, and it’s determined that the movie will tend to comedy style, That is, comedy has overwhelmed horror. And, we have also paid attention to the problem you just mentioned. Everyone thinks that the key is to determine a suitable actor. These days we are all choosing actors."

In the original "Ghost of Horror", the actor is the starring Michael Fox in the series "Back to the Future".

The film ended in failure. Although there are many reasons, the failure of the actor to cast a role is indeed a factor.Although the big-selling "Back to the Future" series also has a comedic component, Michael Fox's positioning is more inclined to a teenage idol star, and by the mid-1990s, he was an outdated idol star and did not have a comedy man. The potential of the star.

The reason why I used to choose each other was mainly because the producer of "Ghost of Horror" was Robert Zemigis. Zemigis was the director of the series "Back to the Future", which obviously has human factors.

Compared to Fox, "Horrible Ghost" needs a real comedy star.

Simon pondered the information and asked, "Is there a suitable candidate?"

Peter Jackson nodded and explained, "What I need is a actor about 30 years old with a loser temperament. These days, we have considered Dana Vika, Rob Law, Michael Fox, Frank Willie. Waiting for the actor, I also had some auditions. At present, Dana Vika's performance is better."

Dana Vika is another male lead alongside Mike Myers in the "Reverse Fighting Multi-Star" series, but was suppressed because of Myers' core creative identity.

Simon recalled Dana Vika's performance in the "Rebel Star" series, shaking his head and saying, "If the loser's temperament, Vika is really okay. However, the protagonist of this script is a scam relying on his psychic ability. Little people, so some low-level savvy is still needed. In this respect, Dana Vika is too stupid."

Overruled Jackson's tendency, Simon did not discuss with the other party again, and considered a little, saying "The comedy style of "Ghost of Horror" is biased towards black, so the actor's performance cannot be too outgoing, and needs a kind of restraint and contrast. In this way, I will give you Two candidates, one is Ben Stiller, the other is named Adam Sandler, um... Adam seems to be a little dumb, just Stiller," said this, Simon quickly wrote on the document in front of him Give a name, tear off the corner and hand it to Peter Jackson. "I don't know his specific situation. You can contact yourself. I believe it should meet your needs."

Peter Jackson took it and said seriously, "I will do it as soon as possible."

Any director wants to gain control of his work, but Peter Jackson puts his position very well, knowing that he has no room to bargain with Simon.What's more, the film talents of young people in front of them are definitely not comparable to those of senior studios with lawyers and accounting backgrounds. The level of the other party's selection of actors must be far above him, and it is not a layman's guide.

Simon handed the note to Jackson, and remembered something, and wrote a line on the document again, tearing it down and handing it to Jackson. "In addition, I would recommend you a movie. This is a Hong Kong film called "Mr. Zombie." , The standard horror comedy style, and still the Hong Kong box office champion in 1985, I suggest you watch it a few times, it can bring a lot of inspiration. By the way, there are heroines, according to the script settings, I suggest you find An actress with a goddess temperament."

Peter Jackson took two notes in a row and carefully put them in his hand. They were almost overwhelmed and asked subconsciously, "Goddess temperament?"

Simon said, "It's the kind that makes people look at first glance, Cindy Crawford's kind."

"Simon, you mean, let me pick a supermodel?"

"Of course not. The heroine of this story is not a vase. It still needs acting. At the same time, it must be stunning and seductive. In the end, the heroine and the heroine walk together. The defeat of the loser can bring a sense of satisfaction to the audience."

Peter Jackson is not a self-proclaimed filmmaker. When Simon said this, he felt an open and cheerful feeling. "So, Simon, what do you think, uh, how about Miss Nicole Kidman?"

"Nico is too tall, and the temperament is cold, not suitable for comedy." Simon said, thinking a little, "Mia Sarah, yes, that's it."

Peter Jackson recalled and remembered who Mia Sala was. The actress’s most famous movie titled "Spring is Not a Book Day". It was one of the big-selling movies in 1986. He also saw it in New Zealand. .Moreover, the actor in this movie is named Matthew Broderick.

Jackson still knows about some things about Simon Westeros.

I don’t know how to respond. Simon remembered this too. It’s not that bitterness with Matthew Broderick. A little star who has completely disappeared in Hollywood is not eligible to let him remember now, but " "Spring is not a book day" is already a movie 10 years ago.

Mia Sala in the movie was really amazing, and now she doesn't know what it looks like, because after the other party, "Spring is not a reading day", there is no movie that Simon can remember.

I pressed it on the landline next to the sofa, and the girl A pushed the door in. Simon asked "Mia Sara, the heroine of "Spring is not a reading day", I want her latest photo."

The girl nodded and turned away.

Simon turned back to Jackson. "We continue, Peter. I think you should be able to feel Daenerys' support for you over the years. I personally arranged it."

Sure enough.

Even though there was speculation in his heart, Peter Jackson still showed a shocked and happy expression, still grateful, and slightly stood up and said, "Thank you, Simon."

Simon waved his hand to signal Jackson to sit back again and said, "Of course, I must also tell you that you are only one of them. Before you, people like Michael Bay, Brett Ratner, etc., they all belong to this category, and among them There are also many losers."

"The reason why I am optimistic about you is that you are very pragmatic. This is very important in Hollywood, because many filmmakers, as literary and artistic creators, do not lack talent, but they are often too stubborn to cooperate well with Hollywood. ."

"Movies are never a work that can be done by a single person. If a filmmaker cannot pragmatically coordinate the entire team to complete the project, even if he is talented, he will not be able to exhibit it. Secondly, on a pragmatic basis, you don’t lack talent. Both the original "Crazy Fat Treasure Variety Show" and the "Sin Angel" who won the Silver Lion Award in Venice prove this point. Therefore, I hope that "Ghost of Horror" can be your start to enter Hollywood. "

Who is Michael Bay?

The first movie "Cosmos" has achieved a box office score of over 100 million, "Jurassic Park 2" box office is more than Spielberg's first song.

Who is Brett Ratner?

Last year, he directed Simon's screenplay "This Man is from Earth", a small test of the sword, and earned more than 200 million US dollars at the box office in North America. Then he was adapted from "Charlie's Angel" to adapt "Thunderbolt", which is also hot.

As for others, Peter Jackson can think of many names.

All Hollywood filmmakers who are still struggling to climb, including himself, probably want to be one of them.

I didn’t expect Simon Westero to list himself as one. Peter Jackson didn’t know what to say for a while, but couldn’t help but want to get up, just remembered Simon’s signal, and fell back to the sofa. His body was still slightly forward. Qing, said, "Simon, I promise, I will do my best to finish "Ghost of Horror."

Simon nodded with satisfaction. "So, with regard to "Ghost of Horror", since the style of comedy has been determined, my final reminder is that you need to change as much as possible from early films such as "Cosmic Geek" and "Crazy Fatty Variety Show". The accumulated cult film style, ok, right here, let's talk about your idea of ​​shooting the "Lord of the Rings" series. Let me talk first, why do you want to shoot this movie?"

Peter Jackson realized that this was the focus of this conversation since he received the invitation for this meeting today, and sorted out his thoughts a little bit, saying, "Simon, I didn’t actually touch Thor King’s work for the first time until I was 17. That’s Animated version of Ralph Bakshi in 1978. Because of the great reputation of the Thor King series, everyone went to watch it, and I followed into the movie theater. The result was very disappointing."

"Soon, I traveled from Auckland to Wellington because I had to take a long-distance train and bought a copy of The Lord of the Rings. That trip completely changed my mind. On the way, I was reading the magnificent works of Thor King The epic picture scroll, while admiring the scenery along the way, the snow-covered mountains, the boundless grasslands connecting the heavens and the earth, and the torrential river under the peaks and cliffs, at some point, I feel that my hometown should be written by Thor King The Middle-earth World, if possible, one day in the future, I must portray those stories on New Zealand land."