Hollywood legendary director

The news that "Smiths" broke 200 million in the world was returned, making Firefly Pictures once again permeated with a beaming atmosphere.

After all, when the movie is selling big, Lehman is not hesitant to draw a portion of the box office profit as a bonus for behind-the-scenes production.Everyone is like this, everyone will be more passionate about their work when they see the bonus.

And it was in this situation that Zach Schneider came.

On December 26, around nine o'clock in the morning.

Zadao carried a shoulder bag, smiled at the little girl at the company's front desk, and then went upstairs and knocked on the door of Lehman's office.

"Please come in." Lehman's voice came from inside.

"Hi, Zach." Lehman looked at the incoming person and asked with a smile: "Are there any new projects?"

"Well, I have a little thought." Zha Dao replied quickly.

In fact, if nothing happens, these co-directors will not often come to Firefly Pictures.

Zhadao put down the shoulder bag, took out a notebook from it, and handed it to Lehman.

"This is something I've been thinking about lately," Zach Schneider pondered, "I like this comic very much, and I wanted to put it on the big screen a long time ago."

""300 Dead Men"?"

As soon as he opened the book, Lehmann knew which project it was.

In the future, Zach Schneider can enjoy the reputation of "special effects control" in Hollywood, because this product can make blood and violence as elegant and gorgeous as a ballet. The rich and colorful style on the screen is also the "oil painting" that posterity often evaluates. "Like movie lens" is his most personal style.

In original time and space, Director Zha rested for a while after filming "Dawn of the Living Dead", and then saw the strong and distinct "Sin City" in the cinema. The film's surprising black and white comic composition prompted the order to be ordered. Determined to shoot a unique visual style.

In the end, he chose another well-known comic book "300 Dead Men" by Frank Miller.

Lehman still lamented that the "evil taste" of this product seemed to be consistent, but saw that Zach Schneider was still happily talking about his idea of ​​adapting "300 Dead Men".

Suddenly, he said: "Mr. Rust, didn't you acquire a special effects company? I wonder if they can give priority to making this project. I think special effects can be used to combine war scenes. That kind of picture feels absolutely. It will shock the audience. As long as you nod, I will go to the author again."

"Wait," Lehman wondered: "The original author Frank Miller hasn't authorized you yet?"

Zaccan smiled, "He said he didn't see that I have the ability to direct his comics. I was about to take a few shots before trying to convince him. But first of all, there must be a foundation for the project."

Well, the foundation of the project is, of course, funds. If no one invests money, it won't be possible to get the authorization.

Lehman nodded, expressing understanding.

Then he said: "This is a good idea. The company is willing to invest. However, how much budget do you plan to use to bring your comic-based movie to the screen"

"At least 65 million." Zach obviously thought about the budget in detail, and quickly replied after hearing that: "There are many war scenes in the movie that cost more money, and a lot of special effects work is needed to render the picture. It’s not too small, and it’s not saving much."

"Understood, how do you calculate your studio share and director's salary?"

This problem is the actual profit sharing.Lehman wanted to hear what Zadao said.

He is no better than Wen Ziren and Nolan, and Lehman does not have that great friendship with him.

"Uh..." Zach Schneider was stunned, and then he gave his own psychological expectations after thinking for a while according to the director's quotation invited by other companies after "New York Trip", "The studio is divided according to the rules. , I can invest at least 12 million US dollars in proportion, and the adaptation copyright belongs to the company. My director’s salary is only 8 million."

Americans don’t mind talking about interests naked, and Lehman also thinks that Zhadao’s offer is reasonable. At least he didn’t open up his mouth once he became influential. The basis for cooperation without any scruples is that the studio should take the lead and dominate. status.

If not, Lehman would rather not invest in "300 Dead Men."

After all, this movie needs a good and powerful distribution company. After this part of the benefits are let out, the profits that Firefly can get are not much.

Of course, this "not much" is compared to the own project taken over by Blue Butterfly Pictures. In fact, the project itself is still very promising.

It can be produced with a budget of less than 70 million US dollars, and the world has won 456 million US dollars. "Spartan Three Hundred Warriors" is also a hit.

Subsequently, what surprised Zach Schneider was that Lehmann planned to personally negotiate with the comic author Frank Miller about the adaptation.

Okay, Zha Dao's heart was like fifteen buckets of water-seven ups and downs, and he was absent-minded all morning, thinking whether Lyman valued himself too much, and how he should repay his attention.

Actually, this guy thinks too much.

Lehman is just curious about Frank Miller, the manga master who has made great achievements, and to establish a relationship in advance for "Batman", when the second part is released, there are too many adaptations, abandoning most of the comic character settings, and not Provoked the original author to curse.

People of this kind of temperament have too many creatives.

After going to the digital realm with a strange mood, Zhadao didn't get back to his senses, and only woke up after almost messing up the matter, and concentrated on first fixing the movie clips that he wanted to show the author.

Just want to show the style of the adaptation, which is not too cumbersome. After a day of getting it done, Lehmann took the guide to contact Frank Miller.

They only reaped the bonus of "Sin City", and after receiving Lyman's invitation, they did not refuse.

Inside the box of a private club.

Because of Lyman's deliberate courtesy, this meal is also very comfortable to eat, and the dishes are made according to the appetite of the middle-aged and elderly.

A piece of fish is slippery, skin, bone, and thorns are removed, only the soft belly meat is chopped into a paste, and it is squeezed into small meat balls, and it is simmered slowly with broth.

The entrance is creamy and delicious.

It can be seen that Lehmann was thinking about this meal.

There is good wine for wine and good feast for feast.

Even knowing that the owner of a studio would make such arrangements, he must ask for something, it also made Frank Miller quite warm, and he had seen "The Mystery of Xia Ying" and was deeply influenced by his work, and he was watching Also happy.

He is 48 this year, as he said, "My profession is to write comics. My job is to make up villains, imagine all kinds of evil people, and even demons. Of course, there are also heroic saviors."

But in his world, the savior may not always have a good destination.

The most of Frank Miller’s works should be tragic heroes, so he would say that Nolan’s version of "Batman" is very good, because it has created a bloody and confused Batman, Bruce Wayne is a hero , But he is not a god.

Lehman waited for the waiter to clean up and go out before saying: "I and Zhadao came here for "300 Dead Men", you should have seen him."

Frank Miller looked like a cowboy, his eyes always firm.

He put down his coffee, took a tissue and wiped his lips. He had already turned over everything he knew about Firefly Pictures in his mind, "Is your company going to make it?"

"Mister think we can't succeed? Or are we not qualified?" Lehman asked rhetorically.

"I actually don't want my work to be put on the big screen. Movies and comics are two carriers after all, and it is impossible to completely restore them." Frank Miller is indeed a stubborn person, if the average cartoonist hears The studio wanted to adapt, for the sake of money, or for the sake of reputation, few refused, but Frank's refusal was famous.

Whether it is "Sin City" or his other works, the adaptation copyright can be retained until now, and it has been rejected.

You know, some popular novels have basically been taken over by major studios, and the copyrights of Frank Miller's comics have always been well received. Many people have thought about it.

That is, even if you don't shoot, it is good to spend a small amount of money to buy the copyright.

However, they all failed.

Frank recalled: "When I was very young, I watched a movie about the Battle of Sparta Hot Springs Pass, and later started to create comics. Since nine years or so, I have collected information for "300 Dead Men", and wanted to restore it. The shock of the time, so I can’t tolerate my work being adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster like "Troy", silly to serve some ridiculous things."