I’m in Hollywood

Hollywood pays more attention to the most basic script development than any other country's film industry. Whether it is the seven major studios or small independent film companies, every year, 5% to 10% of the production budget is spent on the purchase of scripts , written and adapted.

That doesn't mean, though, that script development costs can stay above 5% of every film's production budget. In fact, less than one-tenth of the scripts that Hollywood studios hoard make it into a movie. That is to say, a single Hollywood movie spends basically no more than 1% of the total cost of the production budget on the script.

After all, the script is only equivalent to a seed. In most cases, no one will pay the price of the fruit for a seed.

Of course, nothing can be absolute.

Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Lucio and their agent Matt Gilson felt a little weird when they heard Sony Pictures' $7 million offer .

Matt Gilson hung up the phone and looked at Ted Elliott and Ted Elliott, who were sitting on the other side of the table. Terry Lucio.

It was already noon on Sunday.

The three gathered in a West Hollywood restaurant to discuss how to launch an auction bid for Pirates of the Caribbean.

After Warner Bros. made an offer of $4 million and some conditions, the three still couldn't resist the temptation of money. After all, Eric's $1 million offer is a bit shabby compared to any other studio.

As Bruckheimer said to Eric, writers and actors are really different.

An unknown young actor participates in the movie of a major Hollywood director. Even if the movie is not successful, it is considered an instant fame for the young actor. Then, naturally, a film company will take the initiative to bid and invite them to participate in the movie. But after screenwriters rely on a script to become famous, their subsequent income still depends on the script they created. It is impossible to make money by relying on their own fame like an actor.

Missing the opportunity to make a lot of money, who can guarantee that the next script will be popular, and even, who can guarantee that their current script will be 100% successful?

So the trio made up their minds before they got a call from Bill Michanick.

Of course, in order to leave room for themselves to turn around, the three also plan to use the method of hidden bidding, inviting major film companies to make their own quotations in private, and then they will choose their partners according to the conditions set by each company.

In this way, as long as the Firefly Group's next offer is not much worse than other film companies, they will still choose to sell the script to each other. At that time, even if they cannot participate in the follow-up development of the film, as long as the script is a great success in the hands of Eric Williams, no one can deny the credit of the two of them as screenwriters, and the two can still be among the ranks of Hollywood gold screenwriters.

Bill Michanick's phone call completely disrupted the plans the three had discussed.

After looking at each other for a moment, although he had just eaten lunch, Terry Lucio swallowed and said, Matt, maybe I, um... Are you sure it's $7 million?

Matt Gilson nodded: Yes, Bill Michanick said, as long as we nod, we can sign immediately this afternoon.

$7 million.

Even Ted Elliott, the most rational of the three, couldn't help but sigh.

Eric Williams offered them $1 million, and even if the Firefly Group could make Pirates of the Caribbean a very successful trilogy, the script pay they could get for the next two films would be $100,000 each. A movie probably won't exceed $3 million.

In this way, Sony is equal to paying the price of the trilogy script of Pirates of the Caribbean in the most ideal state.

Noticing the expressions on the faces of the two employers, although Matt Gilson had already begun to figure out how to spend the huge commission that was about to come, he became calmer on the surface and said, So, what should we do now?

Glancing at his friend, Terry Lucio said: Ted, we have no reason to refuse, sell it?

Ted Elliott's lips moved, and he couldn't help but look at Matt Gilson again.

Sony gave such a sky-high price because it wants to get rid of all its competitors and win the script. It is impossible to raise the price, and the possibility of other film companies continuing to offer is not high. Matt Gilson probably understood The other party's meaning, he shook his head, hesitated, although he didn't have expectations, he still said: Bill Michanick just didn't ask us to keep it secret, otherwise, I'll reveal the news first and see the reaction of other film companies. , if no one continues to make further offers, we will agree to it.”

Under the expectant gaze of Terry Lucio, Ted Elliott didn't hesitate any more, nodded and said, That's it.

...

The last time I was invited to dinner, Goldie Hawn's husband, Kurt Russell, who was an avid gun lover, asked Eric if he was interested in going hunting with him. With Eric visiting his firearms collection, there are not many men who don't like guns, and Eric is naturally quite moved.

After a busy day on Saturday, I happened to receive another call from Kurt Russell. Eric brought Fernanda Tower home from the set of Public Enemy yesterday early on Sunday morning. Varese, with Kurt Russell and Ron Howard and others from Los Angeles, took Eric's vh-60 helicopter to the city of Fresno, about 300 kilometers north of Los Angeles. Arriving at the destination, the group borrowed three off-road vehicles and several Gree dogs from a local hunting club and set off to the nearby mountain hunting ground.

Speaking of which, although most areas of California are evergreen, summer is still the most unsuitable season for hunting. During this period, prey basically hide in dense forests. Generally, there are many wild boars only during the dry season in winter. Such beasts leave the jungle to find water, and they also become a major scourge on California's native farmland.

Eric and the others are purely for entertainment, so naturally they don't care.

All the firearms carried by the group were Kurt Russell's private collection. Eric was not interested in the old-fashioned double-barreled shotgun at all, but chose an m21. Since even Fernanda, the hot Latin girl, was using a traditional shotgun in a similar manner, Eric's hunting with sniper rifle was naturally ridiculed by a veteran, and he himself was enjoying himself.

Although it was not a good time for hunting, with the help of a few hounds, everyone had a good harvest in the morning.

Of course, since it was the first time, even though he was carrying a sniper step and shot out a few boxes of bullets, Eric's personal record was still zero.

At noon, everyone temporarily camped by a creek and set up a grill to have a barbecue on the spot.

There were a total of twelve people in the group, in addition to Eric four people and four bodyguards and two guides of the hunting club, as well as Ron Howard's royal producer Brian Glazer and another Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid, Dennis Quaid is also a good friend of Kurt Russell, who is also the husband of Meg Ryan. However, the two began to separate in 1992, but for some reason they never divorced. A few years ago, Hollywood director Robert Altman veiled about this in his own movie.

At this time, by the creek, the bodyguards and the guides were divided into a group, and the six of Eric were divided into a group, surrounded by a barbecue.

It was originally the idea of ​​a group of men for weekend entertainment, and the others did not bring their families. Eric brought Fernanda Tavares here, and of course everyone didn't say anything.

This tall Latin beauty put on a cowboy outfit, stepped on hiking boots and carried a shotgun, showing a bit of heroic and wild beauty, because it was a woman brought by Eric. It looks really pleasing. In Ron Howard's words, he's almost ready to come up with a Western.

It's best to use a shotgun for hunting now, because there aren't any big beasts, Kurt Russell said while skillfully grilling a hare next to the grill, Like this little guy, if the m21 hits Go up, and it will become a pile of minced meat.

Traveling through the mountains and forests all morning, Eric felt hungry at this time, but he didn't have much trouble with cleanliness. Seeing that the pheasant leg in his hand was almost roasted, he tore off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth to chew, saying: Man, of course you should play with big guns. What's the point of shotguns?

Ha ha……

Several big men laughed unscrupulously, and Fernanda Tavares couldn't help but give Eric a red face, lowered his head and continued to bake the things in his hands.

While eating and chatting, Eric's cell phone suddenly rang.

Eric took out his phone and glanced at the caller ID. It was Katzenberg who called and motioned Fernanda to take care of his barbecue. Eric went to the side and answered the phone: Jeffrey, It's me... Me and Kurt Russell and they're hunting here in Fresno, what's going on over there in LA... what, $7 million?

Eric suddenly raised his voice, and Kurt Russell and others couldn't help but look over.

After calming down, Eric patiently listened to Katzenberg's introduction, his tone had recovered, and he said, I see, Jeffrey, hang up first, I'll call Bill Michanick. phone.

After closing the line, Eric paced in place while flipping through the address book.

A number was quickly dialed, Eric put the phone to his ear, and after connecting, he said coldly without waiting for the other party to speak: Bill, do you know what you are doing?

In a restaurant in Culver City, Bill Michanick was dining with Howard Stringer. He heard Eric's cold tone when he answered the phone, and immediately glanced at Howard Stringer opposite him. He had expected in advance that Sony's offer would definitely cause Firefly's rebound, but he did not expect that Eric would call to question it in person.

Considering that even if he leaves Sony in the future, he will only be able to live in Hollywood in his life. Bill Michanick didn't want to offend Eric Williams, so he immediately sold Howard Stringer with hints. : Eric, I'm having dinner with Mr. Stringer right now.

The state of Sony Pictures is well known in Hollywood, Bill Michanick believes himself to say so, and Eric must have understood it wasn't his decision.

On the other side, Eric paused and ordered, Give Stringer your cell phone.

Although it was a phone conversation, Bill Michanick couldn't help but nodded and handed the phone to Howard Stringer on the opposite side: Howard, it's Williams.

Having been immersed in the workplace for many years, Howard Stringer had just acutely felt the inappropriateness of Bill Michnick's words, and he almost instinctively felt that this might not be a good time to talk to Eric Williams.

However, Bill Michanick handed over the phone, and Howard Stringer had to take it, and greeted warmly: Hi, Eric, long time no see.

Eric didn't have the slightest intention to chat with Howard Stringer, and said directly: Howard, Sony has raised the salary of Hollywood stars to 20 million US dollars, how much do you want to raise the price of the script now, 1000 $10,000? I don't care what you think, you better take that stupid decision back now, right now.

Howard Stringer was reprimanded by Eric. Although he knew that Bill Michanick couldn't hear clearly, his face was still a little bit awkward, and he countered: Eric, how much Sony's price is ours? Freedom, fair competition for everyone, you have no right to ask us to give up the purchase price, this is ridiculous.

Don't tell me what the fuck is fair competition, you are just breaking Hollywood's rules again and again, so take back your decision immediately, otherwise don't blame me for being rude. Eric finished, no When Howard Stringer spoke again, he hung up.

Although he was excited, Eric's last threatening words still gave Howard Stringer a chill in his heart. Hearing the beeps coming from the microphone, this faint fear quickly turned into anger. . Forgetting that he was in the public dining room, Howard Stringer smashed the phone in his hand against the wall and roared in a low voice with a trembling voice: Who does he think he is, who does he think he is...

After a few repetitions, Howard Stringer suddenly raised his head and stared at Bill Michanick: Call those two people again, we'll buy the script now, and sign the contract today. I'd rather watch it. See how Eric Williams can help me, who does he think he is, is there a king in Hollywood all of a sudden?

Bill Michanick took out his credit card and handed it to the waiter who came over to pay the bill. He bent down and picked up the Nokia mobile phone from under the table. Looking at the still shining screen, he put it into his pocket and comforted: Let's go back to the company first, Howard, this is not the place to do things.