hollywood melon man

Chapter 5 Global High-Level Meeting
  A meeting of Universal Pictures' senior executives is being held regarding the newly planned science fiction film "Jurassic Park."

Spielberg had finished filming "Captain Hook" and was busy with post-production, so he came to attend this meeting.

Before the original novel "Jurassic Park" was published, Spielberg had already discussed this story about dinosaurs with the author and well-known screenwriter Michael Crichton.

Since then, Spielberg has been paying attention to the creation progress of this novel. He keenly realized that this novel is very suitable for adapting into a movie.

As expected, he was not the only one with discernment.

When the novel created by Michael Crichton took shape, it triggered a competition between Warner Bros. Pictures, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Universal Pictures.

In the end, Spielberg helped Universal get the project last year thanks to his good relationship with Michael Crichton.

Universal paid an additional $500,000 to have Michael Crichton adapt the script himself.

While Spielberg was filming Hook, Michael Crichton finished adapting the script, so it was time to discuss the project.

After Universal Pictures won the film adaptation rights last year, it stated that the film would be best directed by Spielberg himself.

But Spielberg wanted to finish filming "Schindler's List" first before directing "Jurassic Park", and differences arose.

Later, Sid Shaneburne, the president of American Music Company, communicated with Spielberg and asked Spielberg to finish filming "Jurassic Park" first.

Sid Shaneburne knew Spielberg well and knew that after he finished making Schindler's List, he would no longer be interested in Jurassic Park.

This is not okay. American Music Company is the parent company of Universal Pictures and focuses on making profits. He, Sid Shaneburne, was not Jewish, so he didn't care what the list was.

Of course, in order to appease Spielberg, Sid Shaneburne also instructed Universal Pictures executives to provide Spielberg with some conveniences.

Even if Spielberg wants to install one of his own as the male lead, he can agree to it.

But who would have thought that before the project establishment meeting was held, Universal Pictures changed owners.

After Sony acquired Columbia Pictures in 1989, other Japanese conglomerates were also ready to make a move.

Finally, with the help of well-known Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz, Panasonic acquired Universal Pictures in December 1990.

Not only Universal Pictures itself, the wealthy Japanese consortium directly integrated the MCA Television Group, MCA home video and pay TV, American cable networks, publishing companies, theme parks, and Universal's huge film and television group related to Universal Pictures All the databases were purchased.

At this time, Japanese businessmen claimed that they wanted to buy the entire United States.

Of course, it won't be long before Panasonic regrets its impulse. Because the entertainment industry and the electrical appliance manufacturing industry are completely different things.

The changes in the parent company have not affected the operation of Universal Pictures, and the project of "Jurassic Park" is still on the agenda.

The new Japanese parent company knew that Universal Pictures was preparing a big science fiction project, and the parent company Panasonic, which urgently needed to convert the acquisition into actual profits, could not sit still.

The new president Akio Tanii was instructed to agree to whatever conditions Spielberg offered.

Therefore, in the expectation of Akio Tanii, the project of "Jurassic Park" finally started after Spielberg finished filming "Captain Hook".

During the meeting, everyone discussed in detail the early project establishment, preparation, and casting.

Spielberg had long been familiar with the project. He said to Vice President Lou Vasseur: "I sent an invitation to Harrison before. Has he replied?"

Lou Vasseur shook his head and said: "Harrison rejected the invitation to be the leading actor. We also invited William Hurt, but he refused without even reading the script."

Spielberg raised his eyebrows, a little surprised, but he still said: "It doesn't matter, the film is still early in preparation, and we can slowly select suitable actors."

At this time, Akio Tanii said again: "Director Spielberg, Mr. Matsushita, our chairman of Panasonic Electric, has always admired you and specifically asked me to put forward any conditions you have."

"All my requirements are written in the director's contract, nothing else." Spielberg said, remembering the script given to him by Gilbert Jr., and asked his assistant to bring it in.

"There's really one thing. You should read this script first..."

I had considered recommending it to Universal Pictures, so my assistant printed out a few more copies so that the senior executives at the meeting could read it.

When Lew Wasser saw the title "Shark Beach" on the cover of the script, he immediately reacted and thought of "Jaws" directed by Spielberg in 1975. "Is this a sequel to Jaws?" Lew Wasser asked.

"No," Spielberg explained: "This is a script written by one of my executive directors. He wants to seek opportunities to direct independently, so I will recommend the script to you."

To be recommended by a top director, it must be that this script is not simple, so the senior executives of Universal Pictures read the script seriously.

The story of the script is very simple, it is the story of how a girl escaped from the mouth of a shark, nothing unusual.

If there is anything strange, it is that the protagonist is a woman.

The script also comes with several shot-by-shot manuscripts, which describe a novel shooting method in detail, which is also very special.

Except for Akio Tanii, everyone present here is a senior film industry person, and they immediately considered the possibility of this "Shark Beach" and whether it had any profit prospects.

Or Lew Wasser asking Spielberg: "Is it Bruce Cohen?"

Bruce Cohen, Spielberg's long-time deputy, would have given Universal Pictures the confidence to invest in the film.

Who knew that Spielberg still shook his head and said: "No, it's little Gilbert Landrini."

"Who?" Lou Vasseur said he had never heard of the name.

Spielberg still had to explain: "Do you know old Gilbert?"

"Is that the producer who lost all his fortune?"

Well, good things don’t go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles. All of Hollywood knows about little Gilbert's cheap father.

"That's right," Spielberg nodded and said, "This is a script written by his son Gilbert Jr., who wants to direct this film himself."

A Universal executive who was very familiar with old Gilbert said at this time: "If I remember correctly, old Gilbert's son is only 21 years old this year. Can he do it?"

Wanting to direct a film independently at the age of twenty-one is simply out of the blue.

Even Spielberg was already 29 years old when he directed "Jaws", and the -year-old Gilbert was just a fledgling boy.

Spielberg introduced the situation of little Gilbert in detail: "I have talked with little Gilbert, and he is very serious and pragmatic in his work on my crew, and he does not have any whimsical ideas.

If little Gwen hadn't given me the script, I wouldn't have known that little Gilbert had the ability to write this script.

We exchanged our thoughts on this script. He was neither arrogant nor inferior to others, so I thought I could give it a try. "

Having said that, this script was also recommended by Spielberg, but Universal Pictures executives still felt that it needed to be considered.

It would be much easier if Gilbert was a few years older, made some achievements, and let people in the industry know about him, and then seek directing opportunities.

Now even if Spielberg endorses it, people still won't trust a young man who is just starting out.

Lou Vasseur suggested: "How about we use another more mature director to direct? Little Gilbert can just give him a script buyout fee."

Although he didn't have much contact with little Gilbert, Spielberg felt that little Gilbert was the same type of person as himself.

"I think little Gilbert will not give his efforts to others to direct, he will insist on directing himself." Spielberg said.

"That would be a pity. If that's the case, Universal Pictures can't invest in this movie." Lou Vasseur's tone was obviously not regretful.

There are so many similar scripts in Universal Pictures' script library that if it hadn't been for Spielberg's recommendation, this script wouldn't even have been discussed at a high-level meeting.

Why do you mean you won't be paid for copying the script? Hollywood studios can really do this.

However, the Landellini family is also considered a member of Hollywood. Although their lives are relatively miserable, they are still insiders.

Universal Pictures can't do such a thing as copying their own stuff.

(End of this chapter)