Made in Hollywood

After returning to Wellington, Duke first, together with Charles Rowan and Zach Schneider, reviewed the preparations for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy during this period of time. It took a full week before he devoted his energy to "One Hundred Thousand Rage" Above.

Duke's dedicated editor Mike Dawson also came to Wellington, and the two continued to collaborate on the post-editing of the film.

This film needs to use post-production special effects in very few places. The most important thing is the soundtrack, dubbing and editing, especially how to match the two main lines and one side line reasonably to make the scene transition natural and smooth. Extremely important.

As a realistic film, sharp editing must be appropriate, just like in shooting, long shots will appear in large numbers.

According to Duke’s plan, the two gangsters, police officer Michael and daughter played by Liam Neeson, and Catherine mother and daughter played by Kate Beckinsale, will advance the plot in a three-line manner, and the early plot and actual case There is a huge difference, which can be said to be a typical Hollywood adaptation.

In the real incident, two gangsters began to rob since the early 1990s, mainly robbing cash transport vehicles, and shot several escorts in a robbery, then disappeared until later reappeared.

In the film, "Duke"♀ moved the incident to the time period when the robbery occurred in neighboring North Hollywood. Catherine’s husband was the person in charge of the money transport truck, and Officer Michael was one of the police officers involved in the case. There was the first intersection at the beginning, and then the feelings of the respective families or characters collided, driving the three lines to move forward, and finally the three lines converged, and everyone concentrated on the Bank of America branch on Laurel Valley Avenue.

Why do you want to do this?

Quite simply, Duke was originally practicing for the multi-line narrative of "The Lord of the Rings", from the initial intersection to the separation and then to the final assembly. It fits the narrative structure of the Lord of the Rings.

How many facts does this film fit? How much comes from fiction? In fact, it doesn't matter, the important thing is that Duke wants to use it to hone himself.

Maybe there are real super geniuses in this world, but there are no omnipotent geniuses. Duke knows that he has some talents in film, but he is not so arrogant that he thinks about what kind of theme and narrative structure of the film. Hands. It will succeed.

Although Duke’s film is obviously experimental, Warner Bros., as an investor, will not let go of the opportunity to vigorously market it. Duke’s success has brought them too much confidence.

After Duke confirmed that all the post-production work of the film could be completed by the end of February, Doug Walter of the Warner Bros. Distribution Department came to Wellington to communicate with him about the release.

"Duke, we have been discussing your new work this time."

In the Wellington studio office, Doug Walter looked at the posters of two humanoid monsters holding aks on the wall and said. "In general, two publicity plans have been formulated."

"Tell me more specifically."

Duke has never been the kind of director who makes a film that talks to himself, even if it is an experimental film, he still adds a lot of elements suitable for the mainstream market-such as obvious sensational family affection and final popularity Realistic shootout.

It's just that the realistic shootout has received mediocre response in recent years, and Duke dare not say whether the audience will buy it.

"One is to follow the normal screening route."

Doug Walter did not ask Duke to wait, and directly said, "Limited to the type and investment, the number of premiere theaters of the film will not be very high. It may have to go through hundreds of theaters to screen. It can be expanded. It depends on the final film. And our operation."

After a brief pause, seeing that Duke did not say anything, Doug Walter continued, "The other is to take the film festival route. Warner Bros. can get a place for the film to participate in the Cannes Film Festival competition unit, and the worst will be the screening. Quota. Then..."

"Doug..." Duke interrupted him, raising his hand. "It takes too much time to attend the film festival. I can't leave New Zealand for a long time."

"I understand."

This is just the opinion of Warner Bros. After all, Doug Walter has frequent contact with Duke, knowing his possible choices. There is also sufficient psychological preparation, "I will contact the theater line, and after the film is produced, I will hold a trial screening as soon as possible."

The affairs of publicity and distribution are naturally the responsibility of Warner Bros. After Doug Walter left New Zealand, Duke reinvested in the post-production of the film.

From entering Hollywood to the present, Duke has completed six films in total and accumulated a lot of experience and experience. He was not a rookie when making the first two films. Although the editing of the three-line narrative is more complicated than before, it is actually not what he imagined. So difficult.

He is not a new director after all.

News soon came back from Warner Bros. The film’s schedule was set for March, which is the traditional off-season. Although Warner Bros. has confidence in Duke, it is not blinded. It is very clear about the subject matter and investment of the film. Because of the disadvantage, he actively avoided the big productions that were released during the peak season and chose a schedule that was dismissive of commercial blockbusters.

While busy with the late stage of "One Hundred Thousand Rush" and the preliminary preparations for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Duke used the short rest time to bring his investment team leader to Wellington to negotiate the next investment matters.

It is not so much a negotiation as it is a mandatory requirement from Duke.

It has now reached the end of January 1999. The IT stocks that used to have plummeted. Duke only remembers that it happened at the turn of the century, but didn't know the specific year and month. In vague memory, it seemed to be connected with the Microsoft monopoly case.

In the January news, he saw that the Federal Court is conducting an antitrust investigation against Microsoft, and he estimated that the stock market crash should not be too far away.

What, waiting for a few months before the stock market crash to sell stocks for profit?

Even if Duke is not proficient in finance at all, he knows that this is a fantasy that is impossible to achieve. Not to mention the unpredictable stock market, will the stock that he has bought over the years in his hands cause a chain reaction? No one can tell.

Long-term, small-volume, stable, and planned shipments are relatively safe choices.

Not to mention Apple and Microsoft, but Yahoo stocks that have been bought since 1996, after several years of rapid growth, they have reached hundreds of millions of dollars.

Duke intends to hold Apple's stocks and shares for a long time. The original purchase was for the purpose of maintaining value and increasing value. The most important thing to deal with is the stocks of other it bought by Yahoo, Microsoft and David after recommendation.

According to Duke's requirements, the investment team headed by David must dispose of all these stocks before the dawn of the new millennium.

"According to the trend of the stock market, as long as there is no crash, Duke, you will get high returns."

In the office, apart from Tina Fei serving as a waiter, only Duke and David, David said directly, "But holding cash is the most unwise way to manage money. I suggest looking for suitable investment objects."

The right investment object?

Google? The problem is that Google has no plans to raise funds again in the short term, and the two founders will definitely limit the shares he can get. This is inevitable.

Who else? I vaguely remember that there is still a Facebook or something, but that should be a long time later, right?

It must be stupid to hold large amounts of cash, but the dollar is rapidly depreciating, increasing holdings in Warner Bros. and Victoria's Secret?

He is now the largest individual shareholder of the two companies. As long as the management of the two companies is not a fool and does not pay a sufficient price, they will definitely restrict him from continuing to invest.

And last year he got the "The Matrix" pay and dividends. Although the tax season is about to come, but in addition to ordering a business jet, and in accordance with the ratio of one to one, and Warner Bros. in the three "Lord of the Rings" In addition to Quzhong's continued investment, tens of millions of dollars remain on the account.

Now, Duke has discovered one more thing. Compared with those young and rich people who spend money like water, his ability to spend money is a bit weak.

After dispelling this thought, he exhorted David a few more words. Duke ended this discussion. David did not stay for too long, so he returned to North America. After all, he had to make a complete plan to make Duke more laymen The request becomes the final actual action.

After entering February, the crew again began large-scale auditions, looking for suitable actors for some important roles that did not fight scenes. Among them, just looking at Cate Blanchett’s makeup photos, Duke confirmed that she would still be Kay. The prime candidate for Queen Landril.

Christopher Lee also came to Wellington. On the basis of a willingness to appropriately lower the pay, the two sides quickly reached an agreement that he would play the role of the white robe wizard Saruman, the speaker of the Holy White Council.

In addition, Duke also put a long holiday for the Lord of the Rings expedition team and their stunt stand-ins, which have been training. Some of them have other role contracts to fulfill and the crew had to let them go.

Such as Gandalf-Sir Ian McLean.

"I'm leaving this afternoon, especially to say goodbye to you."

The old man is very good at being a human being, and went to the editing room on the set to say goodbye to Duke, "If there is any need, just let me call me and I will let the agent coordinate the schedule of my two roles."

"Two roles?" Duke felt as if he had overlooked something.

"You have been busy, it seems that you have forgotten."

Looking at the busy editing assistants behind Duke, Ian McLean lowered his voice slightly, "In addition to Gandalf, I also took over the Magneto from "X-Men"."

"X-Men"? Magneto?

After Ian McLean left, Duke immediately clarified his thoughts and sighed that his investment vision was really scumbag!

Investing in the IT industry only thinks of Microsoft, Apple and Google, which have a little memory; investing in the film industry, all eyes are Warner Bros. with close cooperation...

He has never looked farther, as far as the era when superheroes swept the big screen. (To be continued...)

ps: I have to go to the hospital today, the deposit is almost gone, ask for a monthly pass and a recommendation ticket for comfort