Made in Hollywood

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"David, since you are studying at the USC Film School."

On the office building on Wisher Avenue in Beverly Hills, Michael Ovitz looked at the young man sitting across from him and said, “It must be understood that making a movie is never a simple matter, it needs more than Funding, script and director, and a team that cooperates tacitly, and only a successful team can make a successful movie."

Speaking of this, Michael Ovitz emphasized his tone, "What I am best at is to gather a production team composed of successful people!"

"The artist management company will provide all film-related services for any investor." Martin Bob took over and said, "We packaged and produced Godzilla, Pearl Harbor, and Fast and Furious. All have brought benefits to investors."

Before David Ellison came, he knew enough about the artist management company, "Two, if you don't have so many successful examples, I won't sit here and talk about cooperation with you."

"I have money!" He straightened his back slightly, "but there is no suitable investment project."

When Michael Ovitz heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up, "David, have you ever thought about setting up a @, a film company by yourself, and then cooperating with an artist management company on film projects. We provide you with everything from preparation to production And then to the all-in-one service of distribution..."

"I had this plan a long time ago." David Ellison lifted his chin with one hand, "It's just that there is no suitable project. As long as the project is suitable, my agent will register in Delaware as quickly as possible. formalities."

"Project?" Michael Ovitz tapped the table lightly.

With the complete end of the Hollywood studio era, major companies have become part of the media group, and the agency can no longer maintain the unconventional strength of the 1980s and 1990s, let alone his artist management company. Even if it is now the largest brokerage company in Hollywood, caa, its market share is expanding, but its right to speak in front of film companies is constantly decreasing.

The agent doesn't like this situation, especially Michael Ovitz.

The six major film companies are too strong, which means that the benefits that the brokerage companies can reap from the cooperation are diminishing. Cooperating with small second- and third-tier companies, brokerage companies can undoubtedly have the initiative, but the most famous second-tier companies have long been acquired by large groups, and the rest are simply not capable of producing large commercial productions that generate high profits.

To put it bluntly, the brokerage company is still a commercial company, and profit is the ultimate pursuit.

Michael Ovitz knows that he wants to develop an artist management company into a top management company. The support of huge profits is essential.

If you want a profit, you must have a project. If you want a project to succeed, you must ensure sufficient production funds.

Hollywood has never lacked projects and scripts, the most lacking is people or companies willing to invest.

David Ellison, who was sitting across from him, seemed to be a good person.

Thinking of this, Michael Ovitz couldn't help but play with the spirit of twelve points, showing the attitude that moved Spielberg to join caa. Cope with the young gold master.

The two parties talked for a morning and had lunch together. We talked for another afternoon, and by the evening, some preliminary cooperation intentions had been reached verbally.

Then, Michael Ovitz picked out a few projects that he was very optimistic about and placed them in front of David Ellison, all of which were invested in the artist management company by famous producers or screenwriters in the circle. And after the company's review department and his own review, all are the first-level projects.

David Ellison looked through it roughly, but none of them were interested.

"do you have anything else?"

Hearing his question, Michael Ovitz frowned, "What type?"

"It is best to have an airplane." David Ellison said. "The more airplanes, the better. For every additional airplane in the project, I will invest more money in it."

"About the plane..."

Michael Ovitz considered for less than half a minute and said, "Well, David, as long as we reach a cooperation agreement, I will be responsible for finding excellent projects for you about aircraft. If you can't find a suitable one, we can hire Several gold medal screenwriters created such a script."

"I like your proposal!"

David Ellison stood up and shook hands with Michael Ovitz, "I hope we can cooperate successfully."

"I hope so too."

Even if arrogant like David Ellison, he will not make decisions casually. This kind of future involves tens of millions of dollars or even more cooperation, and there will inevitably be detailed negotiations and consultations.

This super rich second generation also completed the first step into Hollywood.

Duke also heard that the other party might be cooperating with Michael Ovitz, but he didn't take it seriously. Maybe he has little influence on the world, but some people or things in Hollywood have changed.

For example, David Ellison’s most successful investment in the past is undoubtedly from the "Mission Impossible" series, but now the biggest copyright owners of this series are Duke and Tom Cruise. Without his consent, the other party would never be able to do so. Add a kick in it.

But with Michael Ovitz as a guide, David Ellison will undoubtedly take fewer detours.

After paying a little attention to the collaboration between David Ellison and Michael Ovitz, Duke left Los Angeles and flew to Paris. As the director and producer of the film, actually inspecting locations is a must. When he came to France this time, he also brought art director Hannah Serena and photography director John Schwarzman.

In the following week, the team led by the three of Duke visited the Charles de Gaulle Airport, the Seine River and the minority communities in Paris and other possible location locations. Hannah Serena and John Schwartz Ziman fully agrees with Duke's point of view, except for a few location scenes that must be filmed in Paris, the rest were shot in the Warner Studios in Burbank.

The crowded urban areas of Paris and the expensive labor costs are practical issues that the crew must consider.

After visiting Paris, Hannah Serena and John Schwarzman returned to Los Angeles first, while Duke flew to the UK to check the progress of the Harry Potter series.

Alfonso Cuarón only filmed "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", which was abandoned by Robin Grande and Harry Potter Studios, combined with Joanna Rowling's Opinion, the crew finally chose David Yates, the British director, to direct the subsequent works.

Although "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" will not be released until the Christmas file, the filming of a new episode has already begun. In the next few years, this series will enter a non-stop loop of filming and screening. Duke and Warner Brothers squeezed out every drop of Harry Potter.

As for the growth and learning of the young actors, the crew is going in full accordance with the law, hiring special tutors and setting aside enough time for study. In the end, will Emma Watsons become academic masters or scumbags? , Is not in the consideration of investors such as Duke. After the end of this series, the value of these people also tends to zero infinitely.

These people want to transform successfully? That is a hundred times more difficult than Disney's child star transformation.

Of course, these have nothing to do with Duke and Warner. The Harry Potter series has made them and limited them, but in general, these little actors are lucky.

If there is no Hermione Granger, Emma Watson can be famous, but with her scumbag acting skills, it is basically impossible to achieve the degree Hermione Granger brings her. .

"The little actors' agents are ready to negotiate with us again."

In the studio's office, Robin Grande talked about these things and seemed to tire of it, "We just revised the contract with them. It's just a movie, and they found it again."

"Try to procrastinate." Duke's attitude is very clear, "to tell them appropriately, we have the determination and courage to change actors!"

Negotiations are a process of wrangling and compromise. Only after showing a strong attitude can we obtain favorable conditions.

These little actors are not Joanna Rowling after all.

"Robin, you can increase their remuneration appropriately." Before leaving, Duke exhorted, "Revenue sharing is the final bottom line, and it should be kept within the box office revenue share as much as possible."

The bulk of the revenue of this series comes from the surrounding areas, the box office profit is actually not high, and there are many places where the box office can do things.

After spending three days on the set in Southampton and talking with David Yates and Joanna Rowling respectively, Duke, the now-named producer, left the Harry Potter set and met in London. Emma Thompson side.

The other party was the candidate for the role of the mother introduced by icm. Duke talked to her and chose to give up. The Oscar queen is not only a literary actress, but the pay has not dropped to the level of a few years later, Duke It is impossible to invest millions of dollars in pay for a small role like soy sauce.

The most important thing is that these millions of dollars in remuneration cannot bring corresponding box office appeal. He can't expect Emma Thompson's type of actor to have real market appeal.

Since neither the pay nor the type is appropriate, Duke will naturally choose to give up, and seeing this British actress is more for Nancy Josephson's sake.

Just this summer, the management of icm also changed. Nancy, who was one of the biggest partners, officially became the CEO of icm.

After Duke returned to Los Angeles, Nancy soon recommended another actress. The actress was quite backed. She was on the same level as Julia Roberts in the early nineties, but the two entered a different development afterwards. Orbit, Big Mouth Zhu is now the most iconic actress in Hollywood, and it is not an exaggeration to say that she is a sister of Hollywood.

The actress, starring in the film suffered a series of box office failures, especially in recent years, her status has declined seriously, not to mention her first-line status, even rarely appeared in the mainstream film circle, and has gradually been forgotten. (To be continued...)