Chapter 372 The mountain called Duke
After staying in Los Angeles for five days, Duke returned to New Zealand, leaving Tina Fey in the City of Angels, continuing to communicate with Warner, and passing the latest developments to Wellington in time.
Based on the performance of his works in the summer, if The Lord of the Rings and Pearl Harbor collide head-on, they will not be the ones who are really nervous.
In Universal Studios' headquarters building, Martin Bob and Michael Ovitz walked into a large conference room one after another, a preparatory meeting for a packaging project they had signed a formal contract for.
As the CEO of Universal Pictures, Ron Meyer is also one of the founders of CAA. Unlike Michael Ovitz, his acting as an agent is mediocre, but his performance in the film company is extremely good. , at least more than one level higher than Ovitz.
Although Universal decided to partner with artist management, the relationship between Ron Mayer and Michael Ovitz broke down years ago, although he doesn't bring too much personal emotion into his work. Among them, he only showed one side in the conference room and left.
The relationship with Michael Ovitz is one thing, the film's only $38 million investment is another.
Everything in Hollywood has been modeled, and this preparatory meeting is no different from other films. After a simple greeting, Martin Bob introduced the leading actors they prepared for the film to Universal Pictures.
The first thing he introduced was a bald head, This is Mr. Vin Diesel, he will play Dominic Toletto...
After briefly talking about the other party's resume, Martin Bob introduced the remaining main actors one by one.
This is Paul Walker...
This is Miss Michelle Rodriguez...
This is Miss Jessica Alba...
The people of Universal Pictures certainly know the situation of the actors. This is just a routine ceremony in the preparatory meeting. After Martin Bob's introduction, there is another routine activity - the actors read the script.
The four protagonists read the concise main story script, but Michael Ovitz's brows were always furrowed. It seemed that he had encountered a major problem, and even in the eyes of Martin Bob, who was familiar with him, he was simply distracted.
The film, which cost only $38 million to make, is just a simple racing popcorn, and in general, it's not that hard to recoup the cost of such a film. Michael? Ovitz himself does not have too many worries, but the $140 million investment in the super war masterpiece, has now become the focus of his troubles.
The reason is very simple. He got news that Duke Rosenberg's new work has also finalized the schedule for next year's Memorial Day...
Michael...
A sudden sound interrupted Ovitz's thoughts, and he looked up. It was Clayton Bellinger, the producer of the project, and the other party said, The title of the film is officially determined to be Fast and Furious, do you think it's okay?
no problem.
This is just a small project, Michael? Ovitz nodded directly.
the whole preparatory meeting. Michael Ovitz seemed absent-minded, the work was completely handed over to Martin Bob, but he kept thinking.
As soon as the preparatory meeting was over, Orvis called Martin Bob. After leaving Universal Studios, head straight to Disney headquarters in downtown Burbank. To discuss the more important Pearl Harbor.
The two did not go to Touchstone Pictures, but went directly to Michael Eisner's office. In the face of an investment of up to 140 million US dollars, those personal conflicts in the past were not worth mentioning at all.
After meeting. Neither Michael Eisner nor Michael Ovitz mentioned the past grievances, and the conversation revolved around Pearl Harbor and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring that might crash with Pearl Harbor !
The Lord of the Rings has been called the most difficult work to adapt.
In the chairman's reception room, a young executive of Walt Disney's film department said, All the films related to it in the past have failed, and this time may not be successful...
The words just came to this point, he noticed that everyone's eyes were looking at him, and those eyes were clearly looking at a fool.
Michael Ovitz shook his head gently, obviously disdain for the young executive's words, he knew him, and this was Roy Disney's most beloved youngest son, John Disney...
No wonder the Disney family has fallen so far, and he can only express such emotion in his heart.
Am I right?
Relying on his identity as a direct member of the Disney family, John Disney entered the management team just after graduation. He was seriously inexperienced, and he did not realize that Disney was no longer the Disney of the Disney family. At this time, he raised his voice and said, According to the information I got, a large number of Lord of the Rings fans went to Wellington several times to protest. This film is obviously not supported. Why do you think it will definitely be better than our Pearl Harbor? We can't...
Because it's directed by Duke Rosenberg!
The cold voice directly interrupted John Disney's words, and Michael Eisner's stern gaze swept across his face, On this point alone, it deserves Disney's attention!
Ignoring the flower growing in the greenhouse, Michael Eisner looked at his old friend Ovitz, What's your opinion?
Michael Ovitz didn't answer immediately, but looked at Michael Bay who arrived earlier. When Eisner said Duke Rosenberg's name, his face was very ugly.
No one wants to be someone else's copycat, to be someone's second.
Michael? Bay is no exception, he really wants to compete with the other side once!
However, he is not a chick like John Disney. He knows that he is a director, but he has the least right to say whether to change the schedule. It is the wisest choice to keep silent.
Michael Ovitz retracted his gaze, but still did not speak. He was still thinking. In the past few years, even in the most competitive schedule, he had never been afraid of any opponent, but now he has to consider the pros and cons, after all, the market appeal is so Formidable competitors, among all Hollywood and even global film directors, can be counted on one hand.
It is true that The Lord of the Rings is difficult to adapt, and the previous related works have all failed badly, but when it is connected with the director Duke Rosenberg, Michael Ovitz thinks everything will be different.
To change or not to change? Ovitz was also hard to pin down for a while.
If so, is there a better time for Pearl Harbor than Memorial Day? Without change, Pearl Harbor and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring are facing head-to-head competition, can they resist it?
Even Michael Ovitz himself didn't notice that he was only concerned about whether Pearl Harbor could withstand The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and he never thought that the former could defeat the latter!
He turned his head to look at Michael Bay again, the long-faced director had a trace of unwillingness on his face.
Seeing Michael Bay, who also belongs to the young director, Michael Ovitz gradually made up his mind. The second is the second bomber. He doesn't think Michael Bay will surpass Duke Rosenberg in the short term. Ability.
As much as he wants to save the face he lost on Godzilla, Michael Ovitz won't be carried away by the idea.
I think changing the schedule is a wise choice, he said slowly.
The reception room was quiet, Michael Eisner remained calm, the unwillingness on Michael Bay's face was further aggravated, and Martin Bob's eyes flashed with anger...
I agree. Eisner finally said.
As soon as these words came out, other Walt Disney executives were obviously relieved. Obviously, no one wanted to touch the work of that summer lunatic in their own big productions.
I don't know why, but Michael Ovitz felt a heavy heart, and suddenly he became relaxed, and all the anxiety of the past few days disappeared.
After thinking about it for a while, he couldn't help showing a wry smile. The pressure on him from Duke Rosenberg's works turned out to be so powerful!
Although Pearl Harbor will lose its Memorial Day schedule, it is a blessing to be able to avoid the other party's work. This idea unconsciously appeared in Michael Ovitz's mind.
Since we have to change the schedule. Eisner said again, We will determine the appropriate release time as soon as possible to match Disney's publicity plan.
He gestured to the assistant, and someone immediately sent a document to the people present.
Michael Ovitz looked at the approximate release schedule of next year's summer film, and a slight sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. His old friend Eisner seemed very calm and didn't seem to be worried at all. Duke Rosenberg collided head-on, or he would not have prepared this information in advance.
Cook Dick, who was in charge of the distribution department, said at this time, The first weekend of next year's summer season will be Universal Pictures' The Mummy Returns, and the second weekend will be Paramount Pictures' war masterpiece Broken Down the City. Three weekends were DreamWorks Animation's Shrek, then Memorial Day weekend, then Paramount's Tomb Raider, then Michael's The Fast and the Furious...
I think Pearl Harbor is still in May! Michael Ovitz interrupted.
Weekends in May are very crowded! Cook Dick hesitated, Shrek does have a different audience than Pearl Harbor. Michael, you don't think Pearl Harbor is on the second weekend. Is the time a little too close for Duke's work?
No, you misunderstood what I meant. Ovitz shook his head, We choose the weekend of Barrier on the City!
why?
It was John Disney who asked, These are all World War II films, and the audiences are seriously overlapping!
Because Pearl Harbor is an American film, and Barrier on the City is a European film! (To be continued ~^~)
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