"I took the time to watch some youth movies over the weekend. Frankly speaking, there was nothing that caught my eye. Maybe I didn't watch enough, but I didn't have more time. So, Danny, I'd better do it myself. , have you seen Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day" a few years ago?"
In the conference room, New World Pictures President Danny Morris nodded: "Of course."
Simon continued: "We can definitely make a youth horror film similar to "Groundhog Day". A girl is chased by a perverted murderer. Every time she dies, she will return to the morning of this day. In the end, in order to get rid of this cycle , she had to find the murderer.”
After listening to Simon's general concept of "Happy Death Day", Danny Morris was stunned and had to admire his boss's thinking.
This is a very simple idea, not even an innovation. It just applies the classic story structure of "Groundhog Day" to a youth horror film. However, it is undeniable that it is absolutely full of gimmicks.
Because no one has done it.
As for whether anyone has thought of it, the probability is probably very high.
After all, Hollywood has never lacked creativity. The problem is that the decision-making power of which movies to produce in Hollywood lies only with a few people at the top of the pyramid. After all, these people have limited time and energy, and may even have their own personal preferences and biases. Therefore, most of the creative ideas often Neither can be achieved.
After Simon finished talking about his ideas, he spent about ten minutes discussing some details with Danny Morris based on the plot of "Happy Death Day" in his memory, and then continued: "Second, this is a spoof of youth film planning. Using our original "Scream" as a template, coupled with some popular horror movies in recent years, as well as hot current topics, we found a group of handsome men and beautiful women to make a step similar to the original "Fighting Condor" A spoof movie.”
This is of course "Scream".
When Danny Morris heard "The Condor", he immediately understood the production idea of "Scream", but this time he was a little hesitant: "Simon, "Scream" is one of our hands, um, According to what you often say, the top IP, is it appropriate to use it as a prank?"
Simon smiled and said: "Danny, be more self-deprecating. Moreover, this will be a hodgepodge of popcorn movies that people will forget about after watching it. We don't plan to develop a sequel to "Scream" in the short term, and we definitely won't." question."
Since his boss said so, Danny Morris naturally had no objection.
So there was another detailed discussion.
After talking about these two projects, Simon continued: "There is another one, "High School Musical" that I just handed over to Tom. It is actually a youth film, but because it is a very healthy G-rated film, New World Pictures does not It's appropriate, but that doesn't mean that New World Pictures can't make musicals, and it can definitely be made into an R-rated movie. "Six Pigs" is a good template. Can you dive into it yourself first?"
Danny Morris thought for a moment: "Simon, you mean, make a real stripper movie?"
"That's right." Simon said: "This shouldn't be considered a youth film. It mainly targets young female groups, so we must find some young and handsome actors. The story template is the 20-year-old version of "Six Pigs". "
Simon is talking about the "Magic Mike" in his memory this time.
This gigolo-type movie directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Channing Tatum once made more than 160 million US dollars at the global box office at a low cost of 7 million US dollars, and the storyline is roughly the same as "The Six Strongest Pigs" "There is even another translation of the young version called "The Light Pig Dance Warrior".
After listening to his boss continue to elaborate on some details, Danny Morris couldn't help but said: "Simon, this reminds me of Paul Verhoeven's "Showgirls". Isn't it a good idea?"
"I also feel that the story itself is not very creative," Simon said, without denying it. "So, this can be regarded as an experimental project, with a budget of no more than 10 million US dollars and placed in January, February or September or October. In addition, Steven... Do you remember Soderbergh?”
"Sex, Lies and Videotape, of course."
Simon, the big butterfly, has completely changed the landscape of Hollywood. Under the overall landscape, Hollywood golden boy Steven Soderbergh, who once won the Palme d'Or for "Sex, Lies and Videotape", has not won the same award at Cannes this time. Instead of receiving top honors, he was sniped by the "Cinema Paradiso" at the time.
However, the subsequent "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" still made considerable profits at the box office, thus making Steven Soderbergh quite popular in Hollywood. Unfortunately, with such a starting point, several films directed by Soderbergh in recent years have ended in failure and have become short-lived in the eyes of many people.
Of course Simon won't forget.
In fact, the former Soderbergh also went silent for the entire 1990s after "Sex, Lies, and Videotape". It was only in the new century that he accumulated a lot of experience, and successively released "Never Compromise", "Drug Network", "Ten" A large number of well-received and blockbuster movies, such as "Ocean's Ocean" and later "Magic Mike", have long maintained the forefront of Hollywood.
When Simon saw that Danny Morris also remembered "Sex, Lies and Videotape", he didn't need any more explanation, and said: "I think this project, um, let's call it "Magic Mike", the director's choice is more important than the actors , you need a guy who is good at photographing men, and in the original "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," I don't think anyone will deny that Soderbergh made James Spader very attractive."
"Simon, I agree with this, but Soderbergh seems to be better at art films."
"This is one of the reasons why I chose him. You know, in my opinion, the reason why Paul Verhoeven's "Showgirls" failed completely is that the film had no substance at all and only succumbed to the shallowest layer of desire. Of course, for this "Magic Mike", I also don't want it to have too much connotation. All I want is the screams of young girls in the cinema. However, everyone will have their own style, even if we put this The movie is completely positioned as a commercial film, but because of his personal style, Steven Soderbergh will instinctively add some literary style to it. This is very important, just like an ice cream wrapped in The layer of chocolate will make it more memorable, understand?”
Of course Danny Morris understands, and he also understands more. There is another key reason why he chose Soderbergh: it is cheap. There is actually no shortage of other directors in Hollywood who are better at shooting men, but my boss has said that this is an experimental project and the cost must be reduced to less than 10 million US dollars, so Steven Soderbergh is indeed suitable.
"In this case, Simon, I'll contact Soderbergh as soon as possible." Danny Morris said, and then thought: "Also, boss, do you have any suggestions for actors?"
Simon thought of Matthew McConaughey, whom he had always suppressed intentionally or unintentionally.
The roles in films such as "A Time to Kill" and "Contact" that should have made Matthew McConaughey, who has been walking around in Hollywood, gradually become famous over the years, were all given to others by Simon.
It's not intentional. Simon has no intention of targeting some small Hollywood role. If he really wanted to target him, there would be no such person in Hollywood. It's just that Simon felt that it was really inappropriate, whether it was the lawyer in "A Time to Kill" or "Contact" The priest in "The Priest" doesn't even match Matthew McConaughey.
As for why McConaughey was able to get these roles in the past, Simon is actually not surprised, but he is not interested in men at all.
This time it fits.
Matthew McConaughey also happens to be an actor in the original Magic Mike, but in a supporting role.
Now McConaughey is only 28 years old, and he can be considered a young star. The image of a prodigal son who is naturally very attractive to women is a plus, so he said: "Let Matthew McConaughey give the male lead a try. As for the other , you make your own choice here, and by the way, Soderbergh can also be the screenwriter."
Danny Morris wrote them all down.
Simon chatted with Maurice in some more details. It was already past 11:30, and he had to go back to Dume Point Manor to have dinner with his family at noon, so he would not continue.
The two left the conference room, and Girl A came up to them and took advantage of every opportunity.
"Boss, the publishing department has jointly made a publicity plan for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" with Tinker Bayer. Do you want to read it now?"
The novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" that Simon had ghostwritten in the first half of the year was completed during this period. Simon has roughly read it, and the details are very different from before. This is inevitable, and the biggest change is that Simon directly Changing the background of the story from London to New York, this time Platform Nine and Three Quarters is no longer located in London's King's Cross Station, but in New York's Grand Central Station.
Although the details have changed significantly, the main plot has not changed, and all the characters are still there. During this period, a small-scale trial reading was conducted, and the response was good.
As Tinker Bell recently launched the iPad-10, Simon arranged for "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" to be promoted as the first novel to be released simultaneously online and offline.
This would be a great publicity stunt.
Being the first to take advantage of it, coupled with the global popularity of the iPad-10, it can directly achieve the publicity effect that would cost tens of millions of dollars to popularize.
In terms of specific aspects, Tinkerber is naturally in charge of the online work, while Daenerys does it offline.
When MCA was acquired, the asset list also included a book publishing company called Putman, which has developed very well in recent years by publishing books and peripherals related to blockbuster movies related to Daenerys Entertainment.
The main reason why Girl A advanced the release of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" at this time is that even though she used the weird pen name of J.K., this novel is still an idea provided by her boss, and she treats it with caution from top to bottom. .
Simon originally picked it up because he thought it was a pity that the "Harry Potter" series was dropped by Butterfly. Of course, he hoped that the novel could be produced again. When Girl A mentioned it, he picked it up directly and flipped through it from the studio to the manor.
Girl A handed the folder to her boss and added, "Also, Mr. Michael Jordan wanted to have lunch with you before the "Public Enemy" meeting in the afternoon, but I declined."
Simon opened the information in his hand as he walked, and just nodded slightly to express his knowledge.
Girl A went on to talk about other things and followed her boss downstairs before continuing. She was still living in the Dume Point Manor, but she would not go with him for lunch.