Simon has actually not considered the female lead in "True Lies" yet.
As long as it's not Jamie Lee Curtis.
Simon did not refuse Philla Fawcett's self-recommendation, but only said that he would arrange an audition for her.
Philla Fawcett was a little disappointed, and such an agreement obviously contained a hint of rejection. Just as he was about to continue talking, Simon already said: "Pelaa, would you like me and Joe to talk alone for a while?"
The man's tone was still gentle. After hearing this, Philla Fawcett did not dare to pester anymore. She also realized that there was no chance tonight. She came closer and whispered, "You can call me at any time," and then stood up and left.
When Philla Fawcett disappeared, Jonathan Friedman explained with a smile: "I know I'm not your type, but it's just that I can't accept it."
Simon smiled and nodded in understanding.
The woman just now has a good figure, appearance and even voice, and there is no lineup.
Just a little too tanned.
This is very inconsistent with Simon's aesthetic tendency.
Moreover, recalling some information in his memory, Simon was even less interested in Philla Fawcett, and had some other thoughts.
Maybe I should pay more attention in the future.
He has never been too worried about getting into trouble. The wealth and power he now possesses are enough to offset too many things. He just doesn't want the women around him to be harmed.
After so many years of rebirth, Simon's indifference and alienation from the world have not dissipated, but he has become more and more concerned about the people around him.
Jonathan explained and then talked about another thing: "Simon, what do you think about the recently approved movie "The Terror Zone" by MGM?"
Not only "Speed", MGM has also confirmed several other projects recently.
"Terror Zone" adapted from the best-selling novel is also one of them. The film tells the story of the spread of a virus caused by illegal animal smuggling that almost kills the residents of a town. It also involves elements such as biological weapons research. The main plot is still the old-fashioned personal hero. ism, the hero saves the world.
The original "Scary Zone" starred Dustin Hoffman.
Simon has seen this movie. The male protagonist played by Dustin Hoffman has no savior temperament at all, but is very similar to the monkey in the movie.
After all, the leading actor in the film should be Harrison Ford.
In fact, the project was originally tailor-made for Harrison Ford.
As a result, it was picked up by Dustin Hoffman. It was obviously another packaged project forcibly put together by CAA, without any consideration of whether the character's image fit.
Michael Ovitz has always lobbied Hollywood studios to allow their artists to experiment with diverse acting styles.
It's okay for artists to pursue breakthroughs, but it's wrong for you to act recklessly.
Simon would definitely not allow the past to happen again this time. When Jonathan asked, he understood what the other person meant and said with a smile: "Do you want Bob to try it?"
Jonathan nodded: "Yes, after "The Wire", Bob happens to be scheduled."
Bob here is Robert De Niro.
De Niro was originally signed from CAA. In recent years, the actor has been Jonathan's trump card and has continuously collaborated with Daenerys Entertainment on "Pulp Fiction", "Dead Poets Society", and "Supernatural". "Six Senses" and other blockbuster projects, De Niro is also recently teaming up with Al Pacino again to film "The Wire," a police film invested by Daenerys Entertainment. This is a movie that Simon loves very much.
For "Scary Zone," Simon's first thought was Harrison Ford.
It’s just a coincidence that Ford has signed Paramount’s “Pursuit,” the sequel to last year’s “Patriot Games” and the final installment of original novelist Tom Clancy’s 1980s Cold War anti-terrorism trilogy. One piece. The first two films, "The Hunt for Red October" and "Patriot Games", were successful, and the third film, "The Pursuit", was a natural progression.
Ford had no schedule, and Simon also considered two Bobs who worked closely with Daenerys Entertainment, Robert Redford and Robert De Niro.
The release date of "Terror Zone" is probably the end of next year or the beginning of the next year. It depends on factors such as the film's effect. The two Bobs' schedules are fine, but the compatibility of the characters is much different.
Redford can play a gentleman, a cowboy, or a villain, and De Niro is ever-changing.
However, both lacked a melodic temperament that could save the world.
Just now Sandra mentioned Stallone, Simon also had some thoughts, but quickly dismissed them.
"The Terror Zone" is a drama film that requires acting skills.
Muscular men like Stallone and Schwarzenegger are better off carrying machine guns to save the world, forget about acting.
Simon didn't hide anything and spoke his thoughts frankly.
Jonathan was a little disappointed, but he also expressed understanding and said: "In this case, Ford is indeed the most suitable. What are you going to do now?"
Simon said: "If Ford can star in it, it will be a blockbuster with a budget of US$50 million. Now Ford has no schedule. I plan to make a medium-sized film with a budget of half, US$25 million. The initial consideration for the male protagonist is Sam Neill.”
Sam Neill was the leading actor in last year's "Jurassic Park". Although the protagonist of the film was a series of ancient dinosaurs, the actor also gained global popularity, and his salary was only equivalent to that of Ford and Redford. , half of De Niro et al. The image of the scholar and warm man in "Jurassic Park" also makes Sam Neill very suitable for the image of the upright and fearless doctor in "The Zone".
Sam Neill is an artist under WMA.
Although it became famous thanks to last year's "Jurassic Park", Jonathan originally felt that the other party had little development potential.
Hollywood is already very saturated with middle-aged male stars. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, A-list celebrities such as Harrison Ford and Robert Redford will not give Neil too many opportunities to stand out.
Now, Simon also plans to give Neil some other projects besides "Jurassic Park". Of course, Jonathan will not miss it. With Simon's support, other people in Hollywood will not be able to use their little tricks. Although he is not an actor under his own name, if another A-list celebrity can appear in WMA and there will not be much conflict with Robert De Niro, who is under his own name, Jonathan will certainly not refuse.
"In that case, I will arrange a meeting between Shirley and Neil tomorrow. What do you think?"
Simon felt the urgency in Jonathan's tone, smiled and nodded: "Okay."
"So, where's the heroine?"
Although the budget has been halved, no one knows the magic of the young man in front of him better than Jonathan. Over the years, he has almost never failed in the projects he has set his sights on.
Sam Neill can break through "Jurassic Park" to the next level, and the heroine is also an opportunity.
Speaking of which, the original Dread Zone heroine happened to be Rene Russo.
Sam Neill and Rene Russo just partnered in "Jurassic Park" last year and have signed a long-term contract for two sequels. If they appear in another movie at the same time, it will definitely increase the popularity of the film.
It's just that according to Hollywood practice, the two stars who have just partnered are not suitable for the next collaboration immediately, unless it is a sequel.
In the past, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan collaborated on "Sleepless in Seattle", which was a great success. It was not until a few years later that they appeared together in "Love Letter", and Richard Gere and Julie Leah Roberts' second film together, "Runaway Bride" and "Pretty Woman" were almost ten years apart.
Rene Russo was not suitable, but Simon had considered another woman with a similar temperament, Sheila Ward.
Sela Ward has also become quite popular with audiences in recent years thanks to her role as the perfect housewife Bree Van Dikan in "Desperate Housewives."
It's a pity that Sheila Ward is not available.
American dramas are filmed and broadcast at the same time. The second season of "Desperate Housewives" spans from this fall to next spring. "Terror Zone" wants to catch up with the end of 1994 schedule. At the same time, it also needs to ensure that Sam Neill's "Dwarfs" will be released. "Logie Park 2" is scheduled to start filming early next year at the latest, and Sela Ward will still be on the "Desperate Housewives" crew by then.
Thinking this, Simon shook his head and said: "There is no suitable candidate for this yet, you can recommend it."
Jonathan smiled and said: "Fela just now?"
"It's too fancy. The heroine is a doctor. She needs to be someone like Rene Russo or Sela Ward, and her acting skills must be excellent enough."
"Then I'll go back and choose according to your standards."
After continuing to chat for a while, and seeing that it was almost time, Simon left the party early.
Girl A and Simon returned to the Dume Point Manor together. The girl was still a little strange. She originally thought that her boss would not go home tonight, and might even fly to other cities with a certain woman selected at the party.
So she called ahead to arrange a private jet.
Entering the Shell Villa, Simon took off his suit and handed it to Girl A who subconsciously stepped forward to take it. He noticed Alison's little expression and joked: "What bad things are you thinking about?"
"No," Girl A shook her head and said nonchalantly, "Does the boss want to take a shower?"
"You go and rest and don't worry about me."
"oh."
Although she promised, Alison waited for Simon to go upstairs. Then she sorted out the suit in her arms and went to the laundry room on the side of the villa.
The Shell Villa seemed very empty late at night. Because of the good sound insulation, the sound of the waves could not come in, so it was very quiet. I made a series of clicking sounds with high heels, holding the man's clothes, feeling inexplicably relieved, so I secretly picked it up and smelled it, and then I felt a little embarrassed and felt that I was very perverted.
After a little busy work and taking a shower, Girl A lay on the bed and fell asleep very late again.
Six months into her pregnancy, Janet once again had the feeling of being sealed away.
Although not as cautious as the first time, as the pregnancy progresses, women become cautious again out of maternal instinct. Recently, they have stopped working and just go through various pregnancy schedules step by step every day. The troubles inevitably increased, especially after she discovered that she had gained a lot of weight and had stretch marks on her belly that were more serious than the first time. The woman once again vowed not to have any more children.
In comparison, the female assistant was looking forward to the little guy in her belly.
The gender of both children has been determined. Janet is still a boy this time, and the female assistant is carrying a girl in her belly.
This also satisfied the female assistant.
She felt that Seattle Westeros was more suitable as a girl's name.
The little one in Janet's belly also has a name.
This time it was Raymond Johnston who made the decision himself, probably because he had long resented the name of Melbourne, the eldest son of Westeros. When the Simons last went to Melbourne, the old man unquestionably said that if it was a boy, he would call him Nicholas. The girl's name was Anita, after Janet's grandparents.
It is obviously a tradition for Westerners to give their children the names of their elders.
The old man didn't let the child be called Raymond or Tracy, and Janet's grandparents were no longer alive, so Simon had no objection, otherwise it would be a bit weird for him.
As for the pregnancy of the female assistant, and Janet's decision to reveal that she had given birth to twins, it was no secret to the Johnston family. Simon had no intention of hiding it, and the matter could not be hidden from his own family at all.
The old man didn't say anything, but he didn't give Simon a good look when he went to Melbourne last time.
Anthony Johnston was also assigned to talk to Simon and mentioned the issue of inheritance and the hope that the female assistant's children would not have a Westeros surname.
Simon was also honest about this. The assets under his name are already huge enough now and will be even more amazing in the future. This asset cannot be left alone to any one or several children. In the future, it is best to exist in the name of the family foundation. As for the surname issue, Simon did not back down and said that he did not want his children to experience a similar experience to him.
If Simon was still the poor boy he was, the Johnston family would certainly not be easy to talk to.
However, Simon has now made too many people look up to him. Even the Johnston family has become a vague vassal of the Westeros system in the eyes of many people. Simon insisted, and the Johnston family never mentioned the assistant's child.
On the other hand, Janet told Simon privately that her family asked her to be strict with her man in the future and that he could not let him go.
And asked Simon if he was afraid
After Daenerys Entertainment's summer celebration party, and after several negotiations, the "True Lies" project was finally finalized.
Arnold Schwarzenegger took the initiative to reduce his salary from US$15 million to US$12 million.
James Cameron didn't give in much.
This project was originally invited by his friend Schwarzenegger to help him. He was not interested in such films. If the producers insisted, Cameron said he would not mind quitting.
The final compromise was to increase the budget to US$80 million. However, once the budget was exceeded, Cameron's fixed director's salary of US$8 million was halved, but the reduced US$4 million did not need to be paid, but was converted into profit sharing. terms.
If the project is profitable.
Although the production budget of "True Lies" in my memory is as high as 115 million US dollars, it is still very profitable.
Both Schwarzenegger and Cameron made certain concessions, but Simon was not too insistent.
MGM and Fox quickly signed a cooperation agreement, in which Fox, which is responsible for distribution, can get a distribution commission of 10%, which is higher than the 8% originally proposed by Simon, but also higher than the 12.5% of the DC movie universe project that Warner Bros. is responsible for. The commission ratio is 2.5 percentage points lower, which is considered a step back for both parties.
For the final heroine, Simon didn't have a very suitable candidate. Actors such as Farrah Fawcett who wanted to get the role through favors were not suitable in his opinion, so he simply left it to the crew to handle it themselves.
As long as it's not Jamie Lee Curtis.