As one of the few excellent movies in Brazil, Eric has seen "City of God". What struck him the most about this film was the sense of powerlessness that he was born with no choice but to struggle to survive in a violent environment.
After receiving the book handed over by Braulio Mantovani, Eric didn't open it. He doesn't have much free time to read such a 500-600-page novel, but directly asked More details on the making of the film.
"City of God" is a novel that reflects the social life of the bottom slums in Brazil, which took Brazilian writer Paul Lins ten years to complete.
When the novel was published two years ago, it quickly aroused a strong response and was quickly translated into various other languages.
Subsequently, the Studio-chnal production company under the French Vivendi Group bought the film and television copyright of the novel and began to write the script. This project was tossed and turned several times, and it fell into the hands of Catherine, so today's meeting with the screenwriter of "City of God" took place.
After chatting for more than ten minutes, Braulio Mantovani found that Eric's thoughts on this film even gradually surpassed his own, which made him start to admire the young Hollywood tycoon in front of him from the bottom of his heart. However, although he really wanted to continue to get close to Eric, but thinking of what happened just now, he still took the initiative to get up and leave.
Eric waited for Braulio Mantovani to leave, then looked at the woman who was still holding the coffee cup in her hand, and asked, "How are you doing?"
After waking up from the absent-minded state, she felt that she should not be too passive in front of this little man, so she quickly put down the glass pretending to be relaxed, and said, "Very good, how about you?"
Eric looked sideways at the woman in front of him and said with a smile, "It's not bad."
I really want to tease him about how he seems to be everywhere in the media during this time, but I don’t want him to know that I pay attention to these things, so I mentioned the movie just now: "What do you think of "City of God"?"
"You are right about using a realistic documentary approach. However, if you want to go further, it is best to use unofficial actors, for example, select some children directly from the slums of Rio for simple training, so that the final effect of the film It will appear more realistic. Another point is that it is very necessary to shoot in Portuguese.” Eric said so, but then said: “So, this film is not suitable for you, you don’t seem to know Portuguese ,right?"
Catherine agreed with Eric's words at first, but she was a little unconvinced when she heard it at the end: "I actually know a little bit, and there is an interpreter."
"It's also difficult to communicate fluently with actors." Eric still shook his head, seeing the woman staring at him, shrugged suddenly, and said, "Well, I know you can do this. Actually, I don't want to For you to go to Brazil to make this movie, the favelas of Rio are too dangerous."
Catherine didn't expect Eric to say that suddenly, and immediately she didn't dare to look at the little man in front of her anymore, subconsciously picked up the coffee cup in front of her, but found that it was already empty, so she stood up, avoiding his eyes and said : "I, I should go back."
"Well, it's time for me to go back." Eric stood up as if nothing had happened, and seeing Catherine's figure immediately freeze, he smiled and said, "Okay, I promise I won't bully you, really like a shy little girl, It makes people feel no sense of accomplishment. Hey, we haven't seen each other for so long, why don't we go for a walk together?"
Hearing what he said so calmly and hatefully, so she gave him a hard look, but she didn't refuse, and she couldn't help but pause after turning around.
They walked side by side to the outside of the deck, but Catherine took the initiative to ask this time: "How is the actor audition for the Marvel Cinematic Universe?"
"I've been busy with this recently," Eric felt the woman's hesitant tone, and said, "Is there anyone you want to recommend to me?"
"Sean called me last week," Catherine said, and explained, "Sean Penn, we worked together in "Red Alert" last time."
Eric understood immediately, and said the name of a person he met just this afternoon: "Jim Caviezel."
Jim Caviezel also participated in "Red Alert". Although he is a big name, his position seems insignificant, but he had a very eye-catching performance in the original film.
Catherine was a little surprised, but she nodded and said, "Sean asked me if I could say a few words for Jim, but I refused. But since I met you... In fact, Jim is a very good actor and very sincere , I just haven’t been able to get a good chance.”
Eric probably knew Jim Caviezel's character during the daytime audition process, and said at this time: "I didn't expect that he and Sean Penn are good friends."
Catherine said with a smile: "Jim is actually a good friend with Kevin Costner. He knows a lot of people, but he rarely asks everyone for help. This may be the reason why everyone is willing to make friends with him. Well, there are very few people in Hollywood who don't care about socializing with people. Sean called me, and I guess Jim didn't know either."
There is no shortage of superstars in Hollywood who are disrespectful due to various reasons, but there are also many celebrities like Sean Penn who have a wide range of friends. Although he has a hot temper in front of the paparazzi, in the circle, Sean Penn is definitely A very generous representative.
Thinking of this, Eric said: "The Hulk that Caviezel auditioned for has just been confirmed this afternoon. To tell you the truth, he is one of the last two candidates, but I think the other one is more suitable."
Catherine just hummed, the two were talking, and soon came to the parking lot outside the north gate of the studio.
After finding her car, Catherine opened the door of the white BMW, saw Eric still standing beside her, and asked, "You?"
"Should you still live in Coldwater Canyon?" Eric said with a harmless face, "I happen to be going to Trousdale Manor, can I take a ride?"
Catherine's movements froze, her tone was a little trembling, and her eyes were filled with resentment: "What did you say just now?"
"Okay," Eric couldn't bear the woman's stare, raised his hand, and said, "Just kidding, and about "City of God", I really don't recommend you to do it yourself, you can hang up The producer, looking for a local director from Brazil, is actually the same."
"Well, I'll think about it."
Catherine responded, sat in the driver's seat, and confirmed that the little man outside did not intend to force her way in. Feeling a little inexplicably disappointed, she said goodbye and started the car slowly.
Although he likes to tease Catherine verbally and see her at a loss, if a woman really shows resistance, Eric will never force it. He also understands why Catherine is in this state. The age gap between the two is indeed too big.
After the meeting that night, Eric continued to pay attention to the "City of God" in the following days.
Since Vivendi also has a stake in MGM, this film will have two companies, MGM and Studio-Chnal.
However, Catherine didn't intend to give up the project afterward. Eric understood some of the stubbornness of women, so he didn't try to persuade her. I think that even if I really go to the Rio slums to shoot, Catherine's safety must be very guaranteed. After all, the Brazilian government will certainly not allow any accidents when an Oscar-winning director shoots a movie in his own country.
At the same time, the casting of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still progressing steadily.
After the actor of "Hulk" was confirmed as Christian Bale, some controversy in the media was almost inevitable.
However, this kind of thing is almost inevitable for superhero casting. Many superhero players are almost questioned when they first get the role. Then, after the movie is released, as long as the quality of the movie is good and the performance of the actors is up to par, fans of the movie and comics will often start to change sides in a very unscrupulous manner.
And, while great care is taken in the casting process, audiences tend to accept even characters that don't really succeed as long as they maintain continuity.
After the actor of Hulk is determined, other roles will be finalized soon.
Since Chris Evans has just turned eighteen, the role of Captain America will definitely not fall to him this time.
After layers of screening, the role was finally finalized as Josh Duhamel, who was once Captain Reynolds in "Transformers".
Josh Duhamel is 26 years old this year and meets the requirements in terms of age. Moreover, the image of American soldiers played by Josh Duhamel in the "Transformers" series is also very popular. Captain America, in the final analysis, is also an American soldier. The selection of this role is somewhat a bit of the standard of thick eyebrows, big eyes, and righteous face when choosing the leading actor of the main theme movie on the other side of the ocean.
After Iron Man and Spider-Man, the three main roles of Captain America, Thor, and Hulk were all finalized, and the framework of the first phase of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe was basically built.
Of course, there is also a more critical role, the black widow Natasha Romanoff, and Eric has not been able to find a very suitable actor.
However, after months of auditions, the final candidates fell on two people.
Maybe Hollywood is just a small circle after all. Eric is also very familiar with the last two candidates, Angelina Jolie and Milla Jovovich.
As in, from a purely intellectual point of view, these two women are undoubtedly very suitable for the role of Black Widow.
However, the two women also have their own problems.
Jolie's problem is undoubtedly the most serious. The actress has been immersed in drug addiction in recent years and has no signs of going ashore.
If it weren't for the family's contacts in Hollywood, it would have been impossible for Julie to get any roles in recent years. Even, the reason why she was able to make it to the final round of the audition, in addition to the fact that Julie herself is really suitable for the role, is largely the result of the mediation of Julie's father Jon Voight. Now Julie has not yet Break with his father.
Moreover, even if Julie can successfully quit drug addiction, her own way of character is a big hidden danger.
In the final analysis, what Eric needs is a more obedient actor.
As for Milla Jovovich, Eric was not too fond of the actress a long time ago. During the audition for "Dark Angel of the Last Days", because he was in a bad mood that day, Eric casually dismissed Milla Jovovich who participated in the audition.
"This is a long-term series that needs to last at least five years and involves nine major movies. We must ensure that the characters are perfect," Eric said bluntly, looking at the thick-lip girl sitting on the opposite chair in the audition room of Firefly Studios "So, how do you guarantee that you will never touch those things again during this process?"
Hearing Eric's question, Julie was obviously a little anxious, but said patiently and respectfully: "Mr. Williams, my agent has already communicated with Firefly about this issue. During the filming process, you Can send someone to test me for drugs at any time."
"Of course we can, but everyone knows that the root cause is still on yourself. If you insist on touching those things, we can't be by your side at all times. Moreover, once something happens, the entire film plan of the Firefly Group will be affected. Hurt, at that time, even if we sue you for bankruptcy, it will not help, and we may even have to take the initiative to hide it for you, Julie, have you ever thought about it?"
Angelina Jolie's eyes flashed, and she didn't answer Eric's question directly. She seemed to feel that she might not be able to get the role, and said with a bit of self-deprecation: "So, Mr. Williams, I was eliminated, right?"
"If you think so," Eric pointed to the direction of the door and said, "You can go out now."
Angelina Jolie wanted to get up subconsciously, but after hesitating for a moment, she sat down on the chair obediently.
Eric nodded with satisfaction, and continued: "Then, another question, the contract of the Firefly Group for this role is also very harsh. Once you take this role, before completing the contract, in addition to playing the role of Black Widow, you Would you accept to be in only one other movie, and it couldn’t cost more than $50 million to make?”
The former Hollywood series of big movies only began to rise after 2000. The rules Eric said are actually more of the general restrictions on roles in the TV industry, and they were rarely used in movies before.
Therefore, Julie obviously hesitated, but after a while, she nodded: "Yes."
"So, let's stop here today," Eric said, "You can go back and wait for the news."
After hearing what Eric said, Julie stood up, said goodbye to everyone politely, and then turned to leave.
Eric said to Joss Whedon beside him, "So, what do you think?"
This is already the third audition for the last few candidates this week, and before Jolie, Milla Jovovich also just left.
Joss Whedon didn't quite understand why Eric spent so much time on the role of Black Widow. However, thinking about the series of classic female characters that Eric has created since his debut, Joss Whedon did not question Eric's harshness too much, but said in a business-like manner: "If you exclude all other factors , both of them are very suitable. However, if I had to choose, I would choose Mira, she is safer. Eric, you seem to be more inclined towards Julie, right?"
Eric nodded and said, "If she hadn't been addicted to drugs and had a more obedient personality, this role might have fallen on her."
"This is Hollywood," Joss Whedon smiled, and said, "How can there be so many good babies in Hollywood, Eric, your request is not realistic from the beginning."