In the summer of 1994, it was extremely hot because of the fighting between the two films "Saving Private Ryan" and "True Lies". In the third week of June, Paramount Pictures' "Star Trek 7" was released. Although this sci-fi film with a cost of only 35 million US dollars is adapted from a classic sci-fi American drama, it does not seem to satisfy the audience's visual needs. It only received 1 million US dollars in the box office in the first three days of the weekend. The number one "True Lies" and The third place "Saving Private Ryan" did not show any momentum to compete with the two blockbusters. Although "The Mummy" entered the fourth week of release, although the cumulative box office has reached 160 million US dollars, the box office potential has basically been exhausted. , lost the threat to "True Lies" and "Saving Private Ryan".
Moreover, the possibility that "The Lion King" on June 27 will have an impact on the two live-action movies is also very small. After all, the audiences of live-action movies and cartoons are very different, not to mention "True Lies" and "Saving Private Rui". Both films are R-rated, so the possibility of mutual influence is even lower.
Eric was also worried that Warner's $63 million Western film "Law Enforcement Titans" would become an obstacle to the box office harvest of "True Lies" and "Saving Private Ryan", but compared to the small-scale trial screening of "The Lion King" The good reputation shown, although "Law Enforcement Titans" also held a trial screening, but the entire film critics seemed silent. Under such circumstances, anyone with a little common sense knows what happened. "Word-of-mouth must be very unsatisfactory, but under the public relations of Warner, the film critics did not disclose this news before the large-scale release, so. Eric also confirmed a guess that had been hesitating in his heart. "Law Enforcement Titans" should not be a new film produced because of the butterfly effect. Instead, it should have rushed to the street silently in the original time and space. In this case, Eric didn't have any worries. Firefly held a celebration banquet at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Beverly Hills after the box office of the second weekend of "True Lies" was released.
Because the interview work of the Victoria's Secret Angel didn't end until after six o'clock in the afternoon, Eric rushed directly from Playa Vista to the Sunset Tower Hotel.
"True Lies" is still being released, so this celebration banquet is quite high-profile, not only the red carpet was laid out, but also a large number of reporters were invited. In order to continue to build momentum for the movie's box office.
Eric was already a little late when he set off, and he encountered a traffic jam on the road. It was already a quarter past seven when he arrived at the Sunset Tower Hotel. The media reporters who accepted the invitation thought that there would be no more stars, and had already planned to leave. Seeing Eric's appearance, all of them rushed up. Fortunately, the reporters who were invited to come here were very disciplined, coupled with the scruples about Eric's current identity, they didn't ask any sensitive questions.
After Eric patiently accepted the interview and walked into the hotel, some executives of Firefly and the crew members of "True Lies" had already greeted him.
Greeted everyone one by one. Eric came to Cameron, just about to tease a few words about "Saving Private Ryan". Seeing Linda Hamilton next to Cameron, they didn't bring up this topic, but exchanged warm greetings, and everyone walked towards the banquet hall together.
After a busy day's work, Eric didn't have much energy to socialize with others. After a few words with some guests who took the initiative to strike up a conversation, Eric came to the Cameron couple and said to Linda Hamilton: "Linda Hamilton Da, can you lend me Jim, we have something to talk about?"
"Of course no problem," Linda Hamilton raised her glass to Eric, and walked away briskly.
Eric could see that Cameron and Linda Hamilton had lost the enthusiasm they had at the beginning. In his memory, the two had delayed getting married until 1997, but the marriage only lasted for a year and a half. It's just that Eric doesn't know whether Cameron will meet Suzy Amis, the woman who fits his personality best.
Cameron followed Eric's gaze and looked at the back of Linda Hamilton leaving, and said with emotion inexplicably: "Woman!"
Eric could hear that Cameron's emotion was definitely not aimed at Linda Hamilton alone, and said with a smile: "You won't be really hit, will you?"
"Of course not," Cameron immediately denied, but said after a moment of hesitation, "I went to see that movie, and Catherine's filming was really great."
"Okay, let's not talk about her," Eric patted Cameron's shoulder: "Since we lost this time, we will win it next time, so when do you plan to start preparing for "Titanic"? "
Cameron thought for a while, and said: "Linda and I plan to go to Hawaii for vacation next month, and we can start preparations at the end of the year. However, Eric, I think 70 million is definitely not enough, so this time we might as well directly How about raising the production cost to $100 million so I can better finance it?"
Eric held his chin, pretended to hesitate for a while, and then said 'reluctantly': "I can promise you this, anyway, you are almost used to burning so much money every time you make a movie, but it's only 100 million US dollars. You must not overspend this time, you should know that Firefly Group is no longer mine alone, if it overspends, those shareholders will definitely jump out and point fingers."
Cameron privately calculated the production cost to be 150 million U.S. dollars, but Hollywood has never had a movie with such a high cost. He felt that Eric would definitely reject it on the spot if he proposed it, and might even cut the project off, Came Long has recently had more and more ideas about the production of "Titanic", and he absolutely does not want to see the project being canceled. Therefore, Cameron thought in his heart, first raise the cost with Eric to 100 million US dollars, and later... it's not up to anyone, half of the filming is out of money, what else can be done besides continuing to add more, the project can't be let down. Unfinished.
Therefore, when Eric said this, Cameron readily 'agreed', and patted his chest to promise: "Absolutely no problem, Eric, I promise that I will never overspend again this time, otherwise I will I don’t want a penny of the director’s salary.”
Two unscrupulous guys have their own little calculations. Soon, the specific plan of the project was discussed in a serious manner. And also brought Cameron's producer partner Jon Landau together.
When Eric and Cameron discussed this matter. No one came to bother them uninterestedly all the time, but after discussing the topic of "Titanic", just after we separated, Eric saw a couple of men and women walking towards him.
Eric looked at the tall girl with a beauty spot on her lips with great interest, knowing that it was definitely not a coincidence, but he quickly retracted his eyes. He greeted the bearded middle-aged man next to the woman. Compared with a woman, Eric paid more attention to this fat man, Joe Silver, whose figure was somewhat similar to Harvey Weinstein.
Although in Hollywood, producers such as Jerry Bruckheimer and Jon Landau are more famous, but in terms of status, at least before the new century, absolutely no one in the producer circle can surpass Joe Silver , the Silver Production Company in his hands has successively participated in many well-known action films such as "Lethal Weapon" series, "Die Hard" series, "Matrix" series, "Operation Swordfish" and "V for Vendetta" The development of big movies, and. In the mid-1980s, Joe Silver was one of the important candidates for Disney eo. Although he failed to compete against Michael Eisner in the end, it was enough to prove the super strength of this person in Hollywood.
"Joe, good evening, long time no see," Eric took the initiative to greet Joe Silver, and greeted him warmly.
Joe Silver shook hands with Eric, laughed and said, "Good evening, Eric, congratulations to your Firefly for having two more box office bombs this year."
Eric let go of the other's big hand, took a glass of champagne from the waiter, and asked, "What about you, what movie are you busy with recently?"
Joe Silver seemed to suddenly remember, pointing to the beauty mole girl beside him, said: "My production company is making a shootout movie recently, this is my heroine, Cindy Crawford Miss."
Eric raised his glass to Cindy Crawford and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Miss Crawford, Joe's film will definitely make you famous in one fell swoop."
"Thank you, Mr. Williams," said Cindy Crawford, who had already vacated her right hand holding the goblet. Seeing that Eric had no intention of shaking hands with her at all, she had no choice but to change the cup back. She has always been the focus of everyone's attention, and she thought that Eric, the legendary playboy, would definitely pounce on him without hesitation, but the somewhat indifferent reactions of Eric, including Joe Silver next to her, made her the first time Tried to the unwilling frustration.
Immediately afterwards, Eric did not hesitate to say even more frustrating words: "Miss Crawford, can I have a chat with Joe alone?"
Cindy Crawford suppressed the anger in her heart, still maintained a charming smile, and said, "Okay, no problem."
After Cindy Crawford left, Joe Silver joked, "Eric, there's no need to be angry with a woman who is not worth mentioning. It's not like you can't find enough beautiful beauties in your show." , I heard that the Firefly Studios has gathered a group of the world's top models today, which is enough to dazzle you."
Eric spread his hands, and didn't mind Joe Silver's ridicule, and said with a smile: "I'm a young man, it's true that I often play with my temper. And since this woman has already got a big-budget film The heroine is still unwilling to let go of the opportunity to be the spokesperson of Victoria's Secret, which seems a bit greedy, I don't like women who are too greedy."
Joe Silver smiled noncommittally. Too many people in Hollywood hope that Eric is just a young and energetic young man, but no one would naively think that this would be the truth. After thinking about it, Joe Silver said with some slyness in his eyes: "Eric, if you can talk about the film I'm making, if you can convince me, I can kick that chick out immediately .”
Even if Joe Silver didn't say anything, Eric knew which movie Cindy Crawford was about to be in.
If you don't count other cameo movies, the movie called "Adversarial Game" is the only movie starring Cindy Crawford, and of course, it is also the last one. Because "Adversarial Games" tells a very confusing and out of place story. A female lawyer accidentally discovered the KGB spy ship. Soviet KGB agents launched a series of assassinations on the female lawyer in order to destroy the evidence. The violence in the United States throughout the process The department seems to disappear without a trace, completely left to the female lawyer and a accidentally involved police detective to be hunted down by a group of KGB agents on their own soil in the United States, and almost killed several times. If it was before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, films of this theme might have caused some repercussions, but it is already 1994. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Soviet regime collapsed and Russia fell into an economic winter. His self-confidence is also at an all-time high. Under such circumstances, seeing such a film that runs counter to the 'main theme' and even has a somewhat absurd plot, one can imagine the fate of the film.
Joe Silver saw that Eric had no objection, so he told Eric the plot of "Confrontational Games". Of course, he wanted to get some advice from Eric, but after speaking, Eric Rick just shrugged his shoulders without any comment. Instead, he said to Joe Silver: "Joe, after making this movie, why don't you come to Firefly, I will give you the same treatment as when you were at Warner, and I will make it soon The film version of my "The Matrix", this project can also be entrusted to you."
Eric's words are completely sincere. Joe Silver is best at making big-budget action movies like "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon". Jerry Bruckheimer of the G special effects film just complements each other. With the continuous expansion of Firefly's strength, it is impossible for Eric to maintain a state of being completely hands-on with his projects. It is inevitable to win over more outstanding producers.
Joe Silver was taken aback when he heard Eric's words, and asked tentatively, "Eric, don't you like this movie?"
Eric asked: "How far have you made it?"
Joe Silver said: "The filming has already started. If all goes well, it will be released next summer."
If the other party's project is still in the preliminary preparation stage and has not invested too much money, Eric will tell the other party the details of the joints in detail in order to show his sincerity to win over Joe Silver, and advise him to cut this project decisively, but since The filming has already started, and a large sum of money must have been spent, so many things cannot be reversed, and Eric can only show his hands to Joe Silver, saying: "If you believe me, let Warner pay as much as possible for the production funds , In addition, if you want to join Firefly, I welcome it at any time, "The Matrix" will not start until the second half of next year, before that, as long as you come over, the project is yours at any time."
"Adversarial Game" is definitely a big production with an investment of more than 50 million US dollars. If this project fails, there will definitely be a crack in the relationship between Joe Silver and Warner, and that will also be a good opportunity for Firefly to poach. (To be continued.)