Chapter 401 The Matrix and Pretty Woman
"Boss, are you busy?"
At noon, Link was writing the script for the movie "Saving Private Ryan" in his office when Daniel DeVito walked in with a round belly and several folders in his hands.
"What kind of job is that?"
Link asked his assistant to pour a cup of herbal tea for Daniel.
"Harvey approached me again yesterday and said he wanted to co-invest in a movie."
"Remember you didn't reach an agreement last time."
"Yes, he didn't like the few film projects I brought out last time, but I don't know why he changed his mind this time. He is eager to cooperate."
Daniel DeVito shrugged.
"Which project did Harvey choose?"
"As you said, I put out some artistic film projects for Harvey to choose from, and he chose Evita among the three projects."
By the end of the year, the film projects that Guess Pictures had launched at the beginning of the year had begun filming, and the remaining film projects were launched in June and July, including "Out of Sight", "Nothing to Lose" and "Evita" starring Madonna.
The production cost of "Evita" was 55 million US dollars. Madonna invested 15 million US dollars herself and Guess Pictures invested 40 million US dollars. If Miramax wants to participate, it can transfer half of the investment share.
"Evita has a good script. If it is well-made, it has the potential to become a dark horse movie. It is a good idea for Harvey to choose this one."
Link said as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Harvey is indeed a good producer, but he is far worse than you in selecting films."
Daniel DeVito smiled and praised, "There is one more thing. Some time ago, I received an interesting script called "The Matrix". The screenwriter is the Wachowski brothers, who directed "The Last Assassin". They said that part of the plot was inspired by "The Network" when they were writing the script, so they submitted the script to our company for review. After reading it, I found it to be good and worth investing in."
"The Matrix?"
Link raised his handsome eyebrows.
"Yes! Here is the script, take a look."
Daniel DeVito rummaged through the folder and pulled out a blue-covered script and pushed it in front of him.
Link opened it and took a look. It was similar to his impression of "The Matrix".
It tells the story of a cyber hacker named Neo who discovers that the world he lives in is controlled by an artificial intelligence system called the Matrix, causing people to lose their freedom and thoughts. In order to solve this situation, he joins forces with the mysterious girl Trinity and the leader of the hacker organization Morpheus to fight against the Matrix and battle against the computer data man.
When reading the script, Link couldn't help but think of the scene where Keanu Reeves and the heroine Carrie-Anne Moss ran around in black leather jackets, and Keanu Reeves dodged bullets while swaying around.
The setting of this movie is really cool and very alternative.
According to the current level of Internet knowledge popularization, many people may not even understand the script, but now is the beginning of the Internet age. This type of subject matter is very fresh and can arouse the curiosity of the audience. This is also the reason why "The Matrix" series of movies sold well.
"Boss, how is it?"
Daniel asked, holding his cup of tea.
“The story is very interesting and has great innovation based on the setting of Network. It is worth investing in.”
This script is similar to the movie in his memory, with only a few plot differences. He has no plans to revise it himself and believes that the Wachowski brothers will correct it during filming.
“Boss, when the Wachowski brothers submitted the script, they said they would personally direct this movie, but the box office performance of The Last Assassin, which they shot last year, was very poor. The production cost was 50 million US dollars, but in the end, they only earned more than 30 million at the box office, causing Warner Bros. Pictures to lose a lot of money.
This shows that the level of the Wachowski brothers is very average. This movie is a science fiction type, which requires a lot of special effects and the production cost is estimated to be very high. It is too risky to let them direct such a big project.
Should we take the script and let you direct the film? You did a great job with The Network, and I believe this film will do well as well."
Daniel DeVito said, adjusting the arm of his glasses.
Link thought about it and refused.
"The Matrix" is a series of films. It would be very troublesome to shoot the three films first and last. Moreover, the Wachowski brothers are capable and ambitious, so they may not be willing to give up the opportunity to be directors.
After all the nonsense, it would be better to let the Wachowski brothers direct the film and the company can just make money from the film.
"Let the Wachowski brothers direct. My schedule is full next year and I don't have time to direct other films. Besides, they are young directors who are still growing. We should have some patience and confidence in them."
"Well, how about you be the producer? With you in charge, the project will be more secure."
“That’s fine!”
Link agreed.
Daniel talked to him about other film projects.
This year, the company has independently produced and co-produced 22 films, and 10 of them have been completed.
Including "Smoke" directed by Wang Ying, "The Rock" and "Primal Fear" directed by Link, the comedy film "Liar Liar" in which Jim Carrey and Tom Shadyac collaborated again, "Girl, Interrupted" directed by Sofia, the new film "Boogie Nights" directed by Thomas Anderson, and "Paranormal Activity 3".
As well as "12 Monkeys" in collaboration with Columbia Pictures, "Fight Club" in collaboration with Miramax Films, and "Crazy Madness" in collaboration with New Line.
The remaining dozen or so films are either being filmed or in preparation.
Since there are not many blockbusters produced exclusively by Guess Pictures this year, only five films such as "The Rock" and "Liar Liar" cost more than 50 million US dollars, and the costs of the others are relatively low.
By August, the production department still had about 85 million US dollars left in its account, which was enough to invest in "The Matrix" and one or two low-cost films.
Link doesn't have time to read scripts and select projects, so he leaves these matters to the production department.
After Daniel left, Link took out a notepad and added the name of "The Matrix".
There are also "Saving Private Ryan", "Beautiful Women", "Keep Moving", "Shakespeare in Love", etc. These are the film projects that Guess Pictures plans to shoot at the end of this year and next year.
Closing the notebook, Link continued to write the script for the movie "Saving Private Ryan". The film has been approved and has a cost budget of 70 million US dollars. The starring actors are tentatively Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, etc., almost the original cast.
The filming locations are mainly located near several World War II battlefields in Europe, including Cullaclaw Beach in Ireland, Thurm Park in England, and Normandy in France.
Currently, the set designers of the production team have arrived at the set in advance to make arrangements.
The main actors received military training in Texas.
The film is expected to start shooting in October.
Ding-a-ling!
The cell phone on the table rang a few times. It was Chen Chong calling from China.
Chen Chong has spent most of this year in China handling company affairs. Under her management, several films released by Dongfeng Pictures this year have performed well at the box office and have not made a loss.
Chen Chong told him that the filming of "Zheng Chenggong" was completed and asked him if he had time to return to China. There were some remaining shots that needed him to edit and review. If he didn't have time, she would bring the film to the United States.
Link looked at his schedule for the next few weeks. He would be going to Italy to attend the Venice Film Festival next week and would not have time to fly to China. However, it would be troublesome and unsafe to let Chen Chong fly to the United States with the film.
He plans to take some time out in September to visit China and finish up "Zheng Chenggong".
Chen Chong said yes with a smile, and said that the company had signed some good newcomers, including three pretty girls, and asked him to help train them.
Link told her to stop being so naughty, focus on work and not mess around in the company. If her messing around caused the company to suffer losses, she would be severely punished.
Chen Chong couldn't stop laughing after hearing this and said that she really wanted to be severely punished by him. Now she was his from head to toe and inside out, and he could punish her in any way he wanted.
This slutty woman's voice was gentle and charming when she spoke, and it was so tender and soft that it went on to the bone. The more she spoke, the more wanton it became, which made people very angry.
Boom boom!
There was a knock on the door outside the office. Link ended his flirting with Chen Chong and shouted "Come in".
"Are you busy, dear?"
Before the woman outside entered the room, a burst of seductive laughter came in.
The visitor is the fair-skinned beauty Nicole Kidman.
The beauty walked in with a small handbag and a seductive figure. She was wearing a women's suit and a straight skirt, black stockings and high heels. Her rosy red lips set off her snow-white skin, and a golden ponytail swayed left and right behind her. She was dressed completely according to his preferences.
"I'm not busy, how come you have time to come here?"
"I came here to shop with a few friends, and thought that you were still at work, so I came up to harass you."
Nicole Kidman smiled and sat on his lap, hooked her slender arms around his neck, leaned against him intimately and smiled, "Do you think I'm too annoying?"
"No! I like to combine work and rest."
Link smiled softly, sliding his hand down to check the quality of the stockings and the temperature of her body.
"Really? How about I come over here to harass you every day from now on?"
"No problem, you can come as long as I'm in the office."
“Haha, forget it. Monica and Lina like to keep an eye on this place to see who is cheating on you in the company. If they catch me, they will criticize me in a meeting at night, and maybe even tie me up and punish me like they did last time.”
Nicole Kidman twisted in his arms, using this method to increase the skin contact area.
Link smiled, and when he checked her attire, he found that she was wearing sexy lingerie underneath, and was obviously here to deliver food.
Lin Ke was teased by Chen Chong for a few words and happened to have an appetite. He didn't say anything more. He carried the woman to the desk, unwrapped the outer packaging, and began to enjoy the food.
(End of this chapter)
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