American Fame and Fortune Chapter 301

Chapter 301 It's always me who gets hurt

In the film room, a preview of the new film "The Deadly Gunman" starring Pitt is going on. Warner Pictures executives such as Daniel, Alan Horn and Charles Rowan all have expressionless faces.

On the screen, Brad Pitt is wearing a cowboy suit, looking quite imposing and with a unique yuppie feel.

 But these people at Warner thought of CocCola's latest advertisement almost at the same time.

The cowboy who was originally like a yuppie gentleman turned out to be so awkward.

Even, I feel that this person should be severely trampled on, ravaged, and made to cry and repent.

It would have been fine if Pitt had used other looks in the film, but the sharpshooter James he played was a typical cowboy.

　　It was not only people from Warner who had this idea, but also people from Pitt's side were not spared.

 Including Maggie Darkshire.

 She felt that the film might not go well.

　　At the end of the preview meeting, before Pitt, the producer and leading actor, could say anything, Warner executives and film viewing experts who had exchanged glances reached a tacit understanding.

Alan Horn said: "Brad, we need to have a small meeting internally, please wait for a while."

 Pete smiled: “You're welcome.”

  Warner executives and movie viewing experts entered the adjacent office.

Allan Horn asked directly: "Isn't this film a little weird?"

Several film experts have reached a consensus. One of them said: "It's not that the film is weird, it's that Pete looks weird. His cowboy look is too easy to associate with the latest version of CocCola's advertisement."

Daniel responded: "That's true."

Charles Rowan smiled helplessly: "When I saw Pete in cowboy clothes appear on the screen, CocCola started pouring out of my head."

Seeing others nodding, Alan Horn asked: "If the audience sees it, will there be drama?"

“Maybe some of them won't,” said the film viewing expert, “but some of them will definitely think of that version of the advertisement.”

Daniel suggested: “I remember that the company signed a distribution contract with the crew?”

Alan Horn said: "When this project was initiated, we signed a distribution contract, but Pete was very confident at the time and refused to let us participate in production investment. Apart from today's screening, we did not make any other preliminary investment. , the investment is basically zero.”

Charles Rowan then added: “Now that we have signed a distribution contract, we will suppress it for the time being and wait until the influence of CocCola's advertising subsides before releasing it.”

It's impossible for Allen Horn to give up on this movie. For pure distribution, the chance of losing money is very small.

 He made a decision: "Let's just decide."

This internal discussion ended quickly within a few minutes. Alan Horn asked Pete to come over and formally inform him of the decision.

　　"Post-release?" Since marrying Aniston, Pitt has never enjoyed this kind of second-tier treatment, and he is a little dissatisfied: "Ellen, this film has been completed, time is the cost..."

Alan Horn raised his hand to interrupt him: "Warner Brothers has a very full schedule and can't find a suitable time slot for the time being. We can't let a film like this face the direct impact of those commercial blockbusters, right?"

For a star of Pitt's level and the major shareholder of Plan B, he spoke more politely: "Give Warner some time. I will let you know when a suitable schedule is available."

 The six major publishers are at the absolute upper reaches of the industry chain, and it is normal for schedules to be tight. Pete gave a few words of urging and left Allen Horn's office.

When he went downstairs to join a few others, he happened to meet Banks, a Warner moviegoer who was attending the screening.

 “Hey, Brad, let's chat.” Banks was having a hard time getting ahead at Warner Bros., so he had other ideas.

 Pete asked: "What's the matter?"

Banks said: “About the release of Death of a Gunslinger…”

  He quickly stated Warner Bros.'s concerns.

Peter didn't think it at first, but his face grew darker as he listened, and he couldn't help but think of the CocCola advertisement.

"That's about it." Banks finished selling and left quickly: "I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

Pete put his hands in his pockets, still trying to maintain his grace, and took the elevator downstairs.

 As soon as he entered the spacious front lobby of the Warner Building, he saw a new promotional poster posted on the CocCola vending machine. On the poster, Martin, who looked like a cowboy, used Coke as gospel to inspire another bully cowboy who looked like him.

Peter came to the rest area and sat down, wanting to be alone for a while.

He calmed down and gradually regained his composure. It was not difficult to find that Warner's decision was okay. If "Death of the Gunslinger" was released into theaters when this version of the advertisement had the greatest impact, there might be big problems.

 It's okay to wait.

Wanting to understand this, Peter's anger emerged again. Why was it me who was injured?

 In the soda fountain of Warner Studios.

 Martin came to the counter and asked for a cup of tea.

Part-time actor Mia happily collected money and gave change: "Just the same as before, black tea without milk or sugar?"

"Yes!" Martin passed by and was familiar with Mia. He was very happy to see her and asked, "Did you get an important role?"

Mia nodded heavily: "Yes, there are nearly ten lines." Martin gave her a thumbs up: "It's a big step forward."

Mia had a satisfied smile on her face dotted with freckles: "Among the five of us who rent a house together, I was the first to get the lines."

 Martin took the black tea from her and suggested: "Let your agent run more. If he works hard, you will have more job opportunities."

Mia said: "He doesn't pay much attention to me."

 “Let's take it step by step.” Martin came to the empty table with tea and sat down, waiting for Thomas to bring someone over.

Marcus has finished handling the funeral affairs of Daisy and John's two dogs, and several black people have been officially arrested. He will soon be able to get out and start working on the memoirs.

Thomas found a suitable person from among the contracted writers and screenwriters within WMA to serve as a ghostwriter to assist Marcus in completing the memoir.

Today, Martin is going to meet the playwright.

There were no other customers in the cold drink shop at the moment. Mia picked up a pen and started writing in a notebook.

 What she recorded were all her experiences and insights in the studio.

Having been working here for more than a year, Mia is still a small actor, but besides being an actress, she is also trying to write something.

　　Not taking the initiative, but being forced to do so. It is too difficult for a simple actor to get ahead.

 Thomas then entered the store with a man in a gray shirt.

This man is in his thirties, slightly fat, and has a beard.

Thomas introduced: "This is Robinson, a playwright signed by the company, who has participated in many film projects."

 Martin shook hands with him, asked him to sit down wherever he wanted, asked Mia to bring two cups of coffee, and asked directly: "Have you participated in many film projects?"

Robinson is not a newcomer to Hollywood and knows the importance of resume, saying: "I was a member of Mark Ball's writing team before."

 Martin had never heard of this person and was a little confused.

Robinson elaborated: "Mark Ball is the screenwriter of "Black Hawk Down", and I participated in the script writing of this project as a team member."

 Martin knows that the writing of many scripts in Hollywood is also an assembly line model of division of labor and cooperation. Behind many well-known screenwriters, there is often a team to support them.

These screenwriters naturally cannot sign their names on the film. Each Hollywood movie can only sign up to three screenwriters, and signature means various online and offline divisions stipulated by the Screenwriters Guild.

Robinson focused on war-related projects: "The last time I worked, I participated in "Battle of the Valley of Elah" directed by Paul Haggis. Like other projects, I participated as a team member and did not Authorization rights.”

 Martin asked: “Do you have any scripts or works that you have written?”

Robinson took out a printed copy and handed it to Martin: "This is the part of "Black Hawk Down" that I was responsible for writing. "The Battle of the Valley of Elah" has just been filmed and has not yet been released, so the script cannot be released to the public."

 Martin nodded and looked at it carefully.

 In terms of English writing, Martin is a scumbag. He is definitely a scumbag among scumbags, but his reading ability is normal. He has read a lot of scripts and has a certain ability to identify.

"Black Hawk Down" is not an ordinary movie. He also watched it recently when the film was released.

 Martin read it for more than ten minutes before putting down the script and asked: "Why did you leave Mark Ball's team?"

Robinson hesitated and decided to tell the truth: "I have been working in his team for five years and still don't have the right to sign. I feel that if I work for another five years, it will still be the same as now. Although he, the boss, has given me various promises, I still don't have the right to sign." I think the chances of redemption are very low.”

He smiled helplessly: "I also want to write my name on the script I created and sign the movie. This time, although I don't have any copyright on Marcus's memoir, I can sign it."

 Martin nodded slightly: "In addition to the remuneration, he does have the right of signature, but the ghostwriter's name must be ranked behind Marcus."

Robinson said: "No problem."

"In this case, I will ask Marcus to come out and meet together." Martin wanted to examine it in a more practical way: "You listen to Marcus tell a paragraph, and then write it out."

Robinson responded immediately.

 Martin called Marcus and arranged to meet at Davis Film and Television Studios.

 Less than half an hour, the two parties met in Martin's office.

 Marcus's situation is somewhat similar to Martin's. When speaking, there is generally no problem, but when it is converted into written expression, it becomes blind.

 Spoken and written expression are completely different.

Seeing that Martin had found a suitable playwright so quickly, Marcus was very excited. He talked and gestured with his hands to describe an experience when he first entered the seal.

Robinson first recorded it in a draft. After Marcus finished speaking, he went into the conference room next to him alone and began to organize and write.

 When it was almost time to get off work, he came out of the conference room and handed the written paragraph to Martin.

 Martin looked at it quickly and handed it to Marcus.

The latter read it once and said: "Yes, that's it!"

 Martin asked Thomas to read it again, confirmed that there was no problem, and decided to hire Robinson.

 (End of this chapter)

Chapter end