Heads Up Hollywood

Sam Mendes is definitely a top-notch director.

His works such as "American Beauty", "Road to Perdition" and "Road to Revolution" are all famous classics.

Although Sam Mendes is just a newcomer in Hollywood and his first feature film "American Beauty" hasn't even been released yet, Twain has already made up his mind to bring Sam Mendes over.

"American Beauty" was the Oscar for best picture, and helped Sam Mendes win the Oscar for best director in one fell swoop.

Before American Beauty hits theaters, there's never been a better time to sign Sam Mendes.

In mid-July, Tang En Pictures received a tax refund from Germany, totaling 21.5 million US dollars. Excluding the agency fee of 1 million US dollars and 500,000 US dollars in legal fees allocated to Constantine Films, Tang En Pictures received a total of 20 million US dollars!

Three days later, David Heyman also sent good news, and the tax refund from the British side also arrived, as high as 23 million US dollars. After deducting the agency fees and legal fees of US$1.5 million, Tang En Pictures earned another US$21.5 million in revenue.

So far, Dunn Films has 195 million US dollars in funds, which is enough to run the two films "Spider-Man" and "Girl" at the same time!

The crew of "Spider-Man" has also officially started the audition and casting work for some important supporting roles.

For the leading male lead, Peter Parker, Tang En already had a candidate in his mind——James Franco.

The number one female is naturally Jessica Alba.

In late July, the sunglasses system finally sent a reminder that he had acquired the "mirror image possession" skill again.

"Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Man's Menace" has accumulated a cumulative box office of 460 million US dollars in North America, a cumulative overseas box office of more than 240 million US dollars, and a total global box office of more than 700 million US dollars.

So far, Tang En's total personal box office has exceeded 3 billion US dollars, and he has won the system's third "mirror image possession" reward.

At the end of July, Sam Mendes officially signed a contract with Dunn Films to direct "The Girl Who Moved Soul" with a salary of 1.2 million US dollars.

However, Sam Mendes made some requests. He asked his partner when filming "A Beautiful Mind", Alan Ball, to join the team and serve as executive producer.

When Tang En heard the news, he almost burst out laughing.

Alan Ball, a well-known producer, the famous "Uncle Ball", the master of American dramas, participated in the creation of many classic American dramas, and was a key figure in HBO's global popularity.

Such a talent, even without Sam Mendes' request, Twain wanted to recruit him.

...

"Tang En, the creative committee does not approve of our adaptation of the script."

As the president of Marvel Studios, Nina Jacobson served as the producer of "Spider-Man", responsible for communicating all aspects of the relationship.

Tang En rubbed his forehead with a headache, "What do those old guys think? Do you really want the heroine to die?"

In the original "Spider-Man" script, the story flow followed the Marvel plot. Peter Parker's first love girlfriend was Gwen Stacy. Because of the fight with the Green Goblin, Spider-Man indirectly killed his girlfriend, and then completed growing up.

Such a story, in Twain's opinion, was too heavy. What he needed was a relaxed and enjoyable popcorn movie. If you want to express the depth and thickness of the movie, it is definitely not through a "mouthful" hero like "Spider-Man".

So Twain rejected the character of Gwen Stacy, and directly chose Mary Jane, the wife of Spider-Man, as the heroine of the film. After passing the tests of the "Spider-Man" trilogy, lovers finally get married. The process of embracing beauty.

"Nina, what do you think?" Tang En glanced at her.

Nina Jacobson pondered: "I agree with your point of view. Spider-Man has gradually grown from a youthful teenager to a cheerful and outgoing superhero who is even a bit talkative. Need to add such a heavy background. Spider-Man...is a funny character, he should not have a too painful past."

Tang En praised, "Well said. Nina, as I said, I will put all Marvel superheroes on the big screen. Now it is Spider-Man, and in the future there will be Iron Man, Captain America, Ant-Man, Black Widow! I will create the Avengers on the big screen! Remember, this is a big series, what I need is to be lighthearted, funny, entertain the public, not pretend to be deep."

Nina Jacobson hesitated, "Since this is the case, shouldn't we revise the script again? Peter's mistake indirectly killed Uncle Ben, doesn't it fit your overall structure?"

Tang En waved his hand, "I've thought about it. It's not a big problem. It can take time to digest. With the current special effects, it's a little difficult to really bring the Avengers to the big screen. And even if it's filmed, it won't be enough. It is satisfactory. We can build up the confidence and expectations of movie fans in Marvel through the "Spider-Man" trilogy, and when the special effects technology is further mature, it will be the time for Marvel to win the world."

Nina Jacobson knew that Dunn had put too much effort into "Spider-Man" and had taken on a lot of debts. If he didn't have great confidence in the future, he wouldn't need to bear such a huge pressure.

"Okay, I will communicate with the creative committee. One more thing, James Franco agreed to sign a three-part package contract, but he thinks the ten-film contract is too long and wants to shorten it."

"Um?"

Tang En raised his eyebrows, a little displeased.

According to California's "Talent Act", film companies can only sign a package contract with actors for a maximum of three films, just to prevent the contract period from being too long, which will affect the interests of the actors.

This is why many movies are presented in the form of trilogy.

However, in order to prevent the actor from making a big mouth after the movie became famous, it would seriously affect the interests of the film company and the plan to shoot the sequel, so "reservation of film appointments" was allowed.

In other words, the film company can sign the contract with the current market conditions of the actors within the scheduled film contract, so as to prevent the actors from opening their mouths.

For example, Gal Gadot and Warner signed a trilogy package contract. After "Wonder Woman" became a crazy hit, her salary for participating in "Wonder Woman 2" is still only 300,000 US dollars.

For example, Johnny Depp and "Pirates of the Caribbean" only signed three film contracts, and when "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" were filmed, sky-high prices were already offered.

For example, after Robert Downey Jr.'s film contract expired, "Iron Man 4" was delayed, and half an hour of performances in "Avengers 2" and "Captain America 3" received a salary of 40 million US dollars.

This is a salary that even Leonardo Ricaprio and Tom Cruise can't get. It is because there is no film contract restriction that the other party has the opportunity to speak loudly.

"As I said, the Avengers is an unprecedented super series, we will shoot dozens of movies, we have to do some precautions!"

Tang En's face was stern, "The package contract for the trilogy doesn't need to be signed. No matter how high his asking price is, the 20 million film remuneration will be capped, but ten film contracts must not be less!"

Nina Jacobson was a little embarrassed, "James Franco...is a very motivated actor, he is not willing to be imprisoned in the role of Spider-Man all his life, he wants more and broader development space."

"Spiderman is a superhero wearing a mask, and we are making a movie, not a TV series!" Tang En waved his hand, "James is too worried, tell him, just say this is my decision, and the contract is beyond doubt , if he disagrees, there are actors everywhere who want to take on the role of Spiderman!"

Nina Jacobson immediately sensed Tang En's determination, "Okay, I'll go back and inform him right away. He is a smart person and will definitely make the right choice."

"Nina, the past ten years have been the era of superstars. Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise and other superstars were born. But the times have changed. The era of special effects has come. The era of superstars is gone forever. Actors are actors. No one can replace it."

Twain admired James Franco's ability very much, and hoped to cooperate with such an excellent actor, but the premise was that his interests could not be harmed.

"By the way, Harry's role has been screened?"

"Well, after the initial audition, a total of five young men passed the test. When you have time, you can personally host the final audition."

Tang En nodded, "Do you have any important recommendations?"

"Yes!" Nina Jacobson thought for a moment, "Tobey Maguire, 24 years old, has filmed Ann Lee's "Ice Storm" and Woody Allen's "StructureLove", Sunshine Handsome and good at acting."

"Tobey Maguire?"

Tang En opened his eyes wide and froze.

Now... interesting.

In the old version of "Spider-Man", Tobey Maguire played "Spider-Man" Peter Parker, and James Franco played his good friend Harry Osborn.

In Tang En's version of "Spider-Man", it seems to be completely reversed.

James Franco is Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire is Harry Osborn...

Interesting!