Heads Up Hollywood

"Taken" is really a small project.

The reason why Tang En paid attention to it was not because this movie was a classic action movie in his previous life. He worked so much now that he couldn't pay attention to such trivial things.

It's because of Luc Besson.

As Mel Gibson said, the narration of this story is completely different from the Hollywood action movie mode.

Although Luc Besson is a French director, he is closer to the Hollywood style. He was not sure about this story, so he sent the script to Tang En, asking for his opinion, to see if this subversive story would work.

When Tang En saw the script, he immediately thought of Mel Gibson.

His relationship with Mel Gibson is too good.

When Tang En was in the most difficult time, Mel Gibson stepped forward many times and led the entire Australian gang to support him. This kind of friendship is enough for Tang En to remember for a lifetime.

The actor in the original "Taken" is Liam Neeson, but compared with Mel Gibson, it is too face-to-face, and Mel Gibson is tough enough.

Mel Gibson was a little uncertain, hesitantly said: "This script...is it really okay?"

It completely subverted his perception of action movies in the past few years.

Tang En smiled and nodded, "No problem!"

Mel Gibson didn't say anything more, "If this is the case... I might as well cooperate with Luc Besson again."

Previously, the two parties had cooperated once.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith is produced and written by Tang En.

Directed by Luc Besson, starring Mel Gibson and Sophie Marceau, the film has a North American box office of 220 million US dollars and a global box office of 540 million US dollars, which is better than "Mission: Impossible 2". Action movie classic.

Later, Dunn Films and Europa Films also intended to promote Mr. and Mrs. Smith 2, but the project has been shelved because the script has not satisfied both parties.

Tang En said: "However, Luc Besson seems to have no intention of directing."

"Then I'll be the director." Mel Gibson shrugged indifferently.

Tang En's face immediately turned black.

This guy!

Do something again!

Mel Gibson is a master-level director. Of course, he would not make an action movie with no technical content as a director. What he said meant that he wanted to be above the director!

The director has to shoot according to his wishes.

That's fine for a drama, if it's an action movie... In the past 20 years, most of the action movies made by Mel Gibson have been in this mode.

What the director says doesn't matter, what the producer says doesn't matter, everything must be filmed according to Mel Gibson's plan! He even changed scripts and lines on the spot, making him a complete set bully.

Except for a top-line director like Luc Besson who can control the audience, everyone else has to obey him.

Tang En was very helpless, "Mel, you can't do this. You know, "Taken" is not a Hollywood action movie in the traditional sense, and it is completely different from your experience in the past few decades. If you follow your own understanding How do you find subversiveness if you want to shoot?”

Mel Gibson was also very straightforward, "Either let Luc Besson direct, or I will take over. Xiao Xiami's stupid director has no right to tell me what to do."

"Let Luc Besson be the director?"

Tang En was a little speechless.

The original "Taken" actor was Liam Neeson, and the salary of $5 million was enough to get it done. The cost of the movie may only need $25 million.

With Mel Gibson starring, it would cost at least $40 million.

If newcomers are asked to direct the film, then they will be very obedient, have little ambition, and will try to reduce costs as much as possible. If it were Luc Besson... a big scene would be inevitable!

The production cost of 80 million US dollars can't stop it!

It's really going in the direction of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Of course, Mel Gibson knew Tang En's concerns, and said: "It's no fun to make small troubles. Since you are optimistic about this new model of action movies, I believe it will be recognized by the market. If this is the case, why not make it big? Luc Besson has The ability to run big productions, I also have enough market appeal. Tom Cruise has a "Mission: Impossible" series, why can't we make a "Taken" series?"

Well, ambition is really big enough!

In the planning of Europa Films, "Taken" is just a small experimental production. It's best to succeed, it's okay to fail.

But Mel Gibson is not reconciled, he wants to be bigger and stronger!

Make some small investment to experiment first?

unnecessary!

If Tang En said yes, he would definitely do it!

Of course, he also has certain selfishness.

In the 1990s, he was the number one action superstar in Hollywood. Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Bruce Willis, and Jack Chen were all his descendants.

But after the new century, Tom Cruise seems to have become the leader in the field of action movies. The production cost of "Mission: Impossible 3" is 150 million US dollars, the North American publicity fee is 80 million US dollars, and the overseas publicity fee is 70 million US dollars, with a total investment of 300 million US dollars!

If you dare to bet such a large sum of money on one person, the whole world is Tom Cruise!

Even Mel Gibson, no production company is willing to cast such a big bet.

This made him very unbalanced.

Now, Tang En is optimistic about "Taken", and this is indeed an action movie that subverts Hollywood traditions. This makes Mel Gibson seem to be 20 years younger in an instant, and he wants to fight again!

He wants to make "Taken" a series similar to "Mission: Impossible", and then head to head with Tom Cruise!

See who is the real action superstar!

It can be said that under the influence of Tang En, Hollywood has undergone great changes from its previous life.

Mel Gibson did not make "The Passion of the Christ", was not suppressed by the Jews collectively, and did not make racially discriminatory remarks against the Jews after drinking... He is still the top star in Hollywood.

Suddenly, Tang En hesitated a little.

Do it like this, okay?

The original version of "Taken" had a production cost of 25 million U.S. dollars, a global box office of 230 million U.S. dollars, and a share of more than 100 million U.S. dollars. Counting peripheral revenue, it is not surprising that the film earned $200 million.

The rate of return is astonishingly high!

But if it becomes a big production... the rate of return will definitely not be so high.

Tang En thought for a while and said, "Well, let me discuss with a few people first, as well as Luc Besson. You know, this is a project of Europa Films."

"Can I participate?" Mel Gibson's intentions were very strong.

Tang En said: "Okay!"

...

Three days later, Luc Besson and Robert Marc Kamen flew to Los Angeles.

Robert Mark Carmen is Luc Besson's partner for many years. He has been working in Europa Films for these years, and together with Luc Besson, he is engaged in the creation of action films. Speaking of it, he still has some connections with Marvel. As early as 17 years ago, he made the "Punisher" movie, but the movie was terrible and the benefits were very poor.

Twain brought Nina Jacobson, Katherine Kennedy, Grant Hill, Glenn Fierro, David Knight and other film executives and producers to discuss the big-budget version of "Taken" feasibility.

Unexpectedly, when everyone heard that the leading actor was Mel Gibson, everyone's eyes widened.

What is there to hesitate about?

Do it!

That's Mel Gibson, as long as it doesn't go too far, how can there be a loss?

It will definitely make money!

When Mel Gibson said he was going to invite Luc Besson to direct, and the two sides worked together again, the consensus was even more consistent.

Do it!

Must do!

The previous "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" was a big success, this is the confidence.

Chasing ups and downs is the first rule of Hollywood decision-making!

Moreover, since you, Twain, are optimistic about the story of "Taken" and approve of this new concept of action movies, then there is no problem.

Package earning is not negotiable!

Even Luc Besson also expressed his opinion. He said that if Mel Gibson is willing to be the actor, then he might as well come out as a director again and cooperate with Mel Gibson again!

Luc Besson's brand is big.

In recent years, he has been engaged in his Europa Films in France, and he already has the reputation of the godfather of French commercial films. He seldom ends up in person, he always participates as a producer and screenwriter, and promotes newcomers to become directors.

However, if Mel Gibson plays the role, if it cooperates with Tang En Pictures... then it must be a big project!

For such a super-big project, it is safer for him to do it himself.

Europa Films agrees, Dunn Films agrees, and Mel Gibson is also pushing hard...

In the end, it was Tang En who had doubts.

Of course, Twain didn't think that if the small-budget "Taken" could succeed, the big-budget "Taken" would fail.

Rather, the rate of return is low.

Making money is for sure.

Since everyone is fine, Tang En will definitely follow the public opinion.

"Taken" is a project of Europa Pictures.

If it is a small cost, then in terms of cooperation methods, at most it will be 50-50, and both parties will share half of the copyright.

It's different if it's a big production.

Europa Films doesn't have that much money.

If there is a large investment, it must be New Global who will take the lead!

From this perspective, making "Taken" into a Hollywood blockbuster is more beneficial to New Universal!

Coupled with the fact that Mel Gibson wanted to rejuvenate in high spirits, Tang En had no reason to refuse.

Dry!

Must do!

Europa Films has a lot of cooperation with New Universal. The "Very Human Trafficker" series produced by Europa Films in recent years is distributed globally by Universal.

With the presence of two big men, Tang En and Luc Besson, the cooperation proposal was too simple.

There was no need to haggle over every detail, as soon as the two big shots spoke, the tone was set.

Luc Besson asked for a production fee of 100 million U.S. dollars, and he would personally serve as producer, director and screenwriter.

Tang En requested that 80% of the copyright of the project belong to Tang En Pictures, and 20% belong to Europa Films. The two parties distribute the investment amount according to the copyright ratio.

There is no problem!

Since it is a big production, the story arrangement in the original script will be changed, and more big scenes and star actors will be added.

"Lily is very good, she can play my daughter." Mel Gibson and Lily Collins collaborated in "The Hunt", which was a good hit at the word of mouth and at the box office. The film not only achieved a global box office of more than 500 million US dollars, but also helped him get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

More importantly, Mel Gibson knew about the special relationship between Tang En and Lily.

It might not be convenient for Tang En to speak, so he might as well take the initiative to take care of him.

"Lily Collins?" Luc Besson raised his eyebrows, and glanced at Tang En intentionally or unintentionally.

Although he works in France, he has also vaguely heard of some of them.

Tang En said frankly: "Well, Lily is very good. She has a good image, good temperament, and good acting skills. She has great potential. Since you want to challenge "Mission: Impossible", you might as well create a golden partner of Mel Gibson and Lily Collins , as marketing."

Hearing what he said, Luc Besson immediately understood and agreed: "This is very good! Let Lily be the heroine!"

No audition required!

This is exactly how superstars are treated.

In Hollywood, probably only Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, etc., have the right to be exempted from the test. More reasons, but also because they are producers themselves, so they can't interview themselves, right?

...

Lily Collins had just finished filming the comedy-action film "Two Female Detectives." When she returned home, she immediately received a new invitation.

Very happy!

Teaming up with Mel Gibson for "Taken"!

Um!

Good!

Lily's mother, Jill Taverman, is the chairman of the Beverly Hills Actresses Club and worked as an agent in her early years, so she is a real insider.

During this period of time, she naturally heard all kinds of rumors about her daughter and Tang En.

But her daughter was already grown up, and she was about to turn eighteen, so she lost her guardianship. Moreover, her daughter's career development is getting better and better now, and with her own salary income, it is really not easy to discipline her as severely as she did when she was a child.

This time, she read the script "Taken" newly received by her daughter and was quite moved.

Lily was very dissatisfied, "Mom, you peeked at my stuff again! The script is kept secret, you can't read it!"

Jill Tawerman said meaningfully: "Didn't Dunn give it to you?"

"Yes." Lily said weakly.

Jill Taverman said: "Then why don't you call him and ask what he means? If he won't allow me to read it, then I won't read it."

Lily Collins was embarrassed, and a bright smile appeared on her pretty face, "No need, hee hee, let's take a look, let's take a peek and don't tell anyone."

She already felt the crisis of being exposed, but she didn't want her mother and Tang En to have too many interactions.

Jill Taverman said: "Lily, after reading this script, have you learned anything from that daughter Jin?"

"what?"

Seeing that she had no intention of calling Tang En, Lily felt relieved and asked nonchalantly.

Jill Taverman said: "As a beautiful girl, if you want to ensure your own safety, you must do at least five things."

"Yeah?"

"First, you must listen to your father. Second, you must call your father more often. Third, don't strike up a conversation with strange boys. Fourth, don't associate with bold female classmates..."

Lily said with a smile: "Yes, it makes sense."

"There is the fifth point, which is also the most important point!" Jill Taverman couldn't help but accentuate her tone.

"what?"

"Keep your body like a jade!"

"Huh?" Lily's face changed.

Jill Taverman said solemnly: "After being caught by the dark net in Europe, Jin did not suffer persecution, while the other girls were treated inhumanely. Why?"

Lily blushed slightly, "Because... because she is a virgin."

In the arrangement of the film, it is true. Because "Kim Wells" was a virgin, she was highly regarded by the criminal gang. Instead of committing the crime on the spot, they packed her up and sent her to an underground women's auction, which would fetch a good price. This gave the special agent dad time to rescue.

"What about you? Still?" Jill Tawerman stared at her daughter with burning eyes.