Chapter 373

After staying in Los Angeles for five days, Duke returned to New Zealand, but kept Tina Fei in the City of Angels, continued to communicate with Warner, and delivered the latest developments to Wellington in time.

Based on the performance of his works in the summer archives, if "The Lord of the Rings" and "Pearl Harbor" collide head-on, it will not be them who are really nervous.

Universal Pictures is located in the headquarters building of Universal Studios. Martin Bob and Michael Ovitz walked into a large conference room successively. This was the preparatory meeting for the package project for which they had signed a formal contract.

As the CEO of Universal Pictures, Ron Meyer is also one of the founders of caa. Unlike Michael Ovitz, he acts as an agent in general, but his performance in film companies is extremely good. , At least more than one level higher than Ovitz.

Although Universal Pictures decided to cooperate with the artist management company, the relationship between Ron Meyer and Michael Ovitz broke down many years ago, although he would not bring too much personal emotions into work. Among them, he only showed up in the conference room and left.

The relationship with Michael Ovitz is on the one hand, and the film's only $38 million investment is on the other.

Everything in Hollywood is stereotyped. This preparatory meeting is no different from other films. It simply greeted you, and Martin Bob introduced the leading actors they prepared for the film to the people at Universal Pictures.

He first introduced a bald head, "This is Mr. Van Diesel, he will play Dominic Toletto..."

Briefly speaking about the other party's resume, Martin Bob introduced the remaining main actors one by one.

"This is Paul Walker..."

"This is Miss Michel Rodriguez..."

"This is Miss Jessica Alba..."

People at Universal Pictures certainly know about the actors. This is just a routine ceremony in the preparatory meeting. After Martin Bob's introduction, there is another routine activity-actors reading scripts.

The four protagonists read the concise main story script aloud, but Michael Ovitz's brows kept frowning. It seems that he has encountered a major problem, even in the eyes of Martin Bob who is familiar with him, he is simply distracted.

The production cost of this film is only 38 million US dollars, just a simple racing popcorn, under normal circumstances, such a film is not difficult to recover the cost. Michael Ovitz himself does not have too many worries, but the super war masterpiece with an investment of 140 million US dollars, which has now become the focus of bothering him.

The reason is simple. He got the news that Duke Rosenberg's new work has also set the schedule for next year's Memorial Day...

"Michael..."

The sudden sound interrupted Ovitz's thoughts. He looked up and saw that it was Clayton Bellinger, the producer of the project, who said. "The name of the film is officially confirmed as "Fast and Furious", do you think it is OK?"

"no problem."

This is just a small project, Michael Ovitz nodded directly.

Throughout the preparatory meeting, Michael Ovitz seemed absent-minded, and the work was completely handed over to Martin Bob, but he had been thinking.

As soon as the preparatory meeting was over, Orvis called Martin Bob and left Universal Studios. Go straight to the Disney headquarters in downtown Burbank to discuss the more important "Pearl Harbor".

The two did not go to Touchstone Pictures. Instead, he went directly to Michael Eisner's office. In the face of an investment of up to 140 million US dollars, the personal conflicts in the past were not worth mentioning.

After the meeting, neither Michael Eisner nor Michael Ovitz mentioned any past grievances, and the topic closely revolved around "Pearl Harbor." And the "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring" who might crash with "Pearl Harbor"!

"The Lord of the Rings is known as the most difficult work to adapt."

In the chairman's reception room, a young executive from the Walt Disney Film Department said, "All the films related to it have failed in the past, and this time may not be successful..."

Having just said this, he noticed that everyone's eyes were looking at him. His eyes were clearly looking at a fool.

Michael Ovitz shook his head slightly, obviously disdainful of the young executive's words, he knew each other, this is Roy Disney's most beloved young son John Disney...

It's no wonder that the Disney family has fallen so far, and he can only express such emotion in his heart.

"Am I wrong?"

Relying on his status as a direct member of the Disney family, John Disney entered the management team as soon as he graduated, with severely inexperienced, and he did not realize that Disney is no longer the Disney of the Disney family. At this time, he raised his voice and said, "According to the information I got, a large number of "Lord of the Rings" book fans went to Wellington several times to protest. This film is obviously unsupported. Why do you think it will be better than our "Pearl Harbor"? We can't..."

"Because its director is Duke Rosenberg!"

The cold voice directly interrupted John Disney's words, and Michael Eisner's stern gaze swept across his face, "On this point, it deserves Disney's attention!"

Regardless of the flower growing in the greenhouse, Michael Eisner looked at his old friend Ovitz, "What about your opinion?"

Michael Ovitz did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Michael Bay who had arrived earlier. When Eisner said Duke Rosenberg's name, his face was very ugly.

No one wants to be an imitator in other populations and become someone's second.

Michael Bay is no exception, he really wants to compete directly with each other once!

However, he is not a young bird like John Disney. He knows that he is a director. On the contrary, he has the least say in whether to change the schedule. It is the wisest choice to shut up.

Michael Ovitz retracted his gaze, still did not speak, he was still thinking, in the past few years, even in the most competitive schedule, he had never feared any opponents, but now he has to consider the pros and cons. After all, the market appeal is so. Powerful competitors can be counted by one hand among all Hollywood and even global film directors.

The Lord of the Rings is indeed difficult to adapt, and all related works in the past have failed seriously, but when it is associated with the director Duke Rosenberg, Michael Ovitz thinks everything will be different.

To change or not to change? Ovitz is also difficult to determine for a while.

If it is changed, is there a more suitable schedule for "Pearl Harbor" than Memorial Day? No change, "Pearl Harbor" and "The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings Expedition" face the competition, can you resist it?

Even Michael Ovitz himself didn't notice, he only cared about whether "Pearl Harbor" could withstand "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring Expedition", and never thought that the former could defeat the latter!

He turned his head again to look at Michael Bay, the long-faced director had a trace of unwillingness on his face.

Seeing Michael Bay, who is also a young director, Michael Ovitz gradually made up his mind. The second explosive maniac is the second explosive maniac. He doesn't think that Michael Bay will surpass Duke Rosenberg in the short term. Ability.

Although I really want to save the face I lost in "Godzilla", Michael Ovitz will not be taken away by this idea.

"I think changing the schedule is the wise choice." He said slowly.

It was quiet in the reception room, Michael Eisner remained silent, the unwillingness on Michael Bay's face was further aggravated, and Martin Bob's eyes flashed with a little anger...

"I agree." Eisner finally said.

As soon as these words came out, other Walt Disney executives were obviously relieved. Obviously, no one wanted their big production to touch the work of the summer lunatic.

I don't know why, Michael Ovitz feels heavy in his heart, and suddenly it becomes relaxed, and all the anxiety in the past few days has disappeared.

After thinking for a while, he couldn't help showing a wry smile. The pressure on him by Duke Rosenberg's works was so powerful!

Although "Pearl Harbor" will lose the memorial day schedule, it's not unlucky to be able to avoid the opponent's work. This thought unconsciously appeared in Michael Ovitz's mind.

"Since we have to change the schedule." Eisner said again, "We will determine the appropriate release time as soon as possible to match Disney's promotional plan."

He gestured to the assistant, and someone immediately sent a copy of the information to the people present.

Michael Ovitz looked at the approximate release schedule for next year's summer film, with a slight ridicule on the corners of his mouth. His old friend Eisner seemed extremely calm and didn't seem to worry at all. In fact, he was equally afraid of Duke Rosenberg collided head-on, otherwise he would not have prepared this information in advance.

Cook Dick, who is in charge of the distribution department, said at this time, "The first weekend of next year's summer archive will be Universal Pictures' Return of the Mummy, and the second weekend will be Paramount's war masterpiece, "Under the City". Three weekends are "Shrek" by DreamWorks Animation Studios, then Memorial Day Weekend, after that there is "Tomb Raider" by Paramount, and then "Fast and Furious" by Michael you... "

"I think "Pearl Harbor" will still be in May!" Michael Ovitz interrupted him.

"The weekend in May is very crowded!" Cook Dick hesitated, "Shrek does have a different audience from "Pearl Harbor." Michael, don't you think "Pearl Harbor" will be available on the second weekend. Is the time too close for Duke's work?"

"No, you misunderstood what I meant." Ovitz shook his head, "Let's choose the weekend of "Soldiers Under the City"!"

"why?"

It was John Disney who asked, "These are all World War II movies, and the audiences are seriously overlapping!"

"Because "Pearl Harbor" is an American movie, and "A Soldier Under the City" is a European movie!" (To be continued...)