Chapter 253: Hanging a Sword Over One's Own Head

Although many jokes from the past could not be used due to the era, Murphy's plan for the film's tone remained unchanged. "Deadpool" was designed to satisfy original comic fans and appeal to mainstream audiences. The character Deadpool would occasionally break the fourth wall to directly address the audience, mocking the concept of superheroes while not forgetting to jest about celebrities and various North American events.

In Murphy's storyboard drawings, which were already underway, the opening scene would show Deadpool using a Hello Kitty lip balm. This is a nod to a famous gag from the "Deadpool" comics where he slaps a Hello Kitty bandage on Wolverine, brimming with bromance.

As Robert Downey Jr. mentioned about him and Leonardo DiCaprio, since the actor changed, the jokes about the Green Lantern Corps naturally couldn't be used. However, Robert Downey Jr. could totally tease himself in the film.

The previous bed scene gag is a spoof on the "Star Wars" series. The script includes a scene where, during an intimate moment, Vanessa suggests to Deadpool, "Ride me like Yoda rides on Luke's back." Deadpool replies, "That's a 'Star Wars' joke, right?" and Vanessa confirms, "Yeah, from 'The Empire Strikes Back.'"

At this moment in bed, Deadpool is hugging Vanessa Carlysle from behind.

Of course, the film wouldn't miss opportunities to poke fun at other superheroes, including Spider-Man, who is known for his witty banter alongside Deadpool.

Murphy also accepted a suggestion from James Franco to incorporate a bit about Batman.

For instance, when Deadpool describes his relationship with his landlord, he says, "We're like Batman and Robin, except she's older, darker, and she loves me. Wait, I'm pretty sure Robin loves Batman too!"

Murphy didn't shy away from self-deprecation either. Deadpool would break the fourth wall to fire shots at Murphy, the director, including lines about his lack of experience in directing superhero movies.

The group discussed until late into the night. When Bill Roscis left, he specifically reminded Murphy, "Finalize the script draft as soon as possible. The completion bond company is waiting, and our project still needs financing!"

Completion bonding is indispensable for the financing investment model adopted by 20th Century Fox.

"I know," Murphy was well aware of this.

After seeing off his guests, he returned to the backyard. While not a mess, there was plenty of trash. Gal Gadot was by the pool, using a long-handled picker to clean up fruit peels off the ground.

"Hey, dear."

Murphy had invited her over for the weekend to relax, not to clean up after him. He quickly took the picker from her hands, "Don't worry about this. The cleaning service will take care of it tomorrow."

"Let's just pick up these fruit peels," Gal Gadot said, picking up a trash bag and starting to collect the leftover peels. "It's still hot, and they'll start to smell by tomorrow."

She looked at Murphy, "Unless you want our backyard to turn into a stinky landfill."

"Of course not." Murphy went over to help.

In less than ten minutes, they tidied up the backyard and walked back to the main house together. Gal Gadot seemed preoccupied, pondering something troubling.

After washing their hands in the downstairs bathroom, Murphy noticed her mood and asked, "Dear, is something bothering you?"

"I just got to Los Angeles," Gal Gadot complained, "and now you're leaving."

"I'm just going to Australia to shoot. It'll be quick, and I won't leave for another two months." Murphy held her hand, reassuringly whispering, "The shoot will last at most two months. I'll even come back on weekends."

Gal Gadot was just voicing a complaint. She appreciated Murphy's dedication to his career and shook her head, "Then I'll come to visit you."

Murphy wrapped his arm around her waist and gently kissed her cheek.

Over the next two days, after gathering numerous suggestions, he quickly finalized the script draft and met with the completion bond company representative along with Cara Fes.

Previously, Murphy had always been a pure director with little direct involvement in the completion bonding process, except for working amicably with the bond company's on-set representative. This time, he actively participated in the process with Cara Fes.

In Hollywood, the fusion of art and science has built the industry's prosperity. Business calculations rely on scientific support, especially as data discovery and mining have become key to success in Hollywood. Since its inception, market research has been established, accumulating data and evolving tools that form the backbone of the Hollywood industry.

According to market research, production companies determine the investment for a film and then seek external funding. To ensure the proper use of their investment, financiers inevitably use certain oversight measures, with completion bonding being the most powerful guarantee.

The Hollywood film industry has evolved from manual craftsmanship to a high-tech industrial age of production management. The entire Hollywood film production management is based on a textual system, with everyone adhering to this production system. Completion bonding is a necessary part of the Hollywood system, reflecting the specialized division of labor in industrialized production management.

"Deadpool's" crew brought in the American International Group, which not only provided completion bonding services to production companies but also to banks and investment institutions.

In Hollywood, securing completion bond support is key to financing from banks or funds and even determines whether overseas distributors will provide pre-sale financing to production companies. For distributors, the confirmation of completion bonding means a significant guarantee that the film will be delivered on schedule, thus production teams, including producers and directors, cooperate with the completion bond company's "strict" management both before and during production.

Murphy was no exception, accustomed to Hollywood's system.

The agreement specified that during shooting in Australia, the bond company's representative would communicate daily with Murphy and Cara Fes to confirm the next day's shooting plan, ensuring it followed the schedule to avoid wasting time and money.

Not all film projects qualify for completion bonding. Hollywood has seen its share of unreliable projects fail, and insurance companies face significant trouble if a project encounters problems. Like Hollywood film companies scrutinize their investments, commercial companies do not green-light activities lightly, nor do they guarantee a project based solely on a script.

To secure support from the American International Group, thus allowing the crew to quickly pre-sell and finance, Murphy and Cara Fes submitted a series of documents for project evaluation.

First was the final script draft, the premise for shooting.

Applications and confirmed scripts must only undergo minor changes during shooting unless the director and investors agree on major alterations. Projects without a script, like those by the "Sunglasses King," could not secure completion bonding; even he would need a script to shoot in Hollywood.

Second was the budget for on-screen and off-screen costs, which Murphy had outlined in his plan, further revised by 20th Century Fox.

Third was the 20-100 day shooting plan, as too short or too long timelines are risky and difficult to pass the insurance company's internal review.

Hollywood's typical film shooting period ranges from 30-80 days, requiring very accurate shooting plans to ensure precise operation. Deviations from the plan could lead to financial discrepancies, significantly increasing investment risk.

Murphy planned to complete shooting within two months, which was entirely feasible.

Lastly, the shooting budget was detailed, aiding the completion bond company in assessing the project's viability. The company would monitor the project's execution against daily reports. If changes occurred, the bond company would first communicate with the producer and director on how to complete the plan within the remaining shooting schedule.

However, in severe, irreconcilable conflicts, the bond company could freeze the joint bank account or even take over the project.

Thanks to Murphy and Cara Fes's thorough preparation, and because "Deadpool" was a 20th Century Fox project, the crew quickly signed a formal agreement with the American International Group.

Perhaps because he was directly involved, Murphy read the agreement very carefully, especially the parts significantly affecting him as the director.

During "Deadpool's" shooting, the bond company would station a representative on-site to supervise, requiring the production team to submit daily reports, related information, and the next day's shooting plan for review to ensure adherence to the set goals and schedule.

The agreement stipulated that to effectively ensure Cara Fes's production department and Murphy's creative team executed the plan on time and within budget, the bond company would establish a joint bank account with the crew. Pre-sale parties and investors' funds would be deposited into this account upon the bond company's confirmation of the production company's compliance.

The American International Group could enforce transparency and impose real interventions through the bank account to regulate the crew's access to funds. If Murphy and Cara Fes overspent or exceeded the schedule, jeopardizing investor interests, the bond company had the right to freeze the account and take over the film according to the completion bond agreement, including replacing the director and producer to ensure the film's delivery to distributors and covering the costs of completion to protect investors' interests.

Such a situation is the baseline of the completion bond agreement, triggered only when necessary.

With such oversight and restrictions on production and the crew, Hollywood lacks no continuous investment.

Murphy and Cara Fes seemingly placed a sword of Damocles over their crew, but in reality, they established a safeguard for investment. This is a practical business society where no one's money comes easily, and investors are not fools.

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