Chapter 453 Winning the Grand Prize!
The adaptation rights of "Pi" were sold to Warner, so Zhang Chu was quite surprised when he heard the news.
"What do they ask me for? Now I should be looking for directors, screenwriters, and actors, and my work is basically over."
Zhou Kang smiled proudly: "It is because they were stumped in script development that they asked you for help and wanted you to be a script consultant for the movie!"
"I can't find anyone who can adapt a novel in such a huge Hollywood?" Zhang Chu knew that this movie was full of difficulties in the process of film and television, but he never expected it to be so difficult.
"It is said that Warner has contacted several first-class directors, but after reading the novel outline and specific content, they all refused. You know, this is not an ordinary commercial film, an art film with an investment of more than 100 million US dollars. If you miss the film, you may not only not receive commercial films in the future, but you may even lose your reputation in the field of art films."
According to Warner's idea, "Pi" will definitely be filmed into a 3D movie, because this type of movie is easier to make money and has a big gimmick.
But the shooting of every 3D movie is an adventure like walking on thin ice. If you want to have an eye-catching 3D effect, you have to spend more money on the producer!
Due to the large investment in the early stage, Hollywood studios are very cautious about the establishment of 3D movies, and even Oscar-level director production funds are very tight, which shows the level of money spent on this type of movie.
The story of a little boy and a Bengal tiger drifting on the sea is too thin from the main line. Not everyone can support a video like Tom Hanks like "The Rest of the Desert Island".
Zhang Chu's version of "Boyant Pi" is actually a combination of Ang Lee's version of the movie and Young Martel's novel, combining the advantages of the two.
In fact, this is relatively easy to adapt, but each director and screenwriter have different styles and thinking, and of course the adaptation direction of novels is different.
"Since it's asking for help, what about their sincerity?" Zhang Chu asked curiously. The script is actually not a big deal, but the problem is that even if he takes out the script from his previous life intact, he will definitely modify it as long as the director comes.
The film director has not yet confirmed it, and it is useless to rush to determine the script. More importantly, the role of screenwriter is not very important in Hollywood, but the work is very cumbersome.
First, you must give an 8-0 page script outline, and then a more specific, 40-0 pages of the sub-scene script. Finally, you will write a complete 00-page script draft and a subsequent revised version with varying numbers until the finalization is made.
What this means is that if the producer and director are not satisfied, the revision of the script will never end!
However, there are top picks in every industry. Some screenwriters are unemployed, while others make a lot of money. They can not only get millions of dollars in scripts, but also share various benefits from the film.
Compared to writing novels, it is very difficult and troublesome to write scripts when a screenwriter writes scripts. Zhang Chu has not completed all his own things now, so he doesn't want to take on this hot potato.
Zhou Kang understood what Zhang Chu meant, but he still had to convey the meaning of Warner Brothers. "The price they offered you is $500,000 per draft. It means that you only need to write the original script, and they will find another screenwriter to modify it in the future, and they will still sign you at that time."
This type of blockbuster cannot be done by a screenwriter. It will definitely be completed by a screenwriter team. Different screenwriters are responsible for different sections, from details to profession, from every sentence of the protagonist to the background and worldview, which cannot be completed by one person!
However, Zhang Chu was a little despised. The Warner Brothers were too petty. They sent an email to ask for help from thousands of miles away, but only gave this little money.
Of course, if you give $500,000 to a new screenwriter, it will definitely be a fortune from heaven, and even some senior screenwriters cannot get so much without writing just one draft.
But writers are different. Screenwriters are not their jobs. Writers are actually more famous than screenwriters. Just like everyone knows who the author of "Harry Potter" is, but who the screenwriter of "Harry Potter" is actually.
Now Zhang Chu's books are selling well in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and other European countries. 500,000 US dollars is just a slight idea for him.
If he were during the summer vacation, he might be willing to help Warner Brothers, but now there are too many things to be busy.
"You can just find a reason to refuse me, just say I have no experience or have heavy learning tasks. Anyway, it doesn't affect the surface harmony."
Zhou Kang couldn't help but complain: "They know that you are a screenwriter for "Detective Sherlock". It's better to discuss with the director after the director is confirmed. You have to give Warner some face. You still expect them to pay your global box office dividends. Don't make excuses to delay for three or five years."
"Okay, OK, Uncle Zhou, please do it. I don't care anyway."
Zhang Chu wanted to recommend the director, but he didn't have the power.
...
Beverly Hills looked quiet late at night, with lights on villas hidden under the trees.
The female celebrities in cool clothes walked down from the car one by one and walked into the villa gate in a charming way. This was a party held by Hollywood giants. They squeezed their heads and had the chance to come in.
Not to mention one of the big guys on the list, even if they look familiar, they can do it. They want to take off all their clothes and send them to these big guys.
Every year, countless handsome men and beautiful women join Hollywood, but very few have made a name for themselves. Showing their hot figures at parties is also a resource.
However, David Nate fell into melancholy and tried his best to grab the adaptation rights of "Pi" from Lionsgate. Warner Bros. has also approved the project internally and plans to invest $20 million to film.
However, there is no suitable director for such a large project, and the script has not even been produced, so the progress is really worrying.
Originally, David was more optimistic about Indian American director Knight Shamaran. At least this Indian director is more in line with the cultural atmosphere of "Boys Pi" and understands Indian culture better.
However, Knight Shamalan, who is known as the director's unicorn, has experienced many works in succession and is no longer trusted by producers.
Hollywood only has short-term memories, and studios don’t care what you achieved ten years ago. As long as your three recent movies are not sold, don’t expect to get the numbers you want.
Knight Shamalan once won the Oscar for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for the horror movie "The Sixth Sense", but recently all filmed bad movies that did not recover their costs.
"The Last Son of the Wind", "The Catastrophe", and "Return to Earth" are all bloody, and David Nate dared not hand over his movie to him.
"Damn it, why can't I find the right person?"
David suddenly swears from his mouth. The popularity of "Pi" novels is gradually increasing, and he has no other projects under his command for the time being. He really wants to promote this project as soon as possible.
There are many directors in the party, such as Spielberg, George Lucas, and Old Martin, who are certainly not present, but many middle-aged and young powerful directors have appeared.
"Alfonso Caron should be pretty good. He can make commercial films and art films, but his price seems to be a bit too expensive. Motten Tadum's first commercial film has not been released yet, so I don't know what it is. Duncan Jones can spend ten dollars for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Matthew Vaughan. God, give me a suitable name!"
David Nate wanted to go crazy, but at this time he suddenly saw a somewhat restrained oriental man at the party, which made him feel slightly moved.
...
When the United States is shrouded in the night, Britain across the Atlantic Ocean is bathing in the sunset.
This ancient city of London always exudes an inexplicable gentlemanly atmosphere, and the sun shines on the rising mist, making it a little hazy.
On bb TV, the news department staff were sorting out breaking news around the world during this period. Suddenly, a young man in a wrinkled shirt said: "Catherine, the Booker Prize results are out. Do you need to interject it?"
He waved the message printed in his hand and waited anxiously outside the live broadcast hall for the results.
Katherine is the director of this news program. After taking off her headphones, she quickly asked: "Which book won the award?"
"That book about the story of the boy and the tiger, "The Fantasy Drift of the Boy"!"
"Jefferson, I'll give you five minutes to prepare the information introduction and related video commentary of "Boyant Pi". If you can take it out within five minutes, I'll insert it."
"I understand!" After saying that, the young man rushed back to the work hall, "Hey, I need someone to help edit a video, it's only five minutes! Jane, do you help me find the relevant materials for "Boy Pi"? Brian, I need you to help Google the reviews of this novel by major book review magazines, and its sales in the UK and other countries in the world. Can you move quickly?"
Racing against time, the staff who were clicked immediately turned their eyes to the computer screen and began to look for relevant information.
This kind of breaking news situation is not uncommon and happens almost every day. In the past, there were all kinds of political news or major social news, but now it is just a cultural aspect.
Jefferson stared at the computer screen. All he had to do was write a press release and import it into the teleprompter in the live broadcast room later so that the news anchor could cooperate with the video materials for the news broadcast.
Chapter completed!