Chapter 192: Pit (for subscription)

"Michael, I believe we will have a chance to cooperate in the future."
In the reception room, Duke shook hands with Michael Ovitz and said goodbye, "Disney is a very good partner."
Michael Ovitz forced a smile, turned and walked out. As a former agent, observing words is the most basic skill. He can see that Duke cares about Disney, not his ceo. Both sides have absolutely nothing. The need to continue talking.
Seeing Duke sitting down again, Tom Cruise's face was a little stiff. Although he didn't say it clearly, he could tell from Duke's words that he was not interested in this project at all, even if his conditions were good enough. .
Why does he always have to fight against himself?
Thinking of this, Tom Cruise also stood up, ready to leave.
"Tom..." Duke looked at Pat Kingsley, then at Nicole Kidman, his eyes finally fell on Cruise, "Can we talk alone?"
Tom Cruise thought for a while and nodded slowly.
Nancy Josephson handed the leather bag to Duke and left the reception room first. Nicole Kidman and Pat Kinsley whispered in Cruise's ear and went out.
"Please sit down. ¤," Duke reached out and gestured to the next seat. After Tom Cruise sat down, he opened his bag, took out the script of "Chicago", and handed it over, "Tom, I want to invite you to play me New movie."
"new movie?"
After a moment of stunned, Tom Cruise opened the script, "Musical?"
Although he didn't look at the specific content, but after seeing that it was adapted from a Broadway stage play, he immediately determined the subject matter of the film. After all, this musical has created incomparable glory.
"Do you want to invite me to play Billy?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes, Tom."
Although his face is sincere. But what Duke said was all nonsense, "I wanted to work with you a few years ago, but it has been delayed until now because of salary or other factors. I think this is an opportunity..."
Duke didn't notice that the corners of Tom Cruise's mouth were shaking slightly. There is still incredible in his eyes.
From the moment he saw the script, he felt 10,000 thunders exploding above his head. It seems that this world is abnormal. The famous Hollywood blast is going to shoot a musical? Also invited him to play the leading role? How crazy is this?
Will he succeed?
Tom Cruise wanted to refuse subconsciously, but his mouth opened, but he didn't say anything.
Sitting there, Duke didn't do anything for the time being. If Tom Cruise refused, he didn't have to continue.
Quickly flipped through the script. Tom Cruise also remained silent, even though he was surprised in his heart, but he did not intend to say such surprise.
He opened the script page by page, his eyes slid across the line of letters, and Cruise gradually dissipated the surprise in his heart. After all, Hollywood directors wanted to transform more than just Duke. In the past, there were Spielberg and others. A precedent for success, and Duke continues to succeed. It is easy to give people a feeling that they will continue to succeed.
Hollywood, from the film company to the various types of work in the circle, is pursuing the footsteps of successful people.
Will he succeed?
This is Tom Cruise's biggest concern. Why do first-line stars like to work with big directors? Because their work is often a guarantee of success!
Memories of the past flashed in Cruise’s mind. From the beginning of "Cruise to Death Island", there was a chance for cooperation between the two, but for various reasons they did not achieve it. As a result "Cruise to Death Island" succeeded and "Independence" "Day" succeeded. "Saving Private Ryan" was also successful. Even for someone like him who doesn't like Duke very much, he has to admit that none of these successes was a fluke. They were all from the fierce competition between caa and other opponents and summer files. Kill it.
If Nicholas Cage, Tom Hanks and others are replaced by him. Then his current status and worth will definitely be higher!
He has not had a movie with a North American box office exceeding 200 million US dollars!
Closing the script, Tom Cruise turned his head and looked at Duke sitting next to him. As he had seen him before, Duke was calm and indifferent, seeming to know that he would not refuse in one fell swoop.
Duke just doesn't care. In his opinion, no one in Hollywood is indispensable, including himself.
"What is the production cost of the film?" Tom Cruise returned the script and broke the silence. "When do you plan to start shooting?"
"The shooting is not until next year."
After receiving the script, Duke thought for a while and said, "The production cost is about 15 million US dollars."
Hearing this number, Tom Cruise immediately frowned, which was not even his standard salary.
Duke knows very well what must be said now, "Tom, this is a small-cost musical and dance film, to be precise, it will be an independent film that I personally invest in..."
He knows Cruise’s mental state. In addition to improving his status, he most wants to be recognized in acting. He directly writes a blank check, "I plan to release the film before the awards season next year. The old guys in the college are all Nostalgic, they have always missed the golden age of Hollywood. Musical films are one of the genres they miss most. If we play well..."
Duke didn't say the next thing, but he could see Tom Cruise's eyes seem to light up.
"What you said really makes sense."
Tom Cruise rarely echoed Duke's opinion, "Nostalgia is indeed a good way to redeem prizes."
Just like before, Duke didn’t care about awards or something. He was just fooling Cruise. Seeing that he was a little moved, he continued to tell lies, "Tom, you are called an actor' ', and I'm the representative of the recognized director'Milk Faction'. We have all proven ourselves in the market. It's time to win a few important academic awards! It proves that our success depends not on luck and appearance, but on strength! "
In order to get the superstar with great market appeal to join with a low salary, Duke completely discarded his past prejudices. After all, if he succeeds, the other party will create huge benefits for him.
It's a pity that he doesn't bring his own mental aura, otherwise he might be able to join Cruise at zero pay.
Tom Cruise is still thinking about this kind of things related to money and honor, even if he is impulsive, he will not just listen to a few words from others, and will follow it casually.
So far, he has not refused. Duke has determined that Tom Cruise has a half chance and will finally agree to the invitation.
As long as Cruise should come down, there may be variables for the starring role in "Mission Impossible". If you want to be successful in "Chicago", the song and dance must appear in person. This is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Cruise is bound to come up with something. Months or even half a year to practice and rehearse.
Duke didn’t worry much about Cruise’s acting skills. The former Richard Gere’s Billy couldn’t be worse. The acting and singing and dancing were a mess. Although the soup might not be so strong, But in terms of market appeal and appearance, it beats Richard Gere.
The memory of the past tells Duke that Liangtang also has an obsession with Oscars. If he can be seduced by Oscars, he will become an award-winning madman and plunge into the independent and artistic circles...
Only he knows how much Oscar doesn't want to see good soup, even if Xiao Li is in front of him.
While Tom Cruise was still thinking about it, Duke also had countless thoughts in his mind. He even thought that after the film was released, he would find someone to help film critics to tout the acting skills of the soup in some hidden ways. Fortunately, he could get the Oscar nomination, but he passed by the little golden man, but he felt hopeful that he might win the next time, and then continue to attack.
Hollywood, there are many actors and directors brought to the pit by film critics and Oscars.
If the soup becomes a prize-winning soup or a literary soup, it will not be far from the end. Maybe "Chicago" will become his swan song in the box office market.
Of course, the premise of all this is that "Chicago" can be successfully produced by him, and things will develop as Duke imagined.
Next, Duke and Tom Cruise talked for a while about the production of the film and the future prospects. He could fully feel Cruise's desire for Oscar and academic recognition, and he tried to put him in words. To the pit of literature and Oscar.
Tom Cruise was not an idiot or a idiot. Even if he left at the end, he didn't give Duke any clear answer, only that he would consider it for a while.
When a big-name star appears in any movie, many people are often involved behind it, especially the opinions of public relations and agents are very important. Duke has heard Nancy say a long time ago, and Pat Kingsley suggested to Crewe a long time ago. Si cooperating with him, I think it will not be a particularly big obstacle.
Besides, even if Pat Kinsley is shrewd and capable, she will not be like Duke, knowing that Cruise's possibility of winning an Oscar will infinitely tend to zero, otherwise he would not have operated the public relations award for him in that way. Will push Cruise behind, after all, having the Oscar actor in his hands can also strengthen her position in the brokerage industry.
"How's the talk?"
Out of the clubhouse, Nancy got into Duke's car and asked, "What is Cruise's intentions?"
"It's hard to say now." Duke shook his head, watching Pat Kinsley drive away from the side, and said, "You have more contact with Cruise's agent."
There is still a lot of work to do if you want Tom Cruise to take a pay cut.
The two discussed a few more things about the film. Nancy changed the subject, "I just received a call from New York. Icm contacted a song and dance director on Broadway for you."
"Give me his contact information." Duke nodded, "I will go to New York next week, and I will have a talk with him at that time." (To be continued...)