Chapter 89: Why refuse

"Tom, what do you think of these two roles?"
Sitting in the reception room of the Cruise mansion, Pat Kingsley did not touch the coffee delivered by Nicole Kidman. "Fox also hopes that you, a star actor with box office appeal, can appear in "Independent "Japan"."
"One of them is a black character." Tom Cruise did not hide his disgusting attitude. "There is also the presidential role. There are too few scenes. I can't be a supporting role."
"Moreover, this is Duke Rosenberg's movie!" The last sentence represents his truest thoughts.
"Interview with the Vampire" and "Brave to Death Island" are just normal business competition!"
Pat Kingsley is quite a headache. Although Cruise is her biggest sponsor, she is also the least worrying role. "There is no personal conflict between you! Tom, Duke Rosenberg obviously In a period of rapid growth and now a hot Hollywood director, Paramount and Walt Disney once wanted to join the investment ranks of "Independence Day", and Warner and Fox expected the North American box office of this film to be 200 million US dollars!"
"Don't tell me you don't understand the benefits that such a movie can bring you!" Jinsili emphasized, "You still don't have a film with a North American box office that has exceeded 200 million US dollars! Century Fox got the character script and got the support of some people!"
"Maybe he will miss..." Tom Cruise seemed to be thinking.
Ignoring the muttering Cruise, Pat Kinsley turned to look to the other side, "Mary, what about you? What do you think of the script and the characters?"
"This... this White House spokesperson," Nicole Kidman thought for a while and said, "Although there are many scenes, it is basically a vase role."
"Mary, although you have successfully entered Hollywood, there is no work that can be obtained." Pat Kingsley said simply, "You need a big-selling movie as a support to determine your status in Hollywood. ."
"I know."
This smart woman knows how to choose, "Pat, try your best."
"Tom, what do you mean?" Pat Kinsley turned his head again, and Cruise nodded unwillingly, "Do what you want."
Although this guy is blindly arrogant and sometimes silly, but he has not reached the point of incurable! When leaving Tom Cruise's mansion, Pat Kingsley thought so.
At the beginning of September, with the establishment of the Independence Day studio as a shell company in Burbank, the preparatory work for "Independence Day" officially kicked off, despite the fact that Warner Bros. and the 20th Century as the producer Fox used the media of its subsidiaries and even the group companies behind it to hype and report the $100 million super masterpiece to a certain extent, but Duke declined a lot of public media activities, and instead devoted all of its energy to the preparation of the film. in.
He now has the capital to bargain with the producer. Although he can't always boot in silence like James Cameron, he doesn't want to be distracted by too many outside forces. The director is not a star, and there is no difference in work. On the contrary, the popular situation requires excellent production to speak.
"A very interesting news."
Walking in the corridor of the Independence Day studio, accompanied by the chuckle of high heels, it was Sophia Coppola's monotonous nasal voice, "Twentieth Century Fox recommended Tom Cruise and his wife to star in this movie."
"What?" Duke kept walking and turned to look at Sophia. "Caa wants to pack again?"
"No..." Sophia kept following behind. "There are only two people, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman."
After speaking, she handed the newly received documents to Duke. Duke slowed down a little bit, and after a brief scan, she opened the door of the meeting room and walked in.
This is the preparatory meeting of the crew. The people who walked into the meeting room successively were basically acquaintances. Warner Bros. representative Jeff Robinoff, Twentieth Century Fox’s Tim Fisher, and the third-party guarantee National AIA Company The financial supervisor of the company and so on.
There is also the main structure of the crew. The first production manager is still Charles Rowan, the second production manager Robin Grande, the executive producer Jon Landau, and the deputy director Zach Schneider. , The director of photography John Schwarzman, the art director Hannah Serena, the head of the pyrotechnic group Jos Williams, and the head of the special effects team from Industrial Light and Magic...
Especially from the special effects team of Industrial Light and Magic, Duke personally hung up George Lucas and invited Stan Winston, the premier model master in Hollywood to make alien spaceships and alien models for the film. It is not easy to get to him, not just a question of salary, which also includes some favors.
As for why he was invited, look at the first two works "Terminator 2" and "Jurassic Park" by Stan Winston in charge of special effects model production, and you can understand Duke's intention.
Special effects will be the bulk of the investment and the biggest cost of the film. Duke called out 100 million US dollars. Although the two companies only gave a budget of 90 million US dollars for the time being, it was also more than 10 million US dollars higher than before. Duke just wanted to devote himself to special effects production. The "Independence Day" he saw had a low investment. It used models and in-camera special effects. It didn't use enough computer cg technology for modification. It looks so average.
If you talk about special effects alone, "Independence Day", which appeared a few years later, is obviously a grade worse than "Jurassic Park".
Therefore, Duke does not plan to spend too much money on actors.
"I do not agree to invite Tom Cruise."
When the discussion turned to the actors, Duke directly opposed Fox’s suggestion,
First, I don’t have that much budget for actors. Second, Cruise is not suitable for the role of a mature and wise president. Third, another. The protagonist is a black man..."
"You can modify the character settings." Tim Fisher's assistant suddenly interjected.
"The settings of other actors in the crew can be adjusted appropriately." Duke took a cold look at that side, "but the skin color and ethnicity are never within the scope of modification!"
Needless to say, some words are too thorough. In the setting of "Independence Day", the alien signal is found to be Jewish, and the aliens are Latino, the air force hero is a black man, and the president is the most orthodox white man. There are others of Asian descent, Slavic origin, etc. Duke does not believe that these senior industry professionals cannot see the reasons and benefits of such a setting.
"Of course, if Tom Cruise can accept a salary of less than $5 million, I have no opinion." Duke added.
If Liangtang is really willing to give up the high pay for starring, Duke will definitely welcome him with his hands. The funds he strives for are to strengthen the production of special effects, not to pay some people.
"Duke," Tim Fisher frowned, "Tom Cruise's box office appeal is beyond doubt."
"Tim, I think everyone is well aware that the biggest selling point of the film is the big scenes such as special effects and explosions." Duke slowed down a little bit, and he didn't want to get too stiff with investors. "The star's appeal will actually be Was cut to the lowest level! And..."
After thinking for a while, Duke continued, "Nicole Kidman is also interested in this film. The two of them are definitely not suitable for appearing in the same film."
It may not be obvious now, but there is a consensus in Hollywood in the future that the producers will try to prevent couples and even lovers from appearing in the same film. Such films will often become box office poisons.
To be precise, Duke even Nicole Kidman also wanted to refuse directly. He knew that North American audiences had never bought this Australian woman's account. Except for the sympathy caused by that special time period, she could be said to be among the female movie stars of the same level. The biggest box office cancer.
However, since he strongly rejected Tom Cruise, Duke didn't want to make Fox too ugly, so it was a big deal to temporarily issue an audition invitation, and then just brush off Nicole Kidman.
Although Fox did not explicitly withdraw Tom Cruise's suggestion, Warner Bros. has always stood on Duke's position, and this matter can only be left behind.
Next, we discussed the preliminary work such as setting, props, special effects production, and intended shooting location. Those who have the right to speak in the crew also proposed some favorite actors for audition.
Duke specifically emphasized Will Smith. Although this black man is a Grammy-awarded rapper, he is a young bird in the film industry. He also intends to develop this aspect. A six-figure salary is enough to solve it, even if his The acting skills are bad enough for films like Independence Day.
In other respects, except for the temporary bed recommended by the White House spokesperson. With Naomi Watts, Duke basically did not speak any more. As long as the actors' acting skills reach the baseline, they are not even too bad, in fact it will not have much impact. .
"the last point."
When the meeting was about to adjourn, Duke realized that he almost ignored important aspects, "I need the support of the Pentagon! Please contact the Department of Defense and the White House!"
This type of film, without the sponsorship and support of the White House and the Pentagon, would definitely cost a lot of money. Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox naturally have no reason to refuse.
"Duke, there will be a party after the signing ceremony tomorrow."
When he walked out of the conference room, Charles Rowan chased him, "This is an important part of the film's early publicity, I believe you will not be absent."
He kept staring at Duke, as if waiting for a promise.
Although the directing contract was officially signed the day before yesterday, in order to promote the film, the producer is still preparing to hold a signing ceremony similar to a press conference.
"Don't worry." Duke nodded slightly, "After the signing is over, I will go to the party on time!"
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