American Fame and Fortune

Chapter 854 Friendship driven by interests

The black car turned onto Wilshire Street. The man driving the car glanced at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the distance. He seemed to have doubts about his girlfriend in the passenger seat and asked, "How do you know Martin Davis?" ? He also liked the script you wrote? "

Greta Gerwig turned to look at her boyfriend Noah and said with a smile: "Why, are you worried about me?"

“That’s not what I mean.” There was a red light ahead, and Noah gradually slowed down: “How should I put it, I just feel...”

Greta interrupted him: "As an actress and screenwriter, I only directed an experimental film in 2008 that did not even enter the theaters. How can I impress Martin Davis, right?"

Noah smiled sheepishly: "The main reason is that this morning you told me that Martin was interested in your script and asked me to accompany you. I was not mentally prepared at all. It was too sudden."

Greta has always had a good relationship with her boyfriend. She explained: "Don't worry, it won't involve any sleeping or messing around. Since we established our relationship, I rarely work as an actor and have fully transformed into a screenwriter. You also know why."

Noah quickly said: "That's not what I meant."

"Listen to me first." Greta recalled for a moment and said in detail: "You know Mandy Moore, she and I are friends. Mandy entered the "La La Land" project initiated by Martin more than a year ago. , served as choreographer. Once I went to Disney Studios to find Mandy and saw her training Saoirse Ronan.”

Noah said: "Saoirse has the same interests as you and is your good friend and best friend."

Saoirse smiled: "Maybe I have practiced dancing more in the past two years."

 The elevator door opened, and the two of them came out and went directly into the only room on the top floor.

 Saoirse Ronan is waiting in the hotel lobby.

Saoirse quickly took Greta there.

Martin said: "If you follow your script, the film will be at least six and a half hours long."

Noah sighed: "I thought you were just friends."

Saoirse does not deny it: "I always have to be good at something special that others don't know, so that I can remain attractive."

 Yesterday, Saoirse brought the script up because it was more than 350 pages thick.

Greta whispered: "There is no such thing as pure friendship among adults. It's more about friendship driven by interests."

Greta followed, looking at Saoirse sideways as she walked, and said, "You are in better shape than before."

Greta picked up her briefcase, leaned over and kissed Noah, got out of the car and went directly into the hotel.

Saoirse encouraged: "Come on."

Greta saw her and walked over quickly: "Hey, Saoirse, just wait for me in the room."

Greta was embarrassed to laugh: "This is just the first draft, I will refine it later."

Greta understood: "Practicing dance can increase the flexibility of the body. If you use it like a horse, men will go crazy."

"Yes, the story in the script takes place in Sacramento, and my hometown is Sacramento." Greta adapted it based on many of her own experiences. She recommended: "Many plots in the film are my personal experiences, among which No one understands his journey better than me.”

Like a best friend, Greta whispered: "For Martin?"

 Martin asked: "I heard from Saoirse that this is your semi-autobiography?"

Saoirse came over, hugged Greta, and said, "Martin is busy at work, and I have nothing to do up there."

Saoirse was a little surprised: "Are you so fast?"

Greta continued: "I didn't know Martin, but I met Saoirse through Mandy Moore, and I thought it was an opportunity. Later, I was also informed by Saoirse that I might become one of the chief screenwriters of "Beauty and the Beast." Saoirse knew, probably from Martin, that Davis Studio was one of the investors, so naturally, Saoirse and I became good friends.”

Greta said: "We should try new tricks from time to time to give him some fresh stimulation."

 Compared to his girlfriend, Noah is a screenwriter who focuses on creation. He is relatively simple. He couldn't help but say: "It sounds so complicated."

Saoirse said: "I've seen it roughly, so I came to talk to you." She looked like a sister with deep affection: "According to Martin's habit, he will ask you to shoot a short film. You must agree, as long as Only if the short film is done well will you be able to get the director’s position.”

Greta said: "It's actually very simple. I guess Saoirse is not only Martin Davis's student, but also his lover. There are so many actresses in Hollywood, many of whom are better than Saoirse in terms of her beautiful acting skills." , why did Martin Davis choose her?”

"If a woman wants to be a director, she needs to work more and be more convincing." When Greta said these words, she felt deeply helpless: "Martin is at least willing to have an in-depth chat with me, and I have to thank you for this." You, Saoirse. Without your recommendation, it would be difficult for me to have this opportunity.”

She shrugged: "You know what? Although I served as the screenwriter of "Beauty and the Beast", when I told Disney Pictures that I was going to write and direct a female-themed movie, they were not even interested in talking to me. ”

Her voice changed: "Of course, Saoirse is a good person. As long as her interests are not violated, she will be a very good friend. After all, the one who supports her is Martin Davis!"

She smiled: "Dear, you know, I have an idea for the script a long time ago, and I have always wanted to be a director, but without the support of the film company and big bosses, who would let a woman, or a person who has only directed a movie? A woman who makes an experimental film and directs a project?”

 Fortunately, there are other preparations.

 They both know each other, so there is no unnecessary nonsense and we go directly to the topic.

　　Noah did not speak, and acted as a listener at this time.

 Greta patted the bag in her hand: "I've already shot the short film."

"By the way, you and Noah have been together since 10 years." Saoirse asked humbly: "How do you keep arousing Noah's interest?"

Noah drove through the intersection and came to the main entrance of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He parked the car and said, "I can only take you here, my dear, come on."

After entering the special elevator, Greta returned to the topic: "The script...has Martin read it?"

“This script gave me a surprise.” Martin patted the script on the table and said, “There is too much content and the plot is too rich. I haven’t finished reading it yet.”

 She led the way: "Go this way."

Saoirse couldn’t help but sigh to herself that she unlocked it too quickly.

But Greta shook her head and smiled: "What kind of like-minded people, but I went out of my way to make friends with her. What about her? She is also a very interesting little girl. She probably thought I was valuable, so she accepted the hand of friendship I extended. "

 Martin sat alone on the terrace and waved to Saoirse through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

 Martin understood what she meant and wrote and directed it himself.

Greta added: "Actually, I started writing this script in 2011 and completed it at the beginning of this year. I also found a few young actors to shoot a short film."

 She opened her briefcase and took out a mobile hard drive: "The short film is here."

Martin got up and went into the room: "Let's go in and take a look." Saoirse took the hard drive and went to the study together, connected it to the computer, and projected it on the alloy screen in the study.

 A short film of less than ten minutes began to play.

 Martin watched it carefully. The quality of the short film was good. From the camera movement to the editing to the plot transition, everything was clear and clear. The only thing that was almost interesting was the performance of the actors.

 The young actors hired temporarily have mediocre acting skills, which is normal.

The short film ended quickly. Saoirse glanced at Martin and turned off the video.

 The words are far less convincing than the images. The short film was well shot and was approved by Martin.

 He said to Greta: "There are a few things that need to be said first."

Greta's heart beat rapidly, and there was a bang-bang-bang sound in her ears, and she quickly responded: "Which aspects?"

Martin said: "Writing and directing yourself is not a problem, but there are a few prerequisites. The first is the script and length. A script of more than 350 pages is absolutely not acceptable. I ask you to streamline the script to less than 100 pages, and control the length of the film to one and a half hours. About hours.”

Greta immediately agreed: "I am refining the script."

 Martin pointed at Saoirse: "She will play Lady Bird, and the project investment will not exceed US$10 million."

Greta nodded repeatedly: "I have already discussed with Saoirse that she will play the heroine. The investment of 10 million US dollars is enough."

The script was basically negotiated on Martin’s level, and he said to Saoirse: “Leave Jessica’s contact information with Greta, Ms. Gerwig, and ask your agent to contact me today. studio to discuss copyright transfer matters.”

When Greta got the exact answer, the stone hanging in her heart fell to the ground. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She took the note handed by Saoirse and said, "I'll call my agent right now and ask him to do it right away." Get to Burbank."

 Martin nodded slightly: "Okay."

 A few minutes later, Greta and Saoirse went downstairs together.

 The two came to the lobby, Saoirse said: "Can you feel relieved now?"

Greta held her hand: "I really don't know how to thank you for allowing a woman with almost no experience to serve as a director. It is too difficult in Hollywood. If you hadn't recommended it to Martin, I wouldn't have been able to work as a screenwriter. In addition, he can also serve as the director of this project.”

Saoirse thought of what Martin had said, that an actor on the rise needs a good director, and said: "That's right. Helping you is also helping myself."

Greta said: "I hope this one will be successful, so that we can continue to cooperate for a long time. What I want to shoot are all subjects where women are the absolute protagonists..."

Saoirse smiled: "How about taking some time for us to go to Sacramento? Let's see the place where you grew up and walk through the path of your growth?"

Greta has a high emotional intelligence: "As soon as I negotiate the contract with Davis Studio, we will set off immediately."

Saoirse knows the priorities: "You should be busy with the signing first. Don't rush to Sacramento."

Martin and Greta have reached an agreement on the general direction. Negotiations between Jessica and Greta's agents went quickly. Within a few days, the two parties signed a copyright agreement.

Davis Studio bought out the script rights of "Lady Bird", invited screenwriter Greta Gerwig to be the director of the project, and starred Saoirse Ronan as the heroine Christine. The project production budget is 10 million USD, the crew and studio were officially established in mid-March, and preliminary preparations began.

 Martin knows very well that if you want to make a profit from this kind of fresh literary film, you must first control the scale of investment.

Speaking of breaking the news, the audience for literary and artistic films is relatively small, and not many people can really watch it patiently.

 Vulgar commercial films are the mainstream in the market.

 The promotion and marketing of "Lady Bird" must also follow the method of winning awards during the awards season.

 It is now March 2014, and Saoirse Ronan is still filming "Beauty and the Beast". Martin plans to wait until next year's awards season to promote the release of this film.

In this way, the film can prepare to compete for awards starting from next year’s Cannes Film Festival.

 …

 Disney Studios, inside the newly established "Shark Tank" studio.

 Martin hung up the phone with Aniston.

Aniston just landed Barry Jenkins’ black **** project.

Originally, she had almost settled the deal, but a film company called A24 came out midway and wanted to intercept Hu.

 But after Aniston experienced Pitt's betrayal and the three of them teaming up to kill Pitt, Aniston is no longer the relatively peaceful woman she used to be.

 As the opinion leader of Mi Rabbit, she did not expend much effort to get A24 to quit.

  Martin can imagine that Aniston, as one of the most well-known left-wing figures in Hollywood, and her company has produced works such as "Moonlight", will not be so lethal at the Oscars.

This project has low investment and quick preparation. Plan B is expected to be released during this year’s awards season.

 Bruce came in from outside the office at this time.

Martin glanced at him and said, "You need to be in control. Look at you. Your steps are sloppy and you have bags under your eyes. You've been tortured a lot these days?"

Bruce couldn't deny it and nodded: "They have all reached an age where their needs are strong, and it is too difficult to compete with three."

 Martin grasped the key: "One versus three? Old Boo, you are not a human being!"

Bruce quickly explained: "It's not what you think. What I said is one versus three. I'm with Kim and Khloe at night, and I have to deal with Jodi during the day..."

Martin snorted coldly: "Do you think I would believe it? I didn't expect that you would betray your own preferences and like Kendall's figure."

This kind of topic was unclear, so Bruce simply forced it to move to another matter: "There is news from Kiev that they want to promote the North American concert of the Saints."

Martin asked: “They are doing well in the CIS and Eastern Europe?”

“The first album was a big hit.” Bruce simply said: “It became popular in the CIS region, and every performance was sold out. This generation of Saints is already the most popular generation.”

He has been keeping in touch with the Kiev side: "Aside from business, the company there is also preparing to raise the profile of the Saints. They think performing in New York or Los Angeles is a very effective way.

 Martin is well aware that even in this era, many countries still regard the United States as a beacon.

 He thought for a while and said: "Inform Thomas and Jessica and ask them to contact the company over there to discuss this cooperation."

 (End of this chapter)