Back To 1995

   Chapter 256 One step at a time

   Holding the script of "The Matrix", the Wachowski brothers have been waiting for two or three years. Naturally, there is a requirement, and it is impossible to easily take out the script.

  Song Yang waved his hand, motioning for Larry Wachowski to state the conditions.

  The two brothers looked at each other, and Larry Wachowski finally said, "We hope, we can direct the film "The Matrix" ourselves!"

After waiting for so many years, one of the most important conditions for the Wachowski brothers is to be able to become the director of "The Matrix", but this kind of sci-fi film is often a big production, and a pair of rookie directors are filmed. I had been in contact with their Hollywood company before, but I was hesitant. I felt it was too risky, and I never agreed to their conditions.

After   Larry Wachowski said this condition, the two brothers looked closely at Song Yang, wondering if Song Yang would agree to this condition.

   Song Yang tapped the table with his fingers, and the sound of music from outside the manor faintly penetrated into the room, which also made the Wachowski brothers feel uneasy.

   "What else?!" After a while, Song Yang spoke again.

   This time, Larry and Andy showed uncontrollable joy on their faces. Song Yang hadn't clearly agreed to them, but he showed that Song Yang did not reject them!

  This time, Andy Wachowski spoke first, "We hope to get $8 million in directing fees, and 4% of the film share..."

  The director's fee of 8 million dollars, this price is not outrageous in Hollywood, but it is a little expensive for the Wachowski brothers who have not proven themselves.

   And if you get 4% of the film share, it’s even more expensive. Don’t watch the glamorous movie, but in this industry, how much you can earn from the release of a movie depends on the blind box. If you are lucky, you will get a big prize, but if you are unlucky, you will lose everything!

   How much money can be earned from a movie, the two brothers will take 4%, and only God knows how much revenue the film company that made this film can make in the end.

"We hope that the cost of this film can be more than 80 million US dollars. This film needs a lot of special effects. In addition, actors such as Little Plum Leonardo and Brad Pitt can be invited to play the leading roles. box office…"

Andy Wachowski is still talking excitedly, the two brothers have planned the film for the past few years, invite stars to act as the actors to carry the box office, and then use a lot of special effects to support the picture, to complete their expectations for the script. conception.

   But as soon as he said this, he was interrupted by Song Yang reaching out his hand. Song Yang looked at the Wachowski brothers and said, "The movie actor, the film casting director will decide!"

   Hearing that Song Yang did not allow them to interfere in the casting of the film, both Larry Wachowski and Andy Wachowski were slightly stunned, with embarrassed expressions on their faces.

   But then the two brothers reacted and asked Song Yang in unison, "Song, do you agree to invest in this movie?!"

  The Wachowski brothers couldn't help beating their hearts. Song Yang wanted to invest in this movie, at least it means that they agreed to direct the "Matrix" by the two brothers!

  Song Yang nodded. Although these two brothers are different from others in other aspects, their talent and ability in film are obvious to all.

However, Song Yang also needs to put shackles on them, so as not to let himself go too far, adding too much obscurity to the film and full of various ideas, although Song Yang said that he wanted to make an "Internet culture" style film. Phone, but he wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars to promote that set of broken theories!

   "You can be the director of The Matrix, but I need to invite several other directors and advisors to join the crew."

As the first film in Hollywood, Song Yang had to tell the Italians, and even DreamWorks and several major film companies expressed that they should put some people into the crew. It is unavoidable to spend millions of dollars more.

  Larry Wachowski and Andy thought for a moment and then agreed. They were also the first time they directed such a blockbuster action. It would be great if there were a few famous directors.

   "As for the cost of filming..."

  Song Yang shook his head, which made the two brothers nervous. There were other film companies who had contact with them before, but they were all scared away because of the high shooting costs, including Warner Films!

   But then Song Yang's words made the Wachowski brothers experience what it means to think about heaven and think about hell.

Wachowski and the two heard Song Yang say, "I've read your script, didn't you plan a trilogy? I want to finish the filming at one time, and then arrange the film for release. The Matrix trilogy can be invested in. $240 million in filming costs!"

The study was quiet, and Larry Wachowski and Andy Wachowski could hear their own heartbeats. They now fully understood what it meant to be arrogant and what it meant not to take a knife for money. I also know why so many stars today, even Harvey Weinstein, David Geffen and other industry leaders, are rushing to come here.

One step at a time, Wachowski wanted US$80 million to make a movie, Song Yang directly dropped US$240 million, and the trilogy was shot in one go. Don’t they want to be directors? During the year, don't even think about doing anything, just shoot the "Matrix" trilogy for Song Yang and make them vomit!

"but!"

   Song Yang looked at the two of them, "The director's fee can be increased to 10 million US dollars for you, but the movie share cannot exceed 2%."

   That is, two brothers, one person can get 1% of the income of "The Matrix", and they can get this income for a lifetime.

The film industry eats the meal of youth, especially Hollywood. Unless they are at the level of Xiao Lizi and Stallone, they can be active on the screen for a long time. Otherwise, many young actors are lucky and can act in a few plays, but they are not lucky. Well, after a play, it disappeared.

But in Hollywood, as long as they have a role in a drama, even if they are male No. 10 and female No. 8, they can enjoy the movie income, that is, after a film is released, it can be rented, remade, or broadcast online through video tapes. And so on, they can get money, even small actors like them can get money.

   As for the 2% share of the Wachowski brothers, not to mention, once the Matrix can explode, they rely on this share, dare not say hundreds of millions of dollars, tens of millions of dollars is still no problem.

   "Mr. Bruno, we are willing to hand over the script of The Matrix to you for investment!" Wachowski and the two stood up and said to Song Yang.

Let them be directors, give them a movie share, and make a trilogy at one time. This is a treatment they don't have at all in the past few years. They missed Song Yang, the gold master, and if they want to find the next one, they still don't know where they will come. The year of the monkey is the month of the horse.

   As for making a trilogy at one time, of course, the risk is huge, and the trouble is not good. Two or three hundred million dollars will be directly lost.

   But shooting the trilogy, of course, also has advantages. The film as a whole has coherence, whether it is the plot or the actors, it can be connected.

In fact, as long as the movie can sell well, it is much more cost-effective to make three consecutive films than to make it alone. Once the film is shot separately, when the movie becomes popular, the value of the actors and directors will soar. If you think about it a few years ago It is impossible to invite them at the price. Now, it is the price of cabbage, and they will be hired for free.

   As for the shooting cost of 240 million US dollars, you don’t even have to think about it.

  Song Yang can't get real money. If he takes out so many beautiful knives at one time, he will throw cash flow here if he is crazy. After investing the money to start the film project, he basically depends on the bank.

   After it was confirmed that Song Yang would invest, the Wachowski brothers talked about the various matters in preparing for the Matrix. Now the Wachowskis are very motivated, and they can't wait to start work tomorrow!

   "Tomorrow, I will announce my investment in The Matrix!"

After talking for a while, Song Yang said to the two of them that after the announcement tomorrow, the "Matrix" movie will be officially approved and preparations will begin. , funding and casting, etc.

   When Song Yang and the Wachowski brothers entered the banquet at the manor, everyone at the banquet couldn't help but look at the Wachowski brothers, and those who knew their identities couldn't help but whisper.

Harvey, David Geffen, Elias and others all looked at the Wachowski brothers who were following Song Yang, and speculated on what Song Yang would do with him. Francisco Coppola also No exception, he brought his daughter Sofia Coppola here today, and he also wanted to make his daughter Sofia the director of the movie in Song Yang's hands.

  There are no secrets in Hollywood. Song Yang showed up with the Wachowski brothers at the banquet. That night, a gossip spread that Song Yang was going to invest in the Wachowski brothers' films.

   On this night, The Matrix got the script and became the focus of Hollywood. Harvey and others have specially found this script, and there are not a few who contacted the Wachowskis to inquire about the news.

   But all the speculation disappeared early in the morning the next day, and even the Hollywood tabloids and gossip magazines had not had time to exert their efforts, and a piece of news detonated the entire Hollywood.

  The Americas Global Investment Fund suddenly announced that it bought the script of "The Matrix" at a price of five million US dollars.

   This is not the end, followed by the American Global Investment Foundation, announcing the establishment of a Hollywood film and television company, and the first project is the "Matrix" trilogy!

As soon as the trilogy was filmed, the whole Hollywood was a little confused. Song Yang was a little out of the way, and the news that came out later shocked Hollywood even more. The newly established "Matrix" film project team only Two pieces of news were announced, the first, the Wachowski brothers as the general directors of the Matrix trilogy, and the second, the entire trilogy movie project, with an investment of $240 million!

   (end of this chapter)