Hollywood Hunter

Hollywood has countless parties every day, especially on weekends.

Some time ago, the box office of "Lola Run" became more and more successful. In addition to Orion's official celebration banquet, Janet also proposed that Simon hold a party or two in the Palisades mansion to reward everyone. Simon also agreed.

However, before it can be implemented, there will be no such thing for the time being.

The purpose of Robert Redford’s party tonight is to celebrate the formal establishment of several independent films funded by the Sundance Institute.

The black Chevrolet SUV stopped outside a mansion halfway up the mountain in Beverly Hills. Simon ordered Neil Bennett, who was the driver, to pick him up again at ten o'clock, and he pushed the door and got out of the car.

It was dusk.

Simon entered Redford's mansion, and the courtyard was already crowded with people, men and women in groups and chatting together. Before Robert De Niro arrived, Simon was not in a hurry, and quickly integrated into the crowd under the introduction of Robert Redford.

"This is a film that explores the gap between ideals and reality. It's called "Dream Country." Danni has been a nerd since she was a child. She has always been eager to prove herself. When she grows up, she decides to wander around the world. This is made by a cowardly man. The boldest decision. Danny met Beve during the wandering process, a girl who was unrestrained and daring to act. He seemed to see his significant other, so one day he suddenly proposed to her..."

In the courtyard, Simon listened carefully to a director named Michael Hoffman telling the story he is about to direct. This is the first feature film funded by the Sundance Institute.

When Michael Hoffman finished speaking, Simon turned to another woman who was in the audience, with a smile on his mouth, and said, "Meg, you want to try the role of Beve?"

The woman is Meg Ryan.

Simon did not expect that he had just met in the afternoon, and the two met again in the evening.

Meg Ryan was wearing a long black suspender dress, perhaps with heavy makeup, or because of the night, and at this time it did not look as haggard as in the afternoon.

Just seeing Simon appear, Meg Ryan was just looking at a ghost. At this time, she tried to calm herself down and replied casually: "Yes, Wei... Simon, what do you think?"

With that said, the woman lifted her chin slightly in a demonstration.

None of the men and women standing together expected Simon to know Meg Ryan. After listening to the conversation between the two, they all showed curious expressions, waiting for Simon's answer.

"Bev should be the kind of brazen and unscrupulous character. According to your acting style, this role will become very silly," Simon just shrugged, looked at each other up and down, and added to the surprised eyes of the surrounding people: "So, go to my side tomorrow obediently."

Damnable man.

Seeing the changing expressions of several people around, Meg Ryan thought bitterly and somewhat depressed. This guy said in front of the director. It is basically impossible to win this role.

After plucking up his courage, Meg Ryan was about to sneer, and Robert Redford walked over and said to Simon: "Bob is here, Simon, let's go."

Simon nodded to everyone, and followed Robert to a living room of the mansion villa.

As one of the four most talented actors in Hollywood in the 1970s, Robert De Niro has reached middle age, and his peak has already passed.

However, although it is difficult for Hollywood to last a lifetime with one or two works, Robert De Niro's four Oscar nominations for two awards are too big, and he is still a hot top Hollywood star in these years.

Like many of the other's screen images, Robert De Niro is also a very quiet and even shy person in private, not good at words and greetings.

A few brief introductions, when the three of them sat down on the sofa in the living room, Robert De Niro directly asked about Pulp Fiction: "Simon, I have read the script several times, but I am still very confused. , I don’t know what you want to express?"

Since he helped introduce him, Robert Redford naturally read the script, and when he heard De Niro's question, he also looked over curiously, obviously with the same confusion.

Even after "Pulp Fiction" was made into a movie, many people still don't know its goodness. Simon was not surprised by the expressions of the two.

After thinking about it, Simon replied: "Bob, I didn’t want to express anything through this movie. This is just a story. Just like its name,'Pulp Fiction', a ridiculous, bizarre, full of no Deterministic postmodern black comedy."

Robert De Niro heard Simon say this and wondered: "Postmodernism?"

Simon explained: "You can understand it as an artistic expression that is anti-tradition, anti-authority, anti-continuity, and anti-values."

Robert De Niro nodded his head seemingly understanding, and then said: "Simon, maybe you already know your own movie, but really, it's hard for me to understand. I even think the script is very clumsy. The completely messy plot, the sudden appearance of the character, the large amount of undisputed dialogue, these all seem inexplicable. You want me to play Butch Coolidge, right? After reading your script, I don’t even know how to construct this character. Because I don't feel any meaning of this person's existence, as if he is there, but at the same time, he seems to be dispensable."

"Bob, you already understand the story, and it's very profound," Simon smiled on his face and repeated De Niro's words just now: "He is there, but he seems dispensable."

Robert De Niro shook his head: "Simon, I don't quite understand."

"Actually, life has no meaning in the first place, Bob. Just like us, we are talking about a movie. If we reach a cooperation, we will sign a contract, then start shooting and release it. We look forward to the audience's response. This is our life. Similarly, other people have other people’s lives, and they are all doing their own things. But in fact, for this world or the entire universe, we are also optional. We are just here, living our lives and being us Thing."

Robert De Niro finally showed a little more in his expression.

Robert Redford also showed a faint admiration on his face, and said with a smile: "Simon, I never thought you were still a philosopher."

Simon just smiled and continued: "So, Bob, through Pulp Fiction, what I want to build is such a world, Butch, Vincent, Jules, Mia, Marsha, Jimmy, Wo Husband and even you may think that the female taxi driver is very obtrusive, they are just living their lives seriously, this life is meaningless, but they are there. You think the plot is too messy, the dialogue is too much, and the characters are too abrupt. But this is not the case. If you think of it as a real world, you will feel that everyone exists very reasonably. Even in the future shooting process, I will add more and richer details to improve This world makes it more authentic and credible."

Robert De Niro subconsciously nodded as Simon explained, but finally asked: "What about the audience, Simon, do you think the audience would be interested in such a story?"

"This is the other way, Bob. Will the audience be interested? I don't know. I just need them to walk into the cinema and watch two improvised robbers discuss robbery in the restaurant. The female bandit is like a little girl. My boyfriend acted like a baby, and then suddenly turned into a mad female rabbit; it would be polite to watch Vincent and Jules discuss the Hamburg problem on the road like ordinary office workers. After arriving at the destination, it would be polite to watch the time too early. I waited for a while, then broke into other people’s homes, read the Bible, and drew his guns to kill; watching Butch silently accept the instruction of the gang boss Masha like a wimpy fighter, and then suddenly beat him to death on the ring. My opponent takes his girlfriend to the end of the world; watching Mia, who is arrogant and lonely; watching Lance, who is dressed like **** but who sells drugs; watching Jimmy, who is more worried about his wife than the police in the face of murder. Wait until they finish watching this group. The absurd, bizarre, people who are on the verge of madness and collapse, if they start to think about Butch and their little girlfriend can escape safely? Will Jules or Mia take revenge for Vincent? A soft accent Will a female taxi driver go crazy like a bunny? Will Simon Westero shoot a sequel? Then, when that happens, I will open my arms in my heart and say to them loudly: Friends, welcome to "Pulp Fiction" The postmodern world."

After Simon's speech was full of infectious words, Robert De Niro was already showing a somewhat emotional expression. Even Robert Redford couldn't help saying: "Simon, listen to you, if I can't play a guest role in such a movie, I will definitely regret it in the future."

Simon gave the script to Robert Redford before, and he had this idea.

However, although the achievements in awards cannot be compared with De Niro, but in recent years, Robert Redford's box office performance in films has far surpassed each other.

For example, "Out of Africa" ​​two years ago ranked fifth in the annual North American box office rankings. In comparison, Robert De Niro entered the 1980s until now. Although the movies he participated in are basically big productions, none of them has a North American box office of more than 20 million US dollars.

In Hollywood, box office performance means coffee position.

Robert Redford's current salary is obviously higher than Robert De Niro's.

Such a star joining "Pulp Fiction" is definitely a desperate thing. Simon hasn't been arrogant enough to fully use a group of newcomers to make the audience rush.

But on the other hand, Simon only has a budget of 8 million US dollars. If Robert Redford participates in the performance, he can only drop his salary, or even give a cabbage price. The friendship returned to the friendship, Simon knew that if he took the initiative, it would be too abrupt, and Robert Redford could only speak up first.

Now, hearing what Robert Redford said, Simon nodded without hesitation, and said: "Bob, if you can participate in the show, I am naturally welcome. But I must confess that Orion does not give me much budget. ."

Robert Redford didn't know the contract signed between Simon and Orion, he just said relaxedly: "It's just a cameo, Simon, let alone the salary, which role do you think I am more suitable for?"

Simon didn't hesitate anymore and smiled: "Of course it is Mr. Wolf. The former'Little Tiger Leopard' lived in Los Angeles and became the legendary Mr. Wolf by all the low-level gangsters. This is very interesting, isn't it?"

"The Tiger and Leopard King" is Robert Redford's famous work that year, and the name of the Sundance Film Festival comes from this movie.

"Then Mr. Wolf," Robert Redford also nodded bluntly, then looked at Robert De Niro, and stood up and said, "I have to go out to meet the guests, Bob, Simon, you two continue Let's talk."

Robert Redford saw that Robert De Niro was already tempted, and he must talk about the salary issue next, so he took the initiative to avoid it.

Among the four talented Hollywood actors of the seventies, Robert De Niro is definitely one of the most maverick. Over the years, Robert De Niro has never had an agent, and he communicated with the producer himself for the payment contracts and the like.