Hollywood Road

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After hanging up the phone, Murphy sent Kerry Mulligan back to Stanton's studio, and then returned to Century City to find Bill Rossis, the agent of CAA, who was waiting in the rest area on the first floor of the CAA office building. I've been waiting here since I finished the phone call, and I saw Murphy coming in and beckoned him to come over.

"Here, Murphy." He was sitting at an unmanned oak round table next to the glass curtain wall. Murphy walked over when he saw it. Before sitting down, he pulled out the chair and asked, "The news is reliable?"

Bill Rossis nodded very seriously, "Robert Rodriguez's public relations manager has a little friendship with me. I told her about "Chain Saw" two days ago."

Murphy understood that Bill Rossis had a lot of relationships for this project.

"She just called me." Bill Rossis went straight to the point. "Robert Rodriguez gave an interview this afternoon, claiming that he would temporarily put down the last part of the Mexican trilogy and go with Mira. Max collaborates on a horror film..."

The bushy eyebrows gradually frowned, and Murphy's expression became serious.

Bill Rossis is not much better than him, and continued, "Robert Rodriguez also revealed a little about the subject of horror movies, the type of plasma and suspense!"

"What?" Murphy almost stood up, and he controlled himself in time. "What is Miramax going to do?"

"I ask her to inquire..." Bill Rossis said again, "It is only Miramax's intention at the moment, and the two sides have not yet had any substantive negotiations."

Although I wanted to go over now and smashed Harvey Weinstein’s fat head to see how many ugly things were hidden inside, Murphy still forced himself to calm down. After all, any film project went from intention to preparation. It takes a certain amount of time.

What does Miramax want to do? He never believed that this so-called plasma plus suspense type film had nothing to do with "Saw Cry".

Murphy looked at Bill Rossis, and in his eyes, he could almost see questions similar to him.

Bill Rossis is a bit more angry than Murphy, "They seem to treat me as an agent!"

"Have something like this before?" Murphy asked with a frown.

"One movie is brilliant, and there are many follow-up movies. This kind of thing is a lot in Hollywood." Bill Rossis shook his head while thinking, and some ideas gradually emerged. "Miramax does not need to imitate at all. The place where "Saw Horror" shines, with their strength..."

Miramax can even be said to be the leader of Hollywood's second-tier companies. Whether it is distribution or production, if they really want to cleverly imitate a film, it is not difficult to think about it. .

With such an uncertain movie, will they really go to war? Murphy knew that even if the other party did this and he was pushed into the theater before his film found a suitable distributor, he didn't have too many ways to deal with it. Even if there is a union, the strength of the two parties is too different. There is no need to have too much illusion about the role that trade unions can play in many cases.

Moreover, as Bill Rossis said, Miramax will only imitate it unless they are all stupid up and down. They learn from the idea and theme of the film, which is enough to make many changes.

There are too many movies that look very similar but not completely similar in Hollywood.

Whether it is worth it or not depends on the gains and losses.

Murphy speculates from himself that if he and Harvey Weinstein swap positions and see that the movie delivered to the door is "Chain Saw", he will not help but make some tricks.

Thinking of this, he immediately realized that it was wrong. He knew what "Saw Cry" meant, but Harvey Weinstein didn't know. He was optimistic about this film, undoubtedly from the perspective of the market, not cheating.

How should I respond? Murphy didn't notice. When thinking about this, his eyes gradually showed a fierce light, because the fierceness hidden by the change of career as a director was unconsciously exuding.

Bill Rossis suddenly felt that Murphy had changed something, just like Arnold Schwarzenegger outside the play suddenly entered the role of T800...

As an agent, he knew his clients and also knew about Murphy's imprisonment. At this moment, he quickly bent his fingers and tapped on the table, reminding him, "Murphy! Murphy! What do you want to do? Don't mess around! "

He was really worried that this guy rushed to Harvey Weinstein's house on impulse and had a problem with his head. Although the British director had a problem with his head long after he went to prison, no one could prove that it was related to Murphy. , Bill Rossis was still worried.

Murphy came back to his senses, and said that I was so stupid? He admitted that he had a similar idea, but knew that this was the worst option.

"You are a director now!" Bill Rossis warned, "not a freelance journalist!"

"Hey, Bill, am I the kind of impulsive and desperate person?" Murphy opened his hand.

Bill Rossis thought for a while, and shook his head. Murphy's initial funding was not very upright. Although he didn't know the specific methods used, he knew a little bit. Now it is normal to think about it. It is even a basic life. People with problems are often more courageous than normal people and have a lower bottom line.

Such people are often divided into two types, one is going farther and farther, on the road of no return, and ultimately unable to extricate themselves; the other is turning around in time, and then using reasonable, legal and reasonable means to move on.

The Murphy Stanton he knew was undoubtedly the latter.

"I thought of other aspects." Murphy folded his hands on the table. "Why did Harvey Weinstein do this?"

Bill Rossis looked at Murphy with all doubts in his eyes. In Hollywood, some imitations of changing shells are not a problem at all, especially large companies and insignificant small directors.

"I think there is such a possibility,"

He is a young bird chasing a woman, and it is sometimes more thorough in seeing people's hearts. "Bill, Harvey-Weinstein may have deliberately released these news to the outside world."

He laughed at himself, "Stanton Studio and I are not worth mentioning in front of Miramax. Hearing such news, under normal circumstances, he will definitely panic, and people will easily make wrong judgments and decisions if they panic. Miramax negotiated with us again, and under such pressure, they appropriately increased the price or other conditions..."

Bill Rossis has already understood, and the interface said, "We are likely to sign their contract."

Murphy nodded slightly.

Hearing these words, Bill Rossis thought for a while. This kind of possibility is not only possible, but also very big. If Murphy is not calm enough and thinks about this aspect again, maybe...

From Murphy’s performance, he thought of himself. After hearing about it, he called Murphy the first time. When sitting here and waiting, his facial expression was calm, but his inner anxiety was only clear to him. .

The index finger of his right hand tapped the joint of his left hand lightly. Murphy was thinking about how to deal with it. He might guess wrong, but it takes time to make a film like this. It is impossible for Miramax to have intentions today, one week. The movie can then be completed so that there will be enough buffer time.

If you guessed it correctly, then continue to talk with Miramax, and see how sincere they really are.

The safest way is to find a suitable distributor for the film as soon as possible. He is too weak now, and he can’t really treat Harvey Weinstein. By signing an excellent distributor, he can fight against Miramax. Don't know the true and false means of negotiation.

As for how to judge the truth...

Once you figure it out, Bill Rossis's thinking is still very quick, "As long as Miramax contact us to continue negotiations and improve the terms of the offer. Murphy, your guess is correct."

"You pay attention to Miramax." Murphy urged, "Don't stop negotiating with Fox Searchlight and other companies."

With conjecture, it is much easier to find evidence.

The next day, Robert Rodriguez’s interview appeared in the newspaper, and the content was roughly the same as what Bill Rossis said. Then Quentin Tarantino also said at a media event that if Miramax and his friends If Robert Rodriguez can cooperate, he will also participate in the project, regardless of screenwriter, actor or producer.

Acting in a full set, under Murphy's instruction, Bill Rossis called Miramax in the name of CAA and protested vaguely. Only two days later, Miramax’s Jones-Butler An invitation was sent to him and Murphy.

In order to show his anger and anxiety, Murphy refused, letting Bill Rossis represent him in full power, as he expected, after exerting pressure, Miramax threw a carrot and put "Saw Fright" "The buyout price has increased to 7 million U.S. dollars.

Frankly speaking, this is a pretty good price. Murphy has been negotiating with other companies these days. In his negotiations with Fox Searchlight, the other party made a market estimate of North American box office optimism, which is estimated to be tens of millions of dollars. .

According to their estimates, Murphy may not be able to get seven million dollars in the end, and there is also a film director for Miramax.

A full week after the initial preview, "Chain Saw" still did not find a suitable publisher, Murphy hardly heard a few good news, but bad news kept appearing.

Bill Rossis, a well-informed guy, I don’t know where to find out. Lionsgate is also interested in shooting a new horror film. It wants to incorporate the colors of suspense films. It is said that several senior executives have already discussed at the meeting. pass.

These complicated circumstances also spread to the ears of James Franco, Jonah Hill, and Seth Rogen. They have been close to Murphy since the party that shouted out the "gang". Come to Stanton's studio specifically, claiming to discuss countermeasures with Murphy and fight side by side.