Hollywood Road

"Mr. Stanton..."

In a cafe in Burbank, a middle-aged man in his thirties looked at Murphy, "The weekly salary is three thousand dollars. This is the latest offer I can accept."

He turned to the woman who was slowly drinking coffee next to Murphy, "If you weren't introduced by Kara, I wouldn't consider your movie."

This statement is full of confidence.

Murphy's brows frowned tightly, "Mr. Klebert, based on your qualifications, such a price is not excessive."

The other party has been in the industry for more than ten years and has participated in the shooting of many films, many of which have invested more than 10 million US dollars in second-line production. Although he is a not-so-remarkable prop artist, it is true compared to a newbie like him. Senior people.

"But my total investment in the film is only 300,000 US dollars." Murphy is also trying to impress him, "If the price you want is too high, the budget for other aspects of the film will be reduced. My project..."

Strictly speaking, compared to his qualifications, this prop-maker named Klebert is not too expensive. Nowadays, the second- and third-tier prop-makers in Hollywood can usually earn up to five thousand dollars a week. The problem is that these three thousand dollars are against Mexico. It is a big number for the Philippines.

Murphy has already made relevant plans. The most optimistic estimate is that it will take at least two months from the preliminary preparations to the completion of the filming. As a prop artist, he must start working very early, even if it is ten weeks of work, only one People's salary expenditures reached 30,000 US dollars, accounting for one-tenth of the total investment, which he could not accept in any case.

Kleibert killed three thousand dollars, and Murphy also looked at Carla Faith. She quietly sipped her coffee without saying anything, obviously not wanting to interfere in the negotiation between the two.

This is not surprising. In North America, business and friendship are fairly well divided most of the time.

Murphy has mastered the skills of many positions behind the scenes of the movie, but he doesn't know much about props, and the film will use a lot of plasma and related props. A relatively good props master can solve a lot of troubles and the project goes on smoothly. Protection.

Just like Kleibert, a relatively good prop maker also pays a relatively high price.

In addition, Kleibert has already lowered his salary requirement based on what Carla Fes introduced. Compared with his level of props, three thousand dollars is really cheaper.

Murphy has no contacts, no network, and no qualifications. If it were Spielberg's project, Klebert might join without money.

This was only a preliminary contact, and Murphy quickly got up and left the cafe with Carla Faith.

Out of the cafe, under the illumination of the street lights, the two walked along this one-way street towards the parking lot. Carla Faith was wearing high heels. It was probably a tired relationship after a busy day. The speed was a little slow. Fei held a briefcase in her left hand and followed her unhurriedly.

"How are you preparing?" Carla Faith gathered up the blonde hair that was blown away by the night wind and turned to look at Murphy's face. "It looks like you have encountered a lot of difficulties."

Murphy pointed to his face, "Is it so obvious?"

Carla Fess shrugged his shoulders and picked up speed a bit, "You are clearly engaged in a relatively successful journalism business, but you have to transform into one of the most difficult industries..."

Having said this, she nodded Murphy's head in the air, "I really doubt if there is a problem with you here."

"Carla, you overlooked one thing." Murphy raised his head and looked at the dark night sky, like the future of his previous career. "I have been on the blacklist of the Los Angeles police and continue to shoot social news. Will they not trouble me?"

Hearing Murphy's words, Carla Faith's eyes flashed, and he did not say anything to refute.

"Also, if I continue, how much do you think I can achieve?" Murphy retracted his gaze, turned to look aside, "Do you think I can own a TV station?"

Kara Firth was silent.

"You know, it's harder than winning a million-dollar jackpot." Murphy couldn't help shaking his head. "At best, I am the owner of a video capture company."

"But you will succeed in the film industry?" Carla Feiss finally caught the counter-attack point and said unceremoniously. "The news videos you shoot are indeed very distinctive, but this is different from filming! You have not passed through anything. If you study professionally, you just want to break into Hollywood. Isn't it a stupid thing?"

Since the Bill Road incident, she has fully recognized Murphy, especially the police and robber shootout videos provided, which directly promoted her promotion and made her feel that the other party could be a learning object for herself.

However, a person who she believed was born to be a journalism industry had betrayed the industry.

Murphy suddenly stopped, and Kara Faith, who was next to him, also subconsciously stopped, and turned his head to look over again.

"My dear..." Murphy also looked at her and asked in a half-serious and half-joking tone, "Are you caring about me?"

Carla Faith turned back, walked forward, and dropped a sentence, "I'm looking forward to your bankruptcy."

Carrying a briefcase, Murphy followed up without hurries, "Continue to shoot news, and at most become the owner of a small video capture company, but my potential in the film industry is unlimited."

Carla Faith, who was walking in the front, didn't speak at all, all as Murphy bragging.

"I taught myself a lot of film-related courses."

His past experiences are not convincing at all. Murphy can't tell others about the special part of it. He can only use self-study as an excuse, "I think I can do something in this industry."

Carla Firth stopped, turned his head and looked over, her bright eyes hidden under her long blonde hair, gleaming with questions.

Murphy understood what she meant, and was not ashamed at all. "Maybe I am the next Steven Spielberg..."

There was a faint mockery in those bright blue eyes, and Murphy shrugged, "There is always hope for a director at the level of Ridley Scott or Quentin Tastino? At least he can. It's the next Robert Rodriguez."

Murphy walked a few steps quickly, caught up with Carla Firth, put away the joking expression on his face, and said seriously, "In my project, there is still a lack of a producer who coordinates the overall situation."

Carla Faith has only recently served as the producer of the documentary film "Sin City", so he can understand Murphy's meaning, "Can you afford my salary?"

"This..." Murphy patted his forehead, and didn't mention this topic at all.

With the current strength of the Stanton Studio, it is certainly not possible to pay Carla Firth's high salary.

Just like Carla Firth recognized his work ability, Murphy also recognized Carla Firth's work ability, and like himself, Carla Firth can also use quite a lot of methods to achieve his goals. Most importantly, these methods are still effective.

When he walked to the parking lot, Carla Faith came to his car, looked at Murphy's second-hand Ford car next to him, and waved to him, "It's getting late, I'm going back."

Murphy nodded and exhorted, "Drive slowly."

Carla Firth got into the driving position, just started the car, and seemed to think of something again. He lowered the window glass and said to Murphy, "Is there anything I can help..."

She made a call gesture.

"I will." Murphy waved his hand to her.

After working for a TV station for several years, Carla-Fiss has some connections, but Channel 6 is a small local TV station after all, and it has nothing to do with the film and television system. Apart from the prop artist I just met, she can help me. The place in the Philippines is also very limited.

Leaving the parking lot and driving back to downtown Los Angeles, Murphy didn't sleep even though it was too late. He sat at his desk and continued to improve the script, especially the promotion of the plot after the opening, which still needs to be refined.

This is just a story between two people. To create more contradictions and highlights in the monotonous relationship between characters, the script must be continuously polished.

In the following ten days, Murphy perfected the script and drawn the artwork for the sub-shots, and on the other hand made more preparations with Jessica Chastain, the sole employee of Stanton Studio.

Interview applicants for many positions such as makeup artist, lighting artist, set designer, etc., find suitable and cheap photographic equipment for rent, and check out the shooting venues that can be rented at a low price...

All kinds of tedious work almost kept him from being free for a moment, and his daily sleep time was even compressed to five hours.

Fortunately, his predecessor wandered the streets and alleys of Los Angeles all the year round, and the body that he left has gotten enough exercise. Now Murphy is very strong and energetic, plus the excitement of being in contact with the film industry for the first time. Energetic all over the body.

However, Murphy gave up the props master introduced by Kara Feith, and the salary of $3,000 per week was indeed not something he could pay.

After half a month of busy interviews with dozens of applicants, Murphy selected from a group of Hollywood losers who looked good makeup artist, lighting artist, set designer, prop artist, etc. Staff behind the scenes.

Especially the male makeup artist, who is very capable, Murphy is a little curious about why he has been so slumped in Hollywood for so many years.

After a simple understanding, Murphy roughly understands the problem. There are two reasons: one is that Hollywood has never lacked talents, almost all types of work are like this; the other is that the makeup artist himself said-because he is not one Glass, I don’t want to get involved with others...

These words also reminded Murphy of a lot of rumors that he had read. Some unwritten conventions not only run rampant in the big Hollywood industry, but even in some small circles of work.

For example, makeup artists in the film industry, especially male makeup artists, if they are not homosexual, they are bound to take a lot of detours.

Homosexuality and bisexuality are prevalent in Hollywood circles. In many cases, it is not those people who want to be like this, it is forced by the environment.

Fortunately, there is no such convention in the director's business, and Murphy can only think so.

Murphy put aside these messy thoughts and moved to the next step of work, formally establishing a crew and identifying two leading actors.