Made in Hollywood

"Which of Hasbro's toys will Sony Entertainment buy for the movie rights?"

Compared with novels or games, the film adaptation rights of toys are not said to be blank until now, but they are actually very few. Even if there are only a few, such as Mattel's Barbie dolls, they do not really exist as movies, more Mostly for selling toys.

Duke knows that in the future, there will be a toy series of movies that can run the world!

Of course he remembered this series, but because toy movies were not very popular, and because he mainly focused on the "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter" series, he was not in a hurry. He didn't expect that someone would start it earlier.

The problem is, it's not DreamWorks or Paramount Pictures.

However, Tina Fey's words below made Duke put his heart back in his stomach.

"It's the Special Forces series." Tina Fey recalled and said, "It is said that Sony Entertainment has reached a preliminary agreement with Hasbro."

Duke nodded and thought for a while, not surprised by this situation.

Just like Hollywood's strict project approval system, Hollywood's major companies are not stupid. While consolidating their existing positions, they are also trying to expand new territories. It is not surprising that Sony Entertainment is eyeing the special forces series.

First of all, this is an authentic American toy, not an exotic like Godzilla.

Second, Special Forces was once Hasbro's best-selling toy and had a huge influence in North America.

Finally, Transformers, another Hasbro ace toy, is too difficult to shoot. The current film technology wants to shoot a live-action version, and it is necessary to sign an astronomical check, and the special forces can make it in a relatively cheap way. .

With his fingers curled, Duke gently clasped the table in front of the seat, and Duke pondered for five minutes. He spoke slowly.

"Tina, give Nancy access to Hasbro," he said.

"We're going to join the fight for special forces copyright?" Tina Fey clearly misunderstood.

Duke shook his head, "We don't want special forces, let Nancy and Hasbro talk about the adaptation rights of the Transformers series!"

Although there were still some doubts, Tina Fei took out the work log and quickly wrote it down. Then he asked, "Do you want to make a live-action movie?"

"Not now," Duke said before picking up the coffee mug, "this is the plan for the future."

With the current film technology, it is not impossible to shoot, the problem is that the price paid is too expensive. Even years later, the CGI cost of making a robot is still astronomical.

And the director, who seems to be the one who ruined his childhood, is at a more complacent stage in his life, and it's best to wait a few more years.

certainly. In Duke's mind, even if the film changes, it will still be the story of people and Transformers, with no one involved. The sense of substitution in the film will be a big problem,

In addition, if most of them are pictures of Transformers. Then the production cost will be piled up into hundreds of millions of dollars?

In this film, I didn't want Optimus Prime and Megatron to appear on the scene casually. Every special effect scene burned a lot of dollars.

Like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Its special effects rely more on sets and props. Many scenes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are shot using models for only one purpose - to save costs!

Duke got off the plane and didn't go to the Hilton Hotel where he was staying. He rushed directly from Heathrow Airport to the studio in Northampton. "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" had just started. The various buildings in the studio were only A prototype was built.

In order to make the Harry Potter series a real gold-absorbing industry chain, the film project is the top priority. To make the film popular and attention, the quality of the film must be guaranteed.

The script was co-edited by Joanna Rowling and professional screenwriters, which not only ensures that it conforms to the main line of the novel as much as possible, but also adds appeal and publicity to the film.

"Rowling is on the other side, participating in the design of the emblems and school uniforms of the major colleges."

In the studio's office, after Duke met Robin Grande, the two didn't waste time chatting, and Grande directly talked about some of the work being done by the crew, "The audition for actors has already started, and the registration and selection are at the same time. There are too many people who signed up, especially the young actors, and even though we were eliminated 90% in the first round, there are still hundreds of people shortlisted."

As he said that, he handed over a list, and Duke took it and just flipped through it. The selection of the young actor was not important at all, even though he didn't see Emma Watson in the process of flipping it. Inside the name, did not express any opinion, anyway, this is a typical role-achievement actor's film.

"There are also some actors recommended by agents or acquaintances in the UK that are not included." Robin Grande added, "Cris and I are more inclined to use the recommended actors than those who have less acting experience. candidate."

Duke returned the list to him, "You guys make up your mind."

Subsequently, Robin? Grande introduced to Duke the preparations, especially the most critical funding issues in the early preparations.

"Now the first $30 million start-up capital is running out." He was a little anxious, "Duke, I have communicated with Harry Potter Studio, the second investment from Duke Studio and Warner Bros. has not been in place. , if there is no funding..."

Having said that, he stopped.

Duke has prepared many movies, so he naturally knows the importance of funding, "Don't worry, Robin, the funding will be available soon."

He turned his head and said to Tina Fey, "Remember to remind me to communicate with Jeff Robinoff."

We talked about some difficulties encountered in the preparation. Duke, under the leadership of Robin Grande, simply walked around the set. People came in and out, and they were busy. Obviously, the whole preliminary work was going on in a tense and orderly manner.

Duke also saw more reporters and paparazzi cut off from the door as he passed by the door than when he entered.

This is typical British literature. To attract such attention from Hollywood and to invest heavily in adaptation, it must mean more care and enthusiasm for the British who have always had a sense of superiority in their hearts.

Of course, the increase in reporters must also be due to Duke. Since he left Heathrow Airport, he has been targeted by the paparazzi.

In this country with the most gossip and the craziest paparazzi in the world, it is as difficult as hell to escape the attention of the media. It is not only the paparazzi who spread all over the traffic points and important occasions, but also the active cooperation of the citizens. There are quite a lot of them. All Londoners are very active. The first thing that comes to mind after encountering a celebrity is not to sign autographs, but to make a fortune by calling the paparazzi, and then rush to it like a crazy fan.

"From the day the project of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was announced." Robin Grande looked at the entrance of the studio, "This place has become the main battlefield of Fleet Street, even bigger than No. 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Busy."

He sighed. "Compared to their British counterparts, American entertainment journalists are really civilized."

"That's fine." Duke also turned his head to look over there, "As long as you give them some tips from time to time, the film can maintain a certain popularity."

Robin Grande agrees, "That's the only benefit I can think of."

During the conversation, the two walked through the busy studio and entered the costume design room. Joanna Rowling is here. As the original author, she can turn the fantasy world in her mind into a real picture through a movie. In addition, the crew finally chose her hometown for filming, which made the single mother very excited.

In the conversation just now, Robin Grande also highlighted Joanna Rowling, who participated in almost every aspect of the film's preparation, especially the design of clothing, wands and various emblems, and paid more attention to it. the key of.

"Hi, Duke."

Today's Rowling is already a star writer, and her communication skills have gradually been honed. "It's nice to meet you. I've been looking forward to you coming over and giving some opinions."

"I'm glad to see you too, Joe."

Shaking her outstretched hand, Duke's eyes swept across the various costumes and emblems hanging in the design studio, "You guys did a great job, and I have reason to believe that this will be a great movie. "

"Thank you." Rowling laughed.

At present, only the first three novels have been published, and the Harry Potter studio owns only the first three. Although according to the contract between the two parties, the studio has the priority to sign subsequent sequels, but when the film is really popular, peripheral sales will be When the fire is on, Joanna Rowling will easily take back the initiative.

This is absolutely unavoidable. If you want to sign the follow-up copyright with Rowling on the previous conditions, how can there be any possibility?

Even if Joanna Rowling agreed mentally, her agent would not agree!

Business has always been complicated and full of intrigue, and although "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" has only just begun preparations, Duke has already thought about the future.

After all, once this series is successful, the income it can create is really amazing.

He vaguely remembered that after the big sale of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", at a Comic Con, Warner Bros. sold it for a sky-high price of 1.2 billion US dollars just for some image authorization!

The Harry Potter phenomenon was not only the focus of research in the film industry, but also the object of analysis in the economic circle. More than one financial media organization predicted that when the Harry Potter film came out 20 years ago, the industry chain related to Harry Potter, Can create hundreds of billions of dollars in output value.

For such a huge industrial chain, let alone Duke, it would be extremely tempting to replace it with anyone in the world.

It would be an understatement to say that Rowling will be his and Warner Bros. ATM in the future.

After chatting with Rowling for a while here, Duke went to the next set room and met Chris Columbus. This childlike director is indeed an expert in Hollywood family movies.

However, when he left, Duke still reminded Robin Grande, "If "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" is successful, you need to find a suitable director again. Chris will neither stay in London for a long time, nor It does not meet our later requirements." (To be continued~^~)