Made in Hollywood

The black Bentley car stopped in front of the Betty Hermitage Hotel in West Hollywood. Duke took his assistant and agent out of the car and entered the hotel. When he walked into the special elevator, Nancy Josephson seemed a little emotional.

"The other party actually covered the entire top floor, which is a big deal," she said.

Duke didn't feel anything, and walked directly into the elevator. It didn't matter where to talk, what was important was the content of the talk.

The dedicated elevator leads directly to the top floor of the Betty Hermitage Hotel. The top floor is a high-altitude garden full of pristine ecological environment, with a heated seawater swimming pool, a gazebo, an outdoor sunken fireplace, indoor and outdoor seating areas, and a 360-degree view. Enjoy panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills.

"Hi Duke..."

Just after Duke left where the elevator was, Christopher Rockencourt, who had seen him once, greeted him and stretched out his right hand, "Long time no see."

The other party had a warm smile on his face. Duke also held his hand with a smile on his face, "Yeah, Chris, it's been a long time."

Christopher Rockencourt greeted Tina Fey and Nancy Josephson again, leading the way, "This way, please."

The Duke and the three followed him past the swimming pool, up a flight of steps, and into an open-air reception room.

The open-air reception room is based on bark brown. The floor, sofa and open-air fireplace are all of this color. The place facing the sofa is the lush woods of the Hollywood Hills, with a beautiful view.

"I didn't expect a place like this in West Hollywood."

Sitting on the large single-seater sofa, Duke looked around. "I don't know."

"Because your energy and time are used to make movies." Christopher Rockencourt complimented without a trace.

A waiter brought tea, coffee and snacks. Duke asked for a cup of black tea and looked back from the Hollywood Hills.

He looked at the reception room again, and the waiter quickly left. Unlike he came with assistants and agents, Christopher Rockencourt was alone.

Duke didn't have time to go around in circles and said directly, "Chris, I'm very interested in your script and plan."

"It's my honor." Christopher Rockencourt showed a hint of surprise just right, but his tone changed. Said, "Duke, I can't completely transfer this project, I can only cooperate."

"Your Gallic Film Studio?" Nancy Josephson took over.

"Yes, 40% of the investment is my bottom line!" Christopher Rockencourt was very insistent, as if there was no room for bargaining, "Gaul Film Studio should account for at least 40% of the investment and revenue share!"

"As far as I know. You can't make this investment."

This kind of bullshit, of course, comes from the agent. Nancy Josephson said unceremoniously, "If the film needs to invest 160 million US dollars, you need to pay 64 million US dollars..."

Nancy didn't say anything after that. The meaning is very clear, he does not have such a net worth.

"Indeed, $64 million is an astronomical figure to me." Christopher Rockencourt said honestly, not minding Nancy's exposure to his old secrets. "I personally don't have the money, but don't forget. I have an extremely wide network in Hollywood."

"Ms. Josephson." He kept his polite tone all the time, "Actually, I have raised $25 million in upfront funding, as long as I find a suitable partner. With my $25 million plus the partner With pro-rata upfront funding, launching the project was not a problem at all.”

The $160 million in the plan is just a budget figure. No company or investor will allocate the funds at one time when making a film.

If the two sides cooperate, plus the up-front funds from Duke's side, it is more than enough to start the project.

Nancy frowned, "You're too demanding."

Christopher Rockencourt smiled and looked extremely confident, "My three conditions are the basis of cooperation."

Then, Nancy? Josephson started a long wrangling with her.

Duke has been listening, has been observing, no matter what he hears or what he sees, Christopher Rockencourt is a standard Hollywood producer, and full of self-confidence, it is very likely that you will not cooperate with me, I can always find a partner's posture.

Are you really thinking too much? He couldn't help but suspect that the first encounter was an illusion.

Nancy and Christopher Rockencourt talked for nearly an hour. Although they reached a certain consensus, there were still many differences, especially the ratio of investment and income sharing.

Duke never thought that such a big project could be done with just one conversation. If it was done with just one meeting, he would really doubt the professionalism and intelligence of Nancy and Christopher Rockencourt.

"Duke, I really want to work with you."

When leaving, Christopher Rockencourt also showed the other side of Hollywood style and seemed very enthusiastic, "I believe that if we cooperate, it will create a miracle."

"I hope so too."

Duke shook his hand and left with Nancy and Tina Fey.

Going downstairs and getting into his car, Duke frowned slightly, and Nancy Josephson asked, "Do you think we can work together?"

She tends to be more cooperative.

"You continue to talk to him." Duke's brows have been frowning slightly.

On the top floor of the hotel on the other side, Jessica Alba happily brought several people with investment intentions to Christopher Rockencourt. These people saw Duke and strengthened their determination to invest.

Returning to the Duke's Manor, and waiting for Nancy Josephson to leave, Tina Fey suddenly walked up to Emma, ​​the housekeeper, took her out, and told no one to come in to disturb her, then walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and stood by Du behind gram.

"Is something wrong?" Of course Duke saw it all.

"Just some of my own experiences, you can refer to it." Tina Fey took a step forward and stood side by side with Duke in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at the sea outside, "I grew up in a low-level community in suburban Pennsylvania. Big, that kind of place... Duke. You probably haven't been there, it's chaotic and full of evil."

Duke turned his head. He was born in the wealthy class, and had a certain understanding of the chaos in North American society. He really didn't go to the slums much. I just don't quite understand what Tina Fey is talking about.

Tina Fey smiled and continued, "Most people grow up and repeat this way of life, but there are also people who use their sinful income to start a business. In my community, there is such a person, probably When I was fourteen years old. He washed himself with a wealth of blood and blood. Later, someone investigated him, but through the channels of lawyers, banks, and accountants, they couldn't find anything useful. "

"Where is he now?" Duke probably understood.

Hearing his words, Tina Fey shrugged playfully. "Sent to jail by the FBI."

Duke laughed. "Thanks for reminding me."

He has a good family in this life. Although he has encountered many setbacks and difficulties in the past 30 years, it has basically gone smoothly. There are too many good lives, and it is inevitable to ignore the evil methods hidden behind the light.

Lawyer, accountant, and entertainment agent of Nancy's level. The ability is indeed very strong, but it is not omnipotent...

The phone rang suddenly, and Tina Fey walked over to the sofa and answered Duke's call. After saying a few words, he hurried over, "Sophia's phone."

"Hi, Sophia."

As soon as he took over the phone, Duke heard Sofia Coppola's faint nasal voice, "Duke, I had lunch with Nikolai at noon, and he asked me if you intend to direct a film about Napoleon. epic?"

"I did receive such a script." Duke joked casually, "What's the matter, do you also intend to?"

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in robbing you of projects." She briefly explained, "It's like this, Nikolai's investment manager and accountant, I don't know where to get the news, I heard that you are going to cooperate with others. This project encouraged Nikolay to invest, but he hasn't contacted you for many years, so it's hard to ask directly, so he came to me, since you are interested, then his $15 million investment will not be wasted..."

This is very common news. Duke also knows that Christopher Rockencourt's funds are not enough. It's not surprising to go around to pull investment. Even if his name is used, it is not uncommon in Hollywood. Borrowing possible cooperation directors It is normal to invest with actors.

It's just...why doesn't he feel right?

"Wait, Sophia," he interrupted. "Is Nikolay Cage you're talking about?"

Since "Brave the Dead Island", the two have had very little contact, and now they are not much different from strangers.

"Yeah, my cousin, Nicholas Coppola... well, his name is Nicholas Cage too."

This used to be the most prosperous male star on the other side, and his experience is well known. Duke instantly remembered a lot of things and confirmed, "You mean Nikolai's accountant and investment manager encouraged him to invest in the project that I am optimistic about."

"That's right."

Duke finally figured out what was wrong. If he remembered correctly, Nicolas Cage's investment agent and accountant was like a liar. Cage ended up in debt and became a veritable king of bad movies. People who are in charge of financial management around them can't get rid of them, even if they cannot be sanctioned from a legal point of view.

Now, Nicholas Cage's financial staff, advise him to invest in this project that he is optimistic about?

"Sophia, no matter what, don't invest in this project!"

Cage's life or death is none of his business. After Duke warned Sofia Coppola, he hung up the phone and stood there thinking for a while. What had been suppressed by Christopher Rockencourt's good performance began to emerge again. .

Turning his head and seeing Tina Fey standing beside him, Duke couldn't help remembering what she had just said before making a decision.

"Tina, have someone contact Hollywood Eye Anthony Pellicano..."

If the guess turns out to be true, then being approached and borrowing his name is something Duke can't bear. "Contact Sheriff Carter of the Los Angeles County Sheriff..." (To be continued ~^~)