Chapter 796 I Have No Such Obligation

Between filming "Casino Royale", Eric took a week off to read the Wachowskis' scripts for the two sequels to "The Matrix."

Although there are some differences between the new script and the original storyline, the style of the plot that feels confusing remains unchanged.

In the original time and space, because of the success of the first film, the Wachowski brothers mastered enough production power during the production of the sequel, so they tried their best to stuff private goods into the two sequels.

With its cool action design, innovative shooting techniques and profound philosophical connotations, the first film of "The Matrix" has aroused huge repercussions around the world and gathered a large number of fans. The second sequel that followed, although the plot began to collapse, with the box office appeal accumulated by the first film and the coolness supported by a large number of special effects shots, it still reaped more than 700 million US dollars at the global box office. However, the quality of the second part is much lower than the first part as a whole, which quickly consumed the popularity accumulated by the series, which directly led to the third part's box office Waterloo.

Many people think that the reason why the third film of "The Matrix" has become the lowest box office in the series is related to Time Warner's too eager schedule. The release time of the two sequels is less than half a year apart.

But in fact, it can be seen from Time Warner's steady brand management of the "Harry Potter" series for ten years that they do not understand the reason why the release of the series is too close to affect the box office. It's just that "The Matrix 3" has been completely reduced to mediocre and low quality, so Time Warner dare not drag it on, so in the mind of getting as much back as it can get back, before the popularity of "The Matrix" has completely cooled down, do everything possible. It may be possible to arrange for the film to be uploaded early.

Facts also prove that Time Warner is correct in doing so. With the reputation of "The Matrix 3" being completely rotten, it was delayed for a year or two and the influence of the first two films has dissipated. At that time, it would be good to get 300 million at the global box office. Now, it is impossible to reach the return line of more than 400 million.

Eric also hopes that the two sequels can be shot continuously, which can save a lot of costs.

However, in order to prevent the "Matrix" series from repeating the previous mistakes, Eric still gave up the idea, rejected the continuous shooting plan in his reply to the Wachowskis, and asked the brothers to rewrite the script.

Eric also made up his mind that if the script never satisfied him, the series would simply be put on hold for a long time. Firefly has collected enough copyright resources in recent years, and only Marvel is enough to develop for 30 years. Therefore, the company does not rely heavily on these popular series, and it has enough confidence to pursue excellence.

Los Angeles.

The release of the "Matrix" series has entered its third week. Because there is no strong new film, the film's box office fell only a slight 21% in the second week, and once again received a huge $61.97 million.

The cumulative box office in two weeks reached 140 million.

It happened to be Saturday, and Katzenberg did not rest. He received Eric's reply to the script of "The Matrix". In the morning, he specially invited the Wachowski brothers to have breakfast at Firefly Studios in Playa Vista. , and relayed Eric's decision.

"Eric means that you can add your own thinking, but the premise is that the sequel script must be a complete and smooth story. The script you give is more like some fragments, if there is no complete story, The official start of filming will undoubtedly be a disaster, so the script has to be rewritten, and the specific comments are all in the file," Katzenberg handed a folder to the brothers sitting opposite, and continued. : "In addition, Eric also rejected the plan to shoot two consecutive episodes, you can only come one by one."

For Eric's request for them to completely rewrite the script, the brothers were obviously a little depressed, even resentful. Both brothers felt that the reason why "The Matrix" has achieved its current success is largely due to their joining. various ideas of his own.

But the copyright of "The Matrix" is firmly in the hands of Firefly, and even Firefly maintains the right to remove the director. Although after the film's box office explosion, the brothers naturally got some bargaining power, and it is impossible for Firefly to change directors easily, but the initiative is still in Firefly's hands after all.

Andy Wachowski took the folder, opened it, and looked at it. It was the script he left behind, but there were some comments on it.

After thinking about it, Andy Wachowski said: "Jeffrey, if the script is completely rewritten, it may take a long time, maybe a year or two may not be able to get it done. At that time, the film The popularity of the script has passed, so I think we can make changes on the basis of this draft script."

Hollywood movies, unless they become a cultural phenomenon like "Star Wars", will still have a large number of die-hard fans after restarting after more than ten years. Otherwise, the production interval of the sequel is between two or three years. If it is too long, most of the popularity accumulated by the previous work may have disappeared, and the box office risk of the sequel will also skyrocket.

Although the Wachowski brothers have not broken into Hollywood for too long, they have already understood this truth, so they said this vaguely threatening remark: If the script is completely overturned, the two brothers cannot guarantee that the film will be released in the next few years. able to boot.

Katzenberg, of course, understood what the brothers said, saying, "Eric just happened to mention this. If the script is not satisfactory, Firefly will shelve this series for a long time."

Larry Wachowski suddenly said, "If the project is on hold for a long time, what about the agreement we signed with Firefly?"

At the beginning, as a condition of getting the directorship of "The Matrix", both the Wachowski brothers signed a three-film option contract with Firefly, that is, before working with Firefly to complete the three films, the two brothers. It is impossible to cooperate with other film companies, otherwise it will be considered a breach of contract.

In order to ensure that the "Matrix" trilogy can be fully completed, the original "Crazy Flower" was not counted in this contract, which means that the brothers still owe Firefly two film contracts at this time.

Katzenberg shrugged slightly when he heard Larry Wachowski's question, and said, "So, I suggest that you still work hard on the script of the sequel."

Andy Wachowski probed: "If the script doesn't work for a long time, can we make other films, or, first, work with...other studios?"

"Other films, as long as the project is good enough, maybe," Katzenberg replied ambiguous: "However, with other studios, unless you complete the contract, it is impossible. Firefly used "The Matrix" to put Your popularity is not for you to use your fame to make money for other film companies, there is no such reason in Hollywood."

Katzenberg's increasingly hard-line tone upset the brothers, but frustratingly, they also knew it was going to be hard for them to get out of the contract.

Here, there is not much to communicate between the two sides.

Andy Wachowski put away the folder in front of him expressionlessly, got up and said, "We know these things. If there is nothing else, we will leave first."

Katzenberg got up and extended his hand to the brothers politely: "Goodbye then."

I personally sent the Wachowski brothers out of the restaurant. Katzenberg returned to his seat. Frank Wells had already sat down. He had already arrived at the restaurant just now, but he did not disturb Katzenberg and the Wachowski brothers. exchange.

When Katzenberg sat down, Frank Wells said, "Jeffrey, you don't have to be so blunt with the two of them, you can be more gentle."

"It's your job to appease people, and I have no obligation to do that," Katzenberg joked with a smile.

He has seen the Wachowski Brothers' "Breakthrough", plus the recent "Matrix" sequel's haunting script, with so many years of production experience in Hollywood, Katzenberg Ge Da felt in his heart that, except for "The Matrix", the brothers' achievements in Hollywood would not be much.

Both are too obsessed with their own image world, and this strong personal style may give them a chance to win an Oscar, but it is difficult to make a difference at the box office.

As for Oscar, Katzenberg is also not very interested. He believes that the most fundamental purpose of a film company is to pursue profits, and honors are just the icing on the cake. When he was in control of Disney animation, whenever the animators wanted to increase the "artistic" of the animation, Katzenberg would satirize each other "Do you want to win the Oscar?" This sentence even became his catchphrase for a time.

"Well, when you need me to help you calm down, say it," Frank Wells joked as well.

Frank Wells has been a known moderate for the company since the Disney days. In the 1980s, the Disney board originally planned to make him and Eisner co-CEOs of Disney. The parties were arguing about this, and it was Frank Wells who offered to serve as Eisner's deputy, which was resolved. deadlock. In the Firefly era, because of the appearance of Eric, Frank Wells escaped the air crash that should have been encountered in the original time and space. Katzenberg took the position, and Frank Wells still worked diligently as the second-in-command of the Firefly Group. , his mellow and indisputable character also made most of the company's management respect him, even Katzenberg.

The two chatted and drank a cup of coffee before Frank Wells unhurriedly handed Katzenberg a box office data and said, "Our box office situation this week doesn't seem to be very good."

According to Hollywood's box office statistics cycle, yesterday was the first day of the new week. Katzenberg had not had time to check Friday's box office data report, and took the A4 handed over by Frank Wells. Look at the data table.

At first glance, Katzenberg frowned slightly.

The No. 1 single-day box office in the new week turned out not to be "Breaking the Dead Island" by Firefly this week, but a black comedy called "Professor Fatty" by Universal Pictures.

"This... looks like a new Eddie Murphy movie?"

As the head of Firefly, Katzenberg knows all about his summer rival's blockbuster new film, but before that, he didn't pay special attention to the black comedy starring Eddie Murphy, so his tone was a little puzzled.

Eddie Murphy has been quiet for the past few years since "Beverly Hills Detective 3" hit the box office. In other words, including Katzenberg, many people feel that with the strong momentum shown by Fireflies, "Brave to the Dead Island" will almost certainly win the box office champion position on the first day and the first week.

But the result turned out that "Professor Fat Guy" had a box office of $7.9 million on its first day, while "Brave to the Dead Island" had a box office of more than 7.4 million on its first day. On the first day of its release, "Brave to the Dead Island" finally lost.

When the unexpected box office data came out, Frank Wells hurried to the place without contacting Katzenberg on the phone.

"Yes," Frank Wells nodded with a worried tone, "I don't think this is a good sign, you know, and Cameron is working on "Titanic"..."

Although Katzenberg also felt that something was wrong, he still comforted him: "Let's convene Brian and the others from the distribution department for a meeting and discuss it first. But, Frank, this is only the first day's data. That's it, what's more, we have nothing to worry about, even if we do encounter one or two box office failures, Firefly's share price will not fall by 10%, because we are not listed at all, haha." Katzenberg smiled. Laughing, he continued: "What's more, you have also seen the revenue from the recent TV advertisement bidding."

"I just think that Eric's strategy of making films over the years has been a little too risky, either newcomer or mega-production. Although, well, Michael Bay and David Fincher and the Wachowskis They have all proved their strength, but our good luck may not last forever, I think we need to communicate with Eric, he should not be so... willful."

Katzenberg could sense the sincerity in Frank Wells' tone, that he was really thinking of the fireflies.

In fact, Katzenberg also felt the same way, but although he knew that Eric was definitely not the kind of self-willed person, so far, although the films led by Eric have also failed at the box office, in general, But none of them suffered a very tragic failure, which is almost a miracle in Hollywood.

For someone who has not experienced failure, you come out and tell him that your method is not right, the rules are not like this, you should be this way, you should be that way...

When Katzenberg thought about it, he felt that this kind of scene was a bit weird. There is always only one rule in Hollywood, winner and loser. If your movie can make a high box office and make huge profits for investors, then you are a Hollywood hero.

"I agree with your point of view," Katzenberg pondered, and said: "It's just that the timing is not right, we should probably wait until the end of the year. Well, at that time, Eric will obviously be more receptive to our opinions. "

Obviously, Katzenberg is also very pessimistic about the box office prospects of "Titanic".

Frank Wells immediately understood when he heard the words, nodded and said: "Okay, let's talk about it later. By the way, FFM, Weinstein suggested that he wants to buy Brad Gray's production company. , have you received the report?"

"Well, Harvey wants to set up the production department of FFM, Brad Gray happens to be his former deputy, but it is somewhat unnecessary to buy Brad Gray's production company, except for Eric himself. Brad Gray's production company has some investment rights in that show, and I don't think it's worth anything."

The two talked about FFM, and the topic just now was transferred unknowingly... (To be continued.)