Hollywood Road

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"Business?" Robert Downey Jr. pulled up his seat belt and adjusted to a more comfortable position, "Are you going to ask me to make a movie?"

Murphy didn't turn his head, "Can't you?"

Robert Downey Jr. showed a disdainful smile, "Are you making a low-budget independent film?"

"What's wrong with independent films?" Murphy's tone turned cold, and he said mercilessly, "Now that there are films to shoot, it will be very good!"

The current Robert Downey Jr. is not the future Robert Downey Jr. His capital has been squandered in the past few years. Just think about it.

Robert Downey Jr., who once became a top superstar after becoming popular, has made remarks that independent films are useless, but the slap in the face is that he himself starred in a large number of small-budget independent films before becoming Iron Man.

When he was on the other side of the ocean, Murphy liked Robert Downey Jr., and knew a little about his resume. The situation he faced after he was released from prison was hard to describe. Robert Downey Jr. had indeed accumulated many years of experience However, when it comes to a movie project with a huge investment, no one dares to use a drug addict to play an important role rashly.

It's not that Hollywood discriminates against drug addicts, it's that nobody knows if a guy like Robert Downey Jr. can actually get the job done.

Robert Downey Sr.'s relationship was simply not proportional to the risks involved.

After he was released from prison, Robert Downey Jr. couldn't find any significant roles at all, and he could only play soy sauce in TV dramas until Mel Gibson, who had not been marginalized by Hollywood, changed this situation.

"What do you want to express, Donnie?" Murphy turned to look at him, and sarcastically said, "Or did you receive the film contract invitation while you were in prison?"

These words immediately reminded Robert Downey Jr. of his situation, and coughed unnaturally.

Although he was a little arrogant, but he didn't have a funny head, how could he not think that the next life would not be easy.

"All the pyramid figures at the top of the film industry chain started from the grassroots, and most of the first films were small-budget films." Murphy said unhurriedly, "There is no film company or big investor Would be idiotic enough to hire someone in our position to operate or star in a big-budget movie."

He snorted,

"So you have no reason not to love low-budget movies. Your best way out now is to prove your strength with independent movies, and then return to the mainstream movie circle."

The cynical smile on Robert Downey Jr.'s face has completely disappeared. Perhaps it is due to the fact that he has encountered far more difficulties in prison than before. Now he seems to understand that it is not necessary to climb to a relatively conspicuous position in this world. Easy, and knowing that there are things to think about, not do on the spur of the moment.

If he continued to act impulsively, it might not take long before he would return to the prison behind him.

One thing he knew very well, with the passage of time, the reputation of Murphy and Rose in the prison was gradually dissipating. If he entered the prison again, would he still be able to protect himself like before?

Many people are still very interested in movie stars, even if they are old.

Thinking of this, Robert Downey Jr.'s face was a little gloomy, and he knew in his heart that he was dead.

"Donnie, my last film cost over 800,000 U.S. dollars in exchange for a North American box office of more than 60 million U.S. dollars." Murphy boasted without blushing, "My new project this time is fully operated by CAA, and now there are five Film companies have expressed strong interest."

Robert Downey Jr. scratched his head, and finally said, "I have to read the script, right?"

"No problem," Murphy smiled slightly, "You can see it when you go back."

He glanced at Robert Downey Jr. again. This guy is not stubborn. If he doesn't understand his own situation and really doesn't intend to cooperate, Murphy won't force him.

After returning to Los Angeles, Murphy discovered that the situation of Robert Downey Jr. was worse than he imagined. When he was sentenced to prison, he was also fined a huge amount. After waiting for a year, the original brokerage company did not renew the economic contract between the two parties after it expired.

To be precise, the current Robert Downey Jr. is a lonesome ghost with no residence, not much money, and no agency.

The best place to go when you get out of prison is to go home and join old Robert Downey.

But he is almost forty years old, and if he goes home and joins old Robert Downey, there will be jokes in Hollywood again.

Therefore, after arriving at the Stanton Studio, Robert Downey Jr. chose to live here temporarily, and then moved to the hotel after negotiating with the bank to activate the account.

Throwing the script to Robert Downey Jr., Murphy told Rosa Rodriguez to take care of him properly and keep busy with his own affairs.

There is good news from CAA. Bill Rossis has successfully poached corners. James Franco has signed a formal agency contract with him. Bill, Seth Rogen and others, the main creators of this project are basically CAA's customers.

This is also the policy that CAA's one-stop packaging service has always implemented.

After Murphy made the phone call on the original business card, Bill Rossis went to the San Fernando Valley to talk to Jenna Jameson in person, perhaps because of the amazing success of "Saw" It's very touching, maybe it's because caa's name is famous enough, or maybe the other party also wants to try to transfer to Hollywood, Jenna Jameson didn't refuse the invitation, and basically agreed to play the heroine of this film, only Wait for her new agent to arrive and the project to be approved.

She changed the brokerage company, and will not discuss specific cooperation until the new broker is in place.

The most important good news is that there are indeed many film companies interested in Murphy's new project.

Many companies such as Harbor Entertainment, DreamWorks, and Morris Entertainment have contacted CAA, and most of Murphy has been handed over to Bill Rosses. CAA is far more experienced than him in operating such packaging projects.

What Murphy really came into contact with personally was Miramax. Although he had a bad experience before, Harvey Weinstein called him personally. Personal conflicts are irrelevant, and in the face of sufficient commercial interests, these are nothing at all.

Originally, Murphy thought that he could continue to cooperate with Fox Searchlight, but the other party focused more on the overseas release of "Chain Saw" and the sequel of this series, and was not particularly interested in new projects. CAA and them After several contacts, there was no substantial progress.

After being invited by Harvey Weinstein himself, Murphy also came to the Miramax branch in Burbank.

"I couldn't cooperate with you last time,"

In a huge reception room, Harvey Weinstein had a sincere smile on his face, "It's really a pity."

Murphy took the coffee from a female assistant, said thank you, and looked at the fat face opposite, "Mr. Weinstein..."

"Harvey!" Harvey Weinstein emphasized, "Murphy, call me Harvey."

The fat Jewish man stopped going around in circles, took Murphy's script and project proposal, and said bluntly, "I'm very interested in your new project."

Murphy smiled modestly, "It's my honor."

"However, there are a few questions in the project." Harvey Weinstein flipped through the project proposal and found the areas of his own standards. "I need a reasonable explanation."

"Please tell me," Murphy said.

This is the situation that almost every project will face before it is actually established. The executives of the film company will not decide to invest a huge amount of money after listening to someone's spitting, nor will they just look at a plan book, make a decision rashly.

No company or anyone's money is blown by strong winds, and everyone knows that investment is bound to be accompanied by risks.

"Your first two films are typical noir style, more brutal and realistic." Harvey Weinstein pointed to the script, "This project is also a cult noir project, but it has more comedic color."

Hearing this, Murphy organized his language a little bit, "I think movies are always affected by the social environment. What happened in September has a profound impact on the whole of the United States. A film that is too cruel and realistic is not suitable for audiences who have just been traumatized. , it must not be a good choice, and appropriate comedy elements can dilute the blood and violence of the film."

In fact, the gore scale of his planned film will not be as exaggerated as it used to be.

Harvey Weinstein nodded slightly, and then glanced at Murphy again. This young director was smarter than he thought.

It seems to be a very simple truth that movies are deeply influenced by the social environment, but some people just ignore it. They only know how to make movies randomly, but they don’t know that even if the quality of some movies is good, if they go against the overall social situation, they can only fail. And the end.

It is really rare to be able to understand such a truth at such a young age.

In that regard, the rate of success for him and his project could be even higher.

"There is also film investment,"

Although some admire this young man, Harvey Weinstein will not relax in the slightest where he should be suppressed, "The $12 million you proposed is too high."

Murphy didn't say much, the $12 million was originally intended to leave enough room for bargaining between the two parties.

"If the filming location of the film is in Australia, if you can apply for a tax rebate," Harvey Weinstein gave a figure, "$6 million is enough."

This was slightly higher than Murphy's psychological expectations, but he didn't say much, but pushed it to the brokerage company, "Harvey, it's best to talk to CAA about this."

Harvey Weinstein nodded, after all, CAA was packaging the project.

He changed the subject and talked about something Murphy chose, "I don't understand, what do you think about the heroine?" (To be continued.)