Made in Hollywood

"Michael, I believe we will have the opportunity to cooperate in the future."

In the reception room, Duke shook hands with Michael Ovitz saying goodbye, "Disney is a very good partner."

Michael Ovitz forced a smile, turned around and walked out. As a former manager, observation is the most basic skill. He can see that Duke cares about Disney, not his CEO. The need to continue talking.

Looking at Duke who sat down again, Tom Cruise's face was a little stiff. Although he didn't say it clearly, he could hear from Duke's words that he was not interested in this project at all, even if his conditions were generous enough. .

Why does he always fight against himself?

Thinking of this, Tom Cruise also stood up and was about to leave.

"Tom..." Duke looked at Pat Kingsley, then at Nicole Kidman, his eyes finally fell on Cruise, "Can we talk alone?"

Tom Cruise thought for a moment and nodded slowly.

Nancy Josephson handed Duke the purse and left the parlour first. Nicole Kidman and Pat Kingsley whispered a few words in Cruise's ear before walking out.

"Please take a seat." Duke gestured for the seat next to him, waited for Tom Cruise to sit down, opened his purse, took out the script for "Chicago", and handed it over, "Tom, I want to invite you to play my new role. Movie."

"new movie?"

Stunned for a moment, Tom Cruise opened the script, "Musical?"

Although he didn't read the specific content, but after seeing that it was adapted from a Broadway stage play, he immediately determined the subject matter of the film. After all, this musical has once created incomparable brilliance.

"You want to invite me to play Billy?" he asked tentatively.

"That's right, Tom."

Although sincere. But what Duke said was all nonsense. "I wanted to work with you a few years ago, but it has been delayed until now because of salary or other factors. I think this is an opportunity..."

Duke didn't notice that the corners of Tom Cruise's mouth had been shaking slightly. There was wonder in his eyes.

From the moment he saw the script, he felt that 10,000 thunderbolts exploded above his head. It seemed that the world was abnormal. The famous Hollywood bomber wanted to shoot a musical? Also invited him to play the leading role? How crazy is this?

Will he succeed?

Tom Cruise subconsciously wanted to refuse, but opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Sitting there, Duke did nothing for a while. If Tom Cruise refused, there was no need for him to continue.

Quickly flipping through the script, Tom Cruise also remained silent. Even though he was surprised, he had no intention of expressing his surprise.

He turned the script page by page. His eyes slid over the letters line by line, and Cruise gradually dissipated his surprise. After all, it was not just Duke that Hollywood directors wanted to transform. There were also successful precedents such as Spielberg in the past. And Duke is continuing to succeed, and it's easy to give the impression that it will continue to be successful.

Hollywood from studios to various jobs in the circle. They are all following in the footsteps of the successful ones.

Will he succeed?

This is the question that Tom Cruise is most concerned about. Why do first-line stars like to cooperate with big directors? Because their work is often a guarantee of success!

Memories of the past flashed in Cruise's mind, and since "Brave to the Dead Island", there have been opportunities for cooperation between the two. However, due to various reasons, it was not achieved. As a result, "Brave the Dead Island" was successful, "Independence Day" was successful, and "Saving Private Ryan" was also successful. Even someone like him who didn't like Duke very much couldn't do it. Admittedly, none of these successes were flukes, they all came from the fierce competition between CAA and other rivals and the summer season.

If Nicholas Cage, Tom Hanks and others are replaced by him, then his current status and worth will definitely be higher!

Until now, none of his films has grossed more than $200 million at the North American box office!

After closing the script, Tom Cruise turned his head and looked at Duke sitting next to him. Just like he had seen before, Duke was calm and indifferent, as if he knew that he would not refuse.

Duke just doesn't care, in his view, including himself, no one is indispensable in Hollywood.

"What is the production cost of the film?" Tom Cruise returned the script and broke the silence, "When do you plan to start shooting?"

"Filming won't be until next year."

After taking the script, Duke thought about it and said, "The production cost is about 15 million US dollars."

Hearing this number, Tom Cruise immediately frowned, which was not even his standard salary.

Duke knew very well that he had to say something now, "Tom, this is a low-budget musical. To be exact, it will be an independent film that I personally invested in..."

He knew Cruise's mental state. In addition to improving his status, he most wanted to be recognized for his acting skills, so he made a blank check, "I plan to release the film before next year's awards season, and the old men in the academy are all Nostalgic, they always miss the golden age of Hollywood, musical is one of the genres they miss the most, if we play well…”

Duke did not say the next words, but he could see that Tom Cruise's eyes seemed to light up a little.

"What you said does make sense."

Tom Cruise rarely echoed Duke's opinion, "Nostalgia is indeed a good way to win awards."

Just like before, Duke didn't care much about awards or something. He was just fooling Cruise. Seeing that he was a little moved, he continued to tell lies, "Tom, you are called an actor' stinky pie. ', and I'm a recognized representative of the director's 'Russian School', we have all proven ourselves in the market, it's time to win some important academic awards! Prove that our success depends not on luck and looks, but on strength! "

In order to attract this superstar with market appeal at a low salary, Duke completely threw away his past prejudices. After all, if it succeeds, the other party will create huge benefits for him.

It's a pity that he doesn't have his own halo of stubbornness, otherwise he might let Cruise join him for zero pay.

Tom Cruise is still thinking about this kind of thing that is related to money and honor, even if he is impulsive, he will not just listen to others and then respond casually.

Up to now, he has not refused. Duke has determined that there is a half chance that Tom Cruise will finally agree to this invitation.

As long as Cruise responds, there may be variables in the starring role of "Mission Impossible". If you want to be outstanding in "Chicago", the singing and dancing must appear in person. Months or even half a year to practice and rehearse.

Duke is not too worried about Cruise's acting skills. Billy played by Richard Gere can't get any worse, and his acting and singing and dancing are even worse. Although the soup is not necessarily strong, However, in terms of market appeal and appearance, it is better than Richard Gere.

The memory of the past told Duke that Liangtang also had obsession with Oscar. If he could be seduced by Oscar, he would become an award-rushing madman and plunge into the independent and literary circles...

Only he knows how much Oscar doesn't like to see Liangtang, even if Xiao Li is willing to bow down in front of him.

Just when Tom Cruise was still thinking about it, Duke also had countless thoughts in his mind, and even he thought that after the film was released, he would find someone to help film critics tout Liang Tang's acting skills through some hidden methods. Fortunately, he can get the Oscar nomination, but he passed by the golden man, but he feels that there is great hope that he may win the next time, and then continue to attack.

In Hollywood, there are not a few actors and directors who have been brought into the pit by film critics and Oscars.

If the soup becomes a prize-winning soup or a literary soup, then it will not be far from the end. Maybe "Chicago" will become his masterpiece in the box office market.

Of course, the premise of all this is that "Chicago" can be successfully produced by him, and things will develop as Duke imagined.

Next, Duke and Tom Cruise talked for a while about the film's production and future prospects. He could fully feel Cruise's desire for Oscar and academic recognition, and he also tried his best to put him in his words. To the pit of literature and the Oscars.

Tom Cruise is not a fool or a fool. Even if he left at the end, he did not give Duke any clear answer, but only said that he would consider it for a while.

When a big-name star appears in any movie, there are often many people behind it, especially the opinions of public relations and agents are very important. Duke has heard from Nancy, and Pat Kingsley has advised Crewe a long time ago. Cooperating with him, I think it will not be a particularly big obstacle.

Besides, even if Pat Kingsley is shrewd and capable, he won't be like Duke. He knows that Cruise's chances of winning an Oscar are infinitely close to zero. Otherwise, he would never have done so much PR for him. She will push Cruise in the back. After all, having the Oscar winner in her hands can also strengthen her position in the brokerage industry.

"How was the talk?"

Out of the clubhouse, Nancy got into Duke's car and asked, "What's Cruise's intentions?"

"It's hard to say right now." Duke shook his head, watched Pat Kingsley drive away from the side, and said, "You should have more contact with Cruise's agent."

There's still a lot of work to do to get Tom Cruise to take a pay cut.

The two discussed a few more things about the film, and Nancy changed the subject, "I just got a call from New York, and ICM has contacted a song and dance director on Broadway for you."

"Give me his contact information." Duke nodded, "I will go to New York next week and ask him to talk about it." (To be continued ~^~)