Chapter 616： Borrow a knife to kill

"Borrowing a Knife to Kill" is a well-received and box-office movie.

The film was produced by DreamWorks, directed by Michael Mann, and starred Tom Cruise, who contributed the first big villain performance in his life and achieved good marketing results.

In the end, the film invested $65 million and earned $217 million at the global box office.

Really made a fortune for DreamWorks.

However, for this movie, DreamWorks spent $1.5 million and hired well-known screenwriter Stuart Beatty to write Frank Darabont's original script, retaining only the core plot and overturning the rewritten effect.

The original script was in Tang En's hands, and it was drowsy to watch!

The foreshadowing is too long, there are too many suggestive dialogues, the whole rhythm is slow, and there is no commercial atmosphere.

It's a typical Frank Darabont-style script.

Profound, philosophical, reflective of human nature, tedious.

It must be filmed according to the original script, at least 3 hours long!

A crime, suspense, thriller, to be made into 3 hours?

Neither studio would agree.

Frank Darabont is the director of the "Walking Dead" series of American TV series, and Dunn is counting on him to make the first feature-length, big-budget TV series in American history.

At this time, it is impossible to refuse.

Give him a good reason.

Dunn called Frank Darabont to the office and said straight to the point: "The script of "Murder with a Knife" lacks enough commercial temperament."

This script has been shot by major studios, and only DreamWorks agreed to take over the script and hire a new screenwriter to rewrite the script in an all-round way.

As you can imagine, Frank Darabont must have understood why.

Sure enough, seeing his calm face, he nodded and said: "I know, this script... rhythm does not conform to the market trend, but isn't New Universal calling for a 'new order, new model, new force, new Hollywood'? I I think New Universal should have a different understanding."

Dunn's face sank.

This guy, take his own words to stop his mouth?

He did say in public that if he could come across a movie as good as "Fight Club", even if it lost money, he would insist on shooting it.

However, would he really be willing to make such a bottomless donation?

There are so many excellent scripts in Hollywood!

The six major studios don't store 30,000 to 50,000 copies each?

All the filmmakers, writers and screenwriters in the world are furiously contributing to Hollywood.

However, there are only a handful of scripts that can truly conform to the market trend and can be valued by producers and the marketing department.

Frank Darabont saw Dunn's displeased expression, and quickly said: "That's right, I know this script, the rhythm is similar to "The Shawshank Redemption". However, "The Shawshank Redemption" only failed at the box office that year. In the video tape and DVD market for several years, the performance of this film is no worse than any other film!"

Dunn shook his head, "The video disc market alone cannot save a movie with an investment of tens of millions of dollars."

Frank Darabont is still not convinced, "The Shawshank Redemption has already made money for investors. In fact, this film has brought Castle Rock Films a great reputation!"

"What's the use of being famous? Because of the serious losses of "The Shawshank Redemption", Castle Rock Pictures has become a subsidiary of Warner, and now there is only one label left, and even the skeleton is gone."

"But New Universal has the strength and confidence! Besides, didn't New Universal acquire the imdb website? The ranking of "The Shawshank Redemption" beat "The Godfather" and firmly locked the first position!"

Tang En said: "Yes, imdb ranks first, this result is very important. But unfortunately, the current Internet is not popular enough. Wait a few years... ten years, ten years later, a script similar to "Borrowing a Knife to Kill", even if Knowing that I still won't make any gains in the box office market, I will invest without hesitation!"

"Ten years?" Frank Darabont couldn't understand and was a little confused. "Whether the popularity of the Internet has anything to do with movies?"

"Yes! And it's huge! That might be the next era of movies!"

Dunn said loudly.

"Can you be specific?"

"stream media."

"stream media?"

Frank Darabont looked confused.

This is normal. 99.99% of filmmakers in the world do not know what the Internet is.

Dunn smiled, "Frank, you don't need to understand the specific reason. I read the script of "Murder by a Knife", and it was written very well. But to be honest, I have the same opinion as other major film companies. The genre is not suitable for movie theaters. After all, there is no pause button in movie theaters, and the audience is not like when watching a videotape or a DVD, you can pause, you can rest, you can build up your courage.”

"So...you won't invest in this project anymore?" Frank Darabont was a little disappointed.

Tang En immediately shook his head, "No, the core story of "Murder with a Knife" is very good, with conflicts, contradictions, rich inner struggles, and comprehensive social portrayals. As long as you find a few screenwriters and adapt the script, you can shoot it. A very good movie."

"Same as DreamWorks?"

"That's right."

"Hey."

Frank Darabont sighed, unwilling.

Tang En smiled and said: "You don't have to be discouraged, I said, this story is very good, but the script... It does not conform to the current market trend. After ten years, we can take this project out and remake it again. When the time comes, I will focus on your script."

"Really?" Frank Darabont's eyes lit up.

"certainly!"

Tang En answered without hesitation, and then spoke to the secretary through the walkie-talkie.

A minute later, Ella Fisher walked over with a script that was half a meter high, exhausted.

"Put it here."

Tang En pointed to the tall stack of scripts, there were dozens of them, and said unhurriedly, "Not only your 'Murder with a Knife', but there are also 56 scripts here. The art analysis department has selected thousands of high-quality products. However, these scripts are lacking in the box office market, and I plan to wait ten years before shooting them.”

Why ten years later?

Because, at that time, it was the world of streaming media!

In the previous life, at the peak of Netflix, it had the streaming rights of more than 14,000 movies. Later, streaming media intensified, and copyright prices soared exaggeratedly. Coupled with the collective suppression of the entire Hollywood, the number of movie copyrights owned by Netflix plummeted.

In order to attract users, Netflix can only produce movies and TV series on its own.

The TV show is okay, the movie is a bit more difficult.

For filmmakers, Hollywood is the first choice!

When there is a good project, filmmakers usually move closer to the big studios first; if they can't agree, they turn to independent film companies such as Lionsgate and DreamWorks; if they can't agree, they go to Relativity Media, Legendary Films Seek help from a platter investment company like the industry.

In the end, after these companies have refused, it is only after the streaming companies are asked for help.

With such an operation process, what good movies can Netflix make?

It's almost a film, and a bad one!

For traditional large studios such as Warner and Paramount, they have tens of thousands of scripts stored in their libraries. Even if there is a lack of external supply, they can fully dig in and develop film projects.

But Netflix won't. They don't have a background, and they don't have a huge script library.

Under this circumstance, the films made by Netflix have suffered many setbacks and developed very bumpy.

However, Netflix in this life is backed by the big tree Tang En, and all problems are solved easily.

The biggest difference between watching a movie in front of a screen such as a mobile phone and a computer through streaming media and in a movie theater is that audiences watch movies for the sake of watching movies!

It has nothing to do with dating, girls, family fun, entertainment, etc.

In this case, a good word-of-mouth masterpiece with a wonderful plot has become the best choice.

Slow-paced films like "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Killer Isn't Too Cold", and "L.A. Confidential" will crash when shown in a movie theater; but when viewed in front of a computer, users have enough time to pause and rewind. , the opportunity to think, can experience the taste of it Word of mouth naturally rises layer by layer!

New Universal has a screenwriting department, all of which are special talents that Tang En found through the sunglasses system.

The so-called special talents refer to the ability of "screenwriting", but the attributes such as "market judgment" and "art analysis" will be filled out unevenly.

Just like Frank Darabont.

It is difficult for such a seriously partial screenwriter to be valued by major studios.

But Dunn can make the best of his talents!

These more than 50 scripts are all summed up by the market analysis department, and have no box office prospects; the art analysis department summed up, there will be movie scripts with high reputation.

Just like the original manuscript of "Murder by Knife" in the hands of Frank Darabont.

It can't be filmed now, but ten years from now, it can be filmed by Netflix.

Exclusive premiere directly on streaming platforms without leaving the cinema!

Frank Darabont was a little unhappy when he heard it. He was arrogant and arrogant.

New Universal's screenwriting department?

What level can it be?

Can a small screenwriter earn $50,000 a year?

Even though he has many failed works, he is still one of the top screenwriters in Hollywood, and a script can sell for millions of dollars!

Not a level at all!

Frank Darabont felt that Dunn was too contemptuous of himself, and even equated his work with the scripts of these small screenwriters.

His face was gloomy and very ugly.

Tang En didn't break it, and said with a smile: "Frank, if you are interested in these 56 scripts, you can read them slowly. I have a meeting over there, see you later."

Two hours later.

Frank Darabont rubbed his slightly tired eyes and walked out of the living room with a blushing face, his lips stiff and his face stiff.

The shock in my heart is like a tsunami!

7

(Sanqi Chinese)