Chapter 153

Anthony Johnston only stayed in Los Angeles for a few hours and boarded the plane back to Australia that evening.

The renovation of the Fifth Avenue apartment is in progress all the time. It's impossible that no one is watching all the time. After Anthony left, Janet went to New York the next day.

Now that he had made up his mind to buy domay Point Park, Simon asked his personal lawyer, George Norman, to start the business. There has always been a case of Park privatization in the United States. Without considering the cost, it is highly feasible to buy domay Point Park.

In the original time and space, Tony Stark, the hero of the Iron Man series, built a streamlined mansion called "city of freedom", which is located on the sharp corner of domay Point Park. Compared with most other buildings in Malibu, "city of freedom" is really very popular. Now that we have decided to restore the avenger building in Manhattan, the city of freedom, which is also in line with Simon's aesthetics, should not be missed.

The noise caused by the birthday party gradually dissipated in the following period of time, and Simon's life became low-key again, and began to focus on a series of projects being produced by Denise pictures.

The final cut of vulgar novel was officially completed after Simon's birthday. Although Orion has always had doubts about the project, it started to promote the film and participate in the Cannes Film Festival in May as planned.

Simon has no lack of expectations for vulgar novel, but after the completion of the film, he did not put too much energy on it. After all, Denise pictures only gets 10% of the North American box office share of "vulgar novel" and 5% of the North American video sales share. Simon's more energy is focused on other films of Denise pictures.

"When Harry meets Sally", which is scheduled for March 25, has also been completed. After several internal trials, considering the quality and theme of the film, Disney decided to start a small-scale screening of the film two weeks in advance. It is expected to open about 30 screen screening sessions in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other big cities on March 11.

Instinct officially started shooting in mid February. The shooting cycle is expected to be two months. Post production is also two months. The film schedule is set for July 15. As long as there is no accident, it can be released on time.

For the rest of the films, such as rain man, steel magnolia, scream and death poetry society, Simon and Amy also take the way of division of labor and cooperation to promote them in an orderly way.

On the other hand.

On March 7, the writers union of the United States officially started a strike after it rejected the latest contract offered by the union of American film and television producers.

No one except Simon himself expected the strike to last for five months.

After the strike started, the operation of major TV networks was quickly affected. Daytime soap opera hours were switched to replay mode, and late night talk shows also cut many links such as making fun of current affairs. Because of the preparation in advance, the prime time TV series in spring have not been greatly impacted.

In addition, the new academy awards ceremony, which was scheduled to be held in March, was postponed after the strike. "Lola Run" only got a consoling nomination, which Simon naturally didn't expect.

Since the strike came as scheduled as in the original time and space, Simon was busy with film affairs, and he also began to look for several TV programs in the plan. He doesn't plan to produce TV dramas. The workload of TV dramas is much greater than that of movie scripts. Although Simon has many classic American dramas in his memory, he can't waste too much time on the scripts, and Denise pictures can't hire professional screenwriters now.

Simon is going to make a reality show.

In my memory, it was the Hollywood writers strike in 1988 that led to the germination of reality TV programs on American TV network.

However, due to the generally conservative business strategy of North American television networks, it was in the late 1990s that a series of reality shows proved to be successful in Europe were introduced into the United States, which gradually led to the prosperity of various reality shows in the North American television industry in the next two decades.

Taking into account the newly formed Fox TV network, there are four national mainstream TV networks in North America. Simon also plans to produce four reality shows at one time, and sell them to four companies if possible. As for whether the other party is willing to buy them or not, after the strike lasts for several months, the TV network will not have too many choices in the face of ready-made programs.

"The last time I went to New York, I met a vice president of ABC, a very good person. I wanted to dig him up after the acquisition of new world entertainment, but you know, it's definitely impossible in a short time. However, he agreed to help me introduce some TV producers. I'll ask Jennie to give you her contact information later. You can talk to him about this. "

In the corridor of Denise film headquarters, "Rain Man" is about to start shooting next week. The last production meeting of the film has just been held. Simon and Amy leave the meeting room to return to their offices.

"Simon, this Reality show, we really don't need to communicate with the TV network first? "

"It's not the best time to communicate," Simon said, shaking his head. "It depends. Anyway, the budget of these reality shows won't be too high, and the preparatory cost will be less. If the strike ends soon, the possibility that the TV network will buy this new program is very low, so we will cut it off directly. However, if the strike lasts for a long time and affects the production of autumn TV series, we will have a chance. As long as there is such an opportunity, we need to be prepared. "Amy nodded and said, "besides, Meg Ryan still owes us an appointment for steel Magnolia. I think it's just right for her to play Shelby

"Meg Ryan's temperament is so sweet," Simon shook his head and said, "besides, I've asked the heroine to come. It's time to come. Would you like to come and have a look?"

Amy was stunned and asked, "who is that?"

"A newcomer," Simon said, "I saw it in a movie yesterday. I hope she can play Shelby."

Amy thought about it and said with a smile, "well, if you think it's appropriate. But I'll go to Disney later. I'll see about it tomorrow. "

Simon knew that Amy must have been wrong about something and didn't bother to explain it.

When they separated, Simon went back to his office, but there were three people waiting in the rest room outside.

He nodded to another man and woman. Simon looked at Courtney Cox, who hadn't seen her for a long time. "Courtney Cox, our appointment is four o'clock. You seem to be an hour early."

Courtney Cox also attended Simon's birthday party last month, but Simon was more busy that time. They just nodded and chatted. Courtney never got the chance to talk with Simon again.

At this time, looking at the young man who was more calm than when he first met, and thinking of the $10 million birthday party last month, Courtney Cox felt even more sour, but still with a smile on her face, she said, "Simon, I'm afraid I'll be late, so I came here ahead of time. You can do other things first. I'll just wait. "

"Just a moment."

Simon said, turning to another man and a woman. The middle-aged man also reached out to Simon and said, "Hello, Mr. westrow. I'm Marvin Josephson. Nice to meet you."

Although he has never met me, Simon also knows that Marvin Josephson is the president of ICM brokerage company, which is second only to wma and CAA in Hollywood. With ED limato bringing a large number of top stars such as Mel Gibson and Denzel Warrington to ICM, ICM's strength has greatly increased recently.

"Hello, Marvin, just call me Simon," said Simon, shaking hands with Marvin Josephson, turning to the girl with long flaxen wavy hair next to him, smiling, reaching over and saying, "Hello, Julia."

Julia Roberts listened to the young man in front of her, not alienated at all, and even familiar. She was a little flattered. She quickly shook Simon's hand and said, "Hello, Wei Simon

"Let's go in and talk."

Simon said, giving orders to his secretary Susan, nodding to Courtney, and taking the other two into his office.

Courtney Cox watched as Simon's office door closed, feeling even more depressed that she had not received any special treatment.

In the office.

They sat down in the reception area and waited for Susan to deliver coffee before Simon looked at Julia Roberts again.

The big mouthed beauty, who is just in her early 20s this year, still looks a little green. Simon found the most powerful Hollywood box office actress in the 1990s in a song and dance film called "contentment" released last month. In this film, the girl acted as a guitarist of a women's rock band pursuing music dreams. Moreover, Simon played a role in this film The movie also saw another famous Hollywood actor who is now also running over Liam Nissen, who has various small roles.

Julia Roberts is the original "steel Magnolia" in the heroine's daughter Shelby's role, with this role, Julia Roberts also won the year's Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. Compared with Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts' temperament is also very suitable for Shelby's role.

After a few casual chats, Simon began to get to the point.

"Marvin, I saw Julia's performance in contentment. As you know, Denise pictures is making a series of films recently. So, I don't want to talk too much nonsense. I want to sign a long-term contract with Julia, five movies. What do you think? "

Marvin Josephson and Julia Roberts didn't expect that at all.

It's well known in the circle that Simon chose Meg Ryan to play when Harry meets Sally, and many people, including the two who sat down again, don't doubt that Simon westrow has some relationship with Meg Ryan.

Julia Roberts is just a newcomer who has just played a small role in an independent film. As the president of ICM, Marvin Josephson came here today just to make friends with Simon westrow. He didn't care too much about the girl beside him. He even convinced Julia Roberts in private I had planned to wait for the next person to go back.

I didn't expect that Simon westero gave a condition that made them think they had heard the wrong thing.For a newcomer who has just stepped into Hollywood, it's overjoyed to be able to win a fairly good role occasionally. Unexpectedly, such a good thing will suddenly fall from the sky. Julia Roberts is slightly confused and almost subconsciously nods: "West Simon, I do. "

As Julia spoke, Marvin Josephson responded and calmed down a little. He asked, "Simon, can you tell me more about it?"

Simon said: "except for the supporting role in" steel Magnolia "that I sent to Julia, the other four movies, I promise, are the absolute protagonists."

Julia Roberts immediately nodded again, but this time she stopped talking and looked at Marvin Josephson. To get such a contract at one time, she is absolutely willing to pay any price. If Marvin Josephson dares to screw it up, she will definitely jump from ICM without hesitation.

Marvin Josephson, however, became more and more calm. He glanced at the pretty girl beside him, then looked at the young man opposite him and said, "Simon, I believe you have enough strength to provide Julia with a contract for five films. However, how long is the term of the contract, and what's the salary?"

Simon said: "the contract is for 10 years and I'll buy Julia for the next 10 years. In terms of film payment, the first two movies can only get new people's film payment, and the third movie starts, and Julia can start again. "

Marvin Josephson added, "Simon, can Julia play in any other films during the five films?"

"Not unless I agree. Moreover, since such a generous contract has been offered to Julia, Denise pictures will certainly add very strict restrictions and liquidated damages to the contract. "

Marvin Josephson thought for a moment and said, "in that case, 10 years is too long. About five movies, I think five years is very suitable. "

Simon shook his head and said, "it has to be 10 years, Marvin. We all know that an actor's state has ups and downs."

Marvin Josephson said, "but you can only make five movies in 10 years, Simon. Don't you think that's too little?"

"I said that Julia could play in other films as long as I agreed. Moreover, the contract is 10 years, but it doesn't really take 10 years to complete. As long as Julia is in good form, maybe we can finish the contract in five years

Marvin Josephson glanced at Julia Roberts next to her again, hesitated, but still couldn't suppress her curiosity: "Simon, may I ask why?"