Chapter 23： Old friend

Ask for a recommendation ticket! Seeking collection!

It took five days for Ronan to finalize the negotiations with James Huang, and the two parties formally signed the director hiring agreement.

James-Huang is the director of "Human Elimination Project", and the remuneration is 300,000 US dollars, without any subsequent share.

This has been negotiated a long time ago, and it is not time-consuming, but the real time-consuming things are small matters.

For example, during the work period of the crew, the director should provide special car service; the director has an independent office or lounge in the studio, and should be equipped with a corresponding nanny car when going out; under the same conditions, the crew should give priority to hiring behind-the-scenes staff recommended by the director; Priority is given to the equipment within the price framework of the crew.

These alone, Ronan argued with Edward for two days, and finally marked 17 items on the contract.

This is not an exaggeration. In the Hollywood environment, James Wong and Edward's requirements are not excessive. Like first- and second-tier directors, such clauses can be as many as 40, 50, or even hundreds.

Some are demanding, and even food, drinking water and hotel bed sheets and quilts have clear regulations.

Ronan has been a small producer in his previous life, and he doesn't care much about these minor details. Just don't overdo it. What he really cares about is the actual power within the crew.

These, he talked with Edward for three days, and on the basis of appropriate compromise, he took the final decision in his own hands.

For example, James Huang has the right to make suggestions for actors, but the right to decide is in the hands of the producer; the director can participate in post-production, and the right to edit in the post-production still belongs to the producer; the producer cannot interfere with the director's normal shooting, but has a vote for the director's shot veto power.

This is a producer-centered Hollywood. Unless it reaches the level of James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, the director must be controlled by the producer.

At the same time, the two parties also signed another contract.

Shahai Entertainment bought out all copyrights of the script of "Death Is Coming" in the hands of James Wong and Glenn Morgan for US$5,000, including the sequel copyright and peripheral development rights.

James Huang and Glenn Morgan are both members of the screenwriters’ union. Now the minimum buy-out price for scripts set by the screenwriters’ union is between US$4,500 and US$50,000. This price range is directly proportional to the investment in the project.

After the screenwriters’ strike in 2008, the minimum buyout price of the screenwriters’ union will rise to US$30,000 to US$90,000.

In the iron triangle composed of screenwriters, actors and directors, screenwriters are the most tragic, whether it is before, now, or in the future.

The Hollywood union that launched a strike against the Producers Union has never been the screenwriters union, but as soon as the actors and directors’ union strikes, the Producers Union quickly negotiated with them to resolve them. Instead, the screenwriters union’s intention to strike has become truly big every time. strike.

In 1988, the screenwriters union went on strike and signed a 20-year new agreement with the Producers Union. Twenty years later, the screenwriters wanted to fight for more, but they were flatly rejected by the Producers Union and had to strike again.

This contract stipulates that James Huang personally directs the project and concurrently serves as a co-producer; Glenn Morgan, in addition to serving as a screenwriter, will also serve as an executive producer.

No one is a fool. James Wong and Glenn Morgan agreed to sell off the script at a low price in order to gain more power so that they can have more say in the production of "Death is Coming".

In another project, Ronan may do everything possible to suppress James Huang's power, but this project gave James Huang far beyond the "Human Elimination Project" power.

In fact, as long as the final editing rights and the one-vote veto power are held tightly, James Huang can't turn the sky.

Ronan will definitely not relax the supervision of James Huang because he is a Chinese director, or even give money and power. What is the difference with a fool?

Business is business.

The contract stipulates that the minimum budget for "Reaper Is Coming" shall not be less than US$6 million, and preparations will begin after the release of the "Human Removal Project".

No way, Ronan has no money right now. According to James Huang’s initial plan, a simple film like the "Human Removal Project" would be enough from preparation to filming for three to four months, or even shorter.

It is impossible for Ronan to move money in the stock market.

So, his eyes fixed on Abu Dhabi again.

As long as the "Human Elimination Project" can be released smoothly and the Arab characters in it are positive, I think the big guys in Abu Dhabi will be more satisfied.

He, an old friend of the UAE people, can go to Abu Dhabi to meet friends.

Are you all good friends? We always get together from time to time to talk about feelings and reminisce about the past.

But it would be a bit stupid to raise funds before the release of "Human Removal Project".

Like the first time he passed by, always bring something convincing.

After getting the director, Ronan still didn't relax at all. There are a lot of things in work, and he can't relax in study.

He bought more than a dozen books for the second time, and returned to the USC Film School again to ask his former tutor, Professor Johnson, for some questions about production.

Professor Johnson is nearly sixty years old. He has worked in Hollywood for many years and then transferred to the University of Southern California to teach. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes jobs in Hollywood with him.

Ronan not only picked up this network of relationships that was originally dropped by Little Anderson, he is still carefully maintaining it.

Shahai Entertainment needs talents.

Fortunately, he is not alone, he also has helpers now.

After 　　 Shahai Entertainment recruited, it expanded to ten employees, all of whom had more than three years of experience in the industry, and all of them would be added to the crew.

Of course, everyone’s wages and expenses are all included in the cost of the film.

Mary is in charge of financial affairs, and making a beautiful account is the top priority.

Robert Lee settled the location, and negotiated a house in a suburban town north of the San Fernando Valley.

This house is often used by the San Fernando Valley company to shoot some messy movies. It is beautifully renovated inside and outside. Robert Lee has negotiated a lease for the third week of May so that the crew can use it for the location.

George Clint led a talk with Warner Studios about a small studio, which will be leased from mid-April to mid-July.

With the director and venue, the recruitment of other behind-the-scenes staff can be carried out on a large scale. Ronan appropriately respects James Wong’s opinions and employs a wide range of candidates recommended by him with similar salaries.

James Huang has been in Hollywood for more than ten years, and has worked in three TV crews for a long time, and has met many relevant practitioners.

Familiar hands are also good for shooting.

Since the "Human Elimination Project" is to be filmed, Ronan certainly wants a successful and outstanding filmIn the studio of Warner Studios, Ronan talks with James Huang and walks out. go with.

"I have already visited the location, and the conditions are good." James-Huang said: "I am working on the relevant shooting plan. I will submit the full version of the plan at the latest this Friday."

Ronan nodded slightly: "Yes."

James-Huang asked: "Did you read the sub-shot artwork?"

"I have seen it." Ronan said directly: "Set up as you imagined."

In fact, most of the scene layout of the early stage preparations of the crew was given to James Huang.

Ronan can see it very clearly. Don't think James Huang has ever been a film director. In terms of actual ability on set, he is much better than him.

Besides, the producer takes overall planning, instead of wasting energy on a subdivided work item.

Approaching the entrance of the studio, Ronan asked, "Have you chosen the photographic equipment? Once you have chosen it, tell Mary and let her talk."

James-Huang said, "I will submit the detailed bill to her tomorrow."

The two walked out of the small studio and suddenly heard a rumbling sound from a large studio next door. The sound was very loud and clearly audible.

"Which crew is next?" James Wong frowned.

"A TV drama crew called Roswell." Ronan has learned: "Recently, they are shooting action dramas. Don't worry, I specifically asked, they will end the action drama shooting in early May and switch to shooting location dramas. influences."

He thought for a while, and then said, "After you make your plan, we will start recruiting actors."

After a few words with James Huang, Luo Nan walked to the crew parking lot. Just before he came to the car, his cell phone rang, and it turned out to be a call from Carmen Case.