America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 627 The Perfect Solution

"You think highly of this project?"

In the Pacific Pictures office, Louise had read the project proposal for "Argo," took off her black-rimmed glasses, rubbed her eyes, and asked Martin across from her, "You haven't even seen the script yet."

Martin stretched: "At the Oscars level, this is an incredibly politically correct film; at the market level, the story itself is legendary. A CIA escape expert, using a real yet fictional Hollywood crew, helps six diplomats escape Tehran. No movie would dare to make something like this, or people would criticize it as mindless and illogical."

Louise couldn't help but laugh: "Reality is often more outrageous than movies."

If it weren't based on true events, Argo would definitely have been heavily criticized by audiences and critics.

Martin said frankly, "I think this film not only has a market, but also meets my actual needs."

There was a knock on the office door, and the assistant came in and said, "Mr. Graham King has arrived."

Martin and Louise went out to greet them.

Graham had just stepped out of the elevator when he saw Martin and Louise. He shook hands with them and they went into the meeting room together.

Martin asked, "Has the male lead been cast yet?"

Graham, who had worked with Martin before, pulled out the script and handed it to him, saying, "The director, actors, and investors are all still undecided. A few actors have contacted me, but the project won't start filming until the second half of next year at the earliest, so I'm not in a rush to make a decision."

Martin flipped through the script and said, "As for the investment, Louise and I can handle most of it."

Graham understood; Martin was bringing his own funding to the project.

This gives him a significant advantage over ordinary actors.

The project's funding was secured, the male lead was secured, and incidentally, even its market appeal was secured.

Is there a more perfect solution than this?

Graham said, "Working with you would immediately solve a large part of the project's problems. How could I possibly refuse?"

Louise chimed in, "How about we all invest in and produce it together?"

Graham's GK Films wasn't a big company to begin with, so if they didn't raise funds from there, they would have to find other investors. He immediately nodded: "Send someone to my film company to discuss the contract."

Louise glanced at Martin.

Martin quickly flipped through the beginning and end of the script, confirming that it was the same "Argo" he had seen before, and nodded slightly to her.

Louise said, "I'll have someone go over to talk to them this afternoon."

Martin was very particular about his work, and he said to Graham, "I need you to be the producer on the 'Prince of Thieves' project."

Graham replied, "No problem, but my schedule is very full, so it might not be until 2012."

Martin's schedule is also very full. He has two films confirmed to be made next year: "The Martian" and "Argo." Considering the preparation time, filming time, and promotion time for other films, his schedule is actually very tight.

He said, "I'm not available next year either, so I'll wait until 2012."

For project collaborations, they only need to finalize the major aspects; the remaining details are naturally handled by the professionals below.

The three chatted for a while, and then the topic turned to the director.

Graham said, "I originally wanted to invite Steven Spielberg, but his schedule didn't work out. He was preparing to shoot a movie about Lincoln, and his asking price was too high."

Martin said, "Spielberg's ability is beyond question, but as the director, he takes the lion's share of the profits."

"So, I only made a brief appearance before giving up," Graham sighed. "Director Scorsese isn't interested in this kind of project, and it's not easy to find other suitable directors."

The three are not simply actors and producers; they also have their own studios, and they have to consider profit when choosing a director.

Martin thought for a moment and asked, "How about David Fincher?"

Graham nodded: "We can make contact."

Louise agreed: "Finch's ability as a director is definitely not in question; it just depends on whether his schedule is suitable."

Martin said, "I'm meeting with him this afternoon, so I'll ask him about it."

Graham said, "If he's interested, we'll discuss the specifics of the collaboration with him."

The three chatted for a while longer before Graham took his leave.

After leaving Pacific Film Studios, Graham received a phone call after getting into his car; it was from Matt Damon.

"Hey Matt, what's up?" he asked as he answered the phone.

Matt Damon, on the other end, said, "I just saw a project at my agency, a film based on a true CIA rescue, called 'Argo.' Your GK Films project is casting for the lead role? What do you think of me?"

He added, "I know the CIA's operating mechanism very well. I've dealt with them many times in the past and I understand their way of doing things."

Graham thought to himself, "If I had called earlier, you might have been the most suitable candidate, but now?" He could only apologize: "Matt, we already have someone suitable for the lead role."

Matt Damon wasn't about to give up so easily: "Do you know who it is? I'll call him and have a good talk."

It's not uncommon for Hollywood stars to use their influence to discourage their rivals; Christian Bale and Matt Damon are prime examples.

Graham didn't hide anything and said directly, "Martin Davis and I have finalized a collaboration agreement with Louise Mayer of Pacific Films."

Matt Damon immediately fell silent.

"Let's get together for a drink sometime." Graham didn't say anything more and hung up the phone.

In a mansion in the Brentwood neighborhood, Matt Damon put down his phone.

Seeing his troubled expression, the agent on the other end quickly asked, "What happened? What did Graham King say?"

Matt Damon said, "Martin Davis reached out and snatched the project."

The agent asked, "Is there absolutely no hope? Can't we try again? I've looked into this project carefully; it's based on a true story, very legendary, and will attract audiences..."

"Stop talking," Matt Damon raised his hand to stop his agent from continuing. "Let's give up."

The agent frowned. "Giving up so easily?"

Matt Damon clutched his chest: "Remember this, you must remember this!" He emphasized: "We will not participate in any project involving Martin Davis, we will not compete for it, understand?"

Seeing his unusually serious expression, the agent nodded and said, "I understand."

Matt Damon picked up the project proposal from the low table, and with a hint of reluctance, threw it into the trash can.

The agent said goodbye and left.

Matt Damon drove him back and stood beside a picture frame, remaining silent for a long time.

The frame contains a very large group photo of three people: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Casey Affleck.

The brothers had a miserable time in prison.

Matt Damon did try to find a solution, but the people they messed with were really difficult to deal with.

As for Harvey Weinstein, that guy is completely beyond saving; he's long since given up on him.

The core members of the Foot Gang are now reduced to Matt Damon, Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Rodriguez.

The latter two were completely focused on their films and had no intention of causing trouble.

Matt Damon has witnessed the despicable and shameless behavior of the Face Gang led by Martin Davis and doesn't want to repeat the mistakes of the Harvey and Affleck brothers.

He muttered to himself, "If I can't afford to offend them, I can always avoid them."

From then on, Matt Damon decided to avoid any projects that Martin Davis had his eye on.

…………

Pasanadi, Caltech.

A promotional tour for "Gone Girl" had just ended when Martin Scorsese approached David Fincher and said, "I have a new project coming up, what do you think?"

David Fincher, having worked with Martin twice before and knowing his reliability, asked, "What good projects do you have this time?"

This is the period when David Fincher is most obsessed with the Oscars. Martin handed him the script for Argo, saying, "This project is right up my alley for the Oscars. It's based on a legendary true story."

David Fincher took the script and read it carefully. The opening scene was a very familiar event that had shocked the world back then.

Seeing that Tony Mendes was using a fake Hollywood crew and project to save people, David Fincher's interest was piqued, and he immediately flipped to the back to read the ending scenes.

After watching for a while, David Fincher said, "The script is very well written, and the rescue itself is full of drama and highlights."

He asked, "Are you planning to play the male lead, Tony Mendes?"

Martin nodded: "It's basically settled. The project will be jointly funded by Graham King's GK Films, Louise's Pacific Films, and my studio. The only missing piece is the director."

David Fincher asked, "What about the timeline? When are you planning to film and produce it?"

Martin said, "The second half of next year."

David Fincher nodded slightly: "There's enough time."

Martin asked curiously, "David, do you have a new project too?"

"There is indeed a project," David Fincher said with a smile, closing the film set. "You probably wouldn't be interested."

He simply stated, "Netflix is ​​planning to produce its own content. Greg invited me to be the producer and director of a political thriller adapted from a British TV series."

Martin had read all of David Fincher's works, and he knew it was "House of Cards" as soon as he heard the name.

David Fincher shook his head: "With your current status and market appeal, only a madman would make a film about gatherings, and besides, your age isn't suitable."

Martin asked, "Didn't you go to film it?"

David Fincher laughed and said, "There's no way around it, Netflix is ​​just too convincing. They offered me a price I couldn't refuse."

Martin said in a serious tone, "Making money is normal."

"Indeed, without money, even the best film artists can only stare blankly." David Fincher pointed to the script: "Leave it with me. Once the project is officially approved, have Louise come to me to discuss the director's contract."

As Martin's status in Hollywood rose, issues such as directing projects became less difficult to resolve.

(End of this chapter)