Chapter 256

Paramount Pictures invested $50 million in "Titanic", which, like Duke, accounted for a quarter of the total investment. Duke did not feel surprised to hear Cruise talk about their financial constraints. Instead, I think this is normal. After all, Paramount Pictures has not only invested in this film project, and James Cameron's procrastination has really crashed the investor. Even Twentieth Century Fox also treated him. Extremely dissatisfied.

If it weren't for the infinite potential for success of this project, Duke also believed that divestment or fired the studio tyrant was the wisest choice.

The reason is simple. Last year James Cameron finally came up with the film's release schedule. According to the plan, "Titanic" will be released in the summer file this year. However, at the beginning of this month, the studio tyrant announced that it included Investors including Duke, the post-production of the film has only been completed for a half, and the summer file will never be released. The film must be postponed to the Thanksgiving Christmas file!

You can imagine the expressions of Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox executives who have been tortured by James Cameron for three years.

To put it bluntly, they all had the heart to kill James Cameron. If it weren't until now that they couldn't change the director, Duke believed that 20th Century Fox would definitely ask him to take over again. -",

The news inevitably spread, and the entire North American media has regarded Cameron, Fox, Paramount and Duke Studios as the biggest jokes, and even considered them to be the biggest fools in the history of the film industry.

In order to win the support of investors, James Cameron not only waved the blade at the convened press conference, saying that if the film fails, he will use the blade, but also told the investor that he can give up the $8 million director's pay... …

But compared to a $200 million investment. A salary of $8 million can only be said to be better than nothing.

James Cameron has exhausted the last patience of Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox, and the film has not been released for a long time, which means that the investment started three years ago has not been able to recover a cent. !

"Paramount Pictures has signed a distribution agreement with my film studio." Tom Cruise said at this time, "They will only invest a small part of the capital, my current liquidity is insufficient. I am applying to the bank and some The foundation raises funds, but it's a little troublesome. I heard that these people tend to invest their funds in overseas financial markets..."

Overseas financial markets?

Duke shook his head, gave up those unrealistic ideas, turned to Tom Cruise's project, and asked tentatively, "Tom, do you know the total investment in the film?"

Tom Cruise hesitated and felt Nicole Kidman beside him squeeze his arm remindingly. Then he said, "The estimated production cost is about $80 million."

"How much money has been raised?" Duke asked again.

"Hmm..." Cruise frowned slightly, and finally said, "Paramount Pictures intends to invest 10 million U.S. dollars. I personally raised 40 million U.S. dollars. There is still a shortfall of 30 million U.S. dollars."

"I have a suggestion, Tom." Duke looked at Cruise and decided to speak out. When dealing with such people, the more you turn around, the easier it is to cause misunderstanding. "Duke Studio is involved in investing in your project, you can consider it."

"You want to participate in the investment?" Cruise seemed to be unable to believe it.

Duke nodded solemnly, "If you and Paramount Pictures have no objection, we can negotiate right away."

"I..." Tom Cruise said after hesitating for a few seconds, "Let me think about it. Duke."

"No problem, Tom." Duke walked over and patted his arm lightly. "I really want to continue our cooperation."

The "Mission Impossible" series is arguably one of the most successful series of films, and now there is a chance to participate in investment. Of course Duke will not miss it, and if Tom Cruise refuses, he has nothing to lose.

If the other party agrees, he will definitely fight for part of the copyright, which is simply a long-term meal ticket with stable income.

When he walked to a quiet corner, Duke did not consider the time difference between the United Kingdom and the United States, and directly dialed Nancy Josephson's phone and confessed a few words to her.

There are too many things to consider tonight. Duke felt his head a little tight, hung up and went to the resting place, ordered a cup of espresso, sat at a table, and wanted to have a quiet rest.

After taking a sip of coffee and looking up, Duke saw a young girl sitting across a table, facing him, just like the performance style of their entire group, the other party did not wear exquisite luxury Evening dress, but a very cordial dress.

She wore a pair of straight cropped trousers and a khaki top with a low open collar. The tight-fitting design highlighted the extra slender figure, especially the **** exposed at the opening of the top. Although not big, they looked extremely sexy. With Duke's experience, it is easy to tell that she is not wearing a bust.

To outsiders, Duke seemed to glance at the other's chest, but he actually saw the spots on her skin.

In fact, it is normal. No one is perfect. The beautiful female stars on the screen are not only the effect of makeup, but also quite a lot of post-production methods.

Taking a sip from the coffee cup, Duke stood up and walked directly over.

"Hello, Miss Adams." He pointed to the opposite side of the woman. "Can I sit here?"

Victoria Adams looked up at Duke, the surprise in her eyes was fleeting, "Hello, Director Rosenberg, please sit down."

"Just call me Duke." Duke sat across from her.

Victoria said quickly, "My friends call me Victor."

Waved to one side, and immediately a waiter brought two glasses of champagne. Duke raised his glass to Victoria, "To our meeting today, cheers!"

"Cheers!" Victoria also raised the glass.

After drinking a glass of champagne, the distance between the two seemed to get closer. After a few words, Victoria asked tentatively, "I seem to have heard someone mention that you are a shareholder of Victoria's Secret?"

"It's just a minority shareholder." Duke said casually and modestly.

In fact, he has participated in the last two equity expansion financings of Victoria's Secret. Although he has only 6% of the shares in his hand, he can be said to be the largest individual shareholder if he excludes those investment funds and holding companies.

"I heard other models talk about Heidi Klum in the background." Victoria obviously didn't believe Duke's words, and continued, "They all said that it was because of you that she had the opportunity to become an angel model and could occupy the top model. s position."

"Rumors have never been credible."

It's not a good thing to talk about another woman in front of one woman. Duke took the initiative to change the subject, "Your performance is great tonight, especially you, Victor, let me think about how to describe it..."

Status and status are a natural aura. When Duke said these words, Victoria Adams' eyes lit up, and his face was full of expectation.

"Cool!" Duke leaned forward, got closer, and said seriously, "You are a very cool girl."

"Thank you!" The surprise in her eyes was fleeting, her face was a bit lonely, and she said unwillingly, "Actually, you should be able to see that I am not in a high position in the group."

"No, no, Victor." Duke shook his fingers and said, "Your path has just begun. Now the leader may not be able to stick to the end. I think you have great potential. As long as you find the right help, you will definitely Be the one who has the last laugh."

Victoria apparently misunderstood what he said, "We will hold a concert in Los Angeles soon, can you come?"

"That depends on my schedule when I arrive."

Seeing the other party's misunderstanding, Duke didn't intend to explain, and said tentatively, "It's a bit messy here. Why don't we talk to another place slowly, and I'll check the schedule."

After all, it's not an innocent girl. What does this mean, Victoria Adams certainly understands. She seems a little hesitant, as if thinking about gains and losses.

Duke was not in a hurry, looked at her quietly and waited patiently.

After only ten seconds, the hesitation on Victoria Adams's face disappeared, and a sweet smile was shown to him. Duke stood up and made a please gesture. She followed, took Duke's arm, and left together. The banquet hall.

In these few visits to London, Duke basically stayed at the Hilton Hotel. This time it was no exception. He took Victoria into the elevator room and took the dedicated elevator directly to the floor where the presidential suite is located, passing by the reception desk on this floor. At the time, I specifically asked for a bottle of red wine.

"Come in, Victor."

Opened the door, Duke made a gesture of please. After Victoria walked in, he found a wine glass, opened the red wine, poured a glass for each of them, sat and chatted and tasted the wine. When he was happy, he would still Let out a hearty laugh together.

The night is long enough, they have time, don't worry.

The hour hand slowly points to midnight, and the two have bathed in two bathrooms and walked into the master bedroom.

Now that she is here, Victoria also knows exactly what will happen. When Duke tore off the towel she was surrounding, the two of them were naturally entangled together, like young men and women who were new to love.

A raindrop kiss fell on Duke's generous chest. His big hands had already brushed every inch of Victoria's skin. Although this noble girl was still slender and slender, she was not as morbidly thin as she was later, and she felt quite sensible to touch of.

In the crisp sound of the slap, Duke reversed Victoria and pressed it on the thick mattress. His hands slowly flicked between her back and hips. In the end, the whole body was pressed up, and the movements gradually changed from gentle. It was intense, and there was a crisp crash in the room.