Chapter 298: A Trap?

[Chapter 298: A Trap?]

Daniel DeVito did not come alone; he was accompanied by a middle-aged man with curly brown hair and a prominent nose.

This man, whom Link also recognized, was Hollywood's top producer, Donald Simpson. As the head of the Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer film company, he had produced major hits like Top Gun, Flashdance, and Beverly Hills Cop 1/2/3, helping to launch the careers of stars like Tom Cruise.

Link felt a sense of curiosity about the man's intentions. After exchanging pleasantries, Donald Simpson revealed that he had a huge movie project he wanted to partner with Guess Pictures on.

Link was somewhat surprised. Donald Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were well-known producers who often collaborated with the major studios on big-budget films costing tens of millions and even over a hundred million dollars.

Although the two hadn't produced a successful film in the past five years, they still held clout in Hollywood. Their chosen film projects were usually targets for the major studios seeking collaboration.

At a time when Guess Pictures faced pressure from the major studios and many independent filmmakers were hesitant to collaborate, it was rather touching that Donald Simpson had come forward to propose working with them. Link felt optimistic about the potential partnership.

He requested to see the script, reasoning that as long as it wasn't terrible, they could consider collaboration.

...

The script was titled The Rock. The script told the story of an everyday hero. It began with a retired brigadier general named Frank Hammer, a Vietnam War veteran who, dissatisfied with the American government's compensation and welfare policies for veterans and their families, led his men in a rebellion. They smuggled the latest military biochemical weapons to Alcatraz Island and took 81 tourists hostage.

The rebels used the hostages as leverage, demanding the United States government pay a ransom of $100 million within 48 hours, or they would execute the hostages and use gas bombs on San Francisco.

Alcatraz had once been the most secure prison in America, difficult to penetrate.

After the hostage situation unfolded, the San Francisco police dispatched a special task force to attempt a rescue but suffered total defeat. As the police prepared to abandon the mission, a construction engineer named Stanley stepped up and offered to lead another assault on Alcatraz.

Stanley had once been involved in the prison's construction and maintenance and knew there was a secret passage that led directly to the core buildings on the island. However, when the police asked him to provide detailed instructions, Stanley stated that the entrance was very concealed and that only he could identify it in person.

After intense discussion, the police ultimately agreed to his plan and sent a second task force with him to Alcatraz to launch the rescue operation.

In fact, Stanley had volunteered because his wife and daughter were also among the 81 hostages. If the police abandoned the mission, his family would face dire consequences.

To save his wife and daughter, Stanley used his deep understanding of the prison's structure to successfully guide the task force inside. At a critical moment, he even dismantled the device the robbers used to launch the biochemical weapons, thus completely thwarting Hammer's plan.

In the end, Stanley not only rescued his wife and daughter but also saved all the hostages, becoming an everyday hero cheered by everyone.

...

After reading the script, Link found some parts familiar. Reflecting, he realized that the first third of the plot closely resembled the film starring Nicolas Cage, The Rock.

However, in The Rock, the principal plot involved Brigadier General Frank Hammer leading a group of retired Marines to seize Alcatraz to demand the government take action for the sake of the 81 hostages.

To rescue the hostages, the government sent former British agent John Mason to the island. Mason had previously served time in that prison and managed to escape, giving him some insight into navigating the island. If he successfully saved the tourists, his criminal record would be expunged.

In that film, the main character was a biochemical weapons scientist named Stanley, originally tasked to monitor Mason and prevent his escape. He ultimately assisted Mason in the rescue operation, defeating the rebels led by Hammer.

The earlier version was bland, with little engaging dialogue, while the film version was filled with humor and offered rich content, incorporating many popular cultural references of the day.

After reading it a second time, Link thought the earlier version had to be the original, with the latter being a revised draft.

In reality, many scripts differ significantly from the finished film because they undergo multiple revisions before and during production. Alterations continue during editing to consider market potential, sometimes resulting in an entirely different story being told.

This often drives directors to take creative control themselves to ensure the integrity of the script.

...

"Link, what do you think of the script? Does it have potential for box office success?" Donald Simpson asked after Link had finished reading, setting down his coffee cup.

Link nodded. "It's quite good -- gunfights, explosions, action, and intense hand-to-hand combat. The pacing is tight and thrilling, so it's definitely worth investing in."

Donald Simpson's eyes lit up. "I'm glad you like it, Link! I'm currently seeking investors for the project. Do you have any interest in financing it?"

"How much is the budget for this movie, and how much are you still seeking?" Link queried.

Donald Simpson sighed, "I've been preparing this project for more than two years, but the budget is hefty. The initial estimate is $100 million, and the major studios are hesitant to invest, fearing they won't recoup their costs.

I heard that Guess Pictures has solid production capabilities, making it an excellent potential partner. That's why I brought the script to see if you might be interested in financing and producing it.

My requirement is that this movie must be completed within two years, with me as the producer, at a salary of $5 million and a 5% share of the global box office."

"Link, that budget is too high! We have over ten projects lined up this year, and we can't take on such a massive endeavor," Daniel DeVito interjected.

Link asked Donald Simpson to hold on while he had a brief meeting with Daniel DeVito.

...

"Daniel, what's your take?" Link asked, taking a sip of water.

"Link, the investment is too significant, and the risk is high. Moreover, the story feels somewhat cliched compared to action films like Terminator, Die Hard, and In the Line of Fire, so spending $100 million on something like this risks being a financial loss." Daniel DeVito advised.

"I understand your concerns and share some reservations about the script's design. However, the core of the story shows promise. The cliched parts can be revised, and we can figure out ways to cut the budget and reduce risks. Overall, it's a project worth investing in."

"Link, do you believe you can improve the script?" Daniel DeVito's eyes brightened. Link was not only a top blockbuster director but also a renowned screenwriter known for consistently delivering projects with high returns.

If Link had confidence in revising the script, it would make the investment worthwhile.

"I can! I guarantee it will be a great story."

"Great! Then let's take on this project and give it a shot."

...

Daniel DeVito left the office with renewed confidence and found Donald Simpson to discuss the collaborative effort. To prevent the script from being snatched up by the major studios, they first signed a copyright agreement.

Guess Pictures acquired the adaptation rights for $500,000 from Don Simpson's company, effective for three years. If they did not produce a film within those three years, the rights would automatically revert to Don Simpson's company.

After the project was greenlit, Guess Pictures would hire Donald Simpson as a co-producer with a fee of $2 million, without any profit-sharing.

...

After three days of negotiations, both parties finalized the deal, and The Rock project officially belonged to Guess Pictures.

Link smiled as he held the contract.

This year's twelve planned film projects mainly consisted of low-budget films, primarily art house productions, with few heavyweight commercial films, the only exceptions being Jerry Maguire and The Fifth Element -- which were both collaborations with Columbia Pictures.

Without a major commercial film ready, Guess Pictures' competitiveness at the box office next year would suffer, particularly when compared to the big-budget films of the major studios, risking their rapid growth.

Now, with The Rock in hand, he could focus on filming several more movies and maintain high competitiveness in the market for the next few years.

Yet, he couldn't help but wonder why this movie project had come to Guess Pictures so easily.

But it was a good thing, so he pushed the thought aside and began working on the script revisions.

...

"Haha, Link, you're not so tough after all," Donald Simpson laughed as he sat in the business car after signing the collaborative contract with Guess Pictures. Looking at the terms of the contract and the accompanying $500,000 check, he couldn't help laughing.

*****

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