"But, is it really necessary to postpone the project you mentioned? According to your description, this should be an independent work with very low investment costs, right?" Hugo vaguely remembered whether the investment of "American Beauty" was 10 million or 20 million, and the final box office performance was quite good, which should be more than 130 million US dollars. For such a black reality work, it can definitely be called a huge victory.

Steven nodded in agreement, "Of course, the current cost budget is $15 million, a very small investment. But the important thing is that our company does not currently have enough resources to start so many projects at the same time, and temporarily postpone the ‘American Beauty’ and spare the resources to shoot another work. This is very necessary."

Hugo opened his mouth. He didn't know whether the "Beautiful Mind" was produced in advance, whether it was good or bad; he didn't know whether "American Beauty" could still create glory if it was delayed... This made Hugo a little uncertain.

However, before Hugo could speak, Steven raised his hand to stop him, "This is the result of my discussion with David and Jeffrey. We all think that from the perspective of the company, we need to make some decisions and some changes." Steven paused for a moment, "But it is best enough."

The last sentence mentions Hugo's script. Because Hugo has not completed the adaptation of the script yet, the quality of the final product is unpredictable. Although everyone is full of confidence in Hugo, no one can succeed forever. Even Steven himself has filmed bad works. This is what no one can avoid. The only thing that the whole Hollywood has a huge confidence in Hugo.

Hugo smiled and spread his hands, "The press has put me in great pressure enough that you don't need to join them."

"Do you care?" Steven said that the media nonsense Hugo had been used to it and wouldn't care at all, and he couldn't refute it. Steven raised his eyebrows, "So, it's best worth it."

Postponed the shooting of "American Beauty" and the shooting of "beautiful soul" in advance. Only God knows that even Hugo himself is praying: he should devote himself to the adaptation of the script, because if something goes wrong or the quality is not satisfactory, the worst result is that Hugo ruined two works and two classic works at the same time, and his shoulders alone cannot bear this weight.

So, it's best worth it. Hugo himself hopes so.

"But, are you sure? I think John Nash's biography budget is estimated to exceed 50 million." Hugo said carefully that although the adaptation of his script has not yet been fully launched, as a producer, Hugo has begun to conceive the film and has a rough framework.

Steven read it in surprise, "This is a biography, right? It's not a science fiction movie." A biography movie, and it's a modern biography. Without the requirements of court or aristocratic clothing, the shooting venue can be chosen where it exists in real life. Obviously, the cost budget will not be so high.

Hugo smiled pursed his lips, but still explained seriously, "Have you read the biography of John Nash?" Steven shook his head, "John's schizophrenia continues to aggravate with the advancement of time, so in order to enhance the authenticity and emotional rendering of the entire work, I hope to shoot it in the order of time."

Steven understood in an instant.

Generally speaking, the main story of the movie will occur in many different places. In order to save costs, all scenes that occur in a location will often be shot in a concentrated manner. For example, if the story happens at Steven's home now, then all the stories that happen here in the entire movie will be shot in one go. Perhaps it only takes one week to complete all the scenes of the scene, so that the time and price of renting the venue will drop significantly.

But if you want to shoot according to the timeline as Hugo said, then this will happen: today, you will shoot at Steven's house for one day, two weeks later, and then you will shoot at Steven's house for another three days; then after one day, you will have to shoot here for half a day. The entire work timeline will become extremely trivial.

First, it will become very difficult to rent a venue, requiring continuous coordination, and the price cannot be reduced; second, if the venue is used too frequently, and it is a popular shooting venue, then there is no way to rent it day by day. Maybe the crew will need to rent it for a whole month in one go, just to use the venue for seven days within this month; third, the crew's movement, makeup, clothing, scene layout and other related links need to be repeatedly put into use, and cost control naturally requires corresponding adjustments.

However, shooting strictly according to the timeline is a good thing for the actors. As Hugo said, this can help the actors enter the state from shallow to deep, and allow the audience's emotions to rise and fall according to the plot, which is a good thing for the overall quality of the work. However, this also means that the shooting cost will increase significantly, or even double.

Generally speaking, there are several situations where the crew is willing to shoot according to the timeline. One is that the story takes place within a fixed space, such as "Trumen's World", and the whole movie is shot on the island of Seaside; the other is that the movie is moved into the studio, and all scenes will be completed in the studio, such as "Schindler's List". The entire crew was brought to Poland for on-site shooting, but the story line and shooting line were shot according to the timeline in a fixed place; the other is that the movie is independently produced, which lacks the burden of the huge crew, and the actors work hard, and the shooting venue does not require rent, but just random life scenes.

Of course, there are many works like Hugo who want to strictly abide by the timeline for the quality of the film. The corresponding cost is the increase in costs. The decisive factor depends on whether investors are willing to pay for it.

"Is it really necessary?" Steven did not worry too much about the details with Hugo, but just asked about it seriously. For a modern biographical film in the 1950s, an investment of more than $50 million is indeed a bit incredible. It is almost comparable to the 200 million cost of the "Titanic". Anyone needs to consider it again and again, let alone the DreamWorks, which is currently underfunded.

Hugo nodded vigorously. The development of the story between John and Alicia was filmed according to the timeline, which will undoubtedly increase the impact and infectiousness, which is crucial to the quality of the entire movie. The deterioration and change of John's condition can even be considered as the core idea of ​​the entire movie.

Steven temporarily postponed the shooting of "American Beauty". The investment budget for this work is only 15 million, but the cost of "beautiful mind" that has been replaced is three or even four times that of "American Beauty". This is a major burden for DreamWorks.

"What conditions are Warner and Columbia given?" Steven pondered for a moment, and asked directly without any concealment.

Hugo did not conceal Steven's plan, and said concisely and clearly, "Barry said that 80 million is the upper limit, and Mark directly agreed to the budget of 100 million."

Steven widened his eyes, then became angry, "These crazy people, a biographical movie is so much money. How could I not see them so generous when I filmed the 'Schindler's List'." It's so popular that people are so popular. A biographical movie can actually get a budget of 100 million US dollars, and even when the adapted script is not released, I fantasized about the scene where the Hollywood giants waved checks and begged Hugo to accept it, which really made Steven feel upset.

Hugo looked at Steven's angry expression and felt a sense of joy inexplicably and couldn't help laughing.

Steven looked at Hugo's heartless smile and felt even more annoyed. He gritted his teeth and said resentfully, "If it were me, I would choose those suckers." After thinking carefully, "We can only afford to pay a budget of 60 million at most, you can look back."

Of course, Steven hoped that Hugo would choose DreamWorks, but he himself knew that he was doing business. Hugo had a better choice, and DreamWorks was indeed not the first option. Even Steven himself is currently working with Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox to develop projects, which does not conflict with DreamWorks' own work.

So, even if Steven hopes that Hugo can launch a work on behalf of DreamWorks, truly tie Hugo to the chariot of DreamWorks and cast the "DreamWorks" brand. However, Steven has no right and no right to ask Hugo to do so.

Hugo was also amused by Steven's words, and he said with a smile, "Of course I am willing to hand it over to our company to complete it." This time, Hugo accurately used the word "our company". Unlike others, Hugo always regarded the word "love" extremely important, so between Warner Bros. and Sony Columbia Pictures, he was willing to choose the latter, while between DreamWorks and others he was willing to choose the former. As Hugo himself said, this is his weakness and his strength.

Steven knew what Hugo's light words meant not only meant that he gave up his investment budget of 100 million US dollars, but also meant that he agreed to DreamWorks' next development plan. This can be said to be of great significance to DreamWorks and the entire Hollywood film industry. Whether DreamWorks can have the capital to shake Hollywood may be a pathfinder.

Although Steven has always known that Hugo considers friendship very important, he is definitely a lie at this moment saying that he is not moved, which makes Steven recall Hugo's remarks about the gradual commercialization of Oscars. Obviously, with Hugo's personality, he is definitely not a nonsense.

Steven let out a light breath and smiled, "I can imagine Barry Meyer's angry expression."
Chapter completed!