"Duke, this is Robin Grande."

In the Lucasfilm conference room, George Lucas is introducing a middle-aged man to Duke, "Robin is the producer manager Lucasfilm hired for "Life and Death Hour."

"Hello, Duke."

The other party stood up first and reached out, "I've seen the video you edited, which is impressive."

"It's great to know you, Robin."

Duke also stood up and shook hands with him through the long conference table, "I believe this is a pleasant cooperation."

As a mature system and a complete production system, Lucasfilm has officially started preparations in just over a week since notifying Duke to attend the first meeting. Even the crew has a suitable candidate, and the confidence of a senior Hollywood company has been fully revealed.

As the spokesperson for producer George Lucas in the future, Robin Grand undoubtedly has a great say in the crew. Since Duke has not signed a formal director contract with Lucasfilm, the next thing he focuses on is Duke's treatment and power issues.

"Your director's salary is $120,000."

He looked at Duke, and saw that he did not say anything, and continued, "We will pay $50,000 first; after the filming of the film is completed, we will pay another $50,000, and the last $20,000 will be paid after the film is removed from North America."

Duke knew that this was Hollywood convention, "I have no objection."

Subsequently, Robin Grande talked about a series of director's powers and obligations. Combined with Duke's own requirements, he will participate in the preparation of the crew, the pre-production preparation of the film, and other matters. But like most new directors, he has the right to speak and suggest, but has no final decision.

There is also the power to select major actors, Duke also has the right to suggest but has no right to decide.

"I hope you can carefully consider my suggestions on actors at that time." Within reasonable scope, Duke will certainly seek appropriate power for himself. "I ask to participate in the film's post-production editing, and also consider my suggestions in the final editing."

Editing can completely determine the fate of a film. Duke knew that he would not be able to get the final editing rights, and just wanted to make the film achieve the editing effect he wanted as much as possible.

These demands have exceeded Robin Grande's power, and he looked at George Lucas, who was sitting in the first place.

"As long as your advice is reasonable," George Lucas had no intention of rejection.

Duke breathed a sigh of relief. It was rare for new directors to get such power. In Hollywood production mode, not to mention the final editing rights, quite a few directors will be excluded from editing work.

"One more thing."

When the meeting was about to end, Duke tentatively made a request, "Uncle George... Well, George, I will distribute my pre-existing $100,000 reward into the production cost of the film..."

"And then you enjoy the profit share of the video in proportion?" George Lucas looked at him with his head tilted.

Probably knowing that his request was too much, Duke made a few meaningless gestures and completely gave up these unreliable ideas.

But what he didn't expect was that when he signed a formal director contract with Lucasfilm in the afternoon, accompanied by his mother's lawyer, this article was actually added to the additional terms of the film...

Of course, this is a little money that can only be distributed after deducting various fees such as theaters and publishers.

Duke suddenly had a strange feeling when signing his name on a double-copy contract. He seemed to have gained more power, right?

But this is a good thing, isn't it?

As a producer, George Lucas is only responsible for the general direction, and the specific matters are basically handed over to the production team led by Robin Grande. During the preparation, shooting and production stages of the film, he will be the person who will represent the producer and deal with Duke and the entire crew in the future.

"The tentative budget for the video is US$15 million, and the advance funding of US$10 million has arrived."

When he came out with Duke, Robin Grande was still talking about preparations. He obviously got the instructed by George Lucas to teach Duke some experience through language and work. "The remaining $5 million Lucasfilm will be raised soon, and our studio will be set in West Hollywood near the main location of Santa Monica."

"Does the studio have a name?" Duke asked.

"Not yet." Robin Grande shrugged.

"How about 'speed'?"

"not bad……"

The two of them walked to the parking lot while talking, got into their respective cars, and left separately.

Duke had long quit his job as a temporary worker. In the following time, he would go to West Hollywood's "speed" studio on time to report.

The studio system can be said to be a practice of large Hollywood companies. Whenever a high-investment film is launched, the production company will set up corresponding studios to coordinate the film's funds, preparations, personnel, shooting, advertising, sponsorship, and surrounding areas. Some studios that sell movies can often exist for several years or even more than ten years.

The pre-preparation and post-production of a film are often more cumbersome than shooting, especially commercial productions full of large scenes.

Lucasfilm has a deep foundation and has a strong appeal in the industry. The "Speed" studio has only been established for more than ten days. Photography, sets, lighting, makeup, clothing, art directing, etc. have successively signed contracts, most of which are some people who often cooperate with Lucasfilm.

Lucasfilm can also digest many positions internally, such as the soundtrack is handed over to Skywalker sound effects, and the special effects production is carried out by Industrial Light and Magic.

The entire preliminary preparation process is closely related to the director. What kind of camera language is needed, the impact of the actors on the film, the inspection of the studio and other departments to determine the lighting set, clarify the ideas for post-production editing, and exchange sound effects with Skywalker and other issues. These are all the preparations that Duke must make in the early stage.

Renting prop venues, making sets based on Duke's suggestions, contacting cheap car rental stores, finding suitable roads and locations, etc. These will be done by professionals. Hollywood assembly line production emphasizes cooperation and has a highly professional division of labor.

In the following month, Duke completed most of the storyboard sketches, and the preliminary preparations for the film were only more than halfway through. According to Robin Grand, the film would definitely not be able to be filmed until mid-September.

“There will be at least five large explosions during the shooting.”

At the crew's meeting, Duke said his request, "The two explosions in the opening scene of the film, as well as the scenes of the bus colliding with the plane, we can use a reduced-scale model to shoot on the set..."

He had to save money, and there was no way to do it. "The bus exploded on the street and house exploded, and take the field shooting as much as possible."

“Duke…”

A subordinate of Robin Grande said at this time, "The approval of the street explosion has been approved."

“I’m looking for a suitable home,” another said. “We have someone who specializes in checking the filings at the City Hall to search for separate houses waiting to be demolished in the Greater Los Angeles area.”

“Model production is in progress…”

When Duke looked over, the head of the Industrial Light and Magic Special Effects Group said, "It will definitely not affect your shooting plan."

The atmosphere of the meeting looks pretty good, at least on the surface. Duke knew that he could not convince the public at all. The crew was basically Hollywood veterans. These people were very smart. Even if Lucas supported him, even if he had any thoughts in his heart, he would not show it on the surface.

Duke didn't care about the ideas of these people. He had no capital except for George Lucas's support. In this circle that values ​​qualifications and power, he didn't think that he could intimidate these people who had become elites by showing his abilities at work. That was not realistic at all. Their inner doubts might always accompany the crew disbanded.

In particular, it took them several years or even more than ten years to get to the current position of being neither up nor down, but he has reached the top and become a director with an investment level of tens of millions of dollars. It is also possible to imagine what kind of imbalances will arise in many of them.

These are not important to Duke. As long as he can maintain superficial working relationships and does not affect the filming and production, he doesn't care. What he needs most now is the qualification to succeed!

A success can change many things in Hollywood. He will not be like before, and no one cares about it. He also has the capital to form his own production team and minimize the inevitable internal friction that each crew can have during future filming!

Some special effects production issues were discussed again, and the dominance of discourse was gradually taken away by Robin Grande, who was the person with the greatest power in this office.

As the early preparations for the film enter the final stage, selecting the right main actors is naturally put on the agenda.

The others quickly left the office that temporarily acted as a conference room, leaving only Duke, two associate directors and a few producers including Robin Grande.

"I suggest that the hero choose Keanu Reeves."

After Robin's assistant changed the coffee for everyone again, Duke was the first to speak, "Although his acting skills are not outstanding, it is enough to deal with such a role that is tense from beginning to end. Moreover, he has a certain reputation and a low pay."

"I've seen his movies and seen him himself."

This is the first deputy director named Conne. He has nearly ten years of experience in his career and has different opinions at this time, "Keanu Reeves is too thin! Don't forget, this is an action movie, he doesn't have strong muscles!"

His eyes drifted over Kenne's face quickly, and Duke was not in a hurry to refute it. This was not the first time the other party had opposed his opinion.
Chapter completed!