I’m in Hollywood

After sending Amy Pascal home, Eric took Jonathan Demme to a random coffee shop nearby. After ordering two cups of coffee and some snacks, Eric took the lead and said, Jonathan, first tell me your understanding of the script of Cry on the Island.

Like a student taking an exam, Jonathan Demme rationalized his thoughts and said: Compared to those movies that rely on violent plasma, convoluted sound effects or weird and ferocious makeup to achieve horror effects, Cry on the Island will undoubtedly create a brand new psychological thriller genre horror film. The script is full of Hitchcock-style suspense settings. Although the plot is not complicated, it can always firmly grasp the audience's curiosity, and in the end. The truth at the end reveals the great reversal of the inversion of human beings and ghosts, which is even more surprising. Eric, many people think that your current success is due to the blessing of God. But if they read this script you created, I will I'm sure no one would think that way, your talent is simply amazing.

Talking, Jonathan Demme couldn't help complimenting, Eric saw that the other party was really praising him from the bottom of his heart, not to please himself, and smiled: Thank you for your praise, Jonathan, you are very grateful to this The script is well understood. However, this is not enough for me to hand this movie to you. Although I haven't had time to pay attention to the replies of the other two director candidates, I believe they will also be very interested in this movie. Yes. What do you think your strengths are compared to Wes Craven and William Fredkin?

Plasticity, Jonathan Demme replied without hesitation. Eric, I'm more malleable than them.

Eric looked at the middle-aged man in his forties and asked in confusion, Plasticity?

Jonathan Demme explained calmly: Yes, Eric, because I've never made a horror movie, that's my biggest advantage, I've been in the business for almost twenty years, I believe My professional level as a director is definitely no problem. I can shoot according to the psychological thriller concept of the script you wrote. But if Crystal Island is given to two long-established horror masters to direct, both of them will People will definitely bring their own shooting style into the movie, which may not be their personal intention, but the power of habit is very powerful. Therefore, they are likely to return The Exorcist to The Exorcist and The Exorcist. In the traditional horror movie mode like Elm Street, it will certainly have a very good scary effect, but it will inevitably weaken the sensational effect of the reversal of ghosts at the end of the script.

After Jonathan Demmy finished speaking, noticing the looseness in Eric's expression, he hurriedly took out a thick stack of prepared documents from the backpack he was carrying, but he did not hand it to Eric without a single thought. He knew that if he did this, the other party might not have the patience to watch it. So just picked out the most important pages and handed them to Eric.

Eric, look, here are some of my thoughts on the filming of Frightening Island, as well as a few sub-shot scripts I imagined. I think the film should focus on the creation of horror and suspense, and throw it out in stages. One after another, the suspense that arouses the curiosity of the audience, which can cover up the weakness of the script and the plot to the greatest extent, and will not make the audience feel dull. In the creation of the atmosphere, more emphasis should be placed on the psychological sense of oppression rather than the senses stimuli.”

Eric lowered his head and carefully read a series of shooting ideas listed by Jonathan Demme, and then carefully looked at a few design drafts of sub-shots, and tapped his fingers on the table unconsciously.

Jonathan Demme knew that the most critical moment was coming, and his right hand under the table was clenched into a fist.

Compared with Eric's smooth director experience, Jonathan's journey in Hollywood is much more bumpy, and he has shown a strong interest in movies since he was a child. Therefore, although he studied veterinary medicine in college, he did not follow that path. Instead, he entered Lianmei, which was still very prosperous at the time, and started as a handyman at the bottom.

It was not until the age of 30 that he had the opportunity to participate in the production of some low-budget B-level films. In 1977, Jonathan finally got the opportunity to direct the film for the first time, but the satirical drama about the life of the civilian radio station has been praised by film critics. But it was a mess at the box office.

To be precise, there was no box office at all. In order to allow more people to appreciate his work, Jonathan had to pay out of his own pocket to let a New York theater broadcast the film to the audience for free, but there were still very few viewers.

That blow kept Jonathan quiet for three full years, and in 1980 Jonathan's other work won two Oscars before his career took off again. But until now, his work has not done much commercially. The box office is generally only a few million, and the highest one can only exceed 10 million.

In Hollywood, it is completely impossible to gain recognition as a director without a blockbuster movie. When researching Eric's personal experience before, Jonathan found that the biggest thing in common for the three movies related to Eric that was able to sell well at the box office is that the three movies were all scripts written by him.

Although it is not clear why Eric Williams invited himself to be the director of Island Cry, this does not prevent Jonathan from wanting to seize this opportunity.

After receiving the invitation, Jonathan Demme stayed up all night to read the script many times, and more than once stunned at Eric's ingenious reversal setup. Early the next morning, he wrote back to Jeffrey Hansen, offering to direct the film.

I originally thought that the other party would contact me soon to discuss things like signing a contract, but after waiting patiently for a few days, the matter did not follow.

Jonathan Demme rushed to the Firefly headquarters in person and found Jeffrey. After learning the whole story, Jonathan realized that, compared with the other two long-established horror film masters, he was a director who had no experience in shooting horror films. Seems to be the least competitive one.

But Jonathan did not give up on this. Although Jonathan Demme's films directed by himself were not very good, his vision was not bad. He keenly felt that if the film Cry on the Island was made, it would be in the box office and awards. will do something. Therefore, it is even more urgent to desperately want to get this opportunity.

It took a few days for Jonathan to rack his brains to come up with a set of arguments to convince Eric. At the same time, he also conducted a more in-depth analysis of Frightening Island and made a lot of careful preparations. In a hurry to prevent the script director from being decided in advance, Jonathan has been sleeping no more than three hours a day for a week.

The reason why he can still sit in front of Eric in high spirits and talk, it is estimated that the breath is hanging in the air.

Eric didn't notice Jonathan Demme's uneasiness. He knocked on the table and thought for a while before he raised his head and said, Jonathan, can you wait a moment? I'll make a call.

Of course there is no problem. Jonathan didn't understand the intention of Eric's actions, but nodded anyway. Eric didn't make a decision directly, which made Jonathan feel a little more hopeful.

Eric got up and walked to the counter of the cafe, talked to the waiter, picked up the phone on the counter and dialed the number in Jeffrey's office.

Jeffrey, it's me...I forgot to ask, it's about the director of The Island... Yes, did Wes Craven and William Friedkin respond... ... um... um... ok, I got it... actually Jonathan Demme came to me personally, I think he has a good idea, and he is very eager for this movie, I think it can be given to him A chance... Yes, reject him, that's it, then I'll hang up... I know, I have a sense.

Hanging up the phone, Eric went back to his seat.

Jonathan knew that the last moment was definitely coming, and involuntarily sat up slightly, looking at Eric expectantly.

Jonathan, when I sent out the invitation before, I said that the heroine of this movie has been decided by default. Do you have any opinion on this?

Jonathan Demme had an undisguised look of joy on his face. He knew that if Eric asked this, he would hand over the film to him: No, I have no opinion. The choice of actors is the producer's power. After hesitating for a while, Jonathan couldn't help but ask: Eric, the heroine is... is that your girlfriend named Jennifer Aniston?

Eric shook his head and said, No.

Jonathan Demme asked this question because he couldn't let go of his concerns. After getting a denial answer, he resolutely closed his mouth. It would have been better if it wasn't Jennifer Aniston. Jonathan Demme was worried that Eric had deliberately mentioned this. The condition is to make his girlfriend popular.

But that girl is too young after all, to play the single mother Grace in the script, the makeup alone is hard enough.

As for the relationship between the real heroine and Eric, that's not something Jonathan needs to focus on.

So, Eric, isn't it...

Eric nodded: Yes, Jonathan, you have been offered the opportunity to direct this film. Mr. William Friedkin just happened to direct another film, and naturally declined the invitation. Mr. Wes Craven was right. The script also showed strong interest. But there were some concerns about the female lead, and what you just convinced me did make some sense, so I asked Jeffrey to turn him down.