Chapitre 318: Chapter 318: Twilight
Netflix's acquisition intentions had been confirmed, and next was the negotiation over the acquisition price. Professionals would handle this; after the merger, delisting would be a straightforward process.
Texas Pacific Capital and Bridgewater Fund were willing to provide guarantee funds, and Capet Entertainment wanted to cut through the chaos quickly. The negotiation was progressing smoothly.
The upheaval on Wall Street did not affect Hollywood's film production and releases.
The Twilight project, acquired from Paramount's dominance last year-end, had been in preparation for half a year but hadn't started filming.
Returning from New York to Los Angeles, Charles immediately focused on this project.
"Eclipse, the third book of the Twilight saga, is already published, and our script is finished, right?" Charles had been out of country earlier, and then the subprime crisis garnered his attention away from Capet Pictures' projects.
"The adaptation is complete. Director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg have finished the script. However, we have several budget constraints," Phyllis Jones explained.
"The Twilight books sold very well, but no one expects this kind of story to succeed in the box office. Warner Bros.' adaptation of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants had high book sales, with a production budget of $25 million and North American box office under $40 million! Our production department told Director Catherine Hardwicke that the production budget for Twilight must be kept under $40 million!"
Charles smirked with a hint of pride. Female directors can indeed control budgets; Hollywood's gender discrimination should not be underestimated.
When Capet Pictures negotiated the adaptation rights of the Twilight saga with author Stephenie Meyer, they even drafted a contract: They assured Ms. Meyer that the film adaptation would stick faithfully to the original content, including "The vampire characters' canine or incisors in the movie would not be longer or more noticeable than that of humans!"
"Female author, female director, female screenwriter," Charles truly supported women filmmakers in Hollywood, perfectly aligning with feminist advocacy.
"Let's give a production budget of $40 million then," Charles said. "I've read the script; otherwise, the director will have to cut the limited special effects and action scenes. I still can't fathom why this book adaptation would turn into a phenomenon series.
Start casting as soon as possible. I hope it can be released in next year's summer slot," Charles understood Hollywood directors very well. They needed pressure to deliver on time.
"Set a meeting with Director Catherine Hardwicke and author Stephenie Meyer at the company. I want to hear their thoughts," Charles instructed again. Without producing the movie, how could he make money?
The next afternoon, at a cafe near Capet's headquarters in Burbank, Charles saw his pre-selected female lead, Kristen Stewart.
At 17 years old, Kristen Stewart was already a seasoned actress who had appeared in many films since her child star days.
With long, light brown hair, jeans paired casually with a white T-shirt, she looked calm, but the lollipop in her mouth showed her rebellious streak.
"Kristen, do you know the Twilight books?" Charles, casually dressed, asked. Young people didn't fuss about such things.
"Ah, Mr. Capet, I've read it. The novel is very interesting," Kristen nodded in response.
Charles looked at Kristen Stewart for a few seconds, "Capet Pictures plans to adapt this novel. I want you to play the lead role of Isabella Swan!"
"Uh? Really?" Kristen Stewart was a bit taken aback. Since when was getting a lead role in a movie so easy?
"In a few days, Director Catherine Hardwicke will organize an audition. Make the most of it," Charles said, handing her a script.
"Here, take the script home and study it well. If the director is still not satisfied by then..."
Charles shrugged, and Kristen surely got his drift.
"Just call me Charles. I'm young like you," said Charles, standing up and stretching, ready to leave.
Kristen Stewart, holding the script, seemed puzzled, "Is that it? No more questions?"
"What questions? I'm not the director or production manager. I'm the movie producer and the company owner," Charles responded. "I earn tens of thousands per minute. I don't have time to discuss a movie role at length."
"Ah?" Kristen Stewart, usually outgoing and somewhat arrogant, was stunned by Charles Capet's bluntness.
But Charles made a lot of sense!
"Hehe," Kristen Stewart laughed, "You're really different from other movie company owners. Everyone says that Capet Pictures' movies are the most likely to succeed, especially those personally overseen by Charles Capet!"
"Well, go home and prepare well," Charles glanced at the lollipop she had when she walked in, wondering where it went,
"Do you have any more?"
"What do you mean?"
"The lollipop you were eating just now!"
"I threw it in the trash. Do you want one? I have plenty in my car," Kristen Stewart responded, exiting the cafe with Charles.
Kristen Stewart grabbed two lollipops from an old Ford Mustang parked nearby and handed one to Charles.
A blue lollipop, which Charles unwrapped and popped into his mouth, "Oh, thanks, it's great to be young!"
"Ahaha, Charles, the weather is great today. Want to go for a drive by the beach?" Kristen Stewart found Charles Capet to be the perfect friend.
"Speeding?" Charles hardly ever drove fast since his previous car accident, and even if he did, it was on less crowded highways.
Damn, Charles genuinely worried about another car accident. With a net worth of tens of billions, he hadn't enjoyed life enough yet.
"Come on, I don't drive fast," Kristen Stewart saw Charles's conflicted expression, pulled him into the car, and sat him in the passenger seat.
"Don't worry. Young people need to be a bit crazy. We'll just cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway," Kristen Stewart said, starting the engine.
"Alright, a seafood dinner at a restaurant by the sea wouldn't be bad," Charles relented, thinking that if a 17-year-old girl wasn't afraid, why should he be?
*****
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone