章 49: Chapter 49
"Henry, join Carpe Films and help me manage the production department. The company has grown to over twenty people. We've set up the framework for production, marketing, and finance," Charles Carpe invited Henry Winston, the producer of Underworld, to join Carpe Films.
Charles believed that Henry Winston had ample production experience and was good at set management, something Carpe Films needed.
"Charles, thank you for your trust. I think I will repay you with my work," Henry Winston accepted the offer without much surprise. For a producer focused on production management, joining the company was a good choice.
Although Carpe Films was small at the time, it had a lot of potential.
Charles smiled. With Henry on board, things would be easier for him. Henry had been in the industry for many years and must have some connections.
Carpe Films was working on a project directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain. After Liv Tyler signed the performance contract, the crew was off to Calgary, Canada, to begin filming.
In June, after a media meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles with the main cast of Brokeback Mountain, they all flew to Canada.
At the same time, Carpe Films signed an agreement with Universal to co-produce three movies.
Charles drove a BMW Z8 convertible from Beverly Hills, taking his mother, Evelyn, to 100 Universal City Plaza, the headquarters of Universal Studios.
"Will Universal agree?" asked Evelyn, who was not only Charles's mother but also his manager, joining him for lobbying efforts.
"We'll find out. Universal needs influential blockbusters now," Charles was in a good mood, not least because Brokeback Mountain had begun filming.
Upon arriving at Universal's headquarters, Charles passed by Steven Spielberg's office at DreamWorks.
Due to Spielberg's long-term relationship and achievements with Universal, Universal Studios had specially built a luxurious office for him on their premises. Even after establishing DreamWorks, Spielberg's office remained here rather than at DreamWorks' headquarters near Burbank in Glendale.
Glendale served as the main production base for DreamWorks Animation, while the live-action film office area was inside Universal City, in Spielberg's office.
Of course, DreamWorks had to pay substantial rent annually. Universal wasn't going to provide office space for DreamWorks for free.
They knew how to play the game! After all, the money was going into their own pockets, and the expenses were paid by DreamWorks. No complaints there.
In a small meeting room at Universal Studios, production department head Donna Langley, President Stacey Snider, and CEO Ron Meyer were present.
"The script idea for Mr. & Mrs. Smith is about two assassins who get married, live a mundane life for seven years, and then suddenly discover each other's identities..." Charles presented the project plan while Evelyn handled the lobbying from various angles.
"As a modern thriller action film, it also carries metaphors about marriage. The seven-year itch in a marriage is portrayed perfectly. Life needs passion!" said Evelyn.
Charles marveled at his mom's eloquence. He hadn't thought of some of the points she made. Essentially, it was just an action-comedy with a handsome couple.
Being an agent did require some salesmanship.
"The story has some novelty, and the planned scenes are grand. It needs powerful actors!" Stacey Snider commented, noting the numerous action scenes involving explosions and gunfights.
Charles smiled, "We do need top stars with strong influence. I have Brad Pitt in mind for the male lead, with Will Smith and Johnny Depp as alternatives.
For the female lead, the hottest right now is Nicole Kidman, who just won an Oscar. Alternatives include Catherine Zeta-Jones, who excelled in Chicago and won Best Supporting Actress, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider's Angelina Jolie.
As for the director, Doug Liman, who directed last year's The Bourne Identity, is very suitable."
"Doug Liman is indeed a good fit," Ron Meyer agreed.
"Using influential stars is necessary too!" Donna Langley concurred.
With Doug Liman as the director, and stars like Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman, it indeed qualified as a commercial blockbuster.
Charles had found someone to adapt the script, but even if it got the green light, the director would still study it and make some changes.
Getting a movie project off the ground was never as quick as people thought. Universal still had to conduct its own risk assessment and profit forecast report.
Large projects like these required significant funding and took a long time, but Carpe Films committing to covering half the budget helped a lot.
It was a long process, and Charles didn't have much money at the time.
"Charles, we will consider it, but we hope you'll first bring us a mid-budget film project, preferably a romance," Donna Langley reminded him of the internal discussions. Charles still needed to prove himself.
"Sure!" If that's the case, then let's kick off Wedding Crashers. After that, they should greenlight his projects!
After Charles and Evelyn left, Ron Meyer asked, "What do you think, can Mr. & Mrs. Smith make it?"
Stacey Snider smiled, "I think it's pretty good, but the budget is too high. According to his plans, the production budget would be over a hundred million dollars!"
Donna Langley nodded, "He said he would cover half the budget, but where would he get 60 million? He spent his previous earnings on a big villa, invested in The Passion of the Christ, and started Brokeback Mountain. He must be out of money."
"But he doesn't seek investments; he funds his own movies, which is quite unique!"
"This script is actually good. Let's do a benefit-risk assessment report first, and then wait for Charles to bring in a mid-budget project!" Ron Meyer couldn't make the decision alone; he needed the committee's approval for funding.
Unless Charles really came up with a significant amount of money himself, they would need to find other partners.
Actually, not many people at Universal's higher levels were concerned about Saw. It was a horror movie with a budget of just over a million dollars. Hollywood produced countless such films every year.
Out of hundreds of them, how many could make waves? But Charles started with low-budget films. If Saw succeeded, then Charles's judgment would be proven right, and his projects would have a much easier time getting approved.
Capital always gravitates towards profit. As long as someone could make them money, they were willing to believe.
*****
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