Made in Hollywood

Entering the dance rehearsal room specially built in the studio, Duke stood at the door, watching the actresses prepare for the event, Lily Fred and her assistants, scattered among Naomi Watts Nearby several main actors, including Catherine Zeta Jones, explained the most basic actions and precautions.

Although not a complete layman, Duke does not have the professional quality of singing and dancing. Most of the time he just watches and rarely expresses his opinion.

Lily? Fred is not only a veteran of Broadway, but also won several Tony Award nominations, and several clips choreographed have also been recognized by Duke.

"Duke, I have something to talk to you about."

Seeing Duke, Lily Fred walked over and said directly, "I have some disagreements with the arrangement of the singing and dancing scenes."

"Although it's okay."

The other side is a professional, and Duke is not a set dictator who doesn't listen to anything.

"Then let's go to the studio?"

After Duke nodded in agreement, Lily Fred and Duke left the dance rehearsal room, walked into the adjacent studio, and directly came to a scene construction area about the prison. The scene setting work here is relatively simple, a row of pushing and pulling props The prison door has been installed.

After spending all this time together, Lily Fred knew Duke's attitude towards work, and without going around in circles, she stood directly in front of the iron gate of the prison and said, "I think six chairs are enough as props in this song and dance scene."

Duke looked at her and gestured to continue.

Lily Fred explained in detail, "This is the darkest and most depressing song and dance in the whole play. According to my assumption, the props only need six chairs. Let out the deepest roar together. Simple and powerful."

She pointed to the iron gate, "I've seen your ideas, besides these, there are pas de deux, group dance and chorus, and a piece of red silk is added to the hands of the actors, so that the too complicated and gorgeous stage background will weaken the actors' performance. Charismatic. It even seems to be overpowering."

"The most simple prop, a solo dance and a solo, and the actor's performance to enhance the atmosphere." Duke walked over there, touched the iron door made of plastic, and asked, "Lily, is that so?"

"Yes!" Lily Fred answered immediately. "I think it's the most suitable form of artistic expression."

"You're right, and the advice is very pertinent." Duke pointed around, "but one thing is overlooked, we're making a movie, not a stage play. Those are two very different forms of presentation. "

"A movie is more than just an actor's performance!" Duke walked past the iron gate. "I needed more props, dance, and chorus to support the scene to make this scene more visually impactful. Use moving iron gates, red silk Bands symbolize blood and death. There's also a multi-person dance and chorus, which really undercut the performance of the actors. But they make the scene fuller and more appealing."

When the audience is watching the stage play, they can completely focus on the actors, but the movie is different. If only a dry actor performed a one-man show, even if he was a combination of Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, it would not fail to attract the attention of most audiences.

From the day that this film was selected, Duke has characterized "Chicago", which is a musical, but also a commercial film!

Maybe the way Lily Fred said is more in line with the requirements of art, it will be more popular with some professionals when it is filmed, and even if the actors perform well, it is easier to win awards, but Duke will not use it, he is Investors of this film, these ways that do not conform to the rules of commercial film, can only be sidelined.

After solving this little trouble, Duke and Lily Fred went to other scenes that were being built, and exchanged opinions on many of the props and sets. One of them was the director and the other was the singing and dancing director, and they communicated with each other. Extremely important.

All kinds of preparatory work had to be summed up in the hands of Duke and Robin Grande. After a whole morning of work, Duke didn't feel relieved until lunch time.

"A croissant, goulash with potatoes, a glass of juice, thank you."

In the restaurant of Warner Studios, Duke finished his lunch and walked to the dining table area with a plate. Since there are often crews working in the studio, many big stars and big directors are the most ordinary looking. restaurant regulars.

Sitting at a white dining table, Duke had just lowered his head to take a sip of juice when he heard someone questioning him.

"Can I sit here?"

Raising his head, Duke glanced at him and said to Catherine Zeta Jones, who was holding the plate, "Just sit down."

"thanks!"

Catherine Zeta Jones sat opposite, put down her plate, and pulled her long, damp hair back. Duke looked at the loose sweater she was wearing and guessed that the other party should have just washed after practice. Take a shower.

"I never had a chance to say thank you."

Seeing that Duke was just bowing his head to eat and had no intention of speaking, Catherine Zeta Jones had to take the initiative to break the silence, "Thank you for giving me the role of Velma."

"You're welcome." Duke smiled at her, "It's what you got for your excellent performance."

If the other party's audition result is not satisfactory, Duke will definitely not choose her, even if she is Catherine Zeta Jones, she may give something, and he will not take his own investment to take unnecessary risks.

Career and these actresses are more important, for him, there is no need to choose.

Like most actresses, Catherine Zeta-Jones ate a little and focused on Duke.

"I was going to treat you to dinner last weekend to say thank you, but my mum came over from Wales."

Not far from Duke, Zeta Jones blinked his charming eyes, "Do you have time this weekend?"

"Feel sorry……"

After thinking about his schedule, Duke could only slowly shake his head, "I'm going to New York to visit my mother, and I made an appointment very early."

The deliberate disappointment was fleeting, and Zeta Jones immediately changed the subject, "I can tell that you have a very good relationship with your mother."

"I only have my mother as a relative."

Duke put down the knife and fork, Zeta Jones immediately handed over a white and fragrant napkin, Duke took it and wiped the grease off his mouth, "Mom taught me a lot, without her, I wouldn't be where I am today."

His mother was proud of him, why couldn't he be proud of having such a mother.

From the conversation just now, Zeta Jones quickly found a topic suitable for breakthrough, "A great mother can bring us a lot of help."

On this point, Duke fully agrees, "It is true."

"I'll never forget my mother." Zeta Jones seemed to be lost in memories, his eyes were still a little red, "My original dream was to become a singer, but when I was sixteen, I gave birth to a child. Field was seriously ill, the vocal cords were damaged a little, and I couldn't bear the burden of frequent singing. At that time, I felt that the whole world was falling apart..."

There was a touch of sadness in her voice, which was full of contagion, "It was my mother who had been encouraging me to get me back on my feet. With her encouragement, I went to London to receive professional dance training, and then I got this one. Scores."

"Of course, I would also like to thank you for your help." Zeta Jones said sincerely, "Duke, you gave me the opportunity to return to Hollywood to prove myself."

"So the film has to be successful." Duke shrugged.

Zeta Jones asked suspiciously, "Could it fail? I never thought so."

"No one can guarantee the success of a film."

Hearing Duke's words, Zeta Jones retorted without hesitation, "I think you are the guarantee of the success of the film. How many directors in the world can make four consecutive films?"

Duke had to laugh, "You have more confidence than me."

"I'm just stating the most basic facts."

Zeta Jones was very satisfied with the topic that led the two people unconsciously, and the smile on his face looked more attractive, "I have been paying attention to "Saving Private Ryan", this film is actually your style It has changed, and it has done so successfully."

She took her own juice, took a sip, and continued, "I saw the box office statistics yesterday. The North American box office was 298.75 million US dollars, and the global box office was 612.14 million US dollars. The highest-grossing R-rated film in history!"

"There will be more grossing R-rated movies soon."

Looking at his watch, Duke stood up and was about to leave, "It's almost time, it's time to go back to work."

In addition to preparing for "Chicago", Duke also paid attention to the situation of "Saving Private Ryan" that was recently thrown aside. Due to the classification and other reasons, the stamina of this war film is obviously not as strong as that of "Independence Day". At the end of January, the film had been removed from commercial chain chains such as AMG, Emperor Entertainment and American Artists, and the theaters still showing were basically independent theater chains in New York and Los Angeles.

Twentieth Century Fox, the publisher, has a clear strategy, targeting the Oscars during awards season.

Time is slowly entering December, and the traditional awards season in the North American film industry has officially kicked off. Actors, directors, and film companies who hope to hit the academic awards, as well as their public relations and agents, have all fallen into a trap. In the busiest season of the year, even someone like Duke who doesn't care much about Oscar has to follow the director's contract and participate in several PR events in a row.

The Oscars of this era have significantly improved the commercial income of films. Although they understand that they have little chance of winning the best director, there is still some hope for the little golden man who cooperates with the producer and distributor to compete for the best film.

Oscar actually has a tradition. If the director and producer of the film don't care about the Oscar, under normal circumstances, the film will not win heavyweight awards.

In order to share the profits closely related to him, Duke threw a special party at his home at the request of Warner and Fox before Christmas. (To be continued ~^~)

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