"I've made my decision, no matter what, I'm going to sign it, all of it."
On the morning of the 3rd, Ye Wei told the Herman Wright team clearly and forcefully, "I have been running for two years. Regardless of whether I can get a ranking or not, there is no reason for me to stop and quit when I am sprinting towards the finish line. .You guys figured it out, this is my movie!¡±
After hearing his decisive words, Herman and the others didn¡¯t try to persuade him anymore, and seemed to just say ¡°Okay.¡±
That night, Ye Wei attended a dinner invitation he received during the day, Tom Hanks' family dinner. This time it was at his home in Beverly Hills. Rita Wilson and her nanny were busy having dinner. Ye Wei I went to the study with Hanks to talk about this matter.
"Tom, you don't have to persuade me." In the spacious and elegant study, Ye Wei sat on the small sofa and said with raised eyebrows: "I want to sign, everything."
Looking at Hanks sitting on the sofa across from him, Ye Wei didn't look very good because he felt bad. What was the difference between their approach and Willett, Lovett and others.
"You seem to be disappointed in me?" Hanks smiled without any strangeness.
Now that things have happened, Ye Wei feels that there is nothing to worry about, and said: "I am very disappointed. I have always regarded you as one of my mentors. My mentor would not want me not to sign my name. Maybe you are thinking The bigger picture comes first. I'm still very grateful for the opportunity you gave me, but in this case, it sucked."
"Very good." Hanks' smile became even more generous, without the slightest hint of anger. "For the Best Picture category, I have no intention of persuading you not to sign your name, nor do I intend to ask you not to sign your name."
Ye Wei was startled when he heard the words, what? Be wary, what kind of curve lobbying is it?
"I have never advocated or agreed to this matter." Hanks's voice was not particularly solemn and loud, but slow and thick, like Forrest Gump telling his own story:
"This is first of all an award-winning strategy formulated by the public relations team. For the Oscar for Best Picture, our goal is to get a nomination, and we have never thought about winning an award. As long as we can get a nomination, it will have a great impact on LMS and your reputation. Promotion, even if you don't sign.
They have their reasons. Who are the three nominees for Best Picture will only be known to insiders, but insiders will understand that LMS is actually yours; from the public's perspective, you and LMS have long been in a relationship. No., the impression given to people by being nominated is also yours, 'Although he was not nominated for Best Director, the movie he directed was nominated for Best Picture.' Anyway, if you can't stand on the podium, ordinary people will not care about which film it is. Filmmaker.
This is a choice that maximizes the benefits of the project. The box office of LMS will be higher, DVDs will sell better, and you are not bad either.
But I didn¡¯t agree. This was exchanged for your personal interests and glory, and it was a great harm.
I agree with the Best Editing category, but I would also advise you not to sign it. "
Ye Wei frowned and wanted to say something, but Hanks made a waiting gesture, "The Editing Award is a technical award, and you are the director, producer, screenwriter, and actor, you are not the editor.
You should know that Steven Soderbergh likes to edit. Most of his film edits are signed with his name. He also likes to take photos and sign the photographer himself. But he has never been nominated for any technical awards such as editing and photography. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t do a good job. However, he is just like you. He is a director first, then a producer and screenwriter.
Those skills are already included in the word ¡®director¡¯. If you insist on hiring another editor, you will be praised as an all-rounder if you are good, but if you are bad, you will be accused of being greedy for merit and showing off. The people who criticize you are your colleagues who are editors first, and the offline technicians.
You have to know that you are the main online creator and you are usually in front of the screen. And those offline people have been behind the scenes. The Oscars and other award ceremonies are one of the few opportunities for them to stand in front of the stage with glory and glory, and it is also an opportunity to increase their net worth. They don¡¯t like to have these opportunities taken away by online people. You Signing up for Best Editing is basically offending them.
It¡¯s also because LMS¡¯s editing isn¡¯t particularly amazing, and it doesn¡¯t rely on editing to win, so PR doesn¡¯t want you to sign your name. Once you sign, it¡¯s harder to get nominated for Best Editing than Best Picture, and it¡¯s almost impossible. The Editors Guild will ignore you. . I don¡¯t want you to sign it either. I don¡¯t want people to say, ¡®Why didn¡¯t Tom Hanks teach that kid some rules? ¡¯¡±
Seeing what Hanks said, Ye Wei said resolutely without changing: "Gary and the others also told me this. Maybe this is the best choice, but I want to sign everything."
"You want the Best Editing award, and I respect you." Hanks nodded, "The Best Picture award is a must."
Ye Wei thought about it but couldn't figure it out. A-Gump didn't seem to be lying, "Then why?"
"Because you have such a kind heart and you are too young." Hanks said with a smile, feeling a little emotional. Ye Wei frowned: "I don't understand."
?"I knew something was wrong from the moment you spent 600,000 yuan on "viy" at your own expense. You didn't need to spend that money at all, but you haven't learned how to use your power."
Hanks looked at the surprised and thoughtful Ye Wei and laughed: "Boy, you are no longer the little guy who was threatened by an agent. For God's sake, you have 180 million US dollars." North American box office, two movies with a combined real production cost of less than one million, LMS shows no signs of messing up.
You already have the power! On some things, you can decide for yourself, and you can even ask others to do it without reason. You are a star. If you want to put "viy" online, you can just strongly request it. Why do you need to buy it from DreamWorks? That was originally a product for publicity. "
"I want to do things cleanly." Ye Wei said sincerely, "I owe you a lot of favors."
"So you don't have to sign?" Hanks spread his hands, "It's such an obvious matter. How do you make a choice? What do you still have to consider?"
"I have considered it, you know" Ye Wei couldn't help laughing, "Before I came here, I was still thinking about whether I would conflict with you."
Hanks felt very amused, and while picking up a cocktail on the coffee table, he said: "Let me talk to you from the perspective of interests. Do you think that in the eyes of the big shots like me, Steven, and Julia you mentioned, a person Is an Oscar nomination for Best Picture more important than your trust and friendship? What are we fools who have never seen an Oscar?¡±
"Look there." He pointed to a collection cabinet against the wall in the corner of the study. "There is a bottle of the Oscar for Best Actor from "Philadelphia Story". In my trophy collection room, there is also a bottle of "Ah!" Gan Zhengchuan won many other trophies.¡±
Ye Wei looked over there, and sure enough, through the glass cabinet window, he saw a golden little golden man standing there.
"LMS, by the time the Oscar nominations are announced at the end of January next year, it will have been showing for several months. If there is a nomination, it will increase the box office by at most 10 million. 1.5 million public relations fees, what do you think we will do just to invest 1.5 million? To trample on your dignity and lose your friendship for the sake of 10 million box office? "
Hanks smiled and shook his head, drank a cocktail, and said: "Yi, the reason why I can become a big shot is because I made a lot of right choices, I am lucky enough, and I cherish the relationship with every talented person. Friendship. A moment of good luck can make you famous for a few years, but to be popular for decades requires your own strength and the strength of your friends.
In two years, you grabbed a small opportunity and relied on your own strength and achievements to become a very important member of our small circle. Everyone is waiting to collaborate on your new project and future collaborations. Think about it ten years later, you will be 27 years old and I will be too old to walk, but maybe one of your movies can make me famous again.
Ten years is just a short period of time. This is what I value more, not whether LMS is nominated or not. No smart person would offend you now for a nomination, and I won't.
Over the years, when I can give others a chance, I have given a lot of people a chance. Because I like to be friends with talented people, and I also like to let talented people succeed because of their own opportunities. I just like this feeling, like a flower that I cultivated blooms.
However, I think it is in my interest that you can succeed, and I am indeed a mentor to you. "
Listening to A-Gump's words, Ye Wei's expression changed again and again, his brows wrinkled and softened, relaxed and wrinkled again, "So this is? A lesson you taught me?"
"Haha! You can say that. This is your business. Gary and the others really don't want your signature, so it's hard for me to come forward directly. Don't blame him. Gary hasn't received an Oscar nomination yet. Those in "Philadelphia Story" are all in turn. Without him, he always took my first collaboration with Julia very seriously, and he wanted to get nominated so much.
¡°But Julia, do you think she would agree not to let you sign her name? That's what she was cast for. "
Hanks put the wine glass back on the coffee table and continued: "I'm glad you made the right choice, but you should learn to be a big shot. You are very young, but you already have power and no longer rely on others. A kind boy."
"So I'll name everyone, don't you say, 'Boy, you're done'?" Ye Wei asked with a wink, as if he and Lily had scolded the wrong person.
"Suppose we said that, what would I do if I were you?" Hanks raised his finger, "I would tell Brian that I am very unhappy about this and I don't want to deal with Hanks or DreamWorks anymore. If those people cooperate, I am willing to take over projects from major studios, preferably DreamWorks, their enemy, Disney, and ask CAA to find it for me. I will also call Bruce Willis and make peace with DreamWorks. I am willing to increase the public relations fee by one million, not on other awards, but on all?In the race for a Best Director nomination. This is what I will do. "
"It seems like a good idea." Ye Wei couldn't help grinning, "The finances of DreamWorks are very tight"
"That's not something you should consider. When we handed over the distribution rights to it, DreamWorks promised to pay attention to it if there was hope for winning awards. It has to fulfill its promise. Financial constraints? Will that make Steven or Jeffrey bankrupt? ? They don¡¯t have to pay for it themselves, it¡¯s just debt. When they sell the company to a big studio, everything will be solved.
LMS is now an important asset of DreamWorks, and it also includes the right to cooperate on your next project. What is one million? Weige, you don¡¯t know your own value at all! You really should find a professional manager to tell you. It is a very reasonable request to ask DreamWorks to spend one million in public relations fees for you.
This money must be spent by DreamWorks. I have money and I am very optimistic about LMS. But if we have to spend our own money to do things, will the distribution fee be returned to us? "
Hanks stood up with a smile and walked towards the collection cabinet, "Yi, let's put it this way, even if you give up your signature, you are just giving up your own value, and no one will thank you. Your gratitude and being thanked The more precious things become, the harder they are to get. You are too young to understand.¡±
"Tom, you really shocked me" Ye Wei stood up and followed, not fully digesting the situation.
"For a while, I was worried about whether you would be ruined by fame and fortune. You are definitely a thorn." Hanks opened the cabinet window and looked at the bottle of golden statuette. "But now I find that your problem is You are so kind, and you are often unexpected, which also means that you do not ask others."
"Thank you." Ye Weiyi smiled, feeling relieved. A-Gump spoke clearly.
Hanks took out the Oscar trophy and asked, "Want to get it?" Without waiting for Ye Wei's answer, he said, "I won't touch it for you. I'll just tell you how to get it: 1 , do things well. Second, when you have power, you should use it as much as you can. Use your greatest advantage to compare with others, and you will have the greatest chance of winning.¡±
He put the trophy back and closed the cabinet window, and sure enough he wouldn't let it be touched.
I didn¡¯t say anything about touching it. Ye Wei looked away from the golden man and said seriously: "Tom, I think I understand some ways of survival better. Maybe I am really too kind. I still like to do things in a way that emphasizes friendship and principles. This is also what you Taught me. Now we have no internal problems, but the problem after my signature still exists, how should we solve it?¡±
"I have no choice. Julia and I have tried our best to canvass votes for you. When it comes to public relations, I am not a professional." Hanks patted Ye Wei on the shoulder, "What you discussed with the public relations team is a small hope. This It depends on the video and your personal lobbying performance, but asking for a one million increase in public relations fees will give you a better chance.¡±
Ye Wei shrugged, "You know, I really can't do it. This will definitely make it difficult for Terry Price and the others. Terry, I don't hate him, he has supported me several times."
"You kid." Hanks shook his head and said decisively: "If you treat me as a mentor, I will do something like a mentor. If "Little Miss Sunshine" can really shock the film critics and box office, I will ask you to improve it. It will be difficult for no one to pay for public relations fees, because then no matter whether we are nominated or not, we will not lose.¡±
"Tom, you are really considerate! Thank you in advance." Ye Wei laughed, "It's really nice. I mean, it's cool."
"Don't think so much about it yet." Hanks smiled a little naively, "The premiere is in two days. Young man, you should enjoy this moment."
¡¡
This dinner was very pleasant. Ye Wei was not a fool. He could see that Hanks was not playing power, but that it was also a conspiracy.
In fact, this happened because he was too caught up in a feeling of anger, disappointment and sadness, as if he had been plotted by Willis and Lovett's group, or was kicked out by someone in a dream, so he had already missed the situation. different. Yes, how could Roberts be willing? She wants viy to be as successful as possible.
Spielberg doesn¡¯t care about this, so how can he have any fatal temptation for Hanks? How much profit can a nomination increase? What about the overseas distribution rights of "The Exorcism Video"? What about the possible high box office of "Little Miss Sunshine"? Where is his next project?
But it¡¯s different for Goetzman, Wright, and Price.
Goetzman wanted an Oscar nomination to be promoted to the next level of producer; Wright also wanted an Oscar nomination, which would also increase his status in the public relations consulting world; and Price also wanted an Oscar nomination, so that he could rise up the ranks of public relations consultants. He was well prepared to have a good profile when looking for a new home once DreamWorks was no longer independent.
The nomination can bring them practical and urgent personal benefits, so naturally they don¡¯t want his signature."The strange thing is that Ye Wei didn't blame them. Things in the world are not black and white, at least they didn't do anything dirty. Is my heart too good? Good intentions cannot be a mistake! No matter what, try to get that damn nomination so that everyone on your side, including himself, will be happy.
Soon after returning home, in the back garden under the night sky, Ye Wei leaned on the porch and called Lily, telling her how things had changed today.
Lily over there made a sound of surprise from time to time. After he finished speaking, she said doubtfully: "I don't want to start a conspiracy theory. Could it be that he said that because you had to sign your name?"
"No, he is Tom Hanks. He doesn't need to do this with me. If this is the case, it just proves what he said. I am not a small character who can be kicked away if I want. They value me. Friendship, my value. So, they really won¡¯t ignore the big interests for the sake of small interests.¡±
"Let me think about it" Lily thought for a while and suddenly laughed loudly, "But, let's think things are simple."
"I like this kind of simplicity. Only simplicity can you enjoy the purest happiness." Ye Wei said with a smile, looking at the stars and the bright moon in the night sky.
"I like it too." Lily said, very solemnly: "No matter what, remember, remember, you must sign!"
"Is it also awarded for Best Editing?"
¡°Well, I don¡¯t quite understand. It¡¯s up to you to decide, but the Best Picture award must be awarded.¡±
"ok."
Ye Wei agreed, the matter was settled, and he became more and more excited: "Our opponent is really not weak. By the way, I haven't told you yet, that mysterious man is James Shams!" He made it clear immediately. Lily exclaimed: "I still wonder if it is some mysterious power."
"We are all disappointed, haha! Now "Brokeback Mountain" is really unstoppable, and "Pride and Prejudice" seems to be okay. Lily, I can't wait for LMS to be released. We want the external enemies to see where my blacklist is." ? Let me look for it, I have it with me."
Lily laughed over there, and Ye Wei said to be more serious and started counting: "Willis, Lovett, Arnold Rifkin, the group from their broken company; the group from Focus, David -Lind, "Pride and Prejudice", Sam Mendes, "Jarhead", Kristen Stewart, "Jumanji 2", yes, this woman is so willful, I hate her; Some bastard who wants to record harm me, those unscrupulous media, MPAA, the six major studios
We need to let them see it, but also let the internal dissidents, allies, mentors, big and small people, all of them see it! "
"What did you see?"
¡°We are awesome!¡±
The two of them laughed for a while and gradually fell into silence. Ye Wei said slowly: "Then that's it. I won't disturb you anymore. See you at the premiere." Lily said softly: "See you at the premiere."
After ending the call and putting down the phone, Ye Wei looked at the starry sky. Works are the greatest power. Will it rise this time or finish?