underworld had a small budget, not many special effects, and average visuals.
Now, the second installment has a larger budget; though the main creators' salaries have increased, at least they can do CGI for the werewolves.
They won't have to make the actors wear wolf-head costumes to play werewolves like in the first film, and the scenes can also be filmed on a grander scale.
underworld: evolution began forming its crew, while walk the line was also in crew formation, and prison break officially started preparations under Paul Scheuring.
Capet Pictures has expanded significantly this year, with its company size growing further.
If it continues to develop like this, Charles believes Capet Pictures will need to find a new headquarters.
At the Chateau Marmont Hotel in West Hollywood, it was another night of bright lights and revelry, and Charles, attending a party, met the great director Martin Scorsese.
"Martin, what are your thoughts on the adaptation of the departed?" Charles naturally had to ask about this remake, as Universal was getting restless due to the failure of van helsing.
Martin Scorsese, with his black-rimmed glasses, appeared somewhat wise, with thick eyebrows and sharp eyes.
Sitting beside Charles, he explained, "Due to the cultural differences between East and West, the departed is being adapted according to the structure of an American gangster film.
Many expressions will differ significantly, and the roles of the undercover gangsters will have substantially increased screentime."
"I know, the American version will be rougher, with a direct expression of overt violence; the Chinese version is more subtle and internal, with a lot of inner drama."
Charles had no objections; after all, it was the American version!
"What about the actress?"
"I think Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are good choices!"
"Leonardo DiCaprio playing the police officer undercover in the gang, and Brad Pitt playing the gang member undercover in the police force?" Charles responded.
Xiao Lizi, are you becoming his exclusive actress now? They have already collaborated on gangs of new york and the aviator.
Martin Scorsese nodded, he was very optimistic about Leonardo DiCaprio!
And Brad Pitt too; first, whether he is willing to take on this role, these two together would have a salary of 40 million dollars, right?
"What about the role of the gang boss? That's also an important people," Charles asked patiently.
"I think Jack Nicholson is good!"
"Didn't he already decide he wouldn't play villains anymore?" Charles frowned.
Jack Nicholson's acting is beyond reproach, definitely top-notch.
It's just, would he agree to play a heinous gang boss now?
"Once the script adaptation is complete, I will give it to Jack to read immediately.
I will do my best to persuade him to star," Martin Scorsese said with confidence.
"Leonardo DiCaprio, can he really handle this role? The inner torment and struggle demand a lot from an actress."
Leonardo DiCaprio's acting now is really not good; he relies entirely on shouting!
In his previous life, his performance in the departed was completely unremarkable.
Martin Scorsese shifted his body and continued, "Charles, Leonardo DiCaprio has changed a lot in recent years; his performance in the aviator showed great improvement!"
gangs of new york was also a film directed by Martin Scorsese, and Leonardo DiCaprio's acting in it was also at the bottom of the barrel.
However, Leonardo DiCaprio has a huge influence in the world, and his acting has matured from being naive, but it's not enough compared to many of the actress he has collaborated with.
Daniel Day-Lewis and Tom Hanks are both powerful, award-winning actress.
However, Leonardo DiCaprio still needs a few more years of training, and besides, Charles doesn't like this fool who randomly criticizes other countries about the environment.
"At that time, we will discuss it with Universal," Charles didn't want to use him, but he also needed to respect Martin Scorsese's wishes.
Of course, the opinion of the distributor, Universal, is also very important, as the investors have not yet been determined, and the budget has not yet been officially announced.
After talking with Martin Scorsese, Charles took a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray.
This Chateau Marmont Hotel almost never stops, with three large banquets and one small banquet a day.
"Hi, Charles, good evening!"
"Good evening, Will!"
Charles met Will Smith again at the banquet, and the two started chatting.
"the passion of the christ is good, a very religious film," Will Smith praised the film right away.
Charles shook his head and smiled, "That's all the credit of the producer and director Mel Gibson, but your recently released film I, Robot is good.
It's a sci-fi genre, and it also reflects on humanity's over-reliance on machines!"
Will Smith smiled and patted Charles's shoulder.
Charles changed the subject and asked, "Do you know a very inspiring black investment expert named Chris Gardner?"
Will Smith shook his head, he hadn't paid attention to that yet, "Why, is he very impressive?"
Charles nodded, "Very impressive, he grew up in a single-parent family, was homeless, went to prison, became a salesman after getting married as an adult, then went bankrupt and his wife left him;"
"He started living on the streets with his two-year-old son; hotels, parks, subways, train station restrooms, and under office desks were all once shelters for the father and son;"
"Then he started learning to be a stockbroker, and within a year, he became a millionaire.
Now he is the owner of Gardner Rich & Co. Investment Brokers!"
"I want to adapt Chris Gardner's personal biography into a film, and I found no one is more suitable to play this inspiring people than you."
Will Smith listened for a while; this was a black inspirational story, a legend in the investment world.
"Charles, I need to get to know Mr. Chris Gardner first, but I currently have a film called Hitch in production, so I'll have to wait," Will Smith said.
Charles nodded and smiled, "Of course, you can take some time to meet Mr. Chris Gardner and talk to him.
His life might be even more exciting than a movie story!"
What Charles was referring to, of course, was the film The Pursuit of Happyness.
Charles had, of course, never met Chris Gardner.
Just now, Charles had thought of several of Will Smith's films after seeing him, and The Pursuit of Happyness was also a very meaningful film.
Getting authorization from Chris Gardner himself would not be difficult.
Chris Gardner had not published a personal autobiography novel; in his previous life, the eponymous personal autobiography novel was only released after the film came out.
It was a classic example of the film preceding the novel, and Charles also needed to go back and thoroughly research Will Smith's future high-grossing films.
For example, I Am Legend and hancock should be acquired if there's an opportunity.