In Los Angeles, Universal City, Martin Scorsese arrived at Universal Pictures President Stacey Snider's office.
"How is it, Martin?" Currently, Universal Pictures, a film production and distribution company under NBCUniversal Entertainment, requires General Electric's approval for many film production budgets to proceed.
Stacey Snider was, of course, very interested in the departed, which Martin Scorsese was preparing.
"Leonardo DiCaprio is not a problem, and I've also met Jack Nicholson; he's been acting in comedies lately, and he's quite interested in playing a big villain again," Martin Scorsese said, taking off his glasses to wipe them before putting them back on.
"Brad Pitt declined the invitation, Mel Gibson wasn't interested in the role, and Robert De Niro is busy preparing a self-directed and self-starring film called The Good Shepherd and doesn't have time to participate!"
Stacey Snider sighed, then looked at Martin Scorsese and said, "Charles condition is to film in New York, and the male lead must be an actor with excellent acting skills."
"So, the script needs to be revised. We could let Leonardo DiCaprio play the corrupt cop, if he's willing, of course!"
Martin Scorsese nodded, saying he needed a few days to consider before making a decision.
In mid-September, Ang Lee won the Venice Film Festival's highest honor, the golden lion, for brokeback mountain.
Charles specially held a celebration reception at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York, inviting many celebrities to attend the banquet.
Besides the cast and crew, there were also Will Smith, Tom Hanks and his wife, Nicole Kidman, and other big-name stars.
"Charles, you've won the golden lion this year. I believe it won't be long before you win the Oscar for Best Picture," Tom Hanks often didn't hide his comedic talent.
Charles smiled, then said with feigned seriousness, "It definitely won't be a few years. I think it'll be in the next one or two years, no more than three!"
Then, both of them laughed.
Ang Lee, Heath Ledger and his girlfriend, who is also the film's actress Michelle Williams, Jake Gyllenhaal, and even a pregnant Liv Tyler, all attended the event.
"Good evening!" Charles and Liv Tyler hugged lightly. "The baby is due soon, isn't it?"
"Hmm, about four more months," Liv Tyler had just answered, then felt something was off and smiled at Charles, "This isn't your child, it's my husband's child!"
Charles was stunned, what was going on? He looked at Liv Tyler, laughing wryly, "Of course I know it's your husband's! Aren't I just concerned about your health?"
"Well, your words just now must have created an ambiguity for me," Liv Tyler laughed, after all, her one-night stand with Charles was before Christmas last year.
"You're pregnant, and your husband isn't here?"
Liv Tyler touched her belly, beaming with a happy smile, "Oh, he's busy with concerts and recording an album. I have very little work now. If this brokeback mountain celebration wasn't in New York, I wouldn't be able to attend."
"Hmm, then you should rest more!"
"Don't worry, I'm just here to congratulate the cast and crew and then I'll head back. I have three assistants and a nanny taking care of me, so it's fine," Liv Tyler's role in the movie wasn't extensive, but she did contribute her beautiful chest.
Charles nodded and walked away.
"Charles!" Henry Winster walked over.
"What's wrong?" Cape asked.
"I've met the Coen Brothers, and they've almost finished revising the no country for old men script. I think the project can be accelerated!"
"That fast?" Charles face lit up with joy. "Don't they have another project they're working on?"
Henry, however, laughed, "They found McCarthy's novel no country for old men so interesting, perfectly fitting their dark humor and thriller genre, so they've been dedicated to adapting the script these past few months."
"Then let's develop it directly. What's the budget?"
"25 million dollars. After all, the main setting is a border western town; New Mexico or Texas can both be chosen for filming!"
"Alright, since the Coen Brothers have time, let's directly launch the no country for old men project and start filming as soon as possible," Charles had absolutely no objections. This film could win the Oscar for Best Picture.
After Henry left, Charles also made an estimation in his mind. little miss sunshine required a production budget of 8 million dollars, hostel's production budget was 4.5 million dollars, and now no country for old men's production budget was 25 million dollars.
Furthermore, 15 million dollars were spent to acquire shares in Marvel Company, bringing the total to over 50 million dollars.
And there was also walk the line, plus the prison break pilot, which added another approximately 30 million dollars in production budget, bringing the total expenditure to over 80 million dollars.
With an initial cash flow of 100 million dollars, Capet Pictures still had to self-distribute Saw II this year. However, the disc market for saw and the passion of the christ was booming, with excellent North American DVD sales and rental figures.
These two years alone could provide at least 100 million dollars in cash income, and these self-distributed films could also be used for copyright mortgage loans at banks to obtain some funds to support film development!
It seemed Capet Pictures was indeed not short of money. Even if it really ran out of funds, Charles could always mortgage the assets and stocks of Dawn Investment Company for a loan and then inject the money into Capet Pictures.
"Congratulations, Charles!" David Linde, another person in charge of Focus Features, raised his glass and clinked it with Charles.
Charles shook his head and said, "If I hadn't bought the brokeback mountain novel script, I think James would have discovered this novel and given it to Director Ang Lee as well."
James Schamus and David Linde are the two current heads of Focus Features!
David Linde smiled. brokeback mountain was quite controversial. Although it won the golden lion at the Venice Film Festival, it still faced protests and opposition from many conservatives in the country.
"David, don't worry! If fahrenheit 9 could be released and achieve good results, our brokeback mountain, in terms of controversy, surely can't compare to fahrenheit 9, right?" Charles knew what David Linde was worried about and patted his shoulder to comfort him.
Conservatives are mainly concentrated in the old white men of the New England region, as well as the Mormons in Utah, the mormonism base!
These people will be the main opposing forces against brokeback mountain.
"You're right, cheers!" David Linde also smiled and then clinked glasses with Charles again.