"Our negotiations with Disney weren't smooth."
At the entrance of Warner Bros. Studio, Matthew met up with Helen Herman. Helen Herman walked with him into the studio, saying, "After people from Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures saw Zack's script and storyboards, they had significant concerns about the film's scale and have been hesitating, dragging it out for too long."
Matthew nodded slightly and quipped, "Disney should just change its name to Disney Baby."
Helen Herman didn't respond to Matthew's joke, continuing the previous topic, "Jack and I, along with David Ellison, contacted Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. again. After seeing Zack's plan and test footage, and hearing that you were the lead actor, Warner Bros. showed strong interest and has now signed a preliminary North American distribution agreement with David Ellison's Skydance Pictures."
"What about overseas?" Matthew asked.
"Overseas is still being discussed," Helen Herman continued. "Jack is currently negotiating with Warner Bros. on behalf of the Crew. Once the overseas distribution negotiations are concluded, Skydance Pictures will sign formal North American and overseas distribution agreements with Warner Bros."
The two walked for a short distance until they reached a huge soundstage near the entrance of Warner Bros. Studio. Helen Herman led the way, telling Matthew, "Warner Bros. believes this project has good prospects, especially with strong confidence in you as the lead actor, providing the soundstage to the project at almost zero cost."
Matthew looked at the dilapidated Warner Bros. Studio and said, "Nowadays, the outflow of Hollywood Crews is serious. If we didn't come, this place would be empty. If a Crew is filming, it will be tidied up and inspected. Warner Bros. is selling this favor…"
He couldn't help but shake his head at this point.
Most soundstages in the Los Angeles area, apart from a few converted from huge hangars at the Hughes Aircraft factory which have unique advantages, are often used less than once a year.
California, especially the Los Angeles area, offers no advantages in terms of policy, taxes, or labor costs; on the contrary, it makes things difficult for some Crews.
Initially, Matthew also heard Zack Snyder mention that if they couldn't find enough investment, the Crew would move to Australia or New Zealand for filming, where labor was relatively cheaper, and there were tax rebates.
Of course, that's no longer necessary. David Ellison is a very generous patron.
As soon as he entered the soundstage, Matthew saw Zack Snyder welcoming him with open arms.
He also opened his arms and embraced Zack Snyder.
"If you didn't come over," Zack Snyder stepped back and looked at Matthew, saying, "I thought you'd forgotten all about the Crew."
Matthew smiled and said, "I don't understand preparation. Being a lead actor is fine, but participating in the early stages would only cause trouble for you."
Zack Snyder, of course, understood this and whispered, "If you don't come, our patron might run away."
"is David here today?" Matthew asked.
Zack Snyder gestured for him to come inside, saying, "He was just here, but now he's gone into the soundstage to make a call."
Matthew and Helen Herman followed Zack Snyder into the soundstage. In the huge soundstage, workers were already busy setting up green screens, and the entire soundstage had almost turned green.
Zack Snyder explained as they walked, "Just as I told you before, the entire film has no outdoor scenes. All shots are filmed in front of green screens, and then the backgrounds are generated using CGI."
Matthew had heard Zack Snyder say this before and was not surprised.
The three passed through a section of green screen and arrived at the innermost part of the soundstage, where David Ellison was standing in front of a wall, talking on the phone. Upon seeing Matthew, he waved, and Matthew waved back in response.
After a short wait, David Ellison hung up the phone and walked over.
"Hi, Matthew." Before he even got close, he enthusiastically extended his right hand, "It's been a long time!"
Matthew shook his hand firmly, "It's only been a little over a month."
Initially, David Ellison's complete confidence in this project largely stemmed from Matthew. After reaching a distribution agreement with Warner Bros., he gained an entirely different perspective.
Before, even with a large check in hand, he always lingered outside the gates of Hollywood.
Now, using "300 spartans" and Matthew as a stepping stone, he successfully opened the gates of Hollywood and established a preliminary cooperative relationship with Warner Bros.
For him, this first step was extremely important and crucial. With the first step taken, the path ahead would be much easier.
David Ellison then told Matthew, "Warner Bros. and Frank Miller have repeatedly emphasized to me and Zack that you must be the lead actor in this film."
Matthew spread his hands and said, "We've already signed a formal agreement, haven't we?"
David Ellison laughed, "Yes, but getting your verbal confirmation again puts my mind completely at ease!"
He made a gesturing motion and led the way, "Let's go to the office to talk."
Afterward, Matthew, David Ellison, and Zack Snyder chatted in the soundstage office for over two hours before Matthew and Helen Herman bid farewell and left.
He had also largely grasped the current progress and preparation status of "300 spartans."
First, for the investment, David Ellison's Skydance Pictures will independently invest in this project, with an estimated production cost of 80 million US dollars. If funds are insufficient during filming, he can appropriately add another 10 to 15 million US dollars.
Such a production budget, while not considered a top-tier production in Hollywood today, is still a mid-to-high-tier or quasi-top-tier investment scale.
Secondly, regarding distribution, Skydance Pictures and the Crew's producer, Bearded Jack, are currently negotiating with Warner Bros. The two parties have already signed a preliminary North American distribution contract, and overseas distribution is still under discussion.
However, judging from Warner Bros.' willingness to provide the soundstage and filming locations to the Crew at almost zero cost, there shouldn't be much of a problem with the collaboration between Skydance Pictures and Warner Bros.
Then comes the upcoming preparations. The Crew's preparations are primarily handled by Zack Snyder and Bearded Jack. The main filming team comes from Zack Snyder's recommendations and invitations. Regarding actors, besides Matthew being confirmed as the lead actor, there are no other actor candidates yet. However, according to the agreement reached between Skydance Pictures and Helen Herman, most actors and non-key behind-the-scenes staff must prioritize clients from Angel Talent Agency.
Next is post-production. Since Zack Snyder filmed entirely with green screens, CGI compositing in post-production is crucial. Zack Snyder plans to use the post-production special effects company that created the test footage. Although this special effects company, called "Screaming Dead Monkey," has just been established, they have collaborated once before, and their technical capabilities are strong.
Matthew had seen the test footage and was also satisfied with its quality, so he naturally had no objections.
Finally, David Ellison and Zack Snyder urged Matthew to sign the formal actor contract with the Crew as soon as possible.
Previously, Matthew had signed a legally binding letter of intent with Skydance, not an actual actor contract. David Ellison and Zack Snyder both knew Matthew's importance to this project, especially in Warner Bros.' evaluation, where Matthew Horner starring was the most important criterion.
In recent years, every film starring Matthew, regardless of its investment, has without exception achieved enormous returns relative to its outlay. Hollywood has its own system of measurement, firmly believing that successful individuals will continue to succeed, so Matthew's appeal to major companies is self-evident.
"Oh, by the way, Helen, I have two friends."
In the car returning to Angel Talent Agency, Matthew said to Helen Herman, "After the Crew is set up, they might audition. You can say hello to Jack then."
Helen Herman thought for a moment and asked, "Are they James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender?"
Matthew nodded slightly, "It's those two."
Although these two were not clients of Angel Talent Agency, Helen Herman didn't hesitate and immediately agreed, "Once Jack is done with the negotiations, I'll call him specifically."
"Regarding your actor contract for this project…" Helen Herman rephrased her question, "Do you have any thoughts?"
Matthew smiled and said, "Since there's a super-rich patron, of course, you should negotiate a huge contract for me to maximize my benefits."
In his eyes, Zack Snyder was the most important person for "300 spartans," but others viewed him differently. After all, they didn't have his advantage of being able to cheat. In the considerations of Zack Snyder, David Ellison, Helen Herman, and others, he was the key to this project.
David Ellison's Skydance Pictures wanted to fully invest and not share it with others. Matthew also didn't intend to contend on this point, as a patron like David Ellison was hard to find. Therefore, he set his rights on his salary as the lead actor.
At the same time, he also wanted to be credited as a producer.
Helen Herman understood Matthew's thoughts and said, "Don't worry, I'll do my best to get you the maximum possible salary."
Her thoughts were similar to Matthew's. David Ellison relied on Matthew's reputation in many aspects, and that reputation certainly couldn't be used for free; appropriate compensation had to be paid.
Upon arriving at Angel Talent Agency, Matthew sat in Helen Herman's office for a while, discussing more work-related matters, until late afternoon when he bid farewell and left. He originally intended to go straight back to Beverly Hills, but unexpectedly, he met a woman in the front lobby of Angel Talent Agency.
"Hi, Matthew."
Eva Green, like a siren, stood before him and greeted him proactively, "What a coincidence."