HWI 171

Hollywood What If Chapter 171

The building had a space for training. This was the place where Tae-Won Park trained the cast of Taken 2 and The Bourne Identity. 

Kazir Grey checked the place and nodded when he found some actors he recognized. However, he failed to see Matt Damon and Liam Neeson. 

Both actors were famous and they were quite busy. Matt Damon was going to film a commercial today and he would only tomorrow. 

As for Liam Neeson, he would show up at 1 p.m. and leave at 4 p.m. He only has to attend the training 3 times a week. 

This was one of the conditions he said before signing a contract for Taken 2. The good thing was that Liam Neeson was serious about training. He always attends 3 times a week, loyal to the contract. 

While walking, he found Enzo Park teaching the stunt actors how to drop to the ground with minimal pain. 

Enzo Park saw and greeted him. 

Kazir nodded, signaling that they could continue what they were doing. 

Just as he expected, Kazir found Fremont Smith filming experimental scenes in the training studio. He was filming the stunt actors 'fighting' to hone his experience. 

He was practicing together with the stunt actors. 

"Director Grey."

Fremont Smith ended the practice when he saw Kazir approaching him. 

"How are you doing?"

When Kazir got closer, he realized that Fremont lost weight and he looked haggard. A normal appearance for directors. 

Even Kazir suffered the same treatment whenever he had a project.

"I'm alright. Just practicing so that I have more ideas to use. I'm studying many editing cuts too."

Grey Pictures agreed to let Fremont Smith partake in the post-production of Taken 2. However, if his director's cut didn't meet their criteria, Grey Pictures would decide to edit the movie themselves. 

'Usually, directors don't have the right to participate in post-production and edit the movie, they can give suggestions at best. Perhaps only a few directors can get that privilege in Hollywood.'

Grey Pictures was already generous by giving Fremont that privilege. Hopefully, Fremont Smith will treasure this chance and do his best. 

The two talked for quite some time. Being a veteran director who has many successful movies in his belt, Kazir Grey started talking about his experience. 

Fremont Smith listened seriously. He knew most of what Kazir said because he was his assistant director for three years, yet there was nothing wrong with listening. In fact, it could remind him of important aspects of filming. 

Such as the preparation for the scenes. The director should have a clear vision in his mind of what he wants to portray. If possible, the director should draw it in the storyboard to have a proper understanding. 

For example, if the director wanted to film a scene with an overhead view, they might have to prepare a crane depending on the distance. 

If he wanted to record an explosion from different angles, then he had to prepare dozens of cameras in different locations. 

Let's not forget the theme of the movie. The color palette was the best way to portray that. 

The blue color palette represents cold, isolation, melancholy, and calm in the movie. An example was when Officer K(Ryan Gosling) was staring in the mirror after he lost something important to him in Blade Runner 2049. The color palette in that scene was blue. 

In the same principle, the orange color palette could represent warmth, sociability, friendliness, and happiness. 

"Thanks, director. I learned a lot."

"Nah, unlike me who didn't graduate in film making/performing arts university, I'm sure you already tackled these subjects in college."

"Still, thank you, director. It's completely different when hearing it from a professional director."

"You're just praising me. Anyway, we are both directors now. I guess I have to call you Director Smith then." Kazir chuckled. 

"You can after the success of Taken 2." Fremont Smith replied.

"It will be a success. Definitely."

"That's right."

It was a mystery where this confidence was coming from. Perhaps every director should be confident in their movies or else there was no reason to film it. 

After talking with Fremont Smith, Erica Mendez contacted Kazir and told him that another person was looking for him.

'As expected...'

Kazir said that he would be there. 

When he reached the lobby, he found a person sitting in a chair. The man was nervous, wiping his sweat. 

Kazir didn't know who he was. However, he discerned that the man might have Asian ancestry because of his appearance. 

"Director Grey. I'm Lee Himura from Sony-Columbia. We wish to cooperate with you regarding The Bourne Identity."

'Just like what I expected. He is from Sony-Columbia.'

Kazir nodded. The man's surname alone meant that his origin was from Japan, which was understandable. After all, the mother company of Sony-Columbia was none other than Sony which was located in Japan. 

Lee Himura didn't bother talking nonsense. He went straight to the point. 

"After some thoughtful pondering, we concluded that the other companies offered you a 22% box office distribution fee."

"..."

Kazir was speechless. 

'From the looks of it, someone spread what happened earlier. There's a snitch!'

"That's right." Kazir nodded. 

"Then, I'm glad to say that Sony-Columbia is ready to cooperate with Grey Pictures for 20% box office share. The company intended to buy the three scripts for $1 million each."

'Not bad.' Kazir listened. 

"On top of that, we hoped that you could write a script for us. We are going to do a movie adaptation of an old TV show in the 80s."

"What TV Show?"

"... 21 Jump Street." Lee Himura licked his lips before telling. 

When Kazir heard it, he couldn't help but feel like the future was getting unpredictable. He could not help but smile.