American fame and fortune

In a small office building on a secluded street in Long Island City, New York, Chuck Hogan's creative studio only has a small office suite.

The office assistant is also Chuck Hogan's current girlfriend.

Many writers or playwrights who are in the dormant stage are not financially well-off.

After Chuck Hogan came over in the morning, he turned on his computer and wrote a column for the week specifically for The New Yorker. However, he sat for three hours and wrote less than three sentences.

I feel restless and can't write anymore.

He shouted outside: "Alyssa, hasn't there been a call from Martin Davis?"

The door of the suite opened from the outside, and an ordinary-looking girl came in with coffee and said with relief: "My dear, you have been too anxious these days. You have submitted novels to Hollywood many times in the past. Paramount, Warner Bros. and Wayne Stan Films, etc., you submitted them all, but there has been no news for several years."

Chuck Hogan took a sip of hot coffee and calmed down a little: "It's different this time. Graham recommended it to Martin Davis, and Martin also valued it..."

Alyssa continued to comfort: "Martin is filming in New York. From the news reports, he seems to have some mental problems. It won't happen so quickly."

Chuck Hogan said: "I was too anxious."

The phone rang at this time, and Alyssa quickly answered: "Hello, this is Chuck Hogan's studio, who are you? Martin Davis, yes, he is free this morning, you can come over at any time. "

When she hung up the phone, Chuck asked: "Martin Davis called?"

"Yes, it's Martin Davis." Alyssa said directly: "Martin wants to visit you to discuss the adaptation of "Prince of Thieves" with you. He is coming from Brooklyn Studio. .”

Chuck waved his fist vigorously: "Great, I finally got this day!" He told Alyssa: "Hurry up, take out the Blue Mountain coffee that Graham gave me, and clean up the studio."

Alyssa got busy.

Chuck came to the full-length mirror and carefully arranged his clothes.

The person introduced by Graham King was indeed very reliable. Martin Davis personally came to negotiate with him, and he could not ignore it.

Chuck knew very well that as long as he took the first step successfully, it would be equivalent to advertising his other works in Hollywood, and he would not have to worry about sales.

The preparations here are quick, because Martin comes from Brooklyn, and it won't take long.

…………

Outside the office building, a Volvo SUV parked in a parking space on the roadside, and brothers Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck got out of the car one after another.

Daben looked up at the nameplate of the office building and asked, "Are you sure this is the right place?"

Cassie looked at the address printed in her hand and said, "Yes, that's right here. The idiot at Weinstein Pictures casually recorded the address but missed the phone number."

Ben took out the novel that Chuck Hogan had delivered to the Weinstein Films from the car: "Let's go up."

Cassie followed and asked, "Is this book really suitable for adaptation? Are you sure you can do it?"

"Of course, I'm very good at crime themes." Da Ben was quite confident: "Idiot, let me tell you the secret of being a director. If you can adapt it, choose it. Don't be original. Adaptation has an audience base, and the author also plans The plot is ready, saving time and effort.”

He added: "It is also easy to attract investment from film companies, but if this novel is adapted, Harvey will not be able to fully support it. Weinstein Films has limited financial resources, and its resources are concentrated on Quentin's project. "

Cassie shrugged: "I can only act, but I don't know how to be a director."

The two went up to the third floor, found Chuck Hogan's studio, and knocked on the door.

Alyssa came over to open the door, and when she saw Ben Affleck, she was stunned for a moment, then reacted and asked: "Are you... Ben Affleck?"

A smile appeared on Big Ben's long face: "Yes, I am Ben." He asked: "Is Chuck Hogan, the author of the novel "Prince of Thieves" here?"

"Yes, it's here." Alyssa turned back and shouted to the suite: "Chuck, the people from Hollywood are here!"

Chuck Hogan opened the door and came out. He was a little surprised to find that it was not Martin but Ben Affleck.

But he quickly adjusted his attitude and said: "Please come in, please."

Ben and Cassie entered the office suite and sat on the sofa.

Chuck asked Alyssa to bring coffee.

Daben did not beat around the bush and took out "Prince of Thieves" from Weinstein Films and said: "Mr. Hogan, I came here this time to ask if you still have the film and television adaptation rights for this book? "

Chuck told the truth: "Yes, I have promoted many times in the past few years, but I have never sold anything..."

At this point, he suddenly remembered that Martin would come over to talk to him about the copyright of the novel soon.

Ben noticed that Chuck's expression was a little weird, but he didn't take it to heart. In his eyes, he was just an ordinary writer waiting for Hollywood to adapt it. He said directly: "I intend to buy the adaptation rights of the novel and film "Prince of Thieves" into a movie."

There is a reason why he noticed this novel in the huge database of Weinstein Pictures: "Chuck, I grew up in the Boston area. I know the situation there very well, and I am most suitable to adapt this novel." A novel.”

Chuck has friends like Graham and Scorsese, and has a basic understanding of the film industry. Ben Affleck in front of him looks sincere.

But he had doubts. After "Pearl Harbor", Ben Affleck was not very good, and he failed in whatever movie he acted in.

If Prince of Thieves had no other way out, Chuck would definitely give it serious consideration.

The problem is that there are still people paying attention.

…………

When Martin came over this time, not only was Bruce following him, but he also brought Thomas with him.

When copyright negotiations really need to take place, Thomas needs to step forward.

Although this should not be the job of the agent, Thomas did not shirk it at all. Last night, he also learned about the situation related to the novel and the author Chuck Hogan, so as to negotiate the relevant copyright as soon as possible.

The three found the office building. The Escalade parked next to a Volvo and went directly to the third floor.

Bruce looked at the company's distribution map, took the lead in arriving at the door of Hogan's studio, and knocked on the door.

Alyssa opened the door and glanced at Bruce, but she didn't recognize him.

But then she saw Martin coming from behind and raised her voice and said: "Mr. Davis, you are here."

Martin met Alyssa at the party a few days ago. He smiled and nodded slightly: "Hello, we meet again."

Alyssa shouted into the suite: "Chuck, Martin is here."

The door of the suite opened, and Chuck quickly came out, reached the door, shook hands with Martin enthusiastically, and invited: "I have been looking forward to your coming over these days, and I have no intention of working anymore."

Because of Graham's relationship, the two of them are familiar with each other. Martin joked: "Because your novel was so exciting, I was immersed in the plot and couldn't extricate myself, and I almost forgot about you."

Chuck smiled heartily and invited the three Martins to come in.

Alyssa closed the studio door.

The suite door creaked and opened again.

Bruce subconsciously blocked Martin, and when he saw the person coming out, he winked at Martin.

Martin discovered that the people who came out were Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck.

Thomas heard Martin talk about what happened at the Oscars, and looked at the Affleck brothers and then Chuck in surprise.

There are some things that brokers must stay ahead of their clients.

Thomas said nothing, but the dissatisfaction on his face was clear.

Chuck explained in a low voice: "They came to the door suddenly without saying hello."

Martin turned around and said hello proactively: "Hi, Ben, I didn't expect to meet you here."

"I didn't expect it either." Daben came over and said with a special meaning: "It turned out to be such a coincidence."

He picked up the novel in his hand: "You're not here for the copyright of this novel, are you?"

Martin smiled: "Chuck and I are friends. We met through Graham. I made a special trip to visit him."

Ben knows Graham, Scorsese's dedicated producer. Based on what he knows, he speculates that Martin probably got in touch with Graham through the crew of "The Departed."

This reminds Ben of his good brother Matt Damon.

Martin stopped caring about Ben and glanced at Thomas.

The latter immediately said: "Chuck, let's talk about business?"

Chuck thought about Graham and Scorsese's relationship with Martin and responded, "Okay."

Casey Affleck was angry and frustrated: "Hey, you..."

"Sorry, Mr. Affleck." Chuck interrupted them: "I'm temporarily busy here, so I'm afraid I won't be able to receive you."

Daben's face was quite ugly, and his face was longer than that of a donkey.

Cassie did not do as much as Ben thought, and said: "Ben and I represent not only ourselves, but also the Weinstein Films. You should know the Weinstein Films, right?"

Chuck's heart skipped a beat. He knew something about Harvey Weinstein's name.

Thomas couldn't help but smile: "Martin represents not only him, but also Warner Brothers."

Big Ben stopped Cassie from continuing and placed his business card on the desk next to him: "You can contact me at any time after you think about it."

Chuck gradually saw that Martin and Ben Affleck seemed to have conflicts.

He didn't answer and asked Alyssa to send the person out.

After the others left, Chuck explained: "Martin, I have been preparing since I received your call, and then they came to the door. I was not prepared at all."

Martin was very generous: "It doesn't matter, don't worry about them, let's continue talking about us."

Chuck invited them into the suite office, and asked Alyssa who came back to make coffee, and said: "I have heard about the bad reputation of Weinstein Films. There are many rumors in the New York author circle. Even those who collaborate with him, many of them are Worry about the future..."

Thomas said: "Don't worry, Weinstein Pictures is not a threat to us yet."

Martin specifically said: "Graham has always recommended you highly to me, so I read "Prince of Thieves" carefully and had some ideas for the adaptation."

The two parties discussed adaptation and copyright.