"Duke, this is Lieutenant Colonel Howard from the Department of Defense."

Under the introduction of the Pentagon liaison officer in Hollywood, Duke shook his hands with a soldier with short chestnut hair, "Hello, Lieutenant Colonel, I'm glad to know you."

"It's also great to know you, Director Rosenberg."

Those who can take up the position of an official who deals with the media industry are definitely not rigid people. Lt. Howard smiled quite brightly at Duke.

"Just call me Duke, Lieutenant Colonel."

Although he has achieved something, Duke has never been an arrogant person. Besides, it is only beneficial to have a good deal of the Pentagon. He still uses the Pentagon in the future filming, and only idiots would think that the people in the Pentagon are all a group of idiots.

This is the reception room of the Duke Studio. Lieutenant Colonel Howard introduced the members of Duke to Duke, and the two sides started a small negotiation on the film cooperation.

As we all know, the Pentagon has always supported Hollywood film shooting, and often provides free equipment and personnel support. Of course, the premise is that the film must comply with the military's consistent propaganda purpose.

Although the script of "Iron Man" has some allusions to the Afghan War, it actually contains a strong Americanism. After confirming the final version of the script, Duke asked someone to send the script to the Hollywood Liaison Office of the Pentagon. Apart from a very small detail that would not damage the market value of the movie, the Pentagon did not put forward much advice.

Since more than ten years of "Breaking into the Deadly Island", Duke has been working with the Pentagon. The subsequent "Independence Day" and "Save Private Ryan" not only deepened the cooperative relationship between the two sides, but all of these movies were all about America saving the world. In addition, Duke, who later cooperated with the various ideas proposed by the government and the military after 9/11, cooperated with the various ideas proposed by the government and military, it is no exaggeration to say that he is definitely the most trustworthy partner in the eyes of the Pentagon.

This is also related to Duke's personal character and thoughts, both of whom he used to be or who he is now. They are very clear that individuals can never compete with the entire mainstream society and the huge state machine.

His experience is very special, but only when his head is funny can he be so stupid as to fight rather than cooperate.

Just like as a Hollywood director, he would not be stupid enough to conceit the traditional six companies, but instead established very in-depth cooperative relationships with some of them.

An agreement was reached on the direction of major cooperation. This small negotiation went smoothly. The Pentagon would send a military Hummer convoy, more than 20 fighter jets and a large number of professionals to participate in the shooting, and only a symbolic charge was charged.

But what Duke didn't expect was that the Pentagon also gave a luxurious gift package.

"Duke, there is a plot in the script where Tony Stark encounters an Air Force fighter jet. It first confronts and then rescues it."

Although a civilian officer, Lieutenant Colonel Howard always sat straight, he recalled a little and said, "I remember you suggest the Pentagon to use the -16 or -18 Hornet?"

"That's right." Duke nodded slightly.

Although I can't remember which year the -22 Raptor was equipped in the future, it is obvious that the US military is not equipped now, so Duke did not mention it.

What he didn't expect was that Lieutenant Colonel Howard took the initiative to mention it. "Have you heard of the -22 Raptor fighter jet?"

Duke certainly knew, saying, "The new generation of main combat aircraft?"

"-22 is about to officially enter service." Lieutenant Colonel Howard Ye said directly, "The Pentagon wants the -22 Raptor to appear in your movie and let its name resound throughout the world as soon as possible."

Only by giving can you gain something. The Pentagon supports him, and it is not a free lunch. Duke understands this. Moreover, this only benefits for the movie.

After Tony Stark transformed into Iron Man, he fought against the -22 Raptors. It will undoubtedly add a big highlight to the film.

So Duke said without hesitation, "I totally agree with this suggestion."

Lieutenant Colonel Howard stood up and stretched out his hand, "I believe this will be another pleasant cooperation."

Duke held his hand, "I always thought that the cooperation between us was very pleasant."

After seeing off the Pentagon and his group, Duke also left the Duke Studio and went to the Warner Studio not far away to check the progress of some preparations. As usual, in addition to some Marvel Studios personnel joining this film, the main crew of the crew is still composed of Duke's team.

In terms of producers, in addition to him and Kevin Fitch, Charles Rowan served as another extremely important production manager. As in the past, he was specifically responsible for handling all the chores for Duke.

The most important job he has at present is to negotiate with the main actors. After about a week of disputes, he has determined the contract for Robert Downey Jr., and the other party not only officially signed the actor contract, but also signed the supplementary clause.

According to the supplementary terms, of the total $2 million in Robert Downey Jr., except for the $500,000 paid by the crew to repay his debt, the other compensation will not be paid until the film is removed from North America. If Robert Downey Jr. takes drugs again during the period, the remaining compensation will be automatically invalidated.

Of course, drug use here refers to being exposed to the public by the media.

As long as it does not cause any negative videos to the film, even if Robert Downey Jr. turns to inject heroin, Duke is too lazy to care.

This circle cannot be measured by normal standards, but the path is chosen by oneself after all.

In addition, the crew also signed a formal actor contract with Scarlett Johnson, and her salary was only $500,000.

At first glance, this seems to be inconsistent with Scarlett Johnson's reputation, but this price, in fact, has given a great discount to Duke.

Scarlett has a certain reputation, but she has never appeared in commercial movies, and has never proved her market value. To a certain extent, this is a great sorrow for literary actors. Just like Daniel Day Lewis and Meryl Streep, she can't even call for too high value in the commercial film field.

Especially the latter, with her acting skills and number of awards, she should be one of Hollywood's A-level or even Super A-level players. She has long entered the 20 million club, but the facts are exactly the opposite.

Acting and awards have always been part of the superstar, not even the most important part.

For example, Julia Roberts, even if she did not win the Oscar at the turn of the century, no one would deny that she was the most representative actress in Hollywood in the 1990s.

The price of $500,000 is enough to confirm the current value of Scarlett Johnson, and Duke vaguely remembers that the former Scarlett Johnson, in order to transform into a commercial film, seemed to have less than $300,000 when he starred in "Iron Man 2".

After entering the large studio of Warner Studios, Duke went around one by one to keep abreast of the progress of various preparations. Although there was no tax incentive in California, Duke decided to place the main shooting of the film in the Greater Los Angeles area.

“While the locations in the Iron Man comics are mainly in New York, like all the Marvel superhero comics, I want to set this story on the West Coast.”

Walking in the studio, Duke said to his deputy Anna Prinz, "There were so many superhero movies in the past that put the battlefield in New York. Tony Stark is essentially different from other superheroes, and we have to make some different changes."

Compared to Zach Schneider, Anna Prinz is an excellent executor, but not a decisive person. She thought for a while and said, "Different from other superhero movies? Is this why you insisted on letting Tony Stark reveal his identity as Iron Man at the end of the movie?"

"All superheroes have hidden their heads and tails, and have two identities and two lives, although they have not caused aesthetic fatigue now."

Walking to the door of the studio, Duke stopped, looked up at the vast sky, and said, "But we always have to bring some new ideas. Will an Iron Man who dares to publicly admit his superhero identity be more fresh?"

The movie that once was Tony Stark, at the end of the film, publicly admitted that he was Iron Man. This scene caused a huge impact, because no superhero had done this in the movie in the past, and Duke was not sure what considerations had been made after Marvel agreed to filming the movie like this.

Perhaps because of the early reason, Duke proposed this idea, and was strongly opposed by Marvel screenwriters led by Stan Lee. After so many years of development, superhero comics will inevitably have some patterned fixed thinking. Duke was able to convince them that their past achievements played a huge role.

After all, no one can ignore the advice of such a successful director.

Besides, if the plan formulated by Marvel Studios develops to the future, the Avengers will inevitably appear, and the Avengers will definitely make a shocking threat. If the superheroes' identities can be kept secret in this case, it is mocking the audience's IQ.

“I’m leading several associate directors to develop script plans and storyboard artwork.”

Seeing Duke ready to leave, Anna Prinz handed him a folder, "This is the part that has been completed."

Now it's not the time to see these things. Duke just opened it and flipped it over, and handed it over to the bodyguards following behind. He waved his hand to Anna Prinz, signaling that he would be here for the time being, and turned around and walked towards the training hall next to the studio.

Several major actors in the crew had action scenes and their stunt stand-in. They are currently undergoing professional training from Jimmy Carter in the training hall. After Duke walked into the training hall, in addition to seeing Scarlett Johnson's familiar figure, he also met another major actor who played Tony Stark's Robert Downey Jr. (To be continued)
Chapter completed!