Chapter 1263 1364. Worried
Nie Wei looked up at the man, who quickly shut up.
A few minutes passed, but Depp still didn't show up. Nie Wei called the secretary next to him and gave him a few instructions.
When the secretary left the meeting room, Nie Wei directly announced the start of the script reading.
The original intention of the script reading is to sort out the entire script from beginning to end. Every actor participates in it and has a clear understanding of their role and the story involved.
This process will also cause many questions for the actors, which is also a problem that the script reading needs to solve.
In the past, domestic filming did not pay attention to these, and it all depended on the actors' consciousness and talent. However, in recent years, the domestic film and television industry has become more and more standardized, and script reading has gradually become a must-have project for every crew.
In Nie Wei's view, this is a very good phenomenon, because not every actor has a very good script interpretation ability. Script reading can help them understand the characters and stories in the script more easily, and will not let them limit their attention to their own roles and stories, but will have some understanding of the story of the entire script.
This also makes it easier to deepen their understanding of the role, which is a very good learning process.
Moreover, the reading session is also a good opportunity for the actors to enhance their relationship. Everyone gets together, raises questions together, and discusses solutions together. After a while, they become familiar with each other. When they really join the crew in the future, they will feel less unfamiliar, which can help the actors integrate into the crew faster.
"The story of the previous part ends with the capture of Grindelwald by the American Ministry of Magic, and the story of the second part takes place a few months later, and the story also moves from the Big Apple to London..."
Nie Wei reads the story, and when it comes to the place where the main characters talk, the actors will read it out, and then after a plot ends, there will be a question session, and then a summary, and then continue to the next plot.
Because Depp did not come, his role will be temporarily taken over by Nie Wei today.
As a director, Nie Wei's understanding of the role is the best among those present, not to mention that he was once an excellent actor, so there is no problem for him to replace Depp, and the reading session went very smoothly.
About an hour later, the reading of the first plot ended, and Nie Wei announced a ten-minute break.
At this time, the secretary who had been waiting outside for a while also opened the door of the conference room. Just as she was about to come in to report to Nie Wei, Nie Wei raised his hand to signal her not to come.
Nie Wei stood up and walked out of the conference room, bringing the secretary to the side.
"BOSS, I have learned about Mr. Depp's news through his agent. I am afraid that Mr. Depp will not be able to attend the reading today. He is in a little trouble now. Early this morning, his ex-wife went to his house and made trouble with him again. Now Mr. Depp is unable to get away. Let me say sorry to you. In addition, they promise to attend the next reading."
Nie Wei pinched his chin and pondered for a moment, and asked: "Do you think the other party is making excuses to deliberately not come?"
Nie Wei has a reason to have such a guess. The top Hollywood actors are definitely famous all over the world for being big names. For example, some domestic actors are big names. They must specify which restaurant to eat at, which brand of mineral water to drink, and which brand of five-star hotels must specify. Most of these are actually learned from these foreign big-name artists.
For example, in the contract signed between Depp and the crew this time, in addition to strictly stipulating Depp's daily shooting time and rest time, the crew must also cooperate with Depp's habits and requirements in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation.
This is also the main reason why Nie Wei is unwilling to use these big-name stars in so many Hollywood movies. After all, it is too troublesome.
The secretary was stunned. She didn't expect Nie Wei to think so, but she thought about it seriously and shook her head to deny it.
"BOSS, Mr. Depp's agent should not use this kind of thing as an excuse."
"Well, I think so too." Nie Wei smiled, looked at his watch, and returned to the conference room to continue reading.
When a movie is released, it is generally only two to two and a half hours long. Movies like "Gone with the Wind" that are close to four hours are almost invisible in today's movie market.
After all, people's lives are mostly fast-paced now, and the more developed the city, the more so. People's leisure time is fragmented. Movies that are too long are not only a kind of aesthetic fatigue for the audience, but sometimes the length of time will also hinder the audience's choice.
After all, a white-collar worker wants to watch a movie after work and dinner. A movie of two to two and a half hours is the most suitable. After watching it at nine or ten o'clock, go home and sleep, and it won't delay your rest. But if it is a three or four-hour movie, it will probably be early in the morning when the audience finishes watching and goes home.
Besides, the movie theater sells tickets by showtime, not by the length of the movie. Sometimes, the longer the movie, the less likely it is to make a profit at the box office. After all, the number of shows is reduced, and the sales of movie tickets will naturally decrease.
The first part of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is 133 minutes long, and the second part is about the same. Nie Wei expects that the difference will not exceed two minutes.
It looks like it's just a little more than two hours, but the content involved in the script is far more than the content of the movie. In addition to the discussion in the middle, after a day of reading, only about one-third of it was completed.
This is slower than Nie Wei expected. Originally, Nie Wei thought that two readings were enough to go through the script. Now it seems that at least three readings are needed to complete it. Then the costumes and makeup also need to be discussed further. So the three readings originally scheduled will now require at least five or six.
After the first reading session, Nie Wei told everyone on the scene about the increase in the number of readings.
Everyone had no objection. Except for two actors who were more homebodies, they felt a little disappointed. The other actors felt happier. After all, it was not as interesting to study the script alone at home as to study the script with a group of people.
Nie Wei asked his secretary to notify Depp, and the feedback he received was also in agreement.
Three days passed unknowingly, and the second reading session was held on time. Nie Wei, Shu Chang and Li Binbin, who lived together, were still the first to arrive. Then all the actors arrived at the company within the specified time, but at the specified time of nine o'clock, Depp did not show up again.
Looking at the clock on the wall, Nie Wei frowned and winked at the secretary beside him.
The latter immediately understood that this was to ask her to contact Depp's agent to inquire about the situation.
In Nie Wei's opinion, the first time there was a reason, so he could not come, but this time he still did not come, which was unreasonable. No matter how big a star Depp was, Nie Wei could not allow him to make special arrangements again and again.
After watching the secretary go out, Nie Wei was very unhappy, but he did not show it on the surface. He knew that many people present were watching his face. Depp did not attend the reading meeting again, and these actors were actually a little unhappy.
After all, a movie cannot be performed by one person. Once you enter the crew, everyone is a group. Only unity and cooperation can create a masterpiece. Children understand this truth, and they understand it even more. Depp is still the villain of this movie, occupying a very important role, and even catching up with the protagonist.
Everyone obviously doesn't like Depp to make special arrangements.
It's like a white swan mixed in a group of black swans. No matter how noble, elegant, and beautiful you are, you will still be rejected by other swans.
"Let's start the reading, and continue from the last time."
Just five minutes after Nie Wei announced the start of the reading, the door of the conference room was suddenly pushed open. Everyone looked at the door and saw Depp walking in with a tired face.
"Director, I'm very sorry, I'm late, there was a traffic jam on the road." Depp apologized to Nie Wei as soon as he entered the room.
"Please leave earlier next time, sit down." Nie Wei glanced at Depp and said.
Depp said absentmindedly, "I know", and then walked to a corner and sat down, which surprised everyone. Joseph, who was about to get up and give his seat to Depp, didn't know whether to sit down or stand up at this moment. He froze in mid-air, looking sad and funny.
It was Nie Wei who pressed his hand towards him and motioned him to sit down.
In theory, as one of the protagonists in this movie and the villain, Depp should have sat near Nie Wei, because he had a lot of scenes and was one of the actors who needed to discuss the most with the director.
But Depp chose to sit in a corner. His position was far away from Nie Wei. Was it really convenient to communicate?
In addition, he was the most famous actor in the crew, but he sat in the corner. This made many people puzzled and felt awkward.
Nie Wei didn't care where Depp sat, as long as he came.
"Continue reading, Joseph, it's your turn." Nie Wei said.
From the time Depp entered the door, twenty minutes passed quickly. Others were reading the script seriously, but only Depp didn't open the script in front of him. Instead, he lowered his head and fiddled with his mobile phone. Nie Wei saw it, but didn't say anything.
As the plots of the previous actors passed, it was soon Depp's turn.
"Depp? Depp!" Nie Wei called him several times in a row, and Depp looked like he had come to his senses, and then looked at Nie Wei with confused eyes.
Looking at Depp's absent-minded look, Nie Wei almost laughed out of anger.
Nie Wei didn't laugh, but Nina, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help it. She lowered her head and bit her lips, but when she thought of Depp's confused look just now, she found it funny, and the more she thought about it, the funnier it became.
"Puff." After holding it in for a long time, Nina still couldn't help it.
Her smile was like lighting a fuse next to the explosives depot, and soon suppressed laughter rang out in the conference room one after another.
Depp's face darkened. He was not stupid, and of course he knew that everyone present was laughing at him.
But he was indeed distracted just now. Thinking of this, Depp, who was about to scold these juniors, finally stopped talking and said sorry to Nie Wei again.
"Quiet." Nie Wei interrupted everyone's laughter and asked Depp: "Are you feeling unwell?"
Depp forced a smile and replied: "I've been a little tired lately."
"Then why don't you go home and rest? Don't force yourself." Nie Wei saw that Depp's mind was not on the reading at all. What's the point of keeping him here? Not only can't he play a good role, but he also drags everyone down.
Depp was very surprised. He really didn't expect Nie Wei to chase him away.
Although Nie Wei said it very politely, to Depp, this was a hint of chasing him away. Coupled with the ridicule of the group of people just now, Depp was very unhappy at this time. He simply stood up and left the meeting room.
When he left, most people in the meeting room were shocked.
Then everyone's eyes subconsciously focused on Nie Wei's face, but they found that Nie Wei didn't seem to care about Depp's departure at all, and he didn't look angry, as if Depp's departure was a piece of air that was floating away.
"Continue." Nie Wei didn't even look at the door, and directly ordered the reading to continue. Everyone quickly gathered their thoughts and read carefully.
Although Nie Wei didn't look angry, who could guarantee that Nie Wei was not angry? At this time, no one wanted to be the first bird to stand out and let Nie Wei find a reason to vent his anger.
After the morning reading was temporarily over, Nie Wei called the secretary to the office and asked her what was going on with Depp.
In fact, from the state of Depp when he came in the morning, Nie Wei could see that something was wrong. Depp looked distracted, and he was not surprised at all when he was distracted later.
"I don't know. When I called, his agent told me that Mr. Depp was coming soon, and then hung up the phone." The secretary replied.
"Well, call his agent later and tell him that he must adjust his status as soon as possible. Tell them that I hope to see Mr. Depp show a professional attitude instead of perfunctorily doing things." Nie Wei said seriously.
Nie Wei spent tens of millions of dollars on Depp's acting, but if he behaves like this, Nie Wei will have to consider whether it is worth spending tens of millions.
Nie Wei has no intention of exploring why the other party has become like this. It doesn't matter whether it is family or career. Nie Wei is here to make a movie, not to make friends. As long as Depp can show a professional attitude, Nie Wei doesn't care how he messes around in private, but if it affects the movie, Nie Wei will not be polite.
Although Depp is a Hollywood superstar, as a director, Nie Wei has too many ways to deal with him. The simplest one is to tell the media about Depp's unprofessionalism. This alone is enough to make this superstar drink a pot.
After all, no matter which industry, unprofessionalism is a big taboo.
Of course, Nie Wei has not yet fully understood the situation, so he will not rashly express his attitude. He is also giving Depp a chance. If the other party can adjust his state as soon as possible, Nie Wei will naturally pretend that nothing has happened.
Three days have passed unknowingly, and the third reading meeting was held again in the Max Film Building.
Thanks to 0773 for the generous reward.