 Director Takashi Shimizu went to Los Angeles to meet with producers  Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi in a small office at Columbia Pictures. The  purpose was to develop a story outline for the sequels first draft,  which also involved employees from Tapert and Raimis production  company Ghost House Pictures, producer Taka Ichise, and writer  Stephen Susco. According to Tapert, the session was roughly seven or  eight hours of people suggesting ideas for the story.