Entertainment tycoon who started out as a director

Chapter 67: Selection of the Leading Role (please read it)
Beijing, inside a hotel.

Saw Gu Ming walking in.

The smile on Han Sanpin's face couldn't stop.

Others think that he is almost the talker of China Film and Television, with a high and powerful position.

But you know your own difficulties.

I am not the boss of a private company, so I alone have the final say in the company.

Even if it is a private company, as long as the boss has no grudge against money, he will definitely want the company to make more and more money.

In addition, he has another mission.

Attract more and more audiences into the cinema, and at the same time try to ensure the proportion of domestic films in the box office.

And this is not something he can decide alone.

There has to be a good movie.

In China, it is a director-centered system.

To put it simply, you need a good director, a good commercial film director.

Gu Ming is the only director he can rely on now besides Feng Pants.

"Boss Han!"

"Just call me Old Han." Han Sanpin smiled and made a sitting motion.

"I've read your script. It's an action movie!"

"Action movies are good, and the audience likes to watch these kind of fighting movies."

"Almost every one of Jackie Chan's films has achieved good box office success in China."

Speaking of this, Han Sanpin noticed that the smile on Gu Ming's face was getting bigger and bigger.

My heart couldn't help but thump.

"You don't want Jackie Chan to star, right?"

"Old Han, you can find anyone you want. That's what you said!" Gu Ming didn't say who he wanted to find, and the smile on his face remained.

“Will the cost be recovered by then?”

Han Sanpin seriously considered this issue.

Of course he knows Jackie Chan's influence.

That also has appeal in the international market.

Even "Rush Hour", which he starred in the year before last, grossed US$[-] million in the North American market, ranking seventh on the North American annual box office list.

In his words, good is good.

The only downside is that it is expensive.

"And I heard that he is filming "Shanghai Noon", which his own company participated in the investment. The salary for this film is US$500 million plus dividends."

"When his movie is released, the box office influence accumulated by "Rush Hour" will be the same. If he joins our movie again, wouldn't the asking price be higher? It can't be done without 1000 million US dollars, right?"

"The salary for one of the leading actors alone is US$1000 million. How will this film make money then?"

"So Old Han, did I say I wanted to invite Jackie Chan?" Gu Ming smiled.

"That's okay." Han Sanpin let out a long breath.

Except for Jackie Chan, no one's salary is unacceptable.

But at the same time another problem arose.

"Then who should we invite?"

"It's best to invite Li Lianjie!"

"Hurricane" needs to be shot in England, and the investment cannot be low.

Judging from the domestic box office, even if it breaks the bank, it will not be able to recoup the cost.

Then this action film needs to be able to sell at the box office abroad, especially in the largest market of North America.

The starring role can only be Jackie Chan or Li Lianlian.

Except for the two of them, other Chinese people are not considered popular in Hollywood.

As for the two of them, Gu Ming had already made a trade-off.

Jackie Chan's face is the most suitable.

But looking at other aspects, it is not that cost-effective.

The first is a matter of style.

When the audience watches Jackie Chan's films, what they want is action comedy and a change of style. Whether Jackie Chan accepts the change of style is another matter. Whether the audience accepts it or not is another matter.

The second issue is the control of the crew. To find him, many other crew members must also be his. Who has the final say on the crew?
Is the surname in the movie Gu or Fang?

Finally, there is the issue of remuneration.

Jackie Chan is too expensive.

Li Lianjie is not cheap either, but there is a limit to how expensive he can be.Looking at the calendar on my phone, it is March 2000, 3.

If I remember correctly, Li Lianlian's first starring film in Hollywood, "Romeo Deadly", will be released soon.

His salary for this film was US$250 million.

In the end, the North American box office received 5597 million US dollars, and the global box office was 9103 million US dollars.

The production cost of 2500 million has been recovered in the North American market alone, and his salary will definitely increase.

But if you just look at the box office, it won’t increase much.

When the box office dust is almost settled, we can sign him with a salary that is higher than 250 million, but not much higher.

And this salary is the last time period for signing him.

As a reborn person, Gu Ming knows very well why he has been able to make so many movies in Hollywood.

DVDs and videotapes!

This "Romeo Deadly" sales in this area are as high as 1.3 million.

For a Hollywood giant with complete distribution channels, DVD sales of 1.3 million can earn higher profits than box office of 1.3 million.

If not for this, his next film "Kiss of the Dragon" would not have received a salary of US$750 million plus dividends.

"Kiss of the Dragon", released in 01, cost US$2500 million, grossed 3683 million at the North American box office and more than 6000 million at the global box office. It still lost money after including promotion expenses.

But it did not prevent him from receiving a salary of 1000 million for "The Savior".

Because the disc sales of "Kiss of the Dragon" in the North American market were US$1.1 million.

Get it before anyone knows about the exaggerated sales of his films in the DVD market.

It can also save money on film.

Moreover, when the follow-up "Taken" was looking for a North American distributor, it should have been when the DVD of "Romeo Deadly" was selling out.

Relying on its appeal in the DVD video tape market, it can also sell for a higher price.

Actors who can make themselves earn higher income are the most suitable actors!

"In short, let's negotiate Li Lianlian first. Depending on his salary, I will make a budget as soon as possible. Then we will allocate the investment amount."

"Okay, I'll get in touch."

Han Sanpin nodded, but still wanted to know something, "What is the approximate production cost? Without adding Li Lianlian's salary, please give me an approximation."

"At least 1000 million!"

"Dollar?"

"Brother, do you believe me when I say RMB?" Gu Ming smiled bitterly, "The protagonist needs Li Lianlian, and the supporting roles also need to find some well-established actors, and they have to be shot in England, so the cost cannot be lowered."

"1000 million, without mentioning my screenwriter and director's salary, how much do you think I should be paid?"

Gu Ming didn't say anything and asked the question to Han Sanpin.

Han Sanpin did not answer.

He just held his chin and became melancholy, "Including the remuneration, it will cost at least [-] million!"

"We at China Film Group may not be able to afford such a large amount of funds."

"Our Morning Star plus my writing and directing fees account for half of the investment!" Gu Ming still wants to occupy at least half of the income.

The $450 million from the offshore company was for this movie, plus the funds the company now has.

As long as the production cost does not exceed US$500 million.

I can definitely win half of them.

"That's no problem." Han Sanpin refreshed.

"Our Beijing Film Studio, a subsidiary of China Film and Television, has no problem paying [-] to [-] percent. We can make up the remaining investment no matter what."

"After all, it is Li Lianlian's new film in China, so the gimmick is still loud enough."

"'Shaolin Temple' and 'Once Upon a Time' are still in everyone's mind."

After a rough meal, Han Sanpin went back to find channels to contact Li Lianlian.

It's not a difficult thing for him.

He quickly contacted the person, and Li Lianjie was still very interested in returning to China for filming.

But "Romeo Deadly" is about to be released, and he has to participate in the film's promotion, so it will take a few days to give a reply.

In fact, it is very simple. It is human nature to make a quotation based on the box office of "Romeo Deadly".

ten days later.

Hollywood predicts that the box office will be 6000 million.

Li Lianlian's salary quotation has also come.

It is a figure lower than the Hollywood market price after the release of his new film.

(End of this chapter)