Entertainment tycoon who started out as a director

Chapter 82 North American Box Office
It seems that the audience is still willing to accept this film.

Li Lianjie whispered to Gu Ming next to him, "I have a feeling that our "Hurricane" may get about the same box office as "Romeo".

"I hope so." Gu Ming was unsure.

Although this film in the previous life received [-] million at the North American box office.

But you have to watch the time!
The same movie, released at different times, may have a much different box office.

Who knows whether the audience will accept your approach now?
Not to mention that it has an all-white cast and all the dialogue is in English.

Your main actors are basically all Chinese, and one-third of the dialogue is in Chinese.

Not only do you think that foreigners with different skin colors are the same as you, but the same goes for foreigners, who have to struggle to distinguish faces.

These will affect the box office.

If he could really get 5000 million from North America, he would have fired his first shot.

Do not!
With Li Lianlian’s appeal in the disc market, it’s a huge profit!

As a director, he will also step into Hollywood and become a temporary favorite of Hollywood film producers.

……

The show is over.

The audience watching the film walked out of the theater one by one.

Some of them were stopped by investigators sent by Sony Columbia.

"Hello, here is a questionnaire. Can I take you some time? What do you think the rating of "The Rescue" can be?"

"Ah!"

They are all veteran movie fans who have filled out questionnaires several times, so they certainly know what each level represents.

blurted out the young movie fan who was stopped.

"Jet Lee in this movie is so cool! It reminded me of the feeling I had when watching The Matrix."

"It's a pity. If the Chinese dialogue in the first half didn't make me a little uncomfortable reading the subtitles, I could even give him an A+!"

"A+, I am an action movie lover, and this movie is so suitable for my taste. I will bring my friends over to watch it again."

"B, I have watched Gu's previous works. This one seemed too popcorn, which made me a little disappointed. However, it is still undeniable that this is an excellent action movie! The use of lenses in it is very distinctive and makes people feel... It feels very novel.”

"A, outstanding video."

"..."

After a total of 7000 investigation reports were collected by Sony Colombia's various investigation reports, as many as 2500 people gave the film an A or above, 3000 people gave it a B+, and only a dozen or so people gave it a C or below.

The reputation is quite good!
It can even be described as excellent.

Film critics also gave good opinions, "Gu is a literary film director, and this time he chose action films for his transformation. I have to say that this is a high-level action film without too much philosophical thinking, but Integrating handheld photography into action films is definitely a pioneering work. The style of handheld photography + fast editing provides us with a new path for future action film production!"

After seeing this review about "Taken".

Doug Liman, a Hollywood producer and director who is preparing a movie adapted from the spy novel "The Bourne Identity", suddenly lit up.

I stared at the movie reviews and read them again and again to confirm that I had read it correctly, and then I called my screenwriter and other producers to go to the theater and contribute a few box office tickets.

I saw the use of handheld photography in the second half to speed up editing.

When he walked out of the theater, he couldn't help but get excited.

"This is the feeling I want from The Bourne Supremacy!"

"Let's watch it again."

Watch it again, this time mainly from a professional perspective.

Doug Liman was even more excited.

"Yes, that's the style."

"Can we invite the director of this film to direct this film?"

It was originally planned to be directed by Doug Liman himself, but after all, he had no experience in this style of action film.

It’s a good thing that I haven’t seen “Taken” before, so I can give it a try.

After seeing it, he couldn't help but feel moved.

Find someone with experience who has a higher chance of success.

As for his inability to direct, he has no worries about this. Hollywood is a producer-centered system, and the final editing rights are in his hands. As long as the film can be successful and get enough box office, the income it will bring to him will not be less than Be more of a director.

The most important thing is success!success!success!

Important things said three times!

If it succeeds, everyone will benefit.

If you are stronger than yourself, if you fail, it will only bring side effects.

"Let's look at his future box office performance before considering this matter? After all, he is Chinese." Another producer said.

"Okay!" Doug Liman did not refuse.

This matter cannot be rushed.

If "Taken" does well at the box office, it would be more appropriate to let the Chinese direct "The Bourne Supremacy".

Successful people will have a greater chance of success next time.

Chase those who succeed.

This has always been the creed of Hollywood.

Whether it's the overwhelming reputation among film critics or the audience, it brings about a second review of the film, and even brings friends to watch it again and recommend the film to them.

The box office is also gradually improving.

The box office on Friday was 600 million.

The box office on Saturday was 1100 million.

The box office on Sunday was 700 million.

Earned US$2600 million in the first three days of the weekend!
It became No. 2 on the box office list that week. No. 1 was Jim Carrey's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," which was a hit with more than 5500 million in its first weekend. In its second week, the box office was 5212 million U.S. dollars. It is also an American comedy. It's perfectly normal under it. The somewhat unexpected box office figures of "Taken" and its still good reputation so far prompted Sony Columbia to immediately increase its promotional expenses by another $1000 million to the original $600 million.

The direct impact is an increase in box office.

The next week's seven-day box office grossed a total of US$4100 million, successfully overtaking "The Grinch" in its third week and ranking first at the box office.

Before the two hit movies "Who Knows Women's Hearts" and "Cast Away" came, they earned nearly 7000 million US dollars and were expected to hit the North American box office to over [-] million US dollars!
……

"Director Gu, you've made a lot of money!"

After hearing this data from Sony Columbia.

Li Lianlian excitedly gave Gu Ming a bear hug.

"The North American box office may exceed [-] million!"

"Still relying on one-third of the Chinese-language clips, the number of movies starring Chinese actors has exceeded [-] million."

"Do you know what this concept is?"

"It means your salary for "Kiss of the Dragon" will be lower." Gu Ming made a small joke.

Then he received a light punch from Li Lianlian.

"Speak the truth."

"Well, it must be lower indeed. Otherwise, with the two films "Romeo Deadly" and "The Rescue", I should be able to get a salary in the tens of millions!"

"However, your director's salary is also different. None of them are more than 300 million US dollars. You have rejected everyone who asked you to make a film. By the way, it is limited to action films. You also need to show your talent in other types of films. Strength."

Both of them were talking about each other's salary.

But they tacitly agreed not to mention the sequel.

For a film that may gross over [-] million in North American box office, no one would be willing to make a sequel.

But it’s not appropriate to mention it at this time.

Li Lianlian's market price for other films should have risen to 1000 million US dollars. For a sequel, the normal price would be 500 million, and no matter how friendly the price was, it would still be 300 million.

If the price is lower, Li Lianlian will feel uncomfortable.

Might as well just hold on.

Let’s see who needs this sequel movie more, and the one who needs it more will naturally have to give in.

It’s not just a matter of millions of dollars, it’s also a matter of dominance.

Amidst the laughter and laughter of the crowd.

Sony's Anthony came over.

He opened his hands and hugged Gu Ming with a big smile.

"Gu! I knew you would succeed."

"Congratulations, you have successfully achieved a lot of success in Hollywood."

"Are you interested in collaborating again?"

Anthony raised his eyebrows, "Action movies are still in this style. You create the script. The production cost does not exceed 4000 million. We at Sony can give you 500 million as director and screenwriter remuneration!"

"I don't want to think about it just yet."

"I can also give you a position as a producer!" Anthony thought that Gu Ming felt that he had no freedom, so he raised the salary again, "You have the right to make suggestions on the editing part."

"Gu, you know, in Hollywood, except for Spielberg, Cameron and a few others, the complete editing rights of the film will not be given to the director. I can only say sorry for this."

"It's not because of this." Gu Ming shook his head.

"what is that?"

"Remember what you said about the literary film?" Gu Ming smiled and said his plan.

"Go back to make art films? Why?" Anthony looked puzzled. "You have already achieved success in the field of action films. The most important thing now is to make a few more action films to completely stabilize your position in Hollywood. "

"It's not a good choice to make an art film."

"But I just want to make an artistic film."

To put it simply, go to Oscars and try the waters.

If other companies ask us to make action movies, they will not give us a share, let alone allow us to share investment.

You can't make much more money, and you still have to listen to the producer's instructions.

Might as well earn fame.

Moreover, I am qualified enough to take the lead in making literary films.

More importantly, the Oscars the year after next, in January 2002, were very different.

The flavors are all tuned.

Knowing this in advance, Gu Ming tailor-made a film for him, and with the help of Sony Columbia, he could also try to win a few awards.

If you can get a good award.

His status in the country will be completely stable, and he may even try to surpass Zhang Yimou in status and become the No. 1 director in the country.

Even in Hollywood, your status will rise a notch, and any actor you choose to work with in the future will be carefully considered.

Such a good opportunity, but there is no such store after passing this village.

When the time comes, it all depends on public relations, and it may not be possible for a foreigner like me to do so.

After all, this is an American Film Academy award, and it makes sense to prefer local people.

"Oh, you should think about it first." Seeing that Gu Ming had made up his mind, Anthony stopped trying to persuade him and was ready to let time change Gu Ming's view.

After staying in the United States for another two days, Gu Ming returned to the country.

It's already the 12th, and I still have to go back to China to prepare for the domestic release of "Taken".

Gu Ming, who was sitting on the plane, had no idea how much of a storm he had brought to the domestic film industry.

(End of this chapter)