Director’s Legend

Li Xiuxiu is pregnant, without the legendary violent temper, and no adverse reactions. She can eat and sleep, and her belly is bulging day by day. It also makes Shao Shuaijun's anticipation strengthen day by day, and she can't wait to see her son sooner. The noise of the outside world can no longer attract Shao Shuaijun's attention. In addition to accompanying Li Xiuxiu, he writes scripts in the study.

"Teddy Bear" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" are past tense. He now needs to plan another original filming plan, "Avengers", which is the highlight of the first ensemble of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Trio. It needs careful attention. creation. He spent a few months with Li Xiuxiu, and happened to write this script by the way.

At the end of July, Mitchell Bruce, the general manager of Summit Entertainment, and Kevin Feige, general manager of Marvel Comics, flew to the capital together. The IPO of Dream Chasing Game Company is a major event for the group company. Executives, the two have to get involved.

Shao Shuaijun doesn't care about the IPO. What he cares about is the good news brought by Kevin.

"We have reached an agreement with Lions Gate Pictures on the copyright issue of the punisher and the humanoid. Marvel Comics takes back all the copyrights of the punisher and the humanoid. As compensation, we need to pay 30 million US dollars in cash and invest in Lionsgate. Ten medium-low-cost movies in the industry." Kevin said with a smile, "Now Summit Entertainment can make money and can't put it in pockets. Lionsgate has been shabby in recent years and wants to pay our attention."

Lionsgate Films has not done well in movies in recent years. "SAW" is about to be badly shot. Although other low-cost horror films have not lost money, Lionsgate Films is still very good especially in DVD sales. . However, the limelight of the subprime mortgage crisis has not yet eased, and several previous plans for blind expansion are asking for money.

In 2006, it acquired Debmar-Mercury, an American television production joint company. In 2007, it became a shareholder of the independent film distribution company Roadside-Attractions. In 2008, it became a shareholder of the film production company Relativity Media. And Paramount Pictures established a new pay-TV movie channel Epix.

These plans seem to have expanded greatly in scale, but in fact all of them are unable to make ends meet, especially at the moment when the film has not been able to take the mainstream road, Lionsgate is in an embarrassing situation.

"You have to give money and invest again. Lionsgate has a lot of appetite. I remember they took the Punisher twice?" Shao Shuaijun asked casually.

"There are indeed two. The first 2004's "The Punisher" was not bad, and the investment was less than 10 million dollars, and it got a box office of 53.6 million US dollars. The second is "The Punisher: War Zone" in 2008. With an investment of 36 million U.S. dollars, 8 million did not get at the box office. And "Humanoid" was also taken as **** by them.

Shao Shuaijun shook his head: "Superheroes play for them. It's a violent thing. This time we are bringing the copyrights of two punishers and a human-like movie, right?"

"Of course we have to bring it, the Marvel Cinematic Universe Trio. It has to be re-arranged. We will try our best to bring all the movies that have been filmed." Kevin said domineeringly, with the financial support of Dream Entertainment. Wei Comics can finally flex its muscles and reproduce the glory of the comic magnate back then.

In the long decades of life of Marvel Comics, more than 8,000 comic characters have been created, and many of these superheroes have become live-action movies.

The earliest "Captain America" ​​by Republic Films in 1944, "The Punisher" by New World Films in 1986, "Captain America" ​​by Twentieth Century Films in 1990 and "Captain America" ​​by New Horizons Films in 1994. Fantastic Four". These four films are all old, the copyright has already returned to Marvel Comics, and there is no commercial value.

There are currently 22 real Marvel superhero movies, and the copyrights are scattered in the hands of major film companies.

Warner's New Line Films has three titles including "Blade Warrior" in 1998, "Blade Warrior 2" in 2002, and "Blade Warrior: Trinity" in 2004.

Twentieth Century Fox has 2000 "X-Men", 2003 "Dare Demon", 2003 "X-Men 2", 2005 "Erica" ​​(Dare Demon series), 2005 "Fantastic Four" ", 2006 "X-Men: Final Battle", 2007 "Fantastic Four: Silver Shadowman", 2009 "X-Men: Wolverine" eight parts.

Universal Pictures has a 2003 "Hulk", which has been taken back from Marvel Comics.

Lionsgate has three titles of "The Punisher" in 2004, "Humanoid" in 2005, and "The Punisher: War Zone" in 2008.

There are four Columbia films under Sony's 2002 "Spider-Man", 2004 "Spider-Man 2", 2007 "Ghost Rider" and 2007 "Spider-Man 3".

And Summit Entertainment’s own Marvel Comics’ own superhero movies include 2008 "Iron Man", 2008 "Invincible Hulk", and 2010 "Iron Man 2".

Four more are being produced, Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man", Twentieth Century Fox's "X-Men: First Class" and Marvel Comics "Thor" and "Captain America".

For these live-action superhero movies, the best way to get the copyright back is the new line's Blade Warrior trilogy, because the filming of a new movie has not been started for a long time, the copyright is about to expire, and the new line does not mean to start a new movie, wait until At the end of the year, Blade Warriors will automatically return to the team, and the only thing to talk about is to buy the ownership of the three movies.

Lionsgate has also agreed that the Punisher and the humanoid will return. Universal's Hulk was even taken back before Marvel was acquired. Twentieth Century Fox's Daredevil and Fantastic Four are also under further discussion, and they can be returned at a price.

The difficulty is that Sony’s Spider-Man and Twentieth Century Fox’s X-Men have no intention of negotiating these two sequences. But no matter how difficult it is, Shao Shuaijun will try his best to get it back. There is nothing difficult in the world, as long as you have money!

"By the way, Kevin, Lionsgate has a hard time this year, right?"

"Of course it's not easy, how do you ask this?"

Shao Shuaijun smiled a little treacherously: "Since they have a hard time, should we help? You say, how about we buy their shares?"

"Buy Lionsgate?" Kevin asked in surprise.

"Well, when Mitchell comes over, let's add it up again. It doesn't have to be the acquisition of Lionsgate. The same is true for equity participation. For Summit Entertainment to develop, it cannot be categorized. We are now working on teen-themed movies and comedies. It’s not bad, but the horror film field is rarely involved, and it can complement Lionsgate. Besides, Lionsgate’s channels are also very important, isn’t it? We can also take the copyright of "King of the Sea" and animation The distribution rights of the film have also been taken back." Shao Shuaijun said ambitiously.

"King of the Sea" is a comic adaptation of a publisher under Marvel Comics. It was released this year. It has a good reputation and box office. It is not an orthodox superhero, but it is also good to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe Trio. As for the copyright of animated films, Shao Shuaijun doesn't pay much attention to it, nor is it part of the trio's plan.

It was only in 2006 that Marvel Comics and Lions Gate Pictures reached a cooperation, and the animated films and video tapes produced by Marvel were handed over to Lions Gate Pictures for distribution. Lionsgate’s distribution channels are indeed very strong, coupled with a strong film library, this is Shao Shuaijun's coveted.

Now he has outlined a general plan in his mind.

Japan’s Sony can play in Hollywood, why can’t he let Summit Entertainment play in North America? With a solid foundation for dreaming entertainment, it is not difficult to make a big turn in Hollywood.

After Mitchell came over, the three discussed the acquisition of Lionsgate. Lionsgate is also a large-scale film company, and it really can't be bought without a dozen or two billion dollars. However, you can try to start negotiations to see if Lionsgate’s shareholders intend to sell their shares.

After talking about Lionsgate, Mitchell talked about the movie again: "Shao, what do you estimate the box office of "Rise of the Apes"? Can it surpass "Teddy Bear"?"

Although "Teddy Bear" hit the spotlight for $612 million, and although the trailer for "Rise of the Apes" was very exciting, the audience was eager to watch it early, but the media's expectations were not great. After all, this is a rigorous science fiction film, but it is the work of Shao Shuaijun.

The investment is only less than US$90 million. Such a careless, cost-free sci-fi film, coupled with the shocking ending of the previous film, makes it very difficult to surpass, and it is difficult for the media to have much hope for its box office.

"Didn't you have seen it, why, no confidence?" Shao Shuaijun asked while eating grapes.

Mitchell rubbed his hands: "How do I say, I have always been confident in you. You have almost never seen you. "Rise of the Apes" is also shocking. I am afraid that the audience will not buy it. Is it too deep?"

"Don't worry, 400 million dollars is the bottom line. Now you only need to do a good job of publicity, and then find someone to write the sequel script."

"You already have a sequel plan?"

"No, I rarely go to shoot a sequel, but "Rise of the Apes" is a movie that can be a sequel. Look at the arrangement."

Mitchell nodded and said nothing. Shao Shuaijun's words gave him a reassurance. Mitchell and Kevin came fast and walked fast. They each have their own tedious affairs and it is impossible to stay in China. This meeting discussed the core issues of the IPO, and we will discuss it later. It is entirely possible to use a web conference.

So Shuaijun Shao began to write scripts and live with his wife.

August 6th arrived soon, and "Rise of the Apes" began to land globally. On this day, Shao Shuaijun planned to take Li Xiuxiu to the cinema to watch a movie. For Xiao Shao's safety, Li Xiuxiu stayed at home all day, whether it was an office or whatever, she was bored.

I asked the doctor that pregnant women who are five months pregnant can go to the movies, so the two decided to watch the IMAX version of "Rise of the Apes". Now Dreaming of Golden Harvest Studios is blooming all over China. They go to the movie theater to watch in the best area and arrange bodyguards to protect them.

On the way to the cinema, Shao Shuaijun received an unexpected call, which turned out to be from Li Yu. He is now in the capital and wants to invite Shao Shuaijun to dinner tomorrow. (To be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and updated faster!)