Hollywood New Century

Los Angeles, Hollywood, in Universal Studios NBC's subsidiary KNBC (Channel 4) on the West Coast, the flagship Los Angeles-based television station, is interviewing Chinese filmmaker Stephen Chow and his work "Tai Chi".

Including Stephen Chow, Anne Hathaway, Jack Black, Kelly Hu and others are being interviewed in the studio.

"Tai Chi" was the first to be fully released in China on July 5, detonating the summer season in China, and it is definitely a top performer. China's domestic film protection month is from June 15 to July 15 this year, during which foreign films are not allowed to be released.

The release date for Iron Man 2 in China is early June, while the release date for Captain America: The Avengers is early August.

In the summer season of the Chinese market, "Tai Chi" was a sweeping momentum when it was released, and the only one that had some competitive flavor was Huayi Brothers' "Tangshan Earthquake".

"Tai Chi" in the Chinese mainland market, the first day it was 92 million yuan, then 220 million yuan on the weekend, and 81 million yuan on the fourth day. Almost broke all kinds of records that can be broken.

Twenty-two days after its release, the Chinese mainland box office of "Tai Chi" has reached the 1 billion yuan box office, which is shorter than that of "Avatar".

However, the mainland box office of "Avatar" is 1.32 billion yuan, and "Tai Chi" has been released for 40 days, and the box office of 1.25 billion yuan is basically offline.

As the second film in the Chinese market to exceed 1 billion, it is also the first Chinese-led film to exceed 1 billion, and of course the first co-production to exceed 1 billion at the box office.

"Tai Chi" can also be said to be a discourse movie, somewhat similar to "Raptor Crossing the River" or "Red Zone", except that the main investors are American film companies.

Tong Liya came to the United States to promote with the crew this time, and will also go to Venice, Italy to participate in the 67th Venice Film Festival to promote.

Los Angeles, Venice, at Tong Liya's beach house.

"First go to the Venice Film Festival for the overseas premiere, then come back, and then go to the Toronto Film Festival to hold the North American premiere, and then the large-scale release in Europe and the United States," Simon said of the overseas promotion plan of "Tai Chi", Tong Tong said. It doesn't matter whether Leah listens or not.

Unexpectedly, Tong Liya nodded and said with some surprise: "I heard from Ms. Zhou that it is very likely that she will win an award at the Venice Film Festival this time!"

"Don't worry, it's not a big problem, don't think about the Golden Lion Award, let's do the rest," Simon sent Donna Langley, the president of Universal Pictures in charge of international marketing this time, and Annie Langley in "Tai Chi" A big star like Hathaway, the Venice Film Festival will not lose face.

Donna Langley is older and more capable than Ashley Brax of Venus. Now he is also in charge of Focus Pictures. After all, many people in Focus Pictures, including the two co-heads, were laid off.

"The response of "Tai Chi" in China is really great. There is no movie with a box office of 1 billion yuan in China." Tong Liya was surprised. After all, "Avatar" is different from "Tai Chi" in her heart. "Tai Chi" " is a Chinese movie.

Simon smiled, "Tai Chi" is a bilingual version in Mandarin and English, and it is absolutely possible to speak a movie.

"By the way, how about your Galaxy Entertainment company?" Simon asked.

"That's right, the Korean film "Lone Man" that I invested in was also shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival, and it will be released in South Korea soon;"

"Our "Humans Are in the Way" was also released in June, with a box office of 37 million yuan, making some money;"

"Also, you suggested that we buy the domestic rights to "The Expendables." They charged a high price of $500,000."

Speaking of "The Expendables", but it has gathered a lot of old Hollywood stars, led by Stallone, and Jet Li cameo.

Why do you think it is expensive to buy copyrights in mainland China for $500,000? Because this "The Expendables" is an independent production, the film company is only a small company Millennium Pictures, how can it be able to make a Chinese sub-account? It is not a co-production film. If you want to enter the Chinese mainland market, you can only take the path of batch filming.

Now, the price of approved films in China is very low, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, which is still the price of Hollywood. If it's a movie from another country, it doesn't even cost $100,000.

However, as a batch of films, it is definitely not possible to buy only one. This time, Galaxy Entertainment packaged 5 foreign films "Resident Evil 4: God of War" and spent $350,000, "Weakness" and "Twilight 2" That adds up to $500,000!

It's not easy to do a split movie. If Simon of Xinghai Entertainment didn't insist, and he made a special trip to China, "Iron Man" could only be regarded as a batch movie.

Now the relationship between Xinghai Entertainment and China Film is very good, and they can get two or three quotas for sub-accounts every year, mainly special effects blockbusters based on the Marvel series, anyway, some other animated feature films, magic wars, etc. as long as If you don't meet the Chinese market, don't even think about occupying the quota of China's account-sharing. If it really doesn't work, make it into a co-production film, go to China to shoot, accept a certain amount of Chinese capital, and add a Chinese star.

"The Expendables" is not bad, when did you plan to release it?" "The Expendables" is a watershed in China's film approval market. After it is released, it will attract 200 to 300 million people at the box office, hehe.

Next year, there will be many large private companies in China going out of the film batch market, and the price will just go up. Now there are very few companies doing batches, and big companies don't like it. China Film and Huaxia just randomly charge a few points of agency distribution fees.

Of course, it is very comfortable to make good movies. After next year, the batch price will increase greatly due to more competition. After that, China Film and China Film, two companies with foreign movie distribution rights, will also increase the distribution service fee, which is another huge sum. .

"After two years of good work, Galaxy Entertainment can do it for a few years, not only in the United States, but also in India, Europe, or RB animation. There are also good ones to consider," Simon said. After all, it's like "The Expendables 2", Simon remembers that it was bought out by LeTV Pictures for $8 million, and of course there is still money to be made.

"Understood, "The Expendables" will be released at the end of this month, "Weakness" and "Twilight" are still being reviewed," Tong Liya nodded, "Twilight" did not say, whether the review will pass or not, I don't know. It didn't take long for Hollywood to release it. But "Weakness" was released in Hollywood last year and the schedule is set in November.

"Hey, "Weakness" has been separated for too long, I don't know if there will be any audience for the release." Tong Liya is also worried. After buying it back, the review, schedule and publicity are all her own.

If the review fails, it will definitely lose the buyout fee. If the release is too late, it will be difficult to promote, and the box office will not be high and will not make money.

"Hehe, Nicole Kidman just won the Oscar for this. When you release it, see if there are any invitations for film festivals, etc. You spend millions to invite her to stand. It will only take half a day to publicize it on Taiwan, it’s not difficult!” Simon said with a smile, taking advantage of the ease with which the film is approved now, Galaxy Entertainment will make a profit first, and then it will quit. Let other companies compete in the film market.