If you are asked to make a graduation film, you will win the Golden Bear Award?

Chapter 168 Top Special Effects Blockbusters Facing the World

"Director Lu, I'm under DreamWorks Reality Film Company, and I want to cooperate with you to produce a movie." Spielberg cut to the chase and stated the purpose of his trip.

before coming.

He already had a detailed understanding of Director Lu Chen.

since debut.

Not a single failure.

The lowest rate of return for each work is more than twice the investment.

For two low-cost movies, the rate of return is almost ten times.

It will not be acclimatized to any market.

It was the first time to direct the Hong Kong film "Wu Shuang", and became the champion of Hong Kong's local films in one fell swoop, and became the film with the most awards in a single session in the history of the Hong Kong Film Awards.

"Let the Bullets Fly", which he directed, broke the historical box office record held by "Titanic" in mainland China and became the top movie box office champion in mainland China.

Now directed "Inception" is being screened all over the world, breaking through the $10 mark is basically a certainty.

"Inception" invested more than 1 million U.S. dollars, and the global box office was 10 billion U.S. dollars, not including other copyright benefits.

Such a large investment, but also has a doubled income ratio, which few directors in the world can get.

Lu Chen used each work to prove his commercial ability.

That's not exactly the studio's favorite director.

When "Wu Shuang" was released before.

It has already been targeted by Universal Pictures.

The vice president was sent to discuss film cooperation with Lu Chen.

A piece of "Inception" caused the stock price of Universal Films to skyrocket, earning a lot of money in both film revenue and stock price.

Spielberg wanted to cooperate with Lu Chen to see if DreamWorks could rise in one fell swoop and become the ninth largest film company in Hollywood.

"Co-produce a movie?" Although Lu Chen likes director Spielberg very much, the business is business. "I remember the DreamWorks live-action film studio. Now that there is a financial crisis, how can we co-produce?"

DreamWorks was originally founded by three people including Spielberg.

At that time, the three had ambitions to make DreamWorks a new bright spot in Hollywood and planned to become the ninth largest film company in Hollywood.

Dreams are skinny, but reality is cruel.

It was fine when DreamWorks was founded.

Now it has encountered difficulties, there has been a financial crisis, and the company has gone into debt.

In the previous life.

Lu Chen has followed the news in this regard.

After DreamWorks' financial crisis, it stopped plans to build a high-tech studio and sold its music division.

In 2006 it was acquired by Viacom, the parent company of Paramount Pictures.

Acquired its live-action film production studio for $16 billion.

DreamWorks then spun off from Viacom.

In the previous life, DreamWorks has produced many well-known movies. Since 2005, it has produced "Flags of Our Fathers", "Transformers", "Steel Steel", "Need for Speed" and so on.

Of course, DreamWorks has a more famous one, DreamWorks Animation Studio, in the previous life, produced "Shrek", "Kung Fu Panda", "Madagascar", "Crazy Primitives".

And DreamWorks Animation, which was spun off from DreamWorks in 2004 and became an independent company, was also listed on Nasdaq in the same year.

"..." Spielberg was stunned.

Unexpectedly, Director Lu Chen knew about the financial situation of DreamWorks' live-action film studio.

DreamWorks' financial situation is really bad this year.

Already in debt of $4 million.

The other two founders of the company both had the idea of ​​selling off the DreamWorks live-action film production studio.

Although Spielberg doesn't want to sell the company he founded, he also knows that if the company continues like this, it will only lose more and more.

Unless there is a turning point.

And "Inception" was born all over the world.

Let Spielberg see a turning point.

Such a business-minded director.

Now that's exactly what DreamWorks needs.

If this bet is correct, DreamWorks will continue to survive in Hollywood and will not be acquired by the eight major film companies.

"Director Spielberg, if you want to cooperate, you must be sincere." Lu Chen picked up the red wine glass and slowly shook it.

I really think of myself as the second generation of coal.

The stupid son of a rich family.

Want to work with me, put money and effort into saving DreamWorks' live-action film studio.

Lu Chen would not be so kind.

I love the films directed by Spielberg.

But business is business.

Yang Shoucheng on the side was surprised. The director Lu Chen's aura instantly overwhelmed the world's leading director Spielberg. It seemed that he was quite familiar with the recent situation of DreamWorks founded by Spielberg.

It felt like Lu Chen was no longer a director, but a businessman.

wrong!

Should be a commercial director, a real commercial director.

"Director Lu, our company can produce technology. Since the establishment of DreamWorks, we have produced many excellent films. As for the revenue share of the two-party cooperation films, DreamWorks can make concessions." Spielberg came to Xiangjiang to meet this time. .

It is Lu Chen's strong ability to direct commercial films.

The world can't find a second place.

And stable, none of the works lost money.

A director with high income.

I also inquired about it.

Director Lu Chen is rich.

He was rich himself.

The biggest investor in "Inception" is Mars Film and Television.

In the past two years, Mars Film and Television has made a lot of money, and even established an overseas company.

Of course Spielberg himself really wanted to make a movie.

There is no shortage of money at all.

The eight major Hollywood film companies will all vote.

But what Spielberg wants to do is to save DreamWorks' live-action film production studio.

If DreamWorks cooperates with the eight major Hollywood film companies.

Conditions are different.

Personal directing and collaboration between two companies.

The share ratio is quite different.

The eight major film companies will not give more profits to DreamWorks for no reason.

is conditional.

If the cooperative film loses money.

At that time, the DreamWorks live-action film studio will have to be owned by others.

That's why Spielberg thought of director Lu Chen, the No.1 young director in the world who is in the limelight this year.

I think we can cooperate to see if we can build DreamWorks live-action film studio.

Even if it fails, there is no risk.

"What you mean is that DreamWorks doesn't pay, but our company pays." Lu Chen finally understood.

When Yang Shoucheng heard this, he really wanted to add that I will pay for it.

There is no doubt about Yang Shoucheng's ability to direct Lu Chen.

Seeing the box office results of "Inception", I was so envious that I was drooling, but it was a pity that Yinghuang Group didn't have a share.

As for the cooperation between the two world's leading directors, I'm afraid the investment will be at least US$[-] million.

But if you really need Yang Shoucheng to vote, you will definitely not blink.

"Director Lu, our company contributes a small amount of funds, and we mainly contribute technology." Spielberg thought, relying on his reputation in the world.

Find Director Lu Chen to cooperate.

The other party will agree without hesitation.

Spielberg is not narcissistic, and feels that he should be the idol of most young directors in the world.

Just didn't expect it.

Director Lu Chen is so calm.

"If you produce technology, can the technology be shared? Including the technology of DreamWorks Animation Production Company." Lu Chen did not refuse, but made a request.

Since filming "Inception".

Lu Chen really wanted to make one.

A real Chinese movie.

A Chinese film that can be sold globally.

"Changjin Lake" definitely won't work.

At least in the United States, it will not do well at the box office.

The United States is the largest movie ticket warehouse in the world.

America is missing.

The global box office will be greatly affected.

So I had to make a movie that was also popular in the United States.

Lu Chen felt that the science fiction novel "The Wandering Earth" written by Da Liu, a member of the Northwest Circle, was a good fit.

The sci-fi elements are written very well, and it is definitely the world's top sci-fi.

Make it into a movie.

Another special effects blockbuster.

It is sure to do well at the box office in the United States.

Lu Chen didn't take pictures for the time being.

I just think that for the movie "The Wandering Earth", most of the special effects production will be done domestically, and Mercury special effects will be done.

Although Mercury Special Effects has produced "Inception" and is now producing special effects shots for "Changjin Lake", it is still unable to complete the scenes written in the novel "The Wandering Earth".

Unless you work with a top foreign special effects company.

But in this way, isn't "The Wandering Earth" another Sino-US co-production movie?
So Lu Chen wanted to wait for Mercury's special effects to develop before filming "The Wandering Earth".

It is necessary to make a special effects blockbuster, so that Mercury's special effects can grow up as soon as possible, and have a world-class level, and then "The Wandering Earth" will be filmed.

"Technology sharing?" Spielberg wondered, "It's just that I don't understand, DreamWorks Animation Production Company also needs to share technology?"

Don't you want to cooperate in making cartoons?
This?
There is something incredible.

Besides, Director Lu Chen is not an animation director either.

"To tell you the truth, I have plans to set up an animation company. Actually, it's not considered technology sharing. I just want to send people to DreamWorks' animation production plant to learn your advanced experience and technology." Lu Chen said seriously. , quite greedy for the technology of DreamWorks Animation Production Factory.

in those days.

Huaguo animation films are also world-class.

Modu Art Film Production Factory has produced classic animations such as "Havoc in Heaven", "Nezha Trouble in the Sea", "Black Cat Sheriff", "Calabash Brothers", and "Lotus Lantern".

Back then, the animation practitioners in the island country often sent people to Shanghai to study animation production.

At that time, Huaguo Animation was definitely the top in Asia and a world-class existence.

However, in the 21st century, the days have passed, and today's Magic City Art Film Production Factory, animation films are almost extinct.

"Director Lu, you don't want to make cartoons, do you?" Spielberg saw that Director Lu Chen cared so much about DreamWorks Animation, and he really thought about it.

Can cooperate with DreamWorks live-action film studio.

Not DreamWorks Animation.

"Director Spielberg was joking. I'm not an animation director. Of course I'm making a movie. If you agree to my conditions, we can cooperate." Lu Chen plans to cooperate with DreamWorks to make a global special effects blockbuster.

Let's not talk about the theme of the movie.

There must be more special effects shots.

It has to be the top special effects screen.

So that Mercury Special Effects can continue to cooperate with top foreign special effects companies.

Prepare for the future "Wandering Earth".

"Director Lu, what conditions do you have?" Spielberg asked seriously.

(End of this chapter)