China Entertainment: Indulge in Vanity Fair

Chapter 113 How to cooperate?

Chris Bender's party was also in Beverly Hills, so they were a short drive away.

He Fang picked up his mobile phone and checked Chris Bender, who was taken aback. It turned out that this guy was a well-known producer.

他制作过《美国派1、2、3》、《死神来了》、《猫狗大战》、《蝴蝶效应1、2》等著名的电影，是一个小有名气的制作人啊。

It's just that it's very difficult for the films he made to be released in China, and now that they want to enter the Chinese market, they have to queue up every year for blockbuster films, not to mention their small and medium-sized films?
He Fang was not sure, so he checked the time, it was past seven in the evening, which happened to be past ten in the morning in China, so he called the team dad.

"Dad, what are the restrictions on importing films now? Can Huying get the import quota?" He Fang asked He Ben.

"Introduction of films? We Huying have never done this before, no, do you want to import movies?" He Ben asked.

"It's like this..." He Fang explained the situation, meaning that he thought this producer was worthy of long-term cooperation, so he wanted to see if he could help them introduce the film to China.

"He Fang, this kind of imported film is not worthwhile, firstly, whether the upper management is not willing to give indicators for this kind of theme and this kind of production cost film, and more importantly, the box office share of imported films is not high, only 13%. "

"Ah, is there any other way?" He Fang asked.

"Are you confused? Didn't you just shoot "Invasion of Wall Street" and used the co-production method? It doesn't matter if you co-produce a film. Not only can you enter the domestic market, but you can also get 43% of the box office." He Ben reminded.

"Oh, I'm a little short-circuited, yes, how could I forget this." He Fang then slapped himself on the forehead hard.

"However, the co-production Changsha Tuanhuo must be funded, and there is also a Chinese starring role. It is best to be shot in China. You must apply for a "shooting license" in China, so this can be called a co-production."

"However, it's okay to play around the edges now. After all, the investigation is not strict. It's okay to have Chinese investment and Chinese leading actors not filming in China. That's how we helped you with your last film "Invasion of Wall Street."

"Okay, Dad, I know what to talk about, so I'll hang up."

"It's night in Los Angeles, so drink less."

"understood……"

After hanging up the phone, He Fang thought about it and found that if he used the name of co-production, wouldn't he be able to do a lot of things?

He Fang hasn't started to think about this matter yet, but they have already arrived at the place.

Chris Bender was quite enthusiastic, and led a group of actors to greet them at the door of the villa. This middle-aged man had the shape and characteristics of a southern European, with brown eyes, a thin face, and slightly curly hair.

"Hi, Johnson, welcome." Bender gave Du Chunsheng a big hug.

Du Chunsheng's English name is Johnson Du.

"Ha, Bender, good evening." Du Chunsheng responded enthusiastically, "Come on, let me introduce you..."

"No.No.No, this year's newly promoted director of the Palme d'Or, I know for sure. Dear Mr. He Fang, welcome to my party. My name is Chris Bender." Gentleman Bender stretched out his hand.

He Fang stepped forward to shake hands with him, "Ha, I have known you for a long time, "American Pie", "Cats and Dogs", "Death Comes", I have seen all these movies, and I like them very much."

"Haha, thank you for your liking. Come on, let me introduce you to some of my good friends. This is Mr. Jason Sudeikis. If you have watched "Saturday Night Live", I believe it is not good for him. It will be unfamiliar." Bender introduced.

"Hi, Mr. He Fang, nice to meet you."

"Hello, Mr. Sudeikis."

"Come on, let's meet this one, Miss Emma Roberts, one of our four little stars."

He Fang looked at Emma Roberts. Emma Roberts, who was only 20 years old, was still very tender and belonged to the range that could make people move.

"Mr. He Fang, hello, nice to meet you." Emma Roberts shook hands with He Fang enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you too, beautiful Miss Emma."

"Ha, this is..."

"I know, beautiful Ms. Jennifer Aniston, I love your character on Friends."

……

He Fang got to know everyone one by one, then went inside, and chatted with everyone with wine.

"He, I heard from Johnson that you have a way to let our small and medium-budget films enter the Chinese market?" Chris Bender asked.

He Fang shrugged and took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Chris Bender, "Chinese tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, not a mixed flavor, do you want to try it? It will be a bit choking."

"Oh, really? Then I'll try." Chris nodded.

"He, can I have one?" Emma Roberts asked.

"Of course, who wants it?" He Fang distributed one to each of those who needed it.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

"Wow, it's delicious." Chris nodded after taking a sip, "It's even more fragrant, the tobacco smell is very charming."

"Haha, yes. What you said is that it is very difficult for small and medium-budget films to enter the Chinese market. Because there is a quota for imported films in China now, basically the ones that can get in are blockbuster films made at high cost."

He Fang said that Chris was a little disappointed.

"However, you can go in if you want to, but there is a price to pay." He Fang changed his words again.

"Oh? What price?" Chris asked.

"Like the "Invasion of Wall Street" film we made in Hollywood in June, it becomes a Sino-US co-production, so that it can not only enter the Chinese market, but also get much higher box office revenue than imported films."

"Hmm, how much is much higher?" Chris obviously wanted to weigh it.

"Currently Hollywood blockbusters can only get 13% of the box office when they enter the Chinese market, but after becoming a Sino-US co-production, the box office share is 43%."

"Wow, it's a full thirty points higher?" Chris Bender was shocked, he didn't expect it to be so much higher.

"Yes, it's that much higher, because Sino-US co-productions have the same status as Chinese domestic films in the Chinese market." He Fang nodded.

"Then how can it become a co-production?" Chris was moved.

"Several conditions, one is that more than one-third of the film investment is Chinese investment, two is that at least one of the leading actors in the film is a Chinese actor, and the third is that the filming must be Chinese. Fourth, and the most important condition, that is The content must be reviewed and approved by China's review department before it can be released. That's all."

After He Fang finished speaking, he spread his hands.

Chris shook his head after listening, deeply disappointed.

"Investment is acceptable, and Chinese actors can and can barely accept it, but it's too difficult to film in China and accept Chinese censorship. I heard that Chinese censors don't even allow kissing scenes, let alone show fierceness, and legs must be tightly wrapped. Oh, if In this way, no one will watch the movie when it is released in North America."

Chris spread his hands, but He Fang laughed.

It can be seen how deep this misunderstanding is, and how seriously the American media has smeared China.

"Haha... No, no, no, Bender, it's not what you think. In China's censorship, as long as there is no dew point and direct sex scenes, everything else is allowed." He Fang made a few Gestures to indicate where.

Bender was stunned, surprised, "Is that so? Didn't you say... Cough, that, sorry, heh, maybe I misunderstood."

"If this is the case, it is acceptable. But how to solve the problem of Chinese filming?"

"This is easier. Our company only needs to submit an application. It's relatively easy now. If it really doesn't work, you can use the green screen." He Fang spread his hands easily, and took a sip of the wine glass with one hand.

"It means that you only need one-third of the investment from China, a Chinese actor, and a review by the Chinese censorship department?"

"Yes, China's censorship authorities didn't expect it to be as scary. If you think about it, so many Hollywood blockbusters are basically included without any cuts."

"As long as there are no revealing or direct pornographic scenes, and there is no excessive bloody violence in it, and there are no plots that insult Chinese culture and people, of course there are no plots that attack our system and people, everything else will basically pass. He Fang and Bender explained the censorship system in China.

"Well, it's not difficult. Our movies rarely have such content. Well, He, I'm moved by what you said. Do you have any intention to invest in our new movie? A comedy without any excessive plot With the camera, except for the kiss."

Chris Bender asked formally.

"Well, I have to take a look at your script, production plan, and cast, etc. It's impossible for me to invest in a movie that I don't understand, do you think so?"

"Haha... That's for sure. In this way, I will send these materials to your mailbox tomorrow. What is your email address?"

……

The next few people chatted briefly about the plot of the movie, let He Fang listen to the general story, and asked if there is any recommendation for Chinese actors to participate in the performance.

He Fang first confirmed whether a male or female actor could participate in the role. Chris was immediately stunned by the question. He really didn't expect to give a Chinese actor a role.

And what Fang He said is that it must be the main character, the protagonist is the best, if it cannot be the protagonist, it must be the main supporting role.

In Hollywood, there are strict classifications for protagonists, main supporting roles, secondary supporting roles, small supporting roles, special invitations, and group performances, so once relevant commitments are made, corresponding roles must be given.

For example, the protagonist, what is the protagonist?That is, the plot in which the protagonist participates accounts for about 70%-80% of the entire film to be considered the protagonist.

What about the main supporting roles?That is to say, the plot in which the main supporting role participates accounts for more than 50% of the whole film can be regarded as the main supporting role.

How many secondary characters are there? More than 5%-49% of the scene.

What about supporting roles? 1-5%.

Special invitations and guest appearances are actors who appear a limited number of times within 1 minute or a few minutes and have lines. Those whose roles are within 5 scenes are special invitations.

Needless to say, group performances?

It is precisely because of this target that once the co-operation agreement is signed with the actor as the main supporting role, then the role will be stipulated, and if it is not met, it will be a breach of contract.

This is also to ensure the interests of the actors, and it is to ensure that the initial script will not be greatly modified or deleted in the later stage.

This kind of thing often happens in China. An actor signed the contract of the protagonist, but turned into a supporting role after being cut out.

Of course, this is not bad. The most hateful thing is that someone obviously participated in a certain TV series or movie as the leading actor, but after the final cut, the role of the entire character was taken away, and he became a superfluous actor.

This is very embarrassing. Did the actor act in this play or not?
Among them, in order to protect their own interests, or to expand their own interests, an actor directly brought the screenwriter into the group, and then chattered to the producer and director that he wanted to change the script.

In the end, the roles of the strong actors were rewritten by the screenwriter brought by the actors to take up most of the space, while the opponent's scenes were directly deleted and disappeared.

This is most common in the field of TV dramas. Of course, it also happens in the field of movies, but it is not as serious as in the field of TV dramas.

For example, the quarrel between Zhen Zizi and Zhao Wenzhuo was because Zhen Zizi changed the script, which made Zhao Wenzhuo very dissatisfied.

Therefore, Chris said that he should think carefully about this matter, how can he understand it, after all, he is the main character.

Now that the basic framework has been negotiated, it's time for real fun.

Emma was anxiously waiting there, her eyes kept scanning He Fang's body, and the desire inside was almost overflowing.

Who told Americans to like the strong?If you are good at making movies, actors will like it.

Others were also interested and went to other places to chat with wine glasses, and in the end He Fang and Emma were still sitting here.

"Hi, He, your smile is so charming..." Emma really can't find the words to strike up a conversation?
Of course not, that's how Westerners strike up a conversation.

(End of this chapter)