China Entertainment Mythology 2004

Chapter 100 Interview
CCTV, studio hall.

The focus of this interview is to chat with Li Mu about the big problem of Chinese films going global, but it is also inevitable to mention the recent uproar of Hollywood stars coming to China for auditions.

"We have noticed that many Hollywood stars have come to Beijing recently. I heard that they are here to audition for your new movie "Inception". Can you talk to us about the specific situation?"

Li Mudao: "Recently, the preparatory team of "Inception" did send out audition invitations to many Hollywood actors. When I first wrote "Inception", I considered that domestic science fiction novels are too small, so the writing is good. It is difficult to sell [-] copies, so I aimed at the relatively mature sci-fi market in the United States at that time, so many foreign characters appeared in my works. Now the film is just starting to prepare, and these large numbers of foreign characters Most of them will be kept, so naturally many Hollywood actors will be invited."

Wang Ning said: "Someone on the Internet has counted the Hollywood stars who came to China in the recent period, and focused on the Hollywood stars who have appeared near China Film. These mainly include Jared Leto, Michael Fassbender, Jude Law, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, etc. We know that these people are well-known actors in Hollywood, and their acting skills have generally been recognized by the public, so I am very curious , if you want to choose a leading role among so many outstanding actors, will it be a bit difficult to choose? After all, everyone is so outstanding."

"No, because for a qualified director, he must have a relatively clear understanding of the role he is going to create. When you know what you really want, you will no longer be judged by those Bewildered by the colorful outside world, and..."

Li Mu paused for a moment and continued, "Among the actors you just listed, there is no actor in "Inception". The actor we signed is actually Tom Hanks, and he is also the first actor appointed by the crew. .The actors who came to China to audition these days are actually signing relatively important supporting roles in the movie.”

Wang Ning nodded and said: "Tom Hanks, a very good American actor, public information shows that he has won two Oscars for Best Actor. But you use so many Hollywood stars in one movie, including Tom Hanks With a top Hollywood star like Chris, I'm afraid the production cost of the movie will not necessarily be huge."

Li Mudao: "These people are just participating in auditions, not everyone will sign with the crew of "Inception", but the production cost of the film is indeed relatively high."

Wang Ning said: "Is it convenient to disclose a rough figure?"

Li Mudao: "My initial budget was about 1.1 million U.S. dollars at most. Because many actors have been appointed recently, the budget is becoming more and more accurate. At present, it may take 1.2 million U.S. dollars to complete this. movie.

Wang Ning said: "US$1.2 million is really an astonishing figure. I checked the relevant information and found that the box office of domestic movies in 06 was only 26 billion yuan, which means that the production cost of one movie has reached the domestic annual production cost. More than a third of the box office total."

Li Mudao: "The domestic film market is developing rapidly. I believe that our film market will become higher and higher in the future, and it will even be higher than people imagine now."

……

After the program was broadcast, the whole country was in an uproar.

So many Hollywood stars come to China to audition, which is already explosive news, but Li Mu said in an exclusive interview with CCTV that these people auditioned for supporting roles, and the real protagonist of the film has already signed the film. , is Tom Hanks!
It turned out to be Tom Hanks who nominated two statuettes in five awards, and it was Mr. Forrest Gump!

But just when everyone thought that things were going to be like this at most, Li Mu quietly revealed another amazing melon——The production cost of "Inception" was as high as 1.2 million U.S. dollars!
What is the concept of 1.2 million US dollars?
If the movie is only released in China, it will take 22 billion at the box office to recoup its cost, but now the domestic box office champion is Li Mu's "Assassin", which is only 3.6 million.

crazy!

This group of filmmakers are really crazy!As the old saying goes, those who sing operas are lunatics, those who watch operas are idiots, no, those who make movies are lunatics, and those who watch movies are idiots!

It costs so much money to make a movie, how much rice and flour do you need to buy!

Fans of "Inception" couldn't believe their eyes and ears, what's going on?Cobb played by Mr. Forrest Gump?
"Director Li Mu is amazing!"

"Let's all go away, "Inception" is ready, everyone can wait for the next year to watch the movie on their knees!"

"Tom Hanks is the god of acting in my heart! The most important thing is what he looks like! Li Mu invited him here without making any noise. It's a beautiful job!"

"Well, the best candidate for the leading role in my mind is actually Leonardo, but I dared to think about it before. I didn't expect Li Mu to really dare to hire an actor of this level!"

"I'm dying of laughter. Everyone has been arguing for a long time about who is the protagonist among the Hollywood stars who came to China. In the end, all the fucking people are supporting roles. The protagonist has already signed the contract, and Forrest Gump, who has won two Oscars. !"

Everyone who cares about the entertainment industry will be stunned after seeing the news. Everyone can't understand why Li Mu suddenly made such a big noise again?

Zhang Ziyi read "Inception" overnight, and after reading it, she felt that the role of the hero's wife was perfect for her, especially the scene where the hero's wife stabbed someone with a knife on the bridge. Zhang Ziyi already felt it, and she even started to enter the scene up.

If you let her act!

Fan Binbin stayed up all night analyzing why Li Lianhua was able to win the role of Lucy in "Super Body", and finally came to the conclusion after much deliberation: because she is coquettish!

It sure is!

Because there is no other reason, it can't be because Li Mu likes older people, right?
Yang Mi and Zhang Xiaofei listened to the intense discussions and longings of the students from Beijing Film Academy, and Zhang Xiaofei couldn't help feeling: "It's 1.2 million US dollars to make a movie, and we dare not print such a large denomination on the grave in our hometown."

Yang Mi thought of the conversation she had with Yuan Shanshan last time. At that time, she said that if Li Mu was the kind of person who knew unspoken rules, she didn't know whether she would agree to the other party. Now she knows, if there is a chance, If so, she will anti-submarine!

In China Film.

Several producers including Li Mu, Han Sanping and Yu Dong continued to discuss the issue of supporting roles.

In fact, most characters Li Mu can make decisions by himself, but he still insists on the principle of discussing with everyone as much as possible.

After some discussions, everyone finally agreed that Hong Jinbao will play the role of the pharmacist.

The pharmacist is a boss-like character who controls the huge underground drug business. In the original movie, a fat man of Indian origin plays the role. Li Mu thinks that Hong Jinbao is perfectly qualified for this role.

With Li Mu's current status, it would not take much trouble to get Hong Jinbao's cell phone number, so he quickly called.

"Brother Hong Jinbao, I'm Li Mu. I have a character in my hand that I think is very suitable for you. It is an important member of the protagonist team. The schedule is from February to May next year. The specific time depends on the follow-up arrangement. You see. Can you come over and help me then?"

Hong Jinbao's thick voice came from the other end of the phone: "No problem, Director Li, since you found me, you trust me, Hong Jinbao. If you trust me, I, Hong Jinbao, will do my best to satisfy you."

"Thank you very much." Li Mu said.

"Let's make an appointment, and I'll go to Beijing to audition." Hong Jinbao said again.

"No, no, since I called my brother, it means I know in my heart that my brother will definitely be able to play this role well, so the audition will be waived," Li Mu said.

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Hong Jinbao said.

……

After hanging up the phone, Hong Jinbao was in a good mood.

Who is the hottest filmmaker in Xiangjiang, and even in China?
It must be Li Mu!

Three top Hollywood productions with a global box office of more than 10 billion US dollars - although Li Mu is a mainlander, he has long been a myth in the Hong Kong film industry.

Cheng Long has worked with him, and Li Lianlian has also worked with him. The production cost of "Assassin" is as high as 6000 million US dollars!Now Li Mu personally called Hong Jinbao to cooperate with him, and the film production budget reached an astonishing 1.2 million US dollars!
This is Li Mu's recognition of Hong Jinbao!
Strolling to the set, he turned his head and heard a few newcomers from Hong's class gathering together to brag.

"It costs 1.2 million US dollars to make a bad movie? I think it's a scam! With their little tricks, they can only fool laymen who have never seen the market, but they can't fool us. Who doesn't know who is waiting for this movie? After the filming is over, the 1.2 million US dollars will become clean money?"

"That's the reason! 1.2 million US dollars to make a movie? You can't cheat a fool like this!"

Hong Jinbao suddenly stopped in front of several people. Seeing this, they all greeted each other:

"Big brother!"

"Big brother..."

Hong Jinbao said with a dark face: "No one should spread such baseless rumors in the future, do you hear me clearly?"

"Listen!"

"Understood, brother!"

(End of this chapter)