China Entertainment Mythology 2004

Chapter 41
three days later.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Li Mu changed into formal clothes and got up to go out. After leaving the community, he hailed a taxi and went straight to China Film Group.

China Film Group was formed in February 8 by 1999 units including the original Zhonghua Film Company, Beijing Film Studio, China Children's Film Studio, China Film Co-production Company, China Film Equipment Company, and Movie Channel Program Center. It is the only company in mainland China that has the right to import films, and it is also the film company with the largest output in China.

When he came to China Film Group, he looked at the time. It was 10:[-], which was [-] minutes before the agreed time.

After asking about the route, Li Mu went straight to Han Sanping's deputy director's office. Before he had walked a few steps, a middle-aged man approached him.

"You are Director Li, right? I'm Director Han's assistant. My surname is Zhang. Director Han and several other guests are already in the office."

Li Mu nodded, followed Assistant Zhang, and asked at the same time, "Excuse me, who is in Director Han's office now?"

Assistant Zhang said with a smile: "There are Mr. Yu from Bernard, Mr. Wang Zhonglei from Huayi, and Director Yan from Xiying."

Li Mu asked again: "Did the three bosses arrive early?"

The assistant smiled and said, "I just arrived."

Li Mu nodded and stopped asking.

Entering Director Han's office, he saw several CEOs sitting around the tea table. Deputy Director Han Sanping faced the door, so he saw Li Mu come in first.

"Li Mu, come and sit down."

"it is good."

"Director Yan, President Yu, and President Wang."

"Sit down..."

After greeting several bosses one by one, Li Mu found a vacant seat and sat down. Assistant Zhang came over and poured Li Mu a cup of tea and then left.

Everyone talked about some trivial matters to enliven the atmosphere, and then quickly got to the point.

Han Sanping first said: ""Taken" is one of the benchmark works of Chinese-language movies going overseas in recent years, especially when Hollywood movies are attacking cities all over the world. Even Europe, the birthplace of the movie, has been hit and can only survive. Under the background, "Taken" can achieve a global box office of 2.7 million US dollars, which is even more commendable. The superior's evaluation of "Taken" is twelve words: very good results, guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and forge ahead."

Wang Zhonglei said: "What's more difficult is that Xiying and Cheng Long dared to adopt the sharing model. The buyout price of 2500 million US dollars was a sky-high price a few months ago, but now it looks like a blood loss. Director Yan, you have made too much money this time." Two to three times the income."

Yan Yiyun smiled and said: "I am ashamed to say that I was opposed to signing the buyout contract at the time. I was afraid that I would not receive the money. It was Li Mu's idea. Let us find the National Credit Insurance Corporation to delay the payment of the film by means of credit insurance. Or non-payment, under-reporting of box office revenue, excessive use of copyright and other risks are passed on, I did not expect that things will really happen.”

Yu Dong said: "The success of "Taken" shows that there is still great potential for kung fu movies in the world, and Cheng Long and Li Lianlian have global influence. At this time, we must make persistent efforts and strive for greater achievements."

Then everyone looked at Li Mu, and then heard Han Sanping say again: "Li Lianlian asked Li Mu to write the script by name. In fact, his vision is quite vicious. If the new movie only wants to sell well in China, you can find someone else. There are not no good screenwriters in China. .”

"If the new movie only wants to sell well abroad, then you can find someone else. There are also many excellent screenwriters abroad. But if you want the new movie to sell well all over the world like "Taken", with domestic and international blossoms, I'm afraid it's still difficult. It really has to be Li Mu."

"I only recently heard that you, Li Mu, published a book in the United States and sold 8 million copies in 800 months. It is almost a certainty that you will pass 1000 million copies a year ago. As a native of China, he is very interested in Western Without a considerable understanding of human psychology, it is impossible to achieve such achievements, which is the guarantee for the international sales of new films."

Li Mudao: ""The Hunger Games" can achieve today's results, there may be quite a lot of luck."

Han Sanping laughed, and said: "'The Hunger Games' is a fluke, and 'Taken' is also a fluke, if there are so many lucks, it will further show that you, Li Mu, are a lucky general, and sometimes a lucky general is better than a brave general. "

Several people in the office laughed when they heard this.

Then Han Sanping asked sternly: "How is it? Is there any difficulty? It is the long-cherished wish of the people of the whole country to bring the two major kung fu hurricanes together for a peak confrontation. He is an important figure in the film industry, in order to satisfy the wish of the people of the whole country, everyone had to cross the sea and show their talents."

Li Mu pondered and said: "The biggest difficulty is to balance the positions of Li Lianlian and Cheng Long. Given their current status in the film industry and their international reputation, neither of them is likely to accept that they are inferior to each other. In the movie, the two The role of a person must be equal in acting, good and evil, and even in kung fu. This is no longer dancing with shackles, but being tied up and asking you to dance at the same time. This is almost an impossible task.”

Several people pondered.

Everyone knows that what Li Mu said is the truth, but now Li Lianlian asked Li Mu to write it. Cheng Long has more trust in Li Mu. When filming "Hurricane Rescue", he listened to Li Mu's persuasion and canceled the plan to add action scenes. So today this script can almost only be written by Li Mu.

In the end, Han Sanping broke the silence and said: "It is true that you are dancing under the tyranny of five flowers, but in my opinion, writing a novel that sold 8 million copies in the United States in 800 months is more difficult than reaching the sky. You can do it, There is no reason not to dance with Wuhuada tied up. But since the matter is extremely difficult, the reward must be generous, so I propose that if this matter is completed, we will give Li Mu a 3% share of the global box office, what do you think?"

Several people did not express their opinions immediately, and gave Li Mu a 3% dividend. What about Cheng Long and Li Lianlian?Do you want to give each person another 6%?This adds up to 15% of the global box office.

In the end, Yan Yiyun was the first to express his opinion: "Giving Li Mu 3% of the global box office dividend is not much."

He glanced at several people, and continued: "Li Mu's "The Hunger Games" has only been written for a few months, and now it has sold 800 million copies, and it may sell 1000 million copies, or even 1500 million copies in the future. , according to the pricing and royalties in the United States, this is nearly 3000 million US dollars in income, which does not include the income from a series of rights transfers such as subsequent film adaptation rights, and other income in the following decades. Li Mu takes 3% How many billions does it take for Li Mu to share 3000 million US dollars at the box office? Not to mention that if Li Mu agrees, the energy spent on this movie may far exceed that spent on "The Hunger Games" energy."

Li Mu glanced at Yan Yiyun gratefully, Yan Yiyun was expressionless, with an attitude that was completely matter-of-fact.

Then several people expressed their opinions one after another:
"can."

"If it can be approved by both Li Lianjie and Cheng Long, I have no objection."

"agree."

Then everyone's eyes fell on Li Mu's face again.

Li Mudao: "I'll do my best, but this matter is too difficult, I'm not sure, if I mess up in the end, don't blame the bosses."

Everyone laughed.

"Do your best."

"There is no certainty in the world."

"Success is all about breaking through."

Han Sanping asked again: "If you have any other requests, feel free to ask them now, and let's have a good discussion while everyone is here."

Li Mu pondered: "If the project is successful, can I be the director this time?"

The others fell silent again.

The investment of 6000 million US dollars may not be enough. The first collision between Cheng Long and Li Lianlian, the peak confrontation between the two kung fu superstars, is expected to surpass the project of "Taken", but Li Mu has never been a direct director. people to direct...

Everyone has indeed heard that director Li Mu is very skilled, and even director Huang Jianxin commented that Li Mu himself is fully capable of being the direct director of "Taken", but after all, this time it has a lot to do with it.

If it's just an ordinary movie, or even a large-scale movie with an investment of 8000 to [-] million yuan, Li Mu can be used.

But this time...

Moreover, the two foreign investment companies, Lionsgate and Columbia Pictures, are unlikely to accept a pure newcomer to direct.

Han Sanping pondered: "This project is a Chinese-foreign co-production, and the selection of the director is not something that we can decide on our own. If the director uses someone from our country, I am afraid that foreign companies can only accept directors of the level of Zhang Yimou and Li An. It can only be won through difficult negotiations."

Then he changed his style: "I have seen your performance in "Taken", it can be said that you have the potential to become a star, otherwise, you should assign yourself a role in the script that ranks among the top three What do you think about giving you a role as an assistant director like you did on Taken?"

Li Mu pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "Okay, I will do my best."

……

After leaving China Film Studios, Li Mu expressed his gratitude to director Yan Yiyun before renting out: "Thank you, director Yan, for speaking for me just now."

Yan Yiyun waved his hands and smiled: "It should be, everyone is from Xiying."

Li Mu nodded, said goodbye to Yan Yiyun, then got into a taxi and left.

In the taxi, Li Mu thought of what he had said to his uncle a few months ago: "It's better to be courageous than Tsinghua University and Peking University, and it's better to dare to break through like Harvard and Yale. Opportunities are made by breaking through. How can you figure it out?" Be more courageous, seek wealth and wealth..."

"Fight!"

(End of this chapter)