Entertainment tycoon who started out as a director

Chapter 84 Pioneering
A conference room of China Film Group Corporation.

On one side are Han Sanpin, Li Xiaoping, and Huayi’s Wang Zhonglei.

The other party is representatives of domestic large and medium-sized theater chains such as Beijing New Film Alliance.

"Mr. Han, Mr. Li, Mr. Wang."

"I just don't understand, why do you insist on doing something to increase the share? It has been this share for so many years, isn't it good?" A theater representative said and knocked on the table excitedly.

"Is everything okay?"

Li Xiaoping seemed very calm and presented the facts one by one to make sense.

"The revenue of producers and distributors in North America exceeds 50.00%. Even overseas, they can get an average of 40.00% of box office revenue."

"But how many production companies and distribution companies do we have in China?"

"I don't think I need to tell everyone that this number is well known."

"Just show it first. It's not an option to hold on like this. If you don't release it quickly, then the North American images will be spread and piracy will spread, and you won't be able to make a penny." Some people are talking about it. , and made threats in his words.

It’s really called a combination of soft and hard tactics.

Unfortunately, his threats had no effect on Li Xiaoping.

Gu Ming thought about the problem of piracy when he decided to rely on foreign box office to boost domestic box office.

Therefore, the version given to American publishers has Chinese and English subtitles when speaking in Chinese, and only English subtitles when speaking in English.

When pirated copies come over, unless the pirates add subtitles, it will depend on everyone's English proficiency.

My English is not good enough to even read pirated copies.

Moreover.

"The U.S. copyright fee for the movie "Taken" was US$600 million. Based on the current box office figures, the price in other overseas regions must be at least US$3000 million."

"Calculating the domestic box office, if there are 800 million, how much will be left in the mouths of the producers and distributors? Thirty-eight million, which is less than 500 million US dollars, and we still have to pay publicity fees, distribution fees, and final profits. Just about 300 million.”

“It’s less than one-tenth of the total income, it doesn’t matter to us!”

But theaters are very important.

It has been so difficult to work in theaters these years.

Box office sales shrank rapidly.

Their eyes are red with anticipation for a movie that can boost the box office.

After knowing that Gu Ming's "Hurricane Rescue" was so popular abroad, I wanted to take a bite.

Now tell them that if they take a bite, their share will be reduced.

With this score, other films will have to eat less in the future!

Feeling that the atmosphere was almost over, Li Xiaoping did not continue to press hard.

Instead, he persuaded her with earnest words.

"Disaster!"

"I know it's difficult for you, and it's difficult for us too."

"So why don't everyone just do it?"

"Everyone takes a step back. We no longer require 40.00%. The producer's share of distribution will be 40.00%."

Li Xiaoping showed her final bottom line and continued to bewitch.

"Producers can't make money, and no one is willing to invest in movies. The end result is that funds don't flow into the film industry, and the talent and equipment are not good enough. More and more people are watching the movies produced, and the income of your theaters is getting lower and lower."

"If you increase it to 40.00%, you won't make much less. The increased box office will completely smooth out the difference and even make more money."

After saying this, Han Sanpin winked.

For a giant like China Film Group Corporation, it would be strange if there weren’t a few obedient theater chains.

After receiving Han Sanpin's look, the other party immediately stood up and said, "I agree, 40.00% is 40.00%, survive first."

We all go hungry together, no problem.

I was hungry and watched others being full.

How is this possible?

An insider took the lead, and in an instant, more than a dozen theater chains stopped holding on and agreed to a 40.00% share.

China Film signed a contract with them on the spot.

The remaining people couldn't sit still and hurried out to make phone calls and signed another batch.

The only few who thought they could survive saw others signing contracts, so they had no choice but to follow the crowd and sign contracts with China Film.

"Thank you, Mr. Han!" Li Xiaoping shook hands with Han Sanpin.

"Hey, you are the ones who take the most risks." Han Sanpin sighed slightly, "We hold the distribution rights of imported films. They would not dare to fall out with us no matter what, but you."

"We have Mr. Gu, they will not fall out with Qian!"

In fact, Li Xiaoping didn't know why Gu Ming did this.

Two percent can't increase the box office much. Is it necessary to offend all theater chains?

Although there is a high probability that the other party will forget about it in a few years, but what if?
When she went to report to Gu Ming with the signed contract, Li Xiaoping couldn't hold it in any longer and asked her psychological doubts.

"Just keep your heart in your stomach."

"Normal business negotiations, but also targeted retaliation against us."

"They are reluctant to part with us when they still need us."

I don’t know when it will be when it’s no longer needed.

Of course, there was another reason Gu Ming didn't say.

If you act like this, Zhang Weiping will definitely follow up.

And he will be stronger than me!
The new scene in the previous life was that Zhang Yimou had to negotiate for a profit increase when making a movie. Step by step, he pushed forward, causing the theater chain to retreat by 5.00%.

It’s just something you do once, it’s still so early, and there are people behind you to block the knife, so it’s not a big problem!
"You just trust my judgment when it comes to movies."

Gu Ming stood up and prepared to go out.

When he walked to the door, he turned around and said to Li Xiaoping, "There is one more thing, thank you for your hard work."

"I'm also worried about the company."

"I know."

Gu Ming nodded slightly, walked out of the office, and then went directly to China Film and Television and found Han Sanpin. "Li Xiaoping just left, why are you here?"

Han Sanpin was a little surprised, surprise and smile appeared on his face at the same time, "Are you here to celebrate?"

"I have a few things I want to discuss with you."

"Tell me about it." Han Sanpin made a sitting gesture.

"It's all about Taken."

"Let's have a grand premiere." The auditorium didn't dare to think about it anymore. "We can invite as many people as we can and make it star-studded."

“Secondly, we must do a good job in preventing piracy.”

"There are security personnel supervising the printing process. The copies are divided into three boards. Each person is only responsible for one board. Security guards are required to follow the whole process. You are not allowed to bring bags into the theater. You have to bring them for inspection. Try to prevent secret photography."

"In addition, investigators were dispatched to prevent theaters from stealing box office tickets. We just got involved with them, and if we can't protect everything, they will immediately retaliate against us."

"Isn't it a bit much?" Han Sanpin was also shocked by Gu Ming's call.

"It doesn't count, does it?"

After all, in the previous life, "Hero" was more strict than this.

"Besides, it's not that we won't let people who are in financial distress watch pirated copies, but we can definitely delay watching them, for example, one month after the release."

"What's the situation now?"

"Less than a week after it was released, some pirated copies came out even within three days. Within two weeks, pirated discs were all over the world. Those who sold pirated copies couldn't wait to sell them directly in front of the theater."

"In the end, even if you don't lack the money, you won't go to the theater to watch the original version."

"There are cheaper ones. If I spend more money to buy tickets, doesn't that make me look stupid? I will also be laughed at by my friends."

"But..." Han Sanpin frowned, "This won't stop piracy, right?"

"Taken" created such a big battle abroad.

The chain of piracy must have been ready for a long time.

It's impossible to stop that forever.

"As long as it can be stopped for two weeks, at least people who have the spending power and are eager to see the film should not watch pirated copies."

"Okay, I'll ask China Film Distribution to focus on this matter and do as you say."

Han Sanpin took a deep breath, slapped the table, and decided to side with Gu Ming.

A "Taken".

Not only did it bring considerable profits to China Film, but it also earned him several compliments from the superiors.

People have brought so much to themselves, and it would be too uninteresting not to take on some things.

How dare you cooperate next time?
And these operations are obviously beneficial to the development of the domestic film market.

It's not impossible to take advantage of the opportunity to do something like this.

……

After talking about this matter with Han Sanpin, Gu Ming always felt empty in his heart.

It seems like I forgot something.

Until I returned to Venus, I happened to meet Zhou Xun.

"I go!"

"I was so busy that I forgot to ask about this."

After patting his forehead and wiping his face, Gu Ming asked, "Have you won the Golden Horse Award?"

"You shouldn't ask if you won the Golden Horse Best Director?"

Zhou Xun blinked his eyes and tilted his head, like a deer, full of agility.

"What do you think?"

"None of them." Zhou Xun shrugged, "I gave Teacher Li Xuejian the Golden Horse Award."

"The best director goes to Du Qifeng of "Gunfire"."

"Best drama film goes to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

"I lost to Zhang Manyu from "In the Mood for Love"." When talking about her, Zhou Xun's eyes showed a trace of longing.

"Her performance in it is really good, and this movie is also..."

"How should I put it? I think it's a very good film."

"Normal." Gu Ming smiled.

This "In the Mood for Love" can be regarded as the pinnacle of the Sunglasses King.

Maybe the box office is not high, but in the eyes of most viewers, it still looks like the King of Sunglasses.

But in the eyes of professionals, it is an absolute masterpiece.

It ranked No. 2022 on the 5 "Sight and Sound" list of the greatest films in film history (Critics Edition).

In front of it are works such as "Citizen Kane", "Tokyo Story" and "Vertigo".

The Director's Cut also ranked No. 9.

The films ahead of them in both rankings are all films made before 1976.

2000's "In the Mood for Love" was really eye-catching.

It’s just genius combined with difficulty in choosing, which really makes people speechless.

"By the way, why don't you look disappointed at all?"

"What am I missing?" Gu Ming shrugged, "If you don't give me the best director, you won't give it to me. I don't lack a Golden Horse best director."

If he didn't want his artists to win an award and rise in popularity, Gu Ming really wouldn't care.

With two of Europe's top three in hand, it really doesn't matter whether they have the Golden Horse or not.

"That's right, you have achieved so much success in commercial films, so there is no need to care too much about a golden horse."

"By the way, will I be part of the next film?"

"I quite like being with you...making movies."

(End of this chapter)