China Entertainment started in 2004

Chapter 551 Interstellar
Wang Shu is currently meeting with Paramount staff.

"Shu, we have a project here. Are you interested?" said the Paramount person.

"What project?" Wang Shu asked puzzledly.

"A science fiction film project." The Paramount person replied with a smile.

"This project was originally led by Steven Spielberg, but recently Steven moved his studio DreamWorks to Disney Studios, so now a new director is needed to direct the film."

When Wang Shu heard this, he suddenly felt somewhat familiar and reacted quickly.

The director of this science fiction film project of Paramount was changed because Steven Spielberg left for Disney.
Isn’t this science fiction film project "Interstellar"?

Of course, this isn’t Interstellar yet, but it’s a precursor.

The premise for the classic science fiction film Interstellar was conceived by filmmaker Linda Obst and theoretical physicist Kip S. Thorne.

The two worked together in the 1997 film "Contact" and were introduced to each other by astronomer Carl Sagan.

The two then conceived two plans based on Thorne's scientific research results.

Soon after, the magical topic of space exploration attracted the interest of film producer Steven Spielberg.

So, the film began development in June 2006.

At the time, Spielberg and Paramount Pictures announced plans for an eight-page science fiction film written by Linda Obst and Kip Thorne.

In March 2007, Jonathan Nolan was hired to write the script for the film.

This Jonathan Nolan is Christopher Nolan's younger brother.

Right now, the project has been suspended due to Spielberg's move to Disney.

It was not until around 2012 that the project began to move forward again.

In the original timeline, Christopher Nolan was confirmed as the director of the film in 2013.

He was chosen as the director of "Interstellar" and the starring role because of the success of "The Dark Knight" in 08, "Inception" in 10, and "The Dark Knight Rises" in 12.

The success of these films allowed Paramount to see Christopher Nolan's ability to direct science fiction films.

But now, there is a director in front of us who can also make science fiction movies, has won the Oscar for Best Director, and can write scripts.

Paramount Pictures then set its sights on Wang Shu and sent someone to negotiate with him.

"A science fiction movie?" Wang Shu showed interest when he heard it.

When the Paramount people saw this, they smiled and gave a brief explanation of the script.

After listening to this, Wang Shu pretended to frown and said, "To be honest, I am very interested in this project, but if I were to be the director, I would like to write the script according to my own ideas."

In the original timeline, the script of "Interstellar" had actually been roughly created due to Steven Stillberg's four years of hard work.

However, some details and context in this script are different from the version directed by Christopher Nolan.

When Christopher Nolan was invited to direct the film in 2013, he told Paramount and Warner that he wanted to collaborate with his brother Jonathan Nolan to write the script according to his ideas.

After discussions, Paramount and Warner agreed to this matter and decided that Christopher Nolan would direct it.

Christopher Nolan then worked with his brother to create the latest version of the script based on the original script, adding his own ideas to it.

If Wang Shu wants to make Christopher Nolan's version of "Interstellar", then he has to propose to modify the script.

Otherwise, the story of the original script will differ from Christopher Nolan's version.

As for leaving Paramount and leading the production of the movie "Interstellar" on his own, that's pure nonsense.

Although this movie was released in 2014, its development had already begun in 2006.

The rough script was already there in 07, but it has been still being polished.

If he single-handedly led the production of an "Interstellar" movie, Paramount would have a lot of question marks in its mind after looking at the script.

I was wondering, why does your movie have so many similarities with the script I have been writing and polishing for many years?
By then, there will inevitably be wrangling, questioning, suspicion, and so on.

After all, in terms of time, Paramount started development in 2006.

If Wang Shu does anything later than this time, he will be suspected and questioned.

As for getting Interstellar out before 2006,
It can only be said that at this point in time, the domestic film and television industry did not have the corresponding special effects technology, and the Chinese-language film with the highest box office throughout the year was only "Curse of the Golden Flower", which grossed over 2 million yuan.

There is no problem in filming "Interstellar". You can invest more than 10 or 200 billion yuan, first go to Iceland for real scene shooting, and then take it to the United States for production by an American special effects company.

Just fine.

only.
It was released in theaters and became a huge hit at the box office, setting a record by earning 3 million.

The film was also a huge hit when it was released overseas, earning 2 million RMB.

A total of RMB 5 million.

In other words, even if a movie with an investment of more than 10 or 200 million yuan has a huge box office in China, its overseas revenue will only be around 400 to 500 million yuan.

Adding other income, it would be at most 500 to 600 million.

And this is still under the premise of optimism.

If you are not optimistic, you may invest more than 10 or 200 million yuan but only get a return of 200 or 300 million yuan.

The investment and return are not proportional.

Anyone can tell that this kind of project has no chance of success in China at this time.

Since it couldn’t be produced in China before 2006, if Wang Shuruo had any ideas about this film after 2006, he could only cooperate with Paramount.

"Write the script based on your ideas?" The Paramount staff were stunned when they heard this.

Then I thought of Wang Shu himself, who is a director who can write and direct his own films. Whether it is "Time Traveler", "Ghost Ship", or "Taipei Trip", the scripts were all written by him personally.

It is reasonable to ask for a script based on his ideas now.

However, the fact that the other party made this request clearly shows that they are not satisfied with the existing story.

The Paramount staff thought for a moment and said, "Shu, I can't promise you this directly. I need to discuss it with the company before I can give you a reply."

This person also understood that although Wang Shu’s request was to create the script according to his ideas, the extended things required the crew to follow his arrangements.

In Hollywood, only a few big directors can make movies according to their own ideas. Most directors just follow the script to make movies and do not have the right to modify the script.

The film will be shot according to the script.

Wang Shu’s request is already the treatment only big directors can get.

However, the other party is the youngest Oscar-winning director in history and is indeed qualified to make such a request.

"Okay." Wang Shu also knew that the other party could not make the decision, so he smiled and nodded.

If it was in the domestic entertainment industry, his suggestion would not be a big deal. Because the domestic entertainment industry is director-centered, even if there is a script, the movie is actually shot according to the director's ideas.

Many times, in the end, the finished film is very different from the original script.

But Hollywood is a producer-centered system, and directors need to shoot strictly according to the script and cannot follow their own ideas.

He is really interested in the movie "Interstellar".

Not to mention anything else, the great director Chen Kaige publicly praised the movie in front of everyone.

Wang Shu really wanted to know, if it was him who shot this movie, would Director Chen still give him a thumbs-up?
In the afternoon, Wang Shu received a call from Elizabeth Fox.

"Shu, is Paramount also going to participate in the co-production?" Elizabeth asked.

Wang Shu was puzzled when he heard this and asked in surprise: "Where did you hear that?"

Elizabeth was also a little confused when she heard Wang Shu's surprised tone. She said, "It's on the news that you met with someone from Paramount."

Wang Shu suddenly realized after hearing this. As the saying goes, one hears a rumor and believes it to be true. He had only met with people from Paramount this morning, but he didn't expect that it would be in the news in the afternoon.

Not only did the news come out, but it was also reported that Paramount came to us seeking to participate in co-production...

Pure rumor.

"No." Wang Shu explained, "Although I met with people from Paramount today, we didn't talk about co-productions."

"If it's not about co-production, then what is it about?" Elizabeth asked puzzledly.

Wang Shu smiled and said, "Yili, I can only assure you that it is not about co-production. As for what it is specifically about, you will know when the time comes."

"I'll know when the time is right?" Elizabeth pondered over the words and then said tentatively, "Steven brought his DreamWorks to Disney not long ago, and Paramount's science fiction film, which had been in preparation for three or four years, seemed to have been shelved because of this."

“Science fiction movie.”

"Shu, you happen to be good at making science fiction movies."

"Paramount contacted you, isn't it just for this movie project?"

Wang Shu fell silent after hearing this. After all, there are many smart people in the world.

I didn't expect that even though I didn't mention it and just repeatedly assured that it was not a co-production, the other party guessed the movie "Interstellar".

Elizabeth saw that Wang Shu didn't say anything, and she understood what he meant. She smiled and said, "Shu, Steven bringing his DreamWorks to Disney is a big deal in Hollywood, and many people know about it."

"Similarly, many people also know that Steven's previous science fiction film project with Paramount was shelved."

This was telling Wang Shu that this matter was not difficult to guess.

Anyone who knows a little about the situation can deduce it.

Even though Elizabeth had deduced it, Wang Shu would not admit it.

Not to mention that the matter has not even started yet, the fact that the matter has been agreed upon and then the definite answer comes from him, doesn't it seem that he can't wait to show off his cooperation with Paramount, one of the eight major Hollywood film companies?

"Eli, I can only say that I did meet with someone from Paramount today, but we didn't talk about co-production," said Wang Shu.

"I know." Elizabeth smiled and said, "Shu, if it's not you, then I won't disturb you from working."

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Wang Shu continued.

After ending the call with Elizabeth, Wang Shu immediately turned on his computer and saw the news about his meeting with people from Paramount.

"Could it be that the news was released by Paramount?" Wang Shu pondered.

Although his meeting with people from Paramount today could not be considered secret, it was impossible for the meeting to be posted online right after.

Especially since the Paramount staff member who met him did not have the word "Paramount" engraved on his forehead, and the other party was not famous, who the hell could tell at a glance that he was from Paramount?
Couldn't it be someone from Warner or Fox?

From this we can see that it is most likely that Paramount released the news deliberately.

As for why Paramount did this.
Could it be that the other party has had contact with other directors to exert pressure?
No matter what, things have come to this point and Wang Shu is too lazy to think about it.

If you have the chance to take the movie "Interstellar", you'll shoot it. If not, forget it.

Not force.

At the same time, people are also discussing this matter online.

"Fuck, does Hollywood think so highly of Director Wang?"

A netizen posted a message on the forum with this title.

The following content reads: "Wang's co-production is known to have Warner and Fox, both of which are among the eight major Hollywood film companies."

"Now, here comes Paramount, one of the eight major Hollywood studios."

"Three of the eight Hollywood studios are here."

"How much do you think highly of Director Wang?"

"Cowhide!"

"I can only say that Director Wang is really awesome!"

Another netizen posted: "We already know that Warner and Fox are involved, and now Paramount is joining. These three are all among the eight major film and television companies in Hollywood."

"Tsk tsk, with the distribution capabilities of these three companies, the actors who can participate in this co-production will definitely have top resources to step onto the international stage!"

Many netizens are also aware that whether a movie’s release coverage is wide and how many screens it occupies depends entirely on the distribution capabilities of the distributor.

Now, in addition to Warner and Fox, there is Paramount, which has already shown that its overseas distribution capabilities will not be bad.

If it could cooperate with more overseas distribution companies in the future, its overseas distribution capabilities would be taken to a higher level.

As long as a movie has strong distribution capabilities, it can achieve good box office results even if its quality is mediocre.

While people were discussing this matter on the Internet, Wang Shu received a call from Han Sanping.

"Does Paramount also want to participate in co-production?" Han Sanping asked.

He also got the news, and seeing that it was being spread very seriously, he thought that Paramount would contact Wang Shu first, and then let Wang Shu take the lead in the negotiations.

Just like how Fox got involved at the time.

"That's not true. People outside are just spreading rumors." Wang Shu knew that Han Sanping didn't want too many film and television companies to get involved, so he explained.

"What's going on?" Han Sanping was stunned when he heard Wang Shu's denial.

Wang Shu smiled and explained: "Paramount has a movie project and wants to work with me."

"Ah?" Han Sanping was surprised when he heard that.

(End of this chapter)