Entertainment: From the Octagon to the big screen

Chapter 112 - Angel Investors (please read more)
"I just received the project you recommended." After dinner, Chen Yu hid outside the shooting area and had a video connection with his management team.

Since the end of January this year, Chen Yu's management team has been contacting and testing screenwriters with scripts and directors waiting for opportunities.

Because during this period, Emmanuel’s focus was on coordinating, consulting, and supervising the launch of the first phase of the Manaus Ecological Entertainment Theme Park.
As a result, the work efficiency of Chen Yu's brokerage team has dropped slightly.

This was one of the reasons why Chen Yu didn't let them be distracted from Reba's investment in Liu Yifei's drama.

“The Irishman, directed and adapted by Mr. Martin Scorsese, reached out to me for investment.”

Chen Yu flipped through the bound outline of the script and the list of actors and other producers who had confirmed to participate in the film.

The total budget of this film was US$159 million, but due to a trick by Martin Scorsese, both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino agreed to only take a share of the box office without any additional upfront payment. Ladder base salary.

In this way, Martin Scorsese will have more financial space to restore the scenes in the original work.

"Sir, Director Scorsese plans to recreate a middle-class New York neighborhood full of 1970s style."

Emanuel's chief assistant raised an eyebrow at Chen Yu. This is the main reason why the film is so "burning money" even though there are no explosions or big action scenes such as car chases.

Chen Yu rubbed the tip of his nose that an outdated gang film had the audacity to ask for a fucking budget of US$159 million!
No wonder Paramount Pictures threw this hot potato directly to Netflix and quickly pulled out of the show.

In the letter, Mr. Martin Scorsese sincerely hopes that Chen Yu, an "angel investor", can help make up for the US$50 million gap.

Because three producers, including Netflix, only agreed to cash in on a budget of $110 million.

"Man, please don't recommend me this kind of crappy movie that obviously has no money in the future, okay?"

Chen Yu's criterion for distinguishing the quality of movies and dramas is very simple: whether it makes money.

And "The Irishman" is obviously a bad work that is completely out of touch with the times. Chen Yu feels that the box office of this piece of shit will probably not exceed 20 million US dollars.

Netflix and the other two studios are willing to spend money purely to compete for awards.

Chen Yu is very dedicated to the gold belt but has no interest in competing for film and television awards.

"If a film and television drama cannot sell tickets, then what is the value and significance of its existence?"

Chen Yu used this sentence to end the discussion of whether to follow "The Irishman". He would never give Martin Scorsese even a cent.

Emanuel's top aide was excited and grateful that his boss could make such a decisive decision.

In this way, the workload of him and his colleagues will be reduced by at least 15%.

"Sir, let's talk about the "Aquaman" project again?" Emanuel's chief assistant motioned to Chen Yu to open the blue folder.

The total budget of "Aquaman" is approximately US$200 million, and Warner Bros. is currently bidding for an investment share of US$30 million.

If Chen Yu is interested in investing, his competitors will be Netflix, Harsh and Unusual Pictures, and Legendary Pictures, which is often noisy with Warner Bros.

Legendary Pictures was acquired by Wanda Group last year, so Warner Bros. may not tolerate two yellow-skinned Chinese bosses dictating their own films.

Compared with Legendary Pictures, Chen Yu's advantage is that he won't force actors into it, and Chen Yu can only send someone to supervise the financial operations of the crew, and he doesn't bother to ask how to shoot.

But Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures can better tap into the Chinese market by joining forces, so if Chen Yu wants to subscribe for the 30 million share, he will definitely have to spend a lot of effort on public relations.

"Based on our quantitative calculations using mathematical models, this film may be able to earn a global box office of one billion U.S. dollars."

Chen Yu heard the "subtext" hidden in this sentence by Emanuel's chief assistant.

His management team believes that the profit margin of this film is not high.

Moreover, the director is Mr. James Wan, who is famous for his thrillers, which further increases the unknown risk factor of "Aquaman".

Although James Wan has created a profit-to-income ratio of 7.5 times for "Fast and Furious VII", he has also deceived the investment of many producers.

"Well, there is no need for us to [break hands] with Wanda Group. We should face up to our own strength. It is best to package our exit as a favor and give it to Wanda Group."

Chen Yu is just a junior who has just entered the capital circle, and the resources at his disposal are still limited.

So he very wisely chose to avoid the "big guys" who might become competitors.

"The big guy is not only resistant to beatings, but also has great wisdom."

Chen Yu reluctantly tugged at the corner of his mouth to signal Emmanuel's chief assistant to continue.

In addition, Chen Yu is not willing to have any interaction with Marvel or other American comic companies.

Because Chen Yu felt that this group of people were all crazy and always included sensitive content against the big Eastern country and made it very conspicuous.

As a result, Reba didn't dare to put the "Deadpool" comic series purchased by Chen Yu on the public record.

"Sir, the third one we recommend you focus on is the cartoon "Puss in Boots II"."

Because Universal Pictures was cooperating with Chen Yu to build the Manaus Ecological Entertainment Theme Park project, Mr. Mark Swift took advantage of the situation and invited Chen Yu to invest in it.

Universal Pictures is willing to give up 22% of the film's total budget of $91 million.

To be honest, even if this cartoon is destined to lose money, Chen Yu will still have to spend 20 million US dollars on it.

Because this is not investing in a film but spending money to build a bridge for future communication and communication.

"There is an additional item in the contract. When the film is sold to China, the dubbing work of the heroine [Soft Claw Girl] must be assigned to Dilraba. Do you understand?"

Emanuel's chief assistant took notes carefully and reminded Chen Yu that the film might not be released in China until 2022. But Chen Yu said that this did not stop Jiaxing or Reba from using it to make a fuss.

"Sir, don't you plan to voice the main character in this cartoon?"

Recalling his experience in "Zootopia", Chen Yu decisively refused.

The fourth film recommended to Chen Yu is "Fifty Shades Freed".

This project was originally a small-budget film that Universal Pictures paid attention to and tracked.

But because director James Foley didn't want to rely on Universal Pictures to prove himself, he demanded investment from independent producers.

But at this stage, many independent producers are waiting eagerly outside the offices of Spielberg and James Cameron.

So there were just some charlatans trying to get James Foley to turn on his phone.

"The two giant productions of "Ready Player One" produced by Spielberg and "Gun Dream" produced by Cameron are beyond my reach."

Although both directors are die-hard fans of Chen Yu.

But it's okay to give Chen Yu a few guest spots, but if he wants to invest in the project, Chen Yu is not qualified yet.

"James Foley's Fifty Shades Freed only had a total budget of $50 million, and he promised you he would kill himself if the box office fell below $300 million."

When Emanuel's chief assistant heard James Foley's sonorous and powerful promise, he almost called the police.

Chen Yu looked through the synopsis of "Fifty Shades Freed" and felt that it was 100% impossible for the film to be released in China.

So he asked the brokerage team to continue talking to James Foley and further evaluate the value of the project.

"If there is competition, just sign a contract with James Foley directly. When it's time to bet, be brave enough to take action."

According to the preliminary analysis submitted to him by his management team, there have been very few large-scale films on sensitive topics in the European and American markets in recent years.

Moreover, the previous "Fifty Shades of Grey" did well at the box office, but many people questioned that James Foley was taking advantage of Universal Pictures.

So James Foley was so angry that he sent invitation letters to various independent producers.

"According to reliable information, we are really the only good people who responded to Foley." Emanuel's chief assistant secretly flattered Chen Yu.

In fact, the main reason no one wants to talk to James Foley is that the bastard is very stubborn.

He only wants to get investors' money and never obeys the boss's instructions.

None of the executive producers he worked with could last more than two weeks.

Therefore, Emanuel's chief assistant reminded Chen Yu that if he became Foley's boss, he must not go to the set or call him to ask about the filming progress.

"Carefully explore his specific bottom line. I am not generous enough to use $50 million to hinder myself."

Chen Yu raised his hand and rubbed his forehead and emphasized again to Emmanuel's chief assistant.

As for how "Fifty Shades Freed" will be staged, Chen Yu doesn't need to worry, because Mr. Foley has already assembled the original cast.

If the two parties can successfully sign a contract, Chen Yu only needs to appoint a strong-willed professional producer.

"Would you like to arrange for some friends to make cameos in this film?" Emanuel's chief assistant asked Chen Yu as usual.

The scale of "Fifty Shades Freed" is too big, even if Chen Yu is a guest star, she doesn't want Reba to have any formal relationship with it.

But Chen Yu plans to let Reba make a guest appearance in "Ready Player One".

Because Spielberg had already called Chen Yu and invited him to play the role of a "boxing champion" in the game.

According to Capcom's feedback to Chen Yu, he is likely to play "himself" in "Ready Player One".

"Ready Player One" has purchased the rights to the "Street Fighter" series, including game characters created by Capcom based on Chen Yu's image.

As for Reba, just let her play the role of her fiancée in the game and the movie.

Acting in true colors can make up for Reba's lack of business ability to the greatest extent.

In fact, Capcom was very fond of several of Reba's looks in "The Beauty of the Moon" and wanted to discuss licensing matters with the producer, Hua Lu Baina.

But the latter's very insincere "lion opened his mouth" directly scared off Capcom's representatives.

Therefore, Chen Yu's game character's girlfriend in the official background information of "Street Fighter" is the "full of energy" urban makeup Reba.

The lack of Chinese elements in the role of Reba made Capcom feel very regretful.

But if you use the scene to reshoot ancient costumes, you will easily be sued by the stingy Hualubaina.

Therefore, this regret can only be allowed to remain.

Sometimes China's awareness of cultural export to the outside world is indeed difficult to understand.

Chen Yu hung up the phone with Emmanuel's chief assistant and called Reba who was resting.

　3225, I hope everyone can interact more and ask for further reading.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)