Entertainment 1998

Chapter 634: 633, American college students give a boost to the movie box office

[Outside the city, there was only a barren hill with a few trees shaking their leaves in the evening breeze.

There is a cabin here, and a pickup truck is parked in front of the cabin. John Alderman, a history professor at Harvard University, is moving and loading items into the pickup truck.

Two cars stopped in front of the cabin, and inside were John's colleagues.

The first person to get off the bus was anthropologist Dan, who greeted John: "Hey! Man, you really make the most of every minute!"

John: “Yeah!”

Dan: “Want some help?”

John: “Of course!”

…]

Walking into the cinema theater, Zhang Yimou finally saw the movie "The Man from Earth", which was particularly valued by college students across the United States.

But since he didn't know English and the movie didn't have Chinese subtitles, Zhang Yimou couldn't understand it at all.

At first, he wanted to ask his daughter to help translate, but as Zhang Momo's brows furrowed more and more, Zhang Yimou gave up the idea of ​​bothering her.

It seems that the lines in this movie should be very profound, otherwise, Zhang Momo, who is always lively in front of people, would not be so serious.

The plot of this movie is mainly driven by the dialogue between the actors. Zhang Yimou couldn't understand it, so he felt a little bored and started observing the screening room.

The Apollo Theater's Screening Hall No. 3 has 180 seats. Zhang Yimou took a quick look and found that it was already full. Some college students who came later even stood at the entrance of the screening hall to watch the film.

Most of the fans who came to watch the movie stared at the screen in front of them very seriously. Only a small number of viewers were doing some small actions, such as recording with a recorder, or discussing the plot of the movie in a low voice with their friends around them.

"Han Shanye, why is Han Shanye acting in a movie?"

The exclamation was a bit abrupt and was shouted in Chinese.

It startled other moviegoers and also startled Zhang Yimou who was observing his surroundings.

Following the sound, Zhang Yimou immediately saw a chubby guy sitting in front of him. The woman sitting next to this guy was someone Zhang Yimou knew very well. She was Yang Lan, a famous former host of the national television station. Zhang Yimou had been interviewed by her before.

Zhang Yimou was very happy to see an acquaintance. He quietly leaned over and patted Yang Lan on the shoulder.

Yang Lan, who was feeling a little frustrated by her frightened husband Wu Zheng, was about to get angry. Who is this black guy who actually wants to harass me from behind?

However, when Yang Lan turned around and saw Zhang Yimou, she immediately felt a little unbelievable.

"Director, why are you here?"

"I'm here to attend my girl's graduation ceremony, which is the day after tomorrow. I happen to have some time today, so I came to watch a movie, but I can't understand it without subtitles."

Zhang Yimou is a down-to-earth person.

Or maybe he was no longer at the age where he pretended to know everything, and he told Yang Lan and Wu Zheng about his embarrassment in front of them.

Who is Yang Lan?

He is a former famous host of the National Television and Phoenix TV. He is currently organizing Sunshine TV and is preparing to personally serve as the program host and chairman of the board of directors of Sunshine TV.

Such a person is extremely smart. He just turned his eyes slightly and pointed outside the screening room with a smile.

"Director, to be honest, this is the third time I've watched this movie, and I've memorized some of the details. How about we go outside the theater and have a cup of coffee, and I'll tell you what Jiang Feng is shooting this time?"

After saying this, without waiting for Zhang Yimou's reply, Yang Lan stood up from her chair, carefully avoided the audience around her, walked out of the row of seats, and then walked out of the screening room.

Apollo Theater

The decoration style inside has already taken shape of a modern cinema. There is a small leisure area outside each screening room, which is equipped with green plants, sofas and benches.

When the audience gets tired of watching the movie, they can come here to take a break and have a cup of coffee or tea.

Perhaps because "The Man from Earth" was so exciting, there was no one in the small rest area at the entrance of Screening Hall No. 3.

So, Yang Lan and Zhang Yimou sat here and started talking freely.

"Director, some time ago, Lao Wu and I were traveling in Tokyo, and we went to the cinema to watch the movie "Departures" starring you and Jiang Feng. It was very good.

It is just a 129-minute movie that presents the entire funeral culture of Xiao Ri Zu to the public.

I just have a question, why did you film the funeral customs of everyday life instead of our country's?"

Even when chatting, Yang Lan acted like she was doing an interview.

"Um…"

Zhang Yimou wanted to know what movie Jiang Feng was shooting this time as soon as possible. After a little thought, he gave a very concise answer.

“Jiang Feng’s eldest sister and second sister’s family make coffins, and the coffins they make are mainly sold to Xiao Ri.

Well, from this point of view, the movie "Departures" is actually a product placement movie."

"Uh…"

Yang Lan, who took the opportunity to analyze the movie "Departures" from the perspectives of humanity, culture, education, and folklore, was a little confused.

Is it that simple?

Aren't you trying to promote China-Japan friendship?

"Haha, Miss Yang, why don't you tell me what movie Jiang Feng is shooting this time?

Why are there so many American college students coming to see it again? "During this period, deeply influenced by Jiang Feng, Zhang Yimou no longer likes to talk too much.

Just say what's happening, and be straightforward.

“Well, Director, this is a big problem.”

Yang Lan, who was sitting in front of Zhang Yimou, shook her head, first discarded the idea of ​​doing an in-depth interview with Zhang Yimou, and then said:
"Director, here's the thing.

Yesterday, May 5, the movie "The Man From Earth" was released for the first time, and only 12 cinemas across the United States showed the film.

When the mainstream American entertainment media got the news, they began to mock Jiang Feng, saying that the reason why this young Chinese director's last movie "Seeing Ghosts" sold 7.5 million US dollars at the box office was mainly because of good luck.

The plot in the movie is highly consistent with the 911 incident.

And this time, Jiang Feng has run out of ideas.

But just when the American media started to mock the film, the world-class pop music queen Madonna suddenly got in the way. Yesterday afternoon, she publicly stated in an interview with the media that if anyone could understand the movie "This Man From Earth", she would spend a good night with him..."

"what!"

Zhang Yimou was surprised.

In the past, we only knew that Madonna was open-minded. Sometimes when she got drunk in the bar, she would bring the male models she liked home to spend the night together. According to media reports, sometimes she would bring not just one, but three or five.

I didn’t expect that Madonna would dare to make such a bold statement to the media before she even got drunk.

"Well, Director, do you find this matter incomprehensible?
Yeah, I think so too.

But when the news came out, Madonna's name immediately made the headlines of major American entertainment media, and then the tickets for her solo concerts in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and other places were sold out overnight.

Well, let's continue now.

Many of Madonna's fans are college students. These students are very fascinated by this superstar who is over 40 years old. So after hearing her "call", they flocked to the limited cinemas to watch this film.

These college students thought it was a big deal. Last night alone, on Yahoo alone, there were more than 25 discussion posts about "The Man From Earth".

Topics such as [The least expensive science fiction blockbuster in history] [How to understand "The Man from Earth"] [How many pieces of knowledge are involved in "The Man from Earth"] [Leonardo Dicaprio has his own masterpiece "The Man from Earth" after "Titanic"] are the most popular topics for college students in the United States. I went to the cinema this morning after reading everyone's posts.

Director, do you know?
I only watched "This Man From Earth" once, and I was deeply impressed by Jiang Feng's talent. How good a man must be to write such a movie script..."

"This Man From Earth" became a hit.

With heated discussions among college students across the United States, the film became a hit somewhat unexpectedly.

On May 5, the film was shown in 12 theaters across the United States, with a single-day box office of $120;
On May 5, 13 theaters across the United States screened the film, and the box office revenue increased to $600 million;
On May 5, 15 cinemas across the United States screened the film, and the single-day box office increased to 2500 million US dollars.

On May 5, 18 cinemas across the United States screened the film simultaneously, and the single-day box office reached 3500 million U.S. dollars.

On May 5, "The Man from Earth" was released and the screening scale expanded to the whole of North America. A total of 21 cinemas in the North American film market were showing the film at the same time, and the single-day box office successfully increased to 5700 million US dollars.

On May 5, "The Man from Earth" overflowed again, and the scale of screening spread from the entire North America to the European film market. The number of cinemas also expanded from the original 27 to 5700. The single-day movie box office was improved again, reaching 7500 million US dollars.

On June 6, "This Man From Earth" successfully landed in the Asian film market, including Xiao Ri Ri, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Taiwan Province, Hong Kong Island Administrative Region and mainland China.

Especially in mainland China, when countless netizens saw the miracles created by "This Man From Earth" around the world on major domestic forums, they were suddenly excited to the point of being unable to control themselves.

"true or false?"

"A movie with a total investment of 5000 US dollars has already grossed 1.75 million US dollars in the global film market. And the whole movie only has one scene, a group of people chattering in a living room."

"Fuck, Jiang Feng is awesome!

With just one movie, the global movie audience was told how Buddha was born, how Jesus was born, how China's Laozi was born, and why he disappeared riding a green bull.
And, and, China’s caveman is actually a foreigner.”

"China's movie pirates are already crying in the toilet.

It is said that when this movie was just released in the United States, the movie pirate who had his eyes on Jiang Feng went to the United States in person, sat in the cinema and watched the movie for no more than 15 minutes, and he slept better than a pig.

After coming out of the cinema, this guy cursed fiercely, what kind of rubbish is this?
So I didn't take action on this movie.

As a result, this film, which cost only 5000 US dollars to produce, has become a worldwide hit. "

……

"This Man From Earth" became a hit.

On June 6, Jiang Feng, who was filming in Chicago, USA, got the latest data.

After 28 days of screening, the global box office has officially exceeded 2.7 million US dollars.

Leonardo Dicaprio was excited to get this data. As the No. 1 male lead, he carried the movie box office by himself.
Charlize Theron was excited. She was right about Jiang Feng. Although this guy was young, he had an amazing physique.
Matt Damon and George Clooney were also excited. The production cost was US$5000 and the publicity and promotion expenses were US$1000 million, but the box office of this movie was as high as 2.7 million. What does this mean?
This shows that I have absolute box office appeal!

Harvey Weinstein and Jon Fillmore, the film distributors, were even more excited. At 6 p.m. on June 9, at the filming site of "The Departed," Jiang Feng had just announced that the crew had finished work when the two of them lifted Jiang Feng up from the left and right and stuffed him into a Lincoln Navigator.

Jiang Feng was just about to ask where they were going when the engine of this huge SUV roared and then sped away on the road.

"Jiang, tell me, what is your wish?" Harvey Weinstein said while smoking a cigar shortly after the Lincoln Navigator drove out.

"World Peace!"

"Bah, get out of here. We are talking to you about something serious." Jon Felmer, who was always gentle and refined, suddenly burst into swearing at this moment.

The success of a movie may be due to luck.

The success of both films may just be a coincidence.

But three, four, five, and six movies have been successful, which shows that this guy is incredibly talented.

As a film producer and CEO of a film and television company, it is natural to win over such talents.

"Let's talk about something serious..."

Jiang Feng touched his chin with his hand.

"I hope that when The Departed is released in August, it will be a big hit at the box office, and hopefully surpass the previous movie, The Departed, which grossed $8 million."

"Your wish is good, and I am very touched to hear it, but what I want to ask is your personal wish." At this time, Harvey Weinstein revealed his true colors.

"Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz... these are the most stunning actresses in Hollywood. As long as you can name them, I can create opportunities for you.

For example, we had a meal together, or we chatted together. ”

"Well, how about being more straightforward?" Jiang Feng was a little tempted.

You know, in my previous life, these world-class actresses were all women that were out of my reach. I didn't expect that I would have the chance to be with them in this life.

"Just be more straightforward..."

The old rogue Harvey Weinstein immediately understood what Jiang Feng meant.

"If you want to be more straightforward, that depends on your ability. These people are too powerful. I can't get them all into your bed."

wipe…

Before Harvey Weinstein finished speaking, Jiang Feng pointed the finger at him fiercely, saying, "You speak like it's the truth."

It turns out that I still have to rely on myself to fight for it!
But before he put his fingers down, they arrived at the Park Hyatt Hotel Chicago. Getting out of the car, Jiang Feng shook off the non-existent dust on his body, and then wanted to say goodbye to Jon Fillmore and Harvey Weinstein.

Although these two are a bit unreliable, after more than a month of getting along, we have become friends, so saying goodbye is still necessary.

At this moment, two polite men came over from the side. They seemed to be from Asia.

“Hello, Director Jiang Feng, I’m a real estate agent from Hong Kong Island.

Mr. Jon Fillemer bought a double-numbered house from our company two days ago. The double-numbered house is located at 1 Repulse Bay Road, with an area of ​​56 square feet and is divided into two floors.

According to Mr. Jon Felmer's request, this unit must be transferred to your name."

"Hello, Director Jiang Feng. I'm from Beijing and I'm a sales consultant for Beijing Ziyu Villa. Mr. Harvey Weinstein booked a 497-square-meter villa in our building two days ago. He requested that the villa be registered in your name."

Oh, I see.

Jiang Feng suddenly realized why Harvey Weinstein and Jon Fillmore were so anxious to kidnap him from the set. It turned out that this was the crux of the problem.

The movie "This Man From Earth" set a record at the box office. The two guys were so happy that they each gave themselves a house.

It just made Jiang Feng a little speechless.

If you want to give away houses, why not give away houses in the US? Why give away houses in the mainland and Hong Kong? Is it because the houses in these two places are cheaper? !
Thinking of this, Jiang Feng smiled, raised his hand and called Li Xing who had just got off the car over.

"Xiaoxiang..."

"Brother Feng, are you looking for me?"

"There are two houses here, which were given by Jon Fillmore and Harvey Weinstein. You should transfer the one in Hong Kong Island to my sister Jiang Ye's name. She is now the head of a company and needs her own house.

As for the one in Beijing, you can keep it for yourself..."

"what!"

Li Xing's eyes widened, but he was instantly touched.

The house was worth four or five million, and he gave it to me just like that.

(End of this chapter)