New Age Artists

Chapter 613 Hollywood, you must be confident!
Han Sanping's first reaction was anger, then relief, and more complicated feelings.

He was the producer of Shen Santong's first film and he oversaw the development of his career. At that time, he just felt that Shen Santong had clear ideas, was conscious of cost control, and knew how to eat as much as his stomach could take.

I thought I would achieve something in the future, but I never thought I would achieve what I have today.

It felt like a child had grown up. Of course, Han Sanping also wanted to see whether Shen Santong was truly mature or just pretending to be mature, so he jokingly asked, "You've grown wings. People in China who didn't say anything good about you before are now bragging about how you played a big role in the negotiations. What do you think?"

Shen Santong was not arrogant at all: "These people must have been holding back their farts. They are probably up to some messy tricks to cooperate with the outsiders in instigating trouble."

To be honest, the negotiations with the United States on the film memorandum were able to go on smoothly, all thanks to Shen Santong.

Without Santong Entertainment, let alone going out, I can’t even keep my home.

Not only in China, but also in international occasions, he has been criticized by Hollywood and criticized in the WTO.

But Shen Santong is very clear that culture is ultimately soft power.

The reason why Hollywood negotiates within the rules is that it cannot win by means outside the rules.

Hollywood never makes sense when it comes to other markets.

Without the protection of national power, it would be very easy to get rid of Santong Entertainment. Just arrest Shen Santong.

National strength is not obvious, but it is as powerful as breathing. Shen Santong understands this very well.

"These people don't need to care. They have marginalized themselves." Shen Santong expressed his thoughts: "The film market is at the upper reaches of the cultural market. It is also popular culture and has a huge social influence. Now that our film market has taken off, the entire cultural atmosphere will undergo a major change."

"In the future, whether it is the government or the people, we should unite together to create a confident and uplifting cultural atmosphere as a lubricant on the practical level."

"I just eliminated the noise. Apart from those who were paid to do the job, most of those who brought their own dog food were normal people."

It is true that negotiations with the United States on the film agreement are difficult, but the gap has been opened. Now, relying solely on inertia, a smooth road is just around the corner. The roadbed has been laid, and at most there is some dust on it, so all we have to do is make some repairs.

Han Sanping sneered in his heart. Shen Santong had said similar things more than once.

Shen Santong may understand the trend very well, but he is also young and cannot deeply understand that "the future is bright but the road is tortuous."

Public opinion is just floating on the outside. What people see is the kite flying in the sky. The person flying the kite is the most important.

This is a relationship wrapped in layers.

Letting Hollywood in is just the beginning of a new struggle, which may be even more intense than the previous one.

Before, film and television forces such as Huayi were still able to benefit from economic growth, the film market grew by inertia, and they also received the leftovers from Hollywood's expansion of the market.

It’s impossible to expand the market, but it’s still possible to take advantage of the situation.

Now Santong Entertainment and Hollywood are working together to expand the market, and the market growth rate has shifted from passive to active, and it is still dual-driven, which is a good thing for enterprising film and television companies.

But for companies that make money without doing anything, it is undoubtedly a bad thing.

History has proven countless times that when oppressed internally and unable to break free from internal constraints, these people will not be willing to be cleared out of the market, and will use various means to resist, even at the cost of colluding with external forces.

Han Sanping still didn't remind him. It was useless to remind him. Shen Santong wanted to feel it for himself and talked about the negotiation: "The key point of the negotiation now is to finalize the issuance details. Do you still think that the details cannot be relaxed?"

Shen Santong nodded: "If the US side is fair and aboveboard, they can definitely agree to the details. If they still don't agree, it means they have something to hide."

Han Sanping said, "There will be a dinner party tonight, and both sides will have another open discussion, but I don't think it's optimistic."

Shen Santong said: "If I can't get the same treatment, I would rather go back to square one."

night.

Shen Santong attended the dinner for the talks with the US side. Currently, Santong Entertainment is the only company that has a certain output capacity in the film industry, so his opinion is very important.

The result of the previous negotiation was that the annual import quota would be increased by 14 films, limited to 3D or IMAX formats, and the profit sharing ratio would be increased from 13% to 25%.

There are many details, but the most important one is the number of imported films and the other is the profit sharing.

From here we can see that it was mainly Hollywood's offense and Dongda's passive defense.

This time, the number of imported films is expected to increase by 20, with no restrictions on format, which means that the best Hollywood films can enter the Tokyo market smoothly.

The corresponding party is the United States, which also has to make concessions in terms of issuance and stipulate the details.

This is the biggest point of disagreement between the two sides in the negotiations.

During the negotiations, Dongda has always emphasized win-win results.

We are confident that the Hollywood movies we introduce every year are the best ones that have been screened by the market. We just ask the United States to adhere to the principle of win-win and give Chinese-language films fair treatment.

We also respect the current situation. Hollywood movies already have a large share in the Tokyo market, while Tokyo movies are relatively rarely distributed in the United States, mainly in the Chinese community, so we start from the Chinese community.

This is also good for the United States itself, with its multiculturalism and cultural diversity. Without Chinese-language films, it would be like missing a piece of a puzzle.

With the entry of Chinese-language films, American audiences will have more diverse film choices and a richer viewing experience, while Hollywood will also be able to find new creative inspiration in diverse cultures.

At the same time, Eastern concepts are different from the popcorn movies that Hollywood is good at. The collision of cultures can spark more civilizations.

Just like the Citigroup Cinemas has both "Iron Man" and India's Bollywood section, the University of Tokyo also requires focusing on the Chinese community and creating a "Chinese-language film showcase" in Los Angeles and New York.

This can also meet the emotional needs of millions of Chinese people and provide more choices for ordinary American audiences.

As we all know, the Chinese community has strong economic potential and strong consumption power.

Distributing Chinese-language films can drive surrounding consumption and boost the local economy.

At the same time, by gradually expanding the influence of the Chinese community, both sides can have a better understanding of each other and achieve more cultural exchanges through co-production of films.

Chinese-language films can serve as a tool for cultural education, promote cross-cultural understanding, and cultivate diverse talents for the United States in the future.

The two sides also have technical cooperation and many common interests.

The success of Chinese-language films will not take away the Hollywood market. The biggest schedules in the East are the Spring Festival and summer vacation, while in the United States it is the summer vacation and Christmas vacation. The start time of the summer vacation is also different, so the markets can complement each other.

Cooperation is conducive to promoting economic and cultural win-win results.

If Todai hopes for a win-win situation, Citi's attitude is somewhat ambiguous.

Of course, they were salivating over the Dongda market, but when it came time to open their own market, they were hesitant.

On the round table.

Jacob, the US representative, said directly: "Shen, the film has taken too long. It was originally just a dessert for our negotiations. Our respective team leaders need a result. We cannot destroy the main theme of cooperation because of the film."

First, a hat was quietly put on Shen Santong. Both parties must reach an agreement by tomorrow at the latest, otherwise there will be a loophole.

Now even if Shen Santong refuses to give in, his opinion is very important.

Shen Santong said bluntly: "I thought too highly of you. The interview was set up. Now I am thinking the worst. Everyone should put the matter on the table."

Jacobs refused to take the blame and offered a favor: "The interview was a personal choice of The Hollywood Reporter. They have their own freedom of reporting. Of course, we also showed our sincerity and did not let the report ferment and affect our relationship."

Shen Santong was too lazy to complain. He advocated for press freedom and was able to control the spread of news. He said, "You are doing this for the election."

This trade negotiation has the nature of a show.

On February 2, Democratic presidential candidate Romney won the state's primary election with 11% of the votes.

Polls show that since September 11, Romney's approval rating has reached 9%, approaching that of Michelle's husband.

We shouted “we can change” back then. Four years have passed. It cannot be said that there has been no change, but not much has changed either. It is indeed not that good.

On the 14th, the two sides issued a "Joint Statement on Strengthening Economic Relations between the Two Sides."

The timing is exactly three days after the primary election.

In the voting system, getting elected is the most important thing. When the Donor Party is in power, it will naturally use all available resources, and national interests are secondary.

Jacob looked at the Chinese team leader and reminded him, "Mr. Shen is destroying our cooperation."

The team leader gave a direct answer without giving in: "The first phase has been achieved. Whether the second phase of cooperation can proceed depends on whether you can convince Shen Santong."

"Because in the second phase, he is the only one we can offer in terms of movies." "If it doesn't work, we can do a good job of the first phase of cooperation first."

Whether it is the hegemony of Citigroup in the cultural field or the monopoly of a few interest groups, the root of culture lies in capital strength, and the root of capital lies in the consumer market.

Although the United States actually relies on printing money, borrowing and plundering to get its money, which is unsustainable, it is the world's largest consumer market, which is an objective fact.

Back then, the United States used its market advantage to embarrass the University of Tokyo many times. In the early years, it signed a most-favored-nation agreement once a year, and there was trouble every time.

Now that the Dongda market is booming, even if I don’t ask for a job as a boss, can I at least ask for basic treatment?
Shen Santong's requests were somewhat fragmentary, but reasonable.

The main requirement is to adopt a "node model" in the distribution strategy.

When you reach a certain point, you will automatically enter the next stage.

For example, in terms of review, avoid technical barriers and soft restrictions in the name of market rules.

We must also avoid falling into the trap of censorship and over-censoring the content of Chinese-language films under the pretext of "protecting young people" or "cultural differences", and requiring the deletion of plots involving history and values.

For example, the war trauma narrative of "The Flowers of War" may result in it being classified as restricted (NC-17), significantly reducing its audience.

In order to avoid being blocked in distribution channels, the six major Hollywood studios have restricted Chinese-language films to a few art theaters or Chinese community theaters through the theater alliances they control. They have lowered the screening rate under the pretext of "market selection" and required films to bear their own publicity and promotion costs or sign box office betting agreements.

Correspondingly, if the attendance rate and box office of a cinema in the Chinese community reach a certain level, it will automatically obtain a certain share of screenings, which will include requirements for prime showtimes and cinema locations.

We cannot allow more foreign films on the surface but set implicit restrictions in practice, such as screening times and show schedules.

In addition, there are also technical barriers to reducing market access.

For example, requiring complex translation and dubbing standards increases costs and time, making distribution uneconomical.

The standards for subtitles and dubbing should also be humane. We should not set strict localization requirements, such as all-American dialect dubbing versions and subtitles in a specific format, and use the process to delay the release window and cause it to miss the best release date.

Political factors must also be taken into consideration, avoiding lobbying through industry associations, emphasizing the protection of local industries, and excluding the influence of Chinese-language films.

At the same time, media publicity may downplay the success of Dongda’s films or emphasize that they are just a niche.

Therefore, media treatment must also be treated to the same standard as Hollywood films, and the time for lifting the ban on reviews and word-of-mouth must comply with industry regulations.

We must avoid cultural curiosity and prevent the media from portraying successful Chinese-language films as "exotic performances." This was the tone of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero."

Propaganda has constructed Chinese-language films into a kind of spectacle, a kung fu spectacle, classifying them as “cultural museum exhibits” rather than universal narratives.

There should also be equal treatment in industry discourse.

It is not possible to fund think tanks to publish reports claiming that the box office of Chinese-language films is concentrated among the Chinese community, "proving" that they lack cross-cultural appeal, while at the same time hyping the spread of pirated resources of individual films and implying that there is little need for official introduction.

We must also avoid cultural isolation and not allow Chinese-language films to form stereotypes.

For example, only directors like those from the fifth and sixth generations have received praise from academic film critics, and they only depict tragic paths, limiting the perception of movies to "high art and low commerce", thus blocking penetration into the mass market.

Zero zero total total.

It's not the big things, it's the small details.

Jacob was really helpless. The demands put forward by Shen Santong basically blocked the channels for killing Chinese-language films through invisible means.

Even if the United States does not like a movie, it will try not to ban it openly, but instead use "market selection" to prevent it from having box office sales due to "audience choice."

If it is banned, it will give the film an unusual influence.

On the contrary, this invisible suppression will further enhance the vitality of capitalist society and make it the nourishment of their ideology.

Jacob didn't say anything like "we are free". He could see that Shen Santong didn't have a Hollywood plot, and now it was them who wanted a bigger market.

Jacob pulled out a document and said, "This is a report on audience preferences in the United States released by third-party organizations such as Nielsen. It shows that the fatigue index of foreign-language films is very high. We certainly support your request, but who will guarantee the interests of the theaters?"

"It would be a huge business risk to undertake the distribution."

Nielsen is an internet-connected media data services company that focuses on media research and audience research in a digital environment.

Shen Santong also took out a report: "I also have a consumer assessment report from a third-party organization, Gallup, which clearly shows that Citigroup's audiences have more demands for cultural diversity and are very supportive of foreign cultures."

"By the way, Gallup needs no introduction. It is a well-known public opinion polling and business survey company, and also an American company."

Shen Santong could conduct as many opinion polls as he wanted, as there was a lot of room for maneuver. In later generations, opinion polls became complete media propaganda, and it is almost the same now.

There is a special term in public opinion polls, which is the investigation on prostitution. People will not admit that they have engaged in prostitution, but they will say that their friends have done so.

Similarly, when conducting surveys on cultural diversity, even if no specific group of people is selected, even the Ku Klux Klan rarely openly discloses its discrimination in third-party surveys.

Jacob pursed his lips, wanting to utter a word beginning with F.

Shen Santong said: "These rules are just the requirements for distribution and screening, which are just the most basic requirements. You can still create resistance in non-cultural fields, intellectual property conflicts, and use labor issues to interfere."

"The movies we give to Hollywood are all distributed nationwide, with a guaranteed screening schedule of 30 to 40 times. If even this cannot be guaranteed, how can we talk about fairness?"

The Chinese team leader also said: "We have many areas for cooperation in cultural diversity, market complementarity, economic benefits, audience demand, soft power enhancement, giving back to Hollywood, and data support."

“We can start with a pilot program in 10 cities. Is that not too much to ask?”

Shen Santong's intervention has won a lot of room for negotiations. If possible, the Chinese side still hopes to facilitate greater exchanges.

Shen Santong's demands are not excessive. The US is indeed good at transforming structural suppression into consumer autonomy.

This kind of "institutionalized exclusion" is more troublesome than a direct ban, and breaking the deadlock requires taking into account the complexity of industry rules and ideological games.

Jacob had no appetite for food: "We need to think about it."

Shen Santong said: "Come on, be more confident!"

US representative: “.”

2 month 17 day.

At the last meeting, the US representative Jacob said: "You are almost asking us to be authoritarian. I'm sorry that we can't match you."

Jacob was unwilling to accept this, but he would not admit that he was defending himself ideologically. Instead, he accused: "We are different from you. We are a market economy. If we want to issue, we can talk to the company individually."

"Whether a movie is a hit or not, look for the reasons in yourself."

Shen Santong finally understood why the reporter from The Hollywood Reporter had such foolish self-confidence. It was because of the arrogance of the United States as a whole.

If you don't understand film distribution, you might be fooled. Distribution is extremely important for a movie, especially in a country like the United States where media operations are very mature and discrimination is widespread. If the agreement is not detailed, it will be buried easily.

The Chinese representative said: "We are very sorry. We look forward to opening up. It is the US that does not match our reasonable demands. Of course, our door is still open. 34 films are just the basis. Last year we introduced 40 films. This year we can also introduce more, and we hope that the US will meet us halfway."

Shen Santong felt unhappy because the force was too light. After getting permission, Shen Santong said regretfully: "Thanks to the US for teaching me a valuable lesson. I suddenly understand why Kung Fu Panda must have green eyes."

"You keep talking about 'market determinism', but when our box office data proves that even the Chinatown theaters can't be filled, some of you act like you're defending the vault at Fort Knox. Maybe we should bring calculators to the meeting next time?"

"I am particularly touched by your good intentions. You are using the plan to restrict Japanese animation 30 years ago to protect today's American audiences. This kind of Patriot Act in the cultural field is really eye-opening."

“I think this is a kind of confidence!”

The American representatives' faces were burning with anger and their faces turned red in an instant.

Shen Santong is still okay despite his sarcasm!

The movie is just a small episode in the negotiations between the two parties.

After the negotiations were over, they took a group photo and Shen Santong got a better position.

The leader smiled and said, "I know you, Champion Hou. Young people should have a fighting spirit. How did you make so many good movies?"

Shen Santong said modestly: "I am standing on the shoulders of giants, and I am confidently displaying traditional and modern culture."

The team leader was very pleased: "Yes, we must be confident in culture. This is especially true for the younger generation. We must strive and fight to show our culture to the world."

(End of this chapter)