Chinese Entertainment: Academic Director

Chapter 139 Active and Passive

Huayi Brothers has a very good relationship with China Film Group, and President Han also intends to make Huayi the "pioneer" in the domestic market, so Huayi's films always receive various kinds of care.

Regardless of whether there are any dirty tricks behind the scenes, at least the general direction is consistent.

This is a win-win situation for Huayi and President Han.

Cao Yang was going to make a commercial blockbuster, and the two Huayi brothers got the news very early, but they also had a dispute over whether to follow China Film Group in investing.

Even if Cao Yang did not agree with their investment, they still had a way. They could give the money to China Film Group to share its pressure, or reach an agreement with it privately and invest in its name.

However, after discussion, the two brothers finally gave up. The current market situation is unclear. Even if Zhang Yimou succeeds once, who knows if it was just a coincidence?

With such a large investment, it is difficult to recover the cost domestically alone. What if you lose money?
No one’s money comes from strong winds.

Let's let these brave "pioneers" have a go first, or we can follow the current pace, suppress the eagerness of the little steel cannon, and proceed step by step.

Yes, the little cannon is a little moved.

Ever since Cao Yang started preparing for commercial blockbusters, Xiao Gangpao, who had not dared to follow up before, suddenly felt that if Cao Yang dared to do what, why shouldn’t I dare?
This is the area I am best at. Two art film directors have made great progress in my field, but you are backing off?

Doesn't this make you appear incompetent?
Don’t I have any fucking face?

I heard that even the great poet Kai Ge, that old jerk... no, the guy who is as steady as an old cow, is slowly writing a script.

Who am I, Little Cannon?

One of the four great directors in China!

Can I fall behind in my field?
Blockbuster, I want to make a blockbuster too, and a big production with an investment of hundreds of millions!
The two Huayi brothers hurriedly persuaded Xiao Gangpao.

"I know you're anxious, but don't worry. Let's wait for the Lunar New Year holiday to see how your new movie does at the box office. If it can make 70 or 80 million, it will prove that the market has improved. We can make a big movie next time."

Although the little gangster kept shouting that he wanted to make a blockbuster, he was actually still a little nervous.

His comfort zone is in the Lunar New Year period, in the so-called Feng-style comedies.

If we really want to make a blockbuster, we definitely can’t go with the Feng-style comedy style.

We can’t compete with Hollywood in action movies, and the market is not big at the moment. There’s nothing we can do about it.

Science fiction? Ha, given the current domestic situation, unless you invest hundreds of millions of dollars like Hollywood, this kind of thing will not be successful, and no one is optimistic about domestic directors.

The market is different. Hollywood targets the global market, so they dare to invest hundreds of millions of dollars. How can the domestic market compare?
Not to mention investing hundreds of millions of dollars, even if you really invest more than 50 million, how can you recover the cost?

Zhang Yimou's "Hero" looks pretty awesome, right? As an insider, I know that although Zhang Yimou is so famous abroad and is one of the world's top art film masters, he cannot enter the North American market and can only sell copyrights.

Hollywood is essentially the back garden of the Big Six. Behind every successful American film company, big or small, there is the shadow of the Big Six.

How can you enter Hollywood if there is no participation of the Big Six or their affiliated companies in a movie?

Whether others bought the copyright, when the film was released, or how much box office it sold has nothing to do with Zhang Yimou's "Hero". At most, it's just bragging about the global box office.

After all, if China wants to make blockbuster movies, the only way out is the traditional costume drama, which can sell well in the Confucian circles in East Asia and Southeast Asia. This is also the most suitable film for China at present.

With the "strong resistance" of the Huayi brothers, Xiao Gangpao decided to quit while he was ahead... No, he made a stern statement. "Boss Wang, this is what you said. If my "Cell Phone" can sell for 70 or 80 million yuan at the box office, we will also make a costume drama with an investment of hundreds of millions for our next movie."

Can "Cell Phone" earn 70 or 80 million at the box office?

Xiao Gangpao knows that it is difficult. The market for his Feng-style comedy is so small now, and the main market is still concentrated in the north. The actual data is only around 40 to 50 million. It is really difficult to sell it for 70 to 80 million under the current market conditions.

But as long as it's not released, there's a chance, right?

"I have tried my best. If others don't invest, there is nothing I can do." Xiao Gangpao found a reason for himself.

After a while, Huang Xiaoming didn't receive any phone calls, and he knew that he had failed in the audition for the leading actor.

Huang Xiaoming was a little unwilling. Such an opportunity was so rare and it would be difficult to come across such resources again in the country in a short period of time.

He also understood that once a big director like Cao Yang decided on the male lead, it would be difficult to change it easily, but he did not want to miss such an opportunity.

Is there any important supporting actor?

With Huang Xiaoming's reputation just beginning to emerge, the supporting actor role in Cao Yang's movie is also a very good resource for him.

He will not sign with Huayi until 07. The company he is signed with now is called Century Element. The boss is the father of Chen Dashuai, a well-known Hong Kong man who helps the majority of netizens. He is known as Brother Jiu in the industry.

But let’s not even mention Century Element’s resources and capabilities. Jiu Ge’s listed companies went from “luxury stocks” to “penny stocks”, his net worth evaporated by over 100 million yuan, and he also had a lot of foreign debts.

Handsome Chen is now desperately taking on roles to pay off his father's debts, so his artists have no resources left.

However, Huang Xiaoming has another identity, he is from Beijing Film Academy, which is also a big advantage.

When he graduated, he couldn't get any acting jobs, so Xiaoyanzi and Chen Kun kept him around, but he didn't make any splash.

In the end, it was teacher Cui Xinqin, who had high hopes for him, who introduced him to the crew of "The Emperor of Han Dynasty", which allowed him to come to the fore.

This time, Huang Xiaoming turned to Teacher Cui for help and asked Teacher Cui to see if there was any solution.

After hearing this, Teacher Cui was silent for a moment before saying, "Xiao Ming, it's not that I don't want to help. If it was a director from the Beijing Film Academy, I would definitely ask for a role for you, but this is Cao Yang's movie.

Let me put it this way, not to mention me, even Hou Keming doesn’t have the face to directly ask Cao Yang to give him an important role.”

Huang Xiaoming's emotional intelligence is still very high, otherwise he would not have met so many noble people along the way.

"Teacher Cui, I'm just asking casually. Please don't make it difficult for me because of this little thing. I don't want to make it difficult for you. You have always been the person I respect the most. If you ask for help for my matter, I will be willing to die."

"Well, what are you talking about? It's not a big deal for me to ask you a question. What I mean is that I can help you ask about this matter, but don't hold out too much hope."

"Don't, don't, Mr. Cui, just pretend you didn't receive my call. I already regret calling you."

Teacher Cui laughed, "Okay, kid, stop worrying about it. I know what's going on."

After hanging up the phone, Teacher Cui pondered for a moment. He originally wanted to find a middleman who was familiar with Cao Yang, such as Tian Zhuangzhuang, but then he thought that would be too insincere, so it would be better to make the call in person.

(End of this chapter)