Who are you calling "little fresh meat"? I'm the king.

Chapter 646 Change your mother's ass! (23)

Whiplash seems to have received six Oscar nominations…

Then director Damien Chazelle's third film was La La Land.

To be honest, First Man was only so-so, as was Babylon afterward…

As an aside, Babylon is a tribute to Hollywood—a love letter to Hollywood.

Unfortunately, there were too many love letters to movies that year; Spielberg made "Dream House," and Sam Mendes had "Empire of Light"...

Sam Mendes is a genius director. His debut film, American Beauty, won the Academy Award for Best Director, and he also married Kate Winslet.

I can understand older directors like Spielberg making these kinds of films, but it really makes me question the creativity of directors in their prime...

Returning to "Whiplash," Shen Yan said, "He invested 600 million directly, and I gave him 30% of the investment..."

"What about the actual cost?"

"...I'm sorry, I can't say!"

The actual cost is $600 million…

"La La Land...when are you planning to start filming?"

"In April... after finishing filming 'Life's Big Events,' I have to join the crew of 'Operation Mekong'... I promised Wu Jing I'd give him 65 days!"

How many movies or TV shows are you filming this year?

"Five films, plus 'Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Evils' and 'Detective Chinatown'..."

You're so busy!

"Not really, it can't compare to Andy Lau or Stephen Chow, who make thirteen movies a year!"

Qiao Shan interjected, "How come they can film so many movies in a year?"

"They don't have an approval process; basically, as long as you submit it, it'll be approved... It takes us at least three months to get a project approved, so it's normal that we can't keep up with their efficiency!"

Han Yan seemed to remember something: "Can the 'Whiplash' project make money?"

Shen Yan pondered for a moment, then said, "...Probably a 50/50 profit. I don't sell television rights, only online rights... Netflix needs a stock of high-quality films to fill its space. As long as they get an Oscar nomination, the starting price is basically eight figures..."

"So 'Burning' can make money too?"

"Of course!"

Burning grossed at least $600 million in Europe…

Global copyright revenue exceeds US$1500 million.

After winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, the European television rights will generate another round of revenue…

After all, it won a record three awards at the Venice Film Festival.

……

Is it possible that Bingbing will star in "La La Land"?

"What do you think?"

At the hotel, Shen Yan was discussing the next day's filming with Han Yan when Ji Xiang called...

Inquire with Li Lianhua about the possibility of joining La La Land...

Shen Yan refused without hesitation, adding, "The 'La La Land' project is already set, and there's no way to change it. No one can change it!"

"I know it's no use, but Sister Bingbing found me anyway..."

"I really wonder why Sister Bingbing doesn't go back to China to develop her career?"

“Actors naturally want to go to bigger platforms to increase their influence… Back when Hong Kong films were popular, people from all over East and Southeast Asia rushed to Hong Kong. Even a big star like Gong Li went to Hong Kong to develop his career! Hong Kong films were already declining in the early 2000s, but Wu Jing still went to Hong Kong to develop his career.”

Shen Yan still didn't understand: "The Chinese film market is about to surpass Hollywood, can't they see that?"

"But with close cooperation between Chinese and American films now, she has a chance to stay in Hollywood..."

"What chance does she have!" Shen Yan scoffed. "Someone like me wouldn't even get a second glance from Hollywood... I don't believe she could have any better opportunities in Hollywood!"

"She doesn't have much of a future in China. Top-tier projects wouldn't even consider her!"

"That's true... I wish her good luck!"

As Shen Yan was about to hang up, Ji Xiang immediately said, "There's something else..."

"What's the matter?"

"I'm planning to release 'Whiplash' on January 8th!" "...Whatever," Shen Yan replied nonchalantly, "What do I want to do?"

"Please help promote it during the live stream..."

"no problem!"

After hanging up the phone, Shen Yan continued talking with Han Yan about the filming of "Major Events in Life"...

The two thought the idea of ​​setting off fireworks with ashes was romantic, but how could they make it believable?

"How about we add a scene where the old man likes to watch movies?"

"...Goodbye Lenin!"

In "Goodbye Lenin," the protagonist, Alex, decides to launch his mother's ashes into the sky using a small rocket, transforming them into fireworks, symbolizing the reopening of life...

"Yes, add a conversation between the father and son. Old Mo hopes his ashes can be turned into fireworks!"

"…Um."

“That makes much more sense,” Han Yan continued. “I’ve looked it up; the practice of fireworks burials has existed abroad for a long time, and there’s even space burial…”

"...space burial?"

"A portion of the ashes will be placed in a lipstick-sized container, which will travel briefly in space before returning to Earth and being handed over to the family."

"...What's the point?"

"I went to space!"

“…Okay,” Shen Yan said, though he didn’t understand, he showed respect.

Han Yan suddenly remembered something: "When I was little, I read Zheng Yuanjie's fairy tales, the Pipilu series. It mentioned a way to dispose of ashes: mix the ashes with flour to make bread, which could be given to relatives and friends to eat... My young mind was deeply moved, so before I was even 10 years old, I had already decided what to do with my ashes. If I do it this way, people will probably never forget me for the rest of their lives!"

"Then... I definitely won't forget you!" Shen Yan was speechless: "...Are you sure it's a fairy tale by Zheng Yuanjie?"

"Yes... I also saw someone say they wanted to turn ashes into dice and give them to their living friends so they could roll the dice to predict their fate when they're feeling lost..."

Where did you see it?

"I don't remember..."

Shen Yan scratched his head: "Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Is Bai Baihe coming over tomorrow?"

"Yes, she plays Haifei!"

Wow, the three movies, "Life's Big Events," "Monster Hunt," and "Go Away Mr. Tumor," have grossed at least 40 billion yuan!
Shen Yan didn't have any ideas about who would play Haifei, so he left the casting to Han Yan. Han Yan had just finished filming "Go Away Mr. Tumor" and had a good working relationship with Bai Baihe, so he mentioned it to her, and then Bai Baihe came!

After all, it's about cooperating with Shen Yan.

……

BJ, Ji Xiang is attending a drinking party…

Someone at the table asked about "Major Events in Life," and Ji Xiang gave a brief overview of the plot.

They are all so-called powerful people.

Who is the female lead?

"Our movie doesn't have a female lead; the female lead is Wang Shengdi..."

"What about Wan Qian?"

"Wan Qian is a supporting character...one of the members of the 'Going to Heaven' team..."

Is it possible to replace the actor?

"Are you kidding me? We've been filming for a week, and you want me to change the actor?"

"No, I just wanted to ask..."

"I doubt it will work..." Ji Xiang shook his head, then said, "In Shen Yan's production teams, the final decision on actors rests with him... Last time I asked him if we could change actors, he just asked me the same question in return..."

"What did you ask?"

"Change your mother's!"

Ji Xiang mimicked Shen Yan's tone, then smiled wryly: "He's an internationally renowned filmmaker now, with the Film Bureau and the Ministry of Culture protecting him in every move. Although I'm his agent, I'm more like a partner... I just do what he decides!"

"Is Shen Yan's personality really that bad?"

"No, that's not it. He's very easy to talk to, but when it comes to the movie, nobody's word matters..."

(End of this chapter)