I'm not a drama freak, I can really see through the script

Chapter 367, We should support the team behind "New World" to suppress Li Xuan.

He was in the study at the moment.

Li Xuan prepared tea for Liu Meizhen, no matter what.

She was a guest who had come from afar.

"Your work conveys the idea that you welcome friends with fine wine and enemies with guns and cannons, which allows me to understand your character."

At this moment, Liu Meizhen grinned.

"It seems we are friends."

This time, the attitude.

It was much more serious than the last time we made "Buried Alive".

The word used is "friend".

Completely different from last time, when it was all about being superior.

Compared to "Buried Alive", "Nanjing Photo Studio" demonstrates more value this time.

That thing that is independent of skills and techniques.

That's the kind of charisma only top directors possess.

From Liu Meizhen's perspective, Lu Chuanyou and Li Xuanyou both have this quality.

Possessing the qualities to reach the top.

It is precisely this kind of temperament.

That's what caused Liu Meizhen's attitude to change.

They began to pay more attention to Li Xuan.

I can sense this change in attitude.

Li Xuan shook his head as he brewed tea.

"Whether someone is a friend or an enemy is just a matter of a single thought. We might be friends now, but tomorrow you might see me as an enemy, right?"

"But at least for now we are sitting here amicably communicating and cooperating more for the benefit of both parties."

At this moment, Liu Meizhen smiled slightly and said, "As friends, we should also seek ways to maximize our interests."

"Tell me?"

"Come to Hollywood, and I can get your whole family green cards. As long as you nod, you'll be a citizen of the most powerful country in the world, possessing the mind of someone who can use their thoughts to rape the minds of all other citizens in the world."

The most important element in communication and negotiation is sincerity.

Money, profits, and the desire for self-expression that is unique to artists.

And by using Hollywood as a channel.

Then these things can be spread all over the world.

This is something that cannot be done with the resources of China.

It's easy to imagine how attractive this kind of temptation would be to a filmmaker.

She felt that the conditions she offered should be enough to sway Li Xuan.

In addition, Lionsgate promised full support, including remakes and profit sharing, offering top-notch treatment.

You'll have another chance to compete for an Oscar in the future.

Such temptation.

Can it really withstand it?

Absolutely, easily.

“I’m sorry, what you’re saying is indeed very tempting, but for me, this is something I can do without joining you,” Li Xuan said after carefully examining the terms. “Limited cooperation is possible. You’re welcome to purchase the copyright. You can also buy my ‘Nanjing Photo Studio’ to film about concentration camps. No copyright fees are required; you just need to film it.”

You want us to help promote your movie? You're dreaming.
After one or two encounters, Liu Meizhen realized that Li Xuan was completely unyielding.

Asking means you're interested, but when it comes to setting a price, you're just dodging the question.

Did you sponsor the production of Keanu Reeves' "Man of Tai Chi"?!

She was interested in Hollywood, but when it came to negotiating, she couldn't come up with a price—something that had never happened before in her career.

Li Xuan, what exactly do you want?
In the end, Liu Meizhen also discovered that Li Xuan was trying to extract information from Hollywood.
So she simply laid her cards on the table.

Do you know Industrial Light & Magic? Our visual effects team.

"Oh, I know, they're a really amazing special effects team. They did the Transformers, right?"

"Uh," Liu Meizhen originally wanted to show off her knowledge in front of the country bumpkin, but Li Xuan punched her back again.

hateful
"I know your Chinese media always likes to report the box office figures of your own films, and the public opinion is all about this kind of thing. But I can tell you who really dominates the film market and siphons profits," Liu Meizhen said. "Cheng Shilong and Li Lianjie, your two most influential figures in China, plus a Hollywood production team, special effects, publicity, and big stars—how much did they get at the box office? The box office figures for China and the US are out now, and it's a little over 200 million at most. Do you think that's okay?"

"Cameron's Avatar grossed three billion dollars."

Wei Ming, who was standing next to him, was also shocked.

This is a tacit understanding within the Chinese film industry: Chinese films are inferior to Hollywood films and cannot compete with Hollywood films at the box office. This is a generally accepted fact, but the sheer size of the gap is still quite shocking.

10 billion vs. 200 million.

Compared to this, it's all so insignificant.

So insignificant
"So, I respect you, I admire your talent, and I want to give you a wider world to explore. I don't want you to be a 'frog'."

"The box office and awards, these so-called competitions within China, are, in our view, just children playing house, like primitive people fighting each other with stones in a low-lying area. They look exciting, but in reality, they're just throwing mud at each other."

"And now, you're using this opportunity I gave you as a license for arrogance—my friend, I'll ask you one more time: is your choice to join Lionsgate, like Director Li An, and join our Hollywood film group?"

All told, this is the third invitation.

If this attempt fails to win Li Xuan's heart, even Liu Meizhen will give up.

And at this time.

After a moment of silence.

Li Xuan still gave his answer.

I am sorry.

I still choose to refuse.

“We can have other forms of cooperation, but joining Hollywood is not an option. That’s my stance,” Li Xuan said after a moment of contemplation. “Hollywood is indeed powerful, but I am ultimately not a Hollywood person.”

Even if you use 10 billion yuan in box office revenue to say that Li Xuan is a "frog in a well".

This did not sway Li Xuan.

Liu Meizhen could only feel a slight sense of admiration.

"I admire your composure."

"Yes, there are things we can learn from your area, but... well, it's not worth giving up everything I have now to go there."

Li Xuan's eyes were clear. Liu Meizhen could tell just by looking at them—those eyes were definitely serious.

It is the result of careful and thoughtful consideration.

I don't know whether to say he has a strong personality or lacks intelligence.

In any case, the choice made was extremely foolish.

"If I really go to Hollywood, and as an Asian, one day my status is able to threaten that of a great director like Cameron, what awaits me then—status or something even more ruthless?"

Listen to what Li Xuan said.

Liu Meizhen never expected this reason.

An absolutely absurd reason.

You really have wild ideas!
"He deliberately used that sentence to reject me, to test my bottom line. Does this kid really think of Hollywood as a monster? What the Chinese film and television industry can give him, why can't we give him the same thing?"

Liu Meizhen then pondered.
Li Xuan was just making excuses for himself, using such a boring and almost stupid reason to deceive himself.
She definitely doesn't believe it's true; she's just using this incredibly boring excuse to fool herself.
But this is such a pointless reason.

This made her a little angry.

Even now, he is unwilling to reveal his true reasons.

But if you've shown such sincerity and the other party still refuses to accept it...

So Lionsgate doesn't need to try to win over a cold shoulder.

"Yes, why bother getting to know this arrogant kid? Director Lu Chuan is such an excellent director, he's the one we should really get to know and connect with. He's a top director in the Beijing film circle, someone who's destined to leave his mark on the Chinese film industry. He's the one we should prioritize getting to know."

At this moment, Chiiwa Baichuan was standing nearby, egging him on.
I never expected that kid to be so stupid.

He really is just a silly boy!
Liu Meizhen then said.

"Yes, if that's the case, then we'll have to look for someone else."

"Should we...put him down?" Chiiwa Meikawa whispered from the side.

"Um, do you think we need to use the word 'suppress' when dealing with a small-time Chinese director?" Liu Meizhen asked with a strange look: "A small-time director with a film that grossed over 100 million?"

Even the word 'suppression' is an insult to Hollywood film studios.

Dude, they're really Japanese after all—just like Li Xuan's character in the movie.

small.

Liu Meizhen doesn't use any more euphemistic expressions; she's very direct.

Look at Chiiwa Baichuan with a 'small' eye.

But at this moment, Qianyan did not have many unusual thoughts.

To be looked at like that by Americans, you'd never get that kind of treatment from anyone else.
"That's true, Miss Liu. So, what's next?"

"Actually, it's not that we really think Chinese directors are so great, it's just that we need the ever-growing Chinese market, which means we need more local talent to localize Hollywood films and help them capture more box office revenue. As for Li Xuan, I have a lot of personal appreciation for him, but he keeps rejecting that appreciation, so there's really nothing I can do about it."

The underlying logic is that Hollywood capital has also noticed that the Chinese-language market is indeed a huge and lucrative opportunity.

It's really big
Therefore, "The Forbidden Kingdom" is simply a laughing stock. Its box office performance is utterly absurd.
"If it's just a matter of official business, it's fine not to train Li Xuan, but to train other directors instead. For example, this time's 'New World' is quite good. I think this script has the potential to nurture someone."

"The New World!"

Chiiwa Baichuan himself also watched this movie.

It's a pretty good movie, about brotherhood and the choice between good and evil. It's true that it lacks a bit of the charm of similar works like "Infernal Affairs," but it has more of a thrill.

He has a greater advantage in conveying feelings and understanding across borders.
Selfishness is the driving force of human nature itself.

He loved it.

"Yes, I also think we should support 'New World.' I'm sure there isn't another person in this world as ungrateful as that."

At this time, Senyan Meichuan revered Taoism.

Starting with Li Xuan's "Nanjing Photo Studio," he didn't want Li Xuan to remain at the pinnacle of directing.

Let him fall!
That's what he was thinking.

To say that it's very difficult to do this is not really true. For example, supporting another director in a constant market and with constant resources allows newcomers to compete and compete, thus taking away market share from established directors.

And this 'Shengchang' from 'New World' seems to be the complete opposite of Li Xuan's awkward and unconventional style.

It was agreed that this new Hong Kong director would be supported, which would naturally squeeze Li Xuan's living space.

At the very least, Li Xuan must not be allowed to take over the overseas resources!

We shouldn't even give resources to this person who filmed "Nanjing Photo Studio," an act that insults his own nation, even if it's just for a dog!

Qianyan Meichuan volunteered
“I have some resources on the peninsula, and I’m thinking about whether I should buy the remake of ‘New World’ and send it to the peninsula.”

"Sure, let him taste the sweetness of adaptation, and then gradually bring him under our control. That's a good idea."

Liu Meizhen said, "Only Li Xuan is such an oddball. After adapting the work and tasting the sweetness of the overseas market, he still managed to refuse me. There shouldn't be another person like him."

In response, Chiiwa Baichuan volunteered and even used his own resources to try and get the script down.

As long as I can make Li Xuan unhappy.

Then he can sense it.

Cool.

A phone call came to Wei Ming; it was from Liu Dehua of Yingyi Entertainment.

He first expressed his regret for not being able to come to Beiping to congratulate him.

Too busy.

The achievements of "New World" this time are truly remarkable; it's a work that has been given a "life-saving" boost when the industry was on its last legs.
"I truly represent the Hong Kong film industry to thank you for your contributions." Andy Lau's tone was entirely sincere. This time, "New World" has really generated a huge wave of popularity, bringing a significant boost to Focus Entertainment.
It seems that Yingyi Entertainment's projects outside of Li Xuan's company haven't really taken off; they've all been mediocre.

From Buried Alive to Mad Stone and then to New World.

All of these were Li Xuan's plans.

Andy Lau sighed.

He saved his own company.
"Mr. Andy Lau, you're too kind. We're contributing scripts and personnel to expand our influence and wealth; it's a mutually beneficial arrangement," Li Xuan said with a smile as he took the phone.
"Haha, you probably really don't know what this movie means to our industry. Anyway, you're busy, and I also have something to say. This time, someone wants to buy the remake rights to your 'New World' and came to me. I just want to ask you, should we give them to them?"

"Lionsgate?"

"Ah."

"Give them to them."

"Row"

After chatting for a while, they finalized the destination of the script for "New World".

Li Xuan felt a pang of emotion.

What a joke! That girl from Lionsgate said she'd cooperate with limited resources, but she ran away dissatisfied—and now she's come right back.

This mixed-race blonde is really quite arrogant.

(End of this chapter)