Huayu Entertainment: Tianxian really wants to improve

Chapter 274 The Exclusivity Contract for IMAX Screens

"The entire opening scene of the tragedy was filmed in one continuous shot."

The image of the Imperial Advisor popped into Gu Bei's mind, so he casually said, "I originally wanted to make the whole movie in one continuous shot, isn't that bold? The whole movie in one continuous shot!"

"Extremely bold!"

David from IMAX nodded very honestly, "But I don't think it's impossible. Our IMAX 3D cameras use DI (Digital Intermediate) technology..."
It can now precisely and accurately stitch together the gaps between the two lenses.

This avoids the crude, one-shot suturing techniques of the past.

Are you serious?

Seeing David's enthusiastic expression, Gu Bei felt as if he had bullied an honest man.

For tech enthusiasts, the one-shot technique has a fatal attraction. Even within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, many people like to pursue the one-shot technique, believing it to be a form of artistic expression.

A few years later, Birdman was filmed in one continuous shot and won Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Director, and Best Picture.

Director Alejandro González Iglesias collaborated with Leonardo DiCaprio on The Revenant the following year, winning the Best Director award for two consecutive years, demonstrating the Academy's preference for one-shot films.

However, Gu Bei shattered David's illusions: "But I eventually gave up on the idea."

"Why?"

David asked with some regret.

"Because I used this long take at the beginning, I wanted it to give the audience a real-time feeling, to make them feel like they weren't in a movie theater."

It has a real, documentary feel, like something out of a Discovery Channel documentary, with an unedited sense of authenticity, allowing the viewer to flow along with the flow of time.

Gu Bei noticed David's interest in one-shot films, so he shared his understanding of the concept, saying, "However, when a shot loses its meaning, we need to use editing."

Narrative is the core of a film!

"what a shame."

David still felt a little disappointed. "Could I see your storyboard?"

"Of course."

Gu Bei nodded.

He stretched out his hand to the side.

no response.

"Cough cough!"

Gu Bei coughed twice and looked at Liu Yifei, who was lost in thought.

"what?"

Liu Yifei then realized that everyone in the room was looking at her.

Her face flushed slightly, and she asked softly, "What do you want?"

"Xiao Liu, storyboard."

Gu Bei looked at her with amusement.

I told her long ago that these kinds of business negotiations are boring, and that she shouldn't come.

She didn't believe it, so all she could do was come here and stare blankly.

Liu Yifei sensed the teasing in Gu Bei's tone. She rolled her eyes at him and handed him the storyboard.

"This is the effect we expected to achieve."

Gu Bei set up the storyboard on the stand and showed David and the others their expected results.

"A truly ingenious idea!"

David looked at the storyboard,
The sheer scale of the finished product immediately comes to mind.
What image could better showcase the vastness of IMAX than space?

After a pause,

He turned to Gu Bei and asked, "Bruce, would you be interested in deepening our cooperation with IMAX?"

Gu Bei showed a hint of interest: "Please tell me?"

"If you're willing to make a separate version for IMAX..."

We can waive all the costs associated with renting an IMAX 3D camera for you!

David proposed a preferential scheme, similar to a tax rebate, to allow Gu Bei to offer unique content on IMAX.

After all, IMAX tickets are so much more expensive, so they have to make sure that audiences feel that the IMAX viewing experience is so much better than that of other regular cinemas.

Therefore, over the years, IMAX has spared no effort in deepening its cooperation with renowned directors in order to enhance the scarcity of IMAX theaters.

Nolan is undoubtedly one of IMAX's best partners and one of the directors who made IMAX a household name.

Gu Bei was somewhat tempted after hearing this.

Although the reduced camera costs and the increased post-production costs are roughly the same,

But only on the enormous screen of IMAX can the absolute allure of gravity be fully displayed.

This is equivalent to IMAX paying him to produce a better version of the movie.

However, he could tell that David's price wasn't the bottom line, so he shook his head slightly: "Then the post-production costs will have to be increased by a lot. Getting the studio to increase the budget isn't that easy!"

unless……"

"Unless what?"

David had already realized that Gu Bei was increasing his stakes, but he still had a lot of authority, so he couldn't help but ask further.

"Unless we can convince the studios that there's a significant possibility of a box office increase," Gu Bei said bluntly.

"I can offer you a two-week exclusive contract on an IMAX screen!"

David then presented another condition.

Gu Bei was even more tempted.

The so-called exclusive agreement means that Gravity will be released in the two weeks prior to its theatrical run.

The entire North American IMAX screens can only screen Gravity, and cannot screen any other movies.

The reason why Ne Zha 2 was only shown in IMAX for one day in North America is because IMAX and Marvel have an exclusive agreement. After Captain America was released, all IMAX screens were given to Captain America 4.

Gu Bei thought for a moment, then applied maximum pressure: "One month!"

David shook his head: "Bruce, this is too..."

"We will be released in October."

Gu Bei said lightly.

"...We can talk now. What's your planned release date...?"

David immediately changed his tune.

October's release schedule can't compare to the summer or Christmas seasons.
It's not like we can't chat for a month.

"April 2010, 10."

"I'll go apply for it."

David went outside to make a phone call, and when he came back, he told Gu Bei, "Four weeks, from the 40th to the 43rd week of 2010, all the IMAX screens in North America are yours, that is, from October 1st to 28th."

There's no difference between four weeks and a month.
The reason IMAX disagreed with a one-month timeframe was...
It's also because November 1st is Halloween, and many horror movies will be released during this week, and a small number of horror movies will also be shown on the IAM X screen.

"Sure." Gu Bei nodded in satisfaction. "Pleasure doing business with you!"

"Happy cooperation!"

David smiled broadly and said, "Let's talk about your opening one-shot scene."

For the next hour, Gu Bei spent more than an hour talking with David about one-shot filming, especially about how to use DI (Digital Intermediate) technology to precisely stitch the shots together.

A little over an hour later, the legal teams of IMAX and Rose Pictures finalized the contract.

After signing the rental and exclusive contracts, Gu Bei saw David and the others off.

"You seem so happy. Does this IMAX theater have many screens?" Liu Yifei asked curiously, noticing Gu Bei's cheerful expression.

"Not many, less than 200 screens."

Gu Bei shook his head with a smile on his face, "But IMAX tickets cost twice as much as regular cinemas, while the capacity of an IMAX theater is seven or eight times that of a regular theater, resulting in a nearly fifteen-fold difference in output per theater."

Most importantly, gravity can only truly shine in IMAX.

And we can have all the IMAX movies in North America to ourselves for four whole weeks!

If the movie-watching experience can be quantified

Therefore, the 3D version of gravity is at least five times stronger than the regular version.
The IMAX 3D version is twice the size of the 3D version.
Adding the two together, that's at least a tenfold difference.

Now that they've secured an exclusive IMAX screen contract, they've at least guaranteed Gravity's reputation and core audience in North America. The only remaining obstacle for Gu Bei is the unavoidable force of MPAA approval.

"that would be great!"

Liu Yifei clapped her hands happily for Gu Bei, then said quietly, "You were the one who called me Little Liu just now, weren't you?"

"Haha, anyway, foreigners can't understand it."

"I think you want to overthrow the Heavenly Gang!"

Liu Yifei said, hands on her hips.

"Mr. Liu, you are Mr. Liu today." Gu Bei said with a smile, "I've finished my business, and what's left today is your investment."

"Are you sure they'll accept our investment?" Liu Yifei asked, a worried look on her face.

"Don't worry!"

Gu Bei said firmly, "When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. No one can escape the economic crisis, not even a star project like theirs."

"Let's go then!"

Liu Yifei drove her F430 Spider.

The bright red car body is like a beautiful sight on the road.
The two of them drove from Los Angeles to Malibu Beach, a famous beach in California and a popular tourist destination where many Hollywood stars own vacation homes.

"Bruce, Crystal, you're finally back in North America!"

Leonardo opened the door and greeted Gu Bei and Liu Yifei who were standing there, "Where are your friends? Haven't they arrived yet?"

Gu Bei shook his head and walked in through the door: "He's not exactly my friend. I was supposed to talk to him about a collaboration today, but I couldn't refuse your invitation, so we met here."

"You don't seem to like him. He's a tech tycoon, a billionaire!"

Leonardo followed Gu Bei from the front door to the backyard. The backyard of this villa was the beautiful Malibu Beach, and it was the private beach section.

“Money isn’t the same as charm.” Gu Bei looked at Leonardo. “You wouldn’t like him either!”

"Then I'll give it a try!"

Leonardo raised an eyebrow, not believing Gu Bei's words.

Gu Bei smiled.
Looking forward to Leonardo's reaction after meeting with the other party.

Subsequently,

He looked at Malibu Beach in front of him, where the seawater displayed a mesmerizing blue hue, ranging from light to dark blue, changing with the distance from the shore, and shimmering under the sunlight.

"It's so comfortable here!"

Gu Bei lay down on the beach chair, enjoying the comfortable sunlight, and immediately felt relaxed.

"You've packed your schedule too full; you still need to live your life."

Leonardo lay back in the chair next to Gu Bei. "I heard from Toby that you're interested in directing a Spider-Man movie. He's asking me if you're a good director to work with!"

"What did you say?" Gu Bei asked curiously.

“I told you you’re a very demanding director. If you can’t finish a shot, you’ll keep cutting it until you get it right, no matter the cost,” Leonardo said with a smile.

"That's complete slander, isn't it?" Gu Bei said irritably.

"Haha, Toby is ready to quit after hearing that. Do you think I can take his place as Spider-Man?" Leonardo smiled, clearly pleased with himself for tricking his old friend.

"I don't think that will work!"

Gu Bei shook his head.

Leonardo's eyes widened immediately. What about when Leonardo was rejected?
Gu Bei said with a smile, "You and Toby are both too old. If I were to film a Spider-Man series, I would definitely have to find a young person to replace you two old folks!"

"Bruce, you've hurt me so much!"

Leonardo felt like he had been dealt a heavy blow.

He's only 34 years old, in the prime of his life, isn't he?
"But if you want to play Spider-Man, how about you make a cameo appearance for me? I'll create a parallel universe version of Peter Parker for you, a Peter Parker who is married with a daughter and hasn't become Spider-Man."

Gu Bei suggested with a smile that this was Peter Parker from some future comic book, which would be suitable for a cameo appearance by a big star like Leonardo DiCaprio.

"How about adding a bald head and a big belly?" Leonardo took a step closer, holding up his champagne. "If you can get me to hold an Oscar, I'll definitely give you a cameo!"

"A word is settled!"

Gu Bei also raised his champagne glass, "Even if an artist can't help you win an Oscar, I'll find a movie that will make you successful!"

Leonardo drank the champagne without a care in the world.

Trading a cameo appearance for an Oscar is a worthwhile exchange!
While the two were chatting,

Liu Yifei and Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend, Bar Refaeli, came out of the room.

She changed into a beige one-piece swimsuit, which had a simple overall style without being overly revealing.

The neckline features seashell-like patterns, and the back of the waist has crisscrossing straps tied into a gentle bow that sways slightly with every step, like a graceful sprite.

"We're going to play in the water!"

Liu Yifei walked over, gave Gu Bei a light peck on the cheek, and said with a smile.

Have fun!

While the others weren't paying attention, Gu Bei gently patted the bow, earning him a glare from Liu Yifei.

Compared to the interaction between the two, Leonardo DiCaprio and Bare were already kissing on the side, showing no regard for the fact that they were in an open space under the sky.

However, since this is a private beach, they don't really need to be so careful.

Gu Bei and Leonardo continued to lie on the beach chairs.

"Ding dong!"

There was a ring at the door.

Gu Bei stood up,

This must be his guest.

open the door.

Standing at the door were a young Jewish man and a Latina woman.

"Hello, Mr. Zuckerberg, thank you for coming." Gu Bei greeted Mark Zuckerberg, then looked at the woman beside him, "And welcome to you as well, Ms. Sandberg."

After saying hello,

Gu Bei looked at Mark Zuckerberg again.

Facebook was the investment opportunity that Gu Bei found for Liu Yifei.
An economic crisis presents a good opportunity to buy assets at rock-bottom prices.
During this period, whoever had cash in their hands was the boss.

Even for a star project like Facebook, the same applies. After all, if the stock prices of the listed companies you are comparing with are falling, why should a company that hasn't even gone public continue to maintain its valuation?

Venture capitalists don't have any money either!
(End of this chapter)