Huayu Entertainment: Tianxian really wants to improve

Chapter 373 Source Code: Gu Bei and Zhang Weiping's New Year's Film Publicity War

Gu Beidu has collected all the film and television adaptation rights to Liu Cixin's novels, which means he will definitely continue the path of Gravity and further promote the establishment of China's film industry system.

Guo Fan felt that he probably couldn't hope for the Three-Body Problem.

But he also really liked The Wandering Earth.

Adapting the themes of a rural teacher and ball lightning is a bit difficult.

There are also "The Morning of Enlightenment" and "Collapse," the former about scientists willing to risk their lives for a chance to hear the truth, and the latter about the time reversal of the universe's expansion and collapse. Both are novels with considerable adaptation value.

He turned his head and looked at his wife with longing eyes.

"You're so pathetic! Gu Bei was obviously just trying to lure you into a trap!"

Guo Fan's wife saw through Gu Bei's plan at a glance.

But Gu Bei's tactic was indeed effective on Guo Fan, and Guo Fan's already restless heart became even more excited.

However, when Guo Fan's wife looked at Liu Yifei next to her, she was also filled with emotion: "Fei Baozi is still so innocent and cute. I grew up watching her on TV. I never expected her to be so gentle in real life!"

After a wrap party,

Guo Fan was completely infatuated with Gu Bei, and Guo Fan's wife was completely infatuated with Liu Yifei.
The conditions for Guo Fan to join Linlang Entertainment will be much simpler to discuss later.

Directors in the industry typically work through studios.
Besides collaborating with Guo Fan to open Guo Fan's director studio, Linlang Entertainment also...
At the same time, a medium-budget science fiction film will be launched, giving Guo Fan his first feature film.

"No problem at all!"

After agreeing with his wife, Guo Fan couldn't wait to ask, "Director Gu, which science fiction author's novel should we adapt?"

Gu Bei took a script from his assistant Li Wanyun and handed it to Guo Fan.

"Source code...is it similar to the setting of The Matrix?"

Upon seeing the name, Guo Fan immediately thought of the Matrix space in The Matrix. "The screenwriter is Ben Ripley, Director Gu, are you asking me to direct a Hollywood project?"

"Are you confident you can command that group of people?"

Gu Bei immediately launched into a soul-searching question at Guo Fan.

Guo Fan wisely shook his head.

New directors, even in China where the director is the central figure, often cannot fully command the film crew. It is common for them to be bullied by the veteran crew members, and in some cases, their work doesn't even feel like their own.

This brings us to a certain director, Mr. Lu, who is known for his meticulous attention to detail, even when it comes to crying!
Moreover, in producer-centric Hollywood,
Let alone Guo Fan, who currently has no qualifications whatsoever.
Even when Gu Bei was filming Whiplash, he had to interview a lot of people to find an obedient director of photography before he finally found Tim, a sunny and beautiful young director of photography. Tim was gentle, technically good, and willing to listen to him, a new director.

"This script was one of the most popular scripts on blacklist websites in 2007."

It originally belonged to Universal Pictures, but because Universal Pictures bought the script but never started the project, the license expired, which is when I had the opportunity to buy it.

Gu Bei explained the origin of this script.
The blacklist website is a website for screenwriters to submit their work.

Screenwriters can send their unproduced scripts to blacklisted websites.

The blacklist website sends the information to various professionals, and the final list is posted on the website based on their evaluations, in order to attract independent production companies to purchase and produce these unproduced scripts.

After a pause,

Gu Bei stared at Guo Fan with ill intent.

Guo Fan was immediately jolted awake.
What kind of look is that, Director Gu?
Why did he feel an urgent need to expedite the project?

Gu Bei said with a half-smile, "So, this script project isn't unique to you; it's a project that's being produced by both China and the US."

The American version of Source Code was produced by Rose Pictures, and the director chosen was Duncan Jones, the director of Moon.
And you're directing the Chinese version of Source Code.

You must release it during the summer of 2011.
Unless you want to face an audience that has already seen the American version of Source Code!

It takes four years to make one film like The Wandering Earth, right?
I never got to see The Wandering Earth 3 before I died!

I'm giving you a year to produce the source code, or else... Hmph!
"Only a year and a half!"

Guo Fan was instantly under immense pressure. "Director Gu, don't worry, there's absolutely no problem!"

But to have the opportunity to take the lead

For a novice director like him, this was already a godsend.

Moreover, it's a science fiction feature film.
He has to complete the task before the deadline, even if it costs him his life!
"You should study the script carefully these next couple of days!"

Seeing Guo Fan grit his teeth and make this solemn pledge, Gu Bei nodded in satisfaction. "I'm going back to North America soon. Before I go back, I'll take you to China Film Group."
When your boss asks you questions about the project, you don't want to be unable to answer.

The North American awards season is just around the corner.

Gu Bei is about to return to North America.

The Source Code project involved trains, explosions, and the military, and only the involvement of China Film Group was enough to get the project approved.

Therefore, before returning to North America to attend the awards season, Gu Bei planned to take Guo Fan to China Film Group to meet Han Sanpin.

"I'll go back and translate the script right now!"

Guo Fan couldn't wait to get up and leave.

Gu Bei watched Guo Fan's departing figure.
As expected of someone with an innate divine physique, he survived the Wandering Earth era by sleeping only two hours a night.

Now that Guo Fan is younger, he'll probably be able to stay up all night tonight, which will make Gu Bei's choice of such a suitable practice project worthwhile.

The movie Source Code grossed nearly 100 million yuan in mainland China in 2011, putting it on par with Thor, Captain America, and Green Lantern. Mainland China was already the second largest box office market after North America.

on the Internet,
This script has been hailed as a masterpiece.
This shows that Chinese people do indeed like this type of script.

Most importantly, this film is simple to shoot, making it the perfect choice for new directors.

the next day.

[China's first domestically produced sci-fi blockbuster, Gravity, has officially wrapped filming. At the wrap party, the crew treated Hollywood crew members to a lavish meal!]

Looking at the news in the newspaper, Zhang Weiping said irritably, "Even after a movie wraps up filming, they still want to steal the spotlight from our preview screening. Gu Bei is really cunning!"

"He probably didn't even pay attention!"

Zhang Yimou explained to Gu Bei from the side.

"He definitely did it on purpose. We are the first film in the Lunar New Year season, and next week is the release of 'Bodyguards and Assassins,' a collaboration between Linlang Entertainment and Edko Films. He must be trying to steal our spotlight with this news!"

Zhang Weiping continued to ramble on.
He clearly remembered that backstage at last year's Olympics, Gu Bei tried to poach Zhang Yimou right in front of him, which naturally made him harbor a strong hostility towards Gu Bei.

After a pause,

He looked at Zhang Yimou: "Yimou, although Gu Bei's character is questionable, his eye for market trends has always been good. How about we make a sci-fi film for our next movie?"

"Didn't we agree to film 'Under the Hawthorn Tree'?"

Zhang Yimou frowned.

While filming "A Simple Noodle Story," he sensed Zhang Weiping's increasing involvement in the film. He had initially thought they could start filming "Under the Hawthorn Tree" soon, but it seemed Zhang Weiping was backing out. "Of course, we'll finish filming 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' first! Didn't we already send people all over the country to find the female lead?"

After Zhang Weiping's probing attempt failed, he decisively followed Zhang Yimou's lead and said...

"Let's talk about it then."

Zhang Yimou didn't really want to talk about it anymore.

Zhang Weiping's eyes flickered.
Subsequently,

During the roadshow interviews
He continued to play the outspoken Zhang Dapao, telling reporters directly, "The audience response to the preview screening of 'A Simple Noodle Story' was extremely enthusiastic. Our goal is to become the box office champion of 2009!"

The reporter immediately sensed the impending conflict: "You mean, 'A Simple Noodle Story' will surpass the box office record just set by 'The Message'?"

"That's for sure. Fengsheng only managed to break box office records by chance thanks to the expansion of the domestic film market. The original box office record was set by us, and now we're just taking it back!"

Zhang Weiping said without hesitation, "In fact, Gu Bei's box office has always relied on the larger film market. The box office figures look very large when converted, but the ranking is not high. That's why his new film flopped."

Zhang Dapao's scathing critique of Gu Bei's new film as a flop is quite a big news story!

Fight, fight!
Excited reporters surrounded Gu Bei and asked, "Director Gu, do you have anything to say about Zhang Weiping's claim that your new film flopped?"

"I think he should learn more about what 'restricted issuance' means."
La La Land grossed nearly two million dollars in its opening week, opening in only six theaters.
With $300,000 in box office revenue per theater per week, and every showing sold out except for the morning sessions, tickets were extremely difficult to obtain. If this kind of performance is considered a flop, then no film's performance could satisfy his ambitions!

Gu Bei looked at the reporters in front of him with some helplessness. He didn't expect that his spur-of-the-moment decision to send Liu Yifei to the martial arts school to prepare for becoming a grandmaster would be blocked by reporters. His luck was truly unbelievable!
Furthermore, if Zhang Weiping were to use the promotional periods of other films to claim that he would surpass the release of "The Message,"...

Gu Bei tolerated it.

Is this an insult to me, using three gunshots to slap the table in amazement?

Gu Bei couldn't take it anymore and retorted directly, "If Zhang Weiping thinks he understands movies so well, then he should make his own movie. There's absolutely no need for him to interfere with other people's films!"

Big news!

"Director Gu, are you accusing Zhang Weiping of excessively interfering in Zhang Yimou's films?" the reporter immediately pressed, feeling that today's stakeout was absolutely worthwhile!
"I have no idea!"

Gu Bei waved his hand.

Subsequently,

He then entered the martial arts school with Liu Yifei.

The reporter didn't chase after them, but quickly jotted down notes in his notebook: "Gu Bei accused Zhang Weiping of excessively interfering with Zhang Yimou's Three Shots. Under the reporter's questioning, Gu Bei, realizing he had spoken out of turn, could only remain silent and leave."

This is big news! It's absolutely big news!
This year's Lunar New Year film season is incredibly lively!
First, Storm Riders 2 and The Treasure Hunter were released two days earlier to avoid competing with Zhang Yimou's Three Simple Tales.
"Three Guns" immediately started its preview screenings a day early, competing with the two films.
On its opening day,

There was another verbal exchange between Gu Bei and Zhang Weiping.
In just three days, one news story after another has emerged; it's like picking up money from the ground!

Inside the martial arts school,

Gu Bei and Liu Yifei first met with Wang Jiawei to determine the martial arts that Liu Yifei needed to learn.

“Miss Liu Yifei, you’d better practice hard. Mr. Liang has been practicing Wing Chun for a whole year for this movie, and only now can he be considered to have achieved the agility and strength of Wing Chun.”

Wang Jiawei said with a hint of worry.

"Okay, Director!"

Liu Yifei nodded and agreed.

Upon hearing this, Gu Bei almost laughed.

"Gu Sheng, what's wrong?"

Wang Jiawei noticed Gu Bei's expression and asked curiously.

"I was just thinking..."

Under Liu Yifei's threatening gaze, Gu Bei smiled and said, "You might want Qianqian to hold back a bit later, otherwise, who knows~"

Most of the action sequences in The Grandmaster are based on traditional martial arts.

Abandoning the fantastical ideas of previous martial arts movies, it returns to simplicity.

However, traditional martial arts moves are not as easy to avoid as martial arts design. If someone with Liu Yifei's physical condition were to practice traditional martial arts and then fight against Liang Chaowei, who is almost fifty years old, wouldn't that be bullying an old man?
"Is Ms. Liu Yifei really that amazing?"

Wang Jiawei was a little surprised.

"I just exercise a little bit occasionally!"

Liu Yifei's earlobes turned slightly red, and she glared fiercely at Gu Bei.

After Wang Jiawei left with a skeptical expression,

Liu Yifei narrowed her eyes slightly, clenched her fists, and banged them loudly on the wooden dummy next to her, as if she were using the dummy to teach Gu Bei a lesson.

Gu Bei quickly changed the subject: "When are you planning to come to North America?"

"I'll be staying on set for at least two months, probably around the Lunar New Year, depending on Director Wang's arrangements," Liu Yifei replied after a moment's thought.

"Okay, you can arrange it whenever you want to come."

Gu Bei knew that Liu Yifei had high expectations of herself. He hugged Liu Yifei's waist from behind and said softly, "You don't need to worry about delaying Wang Jiawei's filming. He also told me that everything is ready and that the filming of The Grandmaster will definitely be completed within half a year."

But you can just take this with a grain of salt; Wong Kar-wai's movies have never been without delays!

"Ok!"

Liu Yifei responded softly.

At first, she struggled a bit, afraid that other people might suddenly come into the martial arts gym.

But the thought of Gu Bei flying to North America next week...

She let Gu Bei hold her in the martial arts room, enjoying the last bit of time they could spend alone together.

weekend,

The first week of competition in the Lunar New Year film season.
It went straight to a fever pitch.

After seeing Gu Bei's rebuttal, Zhang Weiping was furious, not because Gu Bei's words were offensive, but because Gu Bei's words could easily affect the box office.

After all, audiences go to the cinema to watch Zhang Yimou's movies, not the movies produced by Zhang Weiping.

He was very clear about this, but he just didn't want Zhang Yimou to know it too clearly.

Gu Bei's words hit his weak spot.

Fortunately, the program at 8 pm on Saturday gave Zhang Weiping a lot of confidence.

News Broadcast: [The Lunar New Year film "A Simple Noodle Story," directed by Zhang Yimou, was released nationwide yesterday, and its box office reached 2100 million yuan on its opening day, setting a new record for domestic films.]

Following the box office success of the National Day holiday, domestically produced original films are proving popular with consumers during this year's Lunar New Year season, with box office revenue expected to surpass 20 billion yuan.

(End of this chapter)