Huayu Entertainment: You have been directing for three generations, are you comparing your qualifica

Chapter 106 One Foot in Hollywood

6 month 5 number.

[Dead Silence] had limited screenings in several major North American cities, including Los Angeles and New York.

In a 300-seat theater, Lionsgate invited horror movie enthusiasts, media, film critics, and other professional audiences to watch the film.

The 100-minute film, through its set design of an abandoned town and a gloomy puppet theater, combined with cinematography and lighting effects, creates a somber color palette, establishing a repressive and eerie atmosphere of horror.

The puppet suddenly grins, and shots of puppet drawing manuscripts, accompanied by deep sound effects, startle the audience who are watching the film in silence.

The sudden camera movement creates a strong sense of suffocation.

Unlike the gory horror of "Saw", "Dead Silence" has a stronger sense of psychological oppression.

The film combines American horror with Japanese Ju-on, making it a refreshing experience.

After the movie ended, many viewers remained seated, still immersed in the film's terrifying atmosphere, and hadn't yet recovered.

Lionsgate staff began distributing survey forms.

The film's plot, pacing, audiovisual effects, level of horror, overall viewing experience, and suggestions for improvement are evaluated and scored.

The same scenario is playing out in other cinemas.

The day after the preview screening, Tian Xiaole arrived at Lionsgate early in the morning, knowing that the investigation results were out.

“Dear Tian, ​​you’ve arrived.”

A foreigner I'd met in the office greeted me with a smile, appearing very enthusiastic.

How did the preview screenings go?

Tian Xiaole asked expectantly.

"Let's go, everyone's waiting for you in the conference room, let's find out together."

Judging from the foreigners' expressions, Tian Xiaole had some guesses that the movie reviews must have been pretty good, and she felt a little more relaxed.

The original film "Dead Silence" did not perform well at the box office and received low reviews. Although the illogical plot was modified and the American horror style was enhanced, there are still concerns that it will not be well-received in China.

"Director Tian, ​​we've been waiting for you." Wen Ziren waved to him.

Mike Burns, also with a smile, handed Tian Xiaole a compiled table and said with a laugh:

"Tian, ​​the script you provided is excellent, and the audience's feedback on the film is very positive."

Tian Xiaole looked at the survey forms compiled by Lionsgate. A total of one thousand forms were distributed, and nine hundred and seventy forms were returned.

There were 630 A ratings, 220 B ratings, and 120 C ratings, resulting in an overall rating of B+, making it a decent horror film.

Most viewers gave high praise to the use of silence and screams, the appearance of the puppet Billy, and the design of the eerie scene.

Only a small number of viewers felt that the revenge plot lacked originality.

"Even the best script needs someone to make it into a film, and director James Wan deserves a lot of credit."

Tian Xiaole wouldn't take all the credit for herself.

He also knew that the afterglow of "Chainsaw" was still lingering, and James Wan had accumulated a considerable reputation among horror audiences.

James Wan gave him a grateful look. The film was a success once again, and as the director, his status and treatment would be improved once more.

"The preview screenings have been well-received at the box office and in the reviews, so the company has decided to add more opening screens," Mike Burns said.

How many more pieces can be added?

The cinema's big screen is directly linked to box office revenue, and Tian Xiaole is quite concerned about this aspect.

"In North America, it costs at least 1600 yuan, which is quite a lot for a horror movie."

Mike smiled and offered an explanation.

When "Saw" was released last year, it was only shown on 1500 screens in its first week. Nobody expected it to be so successful, and the box office and word of mouth soared.

It was then increased to $2850, and eventually grossed $50 million at the North American box office.

Tian Xiaole nodded, somewhat accepting of the result. Once the first week's box office figures are released, the promotional campaign for "The Shallows" can begin.

···
Many domestic film and television companies, actors, and celebrities are also paying close attention to the box office performance of "Dead Silence".

I want to know as soon as possible whether the script provided by Tian Xiaole has a market in Hollywood.

It also relates to the release of the film he directed.

On the 6th, which happened to be a Friday, "Dead Silence" was released on a large scale in North American theaters.

Thanks to the reputation of James Wan's "Chainsaw," many horror movie enthusiasts were attracted to the theaters.

Horror films are a niche genre with a dedicated audience who often gather together to share their viewing experiences. After the preview screenings of "Dead Silence," word-of-mouth spread rapidly within this group, drawing many to the theaters to see for themselves.

Tian Xiaole wasn't idle either; she checked out the cinemas near the hotel, and the occupancy rates of the several theaters showing movies were quite good.

I can finally relax and start focusing on promoting The Shallows.

First, call the lead actress, Blake Lively, and ask her to make time for promotional activities.

Offline roadshows are a must. Tian Xiaole doesn't have the same reputation as James Wan in Hollywood. He'll have to work hard for his first film and make sure the promotional materials are solid.

Once you achieve good results, things will be easier.

Local time on the 9th.

Tian Xiaole received a call from Mike Burns, asking him to go to Lionsgate. He sounded relaxed, suggesting there must be good news.

I called James and asked him to drive me there.

Tian Xiaole doesn't have a driver's license here and doesn't want to take a taxi.

"Boss, the first-week box office figures are out, right? They should be talking about this."

James is very concerned about the box office performance of movies, and whether Tian Xiaole can make it in Hollywood is also related to his future.

"Hmm, hopefully we'll get some good news."

The two entered the Lionsgate building. This time, James didn't look at the receptionist and went straight to the conference room.

I've been here several times, so I know the way around quite well.

Tian Xiaole pushed open the door and entered, first subtly glancing at everyone's expressions. The atmosphere was relaxed, and everyone was smoking.

"Haha...Tian, ​​you must be getting impatient for the box office results, right?"

James Wan joked with a smile.

Tian Xiaole smiled and said, "I'm really looking forward to it."

"Dear Tian, ​​we've succeeded! We made 8.6 million in the first three days, and it's very likely to surpass the box office of 'Saw.' I should start thinking about when to hold the celebration party."

Mike Burns was delighted; the film had only cost four million dollars to make, making it another example of a film that achieved great success with a small budget.

He offered Tian Xiaole a cigar, but the latter waved it away, saying he really didn't like smoking it.

James Wan moved closer and whispered, "Congratulations to us, this result is two million higher than [Chainsaw]."

Before its release, no one was optimistic about "Saw," and there weren't many screens showing it on opening night. It's normal for "Dead Silence" to be two million higher at the box office. As for whether it can surpass "Saw" at the box office, we'll have to see how the reviews go.

James, standing next to him, was already yelling. As a native foreigner, he certainly knew what this box office performance meant.

The global box office is very likely to exceed $100 million, and the offline DVD sales of horror movies are the most profitable, selling better than the box office, and without having to share the revenue with the theaters.

"Boss, this is something to celebrate."

Tian Xiaole nodded mechanically. No wonder domestic film and television companies all want to go overseas; it turns out making US dollars is so lucrative.

At this moment, he has one foot in Hollywood, after the box office results of "The Shallows" are released.

Whether he enters Hollywood as a director with both feet firmly planted, or retreats and only works as a screenwriter, will soon be the answer.

With such great success, Lionsgate didn't keep it to itself and began a big promotional campaign to build momentum for the upcoming release of "The Shallows".

"With a script provided by Tian Xiaole, a Chinese director who won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the film 'Dead Silence' grossed 8.6 million yuan in its first three days."

"The Shallows, written and directed by Chinese director Tian Xiaole, will be released in North America on June 30."

The media coverage garnered limited attention in Hollywood.

So many people from all over the world come here to chase their dreams. Initial success means nothing; just one failure can cost you your chance in Hollywood.

Many film companies have also taken notice of the scripts registered by Tian Xiaole. Some of them are imaginative and novel, while others are refreshing and show that stories can be expressed in this way.

When the news reached China, Leyu.com prominently featured the box office figures for "Dead Silence" and the release date of "The Shallows" on its homepage.

"The script for 'Dead Silence,' provided by director Tian Xiaole, grossed $8.6 million in its first three days in North America and is expected to break $100 million worldwide."

"Directed by Tian Xiaole, The Shallows will be released in North America on June 30, marking its official Hollywood debut."

Even official media outlets reported the news, but only about "The Shallows," not "Dead Silence," likely due to its subject matter.

The entertainment industry is in an uproar!
The female celebrities are having a blast!

Has Tian Xiaole begun to make a name for himself in Hollywood?

Some people couldn't wait to call and share the good news, but they couldn't get through at all. They could only send text messages or QQ messages, hoping that their messages would be seen.

(End of this chapter)