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Chapter 109 [The Shallows] Box Office, Quentin's Hobby

Despite the remarkable success of Dead Silence, The Shallows will still hold preview screenings.

This is the cautious approach of independent film companies like Lionsgate; no matter how small the investment, they won't risk releasing a film directly.

On the 27th, film critics, media, filmmakers, and film fans were invited to watch a preview screening of "The Shallows".

After the 90-minute movie ended, a survey of 1,000 people revealed that 70% of the audience gave it an A rating, while 20% gave it a B rating.

The Lionsgate staff looked at the returned survey forms and their faces flushed with excitement.

Such an outstanding performance is comparable to that of great directors.

After some discussion, Lionsgate achieved a 100% box office success on opening day, and after three days of box office results, it was released simultaneously in other regions around the world.

On the 30th, The Shallows opened in theaters across North America in the early hours of the morning.

The box office performance in the first three days is crucial, as it determines whether the opening screen count will be increased or decreased.

Lionsgate and Tin Siu-lok aren't the only ones eyeing box office numbers; other Hollywood film companies are too.

After all, "Dead Silence" has already succeeded. If "Shark Beach" can also succeed, then they can decide whether to buy the script that Tian Xiaole registered.

Hollywood has no shortage of excellent producers and directors, but it lacks good ideas and imaginative scripts.

Inside the Santa Monica Hotel, Tian Xiaole is taming a large foreign horse.

Blake finally caught his breath and asked curiously, "Director, why are you only bothering me and not caring about the box office?"

"We've done what we needed to do, and the preview screenings have been well-received. The rest is up to the audience."

Tian Xiaole shivered.

The color has faded considerably due to overuse.

Blake swallowed it, even licking the flesh off his lips.

···
the next day.

After seeing Blake off, Tian Xiaole went to Pangu Pictures.

James called him and said that there was progress on the equipment and machinery issue.

A film production company called "Explorers" declared bankruptcy and liquidation less than a year after its establishment and is now selling its equipment.

When we arrived at the address provided, James greeted us with a smile and told us about the company.

"Boss, this company has been established for less than a year, but the machinery and equipment it uses are at least 95% new, and they are all the most advanced type, plus professional technicians..."

After listening to James's explanation, Tian Xiaole suddenly changed his mind.

His purpose in coming to Hollywood was to make a quick buck and build a competitive advantage for the website. He also needed to invest heavily in training domestic special effects talent.

There's an even better way now: by using the principle of "borrowing a chicken to lay eggs," we can acquire a company here.

He has so many scripts in his hands that he definitely can't film them all by himself. The existence of the union here is quite convenient.

Hollywood's greatest strengths lie in post-production and its large special effects teams, which are exactly what Tian Xiaole needs.

By utilizing the advanced technical talent here to train our domestic team, we've essentially found a free mentor.

"boss?"

"Let's go talk to the boss."

Tian Xiaole came to her senses and said.

They entered the building and took the elevator to the sixth floor. The receptionist was listlessly busy with her own work and didn't even notice Tian Xiaole and James coming in.

"Miss, please inform them that James is visiting."

"Oh, please wait."

Tian Xiaole leaned against the front desk and noticed the resume submission interface on the computer.

It seems the employees already know about the company sale.

A short while later, a foreigner with thinning hair and curly hair came out. He was pot-bellied and a typical local redneck.

"Mr. Bob, this is my boss, Tian Xiaole."

James explained.

"I know you. Hollywood media has reported on you, and your movie is showing in theaters, right?"

"Yes, 'The Shallows' is a good movie, I recommend you watch it," Tian Xiaole said with a smile.

The three arrived at the office, which was simply decorated, with Star Wars posters and Schwarzenegger's Terminator posters hanging on the walls.

Tian Xiaole withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and directly stated her purpose:

"Mr. Bob is looking to sell the company, but we don't know the price..."

James looked over suspiciously. Wasn't it just about buying machinery and equipment? Why was he asking about the company's price directly? Could it be...?

He was already dreaming of going from managing a company of five to managing a company of thirty.

Upon hearing Tian Xiaole's question, Bob revealed his shrewdness as a businessman. He first praised all his employees one by one, then talked about how advanced the machinery and equipment were. Only after laying this groundwork did he give a quote.

James, standing nearby, grew anxious: "Mr. Bob, we researched your company before we came here; it's not worth the price you're offering."

Bob ignored James; it was clear that Tian Xiaole was in charge. He looked over, eagerly awaiting what would happen next.

"Two million US dollars is my offer, no more," Tian Xiaole said, holding up two fingers.

I thought this redneck had a dream of making movies, but in the end, it was all about business.

"You win, this company is yours."

Countless film companies go bankrupt in Hollywood every day, and he dared not gamble that Tian Xiaole would simply leave after he raised the price.

···
Standing in front of the French windows, Tian Xiaole ignored Bob, who was packing his things, and said to James, who was still excited, with his back to him:
"Let's get a lawyer to handle the handover procedures, reassure the employees, and offer higher salaries to those with technical skills to keep them..."

"Okay, boss."

"By the way, keep an eye on the machinery and equipment. I want to buy a batch to take back to China."

Lionsgate didn't play any tricks or delay the progress; the first week's revenue sharing for "Dead Silence" came through.

Tian Xiaole now has more money in hand and can buy equipment.

"You have an excellent manager, and hopefully this company can survive under your leadership."

Bob glanced reluctantly at the office. Even though the acquisition agreement hadn't been signed yet, he was already packing his things to make room for the new boss.

"Haha...I hope so too."

Tian Xiaole has been in Hollywood for a month, just waiting for the box office results of "The Shallows" and all the procedures to be completed before he can return to China.

The rest of the work is now in James' hands.

7 month 3 number.

Blake Lively came to see Tian Xiaole early in the morning, also wanting to know the box office results as soon as possible.

After having breakfast, the two headed to Lionsgate headquarters.

Although it is a well-known film company, it has a small number of employees, with only twenty or thirty people permanently stationed at the headquarters, and most of them staying on film sets.

Upon entering the building, the employees coming and going all wore smiles.

Dead Silence grossed $53 million in North America and also achieved impressive box office results in other parts of the world.

Professional organizations have given assessments suggesting that it could surpass the global box office performance of "Saw".

Every year there's a movie that makes a big splash with a small budget, so naturally everyone's face is all smiles, which means their year-end bonuses are secured.

"Director Tian Xiaole, Ms. Blake, would you like me to show you around the various departments of Lionsgate?"

A blond, curly-haired white man greeted her with a smile. Tian Xiaole had been here many times, but she had never actually visited this place before.

"Maybe next time. Want to know if the box office figures for 'The Shallows' are out yet?"

"I know it's very good, but we'll have to wait for Director Mike to announce the exact amount."

A white foreigner led the way. Inside the office, which was different from the last time, sat a group of company executives, including James Wan, Lionsgate's rising star.

"Welcome our director and the film's leading lady..."

Mike Burns led the applause, and the eight foreigners sitting down followed suit.

His eyes revealed desire, as if he were looking at a naked beauty, giving people a creepy feeling.

Tian Xiaole looked at Wen Ziren, hoping he could give her some hints.

Mike Burns gave the answer directly: "The Shallows opened with $16 million, ranking first on the opening day box office charts..."

"Ah~~"

Blake Lively covered his mouth and screamed; if he weren't concerned about his image, he probably would have thrown a tantrum.

Tian Xiaole clenched his fist and shouted "yes" twice.

He owns 60% of the film's revenue, which helps him solve many problems.

At this moment, he has truly stepped into Hollywood, and will have more say in future collaborations.

"The company is preparing a celebration party, Tian, ​​you must attend."

Just as Tian Xiaole was about to say that it wasn't appropriate to open champagne at the halfway point, Wen Ziren leaned over and said:
"Don't get me wrong, this is for [Dead Silence], and there will definitely be one for [Shark Beach] after the next episode."

"It's definitely worth celebrating."

The North American box office results for "Dead Silence" have been reported by the media, showing that it is another film that has made dozens of times its revenue, making many film companies green with envy.

Now the box office results for "Shark Tale" are out. Based on the box office performance after three days of release, as long as the word-of-mouth doesn't collapse, it's a sure thing that it will surpass "Saw" and "Dead Silence".

The Lionsgate building was filled with a cheerful atmosphere all day long, which lasted until the evening, when the atmosphere became even more lively.

Lionsgate invited numerous Hollywood film companies, actors, and stars to the celebration party for "Dead Silence."

The evening was star-studded, and with the success of three consecutive films, many people gave Lionsgate face and accepted the invitation.

The lead role was originally intended for James Wan, since he was the director of Dead Silence.

Tian Xiaole was surrounded by a group of people because "The Shallows" was being shown in theaters and was expected to do even better.

Most importantly, he has no powerful connections, making him someone who can be won over.

"Director Tian Xiaole, I'm from Focus Features..."

"Hello."

"Director Tian Xiaole, this is New Line Cinemas..."

"Hello."

···
Tian Xiaole dealt with the people who greeted him, exchanging contact information with them. Without exception, they were all from independent film production companies.

The implication is that they want to poach Lionsgate's players, and the promised conditions are quite attractive.

Tian Xiaole didn't give a definite answer either, saying that China was his base and he wouldn't stay here for long.

"It's clear you're very popular, which means our collaboration has been very successful."

Mike Burns walked over, somewhat regretting inviting the film company people; it was clearly just making things worse for him.

"Yeah, I think so too. It would be more pleasant if the revenue sharing for [Dead Silence] came through sooner."

Tian Xiaole smiled and clinked glasses with Mike.

"Don't worry about that, I'll urge them on."

Lionsgate didn't want to drag it out, after all, they had their eye on another script that Tian Xiaole had.

【Annabelle】, also centered around evil spirit dolls and curse legends, completely continues the style of 【Dead Silence】. Having already achieved success, there's no reason not to continue filming.

"This will be a series, and we'll have to renegotiate the share."

Mike had clearly anticipated this, so he wasn't surprised:
Tell me your current requirements.

Tian Xiaole held up four fingers: "I want 40% of the share."

"Tian, ​​you're too greedy. This is Hollywood."

"I only took 40% because this is Hollywood."

Tian Xiaole said, word by word.

She also reminded him that the reason they were able to collaborate on "Dead Silence" was because this was Hollywood, where there were no barriers from filming to distribution.

Mike was defeated. Tian Xiaole is now famous in Hollywood, and several companies have approached him for cooperation.

"Let's sign the contract as soon as possible."

"Okay, get the contract ready, I'll come over tomorrow morning to sign it."

Tian Xiaole agreed, and Mike smiled. The two clinked glasses again.

···
"It's nice to see you again, Director Tian Xiaole."

"Hello, Quentin Tarantino."

Looking at Quentin's long, narrow face, Tian Xiaole was reminded of the failure at Cannes, which was definitely caused by those wicked Americans.

"I watched The Shallows, we both have the same hobby."

That shoehorn-faced guy wouldn't talk about feet, would he? He likes to suck feet, but Tian Xiaole wouldn't; he likes to be sucked by women.

"Quentin Tarantino's cinematography, emotional expression, and narrative logic are all things I study, especially in filming beautiful women."

After Tian Xiaole finished speaking, he and Quentin exchanged a glance and chuckled, feeling as if they had found kindred spirits.

"This place is boring. I'll take you to a fun place."

Tian Xiaole glanced at the party venue. The men were all dressed in suits and ties, looking like successful people, while the women wore exquisite dresses and looked dignified and virtuous.

Each person held a wine glass, wore a perfectly appropriate smile, and chatted with each other, giving off a very hypocritical feeling.

Hollywood is a place of fame and fortune, glamorous on the surface, but behind the scenes, it's all about dirty deeds.

"Let's go, I hope you won't let me down."

Tian Xiaole said goodbye to James and then left the party with Quentin.

Quentin Tarantino likes retro things, and an American muscle car is his ride.

As you navigate the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, the streetscape seems to recede into the distance.

Half an hour later, we stopped in front of Studio54 bar, and a waiter came over to open the car door.

Quentin tossed the car keys to the valet, who was clearly a regular there, and led Tian Xiaole straight inside.

He also boasted, "This bar is only open three days a week, and it's exclusively for celebrities and good-looking people. Its eternal theme is 'liberation'."

Tian Xiaole looked at him suspiciously. Quentin was hardly a handsome man.

He coughed awkwardly, too embarrassed to say that he had entered because of his celebrity status.

Tian Xiaole understood why it was called "Liberation".

As soon as I stepped into the bar, deafening music started up, and a group of men and women on the dance floor were all naked, waving their arms. Even the air was filled with the smell of leaves.

Tian Xiaole felt a bit uneasy. With so many people involved, was it safe?
Quentin patted him on the shoulder and shouted in his ear, "That's where we play upstairs."

Led by a naked waitress, the two entered a private room where the noise was cut off, as if they had entered another space.

Tian Xiaole was curious, but didn't ask any questions; she just waited.

Soon, a group of women walked in, of all skin colors.

Quentin picked two directly, both blonde and blue-eyed beauties.

Tian Xiaole didn't stand on ceremony and picked out a white one and a yellow one. They both had one thing in common: long legs and big breasts.

The others left, and the two women sat down on either side of them.

"Director, how do you want to play this?" the girl in yellow asked.

"You know me?" Tian Xiaole asked in surprise.

“You’re the director of The Shallows, everyone knows that.” The girl in white nodded.

“They are all Hollywood actresses who work part-time here when they are not working,” Quentin explained with a smile.

Celebrities are just a bit more high-class, aren't they?

Standing in the spotlight, enjoying the adoration of fans.

The effort they put in behind the scenes is far more arduous than that of ordinary people.

The competition in this industry is fierce, and people won't let go of any opportunity to meet a director.

This bar is frequently frequented by big stars and directors.

Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio... are all regulars here.

It perfectly suits those third- or fourth-tier actors and stars who lack connections and resources.

They can also earn high rewards, so many actors and celebrities provide paid services here.

What are some ways to play?

"..."

"You use milk, and you use sea salt," Tian Xiaole said to each of them.

Soon, they were surrounded, and they faced a dilemma of choosing between two options.

Tian Xiaole washes her face.

It's a shame to waste milk; try to make sure it's fully absorbed.

On the other side, Quentin was being given an intimate massage by a large woman's foot on his face, which he seemed to be enjoying.

She has some masochistic tendencies.

After washing her face, Tian Xiaole refused to take any further action, prioritizing safety.

Quentin also washed his face, just in a different way.

Before leaving, the woman left her contact information, hoping that they could be contacted if a suitable role came up.

Quentin, still somewhat unsatisfied, sniffed the lingering scent on his hands and looked at Tian Xiaole:
"Miramax is an independent film studio under Disney. It focuses more on the art of filmmaking and doesn't interfere too much with the director's creative process, making it a good partner..."

After all that, it turns out he's just a lobbyist!
Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, his second film, was produced and financed by Miramax and won the Palme d'Or at the 94 Cannes Film Festival, which solidified his status as a great director.

From then on, Quentin was permanently associated with Miramax.

Last year's "Kill Bill" was also invested in and produced by them.

Miramax was in charge of the North American distribution of Zhang Yimou's "Hero".

Director Chen also invested in the film "The Promise".

The company's founder, Harvey Weinstein, is even more famous, the man who tore away the fig leaf from Hollywood.

Miramax was acquired by Disney in 93, but Harvey retained control of the company.

Between 93 and 05, through Harvey's management, the team garnered over 300 Oscar nominations and won more than 70 Oscars.

For domestic directors who want to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, their first choice is to hire Harvey Animation & Co. for public relations.

According to the timeline, Harvey, dissatisfied with Disney's interference in production, will start his own business in October of this year, founding the infamous Wayans Films.

“Miramax is indeed good, and they are quite friendly to Chinese-language films. We could collaborate if there’s an opportunity,” Tian Xiaole said with a smile.

Compared to other independent film companies, Harvey's may have been exploitative, but its contribution to the promotion of Chinese-language films in North America is undeniable.

···
The victory celebration party for [Dead Silence].

【The Shallows】is confirmed to be a huge box office hit; the only question is how far it will go at the global box office.

Hollywood media attention is once again focused on Lionsgate and Tian Xiaole.

"Lionsgate's collaboration with Chinese directors has once again set a record for high-grossing films with low budgets, with 'Dead Silence' and 'Shark' continuing the box office miracle."

"It is understood that the scripts for both 'Dead Silence' and 'The Shark Beach' were written by Tian Xiaole."

"At the Lionsgate victory celebration party, Tian Xiaole and Quentin were chatting animatedly..."

The news was reprinted back to China, causing a great sensation as well.

"Director Tian Xiaole's collaboration with Lionsgate has been a great success, following Dead Silence, with Shark Stand."

The film opened on 3200 screens in North America, grossing $16 million, and is expected to surpass that worldwide…

Upon seeing the news, some close friends and family members celebrated by pumping their fists.

Finally, a Chinese director has been able to establish himself in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, the actresses and celebrities were eyeing him covetously, ready to wash themselves clean and wait for him as long as Tian Xiaole nodded.

"Contact Lionsgate, no, contact Xiao Le directly, and bring [Shark Beach] back."

[Shark Beach] Tian Xiaole owns 60% of the market share, but not many people know about it. Han Sanping is one of the few who owns it.

Therefore, Tian Xiaole has absolute say in film imports.

"Chairman Han, I can't get through," the secretary said, sounding aggrieved.

"Let's wait for him to come back. He probably turned off his phone to avoid being harassed."

As Wang Zhonglei watched the news report, he wondered what method he could use to deeply bind himself to Tian Xiaole.

There's been some undercurrent at Huayi Brothers lately. Wang Jinghua's contract expires in two months, and her departure is inevitable. A group of artists have started to take sides.

Although Wang Zhonglei tried to persuade each actor to stay, he didn't offer any tangible benefits, and most of the first- and second-tier actors chose to leave.

If we can tie ourselves to Tian Xiaole, this ocean-going ship, then the departure of many actors will not have any impact.

As long as they are obedient, they can be sent out to gain some prestige and come back as second-tier artists.

···
At Lionsgate headquarters, Tian Xiaole signed the contract after the lawyer reviewed it.

The Annabelle series continues the collaboration with Lionsgate.

"Wish us happy cooperation."

"Pleasant to work with."

Tian Xiaole and Mike Burns shook hands, and the photographer took a picture of the two, which will be used for promotional materials.

"James, I'm getting ready to go back to China. Let's hurry up and continue buying the special effects equipment."

The box office for "The Shallows" is not a concern; its positive word-of-mouth continues to grow, and some media outlets are already promoting it.

This is the best shark movie since Jaws.

Of course, this is a publicity stunt involving a tip.

But the audience agrees; it's much better than movies that involve injecting human genes into sharks to create mutations—it's more logical.

Having earned the money and achieved her goal, Tian Xiaole prepared to return to China.

(End of this chapter)