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

Chapter 111 Venice shortlisted, collaborative project announced!

Rotten eggs!
It was the first movie rating website in mainland China, and countless netizens flocked to it as if they had found an outlet for their emotions, showing great enthusiasm.

Tens of thousands of movies have been rated.

Tian Xiaole glanced at the list.

The movie "Farewell My Concubine" received a rating of 9.7 from over 300,000 netizens.

The gold content of the Golden Palm is still rising.

The second place went to Zhang Yimou's "To Live".

More than 200,000 netizens gave it a rating of 9.5.

The third place goes to "The Maze," which received a 9.0 rating from over 100,000 users.

"..."

Tian Xiaole explored and tried out all the functions, and found them to be quite good and comprehensive.

After offering a few words of encouragement and praise, I left the Leyu.com office area.

We arrived at Xiao Le Film Studio on the seventh floor.

The finance department came over first to report on the work: the revenue sharing for "Stone," the overseas copyright fees, and China Film Group had all been settled one after another.

The statistical reports are clear at a glance, allowing Tian Xiaole to intuitively understand how much money the movie made.

With 40% of the domestic box office revenue going to China Film Group and 8% to China Film Distribution, Xiaole Pictures received 19.5 million yuan.

Because the script was credited to Tian Xiaole, the copyright was sold to dozens of countries and regions around the world, and the total revenue of "Crazy Stone" was 28 million.

Having seen so much money in Hollywood, I always feel that this little bit of money is neither worth giving up nor worth keeping, which is a dilemma.

However, compared to domestic films, this return on investment is already at its ceiling.

Just as he was reflecting on this, his private phone rang, and Fan Binbin invited him to go for a wine tasting.

After Tian Xiaole finished eating at Tang Yan's place, she declined the invitation.

Trying to solidify their friendship with sweet talk is simply a poor choice of timing; it's time for reflection.

After spending an hour processing the documents that required signatures, Tian Xiaole stretched and prepared to go home.

While waiting for the elevator, I could hear Huang Bo's voice from afar.

"Call me Brother Bo, and I'll protect you at the company."

"Brother Bo."

Oh, right.

Let me tell you, I'm absolutely Director Tian's most valued employee. I started from [the supermarket]...

Huang Bo was just fooling Zhao Liying when he looked up and saw Tian Xiaole looking at him with a half-smile. He quickly walked over and pretended to be heartbroken.

"Director Tian, ​​it's been over a month since I last saw you, you've lost weight."

"Don't give me that. Tell me in detail how much I value you."

Tian Xiaole suppressed a laugh.

"Director Tian."

Zhao Liying greeted people somewhat reservedly.

She signed a contract with the company, but she hadn't seen Tian Xiaole for over a month, and they hadn't assigned her any work.

Fortunately, the company atmosphere was quite good, and she was working hard to learn acting. People would look at her with envy when they knew she was a contracted actress with Xiaole Pictures, but she still felt uneasy.

How's your study going lately?

"The teacher corrected my pronunciation and some of my facial expressions. I'll be learning next week..."

Zhao Liying reports what she learns each week and what she has learned, as if she were giving a work report.

She wanted to let her boss know that she wasn't just coasting along, that she had learned a lot, and that she was ready to join the filming crew anytime.

“Since you’ve made her call you Brother Bo, you should teach her a bit more,” Tian Xiaole said to Huang Bo.

"Director Tian, ​​don't worry, I will definitely not keep anything to myself."

Huang Bo stood up straight and gave an exaggerated military-style salute.

"Ding"

The elevator door opens.

Tian Xiaole gestured to the two of them and then went inside.

Once the elevator doors closed, Huang Bo resumed his carefree, jovial demeanor.

"Liying, Director Tian cares about you quite a bit."

"Oh, isn't that how it is with you?" Zhao Liying asked curiously.

She just felt that Tian Xiaole didn't act like a big director; he was just showing concern for ordinary employees.

Huang Bo realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly corrected himself:

"Of course they're the same. Let me tell you, filming a [supermarket]..."

When Tian Xiaole saw Huang Bo, he thought about the actor slots he had and realized that giving them to him might not be a bad idea.

She has emotional intelligence, acting skills, and an eight-year contract; by all accounts, she is the most suitable candidate.

"I need to find some time to talk to him."

···
At home, at the dining table.

Tian Xiaole noticed that Lao Tian was distracted.

At your age, are you perhaps looking for a companion?
After the meal, in the study.

Tian Xiaole handed over a cup of tea and said jokingly, "I don't mind having another stepmother."

Upon hearing this, Tian Zhuangzhuang almost choked: "What are you talking about? This is nonsense."

"What are you thinking about that makes you so distracted?"

"The Venice announcement of the shortlist will be in the next few days. If I don't make it, where will I put my face?"

"That's it?"

I thought Tian Zhuangzhuang was experiencing a resurgence at his age, but it turns out he's driven by a thirst for awards.

Or rather, since Tian Xiaole is so dazzling in the film industry, it would be a disgrace to the Tian family if he didn't achieve something.

“If this doesn’t work, I’ll get you another script and try it at another film festival,” Tian Xiaole said casually.

Many of the films, including those by South Korea and South Korea, have won awards, so we prioritize using theirs.

"Good scripts are hard to come by; they can't be written casually."

Tian Xiaole didn't argue with Lao Tian. She just told him to go to bed early and then went to sleep.

···
Huayi has been having a tough time lately.

In order to maintain the reputation of the top film and television company in mainland China, the Wang brothers joined forces with Feng Xiaogang to continue producing blockbusters.

Adapted from the famous foreign work, Shakespeare's famous play "Hamlet".

It is said that the core framework has been retained, but the story's setting has been moved to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
The plan is to blend Western aesthetics with Eastern political intrigue to create a court tragedy that combines power, desire, and revenge.

In anticipation of the impact of Wang Jinghua's impending departure, auditions for the cast of "The Banquet" are proceeding in full swing.

As one of only two directors in mainland China whose films gross over 100 million yuan, Feng Xiaogang has countless actors eager to work in his movies.

The actors and celebrities who come in and out of the Huayi Building every day are all at least second-tier stars.

The Wang brothers also wanted to take this opportunity to sign some up-and-coming actors.

Their attention turned to Zhang Ziyi, who has been making waves in the past two years.

There's also Zhou Xun, who is one of the "Four Little Actresses".

Among the many young actors from mainland China, Huang Xiaoming is also the top choice.

The roles for [The Banquet] have been gradually confirmed.

This also caused dissatisfaction among the two Binbins.

They have all made it clear that they will not leave Huayi, but they still can't get the leading roles in their own company's big productions.

"Brother, Zhou Xun and Huang Xiaoming are both very interested in signing with us, but Zhang Ziyi has explicitly refused. Should we still give her the lead role?"

"If someone is interested, it means the benefits weren't enough. We can relax the conditions a bit. It's normal for Zhang Ziyi to refuse; her goal is Hollywood."

Let's give him the role; we need his popularity to generate buzz for the movie.

"I bet the two Binbins are going to have another argument."

Wang Zhonglei said, somewhat annoyed.

Both of them are the face of Huayi Brothers, and their annual film and television fees and endorsement fees bring a lot of profits to the company. They are people who cannot be criticized or attacked.

"Try to appease them. Since they've chosen to stay, we can't let them down. Tell them we're looking for scripts that can win awards."

Wang Zhonglei was very unhappy that he, a dignified CEO, had to whisper to a group of actors to persuade them to stay.

"Big brother, if we could get involved in Tian Xiaole's Hollywood project, we wouldn't need to go through all that trouble, pleading with a bunch of actors..."

Wang Zhongjun glared at his younger brother and reminded him:
"They can grumble a few complaints in private, but the company still needs them to make money..."

···
Huang Bo felt a little uneasy. He sat in his office, while Tian Xiaole looked at him without saying a word.

The only consolation is knowing that Tian Xiaole is sexually normal; otherwise, I would be sitting on pins and needles right now.

"Director Tian, ​​I will definitely teach Liying with all my heart, just like my own little sister."

Hearing the voice, Tian Xiaole came back to her senses.

He was staring blankly at Huang Bo just now, probably wondering if his appearance would negatively impact the image of Chinese people.

"Before returning to China, I worked with 20th Century Fox on a film and got a role."

"Director Tian, ​​you mean...?"

Huang Bo's breathing quickened. The fact that he was specifically called here meant that it wasn't just about a collaboration with Hollywood, but also about a role he had.

"Just as you thought, I called you here; this role is for you."

Tian Xiaole opened the drawer and handed the script for "Night at the Museum" to Huang Bo:
"You play Xu Fu, a historical figure who has been resurrected. He appears ruthless and vicious on the surface, but is actually funny and cute on the inside."

Huang Bo was so excited that his hands were shaking. This was a Hollywood project, and a collaboration with one of the Big Six studios.

You can't truly appreciate the prestige of Hollywood and its dominant global distribution if you're not in the film industry.

"Director Tian, ​​are you really going to give me this role?"

“If you don’t want to act, I can give it to someone else,” Tian Xiaole joked.

"Acting, acting...only a fool wouldn't act."

Huang Bo held the script in his arms, treating it like a precious treasure.

If this news gets out, all the actors and celebrities in the entertainment industry will be green with envy.

"Study the character's traits and the contrast between their earlier and later appearances carefully, so as not to embarrass me," Tian Xiaole instructed.

"it is good."

Huang Bo's words were resounding and powerful.

···
July 23, around 7 p.m.

The 62nd Venice International Film Festival has announced the list of entries for its main competition.

Reporters and media outlets who had been keeping a close watch on the situation immediately reported the news.

Soon, everyone in the entertainment industry was drawn to it.

"【Hidden in the Dust】has been shortlisted!"

"The script provided by Tian Xiaole and the film directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang have been shortlisted for the main competition!"

"Like father, like son; the Tian family truly lives up to its reputation as a family of directors, with the three major European cities like their own backyard."

The nominees have considerable influence, especially among directors of the fifth generation.

Tian Zhuangzhuang was banned for many years, and his first film after his return was nominated.

A group of school leaders and directors, while offering their congratulations, couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks: "Old Tian, ​​you have a good son, giving you such a good script."

My classmates, who are also fifth-generation directors, kept getting phone calls, all congratulating me.

My phone keeps ringing with text messages, and I can't get through on the phone, so I can only send messages.

Old Tian was a bit overwhelmed, and the smile on his face never faded.

Tian Xiaole also took note of the list of nominated films, with two Chinese-language films making the cut.

Besides "Hidden in the Dust", there is also "Everlasting Regret" directed by a Hong Kong director.

Its biggest competitor is Li An's "Brokeback Mountain".

Lee An-yan is indeed capable of making it in Hollywood.

After the box office and critical failure of "The Hulk," everyone thought he would slink back to work like Wu Baige.

He managed to turn his career around with this bromance-filled film, "Brokeback Mountain."

Seeing that Lao Tian had finally finished his call, Tian Xiaole jokingly said with a smile:
"You'll get used to it. I was harassed like this too."

"Go, go, go to sleep."

Old Tian chased Tian Xiaole away, not wanting him to see his emotional side.

Although I no longer have the same desire for awards as I did when I was younger, I was still filled with emotion when I was actually nominated.

Tian Xiaole smiled, but didn't move an inch. He looked at Old Tian and said seriously:
Do you have any ideas for the film's public relations?

"No need for public relations, let nature take its course."

Old Tian shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiaole swallowed what she wanted to say.

Among the fifth-generation directors of the same generation, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou need no introduction; they already had impressive awards to their name early on.

Even photographer Gu Changwei later surpassed him and achieved some success in Berlin.

Tian Xiaole didn't mind using his financial power to win a prestigious award for Lao Tian. Seeing Lao Tian's firm refusal, he didn't say anything more.

The only good news is that Marco Müller and Tierzo have a close relationship, and the subject matter is class conflict and the suffering of the lower classes, which is a type of film festival favorites.

···
China Film Group is a bit slow; several days have passed and there's still no reply.

However, it's understandable; when it involves state-owned enterprises, no amount of caution is excessive.

But I still called Han Sanping to ask what was going on.

"Xiao Le, even if you hadn't called, I was going to call you anyway. You have the script, right? Have someone send a copy to China Film Group. We're going to discuss it at the meeting."

Goodness, so many days have passed before we even started discussing it. That's incredibly slow.

Upon closer inspection, it's not as simple as it seems on the surface.

Although Chairman Yang is semi-retired, everyone tacitly agrees that Han Sanping will be the next leader, but no official document has been issued, so the outcome is uncertain.

There is competition within China Film Group as well.

From a perspective that can be seen from the outside, based on Han Sanping's achievements during his tenure, domestically he vigorously supported domestic films and focused on mainstream themes.

In terms of nurturing young directors, Ning Hao, Guo Fan, and others have received investment from the China Film Young Directors Fund, which encourages them to go out and learn.

Externally, they curbed the dominance of Hong Kong films in the market and suppressed the import of Hollywood blockbusters, to the point that three or four films were released at the same time.

The only criticism is that he likes to make big-budget films, and he was tricked by Wu Baige a few times.

Both the Red Cliffs and the Taiping Steamer are huge pits.

They're all spending their own money to train actors for others.

However, his merits outweigh his flaws, and based on his achievements during his tenure, there is no problem with him being re-elected for another term.

But he still stepped down, which must have been due to internal competition in addition to pressure from Hollywood.

If Han Sanping really gets to lead the collaboration with Hollywood this time and earn foreign exchange for the group, then his position will be absolutely unshakeable.

Tian Xiaole had his assistant send the script to China Film Group and sent an email to Fox, asking them to announce the collaboration and put some pressure on China Film Group.

The availability of roles was also announced at the same time.

They responded quickly and will make an announcement within two business days.

Looking at the email from Lionsgate, Tian Xiaole couldn't help but smile.

The global box office figures for "Dead Silence" are in: $1.23 million.

Even more encouraging is that "Shark Tale" performed even better at the box office, earning $6740 million in North America and more than $1.5 million in other countries and regions.

Tian Xiaole held a 60% share, and the data in the email showed nothing but green US dollars.

Moreover, this number will continue to increase, and only two-thirds of the time has passed since The Shallows was released in other countries and regions.

The profits from both films are evident, especially the high returns from small investments, which have become a model of success.

Hollywood film studios have even formed special teams to analyze the reasons for a film's success.

The final conclusion was that the script was novel and refreshing, satisfying the audience's viewing needs.

Tian Xiaole's personal cell phone received a call from an unknown number.

"These items are very valuable, so please handle them with care."

It wasn't easy; after drifting for almost a month, we finally reached the shore.

After hanging up the phone, I went to the post-production department and instructed the employees to vacate the space.

Tian Xiaole suddenly felt that the company was a bit small, and since it was a rented space, it wasn't very comfortable to use.

We'll have to make do with this for now, and then we'll move to a bigger place later.

Within a day, a batch of trucks from Tianjing Port parked downstairs at Xiaole Film Studio.

Following them were engineers from Pangu Pictures, who were responsible for debugging the equipment.

Downstairs in the bushes, several paparazzi were completely bewildered. They hadn't received any information about what big moves Xiao Le Pictures might be making.

The convoy was quite large, and employees from other floors also craned their necks to watch.

The happiest people were the special effects department, which also upgraded to use the most advanced special effects equipment.

Under the engineer's direction, machines and equipment were moved upstairs.

It was wrapped very tightly, and no outsider knew what it was.

Seeing how carefully everyone handled it, I knew it was very valuable.

Before long, a group of media reporters arrived downstairs.

"Director Tian, ​​could you tell me what you're moving?"

"New cameras and lenses, and some equipment for creating special effects."

Tian Xiaole spoke casually, showing no trace of the impoverished state he once was when he couldn't afford it.

"Were they all purchased from Hollywood?" a reporter pressed.

"correct."

Having gotten the answer they wanted, the group of reporters dispersed, and the news quickly appeared on major portal websites.

Many directors in the industry are very interested in the new cameras and lenses and are eager to try them out and see how they work.

However, few people pay attention to the special effects machines and equipment.

Subconsciously, I felt that South Korea was more reassuring than producing directly in Hollywood.

Looking at the neatly arranged rows of equipment, the post-production staff, who were used to hardship, had eyes that were frighteningly bright.

Tian Xiaole clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention: "I've brought back the equipment and machines you wanted."

"Boss is awesome, Platso!"

"Boss, you're the most handsome!"

Tian Xiaole pressed her hands down, signaling for quiet:

"Previously, the special effects of our domestic films were all produced in South Korea or Hollywood, because we thought they were better and the effects were more realistic."

They paid exorbitant fees, but the final product wasn't always satisfactory, so they had no choice but to swallow their pride and accept the disappointment.

And what about us? We were synonymous with shoddy and substandard products. Now that we have advanced equipment, the next step is to cultivate our own talent and shed this label.

Tian Xiaole paused, observing everyone's expressions.

Many people clenched their fists, their faces filled with indignation, feeling humiliated by being backward and looked down upon.

They are all young people, with passion still flowing through their veins.

Tian Xiaole was very satisfied with everyone's reaction and continued:

"I plan to select a group of special effects staff to go to the United States for three months of training. This period may be tough, and they may not adapt well. Those who are willing to sign up can register with the assistant later."

···
"Xiao Le, do you really want to start a special effects company?"

"Yes, I have that idea, but it's not the right time yet. The market isn't mature enough right now, so we'll focus on developing talent first."

"We'll only have an advantage when the domestic market improves; we can't always rely on foreign companies for special effects for big-budget films."

"You're the only one in China who takes this matter seriously. If everyone had your mindset, there would be no shortage of Chinese films going global," Han Sanping remarked.

Tian Xiaole, at just over twenty years old, already had this awareness, compared to others who were all obsessed with money.

"Go ahead and do it. China Film Group will absolutely support anything that benefits the industry."

Han Sanping's promise is consistent with his usual style; he is never ambiguous when it comes to the development of the film industry.

···
A news article reprinted from Hollywood was featured prominently on major portal websites, directly igniting a frenzy in the entertainment industry.

Following the great success of "Dead Silence" and "The Shallows", director Tian Xiaole will collaborate with 20th Century Fox on the fantasy comedy film "Night at the Museum".

The former will participate in the production as an editor and investor, with a film budget of $100 million, classifying it as a Hollywood A-list production.

"Tian Xiaole holds a 30% investment share and has the right to decide on one actor's role."

The domestic entertainment industry is in an uproar!
Female celebrities are also in an uproar!

Everything exploded!

So this connects them to the Hollywood Big Six?
For a time, domestic entertainment news was dominated by this reposted news of the return of the product to China.

Countless female celebrities, whether they knew her or not, were contacting Tian Xiaole.

A role in a Hollywood A-list project is an opportunity that many actors dream of.

At this moment, Tang Yan's face was contorted with anger.

That jerk! After all she did for him, he wouldn't even reveal this little bit of information.

She silently vowed that next time she would sit down hard.

"Could you hold off on my filming with Director Feng for a couple more days?"

Zhang Ziyi's agent opened her mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

I guessed it; they're after the characters Tian Xiaole has.

Hollywood is Zhang Ziyi's true goal; Feng Xiaogang is just an alternative.

Fan Binbin no longer cared who Feng Xiaogang chose for the female lead; he kept contacting Tian Xiaole.

I'd like to ask if she's suitable for the role he has.

Regardless of the amount of screen time, this is a shortcut.

Film companies with connections in the industry were all on edge, wanting to verify the news. Even though it was a Fox announcement, they still wanted to hear Tian Xiaole's side of the story.

A 30% investment share is 30 million US dollars, which is more than 200 million RMB. It's impossible for one person to absorb that amount.

Huayi Brothers, Enlight Media, Wanda Group, Berna Group... and two state-owned enterprises, Shanghai Film Group and Xi'an Film Group, are all contacting Tian Xiaole.

(End of this chapter)