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

Chapter 130: Annabelle Released, Pacific Rim Actors in Trouble!
Annabelle's posters, physical advertisements, and online website... have already been rolled out across North America.

Lionsgate's forte is horror films. Whether it's "Dead Silence" which they collaborated on with Tin Siu-lok, or "Saw" which they produced themselves, they've all been hugely successful.

Judging from the scale of the film's promotion, Mike Burns wasn't lying; the hype was indeed considerable, with the promotion for a horror film on par with a B-movie production.

Lionsgate is unanimously optimistic that this will be a simultaneous global release, with the premiere date set for January of the new year.

Most Hollywood film studios, except for the top tier, rarely maintain their own filming crews; instead, they spend their funds on post-production special effects teams.

Because of the existence of the labor union, a group of people can be mobilized at any time, and employees do not need to be paid salaries normally.

20th Century Fox is one of the six major Hollywood studios, and they have their own filming crews.

The filming of "Night at the Museum" was also carried out in their own studio.

Tian Xiaole looked at the green screen set and realized that the movie had a lot of special effects scenes, making it a special effects blockbuster.

"Director Tian, ​​are you here to visit me on set?"

A person dressed entirely in green appeared before Tian Xiaole's eyes. Recognizing the familiar accent, he quickly realized who it could be but Huang Bo.

The surrounding area was filled with people dressed in various colors, and the film set was bustling with activity.

They are all used for post-production green screen keying, but the different clothes also have a lot of significance.

The green outfit worn by Huang Bo makes it easier to cut out the blue parts in post-production and replace them with CGI effects. The reflective markings on his body are used in conjunction with infrared cameras to capture the actor's movements.

"..."

"What's it like making movies in Hollywood?"

"We can't compare to China for now. The various departments here have formed a system, and they like to use special effects to deal with problems. China is still in the stage of live-action filming," Huang Bo said frankly.

Tian Xiaole also admires this approach. He plans to imitate this model when filming "Pacific Rim" and use special effects to solve problems.

"Tian, ​​this is your first time visiting the set."

Sean Levy came to greet him.

"Director Levy, how's the filming going?"

Tian Xiaole greeted them, and the two shook hands.

"In another week, we should be able to wrap up filming and move on to post-production special effects."

Hollywood's industrialized production process means that no matter how big the investment, the actors' actual filming time is very short; the main time spent is on post-production.

This was Tian Xiaole's first visit to the filming of a Hollywood A-list project. He learned that over 90% of the post-production special effects for major productions worldwide rely on Hollywood teams.

Although South Korea is making great strides in post-production special effects, there is still a considerable gap.

Tian Xiaole felt that bringing the later stages of "Pacific Rim" to China was indeed a rash idea.

Seeing the filming location of "The Museum" further solidified my resolve that the post-production of "Pacific Rim" must be done in China.

We were already far behind, and if we don't catch up now, the gap will only widen, and we'll be held back by others in this area at any time.

"Tian, ​​Fox has hundreds of special effects artists and technicians, which can ensure that the film will be completed next year and released in the second half of the year."

Tian Xiaole was very envious. Seeing how easily Sean spoke, she realized that these film and television special effects talents were the most scarce in China.

"Then I look forward to your finished film, and I hope it will bring surprises to the audience."

"Thank you. I heard you're preparing a sci-fi disaster movie, with the post-production special effects done in your own country. That's a very unwise decision. Hollywood is your best choice."

Shawn Levy's eyes were filled with nothing but worship of the Hollywood industry, bordering on fanaticism.

Given how underdeveloped China's film and television industry is, he finds it hard to believe that a sci-fi blockbuster could be produced.

Hearing his words made Tian Xiaole very uncomfortable.
"We are only lagging behind temporarily. I believe we will catch up soon. My movie, Pacific Rim, will also surprise the world."

"Then I look forward to your work."

Looking at Sean's shrug, Tian Xiaole really wanted to punch him; it was infuriating just looking at him.
However, he held back, waiting until the movie was released before giving those self-righteous people a good slap in the face.

Leaving the Fox studio, Tian Xiaole was really reluctant to leave. The equipment and special effects team were all state-of-the-art, making him quite envious.

Pangu Pictures doesn't have many people. Besides the finance department keeping an eye on Annabelle, there are also people keeping an eye on the museum, since they've invested real money.

In the office, Tian Xiaole talked with the company's special effects engineer. Besides not wanting to be too far from home, he was also worried about his own safety.

Under the propaganda of imperialism, the domestic environment is very dangerous, which makes people who are isolated from information feel like they are facing a raging flood or a ferocious beast.

Tian Xiaole promised them that in addition to guaranteeing their safety, he would increase their salary fivefold, and that if they stayed for two years, their treatment would remain the same upon their return.

Apart from a few people with families and children, the other eight people, five men and three women, agreed to go to China.

Once this is settled, all that's left is to wait for the release of "Annabelle" so I can go back to China.

···
It's also quite chaotic here in China.

A reporter photographed Zeng Li joining the "Pacific Rim" training camp and questioned whether she got in through connections, since she wasn't even there when the media conference was held.

Li Yixiang, who had just been dumped, added insult to injury by announcing on his blog that he was single again.

For a moment, it couldn't help but make one think of...
An actress suddenly joining a big project must mean there's something shady going on.

After all, it has only been a year since Zhang Yu filed her accusations.

Reporters and media, like cats smelling fish, dared not block the training camp, since it was a state-owned military enterprise, so they went to the Xiaole Film Studio building instead.

Chen Zhixi didn't know how Zeng Li got into the training camp, so she simply ignored it.

Before one wave of trouble had even subsided, Shu Chang, one of the main creators, ran into trouble again.
The director of "Three Drops of Blood" publicly accused Shu Chang of frequently taking leave during filming, leaving the crew without permission, and making cameo appearances in other productions, causing serious delays for the production. He then filed a lawsuit in court seeking compensation.

Chen Zhixi immediately summoned Shu Chang and sternly warned him:
"You need to resolve this matter quickly, so as not to affect the preparations for the Rim of the Pacific (ROC) mission."

These days, being labeled as diva-like, taking on multiple projects at once, or having poor professional ethics is a fatal blow to an actor's reputation.

"Director Chen, I don't know what happened either. I will resolve it as soon as possible. Please don't fire me from the crew."

With a sob in her voice, Shu Chang realized that if she were really fired from such a large production team, her career would be over, and no one would dare to hire her in the future.

···
Unaware of the domestic news and gossip, Tian Xiaole was busy focusing on the release of "Annabelle".

On the 5th, the movie was released throughout North America, and simultaneously in other countries and regions.

Since Tian Xiaole was free, she went to a nearby cinema to check the occupancy rate.

"Boss, this is bound to be another blockbuster movie. Several theaters have been occupancy rates of over 80% in a row. For a horror film, this is comparable to big-budget Hollywood productions."

James was thrilled; this was the first film he'd released since joining Pangu Pictures, and he'd also receive a bonus if it made money at the box office.

Lionsgate does indeed have a strong audience base in the horror film genre, especially after a series of successful films. James Wan is already widely regarded as a highly respected figure in this group.

"Looks like your year-end bonus is in the bag."

Looking at the surging line of moviegoers, Tian Xiaole joked with James.

According to North American film ratings, Annabelle is a B-movie, meaning its audience is predominantly young people and is therefore relatively limited.

After watching several movies, Tian Xiaole returned to the hotel with peace of mind, waiting for Lionsgate's first-day data to arrive.

He frowned when he saw the message from Chen Zhixi.

Shu Chang's lawsuit is relatively easy to handle; at worst, they can just replace him with someone else.

Zeng Li joining the project midway could be explained by any reason, but her ex-boyfriend's blog makes things more complicated.

Tian Xiaole's response was also no reply; it's good that they're just creating hype like this.

The next morning, Tian Xiaole received a message from Lionsgate.

Annabelle's North American opening day box office results are in: $18.5 million. Lionsgate is preparing for a celebration; this is over a million dollars more than Dead Silence.

Based on investment costs, this is another highly profitable film.

It really proves the saying that big-budget productions don't necessarily earn more than low-budget ones.

Apart from the Big Six, other independent film companies in Hollywood have gradually grown and developed by making low-budget films.

Lionsgate's success is attributed to their keen eye for talent, recognizing the potential of James Wan and the potential of "Saw," which led to a string of horror films and the company's current success.

With such impressive box office results, Hollywood media wouldn't miss it.

"Following Lionsgate's collaborations with Chinese directors on films like 'Dead Silence' and 'Shark Tale,' 'Annabelle' achieved a new record for horror films on its opening day, once again demonstrating the success of a small investment yielding huge returns."

According to Lionsgate, Annabelle is a series film, and Lionsgate will continue to be responsible for the production and distribution of the sequels...

"The script provided by Chinese director Tian Xiaole, in collaboration with 20th Century Fox, is titled 'Night at the Museum.' Filming is nearing completion and will wrap up soon!"

After reading the news, I realized that Fox is really good at riding the wave of popularity, but no matter what, it's beneficial to Tian Xiaole, so he should take full advantage of it.

"Hey, dear Tian, ​​why didn't you tell me you were coming to Hollywood? Your heartlessness hurts me so much."

Looking at the message he received, Tian Xiaole sighed at how snobbish this woman was; his news in Hollywood was reported by the media on the very first day.

Blake Lively probably only started trying to get close to the movie after seeing its box office success!
This kind of actress, with clear goals and a snobbish eye, is exactly what Tian Xiaole likes.

Since I didn't have any female companions at the celebration party, I replied to the message with the hotel location.

Lionsgate is a rising star outside of the Hollywood Big Six, and invited guests are expected to give them face; the event was very crowded that night.

Meanwhile, Tian Xiaole was helping Blake check her flexibility. The two hadn't worked together for a long time, but their tacit understanding remained undiminished.

The English vocabulary is relatively limited; apart from "OMG," there are no other words that can represent a happy mood.

Blake kept expressing her feelings.

They were shouting "OMG! OMG!"

···
Seeing that the dress she brought was crumpled and ruined, Blake was somewhat helpless and could only borrow an iron from the hotel to iron it.

Tian Xiaole doesn't have many fusses. As a director and screenwriter, he works behind the scenes, and a simple suit is enough for him.

"Tian, ​​aren't you considering making movies in Hollywood?"

Blake thought she had found a powerful backer. With the huge success of "The Shallows," she assumed Tian Xiaole would develop his career in Hollywood, but unexpectedly, he turned around and returned to China.

So much time has passed, and I haven't heard anything about any plans to make a new movie, but I have heard about Pacific Rim.

Hollywood also reported that the special effects were actually done in a poor country, which caused a wave of ridicule at the time.

The report at the time stated the following:
"The director of 'The Shallows' thought that after seeing special effects in Hollywood, he could also do it in his own country. It's utterly absurd to put a sci-fi blockbuster in his own country to produce."

Tian Xiaole was unaware of all this, and even if he had, he would have simply ignored it. The best way to refute someone's claims is to respond with facts.

"There are no plans at the moment, but there might be some later."

Tian Xiaole, arm in arm with Blake, walked into the banquet hosted by Lionsgate today.

It didn't attract much attention because James Wan was the focus; he's a film director whose films have made Lionsgate a fortune.

Upon arriving at the venue, Blake immediately went to socialize, and Tian Xiaole didn't stop her.

Knowing that she wouldn't be working in Hollywood for the time being, she would have to find resources herself, and perhaps a director would take a liking to her.

Tian Xiaole took a glass of champagne, went to the balcony, and looked at the bustling Los Angeles night view.

Somewhat poignant, one can see how many sordid things are happening beneath this brightly lit facade, and it seems he just finished doing them not long ago.

He is indeed in a state of enlightenment, which has not completely faded yet.

"Hello Tian, ​​I am Harvey Weinstein, and the owner of The Weinstein Company."

Hearing the self-introduction behind me, I turned around and saw a short, fat, white old man standing in front of me with a smile on his face.

"Hello, Mr. Harvey."

Tian Xiaole shook hands with the outstretched hand, but released it as soon as they touched.

"Your country's film, 'The Master of the Flower Armor,' didn't have a good reputation in your country, but with my help, it was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and has a very high chance of winning."

If Tian Xiaole hadn't known the outcome, she would most likely have been deceived by Harvey's confident expression.

Harvey continued:

"Tian, ​​you are an excellent director. You belong in Hollywood. If you want to compete for an Oscar in the future, you can contact Wayne Company for the public relations and networking of the parties."

After saying that, he handed a business card to Tian Xiaole, saying that all he wanted to do was try to get business.

"I will contact your company if needed."

Tian Xiaole glanced at the business card; it simply contained her name, contact information, and company address—very concise—and then put it away.

"Have fun."

Harvey raised his glass in acknowledgment and then left the balcony. Judging from his eagerness, he must have a target for tonight.

After dealing with a group of people from independent film companies for a short while, James Wan came over and said something.

"Director Tian, ​​why are you here all alone? You should be quite used to this kind of situation."

"I just finished dealing with the others and came here for some peace and quiet," Tian Xiaole said.

Seeing that many of the people who greeted James Wan earlier were from other independent film companies, I asked out of curiosity.

"Aren't you a director at Lionsgate? Why are those people greeting you so enthusiastically?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Ziren laughed.

"Although I have always worked for Lionsgate, our contracts are for each film we make, so I am free to do as I please."

"So you mean you can make movies for companies other than Lionsgate!"

"Of course, except for Lionsgate's competitors. I still have that professional principle."

Tian Xiaole suppressed her thoughts, since the cooperation was going quite well for now.

···
When the news from Hollywood reached China that morning, it caused an uproar within the industry.

"Director Tian Xiaole's collaboration with Lionsgate on the film 'Annabelle' has broken opening weekend records for horror films, grossing $18.5 million in North America and is expected to surpass $100 million in that single market, globally..."

Lionsgate held a celebration party for "Annabelle," and Tian Xiaole attended with a beautiful woman. It is understood that the woman is the female lead of "The Shallows"...

Director Tian Xiaole visited the set of "Night at the Museum," and filming is in post-production and will soon wrap up!

Han Sanping was very envious, but the special nature of China Film Group meant that it could not participate in the investment and production of horror films.

Moreover, it cannot be released in the mainland market.

The only thing we can do is to further increase the popularity of the "Thief Alliance" promotion.

At the same time, we should generate some buzz about the museum to alleviate some of the recent pressure.

Other domestic film companies don't care as much as China Film Group; these horror films are incredibly profitable.

The series of successes allowed Tian Xiaole to firmly establish herself in Hollywood.
Many people are contacting Tian Xiaole to inquire whether they can participate in the investment.

Although the possibility is small, it doesn't stop me from asking first.

(End of this chapter)