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

Chapter 162: Dividing Shares, Hong Kong Media's Troubleshooting!
Tian Xiaole returned to the company, where the budget team produced some preliminary data.

"How many?"

"Boss, [The Eight Hundred] will cost about 1.5 million, while [The Hunting] will only cost 3000 million."

The main expenses for the film "The Eight Hundred," besides the actors' salaries, included replicating a Sihang Warehouse and digging an artificial river.

The most important part was the construction of the concession set, including the Paramount Ballroom, casinos, theaters...

Tian Xiaole was mentally prepared for this scale of funding; he would have to build a city for the actual filming.

The budget department employee continued, "The main funding for [The Hunt] is your scriptwriting and directing fees, boss."

"Please do the calculations carefully and give me a detailed data report."

Now that the budget is ready, the next step is to find investors and actors.

Tian Xiaole instructed his assistant to notify several partners, asking them to come to Xiaole Pictures to divide their shares.

As the first Lunar New Year film of the year, "A Battle of Wits" performed poorly at the box office, grossing 2200 million yuan in its opening weekend in mainland China.

The films released simultaneously in Hong Kong and Taiwan performed better at the box office, but their critical reception was polarized.

The Mohist school of thought has been criticized for being "superficial" and lacking philosophical depth.

In the afternoon, representatives from China Film Group, Wanda Group, Enlight Media, and Yinghuang Film Group arrived. Everyone tacitly agreed not to mention Shanghai Film Group and Huayi Brothers Media.

It's still the same five companies in the Pacific Rim.

The reason they were willing to bring Ying Huang along was because they had voluntarily voted for the Pacific Rim.

The film clearly stated that the special effects would be done domestically, and the release date was still unknown, yet Ying Huang gave their full support, and Tian Xiaole was willing to help them make money.

Of course, this is the only opportunity; afterwards, they will be in charge of the Hong Kong Island distribution business.

"I will be the producer of 【The Eight Hundred】, and it will be filmed to blockbuster standards. I will personally direct 【The Hunt】, which is an award-winning film."

In the meeting room, everyone sat up straight and listened intently to what Tian Xiaole said, afraid of missing any details.

"Director Tian, ​​just tell me how much investment is needed for the two movies. Even if it's another Pacific Rim movie, Wanda will follow suit."

Those in the real estate business are all rich and powerful; they speak without batting an eye.

"Shall we discuss how to divide it?"

Han Sanping was getting impatient.

Huo Wenxi was attending for the first time, so he didn't say much, but listened attentively.

"The budget the team gave me for 【The Eight Hundred】 was 1.5 million yuan. Xiaole Pictures contributed 5000 million yuan, but wanted 5% of the shares, and the rest was split among the other three companies."

Tian Xiaole spoke casually, saying that if he was worried about the director's role, he could take a larger share.

The others frowned. There were five families present, so why were there only four?

Han Sanping voiced the question that had been troubling the others: "What about the remaining family?"

Everyone looked over, wanting to hear the reason. Tian Xiaole calmly said:

"Neither project is very large. If we participate in every project, we won't get a large share for each one. So if we invest in [The Eight Hundred], we can't invest in [Hunting]."

Tian Xiaole paused, waiting for them to process the news, before continuing:

"【The Hunt】The budget is 30 million. I will take 50% of the project as screenwriter and director. As for which companies will invest in this project, that's up to you to decide how to divide it."

"Xiao Le's idea is good. It allows everyone to participate in the project and also secure a significant amount of investment. China Film Group is a state-owned enterprise, so it will definitely support art films. I won't participate in 'The Eight Hundred'."

Han Sanping won the "Hunting" project with a simple request, which can be considered a sure win, since Tian Xiaole's two art films have both won awards at film festivals.

The film can recoup its costs at the box office, and overseas copyrights are basically pure profit. If it can win awards, then you've made money and gained political achievements.

There are many uncertainties in commercial films like "The Eight Hundred".

The others didn't dare say anything, since the other person held power.

After some debate, Wanda invested 40 million yuan to get a 20% share, while Enlight Media and Yinghuang each invested 30 million yuan to get a 1.5% share.

Huo Wenxi said, "Director Tian, ​​regarding the actors, I hope to give Yinghuang artists a chance."

Tian Xiaole shook his head: "【The Eight Hundred】is a historical war film. The accents of the actors playing Ying and Huang will make the audience lose immersion. Needless to say, I will definitely not use dubbing for the actors in the film I personally directed."

China Film Group was indifferent to the actors, Wanda Group had no interest in minor supporting roles, but Enlight Media was more interested.

"Director Tian, ​​look at the actors from Lightspeed Studios..."

"If you have any, we'll recommend them, but we definitely won't give them to the lead actors."

【The Eight Hundred】 required infrastructure construction and city building, as well as a lot of weapons and equipment. Tian Xiaole handed over this part of the work to China Film Group Corporation for coordination.

As for the costumes, makeup, and props for the two films, Xiao Le Pictures can handle it themselves, given the large number of people the company has hired.

From scriptwriting to post-production, a closed loop has been basically formed.

Many people are eyeing these two shows; film and television companies want to invest, and talent agencies want to cast actors in them.

The news that the investment had been secured spread that very day.

Upon seeing the news, Ren Zhonglun sighed. He had thought that Shanghai Film Group had managed to get in touch with a great director like Tian Xiaole, but instead they insisted on making a sci-fi film like "Pacific Rim." Where in China is there room to produce sci-fi films?

As a result, the investments for both films have now been missed.

The president's office at Huayi was filled with smoke.

Wang Zhonglei and Wang Zhongjun looked at those companies with no other options.

Huayi originally collaborated with Tian Xiaole, but now that Wanda and Yinghuang have joined, it will probably be difficult to collaborate again in the future.

···
Although Tian Xiaole did not direct [The Eight Hundred], more and more actors have been inquiring about it, and they are even willing to wait for any opportunity to act.

After all, there are only a handful of directors in mainland China who can make commercial films, so of course, one should seize any opportunity to act in one.

The Hong Kong media has gone mad again. After a period of calm, they've turned their attention back to Tin Siu-lok.

"Mainland films invested in by Hong Kong Island are considered co-productions according to policy, and are required to use Hong Kong Island actors..."

"Tian Xiaole's films still only use mainland actors. Liu Dehua's participation in 'Pacific Rim' is just a smokescreen to deal with the media and public opinion..."

Such reports can only entertain themselves in Hong Kong; mainland netizens won't buy it.

Tian Xiaole has proven through several films that mainland actors can carry the box office and achieve success overseas as well.

However, co-productions on the market still often relegate mainland actors to supporting roles, often relegating them to decorative roles, which has recently caused quite a stir.

The newly released film, "The Knot," is both a romance movie and has a patriotic tone.

These kinds of films are supported and well-received by the authorities, making it easy for them to win awards at domestic film festivals.

However, the lead actress's role is unclear, and deciding whose name to nominate for the role is a problem.

The fans of Li Binbin and Vivian Hsu are arguing fiercely about who is the female lead.

Tian Xiaole didn't tolerate the Hong Kong media's behavior and directly responded on her Leyu blog account.

"【The Eight Hundred】is a historical war film. If you want to play a soldier, you have to practice your Mandarin first. As for 【The Hunt】, needless to say, I don't allow actors to use dubbing in the films I direct."

The blog received unanimous praise from netizens, who urged actors and celebrities working in mainland China to improve their Mandarin before trying to make money.

Meanwhile, many netizens are discussing whether Xiaole Pictures' new movie will use some of the actors from "Pacific Rim".

Since both films feature military roles, the actors in "Pacific Rim" underwent training, making them easier to work with.

Tian Xiaole saw this gossip in her fan club, which just goes to show how clever netizens are these days.

Before each actor's audition, recommendations from teachers at the Beijing Film Academy are indispensable.

Chen Kun has a somewhat feminine temperament and does not have the tough, masculine image of a soldier.

Tian Xiaole also heard that a teacher recommended Zhao Yanzi, but she declined, saying she wanted to focus on auditioning for "Red Cliff".

A knock sounded on the door, and Tian Xiaole called out, "Come in."

Jiang Wu walked in with a smile. Every time Tian Xiaole called him, something good would happen.

"Xiao Le, what good news did you come to see me today?"

"Uncle Wu, you were right."

Tian Xiaole handed over the prepared script: "The character of Lao Tie is rather cowardly, which is very different from your appearance. It will really test your acting skills."

"【The Eight Hundred】? I thought it was 【The Hunting】."

Jiang Wu was somewhat disappointed, thinking he was going to be cast in Tian Xiaole's new drama, but he quickly adjusted his mindset, realizing he had been a bit greedy, as many people were eyeing the role.

"The male lead for [The Hunt] has been cast," Tian Xiaole said.

"Who is it? So lucky!"

Jiang Wu asked curiously, "The two of you work so well together, why did you choose someone else?"
"Wang Jinsong, Director of the Performance Department at Beijing Film Academy".

"Oh, it's him. No wonder he caught your eye. His acting skills are quite good."

···
"A Battle of Wits" has grossed 63 million yuan in two weeks, and it is unlikely to break 100 million yuan.

Liu Dehua is well-known in Asia, has good acting skills, and is a decent person, but he just doesn't have box office appeal.

Tang Yan was pouting and throwing a tantrum in Tian Xiaole's office (acting cute and charming).

The box office performance of "A Battle of Wits" was not as good as expected. Although Liu Dehua took the blame, the female lead was also greatly affected.

Especially with "Rob-B-Hood", which performed well at the box office and received positive reviews.

"Don't make your mouth crooked, or you'll look ugly."

Tian Xiaole found it amusing and looked at Tang Yan in his arms, teasing her with a smile.

"No, I've always been beautiful."

Tang Yan immediately retorted, playfully patting his arm, then asked seriously:

"Brother Le, tell me, am I beautiful?"

Tian Xiaole pinched her cheek; it felt nice, smooth and supple. He teased her, saying:

"Want to hear the truth or lies?"

"Tell me the truth. If you say something I don't want to hear, I'll bite you."

Tang Yan shoved away the mischievous hand, bared her teeth, and her threatening tone was quite obvious.

"If you turn into a puppy, then I've already fucked a dog."

Tian Xiaole smiled and ignored Tang Yan's threat.

"Then I'll turn into a kitten and cling to you like this."

Tang Yan tried to be cute and ingratiating, wrapping her arms around Tian Xiaole's neck. The two of them had their heads close together, but the ambiguous atmosphere didn't last long before Tang Yan herself broke the ice.

"Brother Le, can I play the female lead in your movie?" "Sure, so that's what you were waiting for."

Tian Xiaole cupped her face in his hands and said in an annoyed tone.

"My acting skills are beyond repair; I need your guidance."

"Your age is not suitable for the female lead in [Hunting]".

Tian Xiaole lifted her chin and said in a seductive tone:

"If you make me happy, I can give you the lead role in 'The Eight Hundred'."

"Then you said it, you can't go back on your word."

Tang Yan slowly squatted down.

···
Winters in the capital are very cold. Huang Bo and Luo Jin sat in their office, wondering why the windows were open.

Looking at the two people in front of him, Tian Xiaole's career has been smooth sailing since he signed with Xiaole Pictures. Compared to his classmates, he is one of the best.

"This is the script. You two play uncle and nephew in the play, Old Hulu and Duanwu."

Huang Bo took the script with a grin, and before even reading the contents, he teased Luo Jinlai:
"Old Luo, call me 'Uncle' first."

Luo Jin retorted, "We're in the same year, so it wouldn't be out of place for you to play my uncle, haha."

Tian Xiaole interrupted the two of them arguing: "Alright, if you want to fight, go outside and call the people outside in."

"Okay, Director Tian (boss)."

The two of them skipped away, and you could still hear them teasing each other.

Soon, Dong Xuan and Zhao Liying, the two people with the least presence in the company, walked in.

Tian Xiaole looked at Dong Xuan and said, "I'll give you a role in 'The Eight Hundred,' it won't interfere with your filming of Director Gu's 'Springtime.'"

"Okay, Senior Brother Tian."

Dong Xuan isn't very career-driven. She only takes on roles when they're available and stays idle when there aren't. She tried to sign with Xiaole Pictures several times before, so I thought she was very ambitious, but it turns out she's just a lazy bum.

"Liying doesn't have many scenes, so she should hone her acting skills for two years first."

Zhao Liying has been with the company for almost a year now, and she has become much more confident. She has participated in several dramas, both big and small, and her acting skills are improving.

"Thank you, Director Tian."

The two left the office with the script in their hands, and seemed to have a good relationship.

The company has few artists but abundant resources, so there's no competition and no opportunity for backstabbing or infighting.

Enlight Media recommended someone to play a minor supporting role. Liu Yan, who offended Chen Kaige, is indeed outstanding in some aspects.

"I remember you were a host, right? Are you planning to change careers?"

"My main job is still hosting; acting is just a side job," Liu Yan said with an awkward smile.

For her, a newcomer, offending Chen Kaige that time was like the sky falling down; she even had nightmares while sleeping.

She had been unemployed for a while, which is why Guangmang recommended her to us.

"Your company is really bold to send a newcomer like you to interview Director Chen."

"This is the company's training and development of me; it's a matter of my ability."

That's true. Enlight Media does value her; otherwise, they wouldn't have let her interview Chen Kaige, who was at the height of his career. It was a great opportunity for her to get exposure.

Watching Liu Yan's departing figure, I could see how heavy she was; her back was bent from the weight.

···
Tian Xiaole glanced at the lineup that was still missing. There were still many actors needed, so he asked his assistant to find the resumes left by the actors who had auditioned before.

They selected a few people who fit the image of soldiers and had acting skills, and called them out to take a look first.

She stopped her assistant, who was about to leave, and handed her the requirements for the "hunting" child actor, asking her to announce it first.

The people I found were all in the capital, and they arrived that afternoon.

Liu Ye received an invitation from Nanjing and was preparing to audition when he received a call from Tian Xiaole. Without hesitation, he rushed over.

He stalled on one side for now, preparing for both possibilities.

When they arrived at the front desk of Xiaole Film Company, they met Chen Minghao and Zhang Yi.

"Were you also invited here by Director Tian?"

"Yes, maybe we can work together."

Listening to their conversation, Zhang Yi smiled; he had never acted in a Tian Xiaole movie before.

Led by the girl on stage, the three of them took the elevator to the 21st floor.

They had never seen a film company occupy such a large area before, and they looked around with their eyes.

A knock sounded at the door, and Tian Xiaole called out, "Come in."

Liu Ye and his two companions walked in, smiling, and greeted them:
"Director Tian*3".

"Please sit down. You probably all guessed why I called you here."

Tian Xiaole looked at the three of them and said with a smile.

"I guessed it to be true. Director Tian's company has two films in production, and the outside world has been watching them closely."

Chen Minghao, an old acquaintance, spoke first.

Tian Xiaole didn't keep them in suspense and handed over the prepared script:

"Ye Zi plays Yang Guai, Zhang Yi plays Lao Suanpan, and Lao Chen plays Xie Jinyuan."

Although the three of them had guessed it, they couldn't help but smile when they held the script in their hands.

"Director Tian, ​​I thought it was just a play."

Liu Ye comes from an art-house film background and has always wanted to act in art-house films by award-winning directors like Tian Xiaole.

In recent years, the commercial films I've acted in have all been paving the way for others; in "Curse of the Golden Flower," I was overshadowed by singer Jay Chou.

"If there's a suitable role, there will be opportunities."

I explained the character settings to the three of them, as well as the preparations the crew needed before filming began, and told them to study the characters' inner thoughts more deeply.

After everyone left, Tian Xiaole sent the main cast list to Gao Qunshu, and asked him to take charge of the other actors with fewer scenes.

···
News from the outside world is flying everywhere, all about "The Eight Hundred" and "The Hunting," mixed with the overwhelming publicity for "Curse of the Golden Flower."

Jiang Wu, Liu Ye, Chen Minghao, Zhang Yi, and even Liu Yan, who has little fame, have been featured in the reports.

Photos of several people entering Xiaole Pictures one after another have sparked a lot of discussion among netizens.

Who will be the lucky one to get a role in the film "The Hunt"?
Tian Xiaole received a phone call from someone she rarely contacted.

"Sister Chen?"

"Xiao Le, I heard you're looking for child actors for your new film. Arthur is very interested in acting, and he's young and fits the bill. What do you think..."

"Sister Chen, you know that child actors are the hardest to film, and Arthur has no acting experience..."

Tian Xiaole wanted to refuse, wanting to find an experienced child star to play the role, but Chen Hong's words stunned him.

“If Arthur doesn’t listen, you can hit him all you want. I’ll teach him a lesson along with the script.”

"Alright, let's give it a try then."

Six-year-old Arthur still has baby fat on his face, so it doesn't seem out of place for him to play Wang Jinsong's son.

···
Huayi Brothers has announced the cast for Feng Xiaogang's new film.

Zhang Hanyu is fine, since he's already an insider at Huayi Brothers. Deng Chao's addition surprised many people.

Because there was no overlap between the two sides, it seemed like I suddenly got the role.

There is widespread speculation that Huayi is looking to sign Deng Chao.

Since Wang Jinghua left Huayi Brothers, the talent agency department has been practically rendered useless, and they've been targeting any well-known actor in the industry for signing.

Jay Chou's composition "Chrysanthemum Terrace" for the film "Curse of the Golden Flower" is very popular among fans and ranks first on the Baidu download chart.

This is also why Zhang Weiping chose him to star in the film; he has a large fan base and can contribute significantly to the film's box office revenue.

In an interview, Zhang Yimou spoke frankly about the predicament of the mainland film market.

Domestic directors are all focusing on period dramas. Big-budget productions will inevitably lose money if they rely solely on the domestic market. If they want to go global, they can only make period dramas because foreigners only recognize period dramas.

He was immediately confronted by reporters, who pointed out that "The Thieves" is an urban film that still achieved good results overseas.

Despite being rebuffed, Zhang Yimou still smiled and said that the success of "The Thieves" was because it was filmed like a Hollywood movie, something only Tian Xiaole could do domestically.

Zhang Weiping's big mouth is still as annoying as ever. During the interview, he shouted:

"【Curse of the Golden Flower】will break the box office record of 【The Thieves】 and become a new record for Chinese-language films..."

Chen Kaige and Feng Xiaogang have already failed; Tian Xiaole is too young and inexperienced. The king of Chinese commercial films will still be Yi Mou.

Everyone knew that Zhang Weiping wanted to use this to create hype, but Chen Kaige didn't take it seriously. In his eyes, Zhang Yimou was just there to carry the camera for him.

Feng Xiaogang couldn't sit still any longer, or perhaps he also wanted to generate buzz for "Assembly," so he retorted.

"Let's surpass 'The Thieves' first. Anyone can talk the talk, but my new film 'Assembly' won't focus on commercial success this time. It will return to the history of the War of Resistance against Japan..."

Despite Zhang Weiping's sharp tongue, Zhang Yimou's influence is undeniable. "Curse of the Golden Flower" will be released simultaneously in Asia and will hit North America a week later.

The film premiere was held in the Beijing Film Studio's soundstage, where a palace scene from the movie was recreated, with the ground covered in chrysanthemums, creating a signature visual style.

Looking at the luxurious setup, Tian Xiaole exclaimed that he had learned something and asked, "Shouldn't 'Pacific Rim' do something like this?"
The idea was immediately rejected; wouldn't it be better to spend that money on special effects?
"Brother Le, thank you for coming to support us."

"You're too kind. I look forward to your performance in the movie."

Tian Xiaole punched Zhou Jielun in the chest and said with a smile.

"You should be very familiar with this kind of occasion, so I won't keep you company. Go backstage and prepare; you have a performance to do later."

···
Today's event is star-studded, with no guest being less than a dignitary. Jet Li made a surprise appearance as the final guest.

The on-site hosts were also top-notch, including Guo Degang, Wu Zongxian, Cai Kangyong, Aya, and He Jiong...

The directors and film company owners who came today were all there because of Zhang Yimou's reputation, but he was in North America and accepted the interviews via video link.

As the producer and owner of the company, Zhang Weiping was responsible for greeting guests, but few people paid him any attention.

Tian Xiaole looked around but didn't see Gong Li, so she probably didn't attend.

On stage, Jay Chou sang the movie theme song "Chrysanthemum Terrace," eliciting screams from fans and becoming the focus of the entire event.

The movie premiere has begun.

(End of this chapter)