2001 Media Godfather

Chapter 90 Choose one of the two
Cage couldn't accept that the eighteen-year-old boy in front of him was the screenwriter of "Firelight".

Although Su Manqing had told him long ago that the screenwriter was very young.

But this is a bit too young.

"Su, you're joking, right?"

Chu An smiled smugly under Nicolas Cage's surprised gaze, walked past the three people, and took out his key to open the door.

"Come in and let's chat!"

Since their last phone call, Chu An has not made his presence known to Sophia and Cage.

The reason is simple: Hollywood's producer-centric system is completely different from China's director-centric system.

To put it bluntly, in China, the director is in charge of everything, including project preparation, production and distribution, and of course, post-production editing.

The advantages and disadvantages of this director-centric approach are quite obvious. First, the director's full involvement leads to a higher level of film completeness and a more focused theme. However, the downside is that not every director understands the market, making it easy to lose money.

In contrast, the producer-centric system is driven by capital and the market, with directors only responsible for filming and post-production, and they do not have the editing rights that everyone is familiar with.

The advantage is that the integration of the film industry is unmatched by the director-centric system. It's like an assembly line operation, which is more efficient and relatively less risky.

However, the drawbacks remain: excessive commercialization has turned films into mass-produced products. Once the first batch of filmmakers have exhausted all the possible themes and commercial values ​​to be explored, what follows will only result in a mess.

It stifled the creativity of film as an art form.

Of course, the shortcomings of Hollywood's producer-centric system will not become apparent for another ten or twenty years. At least at the point of 2002, it was still quite advanced.

This means that Chu An doesn't have to feel the need to be present like screenwriters do in China, otherwise those extremely self-centered directors, including Lu Mingze, really don't treat you like a human being.

They don't even treat your notebook like a trinket!

The final product might be something the screenwriter wouldn't even recognize.

Take Jiang Wen, for example. This guy revised the script of "Let the Bullets Fly" more than 50 times. Not to mention how much money he spent, only he knows what's left of the original script.

Hollywood, on the other hand, has standard procedures.

During the production process, the screenwriter's role extends beyond just the script; they also have a say in casting, art direction, and other aspects.

As a result, Chu An didn't need to go to Sophia, but Sophia had to come to Chu An.

This is why, even though Chu An didn't need to rush to participate in the preparatory work and even explicitly stated that he wouldn't go to the United States to participate, Sophia still brought Cage to China to see him.

After ushering the three into the living room, Chu An brewed tea. "Mr. Cage, giving up 'Windtalkers' was the best decision you ever made."

When Cage heard him mention Wu Yulin's movies, he immediately waved his hand and said, "Oh, don't mention it again. Wu is not answering my calls anymore; he's obviously still angry."

Chu An curled his lip, thinking to himself that Wu Yulin was still too confident.

Bringing the topic back to "Fire in My Heart," he said, "Actually, you don't need to come to China at all. As the lead screenwriter, I believe that as long as the core is not compromised, you can do whatever you want with the commercial adaptations."

"Of course, don't change it too much."

The work of Hollywood screenwriters is also an assembly line operation.

Chu An was only responsible for the story framework and solidifying the theme. As for ensuring the script conformed to the dramatic structure, there was a structural screenwriter; and to ensure the dialogue was coherent and the characters were well-developed, there was a dialogue screenwriter.

Simply put, a script can be broken down into multiple parts to facilitate modular production, and some modifications will be made to Chu An's original script.

Chu An didn't mind at all. As long as they didn't turn "Heart Fire" into a terrible movie, he wouldn't say a word.

After all, Su Manqing is a newcomer to Hollywood, as is Chu An, the screenwriter.

For a new screenwriter to establish themselves in Hollywood, it's not enough to just create good stories; they also need to understand and follow the rules.

Sophia breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Chu An's words. Knowing the Chinese market, she was genuinely worried that Chu An would use his status as a screenwriter to restrict her work.

"This is for the best; we're one step closer to creating a great work."

Chu An smiled and gestured for them to have some tea. Director Sophia's visit this time wasn't just about discussing the script, was it?

Upon hearing this, Sofia and Cage exchanged a glance, clearly not expecting that this overly young Chinese boy could see through their motives at a glance.

“Okay!” Sofia was quite direct. “Su said that you’re not only good at screenwriting, but also have unique insights into the European market and Hollywood.”

"In fact, Sue's recognition of you exceeded my expectations. She even confessed that you planned her trip to the Sundance Film Festival."

"And was the script for 'Heart Fire' written specifically for this trip?"

Chu An shrugged, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Sofia: "So here we are! To be honest, Sue's goal is the Cannes Best Actress award, and the whole world already knows that."

"But I..."

Sophia paused, and Chu An already knew what she was going to say.

"Are you unsure how to make this film in a way that will help Su Manqing, and even if it wins an award at Cannes, how can you avoid losing money?"

Sofia's issue involves the irreconcilable differences between European and American cinema.

As mentioned before, the Cannes Film Festival awards are more inclined towards artistry, with actors, directors, and screenwriters expressing unique insights and cinematic art through their films.

But the United States, after all, is the United States; even the most artistic people have to consider market demands.

Balancing art and market appeal is not something every director can easily do. Sofia, who had only directed one film before "Lost in Translation," did not possess this ability.

In fact, this question also stumped Chu An.

His career plan for Su Manqing was to make art films, which she was good at, while also taking a bit of commercial appeal into account.

Therefore, the film "Heartfire" was chosen, and in its previous life, it did indeed manage to balance art and commerce.

But if they changed directors... Chu An couldn't guarantee whether they could capture the same effect as in the previous life.

especially.
Judging from Sofia's expression, she lacked confidence and was even a little confused.

"this one"

Chu An pondered for a moment, then said, "Just some of my personal opinions!"

“First of all, Miss Sophia, you seem to be doing this a bit too much.”

"Actually, there's no need to worry so much. There's an old Chinese saying: 'Man proposes, God disposes.'"

"We currently have a script for an art film that is relatively commercially viable, and we also have a male and female lead who are both top-notch in terms of acting skills and fame."

He grinned and joked, "Besides, even if we lose money, it'll be my money, so you don't need to worry at all."

Everyone laughed. Chu An was one of the investors.

Chu An suddenly became serious and looked at Sophia earnestly. "Leave the rest to talent! I believe that's the last thing Miss Sophia lacks."

Sofia and Cage: "."

Okay, Cage has no doubt now that this kid is a screenwriter. Look at what he says, it's both philosophical and incredibly flattering.

It's very much in line with the screenwriter's standards.

Sofia was secretly pleased, of course, because she believed in her own talent.

I am indeed very talented, aren't I?
My confidence has returned a little bit.

Chu An hadn't finished speaking when he said, "As for the method of gaining both Cannes and the American market..."

"I suggest you let Cannes go to hell! Just cater to the tastes of American audiences."

These words startled all three of them, especially Su Manqing. She thought to herself, "Little Chu'an, don't mess around! I made these dumplings specifically for Cannes."

He awkwardly blurted out, "Cannes...shouldn't we give them some consideration?"

Chu An was blunt, "Take care of them my ass! Just don't treat them like human beings."

"Why?" This time it was Sophia who was curious.

Chu An simply shrugged and said, "Because art is inherently contradictory, while commerce requires pandering!"

Sofia, “.”

Cage, “.”

Su Manqing, “.”

That seems to make a lot of sense!

Chu An hadn't finished speaking when he added, "Furthermore, you need to understand that, given the current situation, your chances of winning Cannes are already very low, almost impossible!"

"What do you mean?" Sophia and Su Manqing asked almost in unison. The film hadn't even been shot yet, and Chu An had already sentenced them to death.

Then Chu An pointed at Cage and said, "Mr. Nicolas Cage, an Oscar-winning actor, the first person to use the method acting technique in Hollywood, and one of the most popular male actors in the world."

Then, pointing to Su Manqing, he said, "Ms. Su Manqing, a double European Best Actress winner, president of the Cannes Film Festival jury, a woman standing at the pinnacle of acting." Finally, his gaze fell on Sofia, "Ms. Sofia, heiress of the Coppola family, a leading figure among Hollywood's new generation of directors."

"The lineup of just three people is already considered luxurious, and no further embellishment is needed. As soon as 'Heart Fire' starts filming, it will definitely become the focus of the film industry."

"Given Cannes's nature, they prefer niche and obscure brands. Conversely, the bigger the brand, the more they reject it; this is the last bit of pride of the old European aristocracy."

Do you think you still have a chance?

The three of them, “.”

Okay! The three of them were a little discouraged. Did Chu An say that there was no hope for Cannes?

Chu An spoke, panting heavily, "So, never try to please Cannes, it's completely useless!"

"If I were you, I wouldn't just not try to please you, I'd do the opposite!"

Su Manqing, "What do you mean?"

Chu An: "Simple! You, keep your heart set on Cannes! In every public occasion, express that you made 'Heart Fire' for the Cannes Best Actress award."

Su Manqing, “.”

Didn't you say you weren't going to try to please people?
Chu An then said to Sofia, "In any situation, you should always aim your sword at Venice!"

Sofia, "??????"

Chu An, “You want Cannes to know that you look down on Cannes and your goal is Venice in August 2003.”

"In the eyes of the Coppola family, who hold a pivotal position in the film industry, Cannes is nothing but a fart!"

Sofia, “.”

If they really did that, those old guys in Cannes would probably be furious.

Chu An then looked at Nicolas Cage, "And you?"

Cage suddenly became interested. Even in Hollywood, no one played around like Chuan. He seemed more like a publicity and distribution madman.

Chu An said, "The disagreement between the director and the female lead will inevitably make 'Heart Fire' receive a lot of attention."

"Reporters will definitely come to ask for your opinion."

Cage: "Of course I can't be the bad guy. The best perspective is to have no perspective!"

Chu An, "Wrong!"

"You must side with your sister! You must unequivocally support Sofia's decision to march into Venice!"

Cage, “.”

He strongly suspected that Chu An was setting a trap for him and Sophia, using the opportunity to create a news sensation for Su Manqing.

Chu An ignored him, saying, "You need to tell the reporters your reasons for supporting Sofia."

"The reason is that Cannes will not allow a second female director to win the Palme d'Or, nor will it allow Su Manqing to achieve the unification of the three major film festivals, so we will not waste our time."

“Oh my God!” Cage burst out laughing.

"Chu! You're so evil!"

Cage immediately grasped the key point, and his words undoubtedly put Cannes in a very difficult position.

They even prayed that "Heartfire" wouldn't appear in Cannes, otherwise, what were they supposed to do?
If "Firelight" is submitted to Cannes and doesn't receive an award, it would make Cage's prediction come true, making Cannes seem stingy and losing its authority.

Give it to me.
That's disgusting. What if it's a terrible movie?
As he thought about it, Cage's smile grew increasingly wicked. He liked this Chu An!

interesting.

"Let's cause a little trouble for Cannes!"

Chu An looked at Nicolas Cage with a meaningful expression, thinking to himself, "I can only apologize to you!"
He abruptly stood up, patted Cage on the shoulder, and said, "Here's a suggestion."

Cage, "What suggestion?"

Chu An said, "Don't spend money recklessly, or you'll easily go bankrupt."

Cage, "??"

Okay! That's all I can do to help you, buddy.

Chu An really likes Nicolas Cage, and not just for his memes!

This guy's personal life is none of my business, but his acting skills and his ability to be flexible and adaptable are quite admirable.

As Chu Anguo said, aside from some suggestions on publicity, he did not participate in any issues related to script changes or pacing adjustments, giving Sophia the greatest creative freedom.

Sophia and her two companions did not linger in Shengjing. They met with Chu An twice, symbolically discussed the script, and then immediately flew back to the United States.

"Heart Fire" is scheduled to start filming in September, with a shooting period of 2 months, and is slated to participate in the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.

As for the funding issue, it was resolved long ago.

According to Sofia's initial budget, the filming and post-production costs were $800 million.

But Chu An advised her to keep the budget below 500 million. The reason was simple: this film wasn't known for its elaborate or grand scenes, so there were many ways to save money.

The lower the cost, the less pressure there will be in the future, which will be more beneficial for Sofia herself.

At first, Sofia didn't quite understand.

Chu An convinced her with just one sentence: "Selling something with a cost of 800 million for 3000 million is completely different from selling something with a cost of 500 million for 3000 million."

"The higher the return on investment for 'Firelight,' the less you'll have to worry about distributing your next film."

So in the end, Sofia decided to take Chuan's advice and keep the filming budget under $500 million.

Therefore, Chu An's investment of 2000 million RMB, which is nearly 300 million USD, makes him the largest investor.

With the remaining 200 million or so, Sophia doesn't need to look for investors outside.

In addition to her film salary, Su Manqing also contributed 50 yuan in cash.

Cage initially didn't want to invest, but he couldn't resist Sophia's persistent pleading and decided to make up the remaining million or so.

For Cage, who commands tens of millions in film fees, this is just a drop in the ocean; a million dollars wouldn't even be enough for him to buy a dinosaur fossil.

Yes, this guy is a master at spending money, but his taste is even more questionable.

Firstly, he's passionate about buying houses; secondly, he often collects strange and unusual items.

He later went bankrupt due to the financial crisis and spent more than ten years making bad movies to pay off his debts.

After seeing Su Manqing off, Chu An's life enjoyed a brief period of peace.

Lin Wanchen is working on the Weibo website; they've already come up with a preliminary plan, and it's expected to launch in 2003. They're currently recruiting.

Lu Mingze was in charge of the production team for "You Are My Glory". Chu An was only responsible for communicating with Green Field Company and didn't need to worry about anything else.

Every day is just going to school and preparing for college entrance exams, a rare moment of relaxation and comfort.

Of course, there was another thing that surprised Chu An.

That day, Lin Wanxing kicked open the gate of Chu An's house, dragged her small suitcase into the yard, and said, "Chu Shikuai, come out and greet me!"

Chu An ran out of the house, looking completely bewildered. "Filming's wrapped up?"

Lin Wanxing: "Filming has wrapped up."

Chu An: "Then what are you doing here?"

Lin Wanxing shoved the small leather suitcase into Chu An's hands, "Just informing you."

"Since Comrade Lin Wanchen was tricked into working on a website by you, I've become a wild girl with no one to take care of me, so you have two choices."

Chu An: "???"

Miss Wanxing said, "First, immediately set up a talent agency and sign me."

"Second, have my brother hand over the legal representative of Qunxing Company, and you can become the boss!"

He slapped his hand on the living room sofa and said, "Choose one!"

Chu An, "."

Why does it feel like it doesn't matter which one you choose?

.

(End of this chapter)