It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 175 Success and Failure = Heaven and Hell! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Within their small circle, Lü Rui, Jiang Wen, and Gu Changwei exchanged glances, all revealing their bewilderment about "The Promise."

The plot is chaotic and it's really not a good watch.

But I couldn't stop hearing all the sighs in my ears:
"This visual is absolutely stunning! The colors and composition are a true visual feast. Director Chen's control over aesthetics is simply amazing!"

"The metaphors in it are really good: fate, desire, freedom... Each character is like a mirror, worth pondering repeatedly."

"Jang Dong-gun's Kunlun Slave and Zhang Baizhi's Alluring Beauty brought that sense of destiny to life, especially the line 'Who else wants to see what's under my clothes?' It was both crazy and seductive, so powerful!"

Praises and accolades rose and fell, almost echoing throughout the entire venue.

For a moment, Lü Rui even had the illusion of "The Emperor's New Clothes".

However, he was quite firm in his mind; if it wasn't good-looking, it wasn't good-looking, and that judgment wouldn't waver.

"Ha, a bunch of sycophants," Jiang Wen muttered under his breath, his tone laced with disdain.

The words of the people around him suddenly reminded him of his audition for the role of Yu Ji in the film "Farewell My Concubine".

He felt he was in good shape at the time, but when Chen Kai said "not suitable," the producer and production company next to him echoed, "It is indeed a bit lacking," which made him so angry that he left on the spot.

...

Soon, the movie ended amidst a chorus of praise.

Unable to contain his excitement, Chen Kaige went back on stage.

Taking the microphone from the host, he began with great enthusiasm: "I spent three whole years polishing this film. First of all, I want to thank China Film Group and President Han for their support..."

Han Sanping stood up, waving his hands in all directions with a hearty smile, displaying his boldness.

Lu Rui gave him a pitiful look, thinking to himself that he hoped he would still be laughing so heartily after the movie was released.

Chen Kaige continued, "Although some people outside are not very optimistic, I have reshaped my life once again through this film. I think I did a pretty good job. Now let the market prove it..."

Upon hearing the word "market," the reporters immediately seized the opportunity to ask questions.

Someone mentioned "Hero" and asked if "The Promise" was its counterpart.
Chen Kaige's eyes shone, and his tone was full of pride: "Hero has its own scope, but The Promise is different. It not only has Eastern aesthetics, but also emotional resonance that transcends national boundaries. I believe it can go further."

Compared to Zhang Yimou's humble, "hardworking" personality, Director Chen never hides his pride.

Chen Hong then went on stage and, as the producer, recounted the various challenges encountered during filming.

When talking about her cameo role, she didn't forget to praise Chen Kaige's directing skills: "His sensitivity to the camera is unmatched; he can always find the most precise expression in chaos..."

Following her, Zhang Baizhi took the stage to speak. As the focus of the film, she was stunningly beautiful tonight, with a captivating charm in her eyes.

Many people at the scene were secretly wondering what kind of allure she was hiding under her clothes.
Lu Rui vaguely remembered some related scenes, but there didn't seem to be anything particularly amazing about them. On the contrary... perhaps it was because of his long experience...

"Hello everyone, my name is Guan Xiaotong, and I play the role of 'Little Qingcheng' in this movie."

A self-introduction with a strong Beijing accent suddenly rang out.

Lu Rui raised an eyebrow, looking at the little girl on the stage with a complicated expression.

Child stars from Beijing's entertainment circle may seem carefree and have great personalities, but they often have a touch of mercenary shrewdness.

Afterwards, Liu Ye brought Xie Na onto the stage; the two are currently in the throes of a passionate romance.

From the interview, it's clear the man longs for marriage, but the woman doesn't seem as enthusiastic, wearing a casual smile...

Just then, one of the media outlets suddenly asked loudly, "Director Lü, what are your thoughts after watching 'The Promise'?"

Upon hearing this, many people turned to look behind them, their gazes all falling on Lü Rui.

Why are you suddenly asking me this?
Lu Rui inwardly cursed the trouble, but maintained a faint smile on his face, vaguely replying, "The visuals are gorgeous. The costumes, props, and set design clearly took a lot of effort, and the visual presentation is very impactful..."

He deliberately avoided discussing the plot, focusing only on the visuals.

He didn't want to be chased and scolded by netizens for a single comment.

Then another reporter turned to Chen Kaige and asked him about his expectations for the box office.

Standing on the stage, Chen Kaige straightened his back and confidently announced: "I expect the domestic box office to be no less than 3 million yuan; and the international box office to be no less than 7000 million US dollars."

Jiang Wen, who was listening from the side, was amused and nudged Lü Rui's shoulder with his elbow: "This is obviously aimed at you."

Taken grossed 3.72 million yuan domestically and 6500 million US dollars internationally.

Chen Kaige's goal is clearly to gain the upper hand.

"Let him come," Lü Rui shrugged, his face showing no sign of tension. "Anyone can brag."

……

The premiere ended after 10 p.m., and the banquet in the banquet hall officially began.

Chen Kaige and Chen Hong moved among the guests, toasting them with ease and composure, displaying the poise of a renowned director. They chatted and laughed with everyone present.

Lü Rui then sat down at a table with Liu Yifei, Jiang Wen, Han Sanping, and others, eating and chatting.

"Do you think this movie can gross over 300 million yuan at the domestic box office?" Han Sanping picked up a piece of food and asked Lü Rui curiously.

Not wanting to dampen his enthusiasm, Lü Rui smiled and said, "I don't really know much about epic blockbusters, let's wait until they're released before watching them."

Han Sanping didn't think much of it, assuming that he was genuinely unfamiliar with this type of subject matter, so he didn't press the matter further. Instead, he encouraged everyone to eat and drink well, and the atmosphere became quite lively.

The dinner officially ended around 11 p.m.

Han Sanping got into the car in a daze. Just as he was about to tell the driver to go home, his assistant said, "Mr. Han, it seems that Director Lü has started a new project overseas again."

"Oh?" Han Sanping looked surprised. "What project?"

The assistant handed him the laptop.

The screen prominently displayed a press release announcing the new film co-produced by Ruixing Pictures and Warner Bros.

300

Lü Rui's name is clearly listed in the screenwriter and producer credits!
The press release stated:

"The film project is adapted from Frank Miller's comic book series of the same name, '300,' and is currently in progress."

"The subject matter is a war action epic, with an estimated investment of no less than $1.5 million. The screenwriter is Lv Rui, the screenwriter of the currently showing action blockbuster 'I Am Legend.' The production company is Ruixing Pictures, and the production company is Warner Bros...."

"The film tells the story of how Leonidas, the Spartan king, refused to submit to the Persian emperor and led three hundred warriors to fight against the Persians... Ultimately, due to the loss of Thermopylae, all three hundred Spartan warriors perished in battle."

Han Sanping stared at the screen, his brows furrowing instantly, his previously dizzy thoughts clearing up in an instant.

This kid Lü Rui, he said he didn't know anything about epic blockbusters, but then he went and started making super epic blockbusters in Hollywood. He's obviously quite knowledgeable about this industry.

Otherwise, how could Warner Bros. have dared to invest such a staggering $1.5 million?

Thinking of this, and recalling how Lü Rui had previously avoided talking about "The Promise," Han Sanping felt inexplicably uneasy.

"No way? Could it be that he doesn't really think much of this movie? That's why he's unwilling to say more?" Once this thought popped into his mind, it lingered for a while.

Just as Han Sanping was wondering to himself, Lü Rui had already safely escorted Liu Yifei back to the hotel and handed her over to Liu Xiaoli.

"Come back so early?"

Liu Xiaoli asked casually, clearly having complete confidence in Lü Rui and showing no concern whatsoever that her daughter might get into trouble.

"It's getting late, almost 12 o'clock. You should get some rest; you have filming to do tomorrow," Lü Rui advised.

"Okay, I got it."

Liu Yifei's face was flushed from drinking; she had had a few drinks tonight and her excitement hadn't completely subsided yet.

"Be careful on the road," Liu Xiaoli said with a smile and waved goodbye.

"Oh, right." As soon as Lu Rui got into the car, he suddenly remembered something and rolled down the window to remind her, "Don't take on any new roles after 'Sunny Sisters' is finished. I'm starting a new project, and I'll have Yifei make a cameo appearance."

"Okay." Liu Xiaoli's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded hurriedly in agreement.

She originally had quite a few projects in negotiations, but now it seems that all those messy ones can be turned down.

A few days ago, Zhang Jizhong sent a message saying that he wanted Liu Yifei to play Wen Qingqing in "The Sword Stained with Royal Blood".

She was initially hesitant about whether to accept, but now it seems she can refuse without hesitation.

After all, compared to movies, TV series don't have much effect on boosting Liu Yifei's current popularity. If there are suitable movie opportunities, TV series can be put on hold.

Especially Lu Rui's project, which we must strive for no matter what!
……

On his way home, Lü Rui also saw news about "300" and, out of curiosity, called Peter:

"What's going on? Warner Bros. has agreed to work with us on this project?"

Peter's excited laughter came through the phone: "Lv, I was just about to email you! Your adaptation of the '300' script has received high praise from the original author, and the project has been officially rated as an A+ big-budget production. Warner Bros. has already given their approval and is willing to work with us!"

Lu Rui's eyes darted around, and he pressed on, "Did the international box office performance of 'I Am Legend' help?"

“Of course!” Peter’s tone was smug. “In less than five days, the box office outside of North America has exceeded $80 million. With the more than $200 million box office in North America, it will soon cover the $150 million cost.”

If you factor in the merchandise, DVD sales, and online and offline distribution rights, this movie is absolutely a huge success!

From the successful collaboration on "The Prestige" to the global blockbuster of "Taken" and now the continued popularity of "I Am Legend," a series of victories has given Warner Bros. unprecedented confidence in Lu Rui.

Even with a budget of $1.5 million for 300, Warner Bros. President Alan Horn was willing to take another bet.

"The collaboration on this project is basically a done deal," Peter added.

Lu Rui changed his mind and specifically instructed: "Strive for as much share as possible, no less than 30%."

“Okay, I understand.” Peter replied, then reported another piece of news, “By the way, the American version of ‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ which we are co-producing with Sony Columbia, is officially scheduled for release during the Oscars.”

Lü Rui smiled and quickly understood.

Sony deliberately delayed setting a release date after completing post-production, hoping to capitalize on the Oscar buzz for marketing purposes.

His projects have been successful time and again, which is one of the reasons they want to capitalize on his popularity.

"Twentieth Century Fox also replied, expressing their willingness to collaborate on 'Life of Pi,' and we are currently negotiating the details." Peter became more and more excited as he spoke, his tone full of enthusiasm.

As Lü Rui listened, his smile deepened.

That's just how the world is; successful people always seem to achieve more success.

Those who previously questioned him are now busy cultivating relationships and building connections in the face of a series of victories.

So-called social etiquette is ultimately less practical than being bound by shared interests.

The future goal is clear: we must continue to succeed in order to reach higher and higher levels.

After all, success and failure are the heaven and hell of Hollywood and even the global business world!

"How's it going with 'Spirit: Ghostly Records'?" Lu Rui continued to press.

Peter suddenly laughed upon hearing this, but his tone was somewhat incredulous: "In its sixth week of release, the North American box office has already exceeded $80 million. It is expected to be taken off the screens at the end of this month, with the total box office reaching around $90 million."

Lü Rui nodded in satisfaction again.

Although the marketing and production costs reached $2000 million, the box office success of $9000 million was definitely a huge profit!
Most importantly, although the film used some gimmicky marketing, it was of high quality and did not receive widespread criticism after its release like "The Blair Witch Project". Instead, it received a lot of positive reviews, and many viewers are looking forward to a sequel.

This means that this genre can continue to generate sequels and make money, just like "Lurking," becoming a cash cow for the company.

Peter then added, "By the way, Lv, a lot of big publishing companies are contacting us now, wanting to acquire the overseas distribution rights for 'Paranormal Activity.' Should we contact them and negotiate?"

The film's huge success in the North American market naturally made it conform to the Hollywood formula.

In other words, any film that becomes a hit in North America can easily attract attention in overseas markets!
Unfortunately, Brom House lacks overseas distribution capabilities, otherwise it wouldn't need to seek partners to share the profits.

Lü Rui had long had the idea of ​​establishing overseas distribution channels, but the conditions were not yet ripe.

Without a single major project to support the project, no matter how abundant the funds, venturing into overseas issuance is just asking for trouble; one must wait for the right opportunity.

He already had a preliminary plan in mind, but he still needed to proceed step by step.

"The potential of the North American market has not been exhausted yet. We'll talk about overseas distribution once it's completely finished here and the results are finalized."

As is well known, the higher the box office in North America, the stronger the bargaining power when negotiating overseas distribution rights.

Lü Rui has become increasingly adept at getting money out of foreigners' pockets.

"Okay." Peter hung up the phone with satisfaction and immediately turned back to his busy work.

He's brimming with energy now, as if he's riding on wheels of fire.

With projects like "I Am Legend" and "Paranormal Activity" in hand, he could see box office numbers soaring every day as soon as he opened his eyes, with large sums of money flowing into the company's account like water.

He wouldn't have dared to dream of such a life before.

He knew better than anyone who was responsible for all of this.

From a struggling low-level salesperson at a talent agency to now having established himself in Hollywood and being able to negotiate collaborations with giants like Warner and Fox on equal footing, it's all thanks to Lü Rui's "Midas touch".

Including living in a house twice the size of his previous one, sending his mother to the best hospital, and taking his family to the beach for weekend vacations... Every aspect of this privileged life is etched with Lü Rui's name.

Working with a boss like this is totally worth it! Absolutely worth it!

If it weren't for the fact that Lv Rui's identity couldn't be made public, he would have wanted to shout throughout Hollywood with a megaphone: "LV isn't my partner, he's a genius! He's the savior who pulled me out of the mire! Calling him God wouldn't be an exaggeration!"
No, even God isn't as powerful as him!
God couldn't have written "Paranormal Activity" or "I Am Legend," much less allow a low-budget horror film to rake in nearly $100 million at the box office!

"call!"

Peter took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and looked back at the project list on the computer screen.

We need to secure a share of "300 Spartans" quickly; we can't let Lü Rui down...

(End of this chapter)