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

Chapter 204 Sitting at home, a "knife" falls from the sky! (Seeking monthly votes)

Previously, Lü Rui had always thought that it would be extremely difficult to get two directors with independent directing experience to jointly manage a project.

This process will likely involve multiple rounds of negotiations, repeated lobbying, and even compromises on creative control.

But to my surprise, things went much more smoothly than expected.

After Peter contacted Guy Ritchie and Katherine Hardwicke's agents, the two sides reached an agreement quickly after only two communications.

The former is responsible for the narrative framework and pacing, while the latter dominates the visual presentation and emotional portrayal.

The division of responsibilities is clear, and the intention to cooperate is very clear.

So the next morning, the first thing Lü Rui did after getting up was to arrange for a driver to take Jiang Wu, Liu Yifei, Gu Changwei, and the rest of the film crew to the airport to catch their flight back home.

As for himself, he specially changed his flight ticket and prepared to postpone his return by one day to personally finalize the follow-up operation of the project and other matters.

Upon arrival at Ruixing Film Studio, the two directors' agents were signing salary contracts with the project team.

Lu Rui glanced at the terms and conditions.

The two actors' combined salaries amounted to just over $500 million, which is considered a very cost-effective price.

It's worth noting that a few years ago, when Guy Ritchie was already famous for "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," his salary alone would have been enough to reach this amount.

But today is different from the past.

With his career in decline, coupled with Catherine's lackluster performances in recent years, his bargaining power has plummeted.

If it weren't for the fact that both of them had solid success stories to back them up, their salaries would probably have had to be pushed down even further.

Although Lü Rui felt some pity for Guy Ritchie's middle-aged, down-and-out state, he did not soften his heart.

Because this is a business partnership, there's no room for too much emotion.

Ruixing Film Studio has a mature salary evaluation system. Hollywood never pities down-on-their-luck geniuses, after all, film and television talents from all over the world flock here, and there is never a shortage of candidates.

vice versa.

If Twilight can replicate the success of its predecessor, Guy Ritchie and Kathryn G. will be able to immediately revive their careers and rejoin the ranks of renowned directors.

Just like James Wan, when he was filming "Insidious," his salary was only a pitiful five figures.

However, after the huge success of "I Am Legend", his salary for directing "Life of Pi" jumped to eight figures, and he also enjoyed box office revenue sharing rights.

This is the cruel rule of the film and television industry.

Successful people will only become more successful, enjoying preferential treatment and premiums in resources.

On the other hand, those who fail, if they don't seize the opportunity to turn things around, will eventually be overwhelmed by the wave of newcomers and gradually fade from public view.

……

The contract signing process was handled by a designated person, and Lü Rui did not interrupt.

He sat on the sofa next to him, looking through the post-production plan for Twilight that Peter had handed him.

Only after the contract was signed and the two parties exchanged copies did he get up and walk forward to shake hands and greet Guy Ritchie, Katherine Hardwicke, and their agents in turn.

"What a coincidence! You're both signed directors with William Morris (WMA)?"

During the conversation, Lü Rui noticed the name tags on the chests of the two agents.

No wonder the collaboration went so smoothly. Being under the same top agency, they knew each other well, making it easier to reach a consensus on the division of creative responsibilities, and reducing the obstacles to co-directing.

Guy Ritchie's agent, Reed Walker, chuckled upon hearing this and smoothly took over the conversation, his tone carrying a familiar sales pitch:

“Lv, if Ruixing needs actors, directors or other key behind-the-scenes positions in the future, please feel free to contact me. We can provide all the support you need.”

"Okay, thank you. I'll contact you if I need anything."

Lu Rui smiled and agreed, naturally not refusing the goodwill extended by a large brokerage firm.

He knows all too well the relationship between production companies and talent agencies.

While the two sides appear to be at odds over pay and resources, they have actually long since formed a tacit understanding of "opposition and symbiosis".

Even if there are serious disagreements, they will maintain respect on the surface, since no one can say for sure when the other party will have the talent or project resources that they urgently need.

As one of Hollywood's top talent agencies, WMA boasts an impressive client list.

From A-list actors to veteran directors, and then to core behind-the-scenes roles such as editors and composers, it covers almost the entire chain of film and television production.

As long as they are willing to pay the corresponding price, these companies can assemble a super-luxurious production crew for the production company in a short period of time.

Although CAA pioneered and pushed the "one-stop package service" model to its peak, leading companies such as WMA have already followed suit and implemented similar strategies.

This collaborative approach, which enables rapid resource integration, has long been the mainstream in the industry.

Collectively known as: "Hollywood Industry!"

...

After agreeing on a specific start time, everyone left one after another, leaving only Lü Rui and Peter in the office.

With a major project settled, Peter breathed a sigh of relief, his voice brimming with excitement: "Next, we can officially announce the project's launch and begin casting."

"Peter, well done." Lu Rui didn't hold back his praise.

Peter deserves much credit for facilitating this collaboration between the two directors.

After all, he worked as an agent in his early years, and he has far more experience than the average person in negotiating collaborations and negotiating actor fees.

“Lv, this is my job.” Peter showed no arrogance whatsoever.

Holding the company's profit share in his hand, watching projects launch smoothly one after another, he seemed to already see the scene of receiving his dividends.

Lu Rui didn't say anything more and immediately finalized the details of casting preparations, filming locations, and other aspects of "Twilight" with him.

Then, he changed the subject: "By the way, I have a new plan here. Ruixing should establish a post-production special effects department and an animation department as soon as possible."

Peter looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.

"If the company wants to continue to develop, it cannot rely solely on investment and production; it must integrate its various businesses."

Our long-term goal can be set as catching up with DreamWorks and becoming a comprehensive film and television company covering production, special effects, animation, and distribution.

This is Lü Rui's development plan for the company's future.

Peter didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately stood up and assured him, "No problem, I'll get it done as soon as possible."

His current projects are all running smoothly, which allows him to focus on this matter.

As for the development plan, his ideas coincided with Lü Rui's.

The quickest way is to spend money to poach talent, or even poach established teams, which can save time on integration.

As for funding, that's not a problem either.

The company has ample cash flow, and with "The Pursuit of Happyness (US version)" nearing its end, Ruixing Pictures holds a 30% stake, which will bring in another large sum of money.

After discussing the direction of business expansion, Lü Rui changed the subject again: "Also, the current office environment is too crowded and cannot support the size of the new department. We need to move to a different place."

Peter immediately chimed in, "Lv, this is exactly what I was thinking of telling you. I recently found an office building I like through an agent; the location is excellent."

"Oh?" Lu Rui raised an eyebrow and, without hesitation, stood up immediately. "Come on, take me to see."

"it is good."

The two then went downstairs and set off.

The new location is not far from the original office area, just a ten-minute drive away.

When I got out of the car, the real estate agent was already waiting at the door.

As Peter led Lu Rui inside, he explained, "This building has six floors in total. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is nearby, and it's located in the heart of Hollywood."

The annual rent is approximately $120 million, which is a very good deal for this location near Hollywood.

Pushing open the door, the interior facilities were still in relatively good condition.

Peter added, "This used to be an independent production company. Last year, they spent a lot of money to make a big-budget film, which was a box office flop and went bankrupt. They left behind a lot of office supplies, which we can use after a little cleaning, and it will save us some money on supplies."

Lu Rui toured each floor, nodded in satisfaction, and immediately began to plan according to his ideas: "The first floor will be the reception area and front desk for the convenience of visitors."

The second floor can be allocated to Blum House to promote its advertising and distribution business.

The third floor will be used as a general office area to coordinate daily affairs.

The fourth floor is for the post-production special effects department; it's spacious enough to accommodate equipment.

The fifth floor was given to the animation department, with a separate area for creative work.

The top floor has been converted into high-rise offices and meeting rooms with excellent views.

Since they've rented an office building, Blum House, which originally operated from elsewhere, can naturally move here as well.

“This plan is perfect!” Peter agreed immediately, then took out his phone and called Jason Blum. “Jason, Lv and I are at the new office building. Could you come over?” “Okay.”

Upon hearing the summons, Jason Brom arrived shortly afterward.

Lu Rui told him about the company relocation.

Jason immediately agreed, "No problem! We can move anytime."

Since the original office space at the Brom House was rented, moving it here would save on rent, which was exactly what he wanted.

……

After visiting the new office area, Lü Rui returned to Ruixing Film Studio that afternoon.

After locking his office door, he began to sort out the core information of the Kung Fu Panda project.

He vaguely remembered that DreamWorks finalized the "Kung Fu Panda" project during those two years in his previous life.

However, after he had his secretary retrieve recent Hollywood industry news and DreamWorks' project filing information and checked it repeatedly, he found no indication that DreamWorks had launched any related projects.

After careful consideration, he roughly figured out the key point.

If nothing unexpected happens, the "butterfly effect" has quietly altered the original trajectory.

In its previous life, DreamWorks' inspiration for creating "Kung Fu Panda" largely stemmed from the popularity of Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu" in North America.

At the time, in order to boost the film's box office and increase his own popularity in North America, Stephen Chow spent a lot of resources on marketing, frequently appearing at various Hollywood events, making the "kung fu" element a hot topic of discussion.

In this life, however, because Lu Rui's "The Prestige" seized the market in advance and became a critical and commercial success, "Kung Fu Hustle" was completely overshadowed when it landed in North America and received a lukewarm response.

He was clearly aware of the gap, and didn't bother with any large-scale marketing in Hollywood, fearing he would end up "making a fool of himself."

This directly led to the dismal box office performance and lack of popularity of "Kung Fu" in North America, and even the topicality of the "Kung Fu" element was greatly weakened.

Without this initial inspiration, DreamWorks naturally shelved the idea for the time being.

If Lü Rui leaves it alone, DreamWorks may restart the project again sometime later, depending on other opportunities.

But once he's made up his mind to steal the prize, he'll never give the other party a chance.

"It's better to strike first than to strike first."

Lu Rui muttered to himself, then immediately turned on his computer and began drafting the script outline for "Kung Fu Panda" from memory.

From Po's background and the connection between pandas and kung fu to the core narrative of "Dragon Warrior," everything is clearly outlined.

After finishing the outline, he immediately called Peter over: "Take this outline to the copyright office to register, the sooner the better, to make sure we are the first to file it."

As long as the copyright is secured first, even if DreamWorks realizes the situation later, they can only watch helplessly as this "fat piece of meat" falls into the hands of Ruixing Pictures.

……

The first night has passed, and the latter half of April is almost over.

Lu Rui didn't linger in Hollywood for long. After packing his luggage, he rushed to the airport and boarded a flight back to China.

At the same time, Peter Griffin was also holding a press conference as planned, announcing the official launch of the Twilight series.

"That's right, Ruixing Pictures has exclusively acquired the film and television adaptation rights for 'Twilight'."

Facing the camera, Peter proudly announced the key information: "The project investment is expected to be no less than $3000 million. We will co-direct with Guy Ritchie and Katherine Hardwicke. It is currently in the preparation stage."

The news immediately drew the attention of most of Hollywood.

Just recently, the second book in the Twilight series, New Moon, was released and immediately ignited the teenage market, with sales soaring to the top of the New York bestseller list.

When the first film was released, many companies were still observing.

After all, adapting books for teenagers is always extremely risky. Harry Potter is just an exception; many similar works have been adapted into films and television series that ended in failure.

However, the popularity of "New Moon" has made everyone see the potential of this IP.

However, while other companies were busy contacting the original authors' agents, Ruixing Pictures had already secured a director and launched the project, undoubtedly putting its competitors far behind.

At the press conference, Peter seized the opportunity to further reveal Ruixing Pictures' future project portfolio:

He casually mentioned "300," "Life of Pi," "Twilight," and even "Kung Fu Panda," which had just been registered for copyright.

In a short time, Ruixing Film Industry's momentum for rapid growth became increasingly clear!

The four projects represent a total investment of $500 million, in addition to the previously hugely successful "I Am Legend"...

Ruixing Pictures has already shown the potential to surpass Lionsgate and catch up with DreamWorks.

A new beast is clearly emerging in Hollywood's independent film production scene!
Behind these projects, the screenwriters and producers are all labeled with the name "Lv," so Lv Rui naturally couldn't hide it.

Many Hollywood insiders suddenly realized that Ruixing and DreamWorks had strikingly similar structures.

DreamWorks relies on Steven Spielberg, while Ruixing relies on its contracted partner Lü Rui; both are replicas of the "core creator as engine" model.

Just as the press conference was ending, Warner Bros. Executive Chairman Alan Horn was giving a media interview.

When asked about his collaboration with Ruixing on "300," he smiled and commented:

“Lv is an excellent director, and I believe he will be the next ‘Wu Yu’ to make a name for himself in Hollywood. I look forward to him directing a big-budget commercial film and letting the outside world see his commercial potential…”

Oh right, the Wu Yu I'm talking about is the John Woo from before "Windtalkers," not the current one…

You're sitting at home, and a knife comes down from the sky!
Wu Yu, who was far away in China, was so angry when he saw this interview that he almost vomited blood.

He stared at Alan Horn's smiling face on the screen, and a tightness gripped his chest.

He has indeed had a rough time in Hollywood these past few years. His spirits have been dampened after the box office failure of "Windtalkers." But it's not enough to be so blatantly "draged down" under the guise of praising a younger generation!
Lü Rui...

This name was like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart!

A young upstart, with just a few works, has been hailed as "the next peak of Wu Yu," while I can only be used as a reference point for how things have changed...

A surge of unwillingness and competitiveness suddenly welled up inside me!
When has Wu Yu ever lost?
If they were able to make a name for themselves in Hollywood back then with their gunfight aesthetics, they might just be able to make a comeback now!

Thinking of this, he suddenly stood up, walked quickly to the desk, and opened the script of "Red Cliff" that was spread out on it.

As his gaze swept across the scenes, a sudden inspiration struck him.

On the battlefield, besides the tragic grandeur of swords and spears, perhaps a touch of contrasting warmth and hope can also be added.

So he picked up his pen and quickly added a few lines of dialogue next to the passage where Zhou Yu visits his injured warhorse:
"Mengmeng (Wu Yu)! Stand up!!!"

Starting with "Red Cliff," he wanted to prove himself again.

Sooner or later, he will return to Hollywood with a truly great film and show those who looked down on him what he's made of!
At the same time, at Huayi Brothers, Wang Zhonglei finalized the release dates for "The Banquet," "Rob-B-Hood," and "A Battle of Wits" with the distribution department.

三部电影分别定在了9月15日、9月28日和11月23日登陆院线。

After the notice was issued, he specifically sought out Feng Xiaogang and dropped a bombshell: "This time, 'The Banquet' will also be sent to Hollywood for a screening."

"what?"

Feng Xiaogang's eyes widened instantly, and his voice trembled with excitement.

Films by Lü Rui, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Stephen Chow have all been shown in Hollywood, but his works have never been able to take that step.

Now that the opportunity has finally arrived, he can hardly contain his elation!
Wang Zhonglei added, "I have reached a cooperation agreement with Harvey Weinstein of The Weinstein Company, and they will handle the distribution."

Feng Xiaogang's smile grew even brighter.

Previously, many of Zhang Yimou's works were released to the North American market through Harvey's direction, achieving remarkable success.

"The Banquet" is adapted from one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, "Hamlet," and inherently possesses a narrative core familiar to Western audiences, so its success is bound to be remarkable.

More importantly, the lead actress, Zhang Ziyi, is quite famous internationally, which will undoubtedly boost box office sales.

"It would be best to break the box office records of Lu Rui's movies and teach him a lesson for being arrogant!"

Feng Xiaogang secretly began to compete with him.

However, what he didn't know was that at that moment, Harvey, who was in charge of distributing "The Banquet," was furiously jumping up and down in his office.

Previously, Harvey had already recognized the potential of the Twilight IP thanks to his years of industry experience.

He had already communicated with the original author's agent in advance, and it seemed that a copyright cooperation agreement was about to be reached.

But to everyone's surprise, a dark horse suddenly appeared and snatched the copyright away!
He tried to find out the identity of the person who intercepted the goods, but he had no clue.

The truth only came to light today when Peter Griffin held a press conference.

It's Ruixing Film Industry!
It's director Lü Rui from China!

It's that guy who repeatedly promised to cooperate verbally, but then repeatedly played him for a fool!
"Lv! You cunning Eastern fox!"

Harvey swept the documents off the table, his face turning ashen as he growled, "Just you wait, one day I'll show you what happens when you go against me!"

(End of this chapter)