Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 264 Announcement, One Book, Two Auctions

[Hollywood News Flash: Blue Star Pictures, the US-based company of renowned Chinese director Chen Shouzhe, issued the following announcement:]
The film "The Departed" will be translated as "The Departed". The film will be made using the method of "one book, two shoots". It is a revised version of the script of the film "Infernal Affairs" which was co-produced with Emperor Entertainment Group in Hong Kong in the middle of this year. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon have been invited to co-star in the film, and the two will play the two main characters.

The film, with a budget of $100 million (approximately 660 million RMB), is an independent production of Blue Star Films. Casting is complete, and filming will begin soon.

The announcement that came back from Hollywood shocked countless people. They had heard of two versions of a story, but that was only done when there was a foundation.

For example, if a movie is successful in other countries, the rights can be purchased and a domestic version can be filmed in China.

This is a very normal business practice, and it's commonplace in the film and television industry.

The problem is that the movies filmed domestically haven't been released yet.

You've already filmed a foreign language version before the first domestic version has even been tested by the market?

Are you that confident in your script?

who are you?
Oh, Chen Shouzhe? That's alright then.

His scripts are recognized both domestically and internationally.

Many directors in China are eager to get his scripts. It is said that Huang Bo has already obtained a new script and is already in preparation. Many film and television companies are inquiring about the news.

But Huang Bo just wouldn't say anything. No matter how close you were to him, you couldn't get anything from him. Huang Bo had already pushed it all to Chen Shou to handle.

Chen Shouzhe's scripts are also very popular in the United States. As the netizen explained, Chen Shouzhe's films are mostly scripts that are exported and then directed by good directors.

It's normal for a book to be adapted into two films; what's abnormal is that the second film is already in preparation before the first one has even been released.

Emperor Entertainment was very excited, as they hadn't expected the movie to have a foreign language version and to have two international superstar actors.

Although Hong Kong also hired two award-winning actors for the film, they were still slightly inferior to those two.

There was a lot of discussion about it. From the script of "Infernal Affairs", they knew that it was a story about two undercover agents.

The story of a gangster who is planted in the police force, a policeman who is planted in the gang, and two spies with different identities, who ultimately struggle in an inescapable hell.

"Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon vs. Liu Dehua and Tony Leung."

"Exciting, big investment, but the combined salaries of the two actors alone amount to 50 million US dollars. Is the remaining 30 million US dollars for production costs and other actors' fees? After all, the movie also needs to set aside money for promotion."

"The salary shouldn't be that high; we can negotiate a lower price."

"Even if it were Chen Shouzhe, he couldn't possibly suppress too much."

"Top actors can demand a share of the box office revenue. Chen Shouzhe's movies have such high box office revenue, so he can demand a share of the box office revenue."

"I see. That does help reduce production costs. Otherwise, with this cast, the investment would definitely exceed one hundred million US dollars."

"The most expensive film ever made in China is WALL-E, with an investment of 700 million yuan, just over 100 million US dollars."

"He's the only one in the country who makes such a high-budget independent film abroad."

"Is this cast going to be another Oscar contender?"

This comment undoubtedly struck a nerve with the celebrities in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Who wouldn't yearn for that market? Status comes from resources. Once they get there and make a name for themselves, their status upon returning home is naturally even higher. Look at how Zhang Ziyi became an international star; she can overshadow the "Four Dan and Two Bing" (referring to four top actresses and two top actresses in China) – it's all thanks to her international fame.

How did she gain international fame? It was thanks to the opportunity given to her by the renowned director Zhang Yimou, which allowed her to successfully secure a vote from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. If she really wanted to do public relations for the Oscars, Zhang Ziyi would also receive an invitation to a cocktail party from Chen Shouzhe.

Of course, the movie "The Pacification Boat" brought her down, and others took advantage of her misfortune, not giving her a chance to come back up, and telling her to go and participate in variety shows instead.

They also want to go to the Oscars, to see the market, and then come back with a gilded reputation, so they can gain higher status and more resources.

"So you didn't get it?" Li Baibing came to Yang Mi's company and sat down to chat with Yang Mi.

"Hmm, no, he said foreign films aren't suitable," Yang Mi said, taking a sip of tea and shaking her head.

“Okay, I tried too, but I couldn’t get through on the phone. I didn’t expect it to have already been approved.” Li Baibing said with a wry smile. She first collaborated with Chen Shouzhe on “2012” and they have had a good relationship over the years. It is worth mentioning that Li Baibing is also one of the shareholders of Yangmi Company.

When she learned that Yang Mi wanted to interfere in the filming of Chen Shouzhe's movie as a co-production, she gave Yang Mi a thumbs up. Only she would say such things to Chen Shouzhe like that. If she had said such things to Chen Shouzhe, he would have thought she was crazy.

What kind of strength do you have? Only someone at La Dong's level would dare to say such things.

Yang Mi, being a daughter, gained status and gave birth to a precious child for Chen Shou.

"Let's not talk about him anymore. Seattle 2 is already in preparation. Does your company have anyone prepared for it?" Yang Mi asked.

“There’s a newcomer we’re still negotiating with. If you’re willing to give her a chance, we could have her join my company ahead of schedule,” Li Baibing said with a smile.

"Oh, if it's suitable, then no problem. Are you a student?" Yang Mi nodded, this kind of courtship was very common.

Companies select artists, and artists also select companies.

You'll be more willing to join a company based on what resources it can offer.

After all, good actors and good companies complement each other and achieve mutual success.

If the actors are good but the company is bad, even the best actors can't be managed. If the company is good but the actors are bad, even the best company will have a hard time cultivating actors. For example, Tian Tian is a typical case of having plenty of resources but being a hopeless case.

Some actors are targeted by talent agencies when they are just starting out, and this can even lead to competition among many companies.

The actors that Li Baibing chose were obviously extremely talented, and Yang Mi could only be envious. If she were to try to snatch them, she could definitely do so, since Chen Shou was backing her, who was much more powerful than Li Baibing. Moreover, she could find the same resources that Li Baibing had.

“He’s a sophomore at Beijing Film Academy, named Zhou Ye,” Li Baibing nodded.

"Another one from Beijing Film Academy." Yang Mi smiled. "Let her audition when the film project is approved."

“No problem.” Li Baibing nodded. With this resource guarantee, the newcomer shouldn’t run away.

For some reason, seeing Yang Mi suddenly gave Li Baibing a thought: she wasn't young anymore, and men were all prone to getting tired of the old and seeking the new, so wouldn't that mean...?

She quickly suppressed her thoughts, deciding it was best not to act rashly; who knew if others would be willing?

Besides, you have to give gifts properly. You can't be as direct as Yang Shoucheng. The story of him squatting in the parking lot smoking back then has already spread throughout the top circles.

Other companies in the domestic film and television industry can only watch helplessly as Chen Shouzhe prepares another big-budget production, while they criticize China Film Group and Shanghai Film Group behind his back. It was they who pressured Chen Shouzhe to make "The Day After Tomorrow" a co-production, which is why Chen Shouzhe hasn't done any co-productions since "2012". Otherwise, he might have been able to get a ticket to a project if there were co-productions available.

(End of this chapter)