Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 84: I'm so envious I could cry.
With the company handed over to two highly skilled professionals, Chen Shou didn't need to worry about company matters; he only needed to keep an eye on the overall direction.

On the second day after Zhong Lifan joined the company, Chen Shouzhe and his assistant went to the United States, and Lu Sen drove over to pick him up.

Despite the small size of his company now, it has already gained some fame in Hollywood with two disaster movies, especially Chen Shouzhe, who is hailed as a disaster screenwriter.

The main reason for this trip to the US is that "The Day After Tomorrow" has finished its theatrical run and received very high praise. Columbia Pictures has already submitted an application to import it into China, and China Film Group has the import rights. The release date will depend on China Film Group's decision.

Why did Chen Shouzhe take the script with a patriotic theme to China Film Group and continue to maintain a relationship with them?

While others don't have film companies overseas, he did have an investment in "The Day After Tomorrow." The higher the box office in China, the more money he earns.

We need to have a good talk with China Film Group to try and secure a good release date.

Let's go back to the company. Actually, there aren't many people here. Chen Shou doesn't manage it much and leaves it all to Lu Sen. The company now has three copyrights: "2012", "The Day After Tomorrow", and "The Man from Earth". These three movies have already made Blue Star Company quite famous among independent companies.

After all, all three films grossed over $300 million.

Since all the scripts were written by Chen Shouzhe, many companies have set their sights on him, searching for useful scripts in their copyright libraries.

"When will the box office revenue share arrive the day after tomorrow?" Chen Shou asked Lu Sen beside him in the car.

“If you’re in a hurry, Columbia is willing to provide it; by the way, they also want all the copyrights,” Luxem said.

“That’s impossible. The copyrights can’t all be sold to them. Which script has Walker set his sights on this time?” Chen Shou asked.

"Gravity".

"Wow, they really know how to choose."

“It’s not just Columbia Pictures that’s interested; Warner Bros. is interested too, and they want more than one film,” Lu Sen said.

"There's more?" Chen Shou asked in surprise.

"And The Matrix."

“You’ve got a good eye for these. These are all my most prized possessions. Let’s talk to Walker first; we’re partners.”

After resting to adjust to the time difference, Chen Shou arrived at Columbia Company, where Walker and Roland were both present.

“Dude, you didn’t tell me you were going to make a sci-fi movie.” Chen Shouzhe hugged Roland.

“What does it matter? I think this movie is great. Besides, you’re making sci-fi movies all the time, I can’t fall behind,” Roland said with a smile.

“I wanted to keep these for my own filming, so I can’t give them to you this time,” Chen Shou said.

"Chen, you can't do this. I'm very upset right now," Roland said, clutching her chest in distress.

"I just think you're better at disaster movies; Gravity isn't for you," Chen Shou said, shrugging.

Chen Shou was somewhat reluctant to give this excellent sci-fi film to Chen.

"Then which one do you think would suit me? Walker and I are drooling over all the scripts from your company," Roland said.

“That’s right. I heard Warner Bros. is trying to steal our business. While they are indeed good at science fiction, Roland and I are just as good,” Walker said.

"I've brought you a disaster scenario this time, which might be more suitable for you," Chen Shou said.

"Really? That would be great."

Roland and Walker were both very excited.

The two disaster movies have established Roland's reputation as the destroyer of the world and the king of disaster films.

His excellent disaster films and unbeatable box office success made Roland famous, and the whole world knew him as a great disaster film director.

Faced with the choice between science fiction and disaster movies, he would definitely choose the disaster movie over the science fiction one.

Because he is already very famous, which adds to the appeal of disaster movies, making disaster movies even more profitable.

Although Chen Shouzhe is not as famous as Roland, his name is known in Hollywood and even in the film and television industry around the world. He is a great director and a top screenwriter.

The disaster movies they made together are considered masterpieces by countless fans.

The purpose of inviting Chen Shouzhe to the United States, besides the box office revenue sharing of "The Day After Tomorrow," was to discuss a new film.

Walker and Roland, and indeed the whole of Colombia, became addicted.

The distribution of Chen Shouzhe's "Kung Fu" had earned them a distribution fee, further convincing Columbia Pictures that Chen Shouzhe was their cash cow.

Upon arriving in Colombia, we were naturally warmly received, and the chef specially arranged a sumptuous lunch for us in their company cafeteria.

Walker also posted a status update with a photo of Chen Shou and Roland, captioned: Guess what the surprise is this time?
Many Hollywood film and television companies have noticed this post, and some actors have started leaving comments.

"Will we get to see another blockbuster?" John Cusack commented.

“Roland, Chen, could you please save me a seat?” Dennis Quaid left a message.

“It’s only been a few days since it finished showing in theaters, and I’m already seeing the two of them sitting together again. What a pleasant surprise! I’m heading over right now. That damn Walker didn’t even tell me Chen was coming to America,” Mark Gordon said.

The comments from these celebrities drew the attention of many viewers to the photo. Many people know Roland, the director of two high-grossing disaster films. Although he is a behind-the-scenes staff member, he has a certain fan base and knows that he is a famous disaster film director.

The Asian man with Roland was someone they didn't recognize; he was young, unkempt, and looked slovenly.

"Who's with Roland?" someone commented below John Cusack's post.

"Hey bro, looks like you didn't pay attention to the opening and closing credits," someone immediately commented. "Sorry, I didn't really notice. What's up? Is he famous?"

"He is indeed very famous in the mysterious Eastern country, and of course, he is also very famous in Hollywood. He is the screenwriter and assistant director of '2012', the screenwriter of 'The Day After Tomorrow', and the director and producer of the $3.5 million film 'The Man from Earth'. He is a top screenwriter and a commercially successful director."

"My goodness, he looks so young. Although he's unkempt, he has such a great presence."

"A guy with a net worth of over $10 billion."

"Is he that talented?"

"He's taking a photo with Roland. Does this mean we're going to have another disaster movie to watch?"

"I absolutely love The Day After Tomorrow."

"I heard he filmed a science fiction movie, which is expected to be released this year."

"The director of that movie that cost tens of thousands of dollars to make but sold for 3.5 million dollars is so young."

"genius."

On social media, Chen Shou became known to many people because of a post.

People from major Hollywood film studios noticed this, and a group of people were discussing it at a company not far from Columbia Pictures.

"That Chinese director has arrived; he's currently in Colombia."

"We, like Columbia, have our eyes on several of these films. What should we do now?"

"Take down as many scripts as possible."

"It's not easy. His cooperation with Columbia is based on investment plus a share of the copyright."

“He’s a tough guy to deal with. I don’t understand how he wrote those scripts. Grant, I hope to get this script. My brother and I really like it.”

"Okay, I'll try my best."

There are undercurrents abroad, and the same is true during the Chinese New Year.

Chen Shouzhe's sudden appearance on American news headlines has made countless domestic film and television companies envious. They all know that Chen Shouzhe has overseas connections, and they also want to make it abroad, but the problem is that they don't have the strength to do so, and they can't even get a share of the pie.

Chen Shouzhe's status in the industry is rising because of his influence abroad, which many directors cannot match. No matter how many awards he wins, it's not enough in the world of capital.

"Goed abroad again?"

Inside the Shanghai Film Studio, Ren Zhonglun frowned slightly upon hearing what his secretary said.

If Chen Shouzhe were to produce another co-production, Shanghai Film Studio would be doomed. But he was unwilling to give up. He already knew that the script Chen Shouzhe submitted this time was a patriotic film. He didn't believe that this kind of film would do well at the box office. But Chen Shouzhe was different. He had a kind of magic. What if this film did achieve high box office?

Being completely excluded from Shanghai Film Studio was very difficult for him, as he acted too hastily and opportunistically.

Now Chen Shou is all smiles and laughter to his face, but behind his back, he doesn't give him any chance.

"Go and inquire, see if there are any projects available."

Many companies, like Shanghai Film Group, are eagerly seeking information, and even China Film Group is inquiring about it. Tao Le and Zhong Lifan's phones are ringing non-stop.

Zhong Lifan finally understood what Tao Le meant when he told her to be prepared yesterday.

She had never received so many phone calls in one day in all her years at Xiao Ma. This was the first time she had been on the phone non-stop, and everyone was saying nice things, inviting her to dinner or asking her to have tea sometime.

When Xiao Ma's IPO failed, everyone laughed at her. Now, they're fawning over her.

"That's crazy, how can someone speak so sweetly?" Zhong Lifan said with a wry smile, looking at her constantly ringing phone.

"Director Chen once said that when you succeed, everyone around you will be a good person," Tao Le shrugged.

"It seems you've gotten quite used to this kind of life," Zhong Lifan said with a smile.

"It's normal. Every project since 'Painted Skin' has been like this, and there will be more in the future. This is just for those film and television companies. Once the film project is confirmed, your agency and the big stars will also be the same."

"A happy problem, unfortunately, it has nothing to do with us in America."

"Yes, Director Chen is keeping an eye on things over there himself."

"I wonder what kind of project it will be this time."

"You'll know when he gets back."

In the US, I visited Columbia Pictures in the morning, and in the afternoon, I sat down with Walker, Roland, and another producer, Mark Gordon, who had rushed back, to talk about the new movie.

“In that case, let’s put that aside for now and prioritize this movie. But Chen, I still hope you can give us the rights to those two movies,” Mark said.

“Mark, I know what you’re thinking, but I still hope I can make my own decisions,” Chen Shou said.

“Okay, you’re still our best partner in Colombia,” Mark said.

"Thank you for your hard work this time. Just follow the steps outlined in 'The Day After Tomorrow'."

“I really like the script for ‘The Impossible’,” Roland said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)