Huayu: Starting with Hijacking from "The Story of a Noble Family"

Chapter 76 The entertainment industry is not innocent; the annual box office champion

Taiwan now implements an import quota system for films, just like the mainland, and can import a maximum of 10 films from the mainland each year.

Moreover, it's a queue-based approval system, first come, first served; once 10 are filled, you have to wait until the following year.

Fortunately, it's only January, and the quota hasn't been filled yet. Given the plot of "Our Times," it's highly unlikely that it won't pass the Taiwan provincial review.

Upon arriving at Era Films, after exchanging pleasantries, Xu Heng began to examine the contracts that Era Films had presented.

The copyright price for "Our Times" had already been negotiated: $25 for the first theatrical release, $6 for two years of television broadcasting rights, and $5 for audio-visual rights, totaling $36 for the entire package.

Nowadays, Taiwan mainly imports films by directly buying out the copyrights. The price for the theatrical release rights of low-budget films is generally between US$2.5 and US$10.

The price for the theatrical release rights to blockbuster films ranges from $10 to $50.

Only the theatrical release rights for top-tier commercial blockbusters can fetch more than $50, or be distributed through box office revenue sharing.

The top commercial blockbusters mentioned here mostly refer to Hollywood blockbusters.

Previous reports indicated that the full copyright price for Zhang Yimou's "Hero" in Taiwan was 180 million US dollars.

Based on the 2.5 million yuan box office of "Hero" in mainland China, the full copyright price of 36 US dollars for "Our Times" is definitely not low, considering that "Hero" has so many big-name stars.

This is also because "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" is currently airing in Taiwan, and Xu and Liu Yifei are very popular in Taiwan. The two songs from the movie, "A Little Happiness" and "Confession Balloon," are also very popular in Taiwan. Otherwise, they definitely wouldn't have sold for this price.

Xu didn't fuss over nothing; this was his first film.

If the film is a box office hit in Taiwan, the copyright price for his next movie will naturally increase.

Moreover, his new film, "Our Times," is very different from the original version of his previous work, and he's not sure if it will really be a box office hit in Taiwan.

After confirming that both contracts were in good condition, he signed his name on them.

After the copyright price was determined, Era Films sent him the contract, which he also consulted with a professional lawyer.

With his photographic memory, it's no surprise that Era Films modified the contract.

He has already opened an overseas account with HSBC in mainland China, and all procedures are completely legal.

After signing the contract, he declined the follow-up hospitality from Era Films because he had to attend a celebration banquet for CTV that evening.

Back at the hotel, I rested for a while.

When it was almost time, he arrived at the hotel's banquet hall, where the victory celebration was being held.

Meanwhile, Liu Yifei and Liu Tao had arrived earlier, and Liu Xiaoli naturally stayed by her daughter's side the whole time.

Upon seeing Xu Heng, Liu Yifei immediately glared at him.

She knew Xu didn't like appearing on variety shows, but if Xu didn't go, the host would definitely ask why, and she would have to make excuses for Xu, saying that he had other things to do in the afternoon.

Liu Tao couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

Many people knew about her relationship with Hu Jun when the drama was being filmed. Now, with the popularity of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" and after reports from some mainland media, even the media in Taiwan know about it!

Soon, more and more people arrived in the hall, including Zhang Dahuzi and Hu Jun, as well as people from Era Film and Television.

Upon seeing Hu Jun, Liu Tao hesitated for a moment but did not walk over.

Hu Jun didn't come over either, after all, he has a wife and children.

He had previously clarified the situation with his wife when mainland media reported on his relationship with Liu Tao.

After the celebration banquet, they rested for another night. The next morning, the group went to a New Year's market at a City God Temple in Taiwan Province to promote their products. Many reporters were present at the scene again.

Facing these reporters, Hu Jun and Liu Tao made no attempt to hide their close relationship, with Hu Jun taking the initiative and Liu Tao smiling happily!

Hu Jun even told the reporter a little secret about Liu Tao during an interview: Liu Tao once went shopping in Thailand wearing a bikini!

This made Liu Yifei, who was being interviewed alongside them and listening attentively, extremely embarrassed.

Seeing Xu trying to suppress a laugh made Liu Yifei even more embarrassed. So, sometimes being too polite isn't a good thing.

And those celebrities who manage to make it big in the entertainment industry are certainly not simple, or at least not that naive.

After the morning's activities concluded, Xu, Liu, Yifei, Hu Jun, and Liu Tao gave an exclusive interview to CTV in the afternoon before transferring from Hong Kong back to Beijing.

The next day, the 15th, at 2 PM, the production team of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" held a large-scale official press conference in Beijing.

Producer Chang Chi-chung and the three directors of the series, Chou Hsiao-wen, Chao Chien-chien, and Yu Min, were all present. The cast included Hsu Liu-yi-fei, Hu Chun-kao, Liu Tao, and Chen Se-shu.

Sina Entertainment will also provide exclusive live video streaming throughout the entire event.

As for the purpose of the press conference, in addition to announcing the current achievements of the drama, it also announced that the drama will be broadcast on local TV stations across the country during the Chinese New Year.

Especially Beijing TV, which will broadcast four episodes a day starting from the first day of the Lunar New Year, during prime time!

After the press conference ended, reporters immediately surrounded Xu Heng and Liu Yifei.

All sorts of cameras and microphones were shoved in front of them, and reporters were scrambling to get a good spot!

Just yesterday, "Our Times" officially surpassed "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" at the Chinese box office, which was 5222 million yuan, becoming the highest-grossing film released in mainland China last year. This morning, many media outlets reported on this!

Furthermore, the price of the Taiwan copyright for "Our Times" has been revealed by Era Films to Taiwanese media and reported by them!

The prices for audio-visual copyrights in mainland China have also been revealed!

Today marks Xu Heng's first public appearance in front of mainland media since the release of "Our Times"!

"Xu, what are your thoughts on 'Our Times' surpassing 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' to become the highest-grossing film in mainland China last year?"

Once the surroundings quieted down, a reporter who had managed to snag a good spot couldn't wait to ask a question.

"To be honest, I was quite surprised by how high the box office was."

Xu Heng said with a smile.

He originally thought that 3000 million in box office revenue would be good, but he didn't expect it to double now.

However, he certainly wouldn't say such a thing. Nowadays, 3000 million yuan in box office revenue in mainland China is already quite a lot, especially for a movie with a production cost of only 300 million yuan.

"Were there only accidents?"

The reporter was clearly not very satisfied.

"Of course there's excitement too!"

Xu Heng smiled again.

With net profit exceeding 20 million, he must have felt a little bit excited.

"So what are your plans for the future? Will you continue acting or become a director?"

"I guess I'll do both. If I have an idea that's suitable to be made into a movie, I'll direct it. If I don't have a suitable idea, I'll continue being an actor."

After all, he didn't know what kind of interception options the system would offer each time.

"Any plans for your next movie?"

Another reporter asked.

"It's already planned, but it's still uncertain when we'll film it."

Xu nodded. He did indeed have plans for his next film, but whether or not he would make it and when would depend on the situation.

Besides, even if he doesn't have a plan, as long as his directing skills are good enough, there are countless movies he can make!

Is it true that the copyright in Taiwan sold for a total of 36 US dollars?

"It's true."

Xu Heng nodded again.

The reporters then asked Liu Yifei a few questions, and then asked Xu Heng a few more.

The interview lasted for more than twenty minutes before Xu Heng and Liu Yifei finally managed to get rid of the reporters.

Then at 5 o'clock, Xu Heng, Liu Yifei, Liu Tao, and Gao Hu were interviewed by Sina Entertainment, and the interview was broadcast live with pictures and text in Sina Entertainment's official chat room.

The chat room audience was very enthusiastic, and the interview lasted for a full two hours. The Tianya Film and Television Review section was also bustling with activity!

"It really exceeded that!"

Congratulations to Xu Heng! Congratulations to "Our Times"!

"Although it's a low-budget youth campus film that won the annual box office champion, at least it's a domestic film!"

"If we calculate based on the 6000 million yuan box office revenue in mainland China, Xu Heng could earn at least 1000 million yuan just from box office earnings, plus 400 million yuan..."

The mainland China audio-visual rights and the Taiwan Province rights, totaling 36 yuan, amount to approximately 1700 million yuan. Adding in other subsequent revenue, Xu Heng could even earn 2000 million yuan from this film!

"With a budget of 700 million, a net profit of 2000 million, Xu Heng has definitely made a fortune this time. However, this movie is indeed very good, and didn't you guys notice that this movie is actually quite novel?"

"This film is indeed much more innovative than many current domestic films, perhaps because the director, Xu Heng, is relatively young!"

"Xu Heng isn't just young, he's ridiculously young!"

"Looking forward to Xu Heng's new works, especially his new movie!"

"It would be good to film more TV dramas, especially Tangren's 'Chinese Paladin.' I hope Xu Heng can take on that role!"

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After the interview, Zhang Dahuzi arranged a dinner to entertain the TV station leaders who were present that day, and Xu was also present.

He's a popular celebrity and a film director now, so naturally no one dares to force him to drink if he doesn't want to.

Unlike before he became famous, when he couldn't refuse to drink even if he wanted to, he definitely wouldn't want to drink now, like that time with the CCTV leaders.

This time, he obliged and drank a little, while Liu Yifei naturally drank a beverage.

After the dinner, Liu Yifei and her mother went home together, and Xu returned the house he had bought in Beijing.

The next day, the 16th, Xu Heng arrived at Beijing Airport again and flew to Guangzhou with Liu Yifei, Liu Xiaoli, Zhang Dahuzi, Liu Tao, and Chen Gandie to participate in the promotional activities for "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" in Guangzhou.

On the evening of the 16th, they arrived at a hotel in Guangzhou. After dinner, Xu Heng, Liu Yifei, Liu Xiaoli, Chen Gandie, and the lawyer he brought went to a suite in the hotel.

Several people were already waiting for them in the suite; they were Cai Yinong and Tang Ren's people!

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