At first, I just wanted to make money

Chapter 608 Press Conference

"The history of film takes the example of small and big, either horror movies or pornographic movies..."

Shen Xudong cited several examples to prove that "Ghost Story" is by no means unique...

"Is the "Shen Monkey" you mentioned literally?"

"...I don't know either, I only know that it has made a lot of money!"

Oh, "Shen Monkey" is a pornographic film of Laomei, with a production cost of 2.5 yuan, in exchange for a box office of 1 million yuan, it is one of the most profitable movies in American film history...

This movie is actually very rubbish, just a normal porn film, the reason why it is so popular... is mainly because it caught up with the good timing!

The film was born in 1972. Although I am not familiar with the history of the United States, I also know that the cultural phenomenon of hippies reached its peak during the heyday of the official Western sexual liberation movement in the 70s and [-]s!
Well, it was a crazy era that required personal liberation and challenged and subverted traditional family concepts, mainstream values, and orthodox culture.

Then, "Shen Monkey" was released!

Some traditional people expressed their grief on various occasions, "We are letting those lecherous people stand in the way of the country's progress", and rebel fighters also put the film on the big hat of sexual liberation and rebellion against orthodoxy - "Shen Monkey" has very explicit mouth scene...

In this fierce battle, "Shen Monkey" made a huge profit and achieved a box office record of [-] million US dollars!

As the saying goes, the snipe and the clam fight for the fisherman's benefit, at the right time and at the right place, "Shen Monkey" has achieved a profound meaning in an inadvertent way.

Gao Fenfen heard him talking a lot, and couldn't help but ask: "What's your purpose for talking so much?"

"There is no purpose!"

"Let me tell you, don't think that the rating system can be implemented on our side... It's already very good for you to make a folk horror movie... What? You really want ghosts to appear in the movie?"

"No, I never thought about it!"

Gao Fenfen: "But the media is already hyping up this matter..."

Shen Xudong waved his hand: "In fact, in the United States, horror movies are also non-mainstream..."

"It's good that you know..." After thinking for a while, Gao Fenfen continued: "We are making mainstream commercial films... I think you'd better hold a press conference for "Ghost Story"!"

"...It's not necessary, "Human Purge Project" also sold more than 7000 million U.S. dollars at the box office in North America."

"But the cost of "The Purge of Humanity" is 700 million U.S. dollars, and this time "Ghost Story" is 1.7. I have read many reports, and they all say that it is a record, and the attention is very high!"

Shen Xudong pondered for a while, and then said: "Okay, I just want to promote "Rising Fame"..."

……

The press conference is to invite the media to witness and answer some questions by the way...

Shen Xudong is very resistant to this thing - the most impressive press conference in my memory is actually the press conference of Mr. Chen's public withdrawal from the entertainment circle...

Therefore, after his debut, apart from promoting the movie, Shen Xudong seldom made any press conferences, and just posted on the blog if there was anything to do.

This time, "Ghost Story" is too hot...

The cost of 1.7 US dollars, the global bestseller...

This is amazing!

Shen Xudong is also amazing...

At two o'clock in the afternoon, media from all walks of life had already poured in, and the door of the venue had not yet opened, so they had to wait outside.

There are portals, newspapers, weekly magazines, and several TV stations.

Several acquainted entertainment journalists were discussing the question: "What do you think Xu Dong will say later?"

"…do not know…"

"Look what we ask!"

"That's right, Xudong has always said something... I just don't know if he will appear..."

"I think it's a bit difficult. He doesn't seem to have held a press conference yet..."

While they were discussing, the door opened, and the discussion in the venue suddenly cleared up, and Chen Xi and Shen Xudong came in and strode to the front of the stage.

Chen Xi was in charge of the opening, tried the microphone, and said with a smile: "First of all, thank you for coming to join us... Our press conference is mainly to answer some questions about Xu Dong and "Ghost Story". You can ask whatever you want, Xu Dong All questions must be answered... In addition, I would like to ask everyone to report more on "Fame and Li Wan", the first film directed by Xudong, will be released on September 9th, okay, let's start now!"

Immediately someone raised his hand and said, "Xudong, are you investing in the production of "Ghost Story"?"

"Well," Shen Xudong nodded: "The year before last, I collaborated with Christine Vachen of Killer Films on "Carol". After the success of The Plan, I felt confident, so I joined hands with two producers, Joseph Drake and Jason Bren, to set up a studio specializing in mid-to-low-cost fringe films ..."

After a pause, Shen Xudong continued: ""Ghost Story" is the studio's first horror movie."

"Why do horror movies?"

"Three non-mainstream genres, comedies, horror films, and pornographic films... comedies, I don't know much about American comedies, pornographic films... There are too many restrictions, so I will focus on horror films..."

"Because you're sure?"

"No," Shen Xudong shook his head: "The main reason is that we can only do these non-mainstream themes, because mainstream themes have been absorbed by big Hollywood companies...Even DreamWorks can't receive high-quality projects, do you think I can receive them?"

"Then... how much money did "Ghost Story" make?"

"The specific figures haven't come out yet, but the overseas copyrights excluding North America were packaged and sold to Fox, and the revenue was almost 3800 million U.S. dollars...Barely equal to the publicity cost!"

"...Is it so expensive to announce it?"

""The Order of the Phoenix" has a global box office of over 3 million, and it is a loss on the books, and the promotional expenditure exceeds 3200 million U.S. dollars... Do you think it is possible? Hollywood is not a good place. In order to avoid the situation of "The Order of the Phoenix", so, " We did the promotion of "Ghost Story" by ourselves, and we issued every bill by ourselves, costing [-] million U.S. dollars..."

Speaking of this, Shen Xudong smiled: "... I read your reports, and they all said 12 times the profit... and you said that this kind of miracle can only happen in the United States... I am really convinced, "Ghost Story" from [-] You didn’t even mention a single word about how much money you spent on publicity, building momentum and expanding the release all the way…”

"Then... can you predict the income?"

Shen Xudong said: "I estimate that there should be a net profit of more than 3000 million US dollars to the producer... However, we will definitely develop sequels in the future, and this pseudo-documentary model can be used in disaster films and comedies... We also Will develop a few…”

"Then do you think it is more freedom to make movies in China or to make movies in the United States?"

Shen Xudong smiled: "The purpose of making movies in the United States is to make money, while in China it is because of love!"

There was thunderous applause from the audience, this is called patriotism...

No, the stage is over, it should be that everyone in the audience looked at each other in blank dismay. After a long time, someone asked: "You don't yearn for Hollywood?"

"Why should I yearn for them? I'm just making money from them!"

(End of this chapter)