The Wind of China Entertainment 2005

Chapter 636 Exchange to the United States
"Senior sister, congratulations!"

At the celebration banquet, Lu Yuan raised his glass lightly and gestured to Xue Xiaolu.

People are in high spirits when they are happy. Xue Xiaolu looked radiant tonight and clinked glasses with him with rosy cheeks.

"Junior brother, to be honest, when this movie was first released, I couldn't sleep all night and was filled with anxiety. Now the box office has finally lived up to your trust."

After saying this, Xue Xiaolu took a sip of champagne, feeling slightly tipsy, with an expression of uncontrollable joy on her lips.

Her last movie, Ocean Heaven, received good reviews upon its release, but did not make any money for her boss.

Therefore, when she decided to switch to commercial films and raise funds, it was quite difficult.

Fortunately, Lu Yuan showed up in time. Whether for her future career or to get the investors’ money back, she hoped that this film would perform better.

"Seattle" has lived up to expectations at the box office and has been an unstoppable force since its release on February 2.

6天票房破2亿，10天跃升至3亿，20天内更是惊人地突破5亿大关，最终以5.97亿的骄人成绩圆满下画。

It has won the single-day box office championship many times, and with a cost of 3000 million yuan, it has earned nearly 6 million yuan at the box office, ranking second on the box office list of domestic romance films.

According to media reports, this is a dark horse, so dark that it’s evil!
"Senior sister, I have to thank you for helping me make money. You are the most profitable female director in China!" Lu Yuan complimented with a smile.

Xue Xiaolu waved her hands and pressed the corners of her mouth: "The media made up this story, why are you joining in the fun?"

In the past, when people talked about Chinese female directors, they would either mention Xu Jinglei or Li Yu. Now, she has come from behind to become the highest-grossing female director in the country.

To say I'm not excited would be hypocritical.

But Xue Xiaolu is in her forties after all: "Next month, Zhao Yanzi's "So Young" will be released. She has many fans and is a hot topic. The title of the highest-grossing female director should belong to her."

Lu Yuan smiled without saying anything. No matter who won the title in the end, he would not lose out.

Liu Shishi starred in "So Young" and joined the company in the form of shares in exchange for film remuneration.

The film was a huge success both at the box office and in terms of popularity, so the sequel naturally became a topic of concern for everyone.

Xue Xiaolu is not in a hurry to make a sequel: "At present, there are some preliminary ideas, but I don't want to make a sequel just for the sake of making a sequel. I have to come up with a good story worthy of Tang Wei and Wang Jinsong to star in it again before I will start filming."

Lu Yuan agreed: "We really can't rush this matter. The sequel certainly has an audience base, but the expectations are also higher. If we are not careful, we may damage the audience's favor. The right way is to carefully polish the script."

"Yes, I think so too." Xue Xiaolu smiled, glanced at him, and raised her glass again: "I will ask my junior brother for investment when the time comes."

"Okay!" Lu Yuan touched her lips and verbally agreed on their next collaboration.

Xue Xiaolu went to toast with others, and Wang Jinsong approached with a glass in hand.

"Mr. Lu!"

Lu Yuan looked at him and couldn't help but sigh that red energy nourishes people.

Although Wang Jinsong had worked with him many times before and had gained some fame, he was mostly a supporting role.

The movie he starred in this time had a box office of nearly 6 million yuan, which put him at the top of the list of male actors born after 60.

It just so happens that the audience of "Seattle" is mostly women, and he has excellent acting skills, a refined and introverted temperament, and he plays a gentle, considerate and handsome uncle in the play.

Wow, such an old man has fascinated female audiences, especially those petty bourgeois literary girls on Douban, who like this style.

Wang Jinsong’s fan base has skyrocketed, and netizens have even created a term for him: uncle circle.

The audience’s love for him makes Wang Jinsong look like a 50-year-old middle-aged man without any trace of old age.

There are three words that can be used to describe his current state: old but still handsome.

"Teacher Wang, congratulations!" Lu Yuan was happy for him from the bottom of his heart.

During the filming of "The Ming Dynasty", Chen Baoguo told him that this person would be famous, but unfortunately the ratings of "The Ming Dynasty" after it was broadcast exceeded everyone's expectations.

A talented actor shouldn't be like this. All he lacked was an opportunity. Now he has finally become famous and reached the top.

"Thank you." Wang Jinsong's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something but stopped. Without saying much, he raised the wine glass that he had specially filled and drank it all in one gulp.

There are many actors with outstanding professional abilities in the Chinese film and television industry, and he is lucky.

While filming "The Ming Dynasty" in 06, he met a young man who played his godson in the play.

"You've got a lot of acting offers lately, right?" Lu Yuan asked.

Wang Jinsong smiled: "I have appeared on both big and small screens, and the pay is high. However, I have told Mr. Jiang that if the film company wants me to be the lead actor, there is a prerequisite: I will not take the pay, but use the pay as a shareholder."

Jiang Qiuyun, the general manager of Sijiu Entertainment, came from Yuanfang Media.

Although Lu Yuan does not own shares in the company, no one would believe that the two of them have no relationship.

Lu Yuan called on big names to participate in the film for free at the meeting.

He agreed with this. The high pay of top actors would definitely put pressure on the filming of the crew.

Since he has signed with Sijiu Entertainment, Lu Yuan has set an example.

Then he is willing to take a gamble, he believes that even if he loses money, the other party will introduce him to good resources.

It was exactly as he expected.

Lu Yuan was quite surprised when he heard this, and then he advised: "Teacher Wang, you still have to do it within your ability."

"I know that compared to the past, the pay has increased by more than ten times. I feel uneasy about taking it. Besides, the pay from commercial endorsements is enough for my family to live on. I chose the film myself, so there is nothing to be afraid of."

Lu Yuan nodded and said no more.

Investing in shares with film pay is only suitable for certain people in the entertainment industry, namely big names who have their own appeal.

The growing fan base has both advantages and disadvantages, but there are also good aspects if it is guided intentionally.

Lu Yuan hopes that in the future entertainment industry, audiences and fans will dare to invest in the film remuneration and will take it for granted that actors are talented.

When fans of female stars have conflicts, they always like to talk about each other's acting skills.

If fans form a concept in their minds that investing in a film as a paycheck is equivalent to being a talented actor.

When they quarrel, they always say: "My sister/brother dares to invest in the company with their film pay, do you dare?"

Although it is only a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution, it can, to a certain extent, reduce the phenomenon of actors accepting random roles for sky-high pay.

After Wang Jinsong turned and left, Lu Yuan turned his gaze to the smiling female lead.

This drama helped Wang Jinsong become a star, which was like a revival of hope for a dead tree.

The same is true for Tang Wei, and the impact on her may be even greater.

Before the movie was released, although she was strong inside, because of "Lust, Caution", her endorsements were cancelled and her resources were cut off, so many people in the circle looked at her with tinted glasses.

When she submitted her resume to the crew, most people treated her like the devil and scorpion, and they thought it was a good thing that they gave her the cold shoulder.

Because of this, she almost became depressed, but now she is better and has become popular again.

During the years when she was banned, there were very few reports about her on the Internet, but now it is full of scandals about her.

Even photos of her having dinner with director Kim Tae-yong while filming in South Korea were dug up.

"Teacher Lu, I'll toast to you."

Lu Yuan didn't stay long at the "Seattle" celebration party. After coming out, he went straight to China Film.

Haiding, China Film Group, Chairman’s Office.

Han Sanping was lost in thought as he stared at the Monkey King in a completely different style on his computer. After watching the clip, he saw Lu Yuan wandering around his office with his hands behind his back, and wondered, "You haven't stopped since you came in. What are you looking for?"

Lu Yuan stood in front of the bookcase, bent over, and didn't even turn his head: "I heard from your precious daughter that there was a knife hidden in the office."

"Don't listen to her rumors." Han Sanping said unhappily.

"That was a long time ago, around 97, when I was the deputy director of Beijing Film Studio. A policy was issued that Beijing Film Studio would exchange land with several sister departments. I thought about building a family building in the Beijing Film Studio to solve the housing problem of the employees at that time."

"At that time, there was a row of small bungalows in the courtyard, which were used by some people to make a living as small businesses. When they heard that the houses were going to be demolished, they refused to do it and rushed into the office with a knife to threaten me. After this incident, I also kept a knife in the drawer of my office for self-defense."

"That's not right. I remember my junior sister said that you had a fight with someone in the office." Lu Yuan continued.

"What kind of fight is that? It's not that exaggerated."

Han Sanping was speechless about his daughter talking behind his back: "After the family housing complex was built, another employee from the Beijing Film Studio questioned my uneven housing distribution and rushed into my office with a machete, threatening to chop me up. I didn't waste any time and pulled out the knife right away!"

"Then fight!"

"It's not over yet, is it?" Han Sanping glared, "He dared, but when he saw me take out the big knife, he wilted on the spot."

Lu Yuan gave a thumbs up: "Third Master, it's hard!"

Han Sanping laughed: "It's all in the past."

The laughter paused.

Lu Yuan walked to the desk and asked, "How is The Return of the Great Sage? Does China Film want to invest in it?"

Han Sanping did not answer, but asked: "Besides you, which other companies have invested?"

"Light."

"How many?"

Lu Yuan looked at him and had a vague guess in his mind: "500 million."

"Then China Film Group will also invest 500 million!" Han Sanping replied.

Seeing Lu Yuan's doubts, he hesitated for a few seconds and whispered, "I should retire next year."

Lu Yuan was shocked and immediately thought of what happened in April last year.

In April 2012, the American media broke the news.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating at least five Hollywood film companies.

The content focuses on how several companies deal with the Chinese film industry and possible financial transactions.

Han Sanping, chairman of China Film Group Corporation, was involved.

China Film Group has always had a monopoly on theater distribution resources.

Although it later encountered challenges from private companies, it still firmly controls the rights to import and distribute films.

Many of the doubts Han Sanping has encountered in recent years also stem from China Film’s monopoly on imported films.

Zhang Weiping once publicly criticized and accused China Film Corporation of using the scheduling of imported blockbusters to squeeze out other domestic blockbusters.

And they mocked Han Sanping as being like a mountain eagle in the film industry.

If anyone dares not to cooperate with him, he will release two imported films during this period to fight with you and let the dog bite you.

但凡事皆有两面，韩三坪将中国电影市场由20、30亿做到2012年的170多亿的大盘，2013年目标200亿。

The launch of tribute films, New Year films, and main theme films have greatly stimulated the film market and made an indelible contribution.

After Lu Yuan learned the news, he no longer asked about "The Return of the Great Sage".

China Film Group and Light Media each invested 500 million, totaling 1000 million. The remaining 4000 million had to be paid by themselves.

If we look for other companies, the situation is probably similar.

Animated films are different from live-action films. He has never been involved in such a project, and everyone is probably worried about it, so they decide to invest in it out of social conventions.

There's no need to make things difficult for others.

Project Stars has also made a lot of money in the past two years. As the moon is full, it will wane; as the water is full, it will overflow. It is reasonable that it loses one or two films.

You can't make money on everything.

Han Sanping picked up the teacup on the table, unscrewed it and took a sip. He said, "In the last year, I will work hard on the review mechanism and try to loosen up the restrictions for everyone. Finally, I will focus on The Crossing. The company invested 4000 million in this play. I hope it can have a good box office."

At this point, he brought up the past again and complained: "It would be great if you were the lead actor."

Han Sanping has been in the film industry for half his life, and is more or less superstitious about the halo of big directors.

Lu Yuan knew it very well, and he tried to evade it again: "The schedule is really not suitable."

After chatting for a few more words, he prepared to go back.

I have a scene to shoot tomorrow morning, so I have to go to the community before returning to Shanghai and give Zhou Qi a hard kick on the butt.

Before leaving, Han Sanping called him and said, "Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you."

"what?"

"The Film Bureau will organize young directors to go to Paramount for exchange and study at the end of the year for a week."

"Communication?" Lu Yuan was surprised.

Han Sanping nodded and explained: "This is actually related to your speech at the Shanghai Film Festival forum last year."

"It's related to me?" Lu Yuan was confused.

"There were colleagues from the Film Bureau present at the time. They found that you young directors are obviously different from the fifth and sixth generation directors. You don't have such a strong artistic style. You are more relaxed and commercial."

"Last year, the quota for imported films increased from 20 to 34. The number of films increased significantly, and domestic films were in a difficult situation. At this time, it was not Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaiquan and others who stood up to fight against the powerful Hollywood enemy.

But it is you, a group of new directors like Xu Zheng, Wen Muye, and Xue Xiaolu, many of whom did not receive traditional film education and previously worked in the industry as actors, screenwriters, advertisers, and other fields.

But compared to the fifth and sixth generations, you new directors also face controversy, such as lack of basic skills, mismatch between box office performance and artistic quality.

So the Film Bureau believes that we should give everyone a chance to learn by going to Hollywood, which has 100 years of commercial film experience.”

Han Sanping finished speaking and added: "The current list includes you, Wen Muye, Ning Hao, and Xue Xiaolu."

"Ning Hao is going too?"

For a mature local director like Ning Hao, spending seven days in Hollywood is of little use.

Besides, Ning Hao is not very interested in Hollywood. He believes that Chinese films need to take a different path.

"I asked him, and he wasn't very happy about it." Han Sanping felt sorry for Ning Hao.

"What about you?"

"I forget it. What can we communicate in seven days?" Lu Yuan shook his head.

He thought for a moment and recommended, "But there's a guy called Guo Fan who you can try. He has a unique understanding of science fiction films, and Hollywood's heavy industry system is more suitable for him. I'm planning to have him shoot a science fiction TV series first to practice his skills."

"What a coincidence, Ning Hao said the same thing."

(End of this chapter)