director of the millennium

Chapter 143 "Painted Skin" and the next movie

China Film Group, Office of the Vice Chairman.

In the familiar reception area, Wu Yuan and Han Dong sat opposite each other.

Both of them were holding a cup of tea and sipping it.

"Huh." He breathed a comfortable sigh and put down the teacup first.

"Director Wu, the Asian box office of "Your Name" must be more than one billion yuan, right?"

"This is even better than "Hero"!"

Han Dong's eyes were full of shock.

How much does "Hero" cost?
3000 million dollars!
How much does "Your Name" cost?
6000 million RMB! (Including publicity and distribution costs in the Mainland)

Nearly four times the investment difference, but achieved almost the same or even better box office returns!

How could this not surprise Han Dong.

Yes, he has indeed seen the best-selling romance films in the world.

For example, that giant ship took in $10 billion in global box office, and even Hollywood itself was frightened.

But he really never thought that a Chinese love movie could kill both China and Japan!

The results that the Japanese market has exploded are simply exaggerated.

"Haha, good luck." Wu Yuan said modestly with a smile on his face.

Compared with the exaggerated performance of the anime "Your Name" which broke 28 billion yen in 100 days and a total box office of 250 billion yen in the dream, the performance of the live-action version of "Your Name" this time is really nothing.

It can only be said that it is a "foreign" movie after all, and it is not an anime movie. The acceptance level of Japanese movie fans is still not that high.

"Director Wu, you are really good." Director Han, who had been shocked by Wu Yuan's film performance many times, was still a little frightened this time.

"Among domestic directors of commercial films, you are the best seller at the box office."

"Even Wu Baige can't compare to you."

"It's really a blessing that Huaxia Film has produced a talented director like you."

Han Dong patted his stomach with admiration.

As the helm of the mainland film industry (the chairman is basically semi-retired.), Director Han is naturally worried about the development of the mainland film industry.

In this era of economic theory, if the film industry wants to do well, it must also perform well at the box office.

To produce a "Hero", one Zhang Yimou is not enough!

Wu Yuan did not make commercial films in China before, but he was worried.

Now with "Your Name", the true king of Chinese-language commercial films has returned to his homeland, and Director Han is of course happy to see it.

What makes him even more happy is that Wu Yuan not only makes movies by himself, he also runs a company and brings other directors to make commercial films together.

"Director Zhang's "If You Love" has already been scheduled for this year's Qixi Festival."

"And the "Butterfly Effect" produced by your company has also started filming."

"Director Wu, for the prosperity of the mainland film industry, half of the military medals will be given to Zhang Yimou, and the other half will be given to you!"

Facing Han Dong's sudden flattery, Wu Yuan was a little uncomfortable.

If you don't have anything to show your courtesy, you can either rape or steal!
He put down the teacup in his hand, and said with a weird expression: "Han Dong, we are old acquaintances, if you have something to say, just say it, and stop flattering me here."

"Haha." Han Dong didn't see the embarrassment of being punctured at all on his face, and he still said in an admirable tone: "Where am I flattering?"

"It's all the truth!"

"Go out and ask any China Film employee. In their hearts, the Chinese film industry cannot live without you!"

Wu Yuan chuckled, and unmoved, he raised his fingers and said, "We can't do without Zhang Yimou, we can't do without Chen Kaige, we can't do without Feng Xiaogang, we can't do without Jiang Wen, right?"

"Hey, Jiang Wen can be without it." Director Han interrupted.

The two looked at each other and laughed in unison.

Jiang Wen, who has been banned for five years, really can't justify it without a few words of ridicule.

"Okay, no more joking." Han Dong looked serious and started talking about business.

"I'm here to see you. In addition to congratulating you, there are indeed some things I want to talk to you about in person."

He got up and took a script from the desk, and Director Han put it on the table in front of the two of them.

"I've read the script of "Painted Skin", and it's really interesting."

"We, China Film Group, also want to participate in the investment."

"The premise is that this movie must be directed by you yourself."

Director Han sighed, "That director named Wu Shishan is your senior brother, right?"

"A new director, even if he is shooting your "Butterfly Effect" right now, he can't just become the director of such a big project right away?"

"Director Wu, this is 1.5 million, not 1500 million. Even if it is 1500 million, you can't use such a director!"

Han Dong looked at Wu Yuan sincerely, and persuaded him earnestly, "How can a director shoot such a big production right away?"

"Even you, the most talented director in China, not only filmed "The Night the Comet Came" in the Mainland, but also filmed "Juno" in Hollywood, and then "The Embalmer", and only then did "Pirates of the Caribbean" " and "Your Name"?"

"You ask him, a newcomer, to shoot "The Butterfly Effect" with an investment of only 2000 million, and then to shoot "Painted Skin" with an investment of 1.5 million. Isn't this a joke?"

"Even if you come to be the producer, the risk is too great."

The script of "Painted Skin" was sent to China Film Times last month.

The reason why he sent China Film was because Wu Yuan wanted to invite China Film to do this project together.

The company made a preliminary project budget for "Painted Skin". If they want to make this movie a high-quality film, $1500 million is not enough.

At least 1.5 million yuan, or about 1700 million US dollars, must be invested to make this movie.

Of course, with so much money invested, the final result will be better than the original "Painted Skin".

1.5 million is not a small amount of money, although Wu Yuan knew that this movie would definitely make money, but the money in his hands would not be able to turn around for a while.

3000 million voted for "Fairy Sword", and 6000 million voted for "Your Name".

Even if the domestic sub-account of "Your Name" can be credited within this year, it will be more than 7000 million, plus the profit of "Sword", it will be almost 1.3-1.4 million.

As for "If Love" and "The Butterfly Effect", the money back for these two movies will have to wait until 2005.

The settlement of "Your Name"'s overseas accounts will not be available on a large scale until 2005.

Wu Yuan, who only has more than [-] million in hand, really can't spend all his money on "Painted Skin". He has other projects to prepare.

So he wanted to pull China Film to work on this project together, and China Film now has a lot of money in hand.

At first, Director Han was very excited when he saw the script!
Wu Yuan finally wants to make a blockbuster movie!

For a great director like him, it would be a waste of his talent not to make blockbusters!

After reading the script of "Painted Skin", he was extremely satisfied with the script.

It is a Chinese fantasy film, and the script is written by Wu Yuan, who has filmed "Pirates of the Caribbean". This is definitely a high-quality project!

This is much more reliable than Chen Kaige's "The Promise".

Without hesitation, Han Dong wanted to agree to participate in the vote.

Until, he learned that Wu Yuan did not plan to shoot the movie himself, but hired a senior from Nortel to shoot it.

Isn't this bullshit?

Zhang Yimou's "Hero" is filmed by a different director. Does anyone dare to vote?

If Chen Kaige's "The Promise" is shot by another director, will anyone dare to vote for it?

For a blockbuster film prepared by a big director like this, the management has never come here for the script or the selection of actors, but for the director himself.

If the "Painted Skin" project had not been shot by Wu Yuan, it would not have been a hot cake, it would have been a poisonous bun.

"Director Wu, if you come to shoot "Painted Skin", we will follow without blinking an eye at China Film Studios. You tell me the number, and I will arrange the financial payment immediately."

"But if Wu Youshan is allowed to shoot, then I can only say that this cooperation may not be able to continue."

No matter how friendly he usually is, Dong Han is the man Zhang Weiping calls "a mountain eagle".

When encountering this kind of principle issue, he will not make any concessions.

Seeing Han Dong's serious expression, feeling his "mountain eagle" aura, Wu Yuan sighed in his heart.

He did take it for granted.

He knew that Wu Ershan was capable of making fantasy movies, but other people didn't know it, and neither did the general public.

It is indeed a very risky thing to ask such a newcomer to shoot such a big production. Even with Wu Yuan's endorsement, it is possible to lose money.

Even going to sea is a big problem.

Dongbao is willing to cooperate with Wu Yuan and release his movies with all his strength, but he may not be willing to release all his movies in the era of light and shadow.

"I thought it was too simple." Wu Yuan nodded and admitted his mistake.

Director Han immediately smiled, and the solemn atmosphere in the office was swept away.

"Then Director Wu, have you changed your mind? Come and shoot "Painted Skin" by yourself?" Director Han said excitedly: "This book is still very good."

"The cost is 1.5 million, but I imagine that if it is released in Asia, it can get a box office of more than one billion!"

"With your influence in Japan, this story is an oriental fantasy story, and the Japanese market will definitely accept it!"

The movie viewing craze and exaggerated box office results achieved by Wu Yuan's "Your Name" in Japan gave Director Han great confidence.

In his opinion, Wu Yuan, who now holds two major markets in China and Japan, can make any movie without losing money.

For other domestic directors, the risk of losing a movie with an investment of more than [-] million yuan is very high. Except for Zhang Yimou, no one dares to make it.

But for Wu Yuan, who has a solid background in the Japanese market, the risk of a movie with an investment of more than 1 million yuan is not big at all.

Who said that the current Japanese film market is ten times that of the mainland!

"If I were to shoot it myself, I would be a little short of time." Wu Yuan sighed and said hesitantly: "I have a Hollywood movie "Rush Hour 3" to shoot in the second half of this year, and then there will be another one next year. A filming plan for a literary film."

""Pirates of the Caribbean 2" is estimated to start next year."

"If I want to shoot "Painted Skin" myself, I'm afraid I won't be able to spare time to shoot that literary film." Wu Yuan said melancholy.

"Literary film?" Director Han was a little surprised. Wu Yuan is already a director of commercial films with box office of hundreds of millions of dollars, so what kind of literary film does he want to make?

Now the domestic market is paying more and more attention to commercial films. In terms of art films, although there are special support from film funds, the emphasis is not as high as before.

"Yes, I want to make a movie about love." Wu Yuan spread his hands.

It was precisely because he knew that the influence of art films in the domestic film industry was declining that he decided to make art films.

For a director, the authoritative art film festival award is the greatest recognition for them.

It's like the dream of actors is to win the best actor and best actress.

As a director, Wu Yuan also wants to win the best film and best director awards in Berlin, Cannes and Venice.

But he knows that after 2010, the influence of the three major European awards in China will become smaller and smaller, and Chinese people will gradually pay less attention to these art awards.

After 2015, even if you win the top three European Best Actors or the Best Picture, you will not get any splash in China.

As human beings, they all have vanity.

Of course Wu Yuan doesn't want to win an award but no one appreciates it.

So he wants to win the awards of the three major European film festivals as soon as possible.

The sooner these awards are won, the greater the influence, and the higher the blessing to his own status and achievements.

Look at Zhang Yimou who won the Golden Lion and Golden Bear in the 90s. Since then, he has firmly secured the top spot as the number one director in China.

Even if Wu Yuan's current career box office far surpasses director Yimou's, he dare not say that he is a better director than Zhang Yimou.

The public's impression of him is also the "king of commercial films", the best-selling director in China, not the best director.

For Chinese art films, we still have to watch Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige.

Art is higher than business, which is recognized by film practitioners around the world.

Naturally, Wu Yuan also has to work hard on artistic achievements, and can't just be satisfied with commercial box office.

Now he has "Pirates of the Caribbean" with a box office of 7.2 million US dollars in Hollywood, and "Your Name" in Asia, which has swept the box office charts of various countries.

In a short period of time, he has achieved enough in the commercial box office that it is time to strive for artistic achievement.

"I made a script." Wu Yuan said calmly, "It's about a love story between a pair of retired music teachers who are over [-] years old."

"In this movie, I use aging, disease and death, the three things that human beings fear most, to make the ultimate consideration and test of love."

"It's going to be a great film."

Wu Yuan stared into Dong Han's eyes with piercing eyes, "I plan to compete for the Palme d'Or with this movie."

"Seriously?" Director Han's expression also became serious.

He also reacted.

Any aspiring director will take the top three in Europe as his lifelong goal.

Of course Wu Yuan is also a pursuing director. It is normal for him to make such a literary film, and it has nothing to do with the success of his commercial films.

"Both the male and female protagonists are old people in their 70s?"

"The conditions are very harsh. Can we find suitable actors?" Director Han asked worriedly.

"I already have a goal." Wu Yuan said in a relaxed tone: "We in China still have no shortage of such experienced actors."

"Actor, I want to find teacher You Benchang to play."

"He is 71 years old this year, just the right age, and his acting skills are nothing to say."

"As for the heroine, I would like to hire teacher Wu Yanshu. I have worked with her twice. I believe she is qualified for this movie."

Director Han nodded in approval.

Both You Benchang and Wu Yanshu are veteran actors who have acted in dramas and dramas for a lifetime. There is really nothing to worry about in terms of acting skills, and the image and age are also suitable.

"What's the name of this movie?" Dong Han asked curiously.

""Love"!" Wu Yuan smiled slightly: "Love."

"The eternal topic of human beings."

(End of this chapter)