China Entertainment started from Nortel 2002

Chapter 248 The strong create the market

"Hawthorn Tree" grossed 1 million at the box office before these two blockbusters were released, and another literary film that exceeded [-] million was born.
The day before the release of "Detective Dee", Tsui Hark came to Beidian to have a drink and talk about Taoism. He first talked about the "opposite way" of creating a sword and taking an eccentric approach, and then talked about the "human way" of dreaming into reality, interspersed with interactive videos with the audience. "Chao Wen Dao".

The auditorium for the event that day was packed with seats and the enthusiasm was high.

Li Mu still didn't go over to join in the fun. After settling Zhang Yimou's matter, he went to see the post-production work of "The Martian."

There are more and more people in Tiancai, but most of them are all kinds of post-production equipment.

"It seems that Tiancai will have to change places soon."

With the increasing number of special effects blockbusters and the rapid development of the domestic market, Tiancai has entered a period of rapid development.

In fact, special effects companies are the last to be taken seriously in China.

Special effects production is the end of the entire film and television industry and has been ignored for a long time. Even domestic directors will say "try to avoid using computer special effects" when filming.

However, as more and more special effects blockbusters flood into the domestic market, the domestic special effects industry is being criticized for "[-]-cent special effects".

Negative comments such as "clumsy", "poor texture", and "cut out" seem to have become an indelible label for the domestic special effects industry.

Fortunately, Tiancai later removed this hat for a domestic special effects company.

Li Mu walked directly to the post-production area of ​​"The Martian".

"How's the progress?"

Guo Fan was still watching the picture on the screen carefully, and turned around subconsciously when he heard the sound.

"It went very smoothly! It will be completed in early November."

"Then we can prepare to set a schedule."

"Director Li, are you planning to get involved in the Lunar New Year stall?"

Guo Fan is very excited. He also has a share of credit for this science fiction blockbuster. He hopes to see this movie in the cinema soon.

Li Mu shook his head: "It's too crowded and inappropriate. We'll go over and talk to Director Han when the schedule is later."

"By the way, do you want to practice your skills with a science fiction movie?"

"Can I?"

Although Guo Fan had already expected it because Li Mu had already mentioned it, he was still a little excited at this time and was not confident in speaking.

"I forgot the script. Let me tell you what the story is first, and see if you are interested in it."

This science fiction film is not particularly hard, but it is more suitable for practicing.

"Director Li, who am I to be picky?"

"The investment in this movie will not be very large. The space base can find someone to modify it and it can be used directly. The story tells the story of five thousand space passengers taking a spaceship to start a new life on another planet. Unexpectedly, the spacecraft encountered an accident on the way. The passengers We will face the danger of the spacecraft's imminent collapse."

When Guo Fan heard about the five thousand passengers at the beginning, everyone was a little numb. Fortunately, there were only two people in the real plot. Except for those who lay down for nearly the entire film and the extras who showed their faces at the end, there were only two people from beginning to end. It took four people to act, and he calmed down.

"It feels a bit like a space opera, like Star Wars!"

Guo Fan thought about what Li Mu just said.

"'Star Wars' is a fast-paced, action-packed space opera, and this 'Passengers' is a romance film cloaked in science fiction, or a science fiction film cloaked in love. Of course, my script is not like George Like Lucas, it’s hard to write in one sentence!” Li Mu said with a smile.

Of course Guo Fan understands Li Mu's plot. After all, this is one of the most talked about things among space science fiction fans.

The most famous space science fiction film is "2001: A Space Odyssey". Since the release of this film, the box office performance of science fiction films has fallen into a slump.

The industry unanimously believes that Kubrick made a masterpiece of science fiction films, and it is unlikely that there will be another film in this era that surpasses "2001: A Space Odyssey".

But the fledgling George Lucas didn't believe in evil. He believed that "2001: A Space Odyssey" was all about long shots and the pace was too slow.

He wanted to make a fast-paced, action-packed space opera.

So there is "Star Wars"!
However, George Lucas's script was so difficult to describe in one sentence that it was difficult for investors to figure it out. After running for several years, all George Lucas got was "It's very well written, and I'm not allowed to write any more."

Nowadays, everyone has to make a few jokes when they make space science fiction movies!

"How is it, are you confident?"

"Director Li, when will you film "Gravity"?" Guo Fan asked.

"What, you want to start shooting with me?"

Guo Fan smiled sheepishly: "This is not a problem, so Director Li can come over and give guidance."

"You're quite naughty, but it's okay. I'll ask the space agency for help and we'll design it together!" Li Mu thought about it carefully and realized that it was really feasible. Anyway, there was no conflict between the two movies.

"Director Li, when can I see the script?" Guo Fan was already itching at this time.

"Don't worry, I'll give it to you later. Let's go to Director Han's place together."

On the way to China Film Academy, Guo Fan was still thinking about his new movie and asked about the plot from time to time.

This may be the excitement a director feels when facing his first debut.

Li Mu can also understand.

"Director Li, Director Han is still talking with the CEOs of Huayi, Yinmeng, Emperor, and Shaolin Temple Culture. Director Han has given us instructions. If you are interested, you can join us."

Li Mu directly refused to participate: "Forget it, I'll just wait here for a while."

When he heard about Shaolin Temple culture, Li Mu probably guessed what it was about. News had spread in the industry before that several companies seemed to want to make a "New Shaolin Temple" under the name of "Shaolin Temple"

Speaking of the movie "Shaolin Temple", it is also quite legendary in China. This movie was born 30 years ago.

In the 80s, domestic films were in full bloom. In the field of literary and artistic films, there were fourth- and fifth-generation filmmakers who connected the past and the future. In the commercial field, the first wave of entertainment films in the history of mainland films was launched.

It is against this background that "Shaolin Temple" was born.

The film received strong support that year. In order to pursue the most realistic martial arts scenes, a group of martial arts masters from all over the country were convened for pre-shooting training.

The hugely popular "Shaolin Temple" became a hit before it was filmed and was released two years later.

Needless to say what happened next, the film was sold out to everyone at the time.

In mainland China alone, it set a box office record of more than 1 million yuan with a ticket price of just over 1 cents.

If calculated based on the current 30 yuan per ticket, the box office record would be an astonishing figure of 500 billion yuan.

But thinking about the upcoming "New Shaolin Temple", Li Mu couldn't help but shudder.

"This is selling dog meat by hanging Buddha heads!"

Guo Fan didn't notice Li Mu's expression, he was still immersed in his own world.

"Director Han, Director Li is waiting for you in the outer hall."

"Okay!" Han Sanping nodded, but there was no reaction.On the other hand, the faces of Wang Zhongjun, Yang Shoucheng, Xue Guizhi, and Fu Huayang changed a little, and they felt a little pity.

About half an hour later, while Li Mu was still playing with his phone, the voices of Wang Zhongjun and others came.

"Director Li! Director Guo!" Wang Zhongjun spoke first, followed closely by Yang Shoucheng, Xue Guizhi and Fu Huayang.

"Hey, all the bosses are here."

"Director Li." Yang Shoucheng was about to speak first, but Han Sanping's secretary had already arrived and said respectfully: "Director Li, Director Guo! This way please!"

Li Mu said with a smile: "Everyone, I'll excuse you now!"

"Director Li, business is important. Let's talk when we have time."

Li Mu took Guo Fan directly to Han Sanping's office.

"This mountain sculpture." Wang Zhongjun looked at Li Mu's back and cursed Han Sanping in his heart.

Yang Shoucheng and others also smiled bitterly.

Everyone can guess that when Li Mu came to China Film, he probably had a new project. He originally planned to contact them first to see if there was any opportunity, but Han Sanping didn't give them time.

As soon as the front leg left, the secretary from the back leg came.

Guo Fan walked behind, feeling envious in his heart. The CEOs of several film companies just mentioned his name purely for Li Mu's sake.

After all, he is still unknown in the industry.

As soon as Li Mu stepped into Han Sanping's office, he already spoke.

"Tsk, Director Han, you are embarking on a big project. Do you plan to work with several big companies on it?"

"Didn't you guess what they were going to do?" Han Sanping sat on the chair, glanced at Li Mu, and replied angrily. He really didn't believe that Li Mu couldn't guess what they were going to do.

Moreover, he had just invited Li Mu to see if he was willing to participate. In fact, he was asking Mengying if he wanted to get involved.

It's just that Li Mu didn't come in, and the result is self-evident.

"Not optimistic?" Han Sanping raised his eyebrows and asked intentionally or unintentionally.

"No, it's just that there are too many new movies here."

Of course, Li Mu would not say that "New Shaolin Temple" was a loss to his grandma's house, so he just found a seemingly reasonable reason to get rid of it.

"That's right. Mengying currently has 3 unreleased movies, including "Let the Bullets Fly" and "Dragon Inn." Yifei is still filming "Those Years," and you yourself have a new movie to start. This year, Mengying is considered An industry model.”

Han Sanping calculated this and found that Mengying had done a lot this year.

"Guo Fan, Mengying's new science fiction film director, the new film "Passengers" is expected to start production at the end of this year or early next year." Li Mu specially introduced.

"Mengying is going to produce another great director!"

Only then did Han Sanping look at Guo Fan. He had an impression of the assistant director of "The Martian".

In other words, all major companies in the circle have impressions.

Over the years, Mengying has slowly been cultivating a new generation of directors. Everyone in the industry knows that these directors often start as assistant directors of Li Mu's films, such as Lu Yang, who independently directed "Xiu Chun Knife" this year.

China Film Group is actually constantly cultivating new directors for the domestic film industry. Unfortunately, the success rate is too low, far less than that of Mengying Media.

"No matter how much the cost is, China Film will invest in it," Han Sanping said without hesitation.

Whether it's science fiction or not, it doesn't matter in Han Sanping's opinion, the main thing is to see who the author is.

If Wang Jing came to him and asked him to make a science fiction film, he would most likely kick him in the face.

The tragedy of "Future Police" is still vivid in our minds!

"Haha, Director Han, since I said it, I will naturally not refuse China Film's investment."

"Oh? Not for this?"

"The production of "The Martian" is expected to be completed in early November."

"Are you planning to set a timetable? New Year's Eve time? There is almost no room there now." Han Sanping hesitated for a moment, then quickly shook his head and persuaded.

He is afraid that Li Mu will be encouraged by netizens to directly join the "Warring States melee" mode. Even if the domestic film market expands again, it will not be able to release four major dramas in a month at this time.

There are already more than 12 movies confirmed to be released in December.

"I'm not stupid. Mengying invested money in "Let the Bullets Fly"."

Li Mu smiled and continued: "I want to light up the Spring Festival schedule!"

"Spring Festival schedule?" Han Sanping and Guo Fan were confused.

"Yes, everyone has seen how popular last year's "Avatar" was during the Spring Festival. This schedule definitely has huge potential. I plan to use "The Martian," a 3Dimax science fiction blockbuster, to completely ignite it and make it completely compatible with the Lunar New Year schedule. Separation.”

In fact, there were no Spring Festival stalls in China at the beginning, because the movie theaters were not open during the Chinese New Year.

Although Jackie Chan's "Red Zone" was scheduled to be released on the first day of the Lunar New Year in 1995 and became a hit in Hong Kong, due to the limitations of the economic level and living conditions at the time, "Red Zone" did not detonate in the mainland.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone is busy visiting relatives and friends to celebrate the New Year. Many film studios will not release films during this selected period, and even many movie theaters will not open their doors.

At that time, the box office for the entire Spring Festival period could only be maintained by the Hollywood movies released some time ago.

It was not until 2006 that "Fearless" starring Li Lienjie was released to break this deadlock.

At that time, the number of screens in the entire mainland was less than 3000 yuan, and the box office for the entire Spring Festival was only 8000 million yuan, while "Fearless" alone took in 7000 million yuan.

In the following three years, the Mainland’s Spring Festival sales did not improve much, relying mainly on Hollywood movies to support them.

"Are you sure you want to do the Spring Festival stall?" Han Sanping confirmed again.

"Director Han, is it really not a good time to show a movie on the Spring Festival?"

Li Mu asked and answered himself.

"There is a saying that the weak follow the market, the wise follow the market, and the strong create the market. "Avatar" can close with 3.39 million during the Spring Festival, and "The Martian" has Mengying and China Film Group behind it. I believe it can Sweep this period.”

This year's Spring Festival has almost no rivals, and there is only one imported Hollywood blockbuster, which is a godsend.

If you miss this opportunity, there will be no chance in 2012. Two big-hit Hollywood blockbusters were released during this period.

It can only rely on Zhou Xingchi's "Journey to the West: Conquer the Demons" to explode the Spring Festival stalls in the Mainland in 2013 without any opposition.

However, Li Mu is confident that in 2011, the Spring Festival stalls and Lunar New Year stalls will be completely separated and become an independent stall.

Guo Fan was very excited when he heard it, and he wished he could just confirm it.

To detonate the Spring Festival film, we cannot do without the power of China Film. Mengying and China Film must jointly promote it to achieve the goal.

(End of this chapter)