China Entertainment: Been working as a director since 03

Chapter 482 If You Don’t Act, There Are Plenty of Others
The reason why "Ready Player One" was such a huge success was that it achieved great success in both box office and reputation.

This is because the director and screenwriter used clever methods to connect together classic animation, film and television characters from the 1980s and 1990s, and buried countless Easter eggs.

These Easter eggs can evoke people's feelings and beautiful childhood memories.

When the original version of "Ready Player One" was released, there was a craze for finding Easter eggs in the movie on the Internet both at home and abroad.

I heard that the most amazing master found more than 150 Easter eggs in the movie.

However, the original version of "Ready Player One" was directed by a foreign director after all, and their production team definitely put the foreign market first.

Most Chinese audiences were not Westernized enough to be exposed to so many overseas animation, film and television works in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Even so, the Chinese market still exceeded the expectations of the production team and became the film's largest box office base in the world.

Li Yu is a Chinese. While retaining some foreign animation and film and television characters that are familiar to Chinese people, he also added more classic animation, film and television characters from the 1980s and 1990s in China, so that most Chinese people can resonate when watching the movie.

What about Calabash Brothers, Mechanical Tyrannosaurus Ultimate Transformation, Sun Wukong, Mecha Xiaobao, Zhizunbao, Zixia Fairy...

In short, the many Easter eggs in the movie will definitely remind many viewers of their childhood.

Fan Xiaopang read the script of "Ready Player One" carefully and she thought it was quite novel.

It was clearly about a game in the future world, but it brought back her memories.

When she asked Li Yu questions out of curiosity.

Li Yu smiled and replied: "The Easter eggs in those animation and film works are the selling point of this movie.

This movie is disguised as science fiction, but its main focus is on emotion.

The audience sees one of their favorite classic characters or film or television works being paid tribute to in the movie.

As long as the production of the film can keep up, they will be willing to pay for their feelings.”

Li Yu is very confident about this.

The success of the original Ready Player One is there.

Their tributes to classics are not intended for Chinese audiences, yet they can achieve such great results in China.

Li Yu made localized adaptations to suit the Chinese market, enhancing the resonance between the film and the audience.

"In that case, this movie will definitely be a big hit if it's well made."

Fan Xiaopang's eyes lit up.

She agreed with the sentiments that Li Yu just mentioned.

She started out to explore the world at the age of sixteen. She often recalls some interesting things that happened in her childhood before she was sixteen, and also recalls the cartoons and movies she watched with her friends.

Even though she was not the lead actor in this movie, nor was it directed by Li Yu, but was shot by another director she didn't know.

If a movie touches her feelings, she will buy a movie ticket.

“I can’t say whether it will sell well or not, but I definitely won’t lose money.

My expectations for this movie are not as high as those for Operation Nujiang River, at least for the domestic market.”

Li Yu thought for a few seconds and replied calmly.

This movie is expected to have a certain market overseas.

However, it is difficult for Li Yu to predict how big the market is.

The only thing he was sure of was that this movie would not be as popular as the original in overseas markets.

Because Li Yu made a localized adaptation, it is easier for Chinese audiences to resonate with the film, but it is difficult for foreign audiences to resonate with the film.

This is normal, there are gains and losses.

Li Yu is not a god, he can't have it all. Since he gives priority to catering to the Chinese market and the viewing experience of Chinese audiences, it is inevitable to give up part of the foreign market.

Of course, there are some people who are stubborn and think they have the ability to strike the right balance to satisfy both Chinese and foreign audiences. This person is the national master.

Li Yu has already seen the works that the national master wanted.

The result was that neither side was pleased, with domestic audiences criticizing the film, as well as foreign media. The domestic box office did not meet expectations, and the foreign box office did not meet expectations even more.

The cultural differences between the East and the West are so great that it is very difficult to please audiences in both markets at the same time.

Li Yu didn't want to do such a thankless task.

He has always regarded the domestic market as his base.

He has always held the attitude that "it's best if we have foreign markets, but it doesn't matter if we don't have them" towards foreign markets.

If he really wanted to become famous in Hollywood, it would actually be a very simple thing to do.

The last time that Hollywood film company invited him, he just agreed to help them shoot "Shang-Chi".

"Shang-Chi" had a global box office of 17 billion US dollars in the original time and space.

Foreigners like to watch this kind of emulsified movies, from the popular "Fu Manchu" decades ago to "Shang-Chi", this has been repeatedly proven.

Considering that it is still early in the timeline, 17 billion Euros will be difficult, but breaking 10 billion Euros should not be a problem.

It is no exaggeration to say that a Chinese director can earn 10 billion Euros at the box office for his first time making a movie in Hollywood, which is much better than Wu Baige back then.

If Li Yu was a little softer and was willing to follow the Americans' wishes and make a few more emulsified films, winning an Oscar would not be a dream.

Being able to do it and wanting to do it are two different things.

For Li Yu, if he has to pay the above price to win over overseas markets, he would rather not have overseas markets.

When talking about money, Li Yu decided to put the ugly words out in front: "I can directly choose you as the leading actress, but don't have too high expectations for the salary. I can tell you very frankly that the money will not be much."

In short, the money is less than what Fan Xiaopang earns when he makes movies for others.

This is not Li Yu targeting Fan Xiaopang. This is how famous directors have the power to lower prices.

The number of films produced by the country's top directors is very limited, and even first-line stars still have to fight hard for them.

In order to increase their competitiveness, many first-line stars will choose to reduce their pay in front of famous directors.

Let the national master or Chen Kaige come out and say that they are selecting the leading female role for their new work and the pay will not be too high.

Li Yu dared to guarantee that within ten minutes an agent would contact them and say that their artists could reduce their pay.

Some actors who are eager to become famous can even make guest appearances in films without any pay.

What matters to them is the impact this role and this movie will have on their careers, not the pay.

It is naturally the same with Li Yu. Actors have to lower their prices when they come to him.

He won't use it if the price isn't lowered. As a classic saying goes, if you don't act, there are plenty of people who will.

"Just give me whatever you think is the salary. I don't mind this little money."

Fan Xiaopang said indifferently.

As the top-earning actress on the Forbes list, she doesn't lack that little bit of pay.

What's more, based on her understanding of Li Yu, Li Yu would spend the saved money on production.

As long as the movie is good enough, she can earn much more than that by shooting a few commercials or taking on a few endorsements.

(End of this chapter)