Extracting skills from movies

Chapter 564 Taking advantage of the situation?

Finally, Boss Yang made the decision to move the release date forward to the May Day schedule.

Because in May, there is almost nothing to watch except "Star Wars 5" at the end of the month.

Du Sheng had no objection to this.

After all, it is highly likely that the filming of "Flash Point" has been completed during this period, so there is still some time left.

But other times, it may not be the case.

After all, Girls' Generation will hold concerts in mainland China, initially in six major cities.

Chow Wai Man and Cheung Pak Chi will also join hands to hold a "Master" concert.

They chose the Hong Kong-Macao Bay + Daya Bay + Neon tour mode.

Not to mention that when Du Sheng had a tour before, they all came as guests. Even if they didn't have this relationship, he still had to go to support him.

In addition, the filming of "Baby Project" mentioned by Cheng Long earlier is about to start.

This time has to be calculated carefully.

This afternoon, after returning from a domestic promotional tour.

Du Sheng did not return to the crew first, but was invited to Cheng Long's villa.

In the villa, not only Jackie Chan, but also representatives from Yinghuang Entertainment were there.

In addition, the official director Chen Musheng was also here.

It seems that he obviously wants to start the project.

With Du Sheng, the hottest star, and Jackie Chan, an international superstar, it's easy for Yinghuang Entertainment to tell that the movie won't lose money.

But this also depends on what Cheng Long, Du Sheng, and Chen Musheng mean.

The former was indeed very interested and had read the script.

However, after more than 20 years in the industry, he has never won a Best Actor Award.

Especially when he got older, he couldn't forget it.

Well, there are some considerations involved.

As for Du Sheng, in principle, he is quite interested, after all, his partner is Cheng Long.

Currently in the world, especially in Europe, America, the Philippines, Asia and other regions, Jackie Chan is the No.1 representative of Asian artists, without a doubt.

Working with this person is the fastest way to increase your international reputation.

But Du Sheng also has some small suggestions regarding the script.

Chen Musheng had already worked with Cheng Long on "Who Am I" and "New Police Story", so they are old friends.

However, in the face of the ideas of the two leading actors, he also had to make some adjustments.

After all, these two are not only actors but also investors, and they have strong backgrounds.

Just like that, with the help of Yinghuang Entertainment, the parties sat down and talked.

Cheng Long flipped through the new script, thought for a moment and said:
"Ah Sheng, you know what I'm thinking. It would be great if I could have the chance to win a prize.

The revisions you made this time were mainly focused on the details. Although the plot design is quite novel, I’m still not sure if it can attract the judges…”

This new script still features him and Du Sheng as the protagonists, but he obviously has more scenes.

Cheng Long was quite satisfied with this.

Because this shows Du Sheng's respect for him and that he is not trying to use him as a background to get promoted.

However, when discussing cooperation before, he expressed his hope to make a competitive film.

He is reserved about whether this main line, which starts with the visual of a thief, can stand out in the Academy Awards.

Facing Cheng Long's concerns, Du Sheng just smiled:
“Who says action movies can’t win awards?

Don’t forget how many honors A Better Tomorrow won.”

"A Better Tomorrow" was not only a box office success, but also a big hit at major film festivals.

Wu Yusen won the Golden Horse Award for Best Director, and Ti Lung won the Best Actor award;

The same thing happened at the Academy Awards. In addition to winning the Best Picture award, Chow Yun-fat also became the Best Actor.

"A Better Tomorrow created a whole new genre, so it's not surprising that it won so many awards."

Cheng Long said with some envy.

Du Sheng shook his head slightly and said:

“The key is not the subject matter, but the character creation and personality.

Hearing this, Chen Musheng also interjected:
“Ah Sheng, you also know that A-Long’s style is a “Kung Fu Comedy” that combines Kung Fu with comedy elements.

The script you revised this time is indeed more exciting, but will it weaken the comedy part..."

After saying that, he glanced at Cheng Long.

After all, action comedy is Cheng Long's signature style, and his opinion is crucial.

Du Sheng knew what they meant and said with a smile:
"Then I might as well answer this question once and for all."

"Brother Long, if you want to win a Golden Globe Award, do you know what kind of role the judges are most looking forward to seeing?"

He didn't wait for Cheng Long to answer and continued:

“Yes, those are subversive, reflective, profound and meaningful interpretations.

Everyone knows that you, Brother Long, are famous for your difficult action design and stunt performances. Your characters are usually heroes who uphold justice and fight against evil. No matter how powerful the enemy is, you can persevere to the end and ultimately win.

Ultimately, your previous roles were too stereotypical.

This script lets you be a thief, indulge in gambling, and have family discord. Is this subversive enough?

Only by seeking innovation and change can we gain recognition from the judges..."

After listening to this, Cheng Long nodded, thinking that what Du Sheng said made sense.

This reminded him of the down-and-out gangster boss played by Ti Lung in "A Better Tomorrow".

"Then tell me, why did you make such a slight change?"

Seeing that Cheng Long had listened attentively, Du Sheng continued to elaborate on his point of view:

First of all, the overall framework and plot pattern of the script are relatively common, similar to some classic "daddy"-themed films, and lack freshness.

For example, the story line in which two thieves take care of a baby and are eventually moved by the baby's innocence and turn over a new leaf, it is easy for the audience to guess the direction of the plot.

Secondly, the protagonists' personalities and emotions change too suddenly when they are interacting with the baby.

In the early days, they were gambling-addicted, promiscuous thieves, but in a short period of time, they completely changed because of the baby.
This transformation lacks sufficient preparation and delicate portrayal, which makes the character image less full and more preachy, making it difficult for the audience to fully believe in the character's motivation for change.

Then, except for the two leading actors and the baby, the roles and character images of other supporting actors are relatively thin and out of place.

There is also the issue of age. Brother Long, you should have changed in this regard, so I won’t say much more.

Finally, as a comedy action film, comedy is of course indispensable, but some funny plots are too exaggerated and deliberate.

For example, the two leading actors were so busy taking care of the baby that although it was funny, it didn’t seem natural enough and seemed forced…”

Cheng Long and Chen Musheng looked at each other and could see a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

They have been thinking about this script for a long time, and I didn't see anything wrong with it before.
Now that I hear it, there are actually so many small loopholes?

I have to say, Du Sheng is really good!

The other party is neither taking advantage of the topic nor trying to deliberately change the plot.

Simply for the purpose of taking better pictures and increasing the chances of winning prizes.

Yinghuang Entertainment representative Huo Wenxi took in everyone's reactions and asked:
"How can we make better changes without changing the basic tone?"

It was not convenient for Cheng Long to ask this question, and Chen Musheng couldn't say it was his own negligence, so it was appropriate for her to ask.

Du Sheng smiled and said:
“On the basis of retaining the core theme and style, some novel and unique plots and settings can be added to make the plot more attractive and fresh.

For example, you can set up some unexpected reversals and suspense in the baby's identity background or in the encounter with the three thieves to keep the audience curious.

It can also use memories and inner monologues to show the inner struggles and reflections of the two protagonists and the gradual deepening of their feelings for the baby, so that the audience can better understand..."

Since Du Sheng took over and invested in this drama, he certainly didn't want to let it go to waste.

Moreover, in order to expand international visibility and reputation, it is necessary to ensure quality and quantity.

What he just mentioned were the things that were complained about the most in his previous life.

Now that he has the chance to correct it, how could he keep it?

…………

Yinghuang Entertainment, company VIP lounge.

Boss Yang and Huo Wenxi were enjoying the quietness of the afternoon, sipping fragrant tea in their hands.

On the table in front of them was a new script of "Baby Project" that had just been faxed over.

"Mr. Yang, what do you think of the cooperation plan proposed by Interstellar Media?"

As Huo Wenxi spoke, her eyes fell on the document.

Boss Yang took a sip of tea slowly and then put the cup down gently:

“They mentioned wanting the North American box office?

Do they have corresponding distribution channels?"

Huo Wenxi shook her head. She didn't know much about it and had never heard any rumors.

Boss Yang then asked:
"And what about the revenue from the discs?"

"It's best to split it in half."

Huo Wenxi replied.

"Split in half?" Boss Yang raised his eyebrows.

He was obviously surprised by the suggestion.

He knew very well that if he could not ensure effective distribution channels, even if the movie was successful at the box office, the profit he would ultimately get would be very little.

Therefore, Yinghuang Entertainment usually does not participate in the overseas box office sharing.

Instead, it chooses to sell film rights on a regional basis.

For Jackie Chan's movies, disc revenue accounts for at least half of the packaged copyright fees!

This is also the reason why Yinghuang Entertainment attaches so much importance to the share of disc revenue.

However, there are many factors involved, and the biggest problem is to deal with Cheng Long.

But recently, Jackie Chan has been looking to transform himself and hopes to shoot more artistic films in order to win awards.

This caused quite a headache for Yinghuang Entertainment.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Because such films are not only thankless, but may not necessarily be recognized by domestic and foreign audiences.

In order to deal with this situation, during the last meeting between the parties, Emperor Ying appropriately relaxed some conditions.

Cheng Long was obviously also tempted.

Especially after Boss Yang and Huo Wenxi read the new script of "Baby Project", they could finally put down their worries.

Although there are many changes in the details, it still follows the familiar comedy action movie routine!

Come to think of it, it makes sense. Du Sheng is one of the richest men now. How could he take such a big risk to invest in a movie that is purely for award-winning purposes?

Obviously, his purpose is to use Jackie Chan to increase the movie box office and his own international influence.

As long as "Baby Project" is well-made, sales will naturally not be a problem.

In particular, the revenue from discs in Europe and the United States is enough for Yinghuang Entertainment to recoup more than 1 million yuan of investment.
And by borrowing Cheng Long's gimmick, you can make a lot of money.

Considering the company he established with Jackie Chan and the share of the profits, it would be too much of a loss if he were to share the global disc revenue with Star Media.

"Tell them that the markets in Japan and Korea can be sold."

Boss Yang pondered for a moment and said:

“But if they want the North American box office revenue, then they can only be given 3% of the global disc revenue at most.

The remaining 5% belongs to us, Yinghuang Entertainment and the distributor, and the remaining 2% ​​belongs to Aaron. "

As the core of this film, Cheng Long's value is unquestionable.

In addition to investing and starring in the film, he definitely wants to get a larger share of the film's profits.

This is understandable, otherwise no matter how many favors you give, they would not be enough.

Huo Wenxi nodded in agreement, understanding that this arrangement was reasonable and necessary.

The reason why they had to bring Star Media on board this time was because of Du Sheng's influence in mainland China and other parts of Asia, as well as the support of Miracle Cinemas behind it.

Otherwise, under normal circumstances, they would rather take out a loan and complete the project on their own.

After all, Cheng Long's recent production has been reduced, so this initiative to collaborate is particularly valuable.

After Huo Wenxi left the house, she began to negotiate over the phone.

When it comes to interests, Du Sheng certainly won't give in easily and pretends to be dissatisfied:
"Boss Huo, I also have a big risk here. How can I give you only 3%?"

"Mr. Du, business also requires practicality."

Huo Wenxi was talking business, and said with a smile:

"You should have a general understanding of Cheng Long's current film market situation.

We paid a huge price to get him on the bus.

In addition, putting aside your pay, Star Media actually only invested 3900 million.

If we give you 3% of the global disc revenue now, you should be able to recover your investment or even make a profit."

"Boss Huo, my salary for the film is 1300 million. Doesn't that mean this money doesn't count?"

Du Sheng knew that the other party wanted to bargain and increase the price.

But now that he had just finished shooting the morning scene, he had time to argue.

"Okay, then let's include your 1300 million salary.

I know you want to win box office in overseas markets. How much box office share you can get from these regions depends on the capabilities of Star Media.

But I believe that even in the worst case scenario, you will be able to get the money back safely.”

Huo Wenxi added that she would prefer to sell the box office revenue rights directly to local distributors.

This would allow you to earn millions of extra dollars without taking any risk.

"I have no objection to the share of the disc revenue from other places, but I want 5% of the disc revenue from North America, Japan and South Korea."

Du Sheng insisted:
"Otherwise, if I take such a big risk, wouldn't it be like working for Yinghuang Entertainment in vain?"

"I'll give you 3.5% at most. North America and Japan are two of the largest markets in the world!"

Huo Wenxi responded.

"4.5%, Europe, the Philippines, South Asia and other markets combined are not small,

Moreover, I won’t take a cent from the stable box office in Nanyang District. Mr. Huo, this is unacceptable!”

Du Sheng took advantage of the situation, since he was one of the leaders:

"If we can't come to an agreement, then let's put it on hold. Brother Long and I won't have to worry about filming!"

After some consideration, Huo Wenxi decided to finalize the cooperation as soon as possible to avoid any further complications.

“4%, no more!
Aaron's 2% remains unchanged, and giving you 4% of StarCraft is already the limit."

"Okay, 4% is 4%, I'll just sell it to you at a low price."

Du Sheng said helplessly, but he smiled slightly in his heart.

There is a high probability that Emperor Ying has made a mistake this time.

"Mr. Du, I wish us a pleasant cooperation and a friendship."

Huo Wenxi smiled and said:

"Otherwise, if we really want to make a fuss about it, there will be a lot of companies vying to invest in Aaron's movie!"

Du Shengfu replied with two sentences, seemingly asking casually:

"Mr. Huo, have you considered selling the copyrights of Brother Long's previous films?"

Cheng Long has collaborated with Ying Huang on several films, such as the "New Police" series.

If the other party sells it, you can put it on Phoenix TV to increase its popularity.

"Don't even think about it. The copyrights of Jackie Chan's movies are not for sale now."

Huo Wenxi laughed and declined.

Du Sheng didn't care.

I know the chances are slim, I just mentioned it casually.

In fact, by collaborating with Jackie Chan on "Baby Project", he wanted to use Jackie Chan to boost his international popularity.

Especially those in Europe, America and Africa.

As for the issue of distribution channels, the other party obviously did not conduct a thorough investigation on him!

Sony promised to help before, but it hasn't delivered yet.

He won't do anything that's a waste of time.

Even if we take a step back and say that even if "The Baby Project" cannot be released in North America, it can still penetrate the disc market.

The name Cheng Long is quite capable in this regard.

Anyway, what he wants is to boost popularity in North America and pave the way for the next big production "Wanted".

As Du Sheng and Huo Wenxi reached a consensus, the cooperation on "Baby Project" was officially established.

The tone has been set.

After Du Sheng had settled the main issues, he handed over the follow-up matters to Star Media and Yinghuang Entertainment.

As long as these are taken care of, the director, photographer and other subsequent personnel can prepare for the preliminary work.

Of course, the actual shooting is expected to start in a month or two at the earliest.

After hanging up the phone, Du Sheng didn't bother to think about it anymore and devoted himself to the filming of "Flash Point".

The play is progressing quite fast, and many characters have reached their final stages.

In fact, as long as the character gets into the right state, the shooting progresses very quickly, and now the scenes are being finished.

In this play, Du Sheng also invited many familiar faces.

For example, the mother of the male protagonist Ma Jun in the play was invited to be the 'Luang Po' Luo Lan;
There is also Hong Yubao's son, who also makes a cameo appearance as Ma Jun's subordinate in the play.

Although these actors do not have many roles, their high popularity can also enhance the audience's viewing experience.

Moreover, they have good acting skills, so the filming is quite smooth and can often be completed in half a day.

This is perfect for Du Sheng, who has to find time to do publicity from time to time.

As the progress speeds up, it is estimated that it will be completed in three or two days.

If it weren't for the need to capture the real flesh and blood in the final showdown, the fist-to-flesh shots would often have to be shot several times, otherwise we could finish the work tomorrow.

.........

(End of this chapter)