Extracting skills from movies

"Ah Sheng, you are worthy of being a director. You are calm and steady in your work."

Cheng Long laughed and joked, then sat down calmly.

After years of development, the cinema chains in the Beacon Country have already developed a mature and sophisticated box office settlement system.

They didn't have to wait too long before the news came.

Cheng Long had just sat down on the sofa when he saw Lydia walking towards him in high heels with an unconcealable joy on her face:
“Guess how much the first day box office was!”

"How many?"

Although Cheng Long tried to keep himself calm, he still couldn't help but ask.

He also invested money in this film, and it also concerns his future in Hollywood, so it's not just talk.

Du Sheng looked at Lydia's irrepressible smile and had a firm idea in his mind:

"Did the box office exceed 700 million on Friday?"

Friday is usually the softest opening for the three days of the first weekend box office.

After all, many people are busy working during the day, and the real peak of movie-watching starts in the evening.

Based on the number of 2200 theaters opening, it would be considered a pass if the film could reach $600 million on the same day.

By this calculation, the box office for the first weekend is conservatively estimated to reach 2500 million, and is even expected to reach more than 3 million.

When Cheng Long heard Du Sheng's question, he was a little dumbfounded.

He and his agent had previously calculated that if they could gross over 5 million on the first day, they would be overjoyed if they could gross 2 million on the first weekend.

You know, his movie "Ransom King" only made 3 million in its first weekend.

This is his biggest hit in Hollywood after the Rush Hour series.

"Baby Project" is a film produced by an all-Chinese cast, but its publicly announced cost is only 20 million US dollars.

If the North American box office can exceed 5 million, then he will have completely come out of the trough!
Lydia stopped joking and said bluntly:
"882 million!"

When Cheng Long's agent heard this number, his eyes widened and he seemed a little bit unbelievable.

This is actually higher than the first day box office of "Ransom King"!
His previous prediction of 5 million almost doubled!

Cheng Long knew that Lydia would not joke about such things, and when he realized what was going on, he punched hard.

Then he stepped forward and clapped his hands with Du Sheng, saying excitedly:
"Ah Sheng! It worked! The box office broke the record!"

Cheng Long is not someone who has not experienced the joy of success, and the huge popularity of "Baby Project" in Asia did not surprise him.

But this time, the amazing first-day box office of "Baby Project" in North America undoubtedly gave him restored confidence!

Du Sheng smiled and shook hands with him, saying:

"Good, you can breathe a sigh of relief!"

Although he was confident, he was also a little worried deep down. After all, the publicity and promotion efforts for this investment were unprecedented.

Now it seems that the efforts were not in vain.

Du Sheng brought a bottle of red wine and poured a glass for several people in the room.

"Drink victory!"

After Cheng Long drank a glass of ice wine, his excitement did not completely dissipate, but it was finally somewhat restrained.

He now admired Du Sheng's prediction and asked directly:
"Ah Sheng, what do you think the box office will be in the first weekend?"

Du Sheng smiled and looked at Lydia:
"Lydia is a professional in this regard."

Lydia took over the conversation and said confidently:

“If we follow normal circumstances, 2000 million is a sure thing in the first weekend, and there is a good chance that it will reach 2500 million.

After all, apart from Mission: Impossible 3, there aren’t many blockbusters competing with us.”

"Ice Age 2" and "Superman Returns" were released in North America half a month ago, so there is not much pressure.

And based on this data of 882 million alone, theaters will definitely take the initiative to increase the number of screenings.

But she changed the subject and added:

"But Du, you said this movie is more Chinese-oriented, so my prediction may not be that reliable."

Many of the promotional methods for "Baby Project" were Du Sheng's creative ideas. Although Lydia was surprised at first, she referred to the lottery of "Flash Point" and implemented everything.

So it is clear that the promotion method played an important role in the film's great first-day performance.

Du Sheng smiled and said:
"I estimate that our first weekend box office will most likely be over 2500 million!"

When Cheng Long and Lydia heard this, smiles broke out on their faces.

With more than 2500 million in the first weekend, it is almost certain that the total box office in North America will exceed 5000 million!

6000 million is also promising.

Even if a large portion has to be allocated to the two major cinema chains, there will still be tens of millions left if the surrounding areas are included.

But Du Sheng poured cold water on him again:
"Don't be too happy too soon, as most of the box office revenue for these niche foreign-language films is concentrated in the first weekend.

Action fans contributed 30% of our first-day box office, fans of Brother Long and I contributed 30%, and the rest were passers-by attracted by publicity.

Over the next two days of the weekend, the box office potential for action fans and us fans was almost exhausted.

They can guarantee us a high opening weekend box office, but the rest is up to us.

If you think you can win without doing anything now, the final box office will probably stop at 5000 million, or even 4000 million.”

When Lydia and her agent heard this, the joy they had just felt suddenly dissipated.

Du Sheng continued:
“So, the focus of promotion was put on action movies and boxing fans in order to attract more passers-by.

Next, we still have a lot of publicity work to do!"

After listening to Du Sheng's analysis, several people also understood the current situation.

Seeing this, Du Sheng smiled and comforted him:
“But we have already seized the initiative, and the box office revenue of over 2500 million is enough for us to book the second place in the weekend box office!

Lydia, you should know how to take advantage of this, right? "

Although there are four Hollywood films released this week, the champion is likely to be "Mission Impossible 4".

After all, its investment exceeded 1.5 million US dollars, and the number of theaters opening in the first week exceeded 4000. The two are incomparable.

Lydia and Du Sheng clinked their glasses lightly and said confidently:

"of course!"

The film market also has a siphon effect. Although it is not as absolute as one company winning all the games, the appeal of the runner-up in the weekend box office cannot be underestimated.

At least some people will choose a movie based on its box office or reputation.

With the title of runner-up in the first weekend box office, plus a base figure of nearly 3000 million US dollars, the publicity will definitely attract a lot of curious people.

After all, the fact that a foreign language film can make it in Hollywood is a representation of its strength.

The next two days, Du Sheng's guess was indeed confirmed.

With the online and offline promotion, fans who were originally on the sidelines went to the cinema one after another, some to support "The Baby Project" and some to see how strong the guy who would fight Tyson in the "ultimate duel" was.

Fans of Du Sheng and Cheng Long naturally spared no effort to ask their friends to contribute a few photos.

There are also yellow people from all over the Lighthouse Country who even booked seats in the early morning to vote in order to support Du Sheng and Cheng Long.

Saturday's box office easily broke the 1398 million mark, reaching million US dollars.

Although the number of people registered on Sunday decreased due to the proximity of Monday, the number still reached 1228 million!
"The Baby Project" grossed 3508 million U.S. dollars in three days in its first weekend!
This number, like a thunderclap, instantly caused a stir in the North American film industry!

Even some middle and senior executives in Hollywood were surprised by this!
The box office reached 3500 million in the first weekend. The significance behind this is well known to both practitioners and fans in the film industry.

Perhaps to the general public, this is nothing surprising.

After all, some of Hollywood's high-end blockbusters can gross over 7 million in their first weekend.

"Deadpool and Wolverine", "Captain America 4", "Avengers 3" and so on.

This week, Mission: Impossible 3, starring Tom Cruise, was promoted in a high-profile manner. Although the box office in the first weekend did not reach the 6000 million expected by the film company, it still earned 4800 million US dollars.

"Baby Project" is riding on two hot trends, and the movie also stars two popular stars, Jackie Chan and Du Sheng.

Now that it has exceeded 3 million in the first weekend, doesn’t it seem reasonable?
But in the eyes of Hollywood experts, this is simply a fantasy!
Just like the film critic Smith who once predicted that the total box office of "Baby Project" would be 3000 million, when he heard this number, his eyes widened like bells and he couldn't believe it at all!
First, just compare the screening schedules of "Mission Impossible 3" and "The Baby Project" to find out.

The former has 4132 companies, while the latter has only more than companies.

How high is the attendance rate of the latter?

In addition, "Baby Project" is not a local story of the Lighthouse Country, but a legend from the Eastern Country!
The Lighthouse Country is known as the world's number one superpower, but the film market here has always been xenophobic, and audiences hate reading subtitles.

Although "Baby Project" was dubbed by Du Sheng and Cheng Long himself, it is still a foreign language film at its core!

Even the top ten foreign-language films often cannot match the box office of American blockbusters in a weekend.

It is extremely difficult for film and television works from non-English speaking countries to enter this market!

To date, the highest-grossing foreign-language film in North America is still Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful," which took in $5700 million in North American box office in its first weekend and $2.3 million worldwide.

This shows how difficult the situation of foreign language films is in the North American market!
Why was "Hero" hyped so highly back then?

Because it is really awesome, it broke the box office record of Chinese-language films in North America!
But now, the foreign language film "Baby Project" has raked in 3508 million in box office in just three days of its first weekend. What is going on?

What's going on with the audience in Lighthouse Country?

Was he under a spell?
Or do Jack Chen and Du Sheng know some kind of Eastern Taoist magic and cast a spell on the North American audience?
Why are you so interested in "Baby Project"?
No matter how great Jack Chen was before, "Rush Hour" is also a Hollywood movie that tells the story of a beacon country, and it also has local actors joining in, so it is understandable that the box office was high.

But what is the basis for "Baby Project"?
The story is just like that, but there are many ways to take advantage of the popularity, which is not right.

For a time, many people focused their attention on "The Baby Project", which firmly sat in second place at the weekly box office.

No matter what everyone questions, the results don’t lie!
Companies big and small in Hollywood have begun to take action, vowing to uncover the mystery of the success of "The Baby Project"!

When it comes to finding out the inside story, we have to look to professional media organizations.

Their methods of digging are much more efficient than those of the arrogant and overbearing film company executives!
The media would not miss such a great opportunity. The more unbelievable the thing is, the more excited they are!

"The Baby Project" broke out like a dark horse in its first week, earning $3508 million in three days!"

"Cheng Long and Du Sheng, this Chinese duo, continue to write an oriental legend in Hollywood!"

“A new era of action movies begins! The Baby Project tops the North American weekly box office chart, setting a new benchmark for the industry!”

"Cheng Long and Du Sheng meet in North America! "Baby Project" ignites the summer season, and fans around the world are crazy about it!"

This time there was no need for Sony's public relations team to be mobilized. Major newspapers across the United States were like sharks smelling blood, scrambling to put "The Baby Project" on the entertainment headlines.

The Los Angeles Times even used a full page to deeply analyze this phenomenal film from multiple dimensions:
"Unlike previous Chinese-language films that failed in North America, the two leading actors of "Baby Project" are both Chinese, but they have a strong mass base in North America.

With the super high popularity accumulated by Cheng Long from the "Rush Hour" series, and Du Sheng's cross-border influence in the boxing ring and the music industry, a chemical reaction of 1+1 is greater than 2 is formed.

This compound star effect provides a new model for the global distribution of commercial blockbusters.”

Variety magazine approached the issue from the perspective of genre films:

“Action comedies are naturally endowed with the gene for cross-cultural communication, and the success of The Baby Project proves this.

The film perfectly combines oriental martial arts with modern fighting, retaining the charm of oriental martial arts while conforming to the aesthetic tastes of Western audiences.

Those who say that foreign-language films have difficulty gaining a foothold in North America have completely collapsed in the fight between Cheng Long and Du Sheng. "

The Hollywood Reporter paid special attention to Du Sheng's multi-faceted development:

"This versatile artist, known as the 'Da Vinci of the East', has once again demonstrated the tremendous power of cross-border influence.

His kingly demeanor in the boxing ring and his creative talent on the music stage have now been transformed into a unique charm on the screen.

When he performed that textbook spinning kick in "Baby Project," audiences around the world remembered the name - Du Sheng."

These professional film reviews and media reports, like powerful boosters, have pushed the popularity of "Baby Project" to new heights.

Of course, there is also some sarcasm.

But even though there was sourness in the words, there was also some compliment.

Needless to say, Cheng Long has already gained fame with the "Rush Hour" series.
Now, with "Baby Project" raking in 3508 million in box office in the first three days of its weekend, its popularity has been rekindled!

To be honest, Du Sheng couldn't help but sigh that after all his efforts, Brother Long became the biggest winner in the end.

As far as he knows, Jackie Chan's agent has called the producers of "Rush Hour 3" and asked to renegotiate Jackie Chan's salary.

Back then, Jackie Chan’s salary for “Rush Hour 2” was 1500 million US dollars plus the distribution rights in the Chinese-speaking regions, which was a great honor for him.

But after the failure of several films such as "Around the World", his net worth plummeted to the bottom and was cut in half, with no one interested in his films.

Nowadays, his starting salary has soared to several million, plus the share of the box office. He is so confident that no one can refute it!
However, Du Sheng was not jealous of Cheng Long.

After all, without the other party, "Baby Project" would have difficulty finding a foundation for promotion in North America.

If Du Sheng relied on himself alone, he probably wouldn't be able to achieve even half of his current achievements.

At most it will surpass "Flash Point", but public opinion will never be so fierce.

Du Sheng knew this clearly.

Of course, he himself also gained a lot.

The reputation value alone has skyrocketed by 138 in the past few days and has now accumulated to a huge million.

His popularity has soared, and he has become a rising star in North America!

These are intangible honors, but the tangible gain is that a Hollywood film producer has offered him a salary of 600 million.

This was almost impossible in the past.

After all, this is already the high-end treatment for second-tier Hollywood stars.

Even for "The Departed", which brought in money, the pay was still raised to 500 million due to certain rules.

"Brother Sheng, Dwayne Johnson just sent you a party invitation."

The young secretary Cui Yayi walked over and spoke softly.

………(End of chapter)