Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 108 [Replace the Chinese director? Impossible! ]

Canon Group was very efficient. They sent someone to contact Tom Cruise's agent the next day.

Tom Cruise and his agent were naturally happy to take on the endorsement of Canon cameras.

Canon cameras are also among the best international camera brands.

For Hollywood stars like them, commercial value is reflected in who gets big enough advertisements.

However, no matter how willing they are, the price still needs to be negotiated. Hollywood's ability to grab the leading roles is much stronger than that of the domestic entertainment industry in the future.

Although Tom Cruise is now considered a unique "male star" in Hollywood, he is not without competitors.

So, with the help of his agent, the advertising endorsement fee for Canon cameras was $500 million a year.

This price is absolutely unique in Hollywood today.

The people sent by Canon Group to negotiate also agreed to this price after a detailed market survey, simply because of Tom Cruise's current popularity.

After a week of negotiations.

The person in charge, Yamamoto, extended his hand and said, "Mr. Cruise, it's a pleasure to work with you!"

"Pleasant to work with."

Tom Cruise was in a good mood. Not only did he get $1500 million in advertising fees for three years, but most importantly, his commercial value was increased. In the future, external commercial quotations could start from $500 million.

"Next, our group is going to shoot a commercial that will be broadcast worldwide. Mr. Cruise, please spare half a month during this period..."

While Yamamoto was still talking, Tom Cruise suddenly interrupted and asked, "I want to ask, have you found a suitable director for the commercial? I happen to know a very good commercial director..."

"No need, Mr. Cruise. We have already found an excellent director to direct this commercial, and our group is very satisfied with his filming plan."

"who is it?"

“A great director from China.”

"China?"

Tom Cruise was slightly stunned. This country was too far away from him and existed only in newspapers and on TV.

After hearing this, agent Pat Kingsley said immediately, "Oh my God, you actually want a Chinese director to shoot this commercial. I absolutely don't approve of this. It has to be a big Hollywood director. This is Tom's first time endorsing your brand, and there can't be any mistakes. So it's best for us to choose the director ourselves!"

“We’re sorry, but we won’t change that.”

Yamamoto was already a little unhappy with the agent's aggressive attitude during the previous negotiations.

Now that he saw that the other party was still trying to change the group's decision, he was even more dissatisfied: "Director Li is a Golden Lion Award winner. He may not be very famous in Hollywood, but his talent is unquestionable."

"So what if I win the Golden Lion? I still think..."

"Okay, Jinsley."

Tom Cruise interrupted Pat Kingsley, and when she shut up, he said to Yamamoto, "Since he is a famous director who won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival, I believe he must have strong directing ability. I am looking forward to working with him this time."

Seeing that the big star was easier to talk to, Yamamoto's expression gradually eased up a lot: "Then please ask Mr. Cruise to arrange the schedule. It is estimated that filming will start in mid-September."

"no problem."

After watching Yamamoto and others leave, Pat Kingsley was still indignant and said, "Tom, how could they invite a Chinese director? The best directors in the world are all in Hollywood..."

Tom Cruise said, "Okay, Kingsley, you know I've always wanted to enter the three major European film festivals. This time I can work with a director who won the Golden Lion Award. This is also an opportunity for me."

Like Leonardo DiCaprio later, after achieving great success in commercial films, Tom Cruise set his sights on awards.

I want to try to walk on two legs, one leg in the art film route, and the other leg in the commercial film route, and then achieve a win-win situation, winning awards and making a lot of money.

But as a Hollywood agent, Pat Kingsley naturally doesn't want Tom to focus his energy on these art films.

In her opinion, Tom should continue to make commercial films so as to expand his influence, instead of honing his acting skills for the sake of winning awards and spending a year or two to make an art film.

But now Tom has made up his mind, and looking at the attitude of Canon Group, it seems that if you don't approve of the Chinese director, then we will directly terminate the contract. Pat Kingsley can only pray helplessly:
"Well, I hope this director from China won't mess up your first camera commercial. If he does, I think your commercial value will drop a lot... No, I have to find out who this Art Lee is."

Hearing this, Tom Cruise did not refuse, "Well, go check it out."

It just so happened that he also wanted to see what was so special about this Golden Lion Award-winning director who was highly favored by the Canon Group.

"Wait for my news. If this guy is not capable of doing this, I will definitely fight against the Canon camera to the end!"

Then Pat Kingsley left in a hurry.

Tokyo, Japan.

After receiving the news that Canon Group had officially signed Tom Cruise, Li Yishu took out the shooting plan she had prepared in the past few days. The shooting period was 15 days, and the filming would be held in the UK, Germany, and North America.

They correspond to the English Civil War in the 17th century, the cowboy showdown in the American West in the 18th century, and the First World War in the 20th century.

Tom Cruise also responded quickly, saying that he would set aside half a month to film with the crew.

Li Yishu packed up and prepared to take the crew to Europe for location promotion, and also to visit the Venice Film Festival.

The closing ceremony of the Venice Film Festival will be held in a few days, and if you go there now, you can catch the final awards ceremony. "You really don't want to go to Europe with me?"

Li Yishu looked at Izumi Sakai. He was thinking of taking Izumi Sakai to Europe for a trip.

Izumi Sakai shook her head: "No, I've been resting for more than a week, and the company is planning to hold a concert tour for me next year, so I have to prepare for the concert."

"Okay, let's talk about it when we have time."

Li Yishu didn't say much. Sakai Izumi is now in the rising period of his career, and it is impossible for him to let others give up their careers.

Izumi Sakai smiled and said, "Yeah, after the concert next year, I will take a few months off. You have to take me to see the giant pandas then!"

"No problem." Li Yishu agreed immediately.

That night.

Li Yishu took Amy and the Japanese crew to Europe.

At the same time, before leaving, he also contacted Zhao Fei and asked Zhao Fei to come to Europe as well.

Zhao Fei was already familiar with bullet time shooting, and Li Yishu didn't want to bother with the Japanese crew anymore, so she directly arranged for Zhao Fei to be the director of photography for this commercial.

After arriving in England with the advertising crew, there were still two days before Tom Cruise came.

Li Yishu also transferred to Venice, Italy with Zhao Fei and Amy.

Tomorrow evening, the 12th, is the closing ceremony of the Venice Film Festival, which is also the awards ceremony. It’s a good opportunity to go and see Gong Li win the award.

"Art book!"

At the airport pick-up area, Gong Li waved excitedly when she saw Li Yishu and her group coming out. She had never thought that Li Yishu would come.

"Sister Gong Li!"

Li Yishu came over with her people, hugged Gong Li with a smile, and then chatted with Xu Lu for a few words.

When the group left the airport and were on their way to the next pier to take a boat to Lido Island, Gong Li said, "Director Zhang wanted to come pick you up, but the Yindu Agency sent someone over, and they are still discussing things in the hotel."

"Silver City Agency?"

Li Yishu raised her eyebrows and asked, "Why did Yindu Agency come to see Director Zhang?"

"I don't know about that, but it must be the crew's business."

Gong Li shook her head and said, "Our film Qiu Ju Goes to Court was produced by the Yindu Film Studio."

Hearing this, Li Yishu nodded slightly and did not ask any more questions. Instead, she talked about Gong Li being nominated for the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival.

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Trust me, Sister Gong Li, you will definitely win the award this time!"

"Is this true? You haven't even seen the movie."

Gong Lijiao laughed and said, "Besides, I don't even have that much confidence in myself."

Who hasn’t seen it, and has seen it more than once.

However, Li Yishu was not in a position to say this, so she looked at Xu Xu instead: "Sister Xu, you should have watched Sister Gong Li's film, right? How did you feel about it?"

“What a great performance.”

Xu Suo said with emotion: "If I hadn't known in advance that the lead actress was Ali, I probably wouldn't have recognized her. Director Zhang Yimou is still the same, he likes to torture your face in different ways."

When he was on the set of "Farewell My Concubine", Xu Suo saw Gong Li's weathered face. Now that he saw the effect in the movie with his own eyes in the cinema, he realized that her image in the movie was even more miserable.

“It just means that the performance was so good.”

Li Yishu smiled and said, "You will definitely win the award this time, so you should prepare your acceptance speech early."

Gong Li joked: "Then I'm ready. If I don't win the award, you have to compensate me with one."

"no problem."

Li Yishu grinned and said, "If you don't win the award, I will give myself to you as compensation."

"Who wants you? I want the Venice Film Festival winner!"

Gong Li gave him a charming look.

Ten minutes later.

Lido Island

When Li Yishu set foot on this small island in Venice again, it felt like a lifetime ago.

It was still a familiar place, with a faint fishy smell of sea water. When he came here last year, he was just an unknown little director.

Now, a year has passed. Not only has he become a Golden Lion director, but he has also become a multi-millionaire. He is about to collaborate with Tom Cruise, the hottest Hollywood man in the world, on a commercial shoot.

In the previous life, none of this would have been possible, but now they have all come true!
(End of this chapter)