Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 136 [Morishima Hisao Bet, Supernatural Sixth Sense]

Li Yishu said, "Yes, it's a supernatural film, but it's not a pure horror film. It can be understood as a supernatural warm film similar to "Ghost."

What he is going to shoot is "The Sixth Sense", which is a very suitable film for Lee Yi-su to shoot. On the one hand, she is familiar with the feel, and on the other hand, the investment cost is not high.

Although Bruce Willis is very popular nowadays, he is not as famous as he will be in a few years. Now he is just an action actor who became famous with "Die Hard".

"No matter what the subject matter of the film is, as long as it is directed by Li, I will support it."

Hearing that it was a film like "Ghost", Hisao Morishima breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Lee Yi-su wanted to make a horror film. This kind of supernatural and heartwarming film is also Lee Yi-su's strong point. After all, the film that won the award was a heartwarming film.

Then, he asked, "Director Li, I wonder if the script is out yet?"

"Not yet. After all, we were planning to shoot it in Hong Kong, so we need to make some changes to make it more in line with Hollywood."

Speaking of this, Lee Yi-su also said: "Even if the script is out, it will probably take until the end of this year before we can start filming. I have a few movies on hand right now."

In addition to the currently filming "Central Station", he also has "The Reader" and "Nobody".

"Can't we start shooting now?"

Hisao Morishima frowned and said, "Director Li, I really hope you can get better as soon as possible. I will give you all the help I can."

"This..." Li Yishu hesitated a little. It was not impossible to postpone the other two films, after all, the crew had not been established yet. However, the filming of "Central Station" had already started, and it would take at least half a month to finish.

Hisao Morishima said, "I know Director Li has another movie that is currently being filmed. If there are any losses, I can provide them to Director Li privately. I just hope that Director Li can get the script ready and start filming as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Li Yishu looked at the other party with a little surprise. It seemed that Morishima Hisao was really at the end of his rope, so he was so anxious to let her start the camera.

But Li Yishu was very curious why the other party was so optimistic about her?
Why does he think he can change the other party's fate of stepping down?

"President Morishima, this is a bit too sudden. Can you give me two days to think about it?"

"Sure, Director Li."

Hisao Morishima nodded and said, "But I still hope Director Li can give it more consideration. This opportunity will be of great benefit to both you and me."

Li Yishu said, “I will seriously consider it.”

The two chatted for a while, and Li Yishu also mentioned that she hoped to arrange a vehicle and a guide to take them around Hollywood.

Morishima Hisao also readily agreed to this.

After personally seeing Li Yishu off, Hisao Morishima returned to his office. He looked at the group of people leaving from upstairs with mixed feelings.

Hisao Morishima's previous job was not in the film industry, but he has been in Hollywood for several years and has some understanding of the film industry.

After learning about the Chinese director Lee Yi-su last year, he has paid much attention to this Chinese director.

The movie "Sword Rain", which was released at the end of last year, earned a total box office of 1.7 million US dollars worldwide.

Although most of the box office revenue was contributed by Japan, the box office in Europe and the United States also exceeded 5000 million US dollars.

This is a Chinese-themed film, and it was produced entirely by a Chinese crew. The fact that it achieved such an amazing box office result allowed Hisao Morishima to see Lee Yi-su's directing ability, and also to see the fortune of this young director.

In Hollywood, there is no luck, only success or failure. If your previous movie is a big hit, then the pay for the next movie will be higher. If it continues to be a big hit, it means that you are a guarantee of box office success, and your pay will naturally go up.

The classic examples are Tom Cruise, who became famous in the 1980s, and Will Smith a few years later. They both became members of the Hollywood $20 million club step by step by relying on the big sales of their movies.

All three works by Li Yishu can be described as very successful, especially the production costs, which are a model of making a big profit with a small investment.

This is also one of the reasons why Columbia Pictures was willing to give Li Yishu 20 million US dollars in production costs.

On the other hand, it is Hisao Morishima's appreciation. He is Japanese. The Japanese have been learning Chinese culture since ancient times and pay more attention to fortune.

Now at Sony headquarters, the plan is to let Hisao Morishima retire and replace him with an American, because Columbia has been losing money in recent years. Although there are occasional movies that do well at the box office, the overall trend is downward.

From the headquarters' point of view, this may be because they have changed their president.

If it was Sony before the economic bubble, it might not care about this loss, but it is no longer possible now. Even if Columbia does not make money, it must be self-sufficient.

Hisao Morishima also has his own people at Sony headquarters. He knows that the headquarters may hold a meeting to discuss this matter after the new year. The actual implementation is estimated to have to wait until July or August. After all, the replacement of the president of Sony Columbia is a big deal in Hollywood.

It also involved factional disputes within Sony. He saw that he would be removed from his position as the "provincial governor" in half a year.
Hisao Morishima also decided to use the usual tricks of the Japanese and gamble on the fate of the country!

It’s just that he was betting on his own personal future, placing the bet on Li Yishu, and also placing his hopes on Li Yishu.

He knew in detail about Li Yishu's experience in the past two years of her fame.

In 1991, he shot his first feature film "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog" in China, which won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice International Film Festival and became an instant hit. Then "That Mountain" was released in Japan and sold 150 million copies. At the end of the same year, he filmed "Love Letter" in Japan.

The following year, the film was released on Valentine's Day and attracted an astonishing 12 million viewers. Then came "Sword Rain" which was released worldwide in December last year. In the United States, the film was known as the first science fiction film in Eastern China, successfully attracting audiences to the cinema and earning $2700 million in the United States.

After three successful movies in a row, including one in Japanese, although they are all Asian films, Hisao Morishima is still ready to give it a try.

No matter whether it succeeds or not, at least you have tried.

Back to the hotel.

Li Yishu asked directly: "Amy, what do you think about this matter?"

"Boss, I think we can give it a try."

Amy's eyes flickered as she said, "President Morishima invited you, Boss, probably because he wanted to give it one last try."

Li Yishu raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"

"I think President Morishima might be removed from his position."

Amy had worked for several film companies, and although she lost her job due to bankruptcy, seeing how anxious Morishima Hisao was today, she could roughly guess that his situation at Columbia Pictures was not very good.

Amy continued, "Although I have never worked in the American entertainment industry, I think most countries in the world think the same way."

"Hollywood should be like Hong Kong, favoring successful people, just like Zhou Xinfa, who was previously known as a box office poison, but later made a comeback with "A Better Tomorrow" and became a box office panacea, and has been successful until now."

"Boss, the several movies you directed in the past two years have been very successful. 'Sword Rain' even earned 2700 million US dollars at the box office in the United States. For a small production with an investment cost of only a few million dollars, it is definitely a big hit."

"I checked before I came here. Columbia Pictures has been in very bad shape in the past three years since it was acquired by Sony. As the person in charge, Hisao Morishima must be punished."

"Boss, your fortune is going strong right now, and this Morishima Hisao is Japanese. Maybe he wants to use your good fortune to change his luck."

Amy is from Hong Kong, where people believe in Feng Shui, so in her opinion, Hisao Morishima invited her boss so enthusiastically most likely with this idea in mind.

Li Yishu didn't think there was anything wrong with what Amy said. Although Hollywood doesn't believe in Feng Shui, they do believe in "religion" to some extent. It's just because information is not well developed now. After the millennium, the Internet developed, and Hollywood stars have also done a lot of outrageous things.

You have to know that the United States is a country of immigrants, and various cults have emerged here one after another, the most famous of which is Tom Cruise's Scientology.

In addition to this example, there are countless Hollywood stars who believe in different cults.

Do they really believe this just because they believe it?
In fact, it is just like how many celebrities later became superstitious about the White Dragon King of Thailand. It was all just for their own star career.

Li Yishu raised her eyebrows and said, "You mean to postpone the other two films and shoot this one with Columbia first?"

"Yes!"

Amy nodded and said, "Boss, this is a rare opportunity. Hisao Morishima is very optimistic about your directing talent. I think it will be difficult to find another one like you in Hollywood. As long as you seize this opportunity, you may have the opportunity to enter the American film market in the future."

In fact, not only Amy has this idea, Li Yishu also has this idea. Jackie Chan has been in Hollywood for many years and finally entered the American market with "Rush Hour".

Even if Lee Ye-su is the director, in this era, there are not many directing opportunities with a production budget of 2000 million US dollars. And judging from Hisao Morishima's attitude, he will definitely support her to the end.

Hollywood adopts the producer-centered system, and with the full support of Hisao Morishima, it will definitely be a lot of benefits for Lee Yi-su, because with the original film in his mind, he only needs to copy it, and the post-production editing can also be done according to the film.

On the contrary, having a producer around would be a hindrance.

So it would be a shame if you don’t give it a try!

Even if "The Sixth Sense" only has half of its original box office, it will be a success for Lee Yi-su. With this result in hand, he will be able to move freely in Hollywood in the next few years.

Regardless of whether they make English films or not, at least they have the confidence and capital to enter the Hollywood market.

"Then try it."

Thinking of this, Li Yishu nodded. He decided to return to China as soon as possible and finish filming "Central Station" before the end of January.

There aren't many big scenes in this film, and the only few big scenes were shot before filming started.

The rest of the plot can be completed within half a month if we work hard. As for post-production, there is no rush. Anyway, we are participating in the Berlin Film Festival next year, so there is still a full year to prepare.

It was during the filming of "Central Station" that Hisao Morishima prepared the crew in advance.

If we really start shooting, it can be done in a month.

The only troublesome thing is casting. The most important and successful character in this film is Hill, the little boy with yin-yang eyes. This role is very, very crucial, so to choose a suitable little actor, a lot of auditions will probably be required.

　Thanks to book friend 20220926211336505 for the reward, thank you big brother!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)