Huayu: Director started with art films

Yanjing.

Beijing Film Studio.

Han Sanping acted as a middleman and called Kadokawa Shoten's representative, Koichi Yasui, producer Kadokawa Leyohiko, and Chen Kaige to his office.

Also accompanying them was Li Shaowei, the producer of "The Emperor and the Assassin".

"Mr. Yasui, this is the film producer Li Shaowei. He has the account of every expense!"

Han Sanping brought the recorded accounts to Yasui Hirokazu and said, "I can guarantee that Director Chen definitely did not embezzle the money!"

After the translator nearby translated, Yasui Hirokazu waved his hand and said, "Please help me! We will discuss the issue of lining one's own pockets later. What I want to talk to Director Han about now is that Supervisor Li wants to buy the copyright of our film!"

Brother Chen Kai looked at Han Sanping in surprise. He was called here and thought he was going to negotiate with people from Kadokawa Books, but he didn't expect that Li Yishu also wanted to acquire the film copyright!
"it is good!"

Seeing that the other party took the initiative to bring it up, Han Sanping readily agreed: "Director Li means that he wants to buy all the copyrights and ownership of this film, including the Qin Palace, for 10 million US dollars before tax."

The main investor in the film copyright and Qin Palace is Kadokawa Shoten, which holds almost the majority of the shares. As long as they agree to sell, Beijing Film Studio will naturally agree readily.

Yasui Hirokazu said: "Ten million dollars is too little, and that's before tax. I think it should be at least 1500 million dollars, and that's after tax!"

"This is impossible!"

Han Sanping shook his head and said, "At present, "The Emperor and the Assassin" has already been released in the main ticket-settling markets of China and Japan. The remaining overseas regions have no box office potential at all, and the actors do not have the box office appeal overseas. Director Li will definitely not agree to the price of 1500 million US dollars after tax!"

The total investment was only 3 million RMB, which was claimed to be 4000 million US dollars, but in fact, only about 3500 million US dollars were spent, and another part of more than million US dollars was publicity expenses.

Now the film company has made some money back. If it is sold for 1500 million US dollars, that is the price after tax, it means that Li Yishu will have to spend nearly 1800 million US dollars to buy it.

With this money, Li Yishu can find someone to invest more and shoot another film.

The two sides had a fierce negotiation. When Yasui Hiroshi saw that Han Sanping was determined to get 1000 million US dollars before tax, he frowned and thought for a while: " million US dollars after tax, as long as Director Han can agree, then I agree to sell the copyright of the film outside of Japan, as well as the film and television city!"

Although the movie's box office in Japan was not high, the cost could still be recovered slowly through videotapes, VCDs, etc.

There are still many people in Japan who support genuine products.

It just so happens that Kadokawa Books also operates channels for selling videos and VCDs. If the timeline is extended a little, I can't say that I can make back all the investment, but there is still a great hope that I can make back the investment.

"I'll call and ask."

Han Sanping couldn't agree to the other party directly. After tax, it would be 20 million US dollars. According to the 1200% tax, Li Yishu would have to spend million US dollars.

He stood up and walked out of the office. When he reached the corridor outside and picked up his phone to call Li Yishu, Brother Chen Kai ran out and said, "Director Han, why did you sell the film rights to Li Yishu?!"

Han Sanping just glanced at him without answering and continued to listen to the beeping sound coming from his ears.

"Han Factory..."

Before Chen Kai finished speaking, Han Sanping made a hushing sound with his hands, and then said, "Hey, Yishu, are you busy? No, yes, Kadokawa Books wants 1500 million US dollars after tax, but I bargained with them, and now they want 1000 million US dollars after tax."

"Ten million after tax..."

Li Yishu on the other end of the phone calculated that buying a Qin Palace + movie rights for 1200 million US dollars was definitely not a good deal in the eyes of others. After all, film and television studios are not profitable these days.

But Li Yishu is very clear about how profitable Hengdian Film and Television City will be in the future. He not only owns shares in Hengdian Group, but also owns the Huairou Film and Television Base under construction by Yanjing, including the future "Shanghai Photography Base".

The total investment for this photography base is very high, but Li Yishu doesn’t have much money now. In addition, Li Yishu wants more land, so the two sides are still negotiating.

Li Yishu pondered for a moment and said, "Sure! Tell them it's 10 million US dollars after tax. If they agree, I will arrange for someone to sign the contract right away!"

"Okay, Yishu!" Han Sanping breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Li Yishu's side was taken care of, he wouldn't have to worry about the people from Kadokawa Books causing trouble.

Although it is normal to make losses when investing in movies, given the current domestic economic situation, Kadokawa Publishing is one of the largest publishing houses in Japan, with many subsidiaries operating comics, light novels, novels, books, etc.

They are very well-known in Japan. If they say anything irresponsible in Japan, it will bring too many negative effects and it will not be worth it.

"Director Han!" Seeing him hang up the phone, Brother Chen Kai gritted his teeth and said, "Why do you want Li Yishu to buy it? You can just find someone else!"

"Brother Chen Kai, are you confused?"

Han Sanping said angrily: "Now the movie has already been released in China and Japan, the largest box office markets, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as South Korea and Southeast Asia. Do you expect to earn back 10 million US dollars after tax?"

To make 10 million dollars, the box office must be at least 30 million dollars, and that’s not including taxes.

But how is it possible?
How much can China and Japan, the two largest vote banks in Asia, sell together? Can we count on Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Southeast Asia?

Brother Chen Kai was unconvinced and said, "Aren't there still European and American markets?"

“Europe and America…”

Han Sanping laughed in anger, "Brother Chen Kai, you don't think you are Li Yishu, do you? He doesn't even dare to guarantee that his film Red Cliff of the Three Kingdoms will sell well in Europe and America, he is counting on recovering the cost in Asia."

Cultural differences are a subjective condition that cannot be eliminated.

Han Sanping attended the Berlin Film Festival and watched many films at the festival.

It is clear how low the price of Asian films is in European and American copyright transactions, unless you can win a big prize, but only three people win big prizes every year.

Lee Yi-su now relies entirely on his status as a winner of many film festival awards and good relations with international film distributors. His films have a certain box office and market appeal.

That's why some people would spend a lot of money to buy the rights to his movies.

Brother Chen Kai is somewhat famous in Europe, but not only is he not as famous as Li Yishu, he is even not as famous as Zhang Yimou. How can you expect his movies to sell well in Europe?
Not to mention the United States, there is only one new director!
Li Yishu is different. "The Sixth Sense" sold 4 million US dollars worldwide, "Sword Rain" sold 1.8 million US dollars worldwide, and "Rumble in the Bronx" sold nearly 6000 million US dollars, and "Chicago" sold 8000 million US dollars this year.

European and American film producers, distributors and theaters all buy into his films.

In this respect, Brother Chen Kai can't even catch up with him.

"I~~" Brother Chen Kai was speechless. He wanted to say that he was not bad, but when the words came to his lips, he held them back.

He secretly vowed in his heart that his adapted script "Feng Yue" must win the grand prize of the three major European film festivals, preferably the Palme d'Or, so that those who looked down on him would regret it!
Looking at Brother Chen Kai's attitude, Han Sanping shook his head slightly, sighed in his heart, turned back to the office, and prepared to explain the situation to the people from Kadokawa Books.

After a brief negotiation for "The Emperor and the Assassin", Kadokawa Shoten and Beijing Film Studio jointly sold the Qin Palace and film rights to Li Yishu's Art Media Group for US$1000 million after tax.

Amy happened to be in Hong Kong, so she rushed to Yanjing and signed the contract.

At the same time, all the photographic materials were sent to Hengdian.

Because Lee Yi-su was planning to reshoot the film, she was also going to have the lines re-dubbed and all the characters' images had to be changed.

For example, the name of Zhao Ji, played by Jiang Wenli, had to be changed, and the plot also had to be overhauled. A new film had to be re-edited from the filmed material, and if there were any parts that needed reshooting, the actors had to be called in to reshoot them.

Of course, the most important thing is still the war scenes!
Not to mention the extras, they just used the extras from the Red Cliff crew. Anyway, the costumes and props for "The Assassination of Qin" were all in the Hengdian warehouse.

Li Yishu has already made up her mind and asked Zhang Yimou to come over to help reshoot the Qin army's war scenes in "Hero".

The reshoot will take no more than half a month and will cost no more than one million US dollars.

Time passes little by little.

Fast forward two days later.

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

Inside the set of Wuhan Film Studio.

This place has been arranged to look like a cabin.

The reason why we didn’t shoot directly on the warship was mainly because of the field of vision.

When the warship was designed, it was designed according to the normal warship model. The sailors rowed the boat on the bottom deck, and the space inside the cabin was very limited. It was not enough to accommodate dozens of people dancing or a group of Cao army generals drinking and having fun.

(Suddenly I can post pictures, surprise!)
Lighting, photography, and stage set are all busy.

Li Yishu sat on a chair and chatted with director Xie Jin beside him. He would leave for Shanghai the day after tomorrow to attend the 2nd Shanghai International Film Festival.

This year's Shanghai Film Festival opens on October 10th. It's only the 28th now, but as the jury chairman of the film festival, Li Yishu naturally has to go there early and entertain the foreign filmmakers he invited.

Xie Jin asked curiously, "Director, I read in the newspaper that this year's Shanghai Film Festival has invited many European and American actors and directors, as well as a large number of film companies and producers. Is that true?"

"Yes, we did invite quite a few people."

Li Yishu nodded: "French actors Sophie Marceau and Isabelle Adjani, Italian actress Monica Bellucci... American actor Bruce Willis, director Quentin Tarantino, Nicolas Cage, Naomi Watts, supermodel Cindy Crawford, director Martin Scorsese, Polish director Kieslowski..."

Hearing these dozens of names, Xie Jin didn't recognize many of them, or had never heard of them, but since Li Yishu could name them, there must be something good about them, and he also sighed:
"I didn't expect that this year's Shanghai Film Festival would be so grand. Two years ago, many European and American filmmakers came, but their works were unknown to ordinary audiences, not even to me."

Xie Jin is old, but when he is not filming, he still watches at least two foreign films every day, regardless of the subject matter, mainly to learn the ideas behind overseas films.

He has watched a lot of films and has heard of many big European and American directors, but he has never heard of their names. This shows that all the participants in the first Shanghai Film Festival were new directors or unknown directors.

"Yes, it was an unprecedented event."

Li Yishu smiled. The foreign filmmakers who came to attend the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Film Festival this time would definitely be the most star-studded group in the next few decades.

Because each of them has been popular for a period of time. Even thirty years later, their names are familiar to netizens who follow foreign films.

At this time, the assistant director on the scene ran over and said, "Director, Director Xie, everything has been arranged."

Li Yishu said, "Then let's get ready to start filming. Let Prime Minister Cao and the soldiers come out!"

After five or six minutes, Cao Cao, played by Bao Guoan, came out from the dressing room next door with the other actors.

Seeing the protagonist Cao Cao coming, Li Yishu stepped forward and began to tell Bao Guoan how to shoot the next scene.

"Teacher Bao, you will recite the lines according to the temporary script. You should recite the poem "Zhou Gong spits out food to feed the people and welcomes the whole world to its feet". You should show your ambition to unify the world and feel that you will definitely win this battle. If you take over Jiangdong, you will completely establish your position as the overlord..."

Seeing that he suddenly stopped talking, Bao Guoan asked curiously, "What's wrong, Director?"

"Nothing, just do as I said just now and take two shots first."

Lee Yi-su said as she shouted, "Everyone return to their seats, let the actors from the dance theater come on stage, and finish filming the drinking and having fun scenes first."

As soon as he finished speaking, a crew member ran to contact the dance troupe of the musical theater.

After a short while, seventeen dancers came in.

Li Yishu was sitting in front of the monitor, glancing at the dance troupe. When she was about to let them dance first, her eyes were suddenly attracted by the lead dancer.

With her long hair piled high, bright white teeth, a face like a lotus, eyebrows like willow leaves, she is delicate and charming. She is wearing a simple pure white ancient costume, standing there gracefully, making people unforgettable at first sight!
Gee!

No wonder Liu Tianxian revealed that she was the ugliest in the family.

Li Yishu has never met the other family members in person, but Liu Xiaoli is really beautiful. Although she doesn't know her exact age, she should be over 30 years old.

Judging from his appearance, he is at most 27 or 28 years old.

And the most important thing is that she has a temperament like a classical Jiangnan woman.

The assistant director next to him reminded: "Director, everyone is here."

Li Yishu said, "Let the dance troupe do a piece first."

"Okay, Director Li." The assistant hurried forward to communicate with the other team leader. After a moment, the group began to dance, and Zhao Fei immediately carried the camera to shoot close-up shots.

Li Yishu looked at the lead dancer Liu Xiaoli through the monitor. Every glance and smile of her was stunningly beautiful.

The rehearsal lasted about ten minutes.

Wait until the official shooting starts.

Li Yishu looked at the monitor and saw Bao Guoan sitting in the main seat with a smile on his face and his eyes slightly narrowed. The picture changed and it was the graceful and beautiful Liu Xiaoli. He couldn't help but think of the classic line of Prime Minister Cao: I wonder if my wife is willing to sit with me tonight! (End of this chapter)