Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 46 [Win-win cooperation, arrival in Japan] Please read
Tomson Films Limited (Hong Kong).

In the office, Xu Lu's secretary made two cups of coffee and left tactfully.

Li Yishu picked up the coffee and took a sip.

Although it’s a bit bitter, he still prefers Luckin Coffee.

Seeing him put down the cup, Xu Suo took the initiative to ask, "Director Li wants to invest in "Farewell My Concubine"?"

"That's right, Sister Xu."

Li Yishu nodded, "You should know that I sold some overseas copyrights for my previous movie, so I have some spare money. I don't know how to invest in other things, but I know a little about movies. And I wrote the script and directed this movie myself, so I am confident that I can win one or two awards in Europe."

Generally speaking, if a director who has won the three major European awards registers for the exhibition, as long as the quality of his work meets the requirements, he will definitely be shortlisted, but it is hard to say whether he can win the award.

But Li Yishu was not guaranteed to win the three major European awards.

I just said that I am confident of winning an award in Europe.

You should know that there are a large number of European film festivals, and the number of international A-class film festivals is also the largest in the world.

In addition to Berlin, Cannes and Venice, there is also the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland and the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain.

These have all obtained the "International Class A Film Festival" qualification certificate issued by the International Federation of Film Technical Associations.

If we don’t get into the A-category film festival, that would be even more of a hassle.

That's why Li Yishu dared to say this.

"Since Director Li wants to co-produce the film, I have no problem with that, but as for the share, I can only give 30% at most."

Xu Suo thought about it and offered a considerable investment share.

She made movies not just to make money, but mainly to find something to do so that she wouldn't have to sit at home and do nothing like a wealthy wife.

Of course, if the movie you invested in can make money, that’s definitely good. Who would complain about making too much money?
"Thank you very much, Sister Xu. Thirty percent is enough."

Li Yishu was delighted, as 30% had already exceeded his expectations.

"Actually, it's okay to give you a bigger share. The main thing is that I want to bring Yanjing Film Studio along, so this is the only way."

"It's okay, Sister Xu. Cooperation is a win-win situation. I also want to bring in Emei Film Studio and Yanjing Film Studio to produce "Red Ling". When the time comes, including Sister Xu's, the four of us will jointly produce it."

The early to mid-90s was still the era of film studios.

If Lee Yi-su wants to make movies in China, it is still necessary to win over the production studios.

Since his father is at Emei Film Studio and he is grateful for his father's help, he will definitely take him with him. Maybe he can even help his father take a step forward and advance from director to management level in the studio.

As for bringing Yanjing Film Studio along, apart from the fact that it will be merged into China Film Group in a few years and they want to make it more familiar to the public sooner, the main reason is that Yanjing Film Studio currently has a cooperative relationship with Beijing Film Academy.

As a student of Beijing Film Academy, Li Yishu naturally wants to maintain good relations with the Beijing Film Studio, which will be beneficial to his future layout in the film industry.

Yu Dong, the founder of Bona Film Group, resigned from China Film Group and went out on his own. With the care of his old boss Han Sanping, he gradually developed Bona into one of the best distribution and production companies in the country.

After talking about the investment ratio for a while, Li Yishu thought of his own art film company and asked Xu Lu to help find some reliable people.

Help him set up the framework of this shell company. He was unfamiliar with Hong Kong Island, and the only people he could find were Xu Lu and Qiu Fusheng.

But Qiu Fusheng's base is in Taiwan, and Xu Lu has been rooted in Hong Kong for decades. He knows many people in the industry and must have many management talents.

"No problem, Director Li. I'll arrange for someone to help you build the framework first."

"Sorry to bother you, Sister Xu."

"It's just a small thing. If Director Li really wants to thank me, then he should start filming "Red Ling" sooner!"

"Haha, don't worry, Sister Xu. I will start filming right after I finish Farewell My Concubine." That night, after finishing filming, Zhang Guorong learned that Li Yishu had come to Hong Kong. She warmly invited him out for dinner the next night and introduced him to some friends in the Hong Kong entertainment industry.

However, Li Yishu had to catch a flight to Tokyo, Japan the next day, so she declined Zhang Guorong's dinner invitation. She did agree to stay in Hong Kong for one night after he finished his work in Japan.

The next afternoon, around two o'clock.

Tokyo International Airport.

Ichiro Tanaka arrived early in the morning with the staff of Toho Corporation, holding a large pick-up sign, and waited for Li Yishu to arrive at the airport.

"Mr. Li, this way!"

"Over here, Li Jun!"

After seeing Li Yishu carrying a suitcase and following the large crowd, Ichiro Tanaka hurriedly shouted, but there were too many people around to pick up the plane, which covered up his voice. With no other choice, he had to snatch the sign from his subordinate, hold it high, and wave it desperately.

Li Yishu spotted him, walked up to him with her suitcase, and held out her hand with a smile on her face: "Mr. Tanaka, we meet again."

"Mr. Li, thank you for coming to Tokyo. Thank you for your hard work."

After shaking hands, Ichiro Tanaka immediately bent down and bowed, and several subordinates following him also followed suit and bowed.

"Okay, Mr. Tanaka, there's no need to do this."

Li Yishu was a little embarrassed. He was not used to the Japanese bowing etiquette. Just shake hands, why bow?

"Hi! Mr. Li, this way please."

Perhaps because he could see that the other party didn't like it, Ichiro Tanaka quickly reacted and led the way, saying, "Mr. Li, you must be very tired after taking the plane. We have already arranged the hotel. Mr. Li, have a good rest in the afternoon. In the evening, we will go to participate in the TV program recording."

"What program?"

Although Li Yishu already knew the general schedule of the trip, he didn't know what program he would participate in.

"Tetsuko's Room"

"Tetsuko's room?"

"Yes, Li Jun, this is an interview program. It has been recorded for 15 years. Almost all the top artists and directors in Japan have participated in this program. It can be said to be the most popular interview program in Japan, and the ratings have always been very high."

When she heard it was an interview program, Li Yishu nodded, fortunately it was not a variety show.

Variety shows in Japan are very entertaining, either prank-type or funny-type.

Before getting in the car, Ichiro Tanaka suddenly said, "By the way, Mr. Li, besides you, Ms. Izumi Sakai will also participate in the recording of the program. She will sing the song "That's Why You Go Away" that you composed on the show."

"I also can."

Lee Ye-su had no objection to having one more person accompany her during the recording.

And he actually wanted to meet Izumi Sakai.

The 1980s, 1990s and 2000s happened to be the era when Japanese dramas were rampant in China, including "Ashin", "The Volleyball Girl", "Blood Ties", and "Tokyo Love Story" a few years later.

These Japanese dramas have brought a different viewing experience to domestic audiences to a large extent.

Especially "Tokyo Love Story" a few years later, it can be said to have opened up a wave of domestic urban romance dramas.

Precisely because of the popularity of Japanese dramas, many popular Japanese singers and artists are still very well-known in China.

A little further away are Ken Takakura, Miyuki Nakajima, Akina Nakamori, and Izumi Sakai who will become quite famous in the future.

Izumi Sakai became popular at the time when Li Yishu had just started working. Her song "Don't Give Up" was quite popular in those years.

(End of this chapter)