Entertainment tycoon since 83

Chapter 233 Don't Trick Me
"Mr. Huang, I suddenly remembered that so far, the three Chinese-language films that won the three major awards are all related to you!" Cai Songlin, who was frantically imagining Huang Ze's background, thought of something else and asked.

"Now that you mention it, it is indeed true!"

Huang Ze nodded modestly, and then began to sigh.

"What do you call this?"

"One was shot by me, one was shot by Zhang Yimou, who used to be my photographer. I went to help for more than ten days, and there was another one that I invested in."

"What a fate! Hahahaha!"

Huang Ze laughed out loud, and these words flashed through his mind.

A ghost, the ghost of director Huang Ze, is hovering over Chinese films.

Huang Ze felt that his existence already had that flavor.

But in the eyes of Cai Songlin who was standing next to him, it was no longer that smell, it was clearly this!

The three films that won the three major awards are all related to Huang Ze.

He won't believe that there is no trick here, even if you kill him!
This also made him feel that the young people around him were more and more unfathomable.

Must be deeply bound!

Thinking of this, Cai Songlin immediately took action while he was right beside him, "Brother Huang, I want that God of Gamblers movie. Name your price."

"Sixteen million."

"Sixteen million?"

Cai Songlin thought about the movies he had bought from Huang Ze before, which had box office revenue of over 20 million in Hong Kong. Except for "Huang Feihong", which could not be released now, he made huge profits from the other movies.

I have watched "God of Gamblers" myself, and it is of good quality.

With a cost of 16 million, it is not difficult for you to make money, but you will just earn a little less.

After hesitating for more than ten seconds, Cai Songlin agreed directly, "Okay, this is the price."

"Uh..." Huang Ze suddenly felt that his asking price was too low.

But the words have been spoken, what else can I do?
Go back on what you say?

We have been partners for many years. It would be disgraceful to behave like that.

So, Huang Ze agreed, "Okay, that's it."

After saying that, Huang Ze also said, "Old Cai, don't worry, I won't let you lose money."

"My principle for making money is that it is good for you, it is good for me, and it is good for everyone. We can all make money together."

"By the way, how's Once Upon a Time in China going?"

"If the movie can't be released, I'll refund your money." Huang Ze pretended to be a good guy, but in fact he wanted to find out the news again that Taiwan had completely relaxed the control over Hong Kong filmmakers going north.

"No need." When Cai Songlin heard that Huang Ze wanted to return the money, he immediately shook his head like a rattle, "No need to return the money!"

"I am sure it will be released soon, by the middle of next year at the latest."

"Besides, I've already bought your film. If it can't be shown, it's because I was misinformed. How can I ask you to return the money? Wouldn't that be cheating you, Brother Huang?"

"How many times have we worked together? Don't say such things again."

"By the way, when will your new film be shot? I can pay a high price in advance to buy the distribution rights from us."

"You don't even know what subject and content I'm going to shoot." Huang Ze said with a smile.

"Hey, that doesn't matter!" Cai Songlin waved his hands. "As long as it's your film, Brother Huang, I have confidence in it. I don't care what the subject is. Brother Huang, what kind of film of yours wouldn't be a hit?"

"But I'm going to shoot this film in the mainland..."

"..." Cai Songlin blinked a few times and touched his nose, "That's indeed a bit troublesome. I'm still holding back on "Huang Feihong". If I put in another one."

"That's fine. Let's wait until Huang Feihong is released in your place."

"Before this film is fully completed, I promise not to sell the rights to Wanwan to anyone except you!"

"Okay, Brother Huang, you are very nice!" Cai Songlin laughed heartily.

After a while, after the closing ceremony, everyone left the theater.

Hou Xiaoxian, who won the Golden Lion, naturally attracted the most reporters.

But there are quite a few on Huang Ze's side as well.

Obviously everyone realized that there was a lot of news to be dug up about Huang Ze.

"Director Huang, why did you invest in A City of Sadness? Did you ever think it would win the Golden Lion?"

"I think the script is good. I've seen other films by Hou Hsiao-hsien and really like his long shots. He couldn't get any investment, so I invested. As for whether it wins the Golden Lion or not," Huang Ze smiled. "It's not important. It's not even important to me whether the film makes money or not. For some films, their existence is a meaning."

"Director Huang, the director of Red Sorghum also thanked you when it won the Golden Bear. All three of the top three Chinese-language films are related to you. Is it because you have a special relationship with the organizers of the film festival?" The reporter who asked the question spoke in a crooked tone, obviously digging a hole for himself.

Huang Ze glanced at the other person and said, "You know, I haven't even attended the West Berlin Film Festival."

"Director Huang, you are from the mainland, but you invested in Director Hou's "A City of Sadness". Is it because it talks about the "February 28 Incident" and you want to dig into our Taiwanese dark history? What is your intention?"

"What are your intentions?" Huang Ze glared at the other person.

"How about this, let's make a bet?"

"See if this film can be shown in your country. If the relevant departments do not ban it, then it can be proved that what you said is nonsense. You need to publish an apology in the newspaper."

Huang Ze made a winning bet. The Taiwanese film industry is now the preserve of Western and Hong Kong films.

Because there are only a dozen copies of Western films, Hong Kong films are very popular.

In the cultural field, especially in the film field, it is far behind Hong Kong Island.

Now there is a film that has won the Golden Lion Award, and we are so excited about promoting it that we cannot wait to ban it? If you have the guts, just ban it. You can still enjoy the movie and make money without losing it.

Cai Songlin's original investment was exchanged for the distribution rights of "A City of Sadness".

Whether the movie is popular in Taiwan or not will not affect my income at all.

Sure enough, after Huang Ze said this, the reporter fell silent. After dealing with the reporter for a few rounds, Huang Ze pushed the reporter aside and returned to the hotel.

……

The next day.

It's the harvest season again.

Due to Huang Ze's instructions, in order to avoid selling it at a low price, "A City of Sadness" did not accept any quotes during the screening stage.

Now that he has captured the Golden Lion, his value has skyrocketed.

Huang Ze seemed to have seen piles of US dollars falling towards him.

Early the next morning, everyone went to sell movies together, but they didn't see any US dollars, but they saw a fat man.

"Harvey, why do I see you at every film festival?" After the last Cannes Film Festival, Huang Ze became much more familiar with the other party and shook hands with him as soon as they met.

"I'm a film distributor, so of course I have to look for good films everywhere." Harvey smiled and shrugged. "Let alone the three major ones, if you also attend the St. Denis Film Festival, you will also see me."

As he spoke, Harvey began to scribble in the air with his hands.

"Miramax is a small company and it's normal for me, the boss, to be running around."

"It's you instead." Harvey laughed and punched Huang Ze, "Why are you always there wherever I go?"

"Because my company is also a small company!"

"As long as I, the boss, can take charge."

"Hahaha." Harvey laughed a few times and quickly changed the subject. "I want A City of Sadness. It's a good movie."

"It's a pity that North American audiences don't know the history of Taiwan, let alone distinguish who is who. The director's filming is also more artistic, with unique personal characteristics, which may not be liked by the audience."

“The only thing that sells is this year’s Golden Lion winner.”

"Just sell it to me for two million."

"It's too low. I'm also listed as a producer on this film, and I'll be a pretty big publicity point as well." Huang Ze reminded Harvey.

Because the two were familiar with each other, and the big distributors in the United States didn't care much about this kind of film, the two didn't bargain for too long, and finally reached a consensus on a price of 2.8 million US dollars, and Huang Ze sold it to Harvey.

With this good start, other copyrights also sold like hot cakes.

By the time we reconciled the accounts in the evening, we had sold $7.32 million worth of goods that day.

Cai Songlin, who was watching Huang Ze reconciling the accounts, swallowed subconsciously.

Damn, this is really a good profit!

Seven million US dollars, converted into more than 200 million Taiwan dollars.

If we sell a little more tomorrow, wouldn’t that be 300 million?
Even last year's "The Last Emperor" probably only managed this much box office in Taiwan, right?
This is still box office revenue, not money given to the film company.

"Next time, we must not just ask for Wanwan's distribution rights." Cai Songlin turned his head to the side.

I can’t look at it anymore. My eyes will turn red and bleed if I look at it again.

I am so envious!
After seeing the huge profits after winning the award, and thinking about the big background Huang Ze might have in the Big Three, Cai Songlin said, "Because of my cooperation with Director Hou, I recently invested in a new film by Yang Dechang Film Studio. Brother Huang, are you interested?"

"I'm interested! What movie?"

"What's the name of this murder case? Anyway, it's the first murder case involving teenagers in our area, and the murderer is Director Yang Dechang's junior high school classmate."

"I understand. Since Cai Zong has already invested, just give me a 5% share as a token of appreciation."

Huang Ze knew which movie the other party was talking about, "A Brighter Summer Day".

Eighty percent of the time, you don’t make any money.

With an investment of NT$120 million, and the three major awards didn't win, how can they just make money from the head?
You will definitely lose money if you invest in it.

But even if it was a loss, Huang Ze couldn't help wanting to invest a little, a smaller share, and regard a small loss as seeking fame.

After all, this film has left its mark in the history of world cinema.

You can't let others question your ability to appreciate art films!
However, Cai Songlin was somewhat skeptical as to whether Huang Ze was being too reserved.

"Is it a little too little? Don't be so polite to me. I'll give you 20%."

"No, I really don't need it!" Huang Ze was grateful on the surface for this kind of cheating behavior that was bound to make him lose a lot of money, but he rejected it in action, "Who are we two? Why are we doing this nonsense?"

"Listen to me, it's just 5%. Brother, you took the initiative to share it. How can I take more?"

"The big head should be yours, Brother Cai!"

(End of this chapter)