Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 400, 398: This is no ordinary opponent.

Inside a villa in Beijing.

study.

Zhang Weiping slammed a copy of the Beijing Evening News onto the large mahogany desk. The headline of the entertainment section was glaringly obvious: "Kung Fu Soccer rakes in $812 million in its opening weekend in North America; Stephen Chow's comedy conquers Hollywood!"

The accompanying image is Stephen Chow's classic, slightly shy yet powerful shooting motion in a movie.

The study was filled with smoke. Zhang Weiping's fingers, which were holding the cigarette, turned slightly white from the force. He took a deep drag, trying to suppress the churning fire in his chest, a mixture of bitterness and anxiety.

"Damn it... what a stroke of luck!" he muttered, his voice hoarse in the empty office.

He spared no effort, bringing together so many top stars such as Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen, and Chen Daoming, and even invited the renowned director Zhang Yimou. He invested over 200 million RMB, determined to create a world-shaking film called "Hero," aiming directly at the global market and to make China's first truly commercial blockbuster.

But the result?

Meanwhile, the "Hero" crew was still eating sand in Dunhuang, repeatedly polishing a single shot, and going to great lengths to keep it secret, playing hide-and-seek with the media.

For overseas distribution, he and Jiang Zhiqiang racked their brains, figuring out how to negotiate with those arrogant Hollywood film companies. Jiang Zhiqiang privately told him that they expected to get a buyout price for the North American rights, which was estimated to be over ten million US dollars. This was an unprecedentedly high price, enough to cause a sensation in the industry.

And what about Wang Sheng?

That young man who was making wedding videos a few years ago, his "Night at the Museum" project is nowhere to be seen. It's said he's still working on post-production at some "Jackie Chan Happy Park" in Huairou.

But they don't play by the rules at all!
With a budget far lower than that of "Hero", "Shaolin Soccer" and relying on Stephen Chow's "nonsensical" style, it actually made a splash in North America!
$812!
First weekend!
It was obtained even when that damned Ice Age animated film was dominating the market!
Although Zhang Weiping is not a financial expert, he can do the math.

At the current exchange rate of approximately 8.3 yuan to 1 US dollar, that's equivalent to over 67 million yuan!
This is just three days' worth of revenue from one market in North America!

Moreover, and most importantly, Jiang Zhiqiang had told him that Wang Sheng's deal with New Line Cinema wasn't a simple copyright buyout; it was a guaranteed minimum plus a share of the profits!

When Jiang Zhiqiang mentioned this, his tone carried a hint of disbelief and barely perceptible envy: "Weiping, Wang Sheng took a risky step, but he also went all out."

New Line actually agreed to pay a $300 million guarantee and even let him participate in the North American box office revenue sharing... This was something we wouldn't have even dared to dream of before.

Profit sharing!

It's still in US dollars!

Zhang Weiping felt a sharp pain in his chest whenever he thought about this.

Even if the North American rights to "Hero" sold for $15 million, which sounds like a huge sum, it would be over 100 million RMB, enough to cover most of the costs and generate a profit.

With box office revenue from mainland China (he has high hopes for the mainland market), and subsequent revenue from secondary markets such as television rights, videotapes, and DVDs, making money is certain, and it could be substantial.

But these are all one-off deals.

With the copyright sold out, whether the North American box office is a hit or a flop is no longer relevant to Zhang Weiping or New Pictures.

Even if Heroes unexpectedly sells for $100 million in North America, the extra money will only go into the pockets of Miramax or other buyout parties.

But what about Wang Sheng?

For every dollar that "Shaolin Soccer" earns at the North American box office, Shengying Media will receive a larger share according to the agreement!

That was a continuous, steady stream of dollar revenue!

Given the size of the North American market, if the subsequent performance is strong and the final box office reaches 50 to 60 million or even higher... Zhang Weiping simply couldn't imagine how many US dollars Wang Sheng could rake in from it.

This is no longer just a simple profit; it's a strategic victory!

This marks the first truly successful "plundering" of Chinese film capital in the global market.

"Why should I?!" Zhang Weiping stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, sparks flying. "Wang Sheng, a kid from the Beijing Film Studio, thinks he can ride roughshod over us just because he's got a little cleverness and Han Sanping's support? How is our 'Hero' inferior to his ridiculous football movie?"

He stood up irritably and paced back and forth in the study.

The mahogany floorboards thumped loudly under his footsteps.

The concept art for "Hero" hangs on the wall; it is magnificent and colorful, with every frame exuding the aura of a blockbuster.

But at this moment, these images seemed to be shrouded in shadow in his eyes. He remembered how Zhang Yimou repeatedly demanded reshoots for a single scene in Hengdian, how the actors suffered in the desert while suspended by wires, and how much effort the entire crew had put into this film.

They are pursuing a fusion of art and commerce, the ultimate expression of Eastern aesthetics, and wanting the world to see the heights of the Chinese film industry.

Wang Sheng, on the other hand, seems to always use a more opportunistic and "lower-level" method to steal the spotlight time and time again.

From wedding videography to dominating the Lunar New Year film season, from establishing a cinema chain to now exporting culture... this guy seems to always be at the forefront of the times.

Zhang Weiping walked to the window and looked at the bustling traffic below. A strong sense of powerlessness and resentment welled up in his heart.

He realized that his competition with Wang Sheng was no longer limited to domestic box office revenue, but had risen to the level of global market and capital operation.

With the success of "Shaolin Soccer" in North America, Wang Sheng not only earned real US dollars, but also added a dazzling layer of gold to his "Shengying Media" which was seeking an IPO.

"China's first listed film company"

With the success story in the North American market, wouldn't those international investment banks pounce on it like sharks smelling blood?

The valuation is likely to skyrocket again.

Thinking of this, Zhang Weiping felt even more heartbroken.

He picked up the phone, intending to call Jiang Zhiqiang to ask if it was possible to negotiate a revenue-sharing model for the overseas distribution of "Hero," even if the percentage was lower.

But his finger hovered over the button, and he eventually put it down.

He knew that a period martial arts film like "Hero," which emphasized artistic flair and relied on Eastern aesthetics and philosophical speculation, was a relatively niche genre in the North American market. The fact that Hollywood studios were willing to pay a high price to buy the rights was already due to the star-studded cast and Zhang Yimou's international reputation. Getting them to agree to let a Chinese company participate in box office revenue sharing was an impossible task in 2002.

Jiang Zhiqiang had already analyzed this point.

"Ugh……"

A long sigh echoed in the study.

For the first time, Zhang Weiping felt that his meticulously crafted "Hero" ship appeared somewhat cumbersome and passive compared to Wang Sheng's seemingly unconventional but always adaptable speedboat.

……

the other side.

Los Angeles time, early morning of April 1st.

The sunlight dispelled the chill of the night, shining on the vibrant city streets.

While the April Fools' Day atmosphere adds a touch of humor to some trivial news, the power of data is undeniable in serious business and entertainment matters.

The Los Angeles Times entertainment section, though not particularly prominent, did dedicate over a hundred words to reporting on last weekend's box office performance. After summarizing the continued strength of "Ice Age," it specifically mentioned: "The fantasy comedy 'Kung Fu Soccer' from the East performed surprisingly well in its limited release, sparking a viewing frenzy among a specific audience with its unique and crazy 'kung fu and soccer' mix, grossing $812 million in its opening weekend, a strong performance per theater..."

The more influential Variety magazine, in its official website and the pages of its upcoming weekly issue, provided a more detailed description: "The Hong Kong co-production 'Kung Fu Soccer,' distributed by New Line Cinema, became a dark horse to watch last weekend."

The film opened in 902 theaters, grossing $812 million, with an average revenue of $9002 per theater.

This film, starring Stephen Chow, the king of Asian comedy, has successfully attracted the attention of the Asian community, young audiences, and cult film enthusiasts with its subversive creativity and visual spectacle.

Their reverse marketing strategy, utilizing the popular talk show "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," has proven effective..."

The Hollywood Reporter's commentary, while slightly reserved, highlighted the key point: "The success of Kung Fu Soccer may be difficult to replicate, but it proves that targeted marketing to specific cultural groups and audiences seeking novel viewing experiences can still yield substantial returns outside the mainstream market."

New Line Cinema's bold collaboration with its Chinese partners offers a new possibility for films on similar themes.

In addition to print media, some radio stations with keen business sense, especially pop music radio stations and university radio stations in cities with large Chinese populations such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, have also mentioned this Eastern film that is sparking discussion during their morning entertainment news segments.

"Hey listeners, have you heard of a movie where Chinese people use kung fu to play soccer? Yes, you heard right! It's called 'Kung Fu Soccer'! Apparently, it's super absurd and hilarious, and last weekend, many theaters had lines forming late at night..."

"If you're tired of regular comedies, you might want to try this Chinese comedy, 'Kung Fu Soccer.' It's guaranteed to be an eye-opener! Wow, the way they play football will definitely redefine your understanding of the sport!"

While these reports and discussions were far less loud than the overwhelming buzz surrounding "Ice Age," they were like countless tiny streams converging into a powerful wave that continued to wash over the periphery of the North American entertainment market and gradually penetrate into its heart.

(End of this chapter)