Entertainment upstart

Chapter 596 Influence on "Pacific Rim"

Jon, the chairman of the board of directors of Legendary Pictures, was previously the creative director. In recent years, because of his outstanding performance, he was recognized by the board of directors and became the chairman of the board.

In 2011, the total value of Legendary Pictures just exceeded US$10 billion. Since he took office, in just two years, the total value of Legendary Pictures has exceeded US$15 billion.

Zhou Xia knew Legendary Pictures, a Hollywood film company, very well.

After all, in 2016, Wanda bought it for US$35 billion in cash, and later contributed to Lao Mouzi's filming of "The Great Wall", which was assisted by Da Tiantian.

Prior to this, in 2014, Softbank International had invested US$2.5 million in Legendary Pictures, and the two parties also established a joint venture company to expand the global digital content business and focus on developing the Chinese and Indian markets.

In the North American market, the other six major film and television companies are powerful and own a large number of IPs and copyrights. In order to achieve development, Legendary Pictures can only rely on Warner Bros. and cooperate with them. Now it is targeting other emerging film markets. Naturally I want to develop faster and make myself stronger.

This Mr. Jon is so eager to come to Zhou Xia for cooperation, it is nothing more than that.

Zhou Xia naturally wished for this.

Although Xia Hua's branch in North America employs many local employees, it has always been very cautious in its development.

The North American market is different from mainland China. Many American dramas spend an average of 2000 million U.S. dollars per episode, and some high-quality American dramas even exceed [-] million U.S. dollars.

When investing in films, the risk will be higher, so Xiahua Branch only invests in some low-cost independent filmmakers' projects.

If we can cooperate with Legendary Pictures, with its experience and resources in North America, and if we use its advantages to check some projects, then we can achieve rapid development in North America.

However, thinking that after Legendary Films invested in several films such as "Pacific Rim", "Clash of Hackers", and "The Seventh Son", they ended up with poor box office results and were later acquired by Wanda, but Zhou Xia hesitated.

He also wants to buy Legendary Pictures, and the current Legendary Pictures has a lower total value. If he can buy it in advance, it is better than competing with Wanda in the future and spending more money.

However, Wanda North America has its own advantages.

In May last year, with the support of loans from several major domestic banks, Wanda acquired AMC, the second largest theater chain in the United States, and has its own territory in the North American market. This is also a major reason why the board of directors of Legendary Pictures is willing to accept cash mergers and acquisitions.

Xia Hua's development in this area is relatively slow.

In China, Miaoyan Theaters will become the second largest private theater by the end of the year, and it will not be far behind Wanda, which is not bad, but it is much worse in terms of global market layout.

Wanda has not only acquired the amc theater chain in North America, but has now begun to deploy the European market. By 2016, it will spend 9.21 pounds to acquire Odeon & UCI, the largest theater chain in Europe.

At that time, after three years of development, Zhou Xia believes that Xia Hua can still catch up with Wanda, and the film and television industry is Xia Hua's main business after all. I believe that many theaters will also consider this when cooperating with related film and television companies. premise.

After all, it means a greater risk for a layman to acquire itself. In fact, the profits of those overseas theaters acquired by Wanda are mediocre.

Even in 2019, in the mainland market, Wanda's independently produced films, there are not many truly successful films, and the ones that have a little influence are all invested in other people's projects.

………………

Due to staying in the United States for a while, Zhou Xia asked a real estate agent to buy a villa in Hollywood after not long staying in the hotel.

In Zhou Xia's 200 million dollar luxury villa, in the spacious and bright study room, Zhou Xia quickly read the script and looked at Jon who was sitting opposite.

"Mr. Jon, I have finished reading the script of "Pacific Rim."

"It's over, it's only been half an hour?" Jon looked at Zhou Xia in surprise. The script has a total of more than 4 words.

"Yes, my reading speed has always been very fast. If you don't believe me, you can turn a page to test me." Zhou Xia handed the script to the other party.

The assistant and translator beside Jon has never been useful. Zhou Xia communicated directly with Jon in English. At this time, he quickly reminded Jon in a low voice.

He did a survey when he came here before, and knew Zhou Xia's detailed information, which of course included Zhou Xia's extraordinary memory.

After listening to the assistant's introduction, Jon looked at Zhou Xia in surprise, gave up his plan to try Zhou Xia, and asked directly: "Then what do you think, Mr. Zhou, would you like to participate in our movie?"

"Hehe, I still have to think about it." Zhou Xia looked at the other party with a smile.

In fact, the legend is still very sincere. In order to invite him to star in this "Pacific Rim", the pilot of the Chinese mech "Storm Red" in the original movie was changed from the Xiangjiang triplets to a martial arts master. Kung Fu masters, also particularly emphasized the reasons for the specialties of the fighters driving this mecha, as well as their strengths.

After all, this storm red machine has a pure titanium core without impurities. Each muscle has fifty diesel-powered engines. It weighs 1722 tons and is 76 meters high. It mainly fights in the southern waters of Xiangjiang and other areas. It is in CZ City, Sujiang Province, China. Completed.

Because of its size and strength, it needs to be driven by a kung fu master far beyond ordinary drivers, so that it can control the three arms at the same time.

Among the five mechas, this mecha is the top mecha fighter in fighting and hand-to-hand combat. It looks like a big red spider in appearance, and it is very flexible.

In addition, the left arm of this mecha has a biometric function, which can aim at the monster's bone for precise attack, and can kill monsters in a single shot from a long distance. Knife, fighting monsters, great performance.

These are all in line with Zhou Xia's status as a martial arts master, and it also shows the sincerity of the legend.

"Do you still have to think about it? I don't know what concerns Mr. Zhou has. Is he dissatisfied with the script?" Jon frowned and looked at Zhou Xia. He knew that the other party was a very successful director.

In particular, the box office of "The Expendables 2" starring the other party surpassed the box office in North America in mainland China, which made him see the possibility of greater success in Asia for the movie "Pacific Rim".

For this reason, they did not hesitate to revise the script so that the pilot of the Chinese mech fighters fits Zhou Xia's identity. In addition, they will also pay Zhou Xia a top foreign actor, a full 1500 million US dollars!

If Zhou Xia is still thinking about it, that may be the reason why Xia Hua and Stallone did not reach a cooperation in "The Expendables 3".

As long as the opponent doesn't go too far on this point, they can still make concessions.

Anyway, the Chinese market restricts access, and it is very difficult for their legendary movies to become split films and get 25% of the box office split.

Every year, the Chinese market gives more than 20 Hollywood movies. Even if they can be imported, the share of the bill may not be higher than selling out the copyright.

Zhou Xiajian, Mr. Jon, was very sincere, and immediately said with a smile: "Actually, I have a request. I hope that the heroine can use our actors. You know, our Xia Hua actresses have a strong box office appeal in China. Li, I hope you can think about it."

(End of this chapter)