MTL - Exploiting Hollywood 1980-Chapter 857 two award-winning films

  Chapter 857 Two award-winning films

"The Last Emperor" did not cause any disturbance in the box office rankings in the first weekend. This epic blockbuster, which was invested by the British, released by the American, directed by the Italian, and performed by the Chinese, cost 24 million US dollars, even ranked in the top ten box office. Did not go in.

  The final box office score was $198,000. However, if you consider that this result was obtained when there were only 6 theaters in total, the average box office of a single theater was 33,000 US dollars, which still made Hollywood look at it with admiration.

  The distributor of this film is the Heimdell company that once invested in "Terminator" directed by James Cameron. They easily bought the rights to distribute the film, but when the film was delayed in being edited, they began to doubt again.

  When the trial screening of the film editing was completed, Heimdell saw that the audience in Europe had a mediocre reaction to this. They saw that something was wrong, and packaged and sold the distribution rights in North America, together with the other two films, to Colombia.

  No one knows that when the film "The Last Emperor" was first shown in Italy last month, it unexpectedly became a hit.

  Bertolucci is an excellent Italian film director. As a screenwriter, he wrote "Once Upon a Time in the West" and directed "Last Tango in Paris" more than ten years ago, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Director.

   But that's not the only reason why the movie is a hit in Italy. What attracts the audience even more is the story of the last emperor in the ancient and mysterious ancient oriental country. He was the emperor of China, but he learned English from a Briton. He used to be the ruler of a country with hundreds of millions of people, then became a prisoner, and finally became an ordinary citizen.

  Western people are full of imagination about China. Film is undoubtedly the best medium to reflect a country. Due to Huaguo's strict restrictions on the number of tour groups, many viewers who are curious about Huaguo can only look for images of that country in movie theaters.

  This kind of common people's curiosity about a country, coupled with the fact that there are very few movies in Huaguo that can be shown in mainstream Western theaters, so it all turned into a desire to watch the "Last Emperor". Audiences in Italy filled the 19 theaters that opened.

  In the second week, the screening scale was rapidly expanded to 65 theaters, and the audience continued to be full. On the 16th day, it has quickly broken through two million dollars.

  Germany, which was released a week later than Italy, also caused an upsurge in moviegoing. Relying on 50 movie theaters, the box office has exceeded one million US dollars on the tenth day.

  This result made Heimdell very regretful, and it sold the North American distribution rights to Columbia at a cheap price, and now it seems that it is expected to make a lot of money.

  Columbia's distribution department, of course, also noticed this phenomenon. But Europe is Europe, and America is America. They still cautiously adopted the strategy of small-scale screenings, allowing the few screenings to arouse word-of-mouth from the audience, and then using this situation of hard-to-get tickets to continue to whet the appetite of the audience.

   Have to say, their strategy is very successful.

   On the box office list this week, No. 1 is the Hollywood English version of the same name based on the Chinese movie "Three Dads and One Baby". It broke through $10 million in the first week.

   Aside from the rerun of "Cinderella," the real second place, John Hughes comedy, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

   Although the box office was good, both films suffered some criticism in the film critic circle. The one that really won unanimous praise from the film critics is "The Last Emperor".

  The critical film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it a rare perfect score of four stars. And his film reviews are full of longing and admiration.

"Bertolucci's entire film was shot in China, and he was even allowed to shoot in the Forbidden City—a sprawling medieval complex of about 250 acres (100 hectares) with 9,999 rooms (China It is believed that only heaven has 10,000 rooms).

Appreciating a film because of its location is usually an unforgivable petty bourgeois act, but in the case of "The Last Emperor," the film's narrative cannot be separated from the awe-inspiring presence of the Forbidden City, nor from Bertolu Strange uses locations, authentic costumes, and thousands of extras to create this odd little boy's everyday reality apart. "

  And another Chicago film critic, Jonathan Rosenbaum, who just took office at the "Chicago Reader's Weekly", praised the film to a very outrageous level.

   “I had the pleasure of seeing Spielberg’s new film Empire of the Sun when it comes out next month.

   At best, apart from a few amazing shots, what "Empire of the Sun" lets us understand is the story in a director's mind.

  The "Last Emperor" easily achieved the same effect. What's really powerful is that it also tells us about the lives of the billion people who share this planet with us. And better yet, makes us want to learn more about their lifestyles..."

   Is "The Last Emperor" better-looking than "Empire of the Sun"? Is Bertolucci better than Spielberg? "

  Helen Slater took the movie review that Ronald had read, and marveled while watching it. She already liked this kind of epic movie, and just like Roger Ebert laughed at himself, she was full of little bourgeois appreciation for this kind of movie that could be shot in the ancient Huaguo.

   "You didn't go to the premiere, the audience in New York liked it very much." Ronald replied, as for the parents in Oklahoma, that's not necessarily the case.

  I haven't watched the whole film of "Empire of the Sun" yet, but I heard that it will be fully released on Christmas. The premiere will be on the 8th of next month. So I have no way to answer your question yet. "

   "Well, I see. Is your director's "Moonlight" released next month? There are so many new films at the end of the year."

   "Well, it's like this", Ronald replied absently, kissing Helen's neck slowly from behind. Helen has a special temperament of an uptown girl, which fascinates him very much.

  Helen Slater's observation is correct. Nowadays, more and more movies are adopting the award-winning strategy of "returning with honor". In the last two months of each year, many films will range in size from dozens to hundreds to qualify for the Oscar selection for that year.

   Then expect the film to be nominated for an Oscar after the end of the New Year's Day holiday next year, and use this kind of free marketing to boost the box office. If you are lucky enough to win some Oscars, then you can get high box office with long-term screenings.

  Now the two movies with the highest Oscar appeal next year are "The Last Emperor" and "Empire of the Sun". In addition to these two films, Ronald's "Moonlight", under the joint plan of MGM and its own marketing consultant, is also preparing to go this way.

  The filming started in early December this year, and it will remain below 10 movie theaters until the end of the year, and then it will be released on a large scale in mid-January next year. It mainly relies on the word-of-mouth of the audience and the public relations management of film critics to obtain high word-of-mouth.

   "Huh...", Helen exhaled a long breath, as if her soul returned to her body. Ronald hugged her from behind, their red faces pressed together, and they breathed each other.

   "How is your financing negotiation in New Jersey going?" Ronald adjusted his breathing, and then asked about Helen who was still limp in his arms.

   "Hmm... not very smooth. After the stock market crash, many investors who were generous to the film are now encountering difficulties. The TV station that my father has been connected with has also greatly reduced the budget for purchasing film broadcasting rights.

  So everything depends on yourself. I've decided that the screenwriter, Melanie Mellen, will be my co-star and another screenwriter, Katrin Adams, will be the director, which will save a lot of money. "

  Helen was a bit exhausted, and even when talking about the content of her favorite producer, she began to be a little bit dizzy.

"I can contribute, my daydream, I'm still looking for a suitable script, what's the budget for your new film?" Ronald saw Helen working so hard, knowing that the stock market crash made her father contact the TV station to buy the movie Playing rights as a financing option for upfront payments have failed.

  Although independent production is so difficult, as a producer, you must go out and convince investors. But Ronald felt that the work of persuasion could be done on his own.

"Huh? You have money? Does your company still have money to invest after the stock market crash?" Helen came to her senses. She turned over and said to Ronald, "My whole movie needs about 2 million yuan. The investment is about US dollars, and there is still a gap of 1.5 million, no, 1.2 million is fine, I can let Melanie's boyfriend be the photographer."

   "Why are your directors, starring actors, and screenwriters all women?" Ronald felt no pressure when he heard that there were only more than one million yuan.

   "We want to make a female film. The two protagonists of the story are also female. They are partners in a string duo, one plays the violin and the other plays the cello, playing in the street..."

  Helen hurriedly introduced the story to Ronald. A friend of the two protagonists brought a bag for them to keep, and the two girls found that it was full of cash..."

   Ronald listened to the story, and it was a good low-cost story. At the beginning, there was a huge sum of money as a gimmick. Two girls spent money, were chased and killed by bad guys, and finally returned the money to restore the story of street busking. There is also a theme that one cannot rely on windfall.

  This kind of low-cost movie is actually very suitable for the video tape business. A lot of people spend $1.50 on weekends just to see beautiful women and comedies, and have fun.

   "You send the script to my office in Daydream tomorrow, and my screenwriting department will evaluate it. If it passes, I can write you a check soon?"

   "Really?" Helen was looking for financing everywhere, but she didn't expect Ronald to say that she could invest here, and she was afraid that he was joking.

   "However, I have to read the script and evaluate it before making a decision, and then my daytimers will send assistant producers to the crew to take charge of the finances..." Ronald looked at

   "What evaluation would you give? My script is very well designed..." Helen happily posted it.

   "It depends on how you convince me?" Ronald put on a reserved posture.

   "Isn't this enough to convince you?" Helen stuck up regardless of fatigue, and pressed tightly against Ronald's chest, persuading him well.

  …

"Ronald, the script you sent, I have contacted the crew." Daydream's general manager Eddie called Ronald a day later, "I have to say, the producer, the director, The screenwriter, the two leading actors (part-time), can't make me feel at ease, I doubt whether they have the ability to shoot the scenes of the script."

   "No way, it's so bad?"

   "It's that bad. Helen Slater told me for more than an hour about the concept, and the history and future of women's films in America... As for the story and filming, I didn't talk about a word."

   "God, are they going to make movies or engage in feminist performance art?" Ronald knew that Helen was a rich girl, and he didn't know much about Hollywood's tricks, and sometimes he was a bit naive (Nave). Could it be that someone else took a fancy to her relationship and deliberately persuaded her to make a movie? "

   "It's hard to say, I suggest not to approve the budget." Eddie gave his own suggestion.

   "This is not an option, Eddie. You think about how to make Helen not be used by others, but also make a movie, at least not to lose money, um, not to lose too much."

   "In this way, I can agree first, and then ask them to make a storyboard script that meets industry standards, and take a trial shot to show their strength. In this way, people who have no professional ability can be cleared out."

   "Just do it like this, um...don't be too cruel to Helen."

"I'll be careful, but don't expect too much. This crew is either amateurs or people who sneak in to cheat their qualifications. According to business logic, many people will be eliminated, especially the director Katlin Adams. She is actually an acting coach by profession, this time she came purely to accumulate director qualifications and deceive Helen's social connections."

   "Is there no one who can be used?" Ronald thought to himself, if Helen's own team was fired, would she turn against him?

  "The screenwriter, Melanie Mellen, who co-stars with Helen, is pretty good. She is also a naive girl, and the script she wrote herself was taken away by Katlin Adams as the first screenwriter.

  By the way, there is also her boyfriend, the photographer is a professional, I think it is very good, and he likes to make some small inventions, he is able to do things. I guess if the original cast of this movie, only he can do it professionally. "

   "Then do it according to your ideas. I will give you 2 million permissions. Under this, you can invest without telling me. In addition, if you are interested, you can also serve as a producer."

   "Okay, that's it, explain to Helen." Eddie hung up the phone.

   "I'm sorry, Director Huang, I have a lot of things here. Our Hollywood movies must pay attention to... According to your words, we must pay attention to economic benefits, so we have to think carefully about each movie. If we don't pay attention, we will lose money."

  Ronald put down the phone and explained to Director Huang who came from Xujiahui Studio.

  Director Huang and a delegation from Xujiahui also came to New York to meet Ronald at a staggered time with the delegation from the capital.

   "Are you busy with your affairs?" Director Huang said that Ronald should be waiting.

   "We came this time mainly to cooperate with Director Luo. Now that domestic production budgets are very tight, we have to open our minds and invigorate... well, invigorate the economy."

   Ronald looked at Director Huang with a smile. This passage really made her feel uncomfortable. Someone must have taught her to memorize it.

   "Forget it, Director Luo knows me, I can't explain the reasoning, I'd better talk about movies, hahaha", Director Huang also let go.

Just like the delegation from the capital, the delegation from Xujiahui also hopes that Ronald can participate in a Chinese art foundation they have set up to promote Chinese paper-cut films, ink cartoons, and other works with Chinese characteristics. film art.

  After the reform, this kind of film form with high social benefits but low economic benefits gradually received less funding.

  The animation studio had to switch to making some children's animations that meet market demand, such as the "Black Cat Sheriff", "Calabash Brothers", and the "Avanti" series of films that Ronald saw last time. The number of films produced each year has been drastically reduced compared to before.

"Before I came, the leaders in the city told me that Director Luo's lamp factory in Minhang had a good export and filled the gap in world-leading technology. If there are any other suitable factories, I can go back and open two more. "

   "I only know some film techniques, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

"I know that this lamp factory was invented by Lao Yan. I just said that before I came, the city specially called our delegation, and the mayor specifically told him that Director Luo's factory is a model of Sino-American cooperation. He felt very, well, how do you say that in English?"

   "Excited", Xiao Yan, who specially asked for leave from school and came to accompany Director Huang, took over the conversation.

"Let me see if there are any products that are suitable for the technical level of the workers there." Ronald did not express any hope. For the eliminated technical products, other products are produced there, and the efficiency is really not profitable. "

"This time we will stay until after the premiere of 'Empire of the Sun' directed by Spielberg before going back. I will trouble you this time." Huaguo and foreign co-productions are also aimed at this year's Oscars, let's see which joint venture can win the award.

   "It will be Thanksgiving in America soon. Come to my house and I will treat you to dinner. This Thanksgiving is similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival in Huaguo. It is also a family reunion."

"Then I'll report to the head of the group. Our colleagues from the studio all went to Director Luo's house for dinner." Director Huang was very happy. He heard that American people don't invite people home for dinner easily, which is different from Huaguo. , They usually eat in restaurants and cook at home, which is the treatment of good friends.

  (end of this chapter)