Chapter 207 Planning
"Director Gu, 2012 can be considered a co-production."

Wang Changtian held his glasses and spoke.

"Well, it's a Sino-US co-production, with actors from both countries involved."

As everyone chatted, it was already noon.

Gu Wei looked at his watch and suggested, "Let's have lunch together at noon and continue after we finish eating."

Wang Zhonglei responded immediately, stood up and came over to shake hands: "The company has an important meeting this afternoon, so I won't have lunch. We'll contact each other later."

Gu Wei didn't force it, because some people were useless even if they were given opportunities.

At noon, several people had a quick meal near the company.

"Director Gu, no matter how much the final investment is, Guangguang has chosen to follow."

Wang Changtian started out as a journalist, and he has achieved what he has today thanks to his courage. Since his first collaboration with Gu Wei, he has basically never lost money. In this regard, he believes in Gu Wei's strategic vision.

"Haha, Mr. Wang, don't worry."

In today’s domestic film market, the prelude to small and medium-cost big returns has not yet been opened. It will have to start from 12’s “Love Is Not Blind” and 13’s “Lost in Thailand”. Will domestic film talents find that low-budget films can also reap huge box office revenues?

At least at this stage, China still worships big directors. John Woo is now half-dead with "Red Cliff", and the subsequent "The Crossing" has brought him to the bottom of the trough. Zhang Yimou was the forbidden fruit of New Picture, but after "Three Guns" came out, his reputation collapsed instantly.

Brother Chen Kai is okay in art films, but his commercial films are not very convincing. Jiang Wen’s commercial films have not yet experienced the test of the market. Although Feng Xiaogang has a certain box office, he still lacks some skills in making blockbuster films.

As for others like Ning Hao, Wuershan, Lu Chuan and others, we can only say that they have some stuff, but not much.

After all, the most successful and promising commercial film director in China is none other than Gu Wei. After all, he has proven himself in Hollywood and it is not every director who can make a Hollywood blockbuster with a box office of over 1 billion US dollars.

After lunch and a short break, the meeting continued.

After everyone returned to the company, the employees inside also started discussing in low voices.

"It didn't even finish in the morning, but it continued in the afternoon. The boss is making another big move."

"It should be a new Hollywood movie. Maybe it's a co-production."

In the conference room, this time Gu Wei did not let Wang Chen preside over the meeting, but spoke out directly.

"In North America, in addition to 2012, I plan to invest to million US dollars in the next few years to shoot three series of films, namely Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

The company has already purchased the copyright of the film, and will release it in 3D later.”

"Director Gu, are 3D movies really that good?"

Upon hearing that Gu Wei's consecutive movies were all in 3D, and that first the domestic investment was expected to be billion, and now he was preparing to invest several hundred million US dollars in Hollywood, Ye Ning couldn't help but ask about such a grand plan.

"Mr. Ye, I can't explain whether it's good or not in a few words. Wait until Avatar is released at the end of the year, and then you will understand."

Gu Wei did not explain much. Some things are useless no matter how much you say until they are in front of you. It is the Chinese people's habit to remember food but not beatings.

"You all can stay here, which means you recognize me. In the next few years, you will have priority in participating in investment plans in China and North America. As for those short-sighted people, forget it."

As soon as the words fell, several people looked at each other and laughed. This Wang Zhonglei really had no vision. He was scared off by the domestic investment plan of 2 billion. He didn't expect that there would be investment plans from Hollywood in the second half.

Everyone was convinced that Gu Wei could shoot a Hollywood blockbuster, after all, the several movies he made there were all very profitable.

...

While Gu Wei and his colleagues were having the meeting, the reporters outside were going crazy with anxiety. The CEOs of major domestic film and television companies gathered together, and it was unknown what plans they were brewing.
Photos of Han Sanping and others entering Xingchen Film and Television have appeared online, and netizens are talking about it non-stop.

"Having a meeting at Director Gu's company, it must be about the new movie."

“Ahhh, who knows the details?”

The celebrities in the circle are also very anxious, and the smart ones have already started to inquire around.

If it really is a new movie, knowing the situation earlier will allow us to prepare early.

"Brother Xun, I really don't know the specific content."

"Brother Xiao Ming, I don't know what's going on either."

In the villa, Liu Yifei put down her hands. Seven or eight people had called to ask about her.

"Xixi, didn't Director Gu tell you?"

Su Chang on the side repeated the question.

"Oh, you're so annoying. How could I not tell you if I knew this?"

"Wait until Director Gu and the others are done, and then you can go and torture them severely at night, hehe."

"I'll torture you first."

As he said that, he pounced towards Su Chang.

…In the conference room, everyone was digesting the plan that Gu Wei had just mentioned. The total investment, domestically and overseas, was over 5 billion. This number was not small. After all, it was a cash investment, not fixed assets.

"Can the domestic market support a movie with this kind of investment?"

Han Sanping thought for a while and finally asked the question in his mind.

In the first half of this year, more than 200 films were produced in China, but less than half of them were able to be shown in major theaters. Many films were taken off the screen after only making tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of yuan.

In the past two years, he hoped that Gu Wei could shoot a science fiction blockbuster unique to China, but when the time really came, he couldn't help but worry again. After all, such a huge investment was involved, and any carelessness would lead to serious consequences.

"It should be fine. The domestic market is developing rapidly. Even if it doesn't work this year, in two years, there will definitely be movies with a box office of 2 billion or even 3 billion."

Gu Wei is not making this up. The domestic box office of "Avatar" exceeded 17 billion yuan, and it was only released for one month. The remake of "Titanic" has a domestic box office of nearly 10 billion yuan, and this is a second-time release of a movie.

So it’s not that there is no box office market in China, but it depends on whether the quality of the movie can make the audience pay for it.

Main-theme movies in later generations easily gross tens of billions or even hundreds of billions. This is certainly due to the rapid development of the domestic economy and people having money to spend, but it also indirectly illustrates the potential of the domestic market.

After hearing what Gu Wei said, Han Sanping nodded in agreement.

"As long as we don't make a movie like Red Cliff, movie fans will still buy it."

Gu Wei said this in a low voice, and glanced at Han Sanping who was sitting in his seat. When the others heard it, they were all trying hard to hold back their laughter.

"In addition to the film investment plan, the most important thing at present is the construction of domestic 3D cinemas. In terms of the number of screens, there are still too few."

"Director Gu, rest assured. After I return, I will report to the board of directors and speed up investment and construction in this area."

Ye Ning said immediately, his tone firm.

"We are going to shoot a special effects movie. Will we also take the special effects production there?"

"Regarding this, Mr. Yu, you can rest assured. My special effects company in Hollywood is still expanding, and the third batch of machinery and equipment purchased from China will soon arrive."

Gu Wei had been thinking about Yu Dong's problem a few years ago. If he wanted to avoid being controlled by others, he could only learn from them and use their strengths to control them.

In another two years, foreign companies and domestic Star Films will be fully capable of producing special effects. By then, both sides will start at the same time, and it will be a little slower at best.

Seeing that Gu Wei had thought of everything, the others also showed satisfied expressions.

Investment in the entertainment industry depends on whether there is a good match. If everyone is interested, it can be confirmed after having a cup of tea. If there is no intention, it will be a waste of effort to beg for help.

In one afternoon, Gu Wei told all the plans in his mind.

The reason why several companies were invited to this conference is to take into account the domestic market and development. No matter where you are, it is definitely not feasible to eat alone. The right way is to attract a group of people and recruit a group of talents.

As the meeting ended, Yu Dong, Wang Changtian, Ye Ning and others left one after another.

As soon as they arrived at the door, they were surrounded by reporters, asking about the content of today's party.

"It's hard to tell you the specific content, but it's related to the movie. You'll know when the time comes..."

Wang Changtian is indeed a veteran, and his Tai Chi skills are amazing. He talked a lot, almost confusing the reporter, but he didn't say anything nutritious.

...

"Director Han, is there anything else?"

Looking at Han Sanping who was dithering, Gu Wei was a little confused. He thought that he had basically said everything that needed to be said, so there was nothing left out.

"Yes, recently some leaders have asked if we can make some mainstream films in China to facilitate the promotion of culture."

After last year's Olympics, the morale of the domestic people was unprecedentedly high, but there are still many people who admire European and American culture. The leaders of relevant departments also took this into consideration and asked the film and television industry to consider main-theme propaganda movies.

"Director Han, there is basically no market for mainstream movies now. The movie On Taihang Mountain two years ago had a lot of investment, many extras, and invited Hong Kong superstar Liang Jiahui to join. But after it was released, the box office was basically zero."

"I know this. I just thought that since you are a big director in commercial films, could you think of a way and give me some suggestions?"

Han Sanping rubbed his forehead. Since the leaders above had made demands, the people below had to take action. There was nothing he could do about it.

Just like the just concluded "Founding of a Republic", it was also filmed as a tribute to the motherland.

In fact, the term "main melody" officially appeared in 1987, when Teng Jinxian, then director of the Film Bureau, formally proposed the development direction of main melody films.

The slogan of "highlighting the main theme" was put forward at the National Conference of Directors of Feature Film Studios and has since become a type of creative theme.

In fact, its concept is extremely broad. Nowadays, the industry generally believes that main-theme movies refer to revolutionary historical films that can fully reflect the mainstream ideology. They also represent productions that are close to the life scenes of ordinary audiences. They also include realistic films that promote mainstream values ​​and eulogize the power of humanity.

It was not until "Operation Mekong" in 2016 and "Wolf Warrior 2017" in 2 that the box office of domestic main-theme films began to enter a period of growth, but the annual total box office performance was not very stable.

By 2019, after years of accumulation, the main theme experienced a full-scale outbreak, with 28 films released and a box office revenue of 138 billion yuan.

At that time, main-theme blockbusters represented by "The Wandering Earth" and "My People, My Country" became successful examples of combining the theme of family and country feelings with commercial operations, achieving both social and economic benefits.

...

(End of this chapter)