Chapter 36 Domestic Box Office
Director Tian Zhuangzhuang joined the Beijing Film Academy this year as a graduate tutor in the directing department. During this period, he asked Gu Wei if he had any plans to continue his postgraduate studies. Gu Wei did not give a definite answer, but only said that he would consider it.

He is the director with the fewest works among the "Fifth Generation Directors", but he made a movie this year, "Spring in a Small Town", which was released in Italy in September.

After staying at school until noon, Gu Wei, the director and several teachers had lunch in the school cafeteria.

Having not been to the cafeteria for a long time, Gu Wei suddenly tasted the food and thought it was pretty good. He wondered if the cafeteria had changed its chef.

In the cafeteria, students who had finished military training came to eat one after another. When many of them saw Gu Wei and others, they showed curious expressions on their faces.

Some brave students started talking.

"Who is this? He is having dinner with a few teachers, but he doesn't look like a teacher."

"You don't even know this, Zhu Yawen, it's a good thing you studied acting."

A few young-looking students discussed this.

"Who is it? Tell me, buddy."

"Director Gu Wei, at the opening ceremony two days ago, the principal mentioned in public, how will you become famous with your level of awareness?"

A boy with a dark face and a crew cut said.

"He's a great director who won the Golden Bear Award and his first movie in Hollywood grossed over 100 million."

"When can I also be in Director Gu's movie?"

Zhu Yawen looked at Gu Wei and sighed.

"What are you talking about? You have a very bold mind and you dare to think big."

After listening to the words of the person next to him, Zhu Yawen stood up and walked towards Gu Wei as if he had made up his mind.

"Hello, Director Gu, I am Zhu Yawen, a freshman in the 02 acting class of Beijing Film Academy."

Gu Wei looked at the person in front of him wearing military training uniform and smiled slightly.

He knew this person, "Chuanwu". In his previous life, apart from Liu Yifei, he was the best developed among the students of the Class of 02 of Beijing Film Academy. Now it seemed that he was also a bold and careful person.

"Hello, classmate, what's the matter?"

"It's okay, Director Gu, I just saw you were in the cafeteria and wanted to say hello to you."

Zhu Yawen was also a little nervous at this time, and continued: "Director Gu, I have also seen your movie "A True Detective", it's very good. Of course, most of the students in our class have seen it."

As he spoke, Zhu Yawen became more and more nervous and he didn't even know what he was saying.

"Thank you for your support. I will study hard and try to appear on the big screen as soon as possible."

Gu Wei also found it interesting and said with a smile.

"Thank you for the encouragement, director. You go ahead and do your work. I'll pass by."

"Teachers, you are busy too. I'll leave first."

After saying that, he turned around and trotted away.

"That's good. Now all students take the initiative to introduce themselves. Great directors are different, haha."

Looking at Zhu Yawen's back as he left, a teacher said jokingly.

"Ha ha"

"That's true. One needs to be brave to study acting."

Several teachers nearby also said the same thing.

When Gu Wei heard this, he didn't say anything. He just smiled and continued eating.

"Old Zhu, you are really awesome. Just go up and say hello like that."

"I give up, Lao Zhu."

Zhu Yawen certainly didn't want to lose face in front of his classmates, so after calming down a little, he started bragging to a few people.

After dinner, Gu Wei left the school directly.

In the afternoon, Gu Wei did not stay in the company. He received a call from Wang Changtian and planned to go to Guangxian.

The first program produced by Guangguang, "China Entertainment Report", became an instant hit after it was launched in 1999. Three months after its broadcast, the average viewership of "China Entertainment Report" exceeded 8%, covering more than 60 provincial and municipal TV stations across the country. In early 2000, the program had 3.15 million viewers.

Since then, Guangguang Media has produced and broadcast more than ten variety entertainment TV programs, including "Music Billboard", "Entertainment Figures Weekly", and "Film and Television Billboard". Guangguang Media has thus become the largest TV program producer and distributor in China.

In the original time and space, it was not until 06 that Light Media released its first film, "City of Pain", which earned more than 6000 million yuan in box office revenue within one month of its release. The success of this trial run officially kicked off Light Media's film business and also initially established Light Media's leading position in the mainland film industry.

Now, with the investment and distribution of Gu Wei's "Tuya's Wedding", Guangguang has participated in film production several years in advance.

Now he is ambitiously planning to enter the film industry, but he has no big director to work with regularly, so his film business has been slow to develop.

In Guangguang's office, Wang Changtian saw Gu Wei coming in and asked his assistant to make tea and serve snacks and fruits.

After the assistant finished doing all this, he saw Wang Changtian waving, and left the office directly, closing the door.

"Mr. Wang, what are you doing?"

Gu Wei saw all this and asked directly.

Wang Changtian felt a little embarrassed when he heard Gu Wei speak. "Boss Wang, just say it. There is nothing wrong with us talking about it."

Gu Wei took a bite of iced watermelon and asked again.

"Director Gu, it's actually nothing big. I just want to ask about your next plans, haha."

After Wang Changtian finished speaking, he couldn't help laughing.

Gu Wei had thought of this before he came. Many people were watching his next movie, and many people had asked him about it openly or secretly during the time he was back.

However, unlike other companies, Gu Wei’s first film was fully invested by Light Media. It can be said that without Light Media, there would be no him today.

Gu Wei also understood Wang Changtian's thoughts.

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Han asked me about this when I just returned to China."

When Wang Changtian heard this, his heart tightened. China Film Group was well-known in the circle for its tyranny. I wonder if they would just settle the matter directly with Gu Wei.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Gu Wei say, "But I didn't give Mr. Han an answer either, because..."

Gu Wei repeated what he had said to Han Sanping.

Hearing this, Wang Changtian nodded repeatedly.

"So, Mr. Wang, don't worry, there will definitely be opportunities for cooperation in the future."

After saying that, Gu Wei picked up the water cup in front of him, took a few sips, and his throat almost smoked.

"Director Gu, you should understand my situation. All the famous directors in the country have their own circles, and it is difficult for them to get in. They have only worked with you, Director Gu."

"Director Gu, have you heard about Director Zhang's new movie "Hero" these days?"

Gu Wei nodded. There have been a lot of reports on this online during this period.

"Hero" is scheduled to be released in December."

"The investment cost is 3000 million US dollars."

"Li Lianjie made a 20-minute cameo appearance and was paid 8000 million yuan" and so on.

This news has been reported repeatedly on the Internet. This investment is also the first commercial blockbuster in China with an investment cost of over 100 million yuan. It can be said that people in the entire circle are looking forward to the release of the movie.

The largest investment cost and the most famous director in the country, the two together attracted most of the attention in the circle and provided a lot of material for reporters.

"This film was invested by Zhang Weiping's New Picture, a total of..."

Wang Changtian kept talking and Gu Wei listened quietly.

The general meaning is that every director has his own circle at this stage. Wang Changtian hopes that Gu Wei's next film can be brought by Guangguang. He does not ask for much money, but wants the reputation of investing in and participating in the production of movies. With this reputation, Guangguang can also get in touch with other big directors.

Unlike now, where we can only produce radio and television activities, entering the film industry has always been the ultimate goal of Guangxian.

The two chatted until almost noon, and Gu Wei understood what Wang Changtian meant, and they agreed to collaborate on a project later.

In the following days, Gu Wei ran between the company and home. He did not renew the contract for the house he rented at school last year after it expired, so he lived at home most of the time.

During this period, many people were asking about Gu Wei's Hollywood project "Taken". Several film and television companies were asking whether the project needed investment, and some celebrities were asking about actor spots. Gu Wei rejected all of them on the grounds that he was only responsible for investment.

This is indeed the case. According to the contract, Gu Wei only has an investment share and is listed as a screenwriter in name only. He does not participate in the filming and casting of the movie.

In China, "A True Story" has been released for more than half a month, and the box office has reached 5000 million. Affected by piracy, the box office of this movie will not exceed million before it is taken off the screen. Gu Wei can accept this result, as long as there is some profit.

In the meantime, the film was promoted again with the help of the platforms of China Film Group and Guangguang Film Group, which did have some effect, but not much. The rampant piracy on the Internet seriously affected the box office.

On September 9th, Chen Kaige’s new movie "Together with You" was released in China.

This is Chen Kaige's first directorial work after returning from Hollywood. The script was co-written by him and Xue Xiaolu (representative works include "Ocean Paradise" and "Beijing Meets Seattle"), and co-starred by Tang Yun, Liu Peiqi, Chen Hong, Wang Zhiwen and Chen Kaige.

The box office on the first day in mainland China was average, but the film was released globally, so it remains to be seen how the subsequent box office will perform.

I heard that Director Chen confidently registered this film for the domestic Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival and the foreign "San Sebastian" International Film Festival in order to boost the box office.

When talking about Hollywood, the first impression that comes to everyone is big-budget science fiction blockbusters with great special effects, which is also Hollywood's own unique symbol.

In 02, many Hollywood blockbusters were released in China. The release of movies such as "Planet of the Apes" and "Shrek the Monsters" had a great impact on the domestic film industry. Many audiences also preferred these so-called blockbusters, and Hollywood culture was slowly influencing the younger generation in China.

At the end of September, "A True Story" was taken off the screen and its final box office was 9 million, which is still a long way from 8100 million yuan, but Gu Wei is already satisfied.

After the movie was released, many people called and started with words of congratulations. Gu Wei responded to them one by one.

As for the subsequent movie box office sharing, China Film Group will coordinate with Warner, and Gu Wei does not need to ask about it.

On October 10, Gu Wei received a call from Reid, saying that the preparations for "Taken" had been completed and filming had officially begun.

The leading actor is still Liam Neeson. Born in 1952, Liam Neeson is now 50 years old. Although it was a few years earlier, Universal Pictures still chose him to star in the film.

The film will start shooting in October and is expected to be released worldwide in the first half of next year. Before the start of shooting, Gu Wei had already deposited the investment funds into Universal Studios' account through a Hollywood company in accordance with the contract.

Gu Wei returned to China in August and stayed in the country for two months. Now that "Accidental Murder" has been taken off the screen in China, he is also considering the time to return to Hollywood.

Before leaving, Gu Wei decided to visit Qin Hao at Dali Tianlong City. Gu Wei had made an appointment with Qin Hao when the TV series started filming, but he had been keeping an eye on the box office in the meantime and forgot about this matter. These few days, Gu Wei received a call from Qin Hao again, reminding him of this matter in words and deeds.

After packing his luggage, Gu Wei said goodbye to his parents, said hello to Han Sanping, Wang Changtian and others, and went straight to the Tianlong crew. Also traveling with him were employees of Xingchen Film and Television. Gu Wei planned to visit the crew and then head directly to Los Angeles.

(End of this chapter)