Chapter 404 Meeting Results
The cinema chain expressed their opinions in twos and threes, while Wang Zhongjun, Yu Dong, Wang Changtian and others had no expression on their faces. Since it was not their turn to speak yet, they just listened quietly.

Han Sanping and Ren Zhonglun also looked calm and composed. Logically speaking, the state-owned enterprises should not get involved since they all own cinema chains.

But the special nature of state-owned enterprises forces them to come and sit on the side of the producers.

Just don't speak if you can avoid it.

Director Tong listened to the debate between the two sides with a blank expression on his face. Then the voices of both sides became louder and louder, and they almost overturned the table. Tong just knocked on the table, and it turned out to be an immediate effect. The scene became quiet in an instant.

Everyone instantly focused their attention and looked at him.

"Director Gu is here too. 2012 is currently very popular at the box office. I know that the next movie from Xingchen Films will also be a domestic special effects blockbuster. Tell us what you think about it."

In an instant, both the theater chain and the production company looked over.

It is impossible for theater chains to boycott Star Films’ movies like they did with “The Flowers of War”. That would be asking for trouble, which is why they are not very confident.

"Well, imagine, everyone, if the distribution ratio of mainland films remains at 43%:57%, what will that mean?" Gu Wei cleared his throat and said directly.

"What does it mean? It means that the mainland film industry is developing normally. It will remain the same as before." Someone muttered in a low voice.

"Director Gu, please speak frankly." Ye Ning said directly after hearing what Gu Wei said, and the others nodded after hearing it.

"As we all know, the domestic box office revenue sharing ratio is really unfair to the producers."

"Director Gu, what you said is..." Someone expressed a different opinion, and then everyone looked at him directly. He immediately shut up and didn't dare to breathe.

"Everyone should know that the reason why Hollywood movies have been able to develop so well is not only because of the perfect industrial system, but also has a lot to do with their box office share ratio. Some producers can get the highest share ratio of 60-80%.

This also allows them to invest more costs and more energy into film production.

In our country, this profit sharing ratio will lead to the fact that the main focus in film production will continue to be on saving money, and the phenomena of shoddy production and cutting corners will continue to occur.

Moreover, for the sake of profits, even if relevant departments have issued relevant regulations, incidents of theaters underreporting box office revenues will continue to occur and are unavoidable.

This will also lead to the domestic film industry continuing to become weaker and poorer, and the revenue of domestic films will continue to rely on box office revenue.

If this continues, the loopholes in box office supervision and distribution of mainland cinema chains will become larger and larger, and even with relevant regulations, it will not be able to prevent it.

The final result is that the domestic film industry will not be able to catch up with Europe and the United States, and I am afraid that producers and directors will lose their creative passion and motivation. "

Gu Wei's remarks pointed out the common problems in the domestic film market, and there was an endless stream of voices of agreement from the producers.

"Director Gu said it well."

"I agree, that's true."

But the CEOs of several large companies looked at each other in bewilderment. Some things actually didn't need to be said so clearly.

"Director Gu, I don't agree with what you said."

The head of Star Cinema spoke up, and everyone looked at him for a moment. "The domestic film market is currently developing very well and is very prosperous. The box office is growing rapidly every year. This shows that the current system is in line with the laws of market development. I think any rash changes will shake the foundation."

"The prosperity is also a deformed prosperity. Without a good foundation, how can we go far?" Gu Wei said lightly.

"Director Gu means that it must be changed to 45%?"

The representative of the cinema chain also looked unhappy.

Gu Wei nodded, agreeing with the other party's statement. It would be best if changes could be made.

Unfortunately, not everyone can consider future development. Even though Gu Wei is a world-famous director, he cannot let everyone give up the profits they have obtained.

For a moment, everyone became deadlocked again.

This kind of meeting has many contradictions and many things that need to be reconciled, so it naturally cannot be completed in one go. Helplessly, the General Administration can only announce a recess to leave some time for everyone to talk privately.

...

Half an hour later, the meeting continued.

This time, Director Tong did not ask for everyone's opinions. Instead, he spoke directly.

"The cinema chain has accepted a minimum box office price increase of 5 yuan. As for the revenue sharing, for the box office of "The Flowers of War" within 5 million yuan, New Picture will get 45%, and for the part exceeding 5 million yuan, it will get 41%. This method will also be followed in the future."

At this moment, all the producers looked unhappy. My goodness, so everyone was working for "The Flowers of War"?

Now we are only talking about Zhang Weiping, but not the other producers?
"I don't accept this proposal."

“We don’t accept that either.”

"I accept."

"accept."

Not to mention the producers, the cinema chains were also in chaos, with some still holding a tough stance. Ye Ning and the head of Star Media seemed to accept the plan, while the other representatives continued to refuse to screen The Flowers of War.

At this moment, Gu Wei's face looked very ugly. After saying so much, this is the result?
"Director Tong, I can accept a tiered box office revenue sharing, but 2012 million is not acceptable. Everyone has seen the box office of 2012. It will most likely exceed billion. I am confident that the next movie of Xingchen Films, The Wandering Earth, will not be much worse than ."

Ye Ning smiled bitterly, Oh, I forgot about Gu Wei.

But he had to admit that what Gu Wei said was right. Although Zhang Yimou was a great director, his record in commercial films was still not as good as Gu Wei's.

Although the latter has not produced any movies with high box office in China, the blockbusters made in Hollywood are more popular than the last.

This would offend Gu Wei. If he goes directly to Hollywood to develop his career in the future, the only ones who would suffer would be the domestic theater chains.

"Director Gu, we can slowly discuss your issue. Today we will just talk about The Flowers of War. Is that okay?"

"Tiered profit sharing?" Gu Wei asked in front of the representatives of the theater chain.

"Yes, a tiered profit-sharing system, different from that of The Flowers of War." Ye Ning agreed immediately, and many people at the cinema also nodded.

Even those theaters that continued to boycott "The Flowers of War" remained silent at this moment.

After hearing Ye Ning's words, the other producers' faces turned ugly again. Why is it that only Gu Wei can do it? It's different from "The Flowers of War". Are they treating us as transparent?
Seeing this, Director Tong thought the situation was settled, so he waved his hand and said, "Okay, that's all for this matter. As for other matters, you can go back and discuss them in private."

After the meeting was over, Gu Wei walked out of the General Administration with a less grim expression on his face. His reaction just now was entirely for the representatives of the producers and theater chains to see.

After all, he knew the result from the beginning, but Gu Wei just wanted to raise the starting point of Xingchen Film and Television's tiered profit-sharing ratio.

"Five hundred million won't work, but ten billion is about right. Ten billion is still okay at this stage. As for the future, just keep making trouble. This is just a temporary compromise anyway, and we may turn against each other again at any time." Gu Wei thought secretly in his heart.

As soon as the meeting was over, everyone in the industry who had eyes and ears knew the general idea. Anyway, both sides took a step back, and the producer was of course the winner, and the profit-sharing ratio was officially negotiated.

After hearing the news, celebrities in the circle also breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially for the actors who participated in "The Flowers of War", the worried expressions on their faces finally disappeared.

God knows how much pressure the theater chains jointly boycotted "The Flowers of War" at that time, which put them under. They had worked so hard on the film for so long and invested so much energy. If it couldn't be released, it would be a disaster.

Now, the rain has finally stopped and the sky is clear.

……

Early the next morning, the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television officially issued the document "Guiding Opinions of the Film Bureau of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television on Promoting the Coordinated Development of Production, Distribution and Screening".

The first point in the opinion states that in order to balance the level of interest distribution between film producers and distributors and exhibitors, and in accordance with international practice, in the future the cinema's share of the first-run screenings of a film shall in principle not exceed 50% (the current film share ratio is 57% for the cinema and 43% for the film).

No matter what happens next, for now, things have been decided and everyone can only abide by the rules.

On the other side, a new picture.

Zhang Weiping was in a very happy mood.

This time he coerced the producers in the industry, thinking that he could force the theater chains to give in, but he didn't expect that some theater chains were so tough. Even though the General Administration had issued a notice, they still refused to screen "The Flowers of War".

“Haha, even without you guys, the box office of Flowers of War will not be affected.

We also have overseas copyrights and Oscars." Zhang Weiping said this with full confidence.

Zhang Weiping did not take these small cinema chains seriously. In his opinion, it was completely sufficient to have the eight major cinema chains taking the lead.

To be honest, he achieved his goal. He got the ticket price increase and the tiered profit sharing.

As for the boycotts from other film and television companies in the industry and the abuse from the audience due to ticket price increases, they don't care at all.

"Mr. Zhang, all the major theater chains in the industry have already started promoting The Flowers of War. Currently, there are many viewers online who are looking forward to the release of the movie."

After the assistant received the news, he reported it immediately.

Afterwards, Zhang Weiping browsed the news reports on the Internet and found that it was true.

"The acting is superb. As a newcomer, Ni Ni's expressions and gestures are just right."

"The post-production special effects of The Flowers of War are great, and the scenes of fighting the Japanese army in the film are particularly shocking and tragic."

"It is understood that The Flowers of War has a great chance of winning the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar this year, because its human power is rare in the history of domestic films in recent years."

The theater chains that have reached an agreement have already started to praise the film. After all, it will be released next month, and it will help "The Flowers of War" to earn more box office, so they can also make more money.

"Haha, see, this is the benefit of a big production. Continue to increase publicity and promotion, and change the slogan to be on par with 2012."

Zhang Weiping ordered with a smile.

.........

(End of this chapter)