Chapter 619 Let’s look at the art of war

in the office.

When Gu Wei pushed the door and walked in, Liu Hongtao's face was full of smiles, but after seeing Gu Wei, he immediately restrained himself.

"How is it? Mr. Liu, it seems that you agree?" Walking to the sofa, Gu Wei sat down, crossed his legs and asked casually.

"Director Gu, I agree to your conditions." Facing Gu Wei, Liu Hongtao changed his expression and said with a wry smile.

"Haha, believe me, this will be the best decision you've ever made."

"I think so, Director Gu, don't worry, as long as Xingchen Films invests, Happy Twist will definitely develop better and better."

Hearing this, Gu Wei nodded slightly. The reason why he didn't want to acquire Happy Twist was that, apart from the first few films, Happy Twist's subsequent works were worse than the last, and there was also a serious loss of company members.

It can be said that Happy Twist’s peak period was very short. Of course, this is also a common phenomenon among film and television companies in the industry. Many companies and filmmakers are short-lived.

"I believe this. In fact, I am very optimistic about several drama scripts of Happy Twist. Of course, the actors are not bad either, especially Shen Teng and Ma Li. Their acting skills are quite solid." Gu Wei said directly.

Shen Teng, the future billionaire movie star, naturally has his own unique performance style.

Speaking of billionaire actors, they are still relatively rare in current domestic films, but in a few years a large number of them will emerge, such as Wang Baoqiang, Wu Jing, Xu Zheng, Zhang Yi, etc.

But if we expand to imported films, in addition to Liu Yifei, the movie "2012" has created a large number of actors including Hu Jun, Liu Ye, Han Dongjun, Zhou Xun, Huang Xiaoming, and Yang Zi.

It is precisely because of this that Xingchen Film and Television Company is so popular among celebrities in the industry.

After all, the only ways for an actor to prove himself are awards and box office.

"Yes, Shen Teng and his team are really good, and we have recently started to adapt the drama scripts into movie scripts, two of which are almost completed." After settling the investment issue, Liu Hongtao naturally mentioned the movie.

"Oh, those two?"

"I brought the scripts for "Charlotte's Troubles" and "The Richest Tomato". Everyone in the industry knows that you are good at screenwriting, Director Gu. Would you like to give me some advice?"

"Okay, take it out."

After getting Gu Wei's permission, Liu Hongtao didn't waste any time and directly took out two documents from his briefcase, which were quite thick.

After taking the documents, Gu Wei and Song Ge looked at each other. It seemed that the other party was also well prepared, otherwise they would not be so well prepared.

The first script that Gu Wei read was "Charlotte's Troubles". Perhaps because it was a first draft, the content of the script was a little different from what he remembered.

So Gu Wei read it while picking out the illogical content and adding some other information.

Every profession has its own expertise. Liu Hongtao admitted that even though Happy Mazak put a lot of effort into adapting these two scripts, he also benefited a lot from listening to Gu Wei's suggestions.

After all, although Happy Twist has performed these dramas many times, if they are to be brought to the big screen, a lot of parts will definitely have to be cut, and Xingchen Film and Television Company is well-known in the industry for its scripts and productions.

In other words, when it comes to making movies, Xingchen Films is an expert in the industry, and Gu Wei is one of the top experts among them.

Neither script was simple, and Gu Wei only took half an hour to finish reading them together.

"Director Gu, what do you think?" Before he knew it, Liu Hongtao had taken out a small notebook, which was filled with notes of some of the problems pointed out by Gu Wei.

"It's okay, but a little rough. Just modify some parts of it." Gu Wei said after putting down the script.

"So do you mean to invest in these two, or pick out other ones?" Liu Hongtao asked nervously.

"Just these two, and we'll add more if there's a suitable one later. Once the contract is signed, we'll start with "Charlotte's Troubles."

"I've read the script, and it's relatively simple, and doesn't require any big special effects or anything like that. I estimate 30 million will be enough."

Thirty million? Thirty million again. Hearing this number, Liu Hongtao suddenly felt happy. After all, Xingchen Film and Television Company was known in the outside world as the "30 million starting price."

From Ning Hao at the beginning, to Lu Yang, Xu Zheng and others later, from "Crazy Racing" to "Love Is Not Blind" and "Lost in Thailand", these people and these box office hits all achieved success with a cost of 30 million.

"Then both parties will invest and share the profits according to this ratio?" Liu Hongtao said.

To be honest, the cost of producing "Charlotte's Troubles" in the original time and space was only about 20 million. Although Happy Twist was not big at the time, it could still come up with that money.

But the reason why Liu Hongtao chose to let Penguin Video, New Classics Media, and Wanda Pictures get involved was naturally because he was interested in the publicity and distribution channels of these companies.

As long as there is funding, a movie can be made, but the subsequent promotion and release are the most crucial.

At this stage, Xingchen Film and Television Company is the top company in terms of publicity and distribution channels as well as its reputation in the mainland entertainment circle. In addition, it has acquired Dadi Cinemas and developed the Xingchen ticket purchasing software, and has a good relationship with the cinema alliance in the industry.

This is the reason why Liu Hongtao finally chose Xingchen Film and Television Company, and it is also the most crucial reason.

"Okay, the company is only responsible for the funding, and you can decide the director and actors of the film."

Hearing Gu Wei say this, Song Ge looked at him in surprise again. After all, in the films that the company had invested in before, it had absolute initiative in terms of directors and actors.

Why did he change the rules when it was Liu Hongtao's turn? Then Song Ge looked at the other party again, but didn't find anything special about the person in front of him!

"Thank you, thank you Director Gu, I will select the actors and directors as soon as I get back."

"Well, once the contract is signed, the funds will be immediately credited."

.........

The company entrance.

Song Ge saw Liu Hongtao off and it was getting dark.

Gu Wei looked at the time, then thought about what else had not been dealt with. After thinking for a while, he went to the third floor again and asked the engineer to prepare the copy of "The Revenant".

"Don't worry, boss. We have already arranged it. Someone will be responsible for delivering the copies, and they will be handed over directly to the company in Hollywood when the time comes."

"Haha, okay, thank you for your hard work during this period. Everyone will get a big red envelope when the movie is released."

"thank you boss."

“I wish The Revenant a big box office success.”

"Boss, when will the movie be released in China? I'll take my wife to watch it then. She likes Leo the most."

"By the end of the year, the date hasn't been decided yet, but it will definitely be released."

After chatting and laughing with everyone for a while, Gu Wei went downstairs and prepared to leave the company and go home.

Before he reached the door, Song Ge rushed up from behind.

"Has the deal been concluded with Emperor Entertainment Group?" Song Ge asked curiously.

"Well, I've said everything that needs to be said. As for whether to do it or not, it's up to them. It doesn't matter." Gu Wei said in a very casual tone.

"Tsk tsk, I noticed that your personality has changed recently. You were not like this before. Take the Happy Twist matter for example. When the company acquired Shiba Culture, you were very strong and did not give the other party any other choice." Song Ge said half jokingly and half puzzled.

"Is there? The situation is different. After all, acquiring an agency company is different from acquiring a film and television company. The main reason is that I'm too lazy to manage it." Gu Wei shook his head slightly and explained.

"Hehe, when are we leaving?" Song Ge didn't point it out. After all, after acquiring Shiba Culture, Gu Wei hadn't managed it on a daily basis.

"Just in the next two days, together with Director Zhang, Universal has already started casting, and Leonardo is also urging us to do so."

…On the way home, the car radio was playing news about the entertainment industry.

Among them, the wedding of first-line male star Zhu Yawen was a big event in the circle during this period, and the list of attending guests was constantly announced on the radio.

After returning home, Liu Yifei was rummaging through the drawers in the room.

"What are you doing?"

"Pack your luggage, suits and coats. It's cold over there, so you should bring some thick clothes."

“And the passport…”

The young lady said as she sorted her clothes.

"Yeah, thank you for your hard work." Looking at the busy young lady, Gu Wei said gently.

"I'm glad to know. Humph." Liu Yifei rolled her eyes at him and said arrogantly.

The next day.

After spending a day with their little sister at home, Gu Wei and Zhang Yimou boarded a flight to Los Angeles with their assistants.

The group of six was extremely low-key, so low-key that even the media reporters didn't notice them.

As for Zhang Yimou's usual filming team, they naturally flew to Los Angeles in advance.

After sitting in the first-class cabin for twelve hours, Gu Wei and his companions felt a little tired.

After arriving at the Los Angeles airport, Reid brought people to pick us up.

After getting in the car, Gu Wei turned to Zhang Yimou and said, "Brother, let's stay in the villa before the filming starts. It's not far from Warner, so it's quite convenient."

"Haha, okay, then I will also enjoy the happiness of being a capitalist." Zhang Yimou made a joke.

"Haha."

.........

midnight.

Gu Wei, who was sleeping, was woken up by a phone call.

"Gu Wei, what did you talk about with President Han?" As soon as the call was connected, La Peikang's voice was heard.

"What?" Gu Wei, who was in a daze, replied weakly.

After a whole day of flying, Gu Wei arranged his entourage, video chatted with the young lady for more than an hour, and then went to bed early.

"President Han suddenly handed me the Nan Tian Men plan, which scared me. You said that the former chairman of China Film Group stopped studying the film market and started writing military plans. Isn't this scary?"

“Uh…” Gu Wei’s brow was instantly filled with black lines on his forehead. He was really impressed by Han Sanping, the fool.

You say a retired leader doesn't enjoy his life, but reads military tactics? He even writes military plans? What does he want to do?
"Mr. La, what can I talk about with Mr. Han? The Nan Tianmen Project was just a joke that we all made up." Gu Wei complained helplessly.

"Mr. Han doesn't look like he's joking. I heard that people from the Navy and Jinling Art Center are involved. Tell me in detail." La Peikang is not that easy to fool.

It is said that ever since the Ali celebration banquet ended that night, Han Sanping has been tinkering with this matter these days.

I have to say that Lao Han is worthy of being a director. In just a few days, he and two other people worked out a rough script and shooting plan.

After the plan was written, Han Sanping handed it directly to the General Administration, along with his insights on domestic mainstream films and the content of his discussion with Gu Wei.

That's why La Peikang was so curious, because of this kind of thing. Otherwise, considering the busy chairman of China Film Group Corporation, he would not have the time to call Gu Wei, especially in the middle of the night.

"Boss La, this is just a joke, listen to me..."

On the phone, Gu Wei spent five minutes explaining it from the beginning.

When he finished speaking, there was no sound from the other end of the line. "Mr. La, are you listening?"

"Ah."

"I've finished what I said. Mr. Han's matter has nothing to do with me. Also, please check the time next time you call me. I'm sleeping soundly." Gu Wei muttered while lying on the bed.

"Director Gu, is it possible to implement the film plan that President Han mentioned?" After a moment's silence, someone suddenly asked from the other end of the phone.

"Are you serious?" Gu Wei asked after being silent for more than a minute.

“Well, Mr. Han has been the chairman of China Film Group for so many years. No matter what the process was like, the result was always good. The mainland film market has been expanding visibly in recent years.

Now that I am the chairman, I naturally cannot let the market go backwards. To be honest, domestic films have been crushed by Hollywood imported films, especially mainstream films, which almost lose money every time they are made. The situation has reached a point where it has to change. "La Peikang said from the bottom of his heart. He still feels pressured after taking over the position of chairman of China Film.

“Didn’t we shoot ‘Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy’ and ‘Wolf Warrior’ this year?” Gu Wei replied.

"What can these two movies change? Besides, it's unclear whether they can achieve high box office success."

"I think as long as the release date is OK, the box office should be good."

"Can it compete head-on with Hollywood? Can it go abroad?" La Peikang continued to ask.

"It can compete well with ordinary imported films, but there is not much hope that it can go abroad," Gu Wei told the truth.

In the original time and space, even "Wolf Warrior 2", which had a box office of over billion, failed to make it beyond the border. Instead, many foreigners thought that the movie was too fake and a work for the Chinese to entertain themselves. It was even mocked by many foreign netizens for having no technical content.

"Yes, the hope is slim. What we need is a domestic film like The Wandering Earth, a blockbuster that can impress European and American audiences." La Peikang said with emotion, and then continued: "And in this area, only you can do it in China, only Xingchen Film and Television Company can do it."

Then La Peikang paused again and said, "Director Gu, you have the ability to do this."

"Ahem." Gu Wei was afraid that the other party would say "comrade" again, so he coughed twice quickly.

"Let me think about it and we'll talk about it after we return home."

The temperature in Los Angeles was a bit low in late October. After a phone call, Gu Wei lost his sleepiness.

Coming to the balcony and seeing the dark sea and scattered lights in the distance, Gu Wei suddenly wanted to smoke a cigarette.

I went to the living room and looked around, but I didn't find the cigarettes. Instead, I found the cigars that Reid had prepared in advance.

"Whoosh!" The cool wind blew away the cigar smoke, and Gu Wei seemed to have returned to the time when he was banned from directing and planned to go to Hollywood alone. Suddenly, a lot of thoughts came to his mind.

After traveling back in time for so many years, Gu Wei has had a smooth journey. Relying on his foresight, he established a company, made movies, won numerous box office hits and awards, found true love, and changed the life trajectories of many people.

But looking back, how many of these achievements were created by him? He was just following in the footsteps of others and making plans in advance.

"Perhaps, because of my existence, domestic films can be developed to a higher level, and Chinese-language films can become as good as Hollywood ones."

At this moment, Gu Wei seemed to have made some kind of decision.

.........

(End of this chapter)