Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 79 Self-distribution of films
Shi Lei's heart finally died after hearing this, and he said self-deprecatingly: "Boss Han, what virtue do I have to let the seniors wait?"

He was telling the truth. Even though he is doing very well in North America, he is still a junior in China. In North America, seniority is looked at based on whether you can make money, what movies you have made, and how much box office these movies have achieved. As long as your box office is high enough, there will be Hollywood companies supporting you. In China, in addition to the above, seniority is also looked at by age. No matter how much money he makes or how many achievements he has made, he is still a junior.

Most of the older generation of directors know what's going on and give Shi Lei the appropriate respect, but a small number of directors will speak to Shi Lei in an instructive tone, pretending to be admonishing Shi Lei, in order to show off their seniority.

This is the domestic situation. This phenomenon will exist for the next few decades, and Shi Lei has no intention of changing it.

He has disliked such seminars since he entered the industry. He attended many similar conferences before winning the Venice Silver Lion Award last time.

Last time he was mainly a listener and all he said were empty words and big talk, but this time the group probably wanted him to give some solid stuff.

He has some useful information, but it won’t be very effective. Not everyone will listen to his advice, let alone those who regard movies as art.

He had already predicted the result: they don't listen, don't act when they hear, and don't do well when they do. This is the true portrayal of this group of older generation directors.

These directors are more suitable for making art films rather than commercial films, and are unable to balance commercial and art.

Han Sanpin heard Shi Lei's self-mockery and said with a smile: "You have achieved such a great success. If you are not qualified, who else is qualified? And I am just delaying for a while. I am not waiting for you on the surface."

"Don't you think about it? I am willing to wait for you, but there are other directors who are not willing to wait for you."

Shi Lei felt a little helpless. Although he didn't say it explicitly, those who understood knew it. He estimated that before the seminar even started, some people had already said that he was a big shot.

Fortunately, he has now gained a firm foothold, and some resentment has little impact.

He did not continue the topic, "Director Han, I will attend on time."

"Boss Han, do you have anything else to say? If nothing else, I'll hang up now. I just got back and have a lot of things to do."

"Don't hang up so quickly, we haven't discussed the business yet! Is the editing of "Sword Rain" finished?"

"I just came back and was planning to go and see it." Shi Lei told the truth.

"Wait for me, let's watch it together."

"Okay, Mr. Han, I'll wait for you."

An hour later, Han Sanpin appeared in Taolin Film and Television.

In the screening room of Taolin Film and Television, relevant persons in charge of Taolin Film and Television and several China Film employees including Han Sanpin watched the entire film together.

When the film ended, Han Sanpin led the applause.

"The film is good, especially the line 'I wish to turn into a stone bridge, to be blown by the wind for 500 years, to be exposed to the sun for 500 years, to be beaten by the rain for 500 years, just for this woman to walk across the bridge.' I was impressed."

Shi Lei nodded in agreement. This was the first time he watched this film in his previous life, and he also thought this passage was very good.

Others also expressed their opinions.

In general, the fighting scenes are acceptable. On the surface, it talks about the grudges and hatreds in the martial arts world, but in reality it talks about love and the desire of the little people for a better life.

"It will be released on July 7 as originally planned?" Han Sanpin asked.

Shi Lei repeated: "Yes, it will be released on July 7, and it must be ensured that no Hollywood movies are released within two weeks." He paused, he did not forget the conditions they had agreed upon before.

"That's no problem." Han Sanpin assured.

Only China Film Corporation can import Hollywood blockbusters, and China Film Corporation has the final say on when the release will take place. Even if a release date is agreed upon, it is nothing more than a matter of one week in advance or one week later.

"By the way, what's your next film going to be? Is it a martial arts film again?"

Shi Lei said helplessly: "Boss Han, Sword Rain hasn't even been released yet, isn't it too early to discuss the next movie?"

"You'd better plan early while you still have time! Otherwise you'll be busy later." Han Sanpin talked eloquently, and he had to urge him. All aspiring directors would find work for themselves, but Shi Lei found work in North America.

What’s more troublesome is that Shi Lei does a good job and earns more.

After "Million Dollar Baby" won the Best Picture award, the number of screening venues was immediately expanded to 3500. Up to now, the North American box office has reached 1.4 million U.S. dollars, and the global box office has reached 2.02 million U.S. dollars. Now the North American box office has reached its peak, with only to per day. The global box office is also coming to an end except in China.

Based on the total box office of US$2 million, the producers received US$7000 million, Shi Lei's investment ratio was 40%, with a share of US$2800 million, and China Film invested US$540 million, accounting for 30%, so China Film can get US$2100 million.

From the box office revenue alone, Shi Lei earned $2080 million, more than 1.6 million RMB, and helped China Film Group earn $1560 million, nearly 1.3 million RMB. This does not even include the North American network broadcasting copyright fees, TV on-demand fees, and DVD sales.

"Million Dollar Baby" is controlled by Taolin Films, so all three production parties share in these expenses.

Such earning power made Han Sanpin very excited.

Compared with "House of Flying Daggers" which barely made back its investment, only films like Shi Lei's with low costs and box office of over 100 million yuan can make China Film Group profitable.

Blockbusters like "House of Flying Daggers" need to be filmed, but China Film still needs to make up for it elsewhere. Shi Lei is a gold mine!

What worries him is that the two films that Shi Lei plans to shoot in North America this year are both controlled by Hollywood companies. China Film has no investment money and cannot earn US dollars like Shi Lei.

Since I can’t interfere with Shi Lei’s North American movies, I can only urge Shi Lei to shoot domestic movies.

Shi Lei knew what Han Sanpin meant and did not refuse. This was part of his plan. "I have a script with an investment cost of 3000 million RMB. I can give 30% of the investment to China Film. However, Taolin Film will participate in the distribution of this new film, and the distribution fee will be shared by both parties."

“Okay.” Han Sanpin agreed quickly. Huayi distributes its own films, and Taolin Film and Television will one day be the same as Huayi.

"Where's the script? Let me see it." Han Sanpin saw that Shi Lei did not ask anyone to get the script, so he had to ask.

"Mr. Han, don't be so anxious. I'll send you the script tomorrow. It's getting late now, and it's time to get off work." Shi Lei refused directly.

If there is no special need, he generally does not work overtime. If he has to work overtime, he will go back to his villa with beautiful women to work overtime.

"You kid, then have someone send the script over tomorrow."

"No problem." Shi Lei made an OK gesture.

Shi Lei personally saw Han Sanpin off. He had his reasons for proposing to jointly distribute the film with China Film.

Taolin Film and Television’s distribution license has been obtained, which means that Taolin Film and Television can also distribute its own films in the future.

At the beginning of the year, Feixun Technology Co., Ltd. launched Feixun Video and Feixun at the same time. It has been online for more than a month. Unlike Penguin, Feixun does not have any registration restrictions. As long as you register, you can succeed. Unlike Penguin, you have to apply for a Penguin account many times, and the number of applications is limited every day.

The Feixun number is a nine-digit number sent directly. If the nine-digit number is not enough, it will be directly increased to ten digits.

Nokia's new mobile phones are installed with Fetion when they leave the factory, and the phones are also delivered to celebrities who have signed endorsement contracts.

Feixun Technology funded and gave a Nokia phone to all the employees of Taolin Film and Television, even the artists who had worked with Taolin Film and Television were not spared.

At the same time, Feixun was promoted in major newspapers, Internet portals, etc. The promotion in major newspapers was direct, while that on major portals was more covert, with just some posts saying that a treasure website called 'Feixun Video' had been discovered, where not only could one watch movies for free, but one could also chat with celebrities.

It is more difficult to promote on some portal websites, but there are not many restrictions on Baidu's Tieba.

Driven by celebrities, just one month later, Feixun already has one million registered users, and the number is still increasing rapidly.

He plans to buy an ad on TV in a while. The ad is simple: "Want to know what the stars do every day? Come to Feixun." Let's have an ad to brainwash people, just like "Golden Voice".

At a later stage, some functions of Penguin, Weibo and Qixin can be added, and a daily hot search can be created, and the promotional channels will be complete.

With distribution channels and Internet promotion channels, Taolin Film and Television has a complete ability to go it alone.

Of course, in order to avoid being blocked in the review, China Film Corporation needs to be included, and in order to increase the box office in Hong Kong, Emperor Entertainment Group needs to be included, but this is only limited to the past few years. After 2010, the box office in Hong Kong Island has become tasteless.

As for other companies, they can only say goodbye. Maybe someone will do something shady to hit the box office of Taolin Films, but he, who owns Feixun, is not afraid at all. Everyone is in the circle, and everyone has some black material. At worst, everyone will expose each other's black material and suppress each other, and both sides will suffer. Everyone's box office will not be very good! He will go abroad, make money in North America to support the domestic market, and wait for the country to mediate or all film and television companies to fail.

Well, as a time traveler, with your current status and capital, how can you bring out a dozen investors just because of a little threat?

Even if someone wants to invest, they have to invest at a premium.

However, his film and television empire still lacks the last link of cinema chain, so it is time to start building the cinema chain.

Shuimitao supports special effects and animation, Taolin Film and Television supports theaters and Feixun, perfect!
When you are in such a happy mood, you naturally want to be happier.

"Liu Yan, let's go to my villa and have some fun."

Liu Yan did not agree, but reminded: "Boss, Yang Xing is already waiting. I asked her to bring Jiang Yuyan's costume."

(End of this chapter)