Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 97: All Eyes on Hollywood

However, for this reason, Taolin Film and Television was forced to give some preferential treatment, such as Huayi's request to enter Hollywood.

Huayi had no choice but to look for Taolin Film and Television. Previously, Wang Zhonglei went to North America with tens of millions of RMB (8 million US dollars). He was ambitious and followed Shi Lei's example to buy a bankrupt independent production company in North America, and then shot a bloody horror film in the name of the company.

He specifically studied North American plasma films and felt that the more plasma there was in the horror film, the better. He even came up with a unique way of showing close-ups of bloody internal organs.

Then he took the finished film to North American distribution companies with great confidence, but no company was willing to distribute it.

After listening to Wang Zhonglei's story, Shi Lei asked in confusion: "You bought a company with 4 million US dollars and made a blood-thirsty horror movie?"

First of all, independent production companies in North America are very cheap. Hollywood production companies go bankrupt every day, and there are also many new production companies opening up. Direct purchase can save some steps, but that’s all. So it’s not that expensive and you can get it for a few hundred thousand.

Wang Zhonglei still has more than 7 million US dollars left.

Horror films are divided into supernatural horror films and plasma horror films. Supernatural horror films require some special effects so they are a bit more expensive, while plasma films are notoriously cheap. If they are not released in theaters and only DVDs are released, they can be made for more than $100,000. This is how many independent studios make profits.

"How many millions of dollars can a blood-thirsty horror movie cost?" Shi Lei asked in surprise.

"This..." Wang Zhonglei felt a little embarrassed, and stammered, but finally didn't say it.

"There are no outsiders here, Mr. Wang, please feel free to tell me. If you don't tell me, I can't help you with any advice."

Wang Zhonglei pointed at Liu Yan and said, "Isn't there another one?"

"You know that Liu Yan is my secretary and she won't tell anyone." Shi Lei assured.

As a secretary for the boss of a film and television company, keeping one's mouth shut is a necessary skill.

"Well, let's let him go out for a while! The reason is a bit difficult to talk about." Wang Zhonglei insisted.

"I see. You've participated in too many parties." Shi Lei understood instantly, but it was not appropriate to say it in front of Liu Yan, so that was it.

However, Shi Lei was a little surprised and asked, "Boss Wang is a man of temperament. Are you afraid to say this in front of my secretary?"

This guy's reputation is quite bad. All the artists in his company, no matter if they are famous or not, formal artists or trainees, as long as they are a little bit good-looking, have come.

This reminded him of the talent show for The Dream of the Red Chamber in his previous life. It was said that there was a big boss who didn't let any of them go, even those who played maids.

"Um... just like Mr. Shi, this is my only hobby." Wang Zhonglei touched his nose awkwardly. He was not afraid to talk about this, but he was afraid that the news of his being misled by sex would spread.

It's just lust and the mistakes made due to lust, which will affect the company's investment.

He was more restrained in his domestic activities, but he seemed to have opened up a new world abroad, and the fancy tricks in North America were countless times more than those in the mainland.

Especially the party with hundreds of people, it is quite exciting.

His private solos also make him unable to stop.

The beauties in North America are different. There are all kinds of them. What's more important is that everyone is used to it in North America, so they can be happy as much as they want.

Then I was too happy and spent too much money.

At first he thought the money was well spent. What was the purpose of participating in Patty?
Of course he went there to build relationships. He successfully integrated into the paty, became a loyal member of the paty, established good relationships with many Hollywood stars, and became brothers with several employees of Hollywood distribution companies, becoming like-minded people.

But what made him angry was that these people played together and called each other brothers, but when it came to doing things, they did not mention their relationship at all, and acted as if they were doing business in a impartial manner.

He tried every way to give red envelopes, but it still didn't work.

No company was willing to help with the distribution.

Only then did he realize that he had been cheated. The authority of these guys who called each other brothers was not as high as he thought. "I'm different from you. Compared with this, I prefer making money." Shi Lei argued.

Playing with women and spending millions of dollars is pretty cool.

He is different. He goes to the Hollywood Vanity Fair just to make money, not for fun. He will not be dazzled by the glamorous world of Hollywood Vanity Fair.

Money is the root of everything, and he will not let beauty become an obstacle to making money.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this. Just tell me how much money you have left!" Shi Lei saw that Wang Zhonglei was going to refute and skipped this step directly.

"That's not bad. I have raised another two million dollars," Wang Zhonglei replied.

Because of this, he was scolded by his brother. Huayi was not as good as Taolin Film and Television. Taolin Film and Television produced a large number of TV series, while Huayi produced not many TV series. It mainly relied on Feng Dapao's movies and the company's artists' commission to make profits. The $8 million made Huayi's cash tight.

Now another 300 million US dollars has been withdrawn, which can be said to have almost used up the remaining cash of Huayi.

But they would not be willing to give up unless they release it. Since the movie has been made, they have to release it to see its effectiveness.

Of course, the two are not fools. Instead of rushing around Hollywood, it would be better to find someone to lead them.

So the two of them started to target Shi Lei.

Shi Lei nodded and said, "As long as we have money, let's go watch the movie first!"

"Did you bring the original film?"

He also didn't know whether Wang Zhonglei's original film was film or digital. In China, film movies are the mainstream, but abroad, Hollywood has begun to move away from film, and many cinemas have been converted to digital cinemas. In this regard, China lags behind.

If it is the original film, the film is heavy and Wang Zhonglei may not bring it with him.

“I brought it.” Wang Zhonglei replied.

"Film or digital?" Shi Lei asked.

"Film," Wang Zhonglei responded, and then added: "People in China are still used to watching film films. The original digital films are kept abroad."

"Does Mr. Shi want to see the numbers?"

Shi Lei shook his head directly, "No, just watch the film."

In the No. 1 Screening Room of Taolin Cinema, Shi Lei watched the entire movie while suppressing his nausea.

The movie just ended, so I immediately picked up the remote control to turn off the screen.

Liu Yan, who was originally watching the film with them, had already slipped away, leaving behind a few pale-faced Taolin Film and Television employees, as well as Shi Lei and Wang Zhonglei.

Wang Zhonglei's face also looked bad. Although he had seen it several times, he still couldn't get used to it.

Shi Lei picked up the cup and took a sip of tea. It took him several minutes to suppress the nausea.

He resisted the urge to curse and said to Wang Zhonglei, "Boss Wang, audiences like to see blood splattering in blood films, but that doesn't mean they like to see internal organs. It would be fine if it was just a passing shot, but you even gave a few close-ups. Horror movie fans like horror and excitement, not disgust!"

"Damn it, those North Americans cheated me. When I screened the film at the North American production company, they just clapped and cheered, and didn't even point it out." Wang Zhonglei slammed the handle of his chair and cursed loudly.

When the video was playing, all the employees turned pale and some even vomited, but the employees still applauded warmly.

Not only did he scare his own employees and receive warm applause, he thought it was a successful film!
(End of this chapter)