Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 99: Filming in Name Only
Shi Lei took a closer look at the names on the list. Wow, the new generation is all here: Yanzu, Tingfeng, Guanxi, and Zuming.

"How do you want me to help you?"

"The requirements are not high. As long as Peach Company gives them the opportunity to act in horror movies, that's fine." Mr. Yang of Yinghuang smiled cheerfully, and finally added: "In the end, let them be the leading actors."

Shi Lei shook his head and refused without even thinking: "Although it is a low-budget horror film, I can't take risks with the film. They can only play supporting roles in the film."

"But you can find the script yourself and finance the filming yourself. I can introduce you to the distributor."

He went to North America to make money. He would not make a horror movie that would not do well at the box office, and he also did not want to give profits to Emperor Entertainment Group.

Mr. Yang kept smiling, but he was not satisfied in his heart.

With Yinghuang's relationship with Hollywood, it is not difficult to find a company to distribute the film. This is not what they want.

Of course, it is not possible to force Shi Lei to use Hong Kong stars as the leading actors.

He maintained his smile and said, "Director Shi, how about we jointly finance the filming?"

Shi Lei thought for a moment and said, "Boss Yang, Shuimitao is good at making low-budget horror films. If the investment is less than 500 million US dollars, Shuimitao will invest."

"What I mean is that the film is affiliated with Shuimitao, and Shuimitao is the producer of the film." Mr. Yang said seriously.

The current Shuimitao Films specializes in low-budget horror films, and the box office is good. It is also well-known in the horror film field. It is easier to succeed if you are affiliated with Shuimitao Films.

Shi Lei thought about it and thought it was normal for a film and television company to have a few failed movies, so he agreed: "Okay, but you need to form your own crew, and you have to find your own directors."

"Okay!" Mr. Yang nodded with satisfaction and extended his hand to Shi Lei: "Happy cooperation."

Building a film crew is not a problem. Hong Kong has always wanted to enter Hollywood but has never succeeded. Shi Lei's approach gave them inspiration.

They are worried about movies with tens of millions of dollars of investment, but they don't have such worries for horror movies with millions of dollars.

A movie with millions of dollars in production has less pressure to make a profit. Even if it fails at the box office, you can still make some money back through DVD sales. Even if you make ten movies, as long as one does well at the box office, it will be a success.

Moreover, Yinghuang will not limit themselves to horror films, they will try to shoot low-budget action films. Shooting action films is a specialty of the Hong Kong circle, and they know how to make good-looking action films with the least amount of money.

Shi Lei looked at Mr. Yang's hand, nodded slightly, and stretched out his hand to shake his hand.

"Pleasant to work with."

If the script is good, he will invest, but if the script is too bad, he will not invest.

As for the development of those young people, he was not very concerned. The mainland admitted that they were handsome, but these people... these people all had some problems to a greater or lesser extent.

Sending it to Hollywood would be a good choice.

Among them, he is most optimistic about Yanzu. In the future, Yanzu will not be a name, but an adjective.

Yanzu is good in everything except his nationality.
After thinking about it, Shi Lei actually found a way out that was suitable for several people.

That is the TV series "Warrior". I heard that this drama is Bruce Lee's posthumous work. I don't know whether it is true or not. But no matter whether it is true or not, Bruce Lee's name is still of some use in North America.

The North American public knows Kung Fu because of Bruce Lee's movies.

Although he died in 73, his influence continues into the st century.

Of course, he would not let these Hong Kong stars get away with it.

He neither obstructs nor pushes them, just lets them fight on their own! However, some of these people are really successful. Yanzu is handsome and good at fighting, and there will be a series in the future.

"Into the Badlands" has been filmed for three seasons. He has seen it and found the fighting scenes quite interesting.

But since he has decided not to take action, he will not take action. After all, they are not from his own company and will not be so attentive.

Perhaps it was because the cooperation method with Yinghuang was exposed, and film and television companies that were interested in entering Hollywood also came knocking on the door.

Shi Lei was not so easy to talk to for those of a lower grade. If they wanted to affiliate with Shuimitao Film and Television, they had to pay extra money. Shuimitao Film and Television charged 10% of the film's cost and also gave the copyright unconditionally. For example, a $500 million movie would require paying Shuimitao Film and Television $50. After Shuimitao got the money, it would not pay a penny, accounting for 10% of the film.

When these conditions were put forward, half of the film and television companies backed off and some companies hesitated.

50 US dollars, which is 400 million RMB, is a lot of money. Many domestic films cannot even get an investment of 200 million RMB.

Shi Lei didn't care much about it. After all, it was a matter of two people willing to fight and one willing to be beaten. He could make money by being a figurehead, and he could have less trouble by not being a figurehead.

He predicts that in the end, the majority of people will not be credited, except for big IPs like Marvel and DC. Whether in North America or in China, the first things people look at for a movie are the actors and directors, and then the production company.

The support provided by the company is not as high as expected.

Not to mention Shuimitao Films, which was established only a few years ago.

Of course, he still tried his best to appease these companies, either by co-shooting with them or giving up some roles in the TV series. Anyway, it was a series of exchanges of interests.

After exchanging interests, Feixun received treatment similar to that of Weibo in its previous life. Most celebrities registered Feixun accounts and posted their life updates.

Under the deliberate guidance of Feixun Technology, celebrities began to compete with each other in terms of the number of fans...

Feixun is developing at a very good pace.

As the saying goes, one step slow, all steps slow. When it comes to celebrities, fans, and the entertainment industry, Penguin can no longer catch up.

Shi Lei was in a good mood.

At the same time, "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" was released on Shonan TV.

经过一系列的谈判之后，最终的阶段性合约为收视率低于1.5%，公司不要钱；收视率高于1.5%就70万一集，收视率超过2%就80万一集；收视率2.5%就90万一集……以此类推。

底限收视率提高到1.5%，金额也从1.5%50万提高到1.5%70万。

Under this contract, Shonan TV has less risk and Taolin Film and Television has greater profit margins, and both parties are happy.

In its previous life, "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" premiered on Taiwan TV with a viewership rating of around 5.7%. In this life, it premiered on Shonan TV with a viewership rating of at least 6.7.

170 million per episode, 34 episodes, that’s 5780 million.

This is the copyright fee for the first broadcast, which basically pays off. The remaining second and third rounds of "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" are all profitable.

Soon, "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" was officially released. Out of his importance to "The Legend of Sword and Fairy", Shi Lei notified the entire company's artists and employees to support a wave of ratings.

At the same time, let them promote "The Legend of Sword and Fairy" on Feixun Weibo to increase the ratings.

This practice may not seem good, but it has actually been restrained. In the past, TV dramas had already developed to the point where they directly spent money to buy ratings and directly faked them.

(End of this chapter)