The Best Entertainment Era

As veterans of Hong Kong Films, Eloise Garland and Andrew Liu are very clear that it has become increasingly difficult for Hong Kong Films to enter the North American market in recent years, and there is a rare good opportunity in front of them.

Entering one more market will bring more box office or copyright income.

Eros Garland said directly: Mr. Anderson, preparations for Infernal Affairs have already begun, and filming will begin in July. We are currently pre-selling the copyright of this film outside of East Asia and Southeast Asia.

The filmmakers in Hong Kong City are not standing still, and they will also do the pre-sale of this financing method that European and American films often play: Media Asia intends to push Infernal Affairs into the North American market. Director An's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has the experience of successfully distributing oriental films, this time Media Asia Pictures wants to cooperate with Embassy Pictures, is Mr. Anderson interested in Infernal Affairs?

Both he and Andrew Liu looked at Ronan, which was already a blatant sales pitch.

Frankly speaking, I have a good impression of Media Asia Pictures. Media Asia Pictures has always produced high-quality Hong Kong films. Ronan has his own goals, and of course he will not agree to it all. He will definitely strive for the most favorable conditions for him: I bought Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with my own hands, and the film was finished at that time. But Infernal Affairs has not yet been filmed, and I have not even seen the film, so it is difficult to judge the value.

Eros Garland suddenly felt helpless. He came to the Shanghai Film Festival for pre-sale. He also wanted to learn from Hollywood’s financing experience and solve the huge financial pressure through financing. With the names of Liu and Liang, he fooled his country. It is indeed not difficult for people to invest, but Westerners are not interested.

These old ghosts naturally look at Hong Kong movies with colored eyes, as if Hong Kong movies are finished.

Ronan put down the documents in his hands, and said, You two, I haven't seen the film, so it's hard to make a judgment. You must have enough convincing reasons to sell me a film that hasn't started shooting yet.

Naturally, Ronan placed himself in the upper reaches of the industrial chain.

Andrew Liu glanced at Eros Garland, got his consent, got up and fetched the completed version of the script and shooting plan, handed it to Ronan, and said, This is the script and plan of the film...

For pre-sale and financing, he specially formulated a plan.

An English version is also specially prepared.

In the past, where these things were needed when shooting movies, directors like him followed the process more closely. Some directors dared to shoot without even having a script.

Ronan generally read the script and proposal,

He said directly: The cast lacks appeal in North America, the characters' dialogue is too romantic, and this film has a strong local atmosphere...

Hearing these words, Andrew Liu couldn't help frowning, then thought of Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and quickly said: Mr. Anderson, the idea and core of this film actually come from Hollywood.

Andrew Liu's basic film production company is one of the film's investors, and he is facing tremendous pressure. In order to promote this film, he really worked hard.

The prototype of this story comes from John Woo's Face Changing in 1997. This story is very good, but it is too peculiar. So I asked the screenwriter whether it is possible to tell a story where the two characters are swapped, but no surgery is needed, just The exchange of identity and heart.

Andrew-Liu is not nonsense, Mak Siu-fai's idea really came from Face Changing: In our script concept, there was only the story line of the police going undercover in the underworld at first. After reading it, I think it is good but not special enough. So I added a lot of elements into it. Originally, only people from the police station go undercover in the underworld. Now, people who join the underworld go to the police station to go undercover. There is another line. What will happen after that? This is interesting. It should be said that Infernal Affairs is positioned as a two-hero film. At first, it was a battle of wits between police and gangsters, and gradually the elements of gangster or hero films became stronger.

No one knows better than Andrew Liu that if there is no way to solve the financial pressure from the outside, the risk of the film losing money is extremely high.

The film industry in Hong Kong City is in a downturn. Hong Kong movies are not sold at the box office. Most of the box office of a movie is around 2 million Hong Kong dollars, and 5 million is already very good.

It should be said that Media Asia trusts them very much, but they are a little hesitant when they see that they have to invest so much money. The crew needs an investment of more than 20 million Hong Kong dollars. It can be said that it is an A-level production, which is really too much, and the risk of losing money is also great.

The safest types of Hong Kong films are comedies and romantic sketches.

But a large cost investment should be necessary for Infernal Affairs, and a large cost can find big-name actors.

Infernal Affairs is like stepping on a tightrope, with no turning back.

Ronan pondered for a moment and said, If the price is right, I can take a little risk and release this film. He smiled: After all, Media Asia Pictures' films have left me with many good memories, and I also believe that It's going to be a successful film.

Eros Garland said: It's bound to be a successful film.

Ronan asked directly: You want Embassy Pictures to release Infernal Affairs in North America. May I ask how you want to cooperate?

The producer needed funds urgently, Andrew Liu said without thinking, We are willing to authorize the North American copyright of the film to Embassy Pictures.

This answer is not surprising at all, Ronan nodded and asked again: What about the price?

Andrew Liu hesitated for a moment and said, 1.5 million dollars!

Ronan suddenly smiled: You two, with all due respect, at such a price, you will not be able to sell the North American copyright even after the fair ends.

This film brings together four of the most charismatic actors in Hong Kong... Andrew Liu emphasized.

Ronan raised his hand and said, Their popularity in North America is extremely limited, and they don't have much commercial appeal. They are not Jack Chen and Jeter Lee. North American audiences will not buy them.

He didn't wait for the other party's response, and said: For 200,000 US dollars, the Embassy Pictures will buy out all the copyrights of Infernal Affairs in North America at one time.

Eros Garland and Andrew Liu's expressions changed slightly. Isn't this bargain too hard? These bastards in Hollywood, relying on the world's largest film market and the most powerful distribution capabilities, don't pay attention to other film companies at all...

Andrew Liu said: You bought Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon...

Director Liu, movies are different from movies. Ronan didn't say much, but said, I don't need to explain more about this, right?

After quick consideration, Eros Garland said, Mr. Anderson, we can make an appropriate concession, $1 million.

Ronan shook his head: Let's put it this way, Mr. Garland. From the script, I can judge the style of some films. I didn't deliberately lower the price. This is determined by the market. Infernal Affairs is for the North American market. It can only be a niche film among the niche audience, even if the copyright fee is 200,000 US dollars, it is difficult to recover the cost through screening, and it must rely on long-term offline operations to make profits.

Eros Garland and Andrew Liu didn't expect Ronan to be so pessimistic about the film's prospects in the North American market.

Ronan continued: Embassy Films cannot do business at a loss.

Although he paid three to four million dollars, he could easily get the distribution rights and adaptation rights, but in the current situation, Infernal Affairs is not worth the price.

The two people on the opposite side are well aware of the situation of Hong Kong films. This is not the era at the beginning of the last century when Jack Chen's Hong Kong-produced films could sell tens of millions of dollars at the box office in North America.

Strictly speaking, the North American market is not in the plan of Media Asia Pictures, otherwise, it would not want to raise funds for the film's production through pre-sale.

$200,000 is too low. Eros Garland still shook his head.

It was impossible for Ronan to hold on to the 200,000 dollars, and he said casually, Well, I have a proposal, which is more in line with the interests of both of us.

Andrew Liu looked over immediately.

Ronan said unhurriedly: I will increase the transaction amount to 300,000 US dollars, but there are other conditions. Embassy Pictures will select 20 old movies from Media Asia Pictures' library, and you will award Embassy Pictures DVD And Internet distribution rights, Embassy Pictures is responsible for the distribution of Infernal Affairs in North America, and then the box office proceeds are divided.

When he heard that the box office revenue would be divided, Ellos Garland immediately objected: I still hope that you can buy out the North American copyright of this film for US$200,000.

He is actually very clear about how big a market a typical Hong Kong film like Infernal Affairs can have in North America? The so-called box office revenue, after the publisher's commission, it would be good to have four figures left.

It may even be a direct loss.

Ronan seemed a little impatient, and said directly: Forget it, I don't want to leave empty-handed this time. On the basis of what I just said, the Embassy Pictures will buy out the North American copyright of Infernal Affairs with an additional US$200,000... ...

In the case of occupying an absolute advantage in the industrial chain, first press the opponent right, and then give some sweetness appropriately. The effect is not to say very good, but it basically meets expectations.

Ronan said casually: The risk of losing money in this business is too great, and you should also increase your bargaining chips. That's it, the North American copyright covers all aspects including theater screenings, TV broadcasts, Internet downloads, adapted filming, and peripheral sales. All copyrights.

Eros Garland and Andrew Liu exchanged glances and said, Yes. But we need to notify the company routinely.

It is very profitable for them to re-authorize old films to generate income.

Ronan nodded: I'll send someone over to discuss with you this afternoon.

Okay. Eros Garland responded immediately: There will definitely be a definite result in the afternoon.

Ronan emphasized emphatically: The copyright of twenty old films must not be less than one.

Eros Garland shook hands with Ronan: Don't worry, we keep our word.

Andrew Liu seems to have been a little hit. In the eyes of this Hollywood bigwig, Infernal Affairs can only be used as a starting point for 20 old movies?

Even if he is a mature director, at this moment, he still feels resentful after being underestimated, neglected and looked down upon. He is determined to make this film well and let this Yankee take a good look at it!