Entertainment Empire System

Because at that time, the domestic box office sharing was not very mature, because in the beginning, these were all state-owned enterprises, whether it was a film studio or a cinema, they were all state-owned enterprises and one family, so the sharing was quite confusing. Later, after private filmmaking was allowed, although it was also affiliated with the state-owned film studio, it was a private film after all. Therefore, there was a rule of dividing the film company and the cinema, and this made Huaxia Film The rule that people love and hate is to divide it into 40 and 60. What I like is that private individuals can finally enter the field of film shooting. This is a huge progress, and private capital is naturally overjoyed.

But later, this was actually a huge shackle that restricted the discovery of Chinese films. In this chaotic period, there is actually a way to buy out.

Director Liu smiled bitterly and said: "Originally, everyone was thinking of splitting into something like this. In fact, for most people, this is indeed the case. But later, China Film changed its mind and they were unwilling to split. Therefore, we The buyout was issued, and the buyout price was relatively high. It cost 25 million." This price surprised Ye Ming: "Director Liu, you can't pass it, right? 25 million Ten thousand, you dare to come up with this number,"

Obviously, this number is very high, because Ye Ming knows that the real box office price of [Star Wars: The Phantom Menace] in the mainland is less than 6 million. This is the box office that the real industry knows. As for the price announced to the outside world Box office, come on, ordinary people may believe what those experts say, but in such a situation, it is almost impossible for insiders like Ye Ming to believe it.

Therefore, when he heard that Liu Dong had used a high figure like 25 million to buy out "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace", his first impression was that New Film Alliance was crazy.

At this time, Director Liu seemed to find it a little unbelievable. He frowned and said, "I also find this unbelievable, but the box office of [Star Wars: The Phantom Menace] in North America is 430 million. Such a box office is worth our gamble." Yes, and our New Film Alliance is just talking about the 19 million. After all, our company has not yet had a film proposal nationwide. If theaters in other places want to show it, they will still have to pay us at this time. Therefore, we are just taking the lion's share. Ye Ming, if your brilliant theater chain wants to show it, we are not non-negotiable. This is a science fiction blockbuster, and the opportunity is rare. Aren't you interested?"

This is what surprised Liu Dong very much. Ye Ming is a guy with quite a business vision. It is said that he would never let go of a Hollywood blockbuster like this at such a time, and in such a situation, he also Waiting for Ye Ming to come to him. If Ye Ming really comes to him at this time, as long as he gives a suitable price, that does not mean that it cannot be negotiated.

But for some reason, Ye Ming didn't come, or even didn't show up at all in the past few days. Ye Ming said with a smile: "The screening in our cinema has been arranged for a long time. Moreover, I have asked people from the company to shoot a low-cost movie in the past few days. We still will not participate in [Star Wars: The Phantom Menace]" ”

Less than 6 million. This is a Hollywood blockbuster, not a super bad movie like "Jing Ke Assassins the King of Qin". After Lucas found out about the box office, he was so angry that he was almost hospitalized because of it. It is said that at that time, someone If you dare to mention this matter in front of Lucas, he will definitely make Lucas lose his temper. Therefore, Ye Ming simply said that he was unwilling to wade into this muddy water.

But at this time, Director Liu was actually riding a tiger. Seeing Ye Ming's refusal so simply, he couldn't help but become interested: "Mr. Ye refused so simply, are you sure that this box office will definitely fail? You know , this is a Hollywood blockbuster. The production cost alone is more than 100 million US dollars. We don’t even have to think about such a figure. Therefore, I think the box office will be close to it, although it is said that it is not possible. It’s more than the Titanic, but at a time like this, there’s absolutely no problem making money.”

Director Liu is also a member of the circle, so he is very familiar with this matter. Director Liu is the kind of person who blindly believes that at a time like this, as long as there is a Hollywood blockbuster, the box office will definitely be high. It will make money. In fact, before [Star Wars: The Phantom Menace], a routine like this would definitely be successful. Unfortunately, Director Liu never expected that such an accident would happen to him.

Ye Ming thought for a while and said: "There is nothing wrong with blockbusters, but don't forget that this blockbuster was released eight or nine months later than the one in North America. You should take this gap into consideration. I I dare not say anything else. You can just find a stall owner selling pirated discs on the street and ask them for this movie. Ten yuan a piece is already said to be very common. So you said you expect this It's almost impossible for a movie to make money. I remain skeptical."

When Liu Dong heard Ye Ming's analysis, he suddenly stayed there. It seemed that Ye Ming had been saying this, and it was not impossible.

Piracy is an emerging issue that has only started to emerge in the past two years. With the popularity of video disc players, pirated discs have also entered the mainland market crazily. This is a huge blow to the movie box office.

At this time, Liu Dong thought of Ye Ming's words and felt a chill in his back. Maybe there would really be bad results. But in such a situation, he has already said that it is difficult to ride a tiger. Many experts say that there is absolutely no big surprise when it comes to such a problem. Making money is certain, otherwise the New Film Alliance will not be able to do so. It's possible to invest so much money at once to buy it out.

Director Liu said very definitely: "Everyone is still very interested in Hollywood blockbusters. I don't want to say that they can definitely surpass Titanic, but under such a situation, I think if the box office is over 100 million, If it’s ¥70, there shouldn’t be any problem. Moreover, our ticket prices are also set relatively high, probably around ¥70. The prices of Hollywood blockbusters are so high.”

As a masterpiece of classic science fiction films, of course, Star Wars has the qualification to do so. If it is released simultaneously, even if the difference is not too long, and pirated discs do not capture the market, then maybe the price will still be Can make money. However, now, seventy yuan, I don’t know if I am crazy about money, but the price is definitely not something that ordinary people can afford.

Ye Ming really had nothing to say about the price of movie tickets. He could only say helplessly: "I hope there are many viewers who can accept this price, but it is not very easy. Mr. Liu, you should be planning to take advantage of this opportunity." Let’s raise part of the funds. But for a behemoth like New Film Alliance, it can’t even raise more than 20 million, which seems a bit unbelievable.”

New Film Alliance is a super giant, so they have the courage to say such things at this time. With more than 20 million, the New Film Alliance just couldn't come up with it. At this time, Director Liu shook his head and said: "There are big difficulties in being big. We have so many employees waiting to eat. Therefore, in such a situation, our income is high and our expenses are also very high. Suddenly It’s still unjustifiable that my son took out more than 10 million. If we use this money, it will be difficult to pay wages and so on. Then the workers may cause trouble. It is useful to seek help from these rich people. It’s necessary, this is called benefit sharing and risk sharing.”

I had never thought of this, but it is understandable that New Film Alliance would do this. Some mainland movies are directly invested by these financial people and big money. So at this time, buying out a Hollywood blockbuster If so, then it is not impossible for someone to be tempted by such an issue. After all, a classic to science fiction film like "Star Wars" is simply too influential.

Although at this time, Liu Dong's wish was very beautiful, the reality was very cruel.

In a situation like that, there were a lot of wealthy entrepreneurs coming, but not many were really interested in a science fiction blockbuster like this.

This is also the key point why Liu Dong is frowning now.

It seemed that Director Liu was unwilling to say anything more on such a question. He changed the subject and said, "You just said that your company has shot a small-budget movie in the past few days. You didn't mean that you were going to shoot [People on the Road]" ]? What about this movie? Isn’t it going to be made?”

Ye Ming immediately explained: "The movie I shot recently is a relatively simple movie, so my definition is a popcorn movie. Looking back, I should say it will bring a little surprise to everyone."

I heard that it wasn't [People on the Road]. At this time, Liu Dong's interest was not that great. A low-budget movie was not in Liu Dong's eyes at all.

But as for "People on the Road", at this time, Liu Dong said that he could pay more attention to it. After all, it was a New Year's film made by Ye Ming. Ye Ming always likes to go off the beaten path. Ah, so I have to be careful about what tricks this kid pulls off. (To be continued)