Although Okamoto Akira and Watabe Mitsuru followed Matsumoto Keiko for a slightly shorter time.
In fact, Keiko Matsumoto's personal agency has only been established for a few years.
But they also accompanied Keiko Matsumoto through the 1982 joint filming of "An Unfinished Game of Chess" between Japan and China, a major event in the film industry.
Keiko Matsumoto also played a supporting role in this movie back then.
Moreover, in 1984 there was another film "Qiu Jin" jointly produced by Japan and China, which was also released in Japan.
Therefore, as industry insiders, the two of them still have a fairly good understanding of the situation of Japanese-Chinese joint filmmaking.
At least they know very well that with the current honeymoon period of relations between Japan and China, this type of anti-war biographical film with historical themes will attract the attention of the media of both countries and gain additional attention from the moment the project is announced.
of attention.
Then after the film is completed, the promotion efforts will be different from the treatment received in theaters, and all parties will definitely be given the face they deserve.
There will also be many spectators who will come here and spend money to buy tickets to watch.
After all, the generation that experienced the war between the two countries is now at the age of retirement.
They were deeply touched by the disasters of the war and were still very concerned about this anti-war historical theme.
Many Japanese people even spend money to buy tickets to watch such movies as an act of reminiscing about the past and maintaining peace.
This is a very advantageous thing.
So compared to shooting other movies, shooting a movie like this will save a lot of effort and a lot of publicity funds.
Critics say the same thing, even if the script of the film is not great, the final quality is mediocre.
But out of political correctness and concern for the reputation of the filmmakers from both countries, even if it is terrible, criticism will be much more tactful.
Even if I rack my brains, I will try my best to give you a few words of compliment.
If you add the charm bonus of Matsumoto Keiko as the "number one beauty", the bonus of movie fans as a movie queen, and the influence of Yamaguchi Yoshiko who has become a member of Congress.
If these statistics are taken into account, the guaranteed red line of this film's box office can be as high as 700 million yen.
This number is a minimum guarantee, not an unrealistically optimistic wish.
But the most important thing is that this character fits so well with Keiko Matsumoto herself.
Objectively speaking, no matter in terms of appearance, temperament, experience and fame, it seems that Matsumoto Keiko and Li Xianglan are compatible, and the two people have perfect similarities.
Therefore, for Keiko Matsumoto, this role is no less tailor-made than Sadao Kawakami in the Taiga drama "The Waves of Spring". It can even be said to be better.
After all, Matsumoto Keiko had been specially trained in singing and dancing for a long time when she was filming "The Legend of Shanghai" the year before last.
The singing and dancing skills that have been cultivated with great difficulty are now used in the role of Li Xianglan. There is simply nothing more suitable than this.
It can definitely fully demonstrate her musical talent and enhance her personal charm.
If it looks like this...
Maybe there is a high possibility of making a classic movie that is expected to go down in Japanese and Chinese film history!
It’s hard to say how high the final box office will be, but it will indeed be a lot easier to win awards.
A conservative estimate is that it will at least be nominated for an Academy Award in Japan.
Then in three other Japanese film awards, it was up to one for Best Actress.
Of course it will be easier for China to win the prize, and it is almost certain that the prize will be taken lightly.
And the box office is also worth looking forward to. The goal of one billion yen should be relatively high.
So if you can really break into the top ten box office in Japan that year with this independently produced movie, what will it feel like then?
Even if you really lose a little money, you can still consider it a success, because there are still income from video tapes and overseas copies to make up for it.
If you think about it carefully, this level of investment risk is not unbearable.
What's more, if this movie is a joint production, Matsumoto Keiko will be paid.
If she can earn a generous salary from it, even if the film investment is tied, it will not be in vain.
So what's the difference compared to when she was in glory in the past?
On the contrary, because they are an investment producer, they can ask for a higher remuneration price, and they will also receive considerable courtesy, so they don't have to suffer.
All in all, it's still a good deal.
Of course, there are also disadvantages.
It is well known in the industry that biographical films with historical themes like this are most likely to have cliche themes and become boring.
It is inherently not attractive to the audience.
So from the perspective of box office, the ceiling is limited, and it cannot be compared to purely commercial entertainment films with the same investment.
Otherwise, if you don't even have this little regret, it would be a sweet deal with no loss and no loss.
"Ning Sang, with all due respect, is it really possible to do joint filming? Is there any definite news from China so soon? If this matter cannot be confirmed yet, then why do you
Do you think you have such confidence?"
Akira Okamoto was already greatly moved, and the question he asked was the question he was most concerned about at this time.
To put it bluntly, the premise of everything is whether the Japanese-Chinese joint production of this movie can be confirmed.
Otherwise, this video will not be operable.
But to be honest, Akira Okamoto actually feels that there is not much hope in his heart.
After all, Matsumoto Keiko had just bought the rights to adapt Yamaguchi Yoshiko's memoirs.
How could there be any substantial progress in such a short period of time?
What's more, Ning Weimin is so young.
If you have a hairless mouth, you will not be able to do things well. This is a true Chinese proverb, but Japan also has a similar concept.
Therefore, in Akira Okamoto's view, it is very possible that the "joint shooting" was purely Ning Weimin's imagination, and it was just bragging by this young man.
But this time he was really wrong, and Ning Weimin gave him an answer that moved him.
"My plan should be to jointly shoot with Changchun Studio, Jingcheng Studio and Shanghai-Hai Studio Three in Mainland China. Because East BJ City and Shanghai are the three places where Ms. Li Xianglan spent the longest time in the first half of her life.
.If there is a local studio to cooperate, of course many shooting issues will be easier to coordinate."
"As for the current specific progress, since I have many actor friends in Beijing, it is most convenient to contact the Beijing studio. The day before yesterday, I had a phone call with the leader there, and their director was very interested.
, I agree in principle. But I still need to ask for instructions from my superiors. This is a necessary procedure for foreign cooperation projects."
"Also by coincidence, Qingzi and I have a common friend. She is the actor who played Cixi in "The Burning of the Old Summer Palace" - Liu Xiaoqin. She is currently filming a movie under director Xie Jin of Shanghai Studio. So this
We entrusted her to contact us on our behalf. It may take a few days for a reply. However, judging from the feedback from the intermediary, Director Xie Jin, on this matter, the Shanghai Film Studio should not have a big problem. Currently, there is only Changchun Film Studio.
We still need to find a way to contact you. If there are no special circumstances, it should be smooth."
"In addition, one more promise I can make is that no matter which studio in mainland China, they will definitely be able to provide the best directors, actors, and crew to cooperate with us. If this movie is put into production, at least it will be
The cast of Hua Xia must be the most gorgeous in history, and all the participants are experienced and good actors. If combined with the real scenes of the year, exquisite props, and high-level makeup, then we are very likely to shoot the closest
A biographical film based on the true story of history.”
"I won't hide this from you. It's mainly due to the underdeveloped economy in mainland China. At present, prices in China are still very low, which is equivalent to reducing the production cost of this movie in disguise and increasing our budget. It's not an exaggeration.
He said that because it is a joint production between the two countries, if we make good use of this one billion yen budget, we may be able to produce a film with effects that would cost 2 billion yen in Japan. I believe that in a few years, the economy of mainland China will further improve.
Growth, when the time comes, we will no longer be able to afford the remuneration of so many actors. We will no longer have such an advantage."
The pie painted by Ning Weimin became more and more exciting and made Okamoto's mouth go dry.
"So... if this movie is put into production! Not only will the quality be quite guaranteed, but it will also be a real big scene and a big production! It's really incredible!"
He even couldn't help but become suspicious because of Ning Weimin's old ways, so he asked another question while sighing with emotion.
"Ning Sang, you...were you also engaged in the film industry when you were in China?"
Ning Weimin was very modest in what he said, but his hidden ability was the most hurtful.
"No, no, please don't get me wrong. I don't know much about the film industry. I have only invested in a few film and television dramas. Didn't I just say that China's economy is underdeveloped? So since I personally have some financial ability, I can
I am willing to contribute money to help my friends. It should be done, it should be done.”
Look at this calm Versailles.
Akira Okamoto's fragile self-esteem suffered another heavy blow.
Facts have proved that the old saying goes well, people are more likely to die than others.
He, Akira Okamoto, has lived in a developed city like Tokyo in vain.
His career achievements are actually not as good as those of a young man from the third world?
Where is the logic in this?
But when it comes to money, it's Mitsuru Watanabe's turn to raise questions.
After all, he is engaged in financial work, and what he fears most is "making a living without rice".
"Ning Sang, please tell me, if we have signed cooperation agreements with several studios, will China also bear the corresponding amount of funds for the film? If so, our economic pressure will be much less...
"
As a result, Ning Weimin interrupted him before he finished speaking.
"No, no, what China lacks the most is funds. So they are only responsible for the support of personnel and equipment, as well as local coordination. As for the funding issues, we are entirely responsible for it. But don't worry. This is actually the easiest for us.
Just leave it to me to solve the problem."
Ning Weimin's original intention in making such a decision was to take care of his fellow villagers, in order to support China's film industry and benefit several studios.
Although according to convention, films jointly produced by Japan and China are basically funded according to the principle of reciprocity.
But the hero protects Sancun. Now that he has the ability to protect the interests of his hometown elders, he cannot let the Japanese take advantage.
If this drama is really going to be filmed, how many actors will China need to produce?
Could it be that just because Chinese labor is cheap, Japanese actors can be as good as a hundred?
There is no such reason.
However, Ning Weimin thought very well and spoke easily, but Mitsuru Watabe was not so easy to dismiss.
The problem of money is not a problem for finances, let alone a gap of one billion yen.
After being stunned for a while, Mitsuru Watanabe still showed his professional nature as a financial officer who is desperate for money, and persisted in getting to the bottom of it.
He was worried that Ning Weimin was talking nonsense.
"Ningsang, it will be very difficult for me if you say that? At least you have to tell me the specific method of raising funds, right? Start-up funds are unavoidable, and they need hundreds of millions of yen. Also, if you plan to have a relationship with Matsumoto
If you and Sang jointly invest, the proportion must be clearly divided first. What is your plan?"
Unexpectedly, what Ning Weimin said almost made Watanabe angry.
"Ah, it's like this. I originally raised a sum of money, but unfortunately I just spent most of it. So this matter has to be found in the firm's accounts. As far as I know, Qingzi last year
She entrusted you to mortgage a villa in her name and obtained a loan of 360 million yen for the company's operations, right? Watanabe-san, can you tell me how much liquidity is left in the firm's accounts?"
"What? What? Are you going to use the funds in the firm's accounts to invest in this film? How is that possible? If you use this money, what will happen to Matsumoto-san's loan?"
Watanabe was really angry now, thinking that this guy had finally exposed his true nature.
He doesn't want to spend a penny, but instead cares about our funds. Isn't this a liar?
Matsumoto-san too, why are you not wary of this man at all for such an important matter?
But I didn’t expect that, how could this be considered shameless?
Ning Weimin is not an ordinary person, his true intention is ruthless.
"Don't worry, Qingzi's villa has doubled in price now, right? So what I mean is that we can talk to the lending bank first to see if they are willing to increase the loan amount. If possible, then
Let’s borrow another four to five billion yen. If they don’t want to, then we can chip in the money to make up the hole and repay the loan. Then, wouldn’t it be better to find another bank to make a new mortgage loan?”
This is really like a toad yawning, what a loud tone!
Watanabe Man heard Ning Weimin's inhumane plan and immediately broke through the defense.
In an instant, he burst into rage and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about? How can we agree to such a crazy thing? What are your intentions?"
Then he protested against Matsumoto Keiko with righteous indignation.
"Matsumoto-san, don't nod your head in this matter! This man has a problem with fighting. Please don't believe his words anymore. He wants to harm you."
Akira Okamoto, who had already been engaged in ideological work by Ning Weimin, was also dumbfounded by his remarks.
At this time, he couldn't help but change his attitude again, and once again doubted whether Ning Weimin was trustworthy.
"What? You want to use Matsumoto-san's house to increase the loan, as a desperate move. This...how is this possible? Ning-san, President Ning, are you really thinking about Matsumoto-san? If you can only use this kind of
If there are other ways to raise funds, then I can’t agree to it.”
It's a pity, as the old saying goes, you can't be close if you're not close.
No matter how loyal the subordinates are, they can't compare to the feelings of the couple.
How is it actually done?
It was completely unexpected to Mitsuru Watanabe and Akira Okamoto.
It was already this time, and Ning Weimin's evil intentions had clearly been exposed, but Matsumoto Keiko remained unmoved.
As if there was no such thing, he insisted on letting Watanabe Mitsuru do what Ning Weimin wanted.
Watanabe Mitsuru was completely confused. He suddenly felt that this world was really crazy and he could no longer understand it at all.
Akira Okamoto was not much better than him, and he couldn't help but secretly lament that women will become stupid if they use too much affection.
But at this moment, the situation that was already clear between right and wrong was reversed again.
Matsumoto Keiko then stated her reasons for supporting Ning Weimin, which instantly slapped the two in the face, and the psychological shock they received was simply unique.
It was like a hundred planes flew over their hearts, dropping all the bombs.
"Watanabe-san, Okamoto-san, you have all misunderstood. My fiancé will not cheat on me. What Amin said is true. He originally raised 700 million yen as the operating capital for this film.
But because we wanted to be more prepared in terms of copyright, we also had one more option to avoid having to talk to Ms. Yoshiko Yamaguchi. During the holidays, we also visited the mystery novelist Matsumoto Seicho. As a result, Mr. Matsumoto learned about our shooting.
The planned budget was relatively high, so he was planning to bundle the copyrights of all his novels with his Fog Production Company and sell them to us. Later... Later, Amin negotiated with Matsumoto for a price of 670 million yen.
Sang made the deal. And the studio he bought is still in my name. So... now... we not only have the rights to film and television adaptations of all Mr. Matsumoto's works, but we also have an official studio.
Yes. Look, I have the property deed, the title, and the copyright authorization letter..."
Six...670 million yen!
Such a large sum of assets was given away completely for free!
How could there be such a generous person!
Looking at the series of documents Keiko Matsumoto produced, Mitsuru Watanabe and Akira Okamoto couldn't help but not believe it.
Of course, when they look at Ning Weimin at this time, he will definitely not look like a liar, but like a love saint!
But this is not over yet.
They heard Matsumoto Keiko talking about it.
"Amin, should I change the name of the studio to your name? I always feel that this is not good. Such a studio is of too high value, how can it be just used as a gift?"
Unexpectedly, Ning Weimin would answer like this.
"Nothing bad. Listen to me, I have made too much profit on my assets this year. If I make any transactions, I will pay the highest tax rate. But you are different. Your debt can help you lower your tax rate. This is a gift from the producer
Giving it to you is actually much more cost-effective than getting it myself. Should we still share it with each other? Besides, I have wanted to give you some decent gifts for a long time..."
Akira Okamoto and Mitsuru Watanabe were completely speechless after being force-fed a mouthful of dog food.
The invisible 13 is the most hurtful thing. Today they really encountered a master who mistook money for money.
