During the cocktail party, Chris looked at Ang Lee, Xu Ligong and others who were still socializing and said to Ronan: "Although I can't understand the lines and the subtitles seem to be difficult, I can roughly understand that this movie is a bit like "Astonia and Emotion" by Austen."

This dialogue is in Chinese and has English subtitles, but Americans have developed a habit all year round that they don’t like to watch subtitles at all when watching movies.

Ronan nodded: "It is indeed like the alternative "Sense and Emotion."

"It's a pity that Ann Lee chose the wrong form of expression." Chris shook his head: "This kind of martial arts film is too strange."

He sighed: "An-Li's recent films are not very good."

Ronan agreed and said, "Yes."

Perhaps after a while, Sony Entertainment will have different views on "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but the film viewers of Sony Entertainment coming to the Cannes Film Festival are led by Chris. Now Chris is not optimistic about this film. At least during the Cannes Film Festival, Sony Entertainment will not be very likely to join the competition.

Last year, Ang Lee had a film with a production budget of up to $35 million, and the box office in North America was only a pitiful $630,000, which was a huge disappointment.

To a certain extent, Ang Lee had to do it because of the filming of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", because the crushing defeat of the previous film made it difficult for him to receive more major productions in Hollywood.

Speaking of which, Ang Lee is also a determined person. He failed several times in his directorial career. If he had been a Chinese director, he would have been finished long ago, but he survived.

This alone is far superior to Wu Baige.

Ronan chatted with Chris for a few more words. Seeing that there were fewer people around Ang Lee and Xu Ligong, he said to Chris: "I'll go and say hello to the master."

Chris had no intention of going over: "Go, didn't we have an agreement before? I'll give this movie to you."

Ronan could see that Chris was really not interested in this movie, so he took the opportunity to return the favor he had been half-joking before.

None of these old fried dough sticks who are mixed in Hollywood are simple.

During the chat just now, Ronan also asked tentatively that Sony Classic has very little investment in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because Sony Classic is not optimistic about a martial arts film with such high investment.

The production budget of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is as high as 17 million US dollars. If you convert the exchange rate of this era, it will definitely exceed 130 million soft girl coins. Which martial arts film dares to invest so much money today?

Ang Lee said it was a bit exaggerated to shoot "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" but it could also reflect the real situation of the project.

Ronan has always made plans and then moved. He has mastered a lot of information in the past few days. Ang Lee collaborated with Sony Columbia Pictures in 1995, but he did not collaborate with Sony again. The main producers of each film are different.

Therefore, Ang Lee should not have a tendency to cooperate with which company to cooperate with.

As for Xu Ligong, the Western film industry does not know much about him. This is one of Wanwan’s most famous filmmakers. He mainly works in Wanwan and does not deal much with Hollywood.

In "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Xu Ligong is the first producer and Ang Lee is the director and producer.

The power of this film is actually in the hands of these two people.

"Hello, Director Li. Hello Mr. Xu." Ronan came to the two of them, shook hands with them one by one, and introduced himself: "I am Ronan Anderson, the president of Embassy Films."

"Embassy Films?" Xu Ligong felt very unfamiliar.

Ang Lee has been living in Hollywood for many years and immediately asked: "The Embassy Films, which released "The Witch Blair" and "The God of Death is Coming?"

Luo Nan smiled slightly: "That's right."

"Hello, Mr. Anderson." Ang Lee's face instantly filled with smiles: "It's very honored to know you."

When Xu Ligong heard that he was from a Hollywood distribution company, he also came to say hello: "It is a great honor for Mr. Anderson to come to the cocktail party."

Ang Lee also said: "Embassy Film's performance last year was impressive."

Seeing the two of them politely with a complimentary tone, Ronan suddenly realized something, something he had not completely changed.

Embassy Films is a distribution company. He now represents a distribution company, and it is the distribution company with excellent performance last year!

In the single round of performance, Embassy Pictures even beat Lionsgate Pictures, Miramax and New Line Pictures in the previous year!

Ang Lee and Xu Ligong are producers, or are they looking for a North American distribution producer?

More importantly, Ang Lee was not a big director in the future, and he only experienced a crushing defeat in the last movie!

There is also "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". He knew that this film would be a huge success, but others didn't know that martial arts films are ultimately a niche among the niches in North America. Looking at Chris' attitude, it is not difficult to guess that most people in Hollywood are not interested in this film.

The value of such a film is slowly revealed, but now "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is only premiering in Cannes and will be officially released until July.

The importance of release to a film is self-evident.

As a publisher, you naturally have an advantage when facing the producer. Judging from the current situation, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" does not seem to have attracted enough attention from Hollywood distribution companies.

Ronan had observed with Chris before that there were not many people from Hollywood at the cocktail party. Film watchers like Chris who have been living in Hollywood for many years are very familiar with them. Most of the film watchers and buyers from other companies know each other.

Even the fat man Harvey Weinstein who went to see the premiere did not seem to come.

It is estimated that Harvey Weinstein is not familiar with martial arts films either.

Perhaps it was the great success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" that Miramax later bought the North American copyright of "Hero".

Ronan was not modest, saying: "Embassy Films is developing rapidly, and North America distribution channels are becoming more and more complete. If "Blair Witch" is now released," he seemed very confident: "North America's box office may be higher."

Ang Lee had already become westernized and said, "The promotion of "Blair Witch" is amazing."

Although Xu Ligong has less dealing with Hollywood, he has also heard of the name of "Blair the Witch", a distribution company that can run such a super bad movie to a box office of over 100 million US dollars. It is not easy.

Ronan said nothing nonsense and expressed his purpose: "Two, I just watched the premiere. Is the North American distribution rights still in your hands?"

The moment Ronan revealed his identity, Ang Lee and Xu Ligong guessed what he was going to do. Xu Ligong continued: "The copyright of North America is still in the hands of Zongheng International."

"I'm a little curious about this movie." Ronan said directly: "If you are interested, we can make an appointment to talk about North American distribution."

Ang Lee winked at Xu Ligong.

Xu Ligong pointed to the people around him and said, "It's not suitable now, we can't leave."

Of course, Ronan would not be very anxious. He took out his business card and handed it to Ang Lee and Xu Ligong respectively, and said, "There is my contact information on it. When will you have time? You can call me."

Ang Lee and Xu Ligong solemnly put away their business cards. The latter thought for a while and said, "If Mr. Anderson has time tomorrow, will we make an appointment with a place to talk?"

"Yes," said Ronan. "There is a cafe on the first floor of this hotel."

Xu Ligong said again: "Tomorrow is 10 o'clock?"

Ronan nodded: "Yes."

Shaking hands with the two again, Ronan said goodbye and left, and found Chris who was wandering at the cocktail party.

"How are you talking?" Chris asked.

Ronan said half true and half falsely: "On average, the price is not very suitable. I will talk to them tomorrow. If it doesn't work, I can only give up."

Chris smiled and said, "The risks in the film industry are too high. It is best not to touch movies that you don't understand."

Ronan nodded and said, "I know, just try it, and if it doesn't work, withdraw."

Suddenly, Chris reminded: "I guess you're going to have a competitor."

"Who?" Ronan was surprised.

Chris reached out and pointed quietly: "The fat man from Miramax is here."

Ronan looked along his fingers and frowned slightly. Harvey Weinstein had already found Ang Lee and Xu Ligong, not knowing what he was talking about.

"Didn't he come?" Ronan didn't see this guy before.

Chris said: "When you go find Ann Lee, that guy comes."

But Ronan smiled: "Have he taken a fancy to this movie? If he invested heavily, he would lose money."

"Who knows?" Chris said simply: "He often comes to Cannes to buy movies, and when buying movies, he likes to buy two or three movies at once. Although his vision is generally higher, the price is low enough that as long as one movie is successful, he can make a profit."

Ronan responded: "This is also a business strategy."

Chris agrees: "It's very effective. The Weinstein brothers are experts in operating independent films and have learned the essence of this. They diversify investment, reduce risks, and bet on successful projects."

In fact, small Hollywood companies will use this operational strategy.

Ronan talked to Chris while recalling and thinking. In his previous life, Ang Lee seemed to have never worked with Harvey Weinstein?

He glanced at Ang Lee and Xu Ligong. Both of them had polite smiles on their faces, and they didn't know what they were saying to Harvey Weinstein.

Will this become a competitor?

Having said that, even if Miramax wants to get involved, he is not very worried. Embassy Film has a complete distribution channel, and when it comes to distribution capabilities, it is no worse than Miramax.

More importantly, the cash flow of Embassy Pictures is not comparable to that of a film company like Miramax, which has a sharp contradiction with its parent company.

After the cocktail party, before leaving, Ronan went to the host to say goodbye politely and tried it out, but no results were obtained.

The two reminded him not to forget the interview tomorrow. Ronan could guess that they had not reached an agreement with Harvey Weinstein.

The next day, Luo Nan arrived at the appointment on time and met Ang Lee and Xu Ligong.
Chapter completed!