Chapter 380
As experts and veterans of Hong Kong City films, both Elos Garland and Andrew Liu knew very well that Hong Kong City films have become increasingly difficult to enter the North American market in recent years, and there is a rare opportunity in front of them.
Entering one more market will make you more box office or copyright income.
Elos Garland said directly: "Mr. Anderson, "Infernal Affairs" has begun preparations and will start filming in July. We are currently pre-sale of the copyrights of this film outside East and Southeast Asia."
The filmmakers in Hong Kong City are not stagnant. They will also do pre-sale financing means that European and American movies often play: "Huanya Films intends to push "Infernal Affairs" into the North American market. You have released "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" directed by Ang Lee, and have the experience of successfully distributing Oriental films. This time, Huaanya Films wants to cooperate with Embassy Films. I wonder if Mr. Anderson is interested in "Infernal Affairs"?"
He and Andrew Liu both looked at Ronan, who was already selling nakedly.
"To be honest, I have a very good impression of China Asia Films. China Asia Films have always produced high-quality Hong Kong films." Ronan has his own purpose, and of course he will not respond at once. He must strive for the most favorable conditions for himself: "I bought Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" by himself, and the film was finished at that time. However, "Infernal Affairs" has not been filmed yet, and I haven't even seen the film, so it's hard to judge the value."
Elos Garland suddenly felt helpless and came to 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 Liu Liang and the others' names, it is indeed not difficult to fool the Chinese people into investing, but Westerners lack interest.
These ghosts naturally look at Hong Kong City movies with a erotic look, as if the Hong Kong City movies are finished.
Ronan put down the information in his hand and said, "Two, I haven't seen the video, so it's hard to make a judgment. You should always be able to convince people if you sell me a movie that has not started filming."
Naturally, Ronan put himself in the upstream of the industrial chain.
Andrew Liu glanced at Elos Garland, earned his consent, got up and got the completed 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.
The English version was also specially prepared.
In the past, when filming movies, there was no need for these things. Directors like him followed the process. Some directors dared to shoot them without even a script.
Ronan read the script and plan in general and said directly: "The cast lacks appeal in North America, and the characters' dialogues are too romantic. This film has a strong local atmosphere..."
Hearing these words, Andrew Liu couldn't help frowning, and then thought of Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and hurriedly said: "Mr. Anderson, the creativity and core of this film come from Hollywood."
Andrew Liu's basic film production company is one of the investors in the film and is facing tremendous pressure. He really fought to promote this film.
"The prototype of this story comes from John Woo's "Face Change" in 1997. This story is very good, but it's too strange. So I mentioned to the screenwriter whether you can tell a story and two characters exchange it, but there is no need for surgery, it's just an exchange of identity and inner self."
Andrew Liu is not nonsense. Mai Zhaohui's creativity does come from "Face Change": "In our script concept, at first, there were only policemen going to undercover in the undercover in the undercover in the gang. After reading it, I thought it was good to write but not special enough, so I added a lot of elements to it. It turned out that only the police station went to undercover in the undercover in the gang. Now, the people who joined the gang went to the police station to do another undercover in the gang, one hidden and one visible, and then what would happen? This is interesting. It should be said that the positioning of "Infernal Affairs" is a two-hero film. At first, the police and gangsters fought wits first, and gradually the elements of gangsters or hero films became strong."
No one knows better than Andrew Liu that if you don’t find a way to solve the financial pressure from the outside, the risk of a film losing money is extremely high.
The Hong Kong City film industry is in a very bad mood. The box office of Hong Kong films is one dead and the box office of a movie is mostly around HK$2 million, and it is good to have 5 million.
It should be said that Universal Asia trusts them very much, but when it comes to investing so much money, it is a little hesitant. The crew needs more than 20 million Hong Kong dollars in investment. It can be said that it is a level A production, which is really a bit too much, and the risk of losing money is also very high.
The safest type of Hong Kong movies nowadays are comedy and love sketches.
But large-cost investment should be necessary for "Infernal Affairs", and large-cost investment can bring big-name actors.
"Infernal Affairs" is like stepping on a steel wire, with no turning back.
Ronan pondered for a moment and said, "If the price is right, I can take a little risk to release this video." He smiled: "After all, the movies of Huanya Film have left me with many beautiful memories, and I also believe that this will be a successful film."
"This will inevitably be a successful film," said Elos Garland.
Ronan asked directly: "You want Embassy Films to publish "Infernal Affairs" in North America. How do you want to cooperate?"
The producer urgently needed funds, and Andrew Liu said without even thinking about it: "We are willing to authorize the North American copyright of the film to the Embassy Pictures."
The answer was not surprising at all. Ronan nodded and asked again: "Where is the price?"
Andrew Liu Lue hesitated and said, "1.5 million US dollars!"
Ronan suddenly smiled: "Two, I am frank, you can't sell North American copyright at such a price even if the transaction ends."
"This film brings together four of the most appealing actors in Hong Kong City..." Andrew Liu emphasized.
Ronan raised his hand and waved it, saying, "They have extremely limited popularity in North America, and there is not much commercial appeal. They are not Jack Chen and Jet Lee, and North American audiences will not buy their accounts."
Without waiting for the other party to react, he said: "United States Film Company will buy out all copyrights of Infernal Affairs in North America at one time."
Elos Garland and Andrew Liu's faces changed slightly. This price-killing killing is too fierce? These bastards in Hollywood rely on the world's largest film market and the most powerful distribution capabilities, and do not take other film companies seriously at all...
Andrew Liu said: "You buy "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"..."
"Director Liu, movies are different from movies." Ronan didn't say much, but just said, "I don't need to explain this more, right?"
After quick consideration, Elos Garland said: "Mr. Anderson, we can make appropriate concessions, $1 million."
Ronan shook his head: "So that, Mr. Garland. From the script, I can tell the style of some films. I didn't deliberately lower the price, it was determined by the market. "Infernal Affairs" can only be a niche video among the niches for the North American market. Even if the copyright fee of $200,000 is difficult to recover the cost through screenings, and it still depends on long-term offline operations to make a profit."
Elos Garland and Andrew Liu did not expect Ronan to be so embarrassed about the prospects of this film in the North American market.
Ronan continued: "The Embassy Film Company cannot do a loss-making business."
Although he can get three to four million US dollars and can easily get the distribution rights and adaptation rights, in this case, "Infernal Affairs" is not worth the price.
The two people on the other side knew the situation of Hong Kong City movies. This was not the era when Jack Chen's Hong Kong films could be sold for tens of millions of dollars in North America at the beginning of the last century.
Strictly speaking, the North American market is not under the planning of China Asia Film, otherwise it would not have wanted to raise funds for the production of the film through pre-sales.
"$200,000 is too low." Elos Garland shook his head.
Ronan couldn't bite the $200,000 and said casually: "Let's do this, I have a suggestion that is more in the interests of both of us."
Andrew Liu looked over immediately.
Ronan said slowly: "I increased the transaction volume to $300,000, but there are other conditions. Embassy Pictures selected 20 old movies from the film library of Universal Pictures. You granted Embassy Pictures DVD and Internet distribution rights. Embassy Pictures is responsible for distributing "Infernal Affairs" in North America and then sharing the box office revenue."
As soon as he heard that the account was divided based on box office revenue, Elos Garland immediately objected: "I still hope that you will buy out the North American copyright of this video for $200,000."
He actually knew very well how big a market could a typical Hong Kong-style film like "Infernal Affairs" have in North America? The so-called box office revenue is good if you can have four digits left after the issuer's commission.
It may even make a direct loss.
Ronan seemed a little impatient and said directly: "Forget it, I don't want to return empty-handed when I come here this time. Based on what I just said, Embassy Pictures added $200,000 to buy out the North American copyright of "Infernal Affairs"..."
When you have an absolute advantage in the industrial chain, you should first suppress the other party very well and then give some sweets appropriately. The effect is not very good, but it basically meets expectations.
Ronan said casually: "The risk of this business loss is too great, and you should also increase your bargaining chips. This is better, North American copyright covers all copyrights including theater screenings, TV broadcasting, Internet downloads, adapted shooting and peripheral sales."
Elos Garland and Andrew Liu exchanged a look and said, "Yes. But we need to inform the company regularly."
Old films can be authorized to generate income again, which is very convertible for them.
Ronan nodded: "I'll send someone to discuss with you in the afternoon."
"Okay." Elos Garland responded: "There will definitely be a clear result in the afternoon."
Ronan emphasized: "The copyright of twenty old films cannot be left out."
Elos Garland shook hands with Ronan: "Please rest assured, we believe in our words."
Andrew Liu seems to be a little hit. In the eyes of this Hollywood tycoon, "Infernal Affairs" can only serve as a matchmaker for twenty old films?
Chapter completed!