The script of the movie "Infernal Affairs" is important.
The cast is equally important.
Without the support and superb acting skills of Liu Tianwang and others, "Infernal Affairs" in the original world may not have been able to set off such an astonishing box office miracle.
These are the selling points of a movie.
Even after it was released, the film was promoted to the outside world as having several major movie stars competing on the same stage, making it the final savior of Hong Kong films, and so on.
Zhou Yang will naturally not be stubborn and abandon the selling point of the movie itself to hire some unsuitable people.
Huang Jiacheng and Wang Shuai recommended many Hong Kong and Taiwan actors to Zhou Yang, and talked with Zhou Yang about the respective attributes of these actors.
Zhou Yang read the recommended actor information carefully. In addition to Liu Tianwang, Zhao Shaohui and Zhao Tianwang, the actors that impressed him most were Chu Guanfeng.
Chu Guanfeng's eyes are very beautiful, with a hint of melancholy and vicissitudes of life. He is particularly suitable for playing the protagonist Chen Yongren in "Infernal Affairs". Moreover, Zhou Yang has also seen his previous works. The previous works are very good, and he himself is also very good.
With the ability to appeal to the box office, he is a very suitable candidate for Zhou Yang.
However……
"Chu Guanfeng just called me personally. He expressed regret that he had signed the contract for "Night Walker" before this..."
In the office.
Xu Mei said these words in a complicated tone.
Zhou Yang did not respond, but looked at Chu Guanfeng's information silently for a long time, feeling extremely pity in his heart.
Zhou Yang has read the profiles of famous actors from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China. I can’t say that others are not good, but I really can’t find a more suitable actor than Chu Guanfeng.
"Du Wentao also declined politely. He said that after reading the script of "Night Walker", he liked that script better..."
Xu Mei looked at the information and continued after seeing that Zhou Yang didn't say anything.
Compared to Chu Guanfeng, Zhou Yang was not much disappointed when he heard Du Wentao's rejection.
The role Zhou Yang assigned to Du Wentao was not an important role, similar to the role of Silly Qiang in the original world.
Then...
Xu Mei also mentioned a few important roles that Zhou Yang wanted to call to audition. However, what was disappointing was that although these people said they could come to audition, Xu Mei told them that they seemed to be in a dilemma.
Like Chu Guanfeng, he signed a contract with "Night Walker" early.
Zhou Yang frowned.
Several slightly important characters were all signed away by "Night Walker" without exception.
Zhou Yang had thought that "Night Walker" was specifically targeting his "Infernal Affairs", but then he felt something was wrong. My shooting schedule and project plan have not been sent out yet, how could I be targeted?
Then there is only one possibility. The lineup of the movie "Night Walker" is very strong, even to the point of exaggeration!
Xu Mei's phone rang.
Later, Xu Mei went to answer the phone.
Zhou Yang took out his mobile phone and made a brief call to Liu Tianwang.
During the chat with Liu Tianwang, Zhou Yang vaguely confirmed something.
"Night Walker" once invited Liu Tianwang, and it was also invited by directors Cao Bangguo and Shen Jinsong, and they offered a very astonishing salary.
Liu Tianwang had no schedule at the time and many things were uncertain, so he chose to postpone them for the time being.
After calling Liu Tianwang, he also called Zhao Shaohui and Zhao Tianwang.
When Zhao Shaohui answered the phone, he hesitated and seemed to have deliberately lowered his voice. When asked about "Night Walker", Zhao Tianwang, who spoke Mandarin, became a little embarrassed and couldn't hold back a fart after talking for a long time.
After Zhou Yang noticed that Zhao Shaohui seemed to have something to hide, he hung up the phone.
About a few minutes later, Zhao Shaohui called Zhou Yang back again.
On the phone.
"Director Zhou, when I answered the phone just now, directors Jiang and Cao from "Night Walker" came over with my wife. They wanted to invite me to join the crew of "Night Walker"... Well, before that, actually, I promised them
I’ve joined the group, but don’t worry, no matter what, I won’t go there…”
When Zhou Yang heard Zhao Shaohui talking, there was a burst of female urging around him. It was obvious that his wife was coming.
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yang looked at the window dully.
How strong is the lineup of "Night Walker"?
Are you going to rob all the celebrities in Hong Kong and Taiwan?
"Dong dong."
"Come in."
Xu Mei pushed the door open again and walked in with extremely complicated eyes: "Mr. Zhou, Chu Guanfeng's agent called me just now..."
After seeing Xu Mei's expression, Zhou Yang asked, "What did you say?"
"She said... Chu Guanfeng had signed a contract for "Night Walker" before. If he participated in the role, he would have to break the contract and the liquidated damages would be very expensive... If we are willing to help advance the liquidated damages, he can come over..."
"How much liquidated damages?" Zhou Yang asked.
"thirty million."
"How much?" When Zhou Yang heard this number, he was stunned.
"Thirty million. His salary for "Night Walker" is ten million plus box office commission, and the corresponding liquidated damages will be tripled... His agent said this, but I don't know whether it is true or not."
When Xu Mei repeated it again, Zhou Yang's heart trembled, and then he shook his head with a wry smile.
30 million liquidated damages, plus 10 million remuneration and movie share.
Guaranteed 40 million, an actor...
This price may not matter to the producer who is busy cutting off investors' leeks, but to Zhou Yang, it is nothing short of a sky-high price.
"I remember the total investment in "Night Walker" was 100 million, right?" Zhou Yang looked at Xu Mei as if he had thought of something.
"It was originally 100 million, but now the investment has become 200 million..."
"How much?" Zhou Yang was confused.
"Two hundred million, Jiang Ge announced to the public that it is 200 million, but maybe 200 million is not the end point. When Jiang Ge was interviewed, he said that his film investment would not be much lower than "The Grandmaster" and "The City of Golden Armor"..." Xu
Mei sighed quietly.
After hearing such a big number, Zhou Yang fell silent.
After investing 200 million yuan, the box office return will be at least 500 million yuan, and if you want to make a small profit, you will need at least 600 million yuan.
"City of Golden Armor" seems to have done well at the box office in China and made good money from advertising fees, but it only invested 300 million, and the overseas box office and various copyrights are generally included to make it worth the loss. Like
It’s a great investment to earn money and set records.
600 million box office!
It is definitely impossible for China to make money unless it can develop a wave of talents overseas and sell advertising fees well.
Zhou Yang felt that Jiang Ge was a little crazy, and at the same time he also thought it might be a gimmick, like a bubble to make the plate bigger and then conduct commercial operations.
"Jiang Ge seems to have signed a gambling agreement with Capital..." Xu Mei looked at the information about "Night Walker" on hand and then looked at Zhou Yang: "Mr. Zhou, do we want to contact Chu Guanfeng again? Actually,
We can also fight..."
"Forget it, go and do your work."
"Mr. Zhou, we actually have a lot of advertising sponsorships. If you are willing, it is not difficult to make a 200 million project..." Xu Mei hesitated and said again.
"I will consider it, but no matter what, it is absolutely impossible for me to spend 200 million to make a movie. Advertisers' money is also money, and I have to be responsible for them after receiving the money..."
Although many people think that capital leeks are not a big deal, Zhou Yang still maintains a responsible attitude in his heart, and he will not accept random advertisements just for money.
"I see."
Xu Mei nodded, then turned around. Just as she was leaving, she hesitated again, "Mr. Zhou..."
"What's wrong?"
"Have you ever considered acting yourself?"
"ah?"
"No, I was just talking casually..." Xu Mei seemed to feel that she had said the wrong thing, lowered her head subconsciously, and then left.
After Xu Mei left, Zhou Yang didn't think much about it, but continued to read the script of "Infernal Affairs". After reading it for a while, he started to read the information of other actors.
After watching it for a while, his phone rang again.
The call was from Zhao Shaohui.
Zhao Shaohui's poor Mandarin was even more hesitant than before.
Zhou Yang listened over and over, but only heard one sentence, that is, after his wife read the script of "Night Walker", she strongly asked him to participate in "Night Walker", and she cried, made trouble, and hanged herself.
He seemed to be in a very difficult position. He did not dare to offend Zhou Yang with his words, but he also did not want to disappoint his wife.
"When I was acting in some bad movies, it was A He who helped me. Director Wang was the benefactor in my life, and so was A He. Director Zhou, do you think it can be like this? I acted in "Infernal Affairs"
At the same time, I will also go to the crew of "Night Walker" and may have to take leave during the filming."
"It's okay, Brother Zhao... just concentrate on playing "Night Walker", there is no problem on my side..."
"Sorry, Director Zhou, I really have no other meaning..."
"It's okay, I know. If there are difficulties, I understand."
In the office.
Zhou Yang was silent after answering the phone. Before long, his phone rang again.
"Director Zhou, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I really didn't know you wanted to sign Zhao Tianwang... I swear, I swear to God, I really didn't mean to target you, everything is a coincidence, we "Night Walker"
It’s a movie with a lot of investment, and I wanted to have an all-star cast, so... we actually talked about many of the actors in advance and selected them.”
"In this way, if possible, I will find a way to make the liquidated damages lower, but after all, it is investors' money, so I may not be able to make the decision."
"I am different from Zheng Dayong of "Hong Kong Island Entertainment Weekly". I am definitely different. I definitely have no intention to target you. I called because I was afraid that you would misunderstand, and then..."
The call was from Django.
Because it was on the phone, Zhou Yang didn't know what Jiang Ge's true expression was at all.
But his voice on the phone seemed full of panic, as if he was afraid of something.
It doesn't seem like it's just pretending, it seems like you're really afraid of yourself?
Zhou Yang couldn't help laughing after hearing this.
Even he himself didn't know what his smile meant.
Afterwards, Zhou Yang looked out the window silently.
He thought of "Infernal Affairs" in the original world, then thought of the years in "The Bottom of the Mine", and then thought of Chu Guanfeng.