Chapter 240 A high-quality drama is a divine drama
This time Li Yuan found Blockbuster in order to buy out the copyrights of a batch of works.
Yes! It’s a buyout! If you can buy out the global copyright, buy out the global copyright. If you can’t, buy out the copyright in Greater China. If that doesn’t work, then buy out the video rental and sale and derivative copyrights. The key is to secure the future online on-demand copyrights.
It's in your hands.
By taking advantage of this information gap, you can greatly enrich your film library. Moreover, Blockbuster has the copyrights of more than 20,000 movies and TV series. It is enough to go to this one, and you do not need to go to each film company.
There is also the copyright protection in the United States, the infamous Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
Under the original copyright law of the United States, the protection period was 56 years.
But in the 1970s, Disney and other companies lobbied hard, so the U.S. Congress passed a law to extend the copyright term, stipulating that copyright will last until the death of the author plus 50 years, or 75 years for group authors.
Later in 1998, the 75-year copyright term for works created in 1923 was about to expire. Disney lobbied again, so Congress passed the Copyright Life Extension Act (ctea). Many people therefore called this act the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act"
.This law extends the copyright life of the 1976 Copyright Act to the death of the author plus 70 years, and extends the copyright life of collective authors to between "120 years after creation" or "95 years after public publication"
The shorter one.
Damn it! The big conglomerates in the United States really do whatever they want? Do you want a law? I will write one for you on the spot!
Therefore, even in American public opinion, the "Mickey Mouse Protection Act" is considered a stinker. But for companies and individuals who own copyrights, is this a proper benefit?
Calculating the specific number of years may be a bit complicated, but it should be calculated as about 100 years!
100 years? Is that totally worth the wait? You can wait with peace of mind until the era of broadband and smartphones.
Moreover, the Mickey Mouse Protection Act will not be passed until 1998. Only then will those old copyrights be valuable. Now they are almost at a bargain price.
Don't think that there are no good things in those old movies. In fact, most of the award-winning films at major film festivals are non-Hollywood films. Blockbuster has used Hollywood's global hegemony to directly buy out a considerable number of these films.
Movie.
Choose 100 movies from more than 20,000 movies? Isn’t it easy?
Regarding these trivial knowledge, Li Yuan was determined to show off in front of Huang Jiaojiao. It would be best to get the eldest lady's admiring expression and get some rewards, just like last night.
But Huang Jiaojiao rolled her cute eyes and waved her little hand: "Okay. I don't understand this. You can make your own arrangements. But I'm warning you, I'll give you three days at most and it won't affect our vacation.
"
Li Yuan almost choked to death after holding back his words: "Jiaojiao, you are the ce, right?"
Huang Jiaojiao squinted and sneered: "You are still the art director. Let me ask you, how are you preparing for the TV series? I have already made a guarantee to ATV, how dare you make me lose face?"
Li Yuan: "..."
Okay! The two of them are evenly matched, but Li Yuan has actually forgotten about it!
…
The flight was flying high in the sky. The little pig beside me really had the characteristics of a pig, and she had fallen into a sweet sleep...
Looking boredly outside the cabin, Li Yuan slowly fell into deep thought.
That's right! We should really hurry up on the TV series.
Speaking of the copyrights of film and television dramas, the copyrights of TV dramas are more valuable. The reason is simple. Movies can last about two hours at most, but TV dramas can kill several days.
Therefore, in my previous life, almost all of the high-quality dramas produced by video-on-demand companies such as Netflix were TV series. On the contrary, movies were very rare. This is why.
Although this TV series is a customized drama by ATV, it also has channels from mainland TV stations, so it would be best to make it a co-production. Since we already have Yequan Cinema, we might as well try another Yequan Theater.
And considering the troubles in Wanwan, maybe ATV can’t withstand the pressure and suddenly stops halfway? So it must be based on mainland TV stations. Or, in other words, based on the Metaverse!
In addition, we also need to consider the taste of the audience. It is not the taste of the current audience, but the taste of the audience in the online on-demand era decades later. Therefore, those very backward and old-fashioned special effects and costumes can be abandoned.
As a result, 300,000 yuan per episode is definitely not affordable. If you want to make a high-quality drama like a Netflix drama, you need to increase the budget, tentatively... 1 million! And considering the viewing habits of domestic audiences, the length is
Episode 30 to 40?
Damn it! You really can’t afford to spend money on high-quality dramas. For such a bad TV series, the Metaverse needs an investment of 20 million to 30 million?
But considering, maybe mainland TV stations will also provide advertising time? What is the value of high-quality dramas on future video websites? How about completely establishing the reputation of the Metaverse?
After all, the influence of TV series is even more terrifying, and sometimes even movies cannot compare.
If there is that sentence in the future - products produced by Yuan Universe must be high-quality products!
Then everything is worth it!
p! Brother Yuan, I will just close my eyes and go on selling the iron... right?
But which theme should you choose?
Martial arts drama? Romantic drama? Ancient puppet drama? Or... time-travel drama?
Looking back on the actual situation in the mainland, the main theme has been vigorously promoted in recent years? Even "Tomb Robbers Notes" and "The Son-in-Law" were fucking killed?
It not only needs the main theme, but also needs to be watched by mainland audiences, and it also needs to take into account the Hong Kong audiences on ATV?
Then there is only one answer - the anti-Japanese drama!
"puff--!"
Li Yuan almost burst into laughter, causing the stewardesses passing by to look strangely in their eyes.
Damn it! The only choice for high-quality dramas is anti-Japanese dramas?
Don’t tell me, it’s not unreasonable for the later anti-Japanese dramas to become popular in the mainland. In fact, Hong Kong and Taiwan audiences also like to watch it, including many countries in East and Southeast Asia. Otherwise, how could they love to watch Fist of Fury beating up the little Japanese?
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Facts have proved that the little devil is the wealth code of film and television dramas in these countries and regions!
At this moment, Li Yuan made a very interesting discovery - the many failure cases he had studied in his previous life seemed to be well analyzed. But when the cases occurred, those people must have seriously considered it and made a decision.
What they think is the best choice. In other words, with the benefit of hindsight, they know how bad their choice was.
Just like this anti-Japanese drama, Li Yuan also deduced and analyzed the existing conditions and finally came up with such a result. And it seemed very reasonable and promising. But on the other hand, he also knew that the anti-Japanese drama later
His reputation has been ruined and he has become almost synonymous with blocking dramas?
Fortunately! Li Yuan's mentality is still very peaceful. Isn't it just for fun? Then try making a movie!
Having said that, even if you want to remake the anti-Japanese drama, it is best to choose a more exciting story.
Li Yuan began to think hard and specially selected those popular domestic and foreign dramas that left an impression on him. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly thought of a very suitable theme - "Prison Break!"
The original "Prison Break" is an American TV series, and it is also a phenomenon-level TV series in North America. Its first few seasons, especially the first season, are quite exciting. The later seasons seem to be a bit unfinished, but it is still a very good TV series.
But for domestic audiences, this is an epoch-making work!
The most important thing is that at that time, China had fully entered the era of piracy! Ahem. It was the first time that many people knew that there was a subtitle group? It was also the first time for many people to come into contact with American TV series. Although they were all pirated discs, they laughed and cried!
Especially compared to mainland dramas, Hong Kong and Taiwan dramas and Korean dramas, it gives people a soul-shaking feeling - can TV dramas still be shot like this?
It’s that feeling of being crushed by dimensions!
In addition, this plot is easy to magically change, and it is also easy to transplant it into the anti-Japanese drama. There is no such reason. The United States can always escape from prison, but Tubal Road cannot escape from prison? So it is in line with the trend of the main theme.
As for the specific characters and plot? It can be completely left to the screenwriters to brainstorm ideas. Li Yuan only needs to be an art director?
Especially based on the excitement of the first season of "Prison Break", the Metaverse is enough to be a hit!
In this way, it seems quite appropriate, huh?
…
After having the idea, the TV series "Prison Break" can be solved slowly later. At least it needs to wait until the vacation is over.
The flight finally landed at Los Angeles Airport. At the exit of the airport, a middle-aged white man in a suit and tie greeted Li Yuan and Huang Jiaojiao with a sign:
"Mr. Li, Miss Lisa, welcome to the United States. I am Huo Laien, your lawyer for this trip."
To be honest, both Li Yuan and Huang Jiaojiao were quite unfamiliar with this lawyer Huo Laien. This was the first time they had met.
This lawyer Huo Laien was introduced through Huang Jiaojiao's friend. He should have some connections in Hollywood. Or to be more accurate, he is a small broker in Hollywood.
Why do you say it is a small broker? Because the car he arranged was indeed a Cadillac, but it was obviously rented, and even the driver seemed very unprofessional.
At first, Li Yuan and Huang Jiaojiao didn't notice it. After leaving the airport, Li Yuan asked in the car: "Huo Laien, have you contacted Blockbuster?"
Huo Laien seemed quite enthusiastic: "I have already arranged a meeting with the top management of Blockbuster, and it will be arranged at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Don't worry, I will try my best to gain as many benefits for you as possible during tomorrow's negotiations.
In the field of film and television copyright, I am very professional."
Obviously, Huo Laien wanted to complete this business, so he seemed particularly attentive.
Li Yuan is equally indispensable. You have to find a lawyer anyway, so why not find an "acquaintance" like Huo Laien?
Besides, the copyrights of those old movies are not worth much, so how expensive can they be? Li Yuan’s requirements are not high. As long as he can get the derivative copyrights, everything else is easy.
"That's good. If the negotiation goes well, in addition to the legal fees, I can also give you a commission."
"Haha! Thank you! Thank you!"
However, at this moment, the Xiao Mo driver suddenly turned around and interjected: "Man, are you from Benzi? Now you Benzi people are very rich and are about to buy us the United States."
"???"
This little Mo is obviously a chatterbox: "But I'd like to remind you, be careful when walking on the street. There are a lot of protests against your books now, because you have taken away a lot of jobs from us Americans. If you are unlucky, some
Hot-headed white ghosts and black ghosts will still take action. They must have taken too many drugs, but sometimes they really shoot. Hahaha..."
"???"
Li Yuan and Huang Jiaojiao looked at each other. Huo Laien also looked embarrassed.
This scene should be familiar, right? The same recipe, but in a different country decades later.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Benzi was indeed very powerful. He claimed that he wanted to buy the United States, and even acquired iconic American companies and real estate such as Columbia Corporation and the Rockefeller Building. Then... nothing happened.
But on the other hand, among the American people, many Japanese immigrants were beaten in the streets, and many Japanese shops were bought for zero dollars...
There's nothing new under the sun anyway.
This little Mo thought that Li Yuan was a wealthy businessman from Benzi.
Of course, Li Yuan and Huang Jiaojiao didn't bother to correct Xiao Mo's statement. When they got off the car, Huo Laien apologized repeatedly: "Sorry, Li, sorry, Lisa Juan..."
Li Yuan interrupted with a smile: "It doesn't matter. What we need is for the negotiation to succeed. Haha."
It was just a chance encounter, so why bother talking? There are as many lawyers in the United States as there are dogs. If it really doesn't work, you can just find another one at that time.
Maybe he felt the pressure. The next day, Huo Laien came to greet him early and took Li Yuan to Blockbuster on time. He also met Ms. Lailin, the assistant of Blockbuster's copyright department, a black woman in her thirties.
.
Damn it! It doesn't really matter whether it's black or white. He's actually an assistant? Or a department assistant?
Li Yuan was already a little unhappy. Huo Laien began to introduce himself: "Madam, these are Mr. Li and Miss Lisa who have made an appointment. They are interested in some of your company's copyrights, and I hope you can give them a reasonable
Price range?”
Lai Lin wore a professional smile and asked in an equally professional manner: "Do you want to rent and sell the copyright of the video tape?" She had a business-like attitude.
Now that everyone is here, let’s have a good talk! Li Yuan was also business-like and put forward his own request, “There are also derivative copyrights and TV broadcast rights. If all the copyrights are in your hands, we can also choose to buy them out.
"
"It's impossible to buy out all the rights. You can choose to buy out the regional rights in your country." Lai Lin answered quickly, "Each film costs 50,000 to 100,000 US dollars. The latest popular films will be released as they become available. TV broadcasts will be pay-per-view.
In addition, for all the revenue you get, we at Blockbuster will get 20% of the copyright revenue."
"Walter?" Li Yuan was shocked.
Regional copyright is fine. But does it cost 50,000 to 100,000 per film? There is also the copyright share. Giving 3 or 5 percentage points should be about the same, but now it actually costs 20?
Are you right? Do you really think you don’t understand the market? Doesn’t your face look like someone who has been taken advantage of?
