Chapter 298 Views on the History of Science and Technology
In this era, there are four famous directors in Hollywood, namely: Spielberg, Lucas, Coppola and Martin Scorsese. You should all know their masterpieces: like Spielberg's "
"Jaws", "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and many more; like Lucas's "Star Wars" series; Coppola's "The Godfather" series...
However, among them, although Martin Scorsese is very famous, he is not as good as the other three in one thing. Just like Quentin later, his artistry is undoubtedly unquestionable, but the box office is not satisfactory! He must pass the long-term
Copyright operations.
And Martin Scorsese also has another characteristic. He shoots films regardless of cost, which is somewhat similar to the later domestic director Jiang Wen.
Just like the original version of "The Departed", the production cost was almost 100 million US dollars? Damn it! Movies like "The Departed" and "The Departed" really have no special effects. How on earth did that 100 million US dollars be spent?
Woolen cloth?
So now, the same budget is 80 million? It is true that there is less of a sky-high salary like DiCaprio, but the production cost has not been reduced much either?
You know, the current time period is nearly ten years ahead of the filming time of the original "The Departed"?
But...?
Li Yuan thought about it for a while. Without DiCaprio, the box office would definitely be affected. But John Travor's acting skills are actually not bad. Later "Broken Arrow" and "Face/Off" were all superb performances.
Besides, the box office of the original version of "The Departed" was pretty good. The investment was recouped at the North American box office, and it made a lot of money at the global box office. It is one of the rare box office hits among Martin Scorsese's works.
Of course, is this the credit of Martin Scorsese or the credit of Leonardo DiCaprio? It’s impossible to judge. But at least it won’t be too bad, right?
As for the Oscar? That is Warner and Martin Scorsese's own business. Li Yuan will not force it, and at most he will give part of the sponsorship fee.
What about investing 60 million US dollars? Harden, Yin Wan and Noir can provide almost 18 million US dollars. In the future, Han Palace will also be able to attract part of the investment.
The shortfall can be pledged with the equity of Parallel Line.
As for the investment in the Yuan Universe, this is the money anyway. The best way to make money in the future is to not run out of funds; even if you lose money after entering the cold winter period? Then just get through it slowly! There are already hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars in funds, so get through it.
It shouldn't be a big problem, right?
Thinking of this, Li Yuan smiled and nodded: "Your 20 million, I will pay for the remaining 65 million here, and there is still 500 US dollars to purchase the original script."
During the production of the film, Warner and Martin Scorsese will definitely play a lot of tricks. At least a few million dollars will be lost.
Therefore, Li Yuan was not polite here. He paid US$2 million to Mai Zhaohui and US$3 million... Everyone knows.
The three of them smiled understandingly at each other. Knox continued: "Lee, Martin is responsible for all production of the film? Including the final editing rights?"
"That's as it should be."
Li Yuan had no objection to this point.
The same as the original history. The reason why Martin Scorsese chose "The Departed" is because he did not have the Oscar for Best Director and especially wanted a good script. In order to win this honor, Martin Scorsese
Si will definitely not mess around. So there is no need to worry about the quality of the video.
"Also, we at Warner agree to let your Metaverse host this platter project. However, we at Warner need to get 40%. The distribution of the film will be handed over to our distribution company under Warner. Is this fee calculated separately?"
Li Yuan was a little surprised.
Although this condition is very harsh - the investment is only 25%, but you can get 40% of the dividends, and you have to give away the distribution rights. But on the other hand, it gives the Yuan Universe a ticket to accept Li Yuan
Became one of the players in Hollywood.
Because Metaverse at least nominally hosted this project and obtained all the copyrights to "The Departed".
Li Yuan couldn't help laughing and asked: "Knox, why?"
Knox laughed: "Lee, we welcome billionaires in Hollywood."
"ha?"
Only then did Li Yuan realize that his status as the boss of Parallel Line played a role. It turns out that Hollywood's figure is also very flexible...
"Haha, happy cooperation!"
“A pleasure to work with!”
…
The next few days were filled with negotiation, signing, negotiation, signing again... and finally a lot of business was completed.
In addition, through Reed's introduction, I also took the time to buy a cider house. There is no other reason, just because I have never heard of it in my previous life?
In my previous life, it seems that there were indeed many foreign wineries that bought wineries, but almost no ciderries? What kind of cider bar was not popular in China at all?
However, according to Reed, cider is very popular in the United States, second only to wine in sales of fruit wine?
This is very interesting. I decided to buy one and play with it!
It’s not expensive anyway, just over three hundred thousand dollars. A small winery that can produce tens of thousands of bottles every year.
You can keep it for yourself, or you can use it as a reference for Tang Zun Winery. After all, there are so many apple trees in my hometown that even my father-in-law almost went bankrupt.
After waiting for several days, Li Yuan finally appeared on a local TV talk show under the arrangement of Random House.
In the final analysis, Li Yuan is nothing more than a foreign author who has published a best-selling book and a best-selling military history book. His popularity in North America is just that, and he will definitely not be able to go to any major TV stations.
There is a saying, a third-rate celebrity like a writer, unless he is a top-tier writer like Harry Potter, usually only gives an exclusive interview to a newspaper. So it is good that Random House can arrange to be on TV.
Of course, there are no serious talk shows on North American TV stations, and they are basically classified as talk shows.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Hello, Yuanger (Brother Yuan), I am the host Phil. Have you read the outline?"
"I've seen it. Thank you."
"If I ask some extraneous questions, are you okay with this?"
"Haha, it should be fine."
"That's good. I would like to remind you that your writers give people a relatively old-fashioned feeling, so it is best to be more humorous. I will also try to control the rhythm."
"hehe."
"Yuanger, don't say anything that will cause controversy, don't say anything that will affect the ratings. We are broadcasting live, so don't be nervous."
"hehe."
"..."
The host named Phil gave some instructions, which were quite satisfactory. When the interview started, as he said, he asked a few regular questions, but none of them went beyond the outline. Li Yuan was also very satisfied.
Answered easily...
"Yuanger, I heard that your last book "The Vast Ocean Is a Casino" caused a lot of criticism in Western academic circles? Do you have anything to say about this?"
"I don't think there's any criticism?" (The audience laughed softly)
The fact is... it is indeed the case. Although there has been a lot of commotion at home and abroad, there is almost no academic controversy, it is just some shrews swearing at each other.
"Okay!" Phil turned to face the audience, "Let me introduce to you, Yuan Ger once said this - I just want to defraud a few thousand yuan of royalties! I also want to send a set of LV to each person.
!Everyone who sits in an office will die!”
The whole audience burst into laughter. To be honest, most of the audience were not very familiar with the famous Chinese writer in front of them. But those few slanderous words were so familiar that no one had bought a few pieces with a few stamps on them.
What about the meaning of the sentence?
Therefore, the atmosphere in the whole place immediately became lively.
Phil smiled and asked: "Yuanger, have you said these words?"
Li Yuan smiled and nodded: "I think I said so."
These issues are actually beyond the scope, but Li Yuan doesn't care about this at all.
"like?"
"Because I said many similar words, some of which I can't remember clearly. Regarding the last book "Casino", I published it first in China. At that time, some book fans excerpted these words and compiled them into a new book.
I thought it also became a bestseller.”
(laughing out loud!)
"Then someone said something like this in front of me, and I asked him - which idiot said this? The person threw the bestseller to me - it was you!"
(The whole crowd laughs!)
It’s just nonsense anyway! Li Yuan opened his mouth and came.
"Then your book "The Rise of Great Powers", is there anything like this in it?"
"Yes!"
"Yuanger, I also read your book before the show. The information in it is indeed very detailed. However, I am not an expert in history. I would like to ask, are there any new ideas in this book?"
Speaking of the new viewpoints in "The Rise of the Great Powers", it's not really anything new. It's just a very factual and detailed explanation of the Spring and Autumn Period writing techniques in Western history.
However, content like this, such as colonial plunder, slave trade, massacre of indigenous people, etc., will definitely arouse great disgust among European and American readers.
Since it is the rise of great powers, those great powers... can be imagined. They are almost exclusively engaged in internal oppression and external plunder, and none of them are good. Let’s not talk about the superficial political correctness. The mainstream public opinion will definitely not say that these views are wrong.
.But are European and American readers likely to like this content?
After all, I was invited to do publicity, not here to cause trouble. At least in today's interview, it's best not to say these things.
But on the other hand, we still need to create a hot spot. To facilitate the hype of Random House...
After thinking for a few seconds, Li Yuan smiled and said: "In my book "The Rise of Great Powers", the most important thing is probably the view of the history of science and technology, right?"
"View of history of science and technology?" Supporter Phil and the audience were all stunned, as if they had never heard of this new term... right?
Li Yuan explained: "You should all know that in the past, there was a heroic view of history, that is, heroes create history! It is best to have great men descended from heaven! For example, heroes and great men in the history of various countries and ethnic groups, etc. But in modern historical research
, the heroic view of history has basically been eliminated. Is it the era created by heroes, or the heroes created by the era?"
"Yeah, I know that."
"In the study of modern history, many schools have also emerged. I will not introduce the similarities and differences of each school in detail here. But it is basically recognized that the following theories are. For example: modern world history! The West first appeared
The Renaissance began the Enlightenment Movement, and then through the Industrial Revolution, modern factories appeared; and through the Great Voyage, the New World was discovered. Later, through colonization of the world, Western countries accumulated a large amount of primitive capital, which promoted the Industrial Revolution. And through various countries'
The bourgeois revolution, including the independence movement in the North American colonies, gave birth to the advanced social system of the West and began the process of global hegemony. Then came the ebb and flow of great powers rising one after another. Through World War I, World War II and the Cold War, the final
The winner is you, the United States. Isn’t that right?”
"Yes!" Phil nodded in confusion, "Is there any problem here?"
"Then let me summarize - if any country wants to become a big country, it must first be open-minded, that is, Renaissance or similar cultural movements. The second is to accumulate raw capital. It seems that the only way is colonization or invasion. Chapter 1
Third, the industrial revolution. This point needs no further introduction. The last step is to establish a modern social system."
"Is that so?" Phil felt even more strange. Isn't this common sense?
"In other words, you must follow this order. Modern technology appears naturally in this process."
"Uh-huh."
"But here comes the problem - according to the current international order, international law and the common moral values of all mankind, it is absolutely impossible to invade or colonize, otherwise it will become the public enemy of all mankind. Isn't that right?"
"Yes! That must be it!"
"Then without invasion or colonization, it would be impossible to accumulate enough original capital, and it would be impossible to proceed to the next step in sequence. In other words, it would be impossible to enter modern industry and modern technology? As for developed countries in Europe and the United States, because they have already gone through capital before
In the accumulation stage, there is no such problem now. Countries like India, Brazil, South Africa and China, that is, third world countries with huge size, are actually severely restricted by this step and have basically become
Developed countries that cannot modernize? Is that so?”
"Haha. It sounds like...your logic should be fine." Phil laughed dryly. (The whole audience laughed)
In fact, in developed countries in Europe and the United States, many people, whether they are elites or ordinary people, hold the same view. That is why we cannot say this publicly, right?
There is a saying that the Yalta system after World War II, also known as the United Nations system, has indeed brought great progress to all mankind. But on the other hand, it has also set up various thresholds, making those late-developing countries face a hell of a difficulty.
Those oil-producing countries in the Middle East have nothing to do with it. Even if their GDP reaches the standards of developed countries, they are nothing more than a group of local tyrants. But if they want to fully enter the standards of a modern industrial power? They will immediately face the suppression of the entire system...
