"The company has signed several good newcomers recently. These are the newcomers' information. Take a look." Cai Runping handed Zhang Hao more than ten pieces of information.
"Reba, Zhang Binbin." Zhang Hao nodded and said, "You have to make arrangements for the artists. In terms of resources, you have to give them opportunities. The rest depends on their own destiny."
Cai Runping gave a reassuring look and said: "Don't worry, with the brand name you, the newcomers in our company are not short of resources at all, and many companies will take the initiative to provide some resources."
This is not difficult to understand. Zhang Hao is clearly a top-notch director, and such a director will naturally be sought after no matter where he is.
Now Zhang Hao has established his own company and has signed some new people. Many companies want to give these new people a chance to form a good relationship with Zhang Hao.
If the guidance project is short of funds one day, the good relationship created may be effective.
Using negligible resources to exchange for the favor of a big director, this deal is a good deal no matter how you look at it.
Therefore, when the artist department that Cai Runping personally manages makes announcements, there is no need to say anything. Just tell the program team or a certain crew director that our boss is Zhang Hao, and the resources will be provided.
Zhang Hao continued: "When I go to Hollywood, I may not be able to come back for more than half a year, so you should negotiate with several distribution companies for the promotion of "The Butterfly Effect" and don't cause any problems."
"I know boss," Cai Runping wrote down in her work notes.
"In addition, manpower will continue to expand. In the future, our company will not only have film projects, but also TV series projects, which will require a large number of manpower."
"I've been recruiting people, and I've hired a lot of industry experts these days."
"Not bad," Zhang Hao was very satisfied and asked: "Be careful to screen out those who are fools and fools. It doesn't matter if you lack experience. What's important is that you can keep up with our company's development ideas.
In addition, you should continue to pay attention to copyrights, especially popular novels and the like. Even if we don’t make them ourselves, we can just buy them and resell them to others.
In this regard, I will give you a list, and you can discuss it according to the list."
Cai Runping jotted it down in her work notes, then remembered something and said to Zhang Hao: "Teacher Da Liu called me two days ago and wanted to come and visit the company."
Zhang Hao smiled: "He saw that I had been busy for so long and didn't even start to take pictures of his works, so he was a little anxious.
In this way, you communicate with Mr. Liu and ask him to go to Hollywood with me to see what cutting-edge film production is like, and I will have a good chat with him."
"Okay, I'll contact you right away."
After talking about these things, Zhang Hao stretched himself and said: "The company will be left to you as the big housekeeper. If you need anything, please contact me by email at any time."
"Don't worry, boss..." Cai Runping was a little touched by being entrusted with the important task.
After finishing his work, Zhang Hao rarely goes home to have dinner with his mother, Zhang Yu.
Knowing that Zhang Hao was going to work in North America for half a year, Zhang Yu specially cooked a table of delicious dishes to satisfy Zhang Hao's craving for a long trip.
"Wow, this soup is delicious, so fresh." Zhang Hao drank the soup beautifully.
"If it tastes good, drink more." Zhang Yu had recently lost weight and was eating well. He stopped eating after two bites and watched Zhang Hao eat.
After finishing the rice in the bowl in two or three mouthfuls, Zhang Hao put down his bowl and chopsticks with satisfaction: "Mom, the rice you cooked is delicious. I haven't been so full in a long time."
"You kid, you spent most of the year eating lunch boxes on the set. You can imagine the taste of the lunch boxes. This time you go to Hollywood again, and the food there is not as good as at home." Zhang Yu revealed in his words that he was worried about his son who was about to travel away. of concern.
Zhang Hao gave a reassuring look and said, "Don't worry, Mom, I'm not going to die, I'm going to work."
"Of course I know you are going to work, but it seems to be quite chaotic abroad. You should pay attention to protecting your own safety. If you really can't hire more bodyguards," Zhang Yu said.
"Don't worry, we are filming in the studio and it is very safe." Zhang Hao comforted his mother.
After everything was arranged, Zhang Hao and Guo Fan boarded the flight to Los Angeles together and began to formally contact the Batman project.
After Zhang Hao was confirmed as the director, producer Charles Rowan took charge of the preparatory work, and the project was named B, which is the first letter of Batman's English name.
Unlike Chinese film crews, where the director generally controls the overall situation, the producer-centered system implemented in Hollywood means that unless one reaches the level of a top-notch commercial director, the director's power on a Hollywood film crew is not as good as that of the producer.
This kind of producer system has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, it can control the direction of film shooting very well and prevent the director from letting himself go too much.
But there are also disadvantages. Once there is a conflict with the director, the power struggle among the crew may very well bring down a project.
Unless you are Spielberg, most production companies will support the producer and kick you out as the director.
In the past "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, there was a fight between the director and the producer for the power of the crew. Not surprisingly, the director was struck out.
The director who was replaced after that would come to the set every day and only focus on filming, and would not be involved in other matters. The producer would have full control.
In fact, the director of "Pirates of the Caribbean" was not able to participate in post-production, and he was not even given the right to make suggestions for editing. He was completely a shooting tool and an outsider.
Therefore, how to get along with Warner Pictures producer Charles Rowan has become Zhang Hao's top priority as the director of "Batman".
After a long flight, Zhang Hao and Guo Fan arrived in Los Angeles in the morning, and went directly to the Warner Pictures headquarters in Burbank without taking any time to rest.
"Zhang, this journey has gone smoothly, I think you look a little tired." Jeff Robinov was in charge of receiving Zhang Hao.
"It's okay, I'm just getting used to the time difference." Zhang Hao said, introducing Guo Fan beside him: "This is my assistant Guo Fan, who is also a director."
"Hello," Jeff Robinzoff said a simple hello and said to Zhang Hao: "Please come with me, the president and Charles are waiting for you."
"Okay..." Zhang Hao nodded, and followed Jeff Robinov to the conference room with Guo Fan.
Entering the conference room, there were not many people. Warner Pictures President Severin Meyer, producer Charles Rowan, and Senior Vice President Rick Solomon were all present.
After a brief exchange of greetings, the two parties officially started the "Batman" project preparatory meeting.
Charles Rowan was an excellent producer. He asked his assistant to send all the information he prepared to everyone, and explained:
"Based on Zhang's script, I developed a detailed project production cycle schedule and detailed accounting. It is estimated that the production cost will not be less than 150 million US dollars."
Hearing the last number, Guo Fan felt that the air in the conference room had solidified. Looking at the detailed project production periodic table in his hand, Guo Fan felt the difference from that in China.
Where have I seen such a detailed periodic table of project production in China before?
This is not to say that domestic film crews are poor, but because there is no need for them. With a crew of more than 100 people, it is up to the director how to manage it easily.
But the crew is different with thousands of people. Guo Fan saw that there is another number of workers in the project production cycle table, which is expected to reach 1,800.
If this were placed in China, it would definitely break the record, but in Hollywood, this is just an ordinary number.
The larger the number of people, the more difficult it is to manage.
After all, humans are not machines and cannot do what they are told. Especially when there is a director from China, it is a blessing to be able to count on these foreign devils to work without making mistakes.
Charles Rowan continued: "This is just my preliminary preparations. The production schedule will have to be revised and finalized after you fully participate in the project."
Zhang Hao was a little surprised when he looked at the production cost of 150 million US dollars, and his hand holding the periodic table of the project trembled slightly.
Although he has always been opposed to Zhang Hao being the director of Batman, the company's schedule was decided, and Rick Solomon had to cooperate with the work. Seeing that Zhang Hao was a little nervous, he smiled and said that this Chinese director is a young man after all.
"Don't worry about the Chinese, we have Charles Rowan. He is an excellent producer and will take full control of the situation." Rick Solomon said.
Zhang Hao forced himself to calm down and quickly came up with an idea in his mind: "The top priority is to choose the right actors. At the same time, I think the film should be shot in a realistic style and use real scenes as much as possible."
"Then do you have a suitable candidate?" Severin Maier, who was sitting at the top, asked.
"I do have a suitable candidate, and I would like to propose it for your reference." Zhang Hao knew that he did not have the power to decide the role, so he just made a suggestion: "I think Christian Bale is very suitable."
"President, I don't think it's appropriate. I think Ben Affleck is closer to the image of Bruce Wayne in the comics." Rick Solomon immediately expressed his objection.
Severin Maier waved his hand and told Rick Solomon to be silent. Then he turned to Zhang Hao and said, "Tell me your reasons."
Zhang Hao explained his reasons: "Christian Bale once worked with our Chinese director Zhang, and I have seen his performance, which is very charming.
But the most important thing is that Bell has an innate temperament that is very similar to the temperament of Bruce Wayne in the script I created. If this film is created based on reality, Bell is a suitable candidate."
Severin Maier thought about it, and then said: "In this way, send audition invitations to Ben Affleck and Christian Bale, and whoever performs better in the audition will be chosen."
Now that the president has decided, everyone has nothing to say.
However, Zhang Hao vaguely felt that maybe because of his own problems, there would be some problems with this audition.
The meeting continued, and the progress of various preparatory work was discussed. Charles Rowan had completed a large part of the work before Zhang Hao even came.
If a director has a strong desire for power, he would probably feel that Charles Rowan has all the affairs of the crew under his control. Fortunately, although Zhang Hao also has a strong desire for control, he understands the priorities clearly.
Zhang Hao knows what is the most important task at the moment. He is not here to fight for power and gain, but to complete this project and build it into a brand.
The title of the "Batman" project is set to be "Time to Fight." In fact, Zhang Hao is more familiar with the title "Beginners," but he has no decision-making power.
At the same time, starting tomorrow, Zhang Hao and Charles Rowan will inspect New York, Chicago and other North American cities to prepare for location scenes.
The meeting lasted for more than two hours. The large amount of complicated work made Zhang Hao, who had not had a good rest, dizzy. However, they only discussed the general content of the preparatory work for the crew, and the specific matters will have to wait until the crew is officially set up.
Only then can it be done.
Although he was very tired, Zhang Hao couldn't rest yet. After talking about official matters, it was time to talk about private matters.
Charles Roven negotiated the director's contract with Zhang Hao on behalf of the crew of "Batman Begins." Compared with other top Hollywood directors, Zhang Hao's salary was pitifully low, only a mere $300,000.
There is no need to think about the box office share. It is impossible to give him a box office share for a pure newcomer director in Hollywood.
Zhang Hao had no objection and signed the contract happily under the witness of his lawyer.
After that, we discussed the issue of the Chinese team joining the study group. Warner Pictures was very kind. Although the Chinese team clearly came to steal their lessons, they still paid the Chinese team the minimum wage standard in California.
.
150 million US dollars have been spent, and Warner Pictures doesn't care about the labor costs.
If this labor cost allows Zhang Hao to complete the Batman project, Warner Pictures will be extremely happy.
When Guo Fan passed the news back to the past, Zhang Hao's team members were all excited. They never expected that they could earn money while studying abroad. They thought there was no salary!
Now, those who originally didn’t want to go are planning to go. Whether they want to learn or not is another matter, but Dao Le is very delicious!
It's a pity that these opportunities have been missed. In the end, the number of people Zhang Hao's team came to Hollywood was reported to be 108, which is a very clever number.
As for Tiangong Yicai, they knew early on that Zhang Hao was going to take them to Hollywood to learn top special effects technology. Except for the necessary left-behind staff and administrative staff, all the people signed up.
It is very simple for people who work in technology. If you have good technology and good opportunities, you must seize them and not miss them.
Such a calm and studious mentality is naturally inseparable from the head of the studio Gong Jun and the technical director Wu Yinghao.
Before setting off, the two stood on the balcony of the studio, looking at the night view of the city in the distance, and looking toward the future together.
"Yinghao, we must make a good show this time. The opportunity that Director Zhang finally gave us must not be wasted."
"It doesn't matter what you say, I will bring back the people and technology this time."
The two good friends looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.
Zhang Hao's team members applied for visas collectively, so naturally they could not hide it from the eyes of the media, so some media outlets on the Internet began to report the matter and speculated on the reasons why these people applied for visas collectively.
Then some ghosts and monsters were introduced. Some people said that because Zhang Hao immigrated, these people followed him.
Of course, anyone with any sense knows that this is impossible. What are you doing there? Washing the dishes?
Some people also speculated that these people were probably on a group trip. After all, they deserve a break after working for such long hours.
But this is untenable. The movie "The Butterfly Effect" has not yet been released, and exclusives will have to wait until the movie is released.
As everyone knows, "The Butterfly Effect" can be released at any time. Zhang Hao was filming and post-production at the same time. He completed the production of the film very quickly. Now he just lacks a suitable schedule.
After this, a so-called insider of Tianpower Film and Television Production Company revealed some information. It is said that director Zhang Hao received a Hollywood movie project, and the team members went to Hollywood.
This news immediately caused an uproar and became a hot search topic.
Even in the era when old Americans are full of ugliness, there are still so many dog-legged and muyang dogs on the Internet bragging about their masters, let alone this time.
Being able to go to Hollywood is a promising prospect in the eyes of most people. Entertainment stars who go to Hollywood for a tour will become international superstars, and directors who go to Hollywood for a tour can be called international directors.
But compared to star actors, there are not many directors who can go abroad. After all, stars can show their faces, but directors can't also shoot a scene, right?
Besides, there is no chance for a Chinese director to try it!
And now, you say that Zhang Hao has received a Hollywood project. Regardless of whether it is true or not, or how big it is, this is news worth hyping for several days.
In the following days, as the topic became more popular, more and more netizens joined the discussion online.
Although some Heizi brought up old stories and thought Zhang Hao was a fan of foreigners, netizens paid no attention to this group of obsessed Heizi. They worshiped foreigners and favored foreigners every day and immigrated every day. At first, everyone was having fun with it, but now they feel it is meaningless.
If you have the ability, you should first provide evidence and then talk.
Afterwards, Feng Dapao came forward to speak out, confirming the news again.
When interviewed by the media, Feng Dapao said: "I did hear that Zhang Hao led his team members to study in Hollywood. It will take a long time. I don't know the specific project."
"Is director Zhang going to Hollywood to direct a movie?"
"I don't know about this. If you want to ask, ask Director Zhang Hao." Feng Dapao avoided the question.
The breakthrough came here with Da Mi Mi. Da Mi Mi, who was attending a brand event in Shanghai, was asked about her boyfriend Zhang Hao. Da Mi Mi confirmed the matter.
"It is true that I am going to Hollywood to direct a movie. I can't say what the specific project is yet. You will know after the news of the project is released." Da Mi Mi said.
The reporters became even more crazy: "Can you reveal more information?"
Da Mi Mi recalled: "Anyway, Zhang Hao told me that the investment in that project was quite large, not less than 100 million US dollars."
"Hiss~" The reporters present took a deep breath and became even crazier. The microphone almost stuffed into Da Mi Mi's mouth, and even almost caused a stampede accident.
Fortunately, the security at the scene maintained order in time and no serious accident occurred.
Da Mi Mi confirmed that Zhang Hao is about to go to Hollywood to develop his career. This matter has become even more popular. Eight of the top ten hot searches are about Zhang Hao directing Hollywood films.
Netizens have also speculated on which film Zhang Hao will direct. There are various types.
With a production cost of over 100 million US dollars, it is definitely a big-budget A-level commercial film.
Some knowledgeable netizens analyzed: "It can't be an original movie, because if it were original, Zhang Hao would definitely not be able to gain the trust of Hollywood film companies. He doesn't have the capital.
Therefore, it must be a movie adapted from the script. Only in this way, and in cooperation with the producer, can Zhang Hao complete the production of this film.
I hope Zhang Hao can succeed and help Chinese film directors explore a path to the world."
Most netizens were surprised and delighted, and at the same time wished Zhang Hao good results.
Of course, there are also netizens who are watching Zhang Hao's journey to Hollywood. Their point of view is also very simple. Looking at how few Chinese-speaking filmmakers can succeed in Hollywood, they believe that Zhang Hao is no exception.
Zhang Hao's fans are much simpler. For the group of loyal fans, the better Zhang Hao's development is, the more it proves that they are not in love with the wrong person.