Holding the script of "Westward Journey" in their hands, the screenwriters were more and more surprised as they read it.
The script Li Qing gave them mainly consisted of a story outline and a split-shot script. After reading it for less than a minute, their subjective impressions of "Journey to the West" were completely overturned.
The prelude of the story tells that Sun Wukong escorted Tang Sanzang to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. On the way, he conspired with the Bull Demon King to kill Tang Sanzang and stole the moonlight treasure box that can travel through time and space. After hearing the news, Master Guanyin arrived and was furious.
Get rid of Sun Wukong to avoid harming the common people.
Tang Sanzang, on the other hand, was compassionate and willing to give his life in exchange.
Guanyin was moved and ordered Wukong to reincarnate as a human five hundred years later to atone for his sins.
After the prelude, it will be one day five hundred years later.
At the foot of Wuyue Mountain, in the windy and sandy desert, a gang base called the Ax Gang welcomed a strange female guest, Chun Sanniang.
Led by the second boss of the Ax Gang, everyone wanted to rob Sansanniang, but unexpectedly the other party made a superior move and was stopped by her.
After the gang leader "Zhi Zun Bao" learned of the incident, he led the gang to take revenge, but failed miserably. After that, Sansanniang took charge of the gangster den and ordered the gangsters to find a person with three moles on the soles of his feet.
At night, in order to regain the base, Zhizunbao and others tried to harm Chun Sansanniang with incense, but unexpectedly, she revealed her true form as a spider spirit, scaring Zhizunbao and others to death.
In order to avoid being chased by Thirty Niang, Zhizunbao sneaked into Thirteen Niang's room alone, but was surprised to find that there was a beauty named Bai Jingjing in the room.
The moment he saw Bai Jingjing, Zhizunbao understood what love at first sight was.
Later, the second boss visited the two girls at night and discovered their identities.
Among them, Sansanniang is a spider spirit, and Bai Jingjing is a white-bone spirit.
They all learned from Patriarch Bodhi that Tang Sanzang would appear in Wuyue Mountain, and they all came here to eat Tang Monk's meat.
At this time, the traces of the second master were exposed, and unfortunately he was caught, and was enslaved by Spring Sansanniang using the soul-transfer gun.
Soon after, Patriarch Bodhi transformed into a common man and came to Wuyue Mountain, telling the Supreme Treasure that he was the reincarnation of Sun Wukong, but the Supreme Treasure did not believe it...
…
After seeing this part of the script, the four screenwriters were vaguely aware of it.
Although the so-called "Journey to the West" tells the story of Journey to the West, both the plot and the characters have actually broken away from the traditional "Journey to the West" story.
If this script was made into a movie, would anyone really watch it?
The four of them looked at each other, suppressing their discomfort, and continued reading...
At this time, seeing the four screenwriters shaking their heads more and more, Bai Yuling suddenly frowned: "Have you finished reading?"
One of the screenwriters raised his head and said: "Not yet, but we can roughly guess the specific ideas for the follow-up. The script... is good, but the effect may not be satisfactory..."
Li Qing smiled: "How to say?"
The screenwriter said: "It feels like there is a bit of a running list and the pattern is very small..."
Hearing this, Li Qing nodded and said to Bai Yuling: "Then there is nothing we can do, Mr. Bai, I hope there will be opportunities for cooperation in the future..."
As soon as Li Qing finished speaking, Bai Yuling looked confused.
Issue an eviction order at the slightest disagreement? You are too impatient!
Bai Yuling glared at the screenwriter, and then said with a smile: "They are screenwriters, and they are only responsible for making up stories. It is not their turn to make decisions about making movies. Li Sheng, I believe sister, as long as it is a movie starring you,
My sister must have brought the whole crew together..."
Bai Yuling's expression was extremely sincere, and she seemed to be sincere, without the slightest hint of falsehood.
joke!
Li Qing's popularity in Hong Kong is almost unparalleled. Even in mainland China, he is a king-level figure. Not to mention that he is also quite famous overseas, with fans all over Southeast Asia.
Even if his debut movie is a bad movie, people will still buy it.
What's more, with Huayun Film and Television to check it, no matter how bad the script is, if it is slightly modified, can it still be interesting?
So, does the script matter?
Of course it’s important!
But in Bai Yuling's eyes, the script is less important than Li Qinglai.
That's why she ignored the screenwriters' feelings at this time and just said it all.
As long as Li Qing is willing to join, she, Bai Yuling, doesn't care no matter how bad the script is.
But such trust made Li Qing unmoved.
Because he knew what the screenwriters said was true. The script of "Westward Journey" was indeed not as good as expected.
There is a reason why Li Qing thinks so.
Like most Hong Kong films, in its previous life, "Westward Journey" did not have a detailed script until filming started.
The whole idea of the movie was completely inspired by the director at the time and was a whim.
The entire script was gradually improved bit by bit during the subsequent filming process. Even a large number of names in "Moonlight Treasure Box", including Supreme Treasure, Spring Thirty Niang, etc., were all temporary.
Appropriated from another scrapped script.
At that time, the director visited many producers in Hong Kong in order to attract investment. However, no matter who they were, they showed little interest when they saw the outline of the script. Some even thought that the script was unsightly and there was nothing interesting at all.
The value of the investment.
But considering Zhou Xingxing's market appeal, someone finally took over the script, which was not promising.
Neither Hong Kong nor the investors thought that this movie, which cost 60 million and lost money at the box office, would become popular all over the country five or six years later.
There are even professionals who form teams to study it and trace its ins and outs just like they did "Dream of Red Mansions".
No one expected that "Westward Journey", a Hong Kong-style comedy that had a mediocre box office at the time, would gradually become a craze after being screened for many years, forming a huge appeal among China's young people, and even forming a
The "big talk" discourse environment evolved into a unique cultural phenomenon and truly became a phenomenal movie, leaving a mark in the history of Chinese films.
So when the four screenwriters from Huayun Film and Television Company shook their heads collectively, Li Qing did not feel that the other party was being blind.
Because of empathy, he may despise the story outline of "Westward Journey" even more.
But this does not mean that he thinks that the movie "Westward Journey" will be a blockbuster, because in Li Qing's opinion, the most exciting part of "Westward Journey" is those popular lines.
In addition, in Li Qing's view, the biggest reason for the mediocre box office performance of the previous "Westward Journey" is probably the separation of the storylines of "A Chinese Journey to the West" and "A Chinese Journey to the West".
Many people have only watched "Da Hua Yi" and can only see "Da Hua Yi".
This is because theater chains in Mainland China, Taiwan and other regions introduced "Big Story 1" but after the box office performance failed to show, they directly closed the door on "Big Story 2".
Facts have proved that later on, almost all the viewers who saw "Big Story II" through a large number of pirated DVDs were captured by this movie, and almost everyone called this movie a masterpiece.
How could a work like this that was rated almost perfect among the audience not be worth shooting?
Li Qing's affirmation of "Westward Journey" was just like when the director of "Westward Journey" was looking for investment, and was not understood by others.
And Bai Yuling's thoughts are the same as that of the takeover company in her previous life, wanting to rely on the popularity of the leading actor to achieve a desperate counterattack.
The scenarios are extremely similar, but the final result, Li Qing firmly believes, will be different.
"The total investment amount for "Westward Journey" will exceed HK$50 million."
Li Qing said to Bai Yuling: "If Mr. Bai is optimistic about this movie and thinks that the future box office of "Westward Journey" can exceed 50 million and is willing to invest, we will continue to talk. If not...then there is no other way.
.”
Fifty million?
Hearing this, more than four screenwriters were dumbfounded. Even Bai Yuling was shocked and looked in disbelief.
Nowadays, 50 million is enough to shoot three high-quality Hong Kong-style movies.
Spending the production costs of three movies to invest in a movie whose future is uncertain?
Bai Yuling, who was destined to win, suddenly stopped talking and fell into deep thought.
Fifty million is not a small amount. Even if Li Qing is very optimistic about "Westward Journey", he would not dare to spend 50 million to shoot this movie without anyone's co-investment. After all, "Westward Journey" has a lot of success.
Drawing lessons from the past, it is still unknown whether a desperate counterattack will be possible in the end.
Moreover, "Westward Journey" not only takes a long time to shoot, but also has special effects!
Even if the special effects cost 50 cents, in this era, the price of each frame is comparable to gold.
This is the result of Li Qing saving his own salary, because judging from the funds used to shoot "Westward Journey" in his previous life, it would have taken at least 60 million to successfully shoot this long film.
However, at that time, Zhou Xingxing's salary alone was more than 10 million, so the overall production cost, excluding the starring salary, should actually not exceed 50 million.
Bai Yuling struggled for a while, but finally shook her head and said with some regret: "Fifty million is too exaggerated. I'm sorry, Li Sheng, I still have hundreds of employees to support, so I can't take this risk."
Huayun Film and Television does not necessarily have a profit of 100 million in a year. Even she would not dare to use a year's profit to gamble on this movie. What's more, Huayun Film and Television has always been mainly small-scale productions.
When I went to shoot a big production, even if it was starring Li Qing, I didn't feel confident.
Because from the very beginning, Bai Yuling was planning to invite Li Qing to film in a small multi-million dollar production, expecting to achieve tenfold or hundredfold box office profits with Li Qing's popularity.
But if it's 50 million... then the risk factor will definitely rise straight up.
Seeing Bai Yuling's entangled look, Li Qing made some calculations in his heart, and then said: "Mr. Bai, you also said before that it was a joint venture. Since it is a joint venture, we at Hanhai are naturally willing to take risks. I can
I will spend 30 million to invest in this movie, but in terms of profit sharing, I will take 70%."
Bai Yuling was a little surprised when she heard this.
Thirty million is not a small amount. How does Li Qing have so much confidence in his movie?
It’s true that you are the king in the music industry, but when you come to an unfamiliar field, the benefits brought by the popularity bonus are only for a short period of time. After that period of time, if there are no high-quality movies to base it on, you will still be the king.
Superstars and audiences still won't buy it.
The ratio of 70% dividend is indeed high, but if the box office fails, the final dividend may not even be 30 million...
Because even if the movie sells for 50 million, but excluding the 40% dividend from the theaters, as well as the salaries of the director, actors, and crew, the production company can finally get 40%, which is already good.
Among the 40% of the box office, according to the investment ratio and dividend ratio mentioned by Li Qing, the entire movie must sell for more than 100 million to avoid losing money.
100 million box office?
In the entire Hong Kong region, there is currently no movie with a highest box office exceeding 60 million.
Unless the box office in Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau and overseas regions is taken into account, if "Westward Journey" is only released in Hong Kong, no matter how high the box office is, it will eventually lose all its money.
Bai Yuling was infected by Li Qing's confidence. After hesitating for a while, she said: "Seventy percent... is not a bad idea, but does it include your salary?"
Li Qing heard this and said directly: "I get zero pay."
Zero remuneration, investment of 30 million, 70% dividend...
In Bai Yuling's view, if the box office sells well, this condition is naturally not excessive, but if the box office fails, the 20 million she invested will be in vain.
Therefore, she proposed a 40-60 split proposal. As a businessman, the risk must be minimized.
However, as soon as this proposal was made, it was mercilessly rejected by Li Qing, who bluntly stated that there was no room for concession.
Bai Yuling thought for a while and finally smiled charmingly: "Since you have said this, sister, I naturally have nothing to say. We will discuss the specific details later, but I have a suggestion..."
"What suggestions?" Li Qing asked.
"Leave the script of "Westward Journey" to us for revision," Bai Yuling said.
Li Qing shook his head and said: "This is impossible."
"In that case..."
Bai Yuling looked at Li Qing seriously, then stood up, showed her delicate hands, and said with a smile: "It's a pleasure to cooperate."
Under the eyes of the four screenwriters in disbelief, Li Qing and Bai Yuling quickly signed a temporary contract, and a 50 million film project jointly invested by Hong Kong Huayun Film and Television and Beijing Hanhai Media began.
On the flight back to Hong Kong, one of the screenwriters finally couldn't help but asked: "Sister Ling, is this really good? The script of "Westward Journey" is completely unsightly and has no filming value at all! You
Just invest 20 million like this? Aren’t you afraid of losing all your money?”
The other three people also agreed, feeling that Bai Yuling's move was a bit childish. Even if Li Qing became more popular, a bad script would be a bad script. No matter how many fans Li Qing had, it was the ordinary people who supported the movie market.
In this huge market, green powder can only be said to be a drop in the ocean!
"What do you think of Li Qing?"
Bai Yuling closed the newspaper in her hand and said slowly: "In just one or two years, he has become worth over 100 million, and he has been able to dominate the entertainment circles on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and three places. Isn't it as simple as you think? At the beginning, he was surrounded by enemies on all sides, but he was able to move forward step by step.
To this day, do you really think you are smarter than others?"
Just one sentence made the four screenwriters choke and speechless.
Downstairs, Hepburn said thank you to Huang Xingjian and other brothers for the reward. It’s the end of the month. Please give me a monthly ticket.