Chapter 706: Equivalent exchange, everyone is happy
However, "Life is Beautiful" is much more complicated than "Heaven Replies".
And to be honest, this film was much more difficult to shoot than "Heaven Replies."
Of course, for Li Yi, it was something that happened once and twice.
After all, wasn’t that how “Cinema Paradiso” was originally filmed?
In comparison, "Life is Beautiful" is almost the same.
However, "Cinema Paradiso" had Bertolt Manning's help, and this time Li Yi also had to find someone to help in "Life is Beautiful".
Fortunately, Li Yi is not without foundation here. Li Yi first thought of James Dean from Dean Pictures.
On the one hand, James Dean is also a Jew, so he would definitely be interested in a movie like "Life is Beautiful" when he sees it.
Moreover, Li Yi also borrowed the meaning of the Jewish group.
After all, it is not easy for him to win the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Therefore, any help cannot be underestimated.
"Hi, Li, my friend, long time no see!" James Dean immediately opened his arms and gave Li Yi a friendly hug when he saw him.
Actually, to be honest, the relationship between Li Yi and James Dean has not reached this level yet.
But James Dean is indeed very enthusiastic. Of course, more importantly, Li Yi can create benefits, so James Dean naturally favors Li Yi.
"It's been a long time, James. There is a saying in our country called "No matter what happens, go to the Three Treasures Palace." I came to you this time for something." Li Yi said straightforwardly.
"Oh, I wonder what it is?" James Dean asked with his eyes shining.
Although Li Yi's movies are still cooperating with Dean Pictures in the North American market and have good profitability, Li Yi has rarely made any movies suitable for the North American market in the past two years.
"That's it, I want to make a movie and need your help." Li Yi said.
"Oh? Movie? Lee, is it a movie for the North American market?" James Dean's eyes suddenly lit up.
In his opinion, Li Yi is definitely a money-giving boy, and the key is that almost all of Li Yi's movies use small things to make big things happen.
Don't look at the fact that some of Li Yi's movies are not particularly low-cost in China, but in North America and Hollywood, they are really low-cost.
But the box office has always been amazing.
As for Dean Films, they are only responsible for distribution, and it can be said that the rate of return is too enviable.
Therefore, in order to prevent Li Yi from being poached by other Hollywood companies, the cooperation between Dean Pictures and Li Yi's company can be said to be very formal. The same methods used by Hollywood to treat external companies have never been used.
.
Li Yi is quite satisfied with this, so he has always maintained a good cooperative relationship with Dean Pictures.
Well, it's mainly Li Yilai. Since the cooperation is good, why bother?
Anyway, he is not short of money, and the conditions offered by other Hollywood companies may not be much better than Dean Films.
Li Yi doesn't need some trivial benefits.
"This is the outline of the story script. You can take a look!" Li Yi took out the copy of the story script outline of "Life is Beautiful" and handed it to James Dean.
James Dean picked it up and looked at it curiously.
It's just a summary of the story and the script, not very long.
But James Dean was fascinated by it.
And he also had some doubts in his heart.
This story actually tells the story of Jews being imprisoned in tax concentration camps.
This is nothing at all. There aren’t too many movies on the market about concentration camps, the persecution of Jews, etc.
Moreover, as a member of the Jewish community, James Dean knew where these films came from.
And this also made him even more confused, why did Li Yi, a Chinese, want to make a film with this theme?
In fact, it is not surprising that James Dean would have such doubts, because historical reasons make them particularly sensitive to this kind of thing.
A synopsis of the story doesn't actually reveal much. The plot of "Life is Beautiful" is actually not complicated, but that's the problem. It's a movie about the persecution of the Jewish people.
This is what puzzled James Dean.
"Li, I'm very confused, why is this a story? Sorry, after all, you are Chinese." James Dean looked at Li Yi and said.
"Because I want to use it to compete for the Golden Bear Award!" Li Yi was already prepared for this, looking at James Dean with a smile and said.
James Dean suddenly understood.
"Golden Bear Award? Oh, my friend, you want a Grand Slam, it's not easy!" James Dean's previous doubts suddenly disappeared.
It can be said that a movie like "Life Is Beautiful" will naturally make Jewish people feel good about it, but the key is that this time, it is not a movie directed by a Jewish director, which is even more telling.
For a time, James Dean automatically made up a lot of things in his mind.
Of course, the main reason is that although this movie only has a summary of the story, you can still tell what theme this is.
This is not a film that slanders Jews. On the contrary, it praises Jews through the topic of fatherly love.
Jews are a very sensitive race, and so is James Dean, but if Li Yi wants something, then there will be no problem.
And he knew that it was not easy for Li Yi to achieve a Grand Slam.
Don't look at the Berlin Golden Bear Award, which seems to be far less important than the Academy Award. But when it comes to Li Yi, it can be said that it is more troublesome for Li Yi to win this award than to win the Oscar.
Because it involves a lot of things.
However, James Dean admired Li Yi even more, and felt that it was definitely a wise move for Li Yi to compete for awards with a movie like "Life Is Beautiful".
Because it can be said that as long as the film is not bad, then if there are Jewish judges at the Berlin International Film Festival, then the vote will naturally be included.
And although the theme of this movie is fatherly love, in fact, it is an anti-war theme.
To have such a tragedy happen because of the war is to spurn war.
"Lee, how do you need me to help you?" James Dean became more and more eager after brainstorming.
Although Li Yi's purpose seems impure, in his opinion, this is more practical.
The so-called showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing, but if you want something, then it is an equal exchange.
In the same way, Li Yi's ability to make such a movie proves his force field. Thinking that Li Yi is Chinese, James Dean feels that he can understand it even more.
"As you know, I have always mainly made films in our country of China. I am not familiar with Hollywood, so I need help from Dean Pictures for the crew and actors. And the Golden Bear Award,
I need a professional public relations team, and I think you, James, can help me with this, right?" Li Yi said with a smile.
In fact, if he does it independently, he can do it, but "Life is Beautiful" will be handed over to Dean Pictures for distribution anyway, so why should Li Yi sacrifice the near for the distant?
