Chapter 343 The first contact with Hong Kong filmmakers
"Hahaha, I'm laughing so hard, Li Qian is still the same Li Qian."
"Li Qian is also afraid that Ma Xiaogang will starve to death if he doesn't make comedies. He's too venomous."
"This is a curse that Ma Xiaogang will pounce on when filming other genres. Li Qian has such a bad temper. Although I haven't seen him get angry, he must be talking about something bad!"
"But what about the inspirational comedy that Li Qian mentioned? The protagonist has a happy family, a good job, and a house. How can this be inspirational? Are there any inspirational comedies with this kind of protagonist?"
"Pindao has read countless movies, watched a lot of comedies, and a lot of inspirational comedies, but most of them don't have a normal protagonist."
"The protagonist's life is so good and he is inspiring? Anyway, I can't figure it out."
"You have missed the point. The point is that Li Qian said that this is a ridiculous story. This is the main thing. Guess what ridiculous story it is?"
"Absurd? Thieves, gamblers, stupid thieves, robbers, gangsters, profiteers, ladies. Generally speaking, these elements are put together in foreign countries, but the protagonist Li Qian said is not right either."
"Oh, it's hard to guess again. Li Qian has never allowed us to guess what he wants to shoot."
"Forget it, don't waste your brain cells, just wait, it'll be fine anyway."
...
Whenever Li Qian announces the filming of a new film, there will always be an upsurge of discussion on the Internet.
This time is no exception. Although the information revealed by Li Qian is somewhat contradictory, it is usually the protagonists who are not doing well who need inspiration. They are all from the bottom of society. It is not as inspirational as what Li Qian said about the protagonist who seems to be middle class.
In most movie-related forums, forums with a large traffic volume, you can basically see discussions from netizens.
The media also made various speculations based on the information Li Qian put in, and even the film critics who had nothing to do began to write long stories.
All the directors in the industry are envious of this kind of situation. This kind of treatment, even announcing a genre without even a title, attracting so much attention is easier than spending money to promote it. This is the only one who can do it. Li Qian.
However, Ma Xiaogang is not envious. On the contrary, now that he is looking at the media reporting what Li Qian said, his face is full of anger and has nowhere to vent, and is about to explode.
"What do you mean you're afraid I'll starve to death!"
"Comedies are what I have left over from playing, and I don't even bother to make them!"
"You know nothing about comedy!"
Ma Xiaogang cursed there himself, but did not speak out in public.
When he meets that kind of stupid reporter again and arranges for him to mention that he is being used as a bastard to the big brother, Ma Xiaogang is really afraid that he will not be able to help but take action.
"snort!"
"Just wait, let's see what kind of comedy you can make!"
I can only make a mental note to compete in the Lunar New Year category next year.
...
Li Qian has accepted many invitations from newspapers, TV stations, and even universities in the past two days, which is inevitable.
People work hard to help you promote the movie during the release. Although it is spontaneous, the media needs the attention. Even if Li Qian asks them not to promote it, they will still promote it spontaneously.
However, this does not mean that Li Qian does not need to give back to them.
Relying on the success of your own movies, the major media have no choice but to publicize them, and theaters have no choice but to schedule movies, so you would be really stupid to just ignore them.
You still have to participate in the activities you should participate in. Anyway, there is nothing to do now. "The Truman Show" is not in a hurry. It will be released during the Lunar New Year next year, so there is plenty of time.
This film is not that simple either. The location of the small island town where Truman lives has very strict requirements.
First of all, this small town is a utopia carefully created by the producer for Truman, and it is a beautiful place.
Depressing high-rise buildings are basically eliminated. Although these look very advanced and modern, urban CDBs with densely packed high-rise buildings everywhere make it really uncomfortable to stay there.
It doesn't matter that the location survey has almost started now. Li Qian called Zhao Jun in with a phone call.
Zhao Jun knocked on the door and came in, "Director Li?"
Li Qian ordered, "Old Zhao, my new movie is about to start looking for locations. Remember my conditions and send several groups of people down."
"Director Li, just say it." Zhao Jun listened carefully and took out a small notebook and pen.
“In order for a city to be relatively modern, the areas around hospitals, supermarkets, squares, and office buildings should look spacious, and should not be like a steel forest, so depressing, with so many high-rise buildings.
Find a residential area, not a high-rise building, similar to the collective resettlement housing in a village in the city, where every household has a two-story building, like a villa area, but not a low-end villa area, which is too crowded and makes living uncomfortable...
"
Li Qian went through the requirements one by one. In short, he wanted to find a very modern city without a steel forest or high-rise buildings. It should make people feel relaxed.
"Director Li, it needs to be modern, not high-rise, and spacious. It may be difficult to find this in China." Zhao Jun said hesitantly.
Not high-rise buildings, they are spacious, and there are a lot of them in the west, but basically they have little to do with modernization, and vice versa. In modern big cities, land is very precious, and you can build as high as you can.
"Let's look for it first, and then wait until we can't find it. When the time comes, we can set up exteriors and build a city."
Li Qian doesn't know that this is a contradiction, because the studio created by the producer in the movie is an ideal place where people can live a carefree life.
It's better abroad, and it's not difficult to find a real scene, but in China, it's rare.
"Okay, I'll arrange the location team right away." Zhao Jun nodded in agreement, "Do you have any other instructions?"
"Oh, yes, how is the script of "Celebrating More Than Years"?" Li Qian asked.
"Completed the first two episodes, the story of Fan Xian's childhood."
"Remember to show me the script when it's finished."
Li Qian has read this book, and there is a scene that is somewhat different from the TV series in his memory.
At the beginning, when Fan Xian was telling stories to other children, "The Truman Show" was told in the TV series, but it was replaced by another story.
It is estimated that this film has been harmonized in reality, and Li Qian will add it to the script when the time comes.
The TV series is tentatively scheduled to be aired during the summer vacation next year, and the movie will be aired during the Lunar New Year.
The TV series can also be regarded as a wave of promotion for the movie, but when Fan Xian tells the story, he cannot reveal key information, otherwise it will not be good.
Well, that's it.
Li Qian smiled with satisfaction and asked Zhao Jun, "How is the online investigation of "Jaws 3" going?"
"We are currently working on it. Most of the viewers want to see the third part. Who will the shark son who killed the male protagonist face off next? Director Li, your imagination is beyond imagination. The dead male protagonist still makes the audience feel like this."
I'm thinking about you." Zhao Jun threw a flattery at the right time.
"The real protagonist is the shark. The shark is not dead. Of course the audience is looking forward to it." Li Qian shook his head, "Let's spread the word to the outside world and find a suitable director. There should be many people interested in the film."
Zhao Jun smiled and said, "That's not all. I think when this news is released, those young directors will go crazy. This is an opportunity to rise to the top in one step."
Yes, the sequel to a hit movie is a big hit with your eyes closed. The first one was made by Li Qian, which is also the sequel to Li Qian's movie.
Moreover, the first film had a huge impact, and some people still have lingering fears about Dahai. Even if it is a Sanwu movie, it naturally attracts huge attention.
...
In the afternoon, Li Qian met with Gao Jun, deputy general manager of the New Film Alliance Cinema Line, and talked with him about the future of the theater chain.
The name of the theater chain is named after the company. It doesn't matter what it is called, as long as it is not difficult to pronounce.
There are dozens of theater chains in the country with various names, such as Poly Wanhe, Oscar, and Southern Shinkansen. Each one is weirder than the last.
Alibaba has such a bad name, but he is still an Internet giant.
Gao Jun already had the idea of joining. The huge sales of "I'm Not the God of Medicine" made him more determined. If it were to be screened again in the future, all of them would be arranged in his own theaters. It would be a huge advertisement, no less.
A promotion worth hundreds of millions would offend other theater chains.
After meeting and chatting for a while, Gao Jun asked a question, "Director Li, can I ask what you think about the theater chain?"
Li Qian shook his head and said with a smile, "Mr. Gao, you will be the general manager of the future theater chain from now on. The operation and development direction of the theater chain are your business. I know nothing about this and will not interfere too much.
What I can give is financial support. With an initial investment of 200 million, we should be able to build nearly 70 medium-sized cinemas with six halls in second-tier cities."
An initial investment of 200 million yuan will not interfere with the operation.
Then Gao Jun had no problem and began to introduce to Li Qian the development history of the theater chain industry in the past five years since the theater chain was restructured.
From the Central Film Department, the Optoelectronic Department of various places, the Capital + Optoelectronic Department, and the reckless group who has neither a background in China Film nor a local film company, he carefully talked about the past and current situation of the industry, as well as his future development.
Of course, planning for the future of the theater chain is also indispensable.
The core figure of the New Film League championship team has made so many preparations, and Li Qian is relieved.
Finally, Gao Jun has another piece of good news. He can bring three or four New Film Alliance franchise theaters to join him, and they are all mid- to high-end theaters in the capital.
"By the way, Director Li, I have contacted Wu Siyuan from UME Cinema Management Company. He is also interested in joining our new theater chain, but he wants to meet you." Gao Jun said.
UME?
Li Qian's eyes lit up. These are some of the best cinemas in the country. For example, UME Huaxing, which often performs premieres, belongs to this cinema management company.
A cinema management company has many cinemas under its umbrella, but does not operate its own cinema chain and chooses to join other cinemas.
UME seems to have a total of seven high-end cinemas, and the box office of these seven cinemas is enough to compare with the box office of more than 20 cinemas in second-tier cities.
This is a great thing!
But this Wu Siyuan is the former chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards and a well-known figure in the Hong Kong film industry. He has worked on "Green Snake", "New Dragon Inn", "Once Upon a Time in the Series", "Drunken Master", "The Gambler", "The Law"
Classic movies such as "An Affair" were all produced by him.
Being the first president of the Hong Kong Film Association is enough to illustrate his status in the Hong Kong film industry.
But I don’t make many movies now. After all, Xiangjiang Films has no future, so I have switched to movie theaters.
Li Qian has also heard about this man. Some media say that he is the godfather of Hong Kong movies, a very high-profile person.
Since the other party had the idea of bringing seven first-class theaters to join the franchise, Li Qian also wanted to meet him.
The next day, under Gao Jun's arrangement, Li Qian met the "Godfather of Hong Kong Film".
This is his first time dealing with Hong Kong filmmakers. He is also the former chairman of the Academy Awards and the president of the Film Association.