Li Qian's plan has been submitted. Three commercial films with main themes will eventually have to be decided by the superiors.
Although in today's commercialized world, movies are no longer an art that can be accessed centrally, but leaders often watch movies in the screening room in Zhongnanhai.
In addition to watching it by yourself, watching it with everyone, and watching it with foreign guests, there are also commercial movies.
After all, it is an ideological thing. Every country’s movies have their own unique culture. Although the political status of movies is not as important as that of the 1980s and 1990s, it cannot be done randomly, especially commercial movies with main themes.
While waiting for the reply above, Li Qian continued working on the storyboard and storyboard for "Flight of Destiny".
Once the decision is made from above, we have to continue preparations for the next stage. The directors and actors alone for three movies are enough to kill a lot of brain cells. I guess I won’t have much time to do my own thing.
The movie market is still hot as the Spring Festival approaches. "Kung Fu Panda 3" and "Star Wars: Episode VII" are two billion-dollar movies that seamlessly connect the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival movies. The market shows no signs of cooling down.
The current domestic film market has reached a point where as long as there is a film, no matter what the schedule, there is no need to worry about not having an audience.
Before the Spring Festival, "To Our Love Will Come" was released, which clearly shows how popular it is. Nowadays, bad movies are no longer just based on the popularity of classic old movies. Movies that were released less than two years ago can't be missed.
The movie stars Huang Xiaoming's ex-girlfriend, and the day before it was released, there was a lot of news on the Internet about Yang Ying's involvement.
It's an old routine.
However, before there was "To Our Youth That Will Come", and now there is "To Our Love That Will Come", and the next one is probably "To Our Divorce That Will Come".
It gained popularity, but the box office was as poor as the movie, so I didn't make any money.
This Spring Festival, Future Pictures is also joining the fray. While Stephen Chow is preparing the sequel to "The Truman Show", he is also working on a comedy film "Mermaid."
Zhou Xingchi's comedy is the signature of Kuaijinzi. The first-day box office directly exceeded the 200 million mark. With a super high box office of 280 million, it pushed the first-day box office record of Chinese-language movies to a new height.
1.8 billion in seven days, 3 billion in twenty days!
Chinese-language films have officially ushered in the three billion era.
Even though "Omen 3" and "Journey to the West: Part 3" both exceeded 1 billion, they were still completely overshadowed by Zhou Xingchi alone.
With Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Cheung Suet-you, and Zhou Xingchi who is not participating in the show, the Spring Festival movie seems to have suddenly become a civil war among the kings of Hong Kong.
Of course, Zhou Xingchi had the last laugh, even though his reputation was the lowest in more than ten years.
However, from the perspective of income, Li Qian is the biggest winner, bar none.
Zhou Xingchi’s comedies, top-notch comedy films, and the online tickets exclusively distributed by Future Movies APP for the Spring Festival this time have directly caused the number of Future Movies users to increase, directly taking the number one spot in the ticket purchasing platform market.
Meituan’s Maoyan ranked second, and Dabao Movie, which changed its name to fare evasion, came from behind. Ma Qingyang poured a lot of money into it and immediately surpassed Weiying Era.
The four major platforms account for 85% of the market share. Grava, the market leader a year ago, although belatedly no longer insists on providing services, has also begun to follow up to seize the market, but it is already too late. Currently, the market share is only
8%.
Moreover, he was abandoned by capital. With no potential, shareholders were already forcing Liu Yong to sell the company, cash out and leave.
The only ones that could take over Grava were the four major platforms. Shengda encouraged Liu Yong to sell it to Penguin, but Liu Yong ultimately chose Li Qian, an angel investor from many years ago.
In the conference room of Future Pictures, Li Qian and Liu Yong signed the merger and acquisition contract.
The moment he signed his name with a heavy pen in hand, Liu Yong, who had scorned Li Qian a few years ago because of disagreements with his ideas, let out a long sigh.
"Director Li, I hope Grava will have a good ending."
"Of course, I have been paying attention to the online ticketing business seven years ago. No one knows this industry better than me." Li Qian smiled and signed the contract casually.
"That's why I handed over the company to Director Li." Liu Yong nodded. His angel round and Series A investment were both given by Li Qian, although he later disagreed with Li Qian's ideas and the two parties no longer cooperated.
Before leaving, Liu Yong couldn't help but ask, "My team and I didn't do anything wrong. All users rated and recognized Grava more than any other platform. Why did it fail so quickly?"
Li Qian said seriously, "You did not do anything wrong, but if others did more, you were wrong!"
"Why..."
Liu Yong left in despair. From then on, Grava was just an independent brand under Future Films. It may not be long before this name will disappear completely.
...
"This is the capital market. It is walking on thin ice. No matter how well it does, it will face failure at any time."
Li Qian shook his head. After all, Grava was the first company he invested in. It was over like this, and he felt deeply.
"Director Li, it only took a few years from the sale of shares to the merger and acquisition. You are too far-sighted. When Grava occupied most of the market share, you predicted this day." Du Yang was also amazed at the side.
Zhong Lifang, who is responsible for the company's financing and investment, also lamented, "Sometimes I really feel that Director Li should not make movies and is more suitable for investment."
People in the industry say that Li Qianhui has a sharp eye, and all the movies, directors and actors he likes are not unsuccessful.
However, there are traces to follow. After all, whether you are a director, actor, or a film professional, you can all see the good and the bad.
However, investing is much more difficult than this.
Back then, the Grava family was the dominant one, monopolizing online ticketing, and countless people were waving checks to invest. Under such circumstances, Li Qian sold his shares with an unprecedented degree of foresight.
"It's nothing, just analysis. When Liu Yongguang thought about improving service, weather, transportation, parking spaces, and food were all thought of for users, but he did not pay attention to expanding the scale, he was doomed to fail." Li Qian shook his head, starting from an entrepreneurial company.
From a perspective, this is counterintuitive.
Generally, when there are no competitors at all, or the situation is certain, the competition is deadlocked, and the market is saturated, then it is time to provide services to retain users and compete for services from competitors.
Of course, there is no need to provide services if there are no opponents. Penguin has no opponents, but does it provide services?
"Seize the time to integrate Grava, and then future movies will start financing. Ah Li has already allocated one billion to fare evasion. The next two years will be a waste of money. We need to stabilize these two years and wait until all users have finished dividing it up."
, the market structure has been determined, only then can we truly establish a foothold in the online ticketing business, otherwise it may become the next Grava at any time.”
Li Qian warned Du Yang and Zhong Lifang that despite relying on the New Year, two popular movies during the Spring Festival to monopolize online tickets directly became the number one in the industry, but it was not stable.
After all, these two behemoths, Penguin and Ahli, poured down billions and two billions of real money, causing users to rebel in minutes.
As long as you keep up with the speed at which the other party burns money, you should be able to stabilize.
As for money, financing is enough. Future Films has been spun off and operated independently. As the current market leader, there is no shortage of capital.
...
After leaving the company, Li Qian came to the hotel to attend the celebration conference for "Mermaid"'s box office exceeding 3 billion.
Three billion, Zhou Xingchi broke the mainland box office record. If the quality of "Mermaid" were not average, if the quality was worthy of the box office, then Zhou Xingchi would definitely overshadow Li Qian's limelight now.
However, even so, Zhou Xingchi's limelight was short-lived.
After the lively press conference ended, Zhou Xingchi also talked with Li Qian about the guaranteed release of "Journey to the West: Conquer the Demons", the sequel to "Journey to the West: Conquer the Demons".
Xu Ke's "Taking Tiger Mountain by Wisdom" was finished filming, and he and Zhou Xingchi worked together on "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons", directed by Xu Ke and starring Zhou Xingchi.
"Mermaid" Future Pictures and Future Films invested a total of 30%, with Zhou Xingchi alone accounting for half, and then several companies offered high prices to secure distribution.
In the end, after several companies raised the price, Li Qian offered a sky-high guaranteed price of 2 billion.
Of course, I made a lot of money because of the guarantee and the publicity fee, which made me earn a little more than Zhou Xingchi.
After two consecutive successes, Zhou Xingchi still wants to guarantee the bottom line this time in "Journey to the West: Demons".
It stands to reason that for a film that is bound to be successful, there is no need to guarantee the bottom line. However, Zhou Xingchi's main business is real estate. He has bought many buildings in Xiangjiang.
In this day and age, whether in the Mainland or in Hong Kong, real estate is still a money grab.
If you get the money a year early, you will earn less, but if you use the money to buy a house, it will be enough to make up for the less money a year later.
But this time, Zhou Xingchi still offered a sky-high price.
2000000000!
A full two billion guarantee.
He didn't direct it himself.
Of course Li Qian knew that Xu Ke's "Ghost Blows Out the Lamp" sold 1.8 billion, so he took over the sequel, which was also a hit.
But at this price, Li Qian knew the effect of the original film.
If it were anyone else, Li Qian would have to bargain, but Zhou Xingchi's offer was obviously a fixed price. He is such a straightforward person.
After thinking about it for a moment, Li Qian still smiled and said, "Director Zhou, I will hold another meeting when I go back to discuss it and give you the results within a week."
"Okay, no problem." Zhou Xingchi understood that Li Qian had refused, but he didn't say anything. Both parties were more direct. There is no justice in business.
As if this topic had not been mentioned before, Li Qian asked about the status of the sequel to "The Truman Show".
Zhou Xingchi has also made all the preparations. After taking a break and finishing the production of "Journey to the West: Demons", he can start filming.
"By the way, Director Zhou, we are planning to make a commercial film with the main theme about the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It will be divided into seven units. I wonder if you are interested?"
Li Qian suddenly remembered "My Motherland and Me". Hong Kong is also a part of the motherland, and it is necessary for a Hong Kong director to participate on behalf of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
There are so many directors in Hong Kong, but not many Li Qian has dealt with. Xu Ke is about to shoot "Journey to the West: Conquering the Monsters", and there is no time, so only Zhou Xingchi is left, and he is enough to represent Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, unless Cheng Long is replaced
he.
"This..." Even Zhou Xingchi, who was very young, was a little confused. The main theme movie came to him, what was this? He really couldn't understand Li Qian's brain circuit.
"Director Zhou, listen to me first. There are seven twenty-minute units for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Each unit is a representative event of each decade. In fact, the representative of the 1990s was the return of Hong Kong and the raising of the national flag. I
I think Director Zhou can come and give it a try, and besides, it’s only a 20-minute short film, so it won’t waste much time.” Li Qian explained.
It was of great significance. Zhou Xingchi thought about it and readily agreed, "It is also right to contribute to the country."
...
"My Motherland and Me" requires seven directors. "The Loveliest Man" does not yet know how many characters are planned to be filmed, but it should be only five or six, plus it is not yet determined which battle will be filmed.
The film requires a total of almost 12 directors.
However, the 20-minute unit can also be repeated, and almost eight or nine directors will definitely be looking for it.
This kind of movie with the main theme must be included in the cabinet and must be watched by leaders. Of course, Li Qian gave priority to taking care of his own people at this opportunity.
After finding a time when everyone was free, Li Qian invited them all out and talked a little bit about the two unit movies.
"This is the situation. Although there has not been a reply from above, it should only be in the past two months. This is also an opportunity. A 20-minute unit drama. If you don't really have no time, I suggest everyone come."
"Two tribute films, more than ten units, when did this happen? Why is there no movement at all?"
Everyone has not recovered yet, whether it is "My Motherland and Me" or "The Loveliest Person", although Li Qian only gave a rough outline of the plan, everyone can see that whether it is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
, it is also the first large-scale tribute film to resist the United States and aid Korea in decades, and it is no small matter.
Moreover, it is also unusual in the form of a unit drama.
"As for what happened last month, as the chief director, chief planner, and chief producer, I will not interfere with you regardless of the specific shooting." Li Qian said.
"Can Director Li be allowed to appoint a candidate? Are our qualifications not enough?" Xu Zheng asked.
"Of course I didn't designate it. Once the plan is finalized, we will select a director from within the industry, but..."
Li Qian smiled proudly, "When it comes to commercial movies, to be honest, we already account for half of the industry. Apart from you, there is no one else above. And you all know the general scope, so you can prepare in advance."
one time."
Xu Zheng looked complacent and almost said, "That's right."
Ning Hao nodded, "But, of these more than ten units, which one should we film? I'm not sure who will be filmed in "The Cutest Person"."
The seven units of "My Motherland and Me" are generally fine. The major events from 1949 to 1959 are definitely related to the founding ceremony.
59-69, related to the atomic bomb, the return of Hong Kong in the 1990s should not have happened, and there will be no changes in the Olympic Games in the 2000s.
Li Qian said, "You should choose one of them first and prepare for it. Those who can make war films can shoot both. The filming of the two units should be staggered in time. After all, there is a year between the releases."
Everyone looked at you, and I looked at me, but Xu Zheng spoke first.
He smiled and said, "I have only made comedies. The founding ceremony in 1949 is definitely not suitable, and the atomic bomb is not suitable. The Olympics should be more festive and can be made into a comedy. How about I shoot the Olympics section?"
"Then I will shoot the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China? I also want to try such a large-scale film." Ning Hao also chose a unit for himself.
If you have already chosen, then others will not be polite.
"I only filmed the atomic bomb unit. I regretted that there was not enough space for the boss's "Rejuvenation"." Qi Yukun also picked one, and then said, "I also want to try a war movie, so Qiu Shaoyun will give it to me."
"Then I film Huang Jiguang?" Guo Fan thought about it for a moment. In "The Wandering Earth", Liu Peiqiang died heroically to save the earth, which is somewhat similar to Huang Jiguang.
"I'll just shoot the nurse's unit in the field hospital where my senior sister is, or the return of Xiangjiang." Su Lun, a female director, didn't really have a choice in war movies, so he chose Tong Liya's unit on the female nurse in the field hospital.
"Then I'll make the women's volleyball team to win the championship, and I'll forget about the war movie. It was screwed up." Wen Muye thought about it and gave up the unit in "The Cutest Person".
""The Loveliest Man" is not necessarily a war movie. Some of it is also small-scale, but let's leave it at that. The higher-ups haven't decided on who will be filmed yet, so let's leave it at that. Everyone will go back and prepare their own units.
It depends on your plan." Li Qian nodded.
That's seven categories selected, and a war film category in "The Loveliest Man" is left for Wu Jing, who is far away in Africa, making the total number eight.
The divisions are about the same. There are also senior directors like Cheng Kai, Zhang Yimou and Gu Changwei. It is impossible for them to cover all of them.