Although he had known for a long time that Li Qian was only 23 years old, Zhang Hao couldn't help but sigh when they met.
Li Qian has heard the words "Young and Promising" spoken by so many people so many times.
Smile and say hello.
"Hello, Mr. Zhang, you are a veteran in our film industry."
"I gave birth a few years earlier and had a few more bowls of rice."
Zhang Hao waved his hand. He has been in the industry for more than 20 years. He worked in distribution at Xiying Film Studio in the 1980s. He has worked hard for more than 20 years to reach his current position.
On the other hand, Li Qian is 23 years old and has graduated from college for one year.
In just two months, the results he achieved were much better than those he had achieved in the past twenty years.
There is no shortage of big company executives like him in the country, and there are plenty of them in major state-owned studios.
However, there are only a handful of directors who can make hits.
I sighed secretly in my heart and then got down to business.
Both parties can meet here and know each other's thoughts clearly, so there is no need to beat around the bush.
Zhang Hao spoke directly, "Director Li, for an excellent director like you, the big screen is where your talent can be fully utilized. We would like to invite you to serve as the company's art director."
"After the first round of financing, we have sufficient funds to invest in film and television production, and all departments of the company will fully support your new film."
Artistic Director?
When Huayang poached Chen Guohua from Colombia, he gave him two positions: art director and production director. All projects of Huayang Media were under his control, and Ma Xiaogang was no exception.
But Art Director is just a nice title, so it’s useless to come here.
As for the director of the production department, Li Qian didn't even want it. With such a big deal, he didn't have the free time to take care of Bernard's projects.
Li Qian nodded and did not answer, but said to himself, "Mr. Zhang, the previous cooperation model between Bernard and Poly was that the other party produced and you distributed. I think we can also cooperate in this model."
Zhang Hao was slightly startled, but before he could speak, Li Qian continued.
"My own movie, I want to direct it myself."
"I can accept part of your company's investment and leave the film to you for distribution."
"However, I don't want you to interfere too much in the entire preparation and filming process, but you can send a producer to the team to supervise the finances."
No beating around the bush, as long as you have enough strength, you don't need to do those roundabout things.
There is no need for intrigues, hypocrisy and snakes.
Zhang Hao didn't expect Li Qian to be so direct, so he couldn't help but frown.
Their purpose is to bind Li Qian, a potential director, but based on his thoughts, it seems that he does not intend to hang himself from a tree.
But things should be done step by step. Get people over first and talk about it later.
Zhang Hao nodded and agreed, "Of course. Director Li is a professional when it comes to making movies. Naturally, we can trust him and will not interfere in the process."
Li Qian continued, "I need this year's Lunar New Year release, at the end of December, before New Year's Day, and at least two hundred film copies will be invested in the initial stage."
With these two conditions, Li Qian is responsible for directing his own films, ensuring the schedule and distribution scale. As for other things, he doesn't have many requirements.
However, this condition put Zhang Hao in a dilemma.
"Director Li, can I ask about the type and approximate cost of your new movie?"
"It's still suspense-oriented, but it's not a pure suspense film. It will be mixed with some other elements. The production cost is about 6 million."
It's a low-cost suspense genre, and the opening is just two hundred film copies.
Zhang Hao smiled bitterly, "Director Li, even if we have a relationship with a printing laboratory, one copy will cost at least 8,000 yuan. 200 copies will be 1.6 million yuan. With such a distribution scale, the publicity and distribution costs we have to pay in advance will be at least 2 million yuan."
Already."
Li Qian smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, this 3.6 million is just an advance payment for the publicity cost. You will not participate in the sharing. There is no risk to you."
Major companies basically produce, distribute, and promote their own films. Some directly include the publicity and distribution fees in the cost, participate in the sharing, and then declare the cost to the outside world to be more than 100 million.
There are also cases where the production and promotion are not owned by the same company, so they are calculated separately. The promotion and distribution costs are advanced by the distribution company, and the box office tax is paid, and after the distribution with the theaters and theaters, the distributor must first take away the advanced promotion and distribution costs.
Even if the final share is not enough to recoup the cost, the distributor must first take away its share of the publicity and distribution costs, and then take the distribution share in proportion, and the rest is the producer's money.
This model avoids risks, unless the final share of the profit cannot even be recovered from the publicity fee.
Therefore, Bernard was able to achieve its current scale by relying solely on its publishing business.
Most distributors make sure profits without losing money, but with this model, they can’t make more money even if they sell well at the box office.
Although the scale of this publicity and distribution is too large compared to the cost, especially the number of film copies.
But it is still within the bottom line. If the early box office is not optimistic, then the investment in copying will be reduced. Anyway, the production and distribution channels of the copies are in Bernard's hands.
However, there was no way Zhang Hao could agree to this schedule.
"Director Li, Ma Xiaogang's new movie "Assembly Number" has been confirmed to be released in the Lunar New Year slot this year, and "Vote No.", which we participated in, will also be released in the Lunar New Year slot. It can accommodate two blockbusters at the same time, which is already the limit of the Lunar New Year slot.
, how about I free up next summer’s schedule for you?”
"Summer vacation is half a year late, and the movie cycle is becoming more and more dangerous, as Mr. Zhang knows. Moreover, the summer schedule is also packed with blockbusters, and it won't be much better than this year's Lunar New Year schedule."
Li Qian shook his head, "Lunar New Year blockbusters usually start to be released in the second week of December. I will release it at the end of the month. It will not have much impact after half a month."
"But at that time, the audience had already been consumed by "Certificate of Voting" and "Assembly Number". The market is so big, and there is not much left for you."
"There was "The Promise" in the Lunar New Year movie the year before last, and "King Kong" at the end of December and "Fearless" in January still have a large audience. As long as the movie is good, I don't think this will be a problem."
After a long period of persuasion, Li Qian could not be persuaded to give up the Lunar New Year stall.
Zhang Hao also has a big head, and each of these directors is more stubborn than the other.
When he was at Xiying Studio, he also worked with the young Zhang Yimou and Cheng Kaige.
It was the same for them at that time. The entire Xiying Film Studio, except for the old director Wu Tianming, sometimes got angry. Even if the King of Heaven came, it wouldn't help.
Li Qian was not only stubborn, but even a little arrogant.
Zhang Hao can't make the decision in this matter. "The Certificate of Investment" is Bernard's most important project this year, and all the energy of the Lunar New Year holiday is on it.
Put the two movies together, Li Qian's new movie will definitely be crushed to the point where there is no scum left, let alone Ma Xiaogang.
He could only say that he would discuss it with Yu Dong and give Li Qian an answer in the evening.
Li Qian also knew that his request was too much. Regardless of the scale and schedule of the announcement, no company would agree easily.
After all, "The Certificate of Investment" is a super blockbuster directed by Chen Kexin and starring three superstars, Jet Li, Andy Lau, and Kim Sung-wu, and "Assembly" is Ma Xiaogang's new film. These are all films that are aiming for the annual box office record.
However, Li Qian still wanted to touch these two famous directors.
Those who are barefoot are not afraid of those who wear shoes. He is just a newcomer to the big screen. There is no pressure. He is afraid of hammers.
As long as you don’t lose money, you don’t lose!
Moreover, Li Qian also has memories in his mind for the movie "The Name of the Producer".
It's so depressing. It's depressing from beginning to end. This kind of movie will most likely be difficult to sell.
Even tragedy has its parts that are touching.
The heroine dies in "The Letter of Contribution", and the three protagonists all die in the end.
Many classic movies have protagonists die, but the death of the protagonist is usually touching, such as Jack in "Titanic".
In "The Name of the People", the deaths of the four protagonists were too painful to be moved at all.
Movies that are uncomfortable to watch are difficult to sell at home and abroad.
There is half a month between the release dates, and the Lunar New Year schedule is enough to accommodate two blockbusters. Li Qian believes that his big screen debut will not let him down.
Moreover, competing with great directors on the same stage is exciting just thinking about it!