Chapter 187： I am the issuer

During the reception, Chris looked at Li Ang, Xu Ligong and others who were still socializing, and said to Ronan: "Although I can't understand the lines and the subtitles seem to be strenuous, I can roughly understand it. This movie is a bit simple- The taste of Austin's "Sense and Emotion."

The dialogue in this film is in Chinese with English subtitles, but it is a habit that Americans have cultivated all the year round that they don't like to watch subtitles at all.

Ronan nodded: "It's really like an alternative "Sense and Emotion."

"Unfortunately, Ann-Li chose the wrong form of expression." Chris shook his head: "This kind of martial arts movie is too strange."

He sighed: "Ann-Li's recent films are not very good."

Ronan agreed and said, "Yes."

Maybe after a while, Sony Entertainment will have a different view on "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but Sony Entertainment's audience at the Cannes Film Festival is led by Chris. Now Chris is not optimistic about this film, at least in Cannes. During the festival, it is unlikely that Sony Entertainment will join the competition.

Last year, Ang Lee made a film with a production budget of 35 million U.S. dollars. The North American box office was only a pitiful 630,000 U.S. dollars. It was a huge hit.

To a certain extent, Ang Lee had to shoot "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" as a last resort, because the fiasco of the previous film made it difficult for him to receive a larger production in Hollywood.

Speaking of which, Ang Lee is also a firm-willed person. He has made a big splash on the street several times in his career as a director. After being replaced by other Chinese directors, he has long since finished, but he abruptly survived.

This alone is far more than Wu Baige.

Ronan talked a few more words with Chris, and saw that Li Ang and Xu Ligong had fewer people around him, and said to Chris: "I'm going to say hello to the master."

Chris didn't mean to go in the past: "Go ahead. Didn't we have an agreement before? I'll give you this film."

Ronan could see that Chris was really not interested in this film, so he took the opportunity to return the favor that was half joking.

None of these old fritters mixed in Hollywood are simple.

In the chat just now, Ronan also tentatively asked that Sony Classics has very little investment in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" because Sony Classics is not optimistic about a martial arts film with such a high investment.

The production budget of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is as high as US$17 million. If the exchange rate of this era is converted, it is more than 130 million soft sister coins. Which martial arts film now dares to invest so much money?

Ang Li said that "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a bit exaggerated, but it could also reflect the real situation of the project.

Ronan has always made decisions and then moved. In the past few days, he has mastered a lot of information. In 1995, Ang Lee cooperated with Sony Columbia Pictures "Sense and Situation", but did not cooperate with Sony again. The main producer of each film The parties are different.

Therefore, Ang Lee should have no tendency to cooperate with which company.

As for Xu Ligong, the western film circles don't know much about him. This is one of Wanwan's most famous filmmakers. He mainly plays in Wanwan and doesn't deal with Hollywood much.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Xu Ligong is the first producer, and Li Ang is the director and producer.

The power of this film is actually held by these two people.

"Hello, Director Li. Hello, Mr. Xu." Ronan came to the two of them, shook hands with them one by one, and introduced himself: "I am Ronan Anderson, the president of Embassy Pictures."

"Embassy Pictures?" Xu Ligong felt strange.

Ang Lee has been in Hollywood all year round, and immediately asked: "The Embassy Pictures that released "Blair the Witch" and "Reaper Is Coming?"

Ronan smiled slightly: "Exactly."

"Hello, Mr. Anderson." Li Ang's face was instantly filled with smiles: "It's a great honor to know you."

When Xu Ligong heard that he was from the Hollywood distribution company, he came to say hello: "Mr. Anderson is here to attend the reception, it is a great honor."

Ang Lee added: "The performance of Embassy Pictures last year was impressive."

Seeing the two people's polite tone of flattery, Ronan suddenly realized one thing, something that he has not completely transformed.

Embassy Pictures is a distribution company. He now represents a distribution company, and it was a distribution company that performed very well last year!

In a single round of performance, Embassy Pictures even beat Lionsgate, Miramax and Xinxian Pictures in the previous year!

Li Ang and Xu Ligong are producers, or they want to seek North American distribution.

More importantly, Ang Lee is not a big director in the future. The last film only experienced a fiasco!

There is also "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". He knew that this film would be a huge success, but others didn't know that martial arts movies in North America were ultimately a niche genre among the niche. Looking at Chris' attitude, it is not difficult to guess Hollywood Most people are not interested in this film.

The value of such a film is slowly revealed, but now "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is only premiering in Cannes, and the official release is not until July.

The importance of distribution to a film is self-evident.

As a distributor, there is a natural advantage when facing the producer. Looking at the current situation, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" does not seem to have attracted enough attention from Hollywood distributors.

Ronan had observed with Chris before that there were not a few people from Hollywood at the reception. A film expert like Chris, who has been in Hollywood for many years, is very familiar, and most of the filmmakers and buyers from other companies know him.

Even the fat guy Harvey Weinstein who went to see the premiere didn't seem to come over.

It is estimated that Harvey Weinstein is not familiar with martial arts movies either.

Perhaps it was the great success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" that Miramax later bought the North American copyright of "Hero".

Ronan was also not humble, saying: "The Embassy Film Industry is developing rapidly, and the North American distribution channels are getting better and better. If you switch to the current release of "Blair the Witch"." He appeared very confident: "North American box office may be higher."

Ang Lee has already been westernized, and said: "The announcement of "Blair the Witch" was stunning."

Although Xu Ligong has less dealings with Hollywood, he has also heard of the name "Blair the Witch". It is not easy to think of a distribution company that can run that kind of super bad movie to the box office of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ronan didn't talk nonsense and expressed his intention: "Two, I just watched the premiere. Are you still holding the North American distribution rights?"

The moment Ronan revealed his identity, Ang Lee and Xu Ligong guessed his intentions, and Xu Ligong said: "North American copyright is still in the hands of Zongheng International."

"I'm a little curious about this film." Ronan said directly: "If you two are interested, we can make an appointment to talk about the North American release."

Li An winked at Xu Ligong.

Xu Ligong pointed to the people around him and said, "It's not right now, we can't go away."

Of course, Ronan would not be very eager. He took out his business cards and handed them to Li Ang and Xu Ligong respectively, saying: "There is my contact information on it. You can call me when you two have time."

Ang Li and Xu Ligong solemnly put away their business cards. The latter thought for a while and said: "If Mr. Anderson has time tomorrow, shall we make an appointment to talk?"

"Yes," Ronan said, "There is a coffee shop on the first floor of this hotel."

Xu Ligong said again: "Tomorrow at ten o'clock in the morning?"

Ronan nodded: "Yes."

Shaking hands with these two people again, Ronan left and found Chris who was hanging out at the reception.

"How's the talk?" Chris asked.

Ronan said half-truth: "Generally, the asking price is not very appropriate. I will talk to them tomorrow. If it doesn't work, I can only give up."

Chris smiled and said, "The risks in the film industry are too high. It is best not to touch films that you don't understand."

Ronan nodded and said, "I know, just try it, then withdraw."

Suddenly, Chris reminded: "I guess you will have competitors."

"Who?" Ronan was surprised.

Chris reached out his hand and pointed quietly: "That fat guy from Miramax is here."

Ronan followed his fingers and frowned slightly. Harvey Weinstein had already approached Li Ang and Xu Ligong, and didn't know what he was talking about.

"Didn't he not come?" Ronan hadn't seen this guy before.

Chris said, "That guy came when you went to find Ann Lee."

Ronan smiled: "He has taken a fancy to this film? If you invest heavily, you will lose money."

"Who knows." Chris said simply: "He often comes to Cannes to buy films, and when he buys films, he likes to buy two or three in one go. Although his vision is generally high, the price is low enough. As long as one succeeds, it can be profitable."

Ronan answered, "This is also a business strategy."

Chris agreed: "It is very effective. The Weinstein brothers are masters of independent film operation. They have the essence of this aspect. They diversify investment, reduce risk, and bet that there will be successful projects in the operation of the project."

In fact, Hollywood's small-scale companies will more or less use this aspect of operating strategies.

Ronan talked to Chris while thinking about it. In his previous life, Ang Lee didn't seem to have worked with Harvey Weinstein, right?

He glanced at Li Ang and Xu Ligong Both of them had polite smiles on their faces, not knowing what they were talking to Harvey Weinstein.

Will this become a competitor?

Having said that, even if Miramax wants to get involved, he doesn't worry too much. Embassy Pictures has a complete distribution channel, and when it comes to distribution capabilities, it is no worse than Miramax.

More importantly, the cash flow of Embassy Pictures is not comparable to a film company like Miramax, which has sharp contradictions with its parent company.

After the reception was over, Ronan went to the owner to say goodbye politely before leaving. He tried a little bit by the way, but didn't get any results.

The two reminded him not to forget the interview tomorrow. Ronan could guess that they did not reach an agreement with Harvey Weinstein.

The next day, Ronan rushed to the agreed place on time and met Li An and Xu Ligong.

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