Chapter 441： Foreigners make money

Beverly Hills, in the hotel where the "Hero" crew stayed, many visitors came today. Everyone saw Zhang Guoshi and Zhang Baimao, and couldn’t wait to send congratulations. A purely oriental-style film can get the North American box office. The champion of the list is really rare.

"Congratulations, Director Zhang."

Jeter Lee specifically called: "We are the box office champions now."

Director Zhang knew that Jet-Lee was more famous than him in Hollywood, and said politely: "Tongxi, Tongxi!"

After saying a few polite remarks, putting down the phone, Zhang Guoshi felt a kind of raised eyebrows, and his waist could be very straight.

First he won the Oscar nomination for best foreign language film, and then won the North American box office chart. He was the first director in the East!

Although the first person in the East is actually Ang Lee, Ang Lee’s nationality is not American, but it is no different from Americans.

If the news reaches the country, it will definitely be fried?

It seems that I must return home next week.

All the attention, return to hometown, return with honor, win glory for the country...

Countless words representing glory flashed through Zhang Guoshi's mind. How many years has passed since he was not excited by the honor brought by the movie?

Riches do not return to their hometown, just like walking in the evening!

In any case, you have to go back before the Oscars. At the very least, you must let those in the circle understand who is the leader of the mainland directors!

Zhang Baimao knocked on the door and walked in. Zhang Guoshi's old-fashioned face showed a smile brighter than a flower, and said, "Have you seen the announcement from Embassy Pictures? We got the box office champion!"

Probably because of the emotional relationship, Zhang Guoshi greeted him, grasped the old man's hand tightly, and shook hands with him!

"I saw it, it's amazing!" Zhang Baimao is a businessman who values ​​actual income more. He is far less excited than Zhang Guoshi. He said: "I didn't expect it to cause such a sensation. I just communicated with Embassy Pictures. However, the theaters of "Hero" will continue to expand. Next weekend, it will definitely surpass "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and become the largest Chinese-language movie shown in North America!"

He knew Zhang Guoshi was his support, and said: "Old Zhang, you have created a miracle!"

Zhang Guoshi's old-fashioned face just smiled, who would be unhappy at this time?

Zhang Baimao is not stingy with words of praise: "Director Ang Lee grew up in the United States, holding an American passport, and Lao Zhang, you are a director with a purely oriental background, and your expression is purely oriental. This is really for us. Domestic filmmakers are ambitious."

While smiling brightly, Zhang Guoshi has not forgotten one key thing: "Domestic..."

Zhang Baimao understood what he meant, and said, "Don't worry, I have already let people report our achievements to the major domestic media!"

This is also a good opportunity to expand the visibility of the new image company.

"As early as when I was shooting "Happy Time" a few years ago, I realized that Hollywood movies are causing more and more influence." Zhang Guoshi suddenly became taller: "Despite the current domestic quotas, Hollywood movies I am in full competition with Oriental films, and the most impacted is Oriental art films. Therefore, I always think I should do something for Oriental films, and make a film with a box office, which must include the true Oriental culture. And a variety of artistic elements."

He said heavily: ""Hero" did not live up to our expectations! I finally did it!"

Zhang Baimao knows very well that after this "Hero", Zhang Guoshi will certainly become the banner of Eastern movies.

The director's remuneration has already been paid by the new picture company; fame, "Hero" has achieved great success in the Oscars and the North American market.

The person opposite is really the biggest winner, fame and fortune!

What about the new picture company? Fame is there, but what about profits?

Thinking of this, Zhang Baimao felt that it was necessary for the banner character of the Eastern movie to understand how much he and his new graphic company had done for each other and how much they sacrificed.

After Zhang Guoshi calmed down, Zhang Baimao sighed deliberately and said: "I read the estimate of one of the most reliable companies in the United States today, saying that the North American box office of "Hero" will not be less than 60 million US dollars. ?"

"So high?" Zhang Guoshi was still immersed in the aftertaste of excitement and excitement. He didn't even notice the hidden meaning in Zhang Baimao's words. Instead, he asked enthusiastically: "If converted into soft sister coins, how many hundred million? Is there 400 million?"

Zhang Baimao was speechless for a while and did not answer his question. Instead, he said: "Hero has achieved such a good box office in North America, but it can't bring any revenue to the new picture."

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Guoshi was stunned for a moment, and then reacted, except for the copyright of the East, they sold all the distribution rights of "Hero" to Embassy Pictures!

The North American box office may be 60 million US dollars? What about markets in other countries and regions? With more than 100 million US dollars in box office revenue, they only sold 5 million US dollars!

This embassy film industry has made a lot of money!

"Lao Zhang, we are careless this time." Zhang Guoshi's own commercial attributes are not bad, and said: "I didn't expect that the bulk of the final profit would be earned by foreigners."

Zhang Baimao said: "Fortunately, it can give us enough reputation, and selling off the copyright is also a last resort. After all, we do not have the ability to distribute overseas. The high investment of "Hero" also forces the new image to have to adopt this. Withdraw funds in this way."

Zhang Guoshi nodded slightly, the old man was facing too much pressure.

"This is the first time in the history of Eastern cinema that such a large investment. We borrowed a lot of money from the bank, and the financial pressure is very great." Zhang Baimao said slowly: "At that time, we only had two ideas: one was to make a movie. Well, the second is to recover funds quickly, without considering other things. We have to learn from the experience and lessons of "Hero", and try to avoid copyright selling in the future and adopt a more flexible way to cooperate with foreign companies. We can't let foreigners earn all the money. gone."

Zhang Guoshi first agreed: "Yes!" Then he said: "If Harvey Weinstein hadn't made trouble at the time, we might sell it at a better price."

Zhang Baimao said: "That shameless liar, nasty bastard! Compared to Ronan Anderson, saying that he is a liar and a **** is to exalt him!"

"You have no opinion on Ronan Anderson? After all, he has made all the profits." Zhang Guoshi asked.

Zhang Baimao shook his head: "I have envy, jealousy, and regret not selling higher prices, but I don't resent Ronan-Anderson. In business, our negotiations with Embassy Pictures are all in the open, Luo Nan-Anderson did not move any hands or feet, on the contrary, he was very particular about business reputation. In such an unfavorable situation, he still maintained his credit and offered a price of 5 million US dollars, which is enough to prove their sincerity in cooperation."

Zhang Guoshi nodded slightly, Ronan Anderson was really convincing in this deal.

"Facts have proved that Ronan Anderson is a trustworthy partner and has a very good vision." Zhang Baimao smiled and shook his head and said: "We will cooperate with Hollywood in the future. Ronan Anderson and his company are the first choices, but he sees The movies in the movie must be sold at a high price!"

Zhang Guoshi said, "Yes! No more "Hero" can be published."

Zhang Baimao said: "There is also Harvey Weinstein. Zhang, you must have a lot of interviews when you go back this time. You tell the media how the **** deceived people, which will also help you get more in the circle. Recognized."

Zhang Guoshi laughed and said, "I will definitely expose the true face of that **** in China to prevent more people from being deceived."

This kind of smooth flow will help establish a higher reputation in the industry. Why not do it?

"Old Zhang, have you thought about what to shoot in the next part?" Zhang Baimao asked suddenly.

"Martial arts!" Zhang Guoshi had already thought about it: "It's still a martial arts movie! This is the most successful type."

Zhang Baimao thought the same way and said: "I'll find an opportunity to have a good talk with Ronan Anderson. You try to get the script and production plan quickly. This time, you must take advantage of the momentum of "Hero". Sell ​​it for a good price!"

Zhang Guoshi pointed to his head: "Don't worry, I have almost conceived the story and plot."

With the excellent box office bottoming in the first week after the expansion, the number of North American screening theaters of "Hero" increased to 2,680 by the second weekend, driven by the active contact of the Embassy Pictures.

This has squeezed into the ranks of the first-line screening scale.

Cinemas don't care where the film comes from or what style it is. As long as it can bring enough audiences, it is a good film worth investing resources.

In the second weekend after the expanded screening, thanks to a relatively good reputation and increased screening theaters and film schedules, the North American box office trend of "Hero" was generally relatively stable, with a decline of less than 50% from the previous weekend. In North America Withdrawing 13.67 million US dollars, and won the North American box office champion.

In addition to the previous workdays, "Hero"'s North American box office just exceeded 40 million US dollars.

The North American box office share is enough to allow Embassy Pictures to recover all its investment This is also the second Chinese-language film successfully operated by Embassy Pictures. The eyes of many Hollywood distribution companies have quietly turned to the east, focusing on those possibilities. The most popular Chinese film project.

Embassy Pictures has won not only the North American distribution rights, but also other international distribution rights except the Eastern market.

While selling at the North American box office, the film has successively appeared in several large overseas film markets in Europe, Latin America, East Asia, and Australia.

In Australia, "Hero" received US$2.26 million in the first weekend of its painting, the UK received US$2.81 million in the first weekend, Spain received US$810,000, France reported US$1.92 million, Germany cut US$1.89 million, and Italy also received 210. Ten thousand dollars into the account.

Excluding the Eastern market, in the first week of overseas painting, "Hero" received $17.26 million outside North America.

As time goes by, the film will enter more countries and regions to be shown.

. m.