Chapter 466： Jury Prize

After browsing the script roughly, Ronan has determined that this is a film he has ever seen, called "Eavesdropping Storm." Because of the slow tempo of the film and the heavy gray theme, I couldn't hold on to less than one-third of the first time I watched it and gave up.

I watched it two more times later, but I didn't really finish it once. I probably didn't have the right appetite. I always saw the beginning and didn't want to watch the end.

In the end, I dragged fast forward and watched the ending.

The film roughly tells the story of an East German secret police eavesdropper who turned from an eavesdropper to a protector in the process of eavesdropping on an artist.

If I remember correctly, this film won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

As for whether the director is Florian Donasma, Ronan has no impression at all.

Seeing Ronan closing the script, Tony Koch asked directly: "Is this a good script?"

Ronan smiled: "The theme is very profound, and there are profound cultural connotations behind the plot."

Upon hearing this, Florian-Donasma was delighted. Is this an endorsement of her script?

Tony Koch has known Ronan for many years and is also an old friend. Knowing the elements of his choice of film, he immediately said: "Is it valuable?"

The theme is profound and connotative, and perhaps it can be eaten in Europe, but in Hollywood, it is basically of little use.

Ronan looked at Florian Donasma: "Have you ever thought about it, how much money does it take to make this film?"

Florian-Donasma immediately replied: "2 million euros..." As soon as he said the words, he thought of the rejections of the German companies before, and quickly changed his words: "2 million dollars is enough."

Ronan nodded slightly and put the script aside. The production budget is not high, especially for the current relativity entertainment.

If this kind of film had a budget of 10 million US dollars, he would refuse without hesitation.

Because the type and theme of the film are determined, even if it is filmed and produced in Hollywood, even if the flowers are shot, the market is extremely limited.

It is not difficult for anyone who knows a little about the movie market to see this.

And the film will not have much market in North America, this film is estimated to be more popular in Europe.

East and West Germany, as well as the Berlin Wall, were world-class hot events back then, but that was more than ten years ago. With Americans’ forgetfulness and indifference to overseas, there may be very few people interested in such films.

If you can gain something from the Oscars, the situation may be better.

Ronan speculates based on his actual experience in operating movies in the past few years, if this film can get the best foreign language film Oscar as before, maybe the North American box office has the hope of hitting 10 million US dollars?

It depends on luck.

Then there is the overseas market.

Audiences in Europe may be more interested. After running a few European awards, it is estimated that the box office in Europe will be higher than North America.

And the revenue from the offline market...

Two million dollars is worth a try.

Ronan knows very well that this kind of typical literary and artistic film must be cautious when investing tens of millions of dollars. However, with the strength of relativity entertainment for 2 million dollars, it is completely possible to try.

But the quality of the director is also a problem.

"This script is well written." Ronan finished thinking and said to Florian Donasma: "But screenwriting and director are two professions. You don't have past film works as a reference for director ability."

Florian-Donasma hurriedly said: "Mr. Anderson, please believe me, I have mature and comprehensive considerations for this film!"

Ronan thought for a while and said, "Mr. Donasma, I can buy your script first..."

Florian-Donasma was a little anxious. He wrote this script just to be a director.

What is the future of being a screenwriter? I don't want to be a producer and director's screenwriter. I have never been a qualified screenwriter.

If this script is bought by a Hollywood company and taken back to the United States, can the director still have his turn to compete?

Hollywood directors who are waiting for a chance to make their first come to the fore, as well as directors who suit their own scripting styles, may be able to catch a lot!

Florian Donasma made a decisive move and said: "Mr. Anderson, I can personally call up a short film of about ten minutes. After you have watched the short film, you can decide whether I can be a director. ?"

This kind of visualized short film works better reflect the true level of a director than the shooting and production plan. Ronan thought about it and said: "Yes. Mr. Donasma, next month you can go to Los Angeles, where there are more Perfect facilities also make it easier to convene personnel."

Florian-Donasma said in his heart: "Okay! I'm going to Los Angeles."

Ronan called Connie and asked her to lead Florian-Donasma to deal with the follow-up matters. Although US$2 million is not a big deal for Relativity Entertainment, no one’s money comes from a strong wind. To get investment, you must show your value.

"How is it?" Tony Koch said, "Ronan, I bring you another valuable movie project."

Ronan said directly: "It may not be worth one-tenth of "Resident Evil"."

Tony Koch said: "The two are not the same type."

Ronan nodded: "If you want this film to be successful, it's not enough to just shoot it well. You have to take the route of winning the prize.

"Resident Evil" can be serialized, and friends have various offline peripherals. This film called "Eavesdropping Storm" is difficult to run a sequel, and the offline market only has the disc and playback copyright.

And without heavyweight awards, this kind of film cannot have a good commercial market.

There is no harm in this. The Embassy Film Industry is also constantly trying to redeem prizes. In the future distribution work, business and art must be grasped with both hands, and both hands must be hard.

After chatting with Tony Koch a few words about his mother, Ronan remembered one thing. It seemed that in later Hong Kong movies, there were also eavesdropping themes. It seemed that he had shot several in a row, which is considered to be a Hong Kong movie. It's a rare movie with vitality.

The "Eavesdropping Storm" award is a future event, but the "Lost in Tokyo" award rush is in full swing. Compared with the Oscars with a large number of judges, the Cannes Film Festival's awards are more affected by personal ideas.

Even the power of the chairman of the jury can force a film to win awards.

Quentin Tarantino once served as the chairman of the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival and the chairman of the Jury at the Venice Film Festival. Among the beneficiaries was Sophia, who had a few legs with Quentin. Coppola.

The chairman of the jury for this session is Patrice Xiahou, a name quite unfamiliar to Ronan. Embassy Pictures has not had any dealings with him before, and there is no way to talk about human relations.

Soon after "Lost in Tokyo" was released, the Embassy Pictures team had a judgment that Patrice Xiahou appreciates films with profound social significance and is not interested in love sketches and the like.

Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Tokyo", strictly speaking, has a typical love sketch style.

Patrice Xiahou appreciates an American film called "Elephant."

This film is about a serious school shooting in the United States in the late 1990s, a typical tragedy.

Just as Americans like films that uncover the scars of other countries, French filmmakers, as representatives of European films, actually appreciate films that uncover the scars of the United States.

These two countries have never dealt with it.

Not to mention the opposition in the film.

The famous Roman Polanski lives in France, and the French have never been wanted by the US Department of Justice.

The reality is in front of us. The Embassy Pictures took the initiative to give up the Palme d’Or, which has a very small chance of winning, and set the target for the Jury Award, the Best Director Award and the Best Actress Award.

Public relations work in the media has never stopped.

"The atmosphere and observation part of "Lost in Tokyo" is longer than the storytelling part. But you won't mind: Sophia Coppola quietly maintains a depressive tone, there will be no second such movie. Unless genetics intervenes."

Ronan, accompanied by Tony Koch, went to Berlin, visited the latest Koch Films, and then returned to Cannes to attend the closing ceremony and awards ceremony of the festival.

The influence of Embassy Pictures in France is far less than that of the Oscars. With the influence of the chairman of the jury, "Lost in Tokyo" did not win many awards.

The Palme d'Or became the bag of "Elephant" as expected.

There are rumors that some judges headed by Spielberg are not good for "Elephant", but Patricia Xiahou, as the chairman of the jury, strongly promoted the film's award.

"Elephant" director Gus Venterson also won the best director award.

The best actress was won by Canadian Mary Josie Croze.

Ronan II has never heard of this actress.

It can only be said that the choice of the Cannes Film Festival is not friendly to Hollywood movies.

Fortunately, "Lost in Tokyo" also gained something.

With the efforts of Embassy Pictures, Sofia Coppola's romantic comedy won the jury award.

This is also a heavyweight award for Cannes films.

There is a Cannes Film Festival jury award, which is also conducive to the operation of the awards behind "Lost in Tokyo" Because of participating in the Cannes Film Festival, "Lost in Tokyo" can no longer participate in competitions in Berlin and Venice. , The next heavyweight award will wait until the Toronto Film Festival in September.

On the plane back to Los Angeles, Scarlett Johansson sat with Ronan.

"You are still young." Ronan casually said comforting words: "There will be opportunities in the future."

Scarlett Johansson said: "I think the French discriminates against Americans, especially in movies."

Ronan said: "They have never looked down on Hollywood movies, it's normal."

Scarlett Johansson asked directly: "Do I hope to be nominated for an Oscar?"

Ronan thought for a while and said, "I will let Embassy Pictures declare to you. I can't guarantee whether I can get the nomination."

Scarlett Johansson leaned into Ronan's ear: "I have some places you haven't tried."