"Conan the Barbarian" starring Schwarzenegger was exactly what Warner Bros. invested in and filmed, and now "Conan the Barbarian" is doing well at the box office, and it is entirely possible to make a sequel. For Schwarzenegger and James, Steve Rose is the big benefactor, and they naturally dare not be disrespectful to Steve Rose.

"Mr. Rose, I didn't expect to meet you here!" James said hello to Steve Rose, and then said to the man next to him, "Mr. Valenty, I didn't expect you to be here." ”

Schwarzenegger also said respectfully: "Mr. Ross, it's a pleasure to meet you." ”

"Conan the Barbarian" invested 19 million, the box office has been 33 million so far, and the final box office is about 40 million. Unlike later generations, Hollywood now accounts for only 20% of total film revenue, while now it accounts for 60% of total film revenue, while North America accounts for 42% of total film revenue. "Conan the Barbarian" did make money, but it didn't actually make a lot of money.

For films like "Conan the Barbarian", which were not particularly successful, Steve Ross didn't take it too seriously, especially to Schwarzenegger and James, just said "um" and walked over to Xu Wangqiu and Harvey with Valenty.

Valenti walked up to Xu Wangqiu and said with a smile: "Mr. Xu, it's really a coincidence, I didn't expect to meet you here." Let me introduce you to Steve Ross, the president of Warner Bros. He said to Steve Ross: "Steve, this is Xu Wangqiu, the director of "Falcon", and he is also the manager in charge of creation at the China Film Export Corporation. ”

Xu Wangqiu smiled and stretched out to Steve Ross: "Mr. Ross, I have admired the name for a long time." ”

Steve Ross smiled and shook Xu Wangqiu's hand: "Mr. Xu, it's a pleasure to meet you." ”

James and Schwarzenegger looked at the scene in front of them dumbfounded, wondering if they were dazzled, what was the situation, Steve Ross actually greeted the Chinese in person, and was very enthusiastic.

Schwarzenegger didn't know that Valenti had talked to Xu Wangqiu about cooperation and exchange, and after talking about cooperation and exchange, he called the presidents of the seven major Hollywood film companies at the first time. Among the seven major Hollywood studios, Warner, MGM and Paramount are more interested in this, with Warner President Steve Ross being the most interested in the cooperation plan. He was not only willing to participate in this program, but also expressed his willingness to contract the expenses related to the study of Chinese directors in the United States. After meeting with Steve Ross for a detailed conversation today, Valenty went to a café near the hotel for a drink, but he didn't expect to bump into Xu Wangqiu and them, so he walked over.

Steve Ross is a legend in Hollywood, as he made his father-in-law's funeral company and open-air parking lot the biggest entertainment company in the world. After taking over his father-in-law's company, Steve Ross merged the funeral business with a service company, then moved into the car rental and printing industries, and later acquired a commercial cleaning company. In 1964, it acquired the Cook Company, and in 1965, it acquired the National Cleaning Company, which expanded its asset size several times. Ross continued to expand the business of his father-in-law's funeral company, doing almost every service imaginable, including open-air parking, taxis, security, commercial cleaning, printing, data processing, etc.

In 1967, Ross acquired a large Hollywood talent agency. After the acquisition was completed, the company's founder, Ted Ashley, suggested that Ross buy Warner, which was on the verge of collapse. In 1969, Ross completed the acquisition and became a Hollywood powerhouse. In Rose's hands, Warner, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, was revived, and he soon lost all his assets except for the music and film companies, founded Warner Communications, and began his path to an entertainment tycoon.

In the past two years, Valenty's delegation to China included Steve Ross, who not only met Wang Lanxi, but also participated in an exchange meeting organized by Chen Bo, director of the film bureau. Steve Ross has visited cinemas in China and found that Chinese audiences are so enthusiastic about movies that they are almost full. What shocked him the most was the data of the Chinese film market, which had 29 billion moviegoers and a box office of about $500 million, while the average ticket price was less than 2 cents.

The ticket price is less than 2 cents, and the box office is nearly 500 million, so the ticket price is 5 cents, and the ticket price is a dime, how much is the box office?

Steve Ross realizes that the Chinese market is not a gold mine, but a diamond mine, and as long as it is developed, it can be full of diamonds. Therefore, after hearing that Valenti wanted to engage in the "Sino-US Film Talent Exchange" activity, he immediately agreed.

Xu Wangqiu was not too surprised to hear that Warner Bros. Pictures was interested in the "Sino-US Film Exchange Program". In the 80s, in order to open up the Chinese market, Warner sold the rights of "Superman" to China Film Company at a low price, and also cooperated with China to shoot "Empire of the Sun". In 1993, Warner opened an office in China, and in 1994, China introduced the blockbuster "The Outlaw", which was also a Warner movie.

Steve Ross looked at Xu Wangqiu and said slowly: "Warner will ask professionals to teach directors who study in the United States, and we can let Chinese directors participate in our projects and intern in the crew, and we can even cover the entire cost of Chinese directors studying in the United States, but I also have one condition." ”

Xu Wangqiu and their last life went to the United States to study, and all the expenses were paid by the American company, without any conditions. However, at that time, China was the most important market for Hollywood, and now that the Chinese market is closed to Hollywood, Steve Roth's conditions are understandable. He said quietly: "What conditions?"

Steve Ross smiled: "China is importing foreign films every year, the number is about 30, but there are very few Hollywood movies, I hope you will think more about our Warner movies when you cause movies." ”

Xu Wangqiu shook his head lightly and said, "It's not that we don't want to buy it, it's that we can't afford it at all." The state pays China Film Company $1 million a year to buy films, and about 30 films are imported, almost $30,000 each. At this price, you can only bring in low-budget films, or old movies from a decade or two ago. $30,000 a piece, will Warner sell it to us?"

Steve Ross laughed when he heard this: "The latest movie will definitely not sell, if other countries know that we sell it to you at such a low price, they will definitely have an opinion, but a movie that has been released for two or three years, we can sell it to you." ”

Xu Wangqiu was slightly stunned, thinking that Warner was really willing to invest money in order to enter China, and the blockbuster films that were released for two or three years were willing to be sold to China for $30,000, but it is not surprising that in the previous life, they sold the copyright of "Superman" to China Film Company at this price. It's a good thing to be able to introduce Hollywood blockbusters, but now Chinese films are too weak, and it is not a big problem to introduce one or two films a year, and if too many are introduced, it will inevitably have a huge impact on Chinese films. In the late 90s, 100 domestic films accounted for only 30% of the total national box office, while 10 Hollywood blockbusters accounted for 70%, which is the best proof.

Xu Wangqiu would definitely not say this, and shirked: "China Film is responsible for the import of films, and our export company is mainly responsible for film exports and co-productions, so I really can't agree to this." However, I can report this to the authorities and convey it to China Film Company. I believe that China Film Company will be interested in your films, after all, everyone wants to watch good movies. ”

Meanwhile, outside the café, Schwarzenegger was looking at James and talking with a serious face. The scene of Steve Ross and Valenty talking cordially with Xu Wangqiu had a huge impact on him, and he knew that this was a problem today, and the best way to solve this problem was to fire James. So, upon coming out of the café he began to organize the language, and then told James that he was fired.

James couldn't believe his ears: "Fire me, Arnold, are you kidding me?"

Schwarzenegger shook his head and said solemnly, "No, I'm serious. ”

James was puzzled and said, "Why, you can't have listened to the slander of that Qing Guoyan and thought that the route I planned for you was wrong, right?"

Schwarzenegger sighed slightly: "This is only one of the reasons, not the most important one." Jews have a characteristic of being very purposeful in their dealings, and do not make friends on the basis of their hobbies, especially with people of other races. They take the initiative to get acquainted with people of other races, it must be because this person has something that they can use in the future and can bring them benefits. For example, having a rich father, or just knowing an official. Harvey is Jewish and Xu is Chinese, but Harvey is very respectful to Xu. and Ross is the president of Warner, and Valenty is the president of the Motion Picture Association of America, both of whom are big names at the top of the Hollywood film industry, but they took the initiative to greet Xu and were very enthusiastic. I don't know who Xu is, but I know that it's not someone we can offend, and you offend him and even punch him. If I don't fire you, I'm afraid I'm in big trouble. ”

Now that Schwarzenegger has made his mark, the opportunity to make a lot of money is coming soon. James naturally refused to let go of Schwarzenegger's cash cow, and said coldly: "Arnold, don't forget what you said. If you worship Hitler and get out, don't talk about Hollywood, even in the United States, you probably won't be able to stay. ”

Schwarzenegger smiled innocently when he saw James threatening himself with admiration for Hitler: "I'm sure Harvey will help me clarify, he's Jewish." The Jews have come forward to help me clarify, and even if you jump out, who will believe it? ”

James looked at Schwarzenegger in a daze, speechless.

Schwarzenegger patted James on the shoulder: "You think it's good to do it yourself." With that, he turned and walked towards the café.

Xu Wangqiu, who was in the café, was discussing cooperation with Steve Ross, and did not see Schwarzenegger walk in, let alone find a seat by the door.

Xu Wangqiu knew that whether Steve Ross suggested that Warner's films be sold cheaply to China or co-produced them, he was trying to break into the Chinese market and ultimately get more benefits from China. For Warner to wholeheartedly support the exchange of Chinese and American film talents, it must show the other side the benefits, even if the benefits are drawn.

Xu Wangqiu looked at Steve Ross and said slowly: "Mr. Ross, we all believe that the Chinese market will be opened to Hollywood in the future, and the account sharing system will definitely be implemented." However, the Chinese market will not be completely liberalized, and a quota system will definitely be implemented, which may be ten or fifteen. Excluding Hong Kong, Britain, France and other countries and regions, Hollywood can probably divide seven or eight films. I don't dare to give you any other promises when you work with us, the only thing I can guarantee is that when we bring in blockbusters in the future, we will give priority to Warner's films. ”

Steve Rose's eyes flashed, thinking that it would be good to deal with smart people, and he didn't need to bother at all, and said with a smile: "In this case, then we at Warner will fully support the Sino-US film talent exchange program and pay for the relevant expenses of Chinese directors studying in the United States!"