Since the beginning of December, Preton Pictures has started tripartite negotiations with Shahai Entertainment and Embassy Pictures to discuss the production and distribution of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Mamma Mia".

Ronan only paid a little attention, and the specific work was handed over to the people of the two companies.

"Lost in Translation" continued to be screened in North America, with the number of theaters increasing to 30, and the box office of the second film weekend was close to $1.5 million, still maintaining a high level of more than $40,000 per theater.

This is the only award-winning film of Embassy Pictures this year, and all the award-winning resources are used on it.

"Lost in Translation" has a production budget of only $4 million, but the publicity and distribution budget is as high as $7 million, and even Embassy Pictures can continue to invest in it as appropriate.

There is essentially no difference between the operation of award-winning films and commercial films, and on the basis of ensuring that the film has a certain quality, the final fight is still capital investment.

During the screening stage, the audience who saw "Lost in Translation" was relatively limited, and the film's reputation was unusually strong.

IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes have long since lifted the ban.

The former is now rated by thousands of users, with Lost in Tokyo scoring an average of 8.3 points.

The latter is a reflection of the visual criticism of film critics, whose influence during the awards season is huge, and most film critics appreciate the literary tone of "Lost in Translation".

Rotten Tomatoes has collected more than 80 film reviews, including those from the time the film participated in the Cannes Film Festival, and the index is not only marked as fresh, but also as fresh as 97%!

It's not just professional film critics who buy "Lost in Translation" very much.

The media was also well received.

"As a classic romance film, "Lost in Translation" has both humor that makes people laugh and tenderness that makes people feel more affectionate. Like all love stories worth remembering and remembering, it enters the human heart with bitter sweetness, beauty and touching. ”

- Los Angeles Times

The part of "Lost in Translation" that sets the atmosphere and observes is longer than the part that tells the story. But you won't mind: Sofia Coppola quietly keeps her depressing tone, and there won't be a second film like this, unless genetics intervenes.

- The Hollywood Reporter

In fact, for some people, such as Ronan, after watching this film, they feel that Sofia Coppola seems to have said something, but it seems that she has not said anything.

"This is a film that directly reflects the director's emotions. ”

At the pull film held by Embassy Pictures and Sofia Coppola, Ronan told his friend Tom Cruise: "It's even a work that represents Sophia's personal emotions. ”

Having just watched the film, Tom Cruise has a similar experience: "She has a good grasp and very good emotional control. ”

Ronan nodded, "Yes." ”

Tom Cruise lowered his voice slightly and said, "How strong conviction and tenacious will must be for men and women who feel for each other to share a bed so that they don't snap." ”

Ronan asked, "Can you do it?"

Tom Cruise didn't answer, but asked, "Can you?"

Ronan said truthfully: "It depends on whether that woman is beautiful or not." ”

Tom Cruise shook his finger at him, "Ronan, your will and faith can't do it." ”

Ronan pointed at Tom Cruise, "Tom, it's very rude to say no to a man. ”

Tom Cruise couldn't help but laugh.

Ronan stopped joking with him, looked at Sofia Coppola, who was surrounded by everyone in the banquet hall, and said, "Remember, all the votes in my hand are for 'Lost in Translation'." ”

"Don't worry. Tom Cruise said directly: "I'll mobilize my side and help you vote as much as I can." ”

He also looked at Sofia Coppola and said, "I don't know if I still have a chance to stand on the Oscar stage." ”

With the failure of the last Olympic team, Tom Cruise's desire to hit the Oscar for Best Actor has also faded a lot.

Ronan said: "When you have gray hair and wrinkled face, you can definitely win an Oscar for Best Actor." ”

Tom Cruise withdrew his gaze and glanced at Ronan, "Can you not hit me?"

"It's not a blow. Ronan spread his hands: "Tom, this is the truth. You represent an era in Hollywood, from the mid-eighties to the present, and have been one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood, and when you get old, the Oscar will definitely give you a top prize. ”

Tom Cruise is not stupid, just a little thought, he knows that the possibility is not only there, but also very big, shook his head and said: "The old age consolation prize for retirement." ”

Oscar also has qualifications, and Sandra Bullock, etc., can be said to be typical in this regard.

Ronan lowered his voice slightly, "Tom, remember a project I mentioned to you? ”

"That gangster movie you're talking about?" asked Tom Cruise.

"That's right. Ronan nodded slowly and said, "Will is busy with the promotion of "Enemy of Love", and when this is over, I invite you to come to my side to watch the preview screening and script together." ”

The two writers have returned from Boston and are combining the scripts of the two "Infernal Affairs" films that have already been released, adapting the completely American script based on the gangster culture here in the United States, and will be able to complete the first draft before Christmas.

Ronan has made up his mind, and the two most important of the two leading actors, Tom Cruise and Will Smith are invited to star.

Tom Cruise nodded: "Yes, you can call me when you arrive." ”

Ronan saw George Lucas walk out of the crowd not far away, pointed to him, and said, "I'm going to talk to George Lucas." ”

George Lucas has a big beard and a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and is a lot fatter than the last time Ronan saw him.

"Hi George. Ronan walked over and took the initiative to say hello: "I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

George Lucas shook hands with Ronan and joked, "yes, I'm about to forget you for a long time." ”

Ronan is very good at approaching: "You won't forget, we are alumni of the USC Film School." ”

"You don't say I don't remember. George Lucas smiled slightly: "It turns out that you also graduated from the USC Film School." ”

Ronan smiled and said, "It's a pity that I dropped out of school before I finished it." ”

George Lucas naturally said: "You already know the art of paper, and it is a waste of time to read it again, so it is better to come out and practice." ”

Ronan changed the subject: "Will the third part of "Star Wars Prequel" be released next year?"

"Until 2005. George Lucas appropriately revealed a little bit of information: "Now post-production has just begun. ”

Ronan seems to be a Star Wars fan: "The Black Lord will appear, right?"

George Lucas is cautious: "It's the secret of the film, and I can't tell you right now. ”

Ronan deliberately pretended to be impatient: "This is too cruel for a fan." ”

Looking at Ronan, George Lucas didn't think it was a fraud and asked, "Ronan, you like Star Wars so much?"

Ronan didn't answer, but asked, "How many Americans don't like Star Wars?" He deliberately said: "George, are you still filming the third part? If you continue to shoot, we can work together." I don't mean anything else, I just want to be involved in the production of Star Wars, a very simple fan idea. ”

"This will be the end. George Lucas has said it many times that there is no need to hide it: "After "Revenge of the Sith", Star Wars is all over from a movie point of view. ”

Ronan sighed, "It's a pity. ”

George Lucas doesn't feel that way: "Every movie has an end, and I'm getting older and can't keep up. ”

Ronan just got acquainted with George Lucas first, leaving some good impressions, and didn't say anything or do anything in a hurry, but said calmly: "I agree with this, no matter how classic movies and characters are, there will be a day when you say goodbye to the audience." ”

George Lucas couldn't help but laugh: "Maybe the day when there are new advances in film technology, I will relaunch the series." ”

Ronan also smiled: "I'm waiting for that day." ”

In a way, the Star Wars franchise in the United States is a bit like Journey to the West in the East, which has long since evolved into a cultural phenomenon.

From the perspective of the film industry alone, Star Wars is definitely the number one IP in Hollywood.

Ronan could hear that George Lucas had no idea of retiring and transferring Lucasfilm for the time being, at least not yet.

At the point where George Lucas got it, it was hard to force him to do anything unless he volunteered.

Ronan knows that there are many things that cannot be rushed, otherwise it will backfire and be bad.

In fact, he has already done some knowledge about "Star Wars" and Lucasfilm, the latter is similar to a group company, in addition to Lucasfilm, the production company, there is also the world's No. 1 film special effects company Industrial Light & Magic, as well as animation, soundtracks and many other subsidiaries named after Skywalker, the company's overall value today should be more than 3 billion US dollars.

However, with the exception of ILM and Lucasfilm, the other subsidiaries are technically classified as non-performing assets.

The greatest value of the whole Lucasfilm lies in two places, one is Industrial Light & Magic, and the other is Star Wars.

But the copyright of Star Wars is split, the filming copyright of the film and various peripheral copyrights are in the hands of Lucasfilm, and the first part of "Star Wars", that is, the film copyright of "A New Hope", belongs to the distributor of the year, Twentieth Century Fox.

At the end of the seventies of the last century, in order to release "A New Hope", which was ridiculed and ridiculed by film critics in the test screening, George Lucas transferred the copyright of the film to Twentieth Century Fox at a low price.

Later, as everyone knows, "Star Wars" staged a first-class counterattack.