As veterans of Hong Kong City films, Elos Garland and Andrew Liu are very aware that it has become more and more difficult for Hong Kong City films to enter the North American market in recent years, and there is a rare opportunity in front of them.

One more market you enter, one more box office or copyright income.

Elos Garland said directly: "Mr. Anderson, preparations for 'Infernal Affairs' have begun, filming will begin in July, and we are currently pre-selling the rights to this film outside of East and Southeast Asia. ”

The filmmakers in Hong Kong City are not resting on their laurels, and they will do the same for pre-sales, which is a financing method often played by European and American films: "Media Asia Pictures intends to push "Infernal Affairs" into the North American market, you have distributed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" directed by Ang Lee, and have experience in successfully distributing oriental films, this time Media Asia Pictures wants to cooperate with Embassy Pictures, I don't know if Mr. Anderson is interested in "Infernal Affairs"?"

Both he and Andrew Liu looked at Ronan, which was already a naked pitch.

"Frankly speaking, I have a very good impression of Media Asia Pictures, which has always produced high-quality Hong Kong films. Ronan has his own purpose, of course, he will not respond to it in one go, and he must strive for the most favorable conditions for himself: "At the beginning, Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was bought by myself, and the film was finished at that time. But "Infernal Affairs" hasn't been filmed yet, and I haven't even seen the film, so it's hard to judge what the value is. ”

Elos Garland suddenly had a feeling of helplessness, and came to the Shanghai Film Festival for pre-sale, but also wanted to learn from Hollywood's financing experience, and solve the huge financial pressure through financing.

These ghosts naturally look at the Hong Kong City movie with colored eyes, as if the Hong Kong City movie is finished.

Ronan put down the information in his hand and said: "Both, I haven't seen the film, it's difficult to make a judgment, you sell me a movie that hasn't started yet, you always have enough convincing reasons." ”

Naturally, Ronan placed himself in the upper reaches of the industrial chain.

Andrew Liu glanced at Elos Garland, earned his consent, got up and took the finished version of the script and shooting plan, handed it to Ronan, and said, "This is the script and plan for the film......"

For pre-sale and financing, he specially formulated a plan.

An English version has also been prepared.

In the past, when filming movies, where did these things be needed, directors like him still followed the process more often, and some directors dared to shoot without even a script.

Ronan read the script and plan in general, and said directly: "The cast lacks appeal in North America, the character dialogues are too romantic, and this film has a strong local flavor......"

Hearing these words, Andrew Liu couldn't help frowning, then thought of Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and hurriedly said: "Mr. Anderson, in fact, the idea and core of this film comes from Hollywood. ”

Andrew Liu's basic picture production company is one of the investors in the film, and he is under tremendous pressure, and he really fights hard to promote the film.

"The prototype of this story comes from John Woo's "Changing Face" in 1997, which is a good story, but too peculiar. So I asked the screenwriter if I could tell a story, and the two characters would be swapped, but there would be no surgery, just an exchange of identities and hearts. ”

Andrew Lau is not nonsense, Mak Siu-fai's idea did come from "Changing Face": "In our script concept, there was originally only a story line from a police officer to an undercover undercover undercover agent. After reading it, I felt that the writing was good but not special enough, so I added a lot of elements into it, the original only the police station people go undercover in the underworld, and now the people who join the underworld go to the police station to do undercover in another line, one hidden and one visible, and then what will happen? This is interesting. It should be said that the positioning of "Infernal Affairs" is a two-hero film, which was originally focused on the battle of wits between police and bandits, and gradually the elements of gangster or hero films have become stronger. ”

No one knows better than Andrew Liu that if you don't find a way to solve the financial pressure from the outside, the risk of losing money is extremely high.

The film industry in Hong Kong City is very sluggish, and the box office of Hong Kong films is one dead and one is dead, and most of the box office of a movie is about 2 million Hong Kong dollars, and 5 million is already very good.

It should be said that Media Asia trusts them very much, but seeing that they have to invest so much money, they are also a little hesitant, the crew needs an investment of more than 20 million Hong Kong dollars, which can be said to be an A-level production, which is really a lot, and the risk of losing money is also very large.

Now the safest genre of Hong Kong films is comedy and love sketches.

But a large cost investment should be necessary for "Infernal Affairs", and a large cost can find big-name actors.

"Infernal Affairs" is like stepping on a tightrope, there is no turning back.

Ronan pondered for a moment and said, "If the price is right, I can take a little risk and release this film." He smiled: "After all, Media Asia Pictures' film has left me with a lot of good memories, and I believe that this will be a successful film." ”

Elos Garland said: "It's going to be a successful film. ”

Ronan asked directly: "You want Embassy Pictures to distribute "Infernal Affairs" in North America, how do you want to cooperate?"

The producers were in dire need of funding, and Andrew Liu didn't even think about it, so he said: "We are willing to license the North American rights of the film to Embassy Pictures." ”

This answer was not surprising at all, Ronan nodded, and asked again, "What about the price?"

Andrew Liu hesitated for a moment and said, "$1.5 million!"

Ronan suddenly laughed: "Both, with all due respect, at this price, you can't sell the North American rights even if the trade fair ends." ”

"This film brings together four of the most appealing actors in Hong Kong City......" Andrew Lau emphasized.

Ronan raised his hand and waved, saying: "Their popularity in North America is extremely limited, and they don't have much commercial appeal to speak of, they are not Jack Chan and Jett Lee, and the North American audience will not buy their account." ”

He didn't wait for the other party's reaction, and said: "For $200,000, Embassy Pictures bought out all the copyrights of "Infernal Affairs" in North America at one time. ”

Elos Garland and Andrew Liu's faces changed slightly, this bargaining is too ruthless, right? These bastards in Hollywood, relying on the world's largest film market and the most powerful distribution capacity, don't take other film companies seriously at all......

Andrew Liu said: "You bought Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon ......"

"Director Liu, movies are different from movies. Ronan didn't say much, just said, "I don't need to explain this more, do I?"

After a quick thought, Elos Garland said, "Mr. Anderson, we can make the appropriate concession, $1 million. ”

Ronan shook his head, "Let's put it that way, Mr. Garland. From the script, I can judge the style of some films, I don't mean to drive down the price, it's determined by the market. "Infernal Affairs" can only be a niche film in the North American market, even if the copyright fee of $200,000 is difficult to recover through screening, and it depends on the long-term operation of offline to make a profit. ”

Elos Garland and Andrew Liu didn't expect Ronan to be so pessimistic about the film's prospects in the North American market.

Ronan continued: "It's impossible for Embassy Pictures to do business at a loss. ”

Although he opened three or four million dollars, he could easily get it with the distribution rights and adaptation rights, but now that I think about it, "Infernal Affairs" is not worth the price.

The two on the other side are well aware of the situation of Hong Kong movies, this is not the era of Jack Chan's Hong Kong films at the beginning of the last century that could sell tens of millions of dollars at the box office in North America.

Strictly speaking, the North American market is not in the planning of Media Asia Pictures, otherwise it would not want to raise production funds for the film through pre-sales.

"$200,000 is too low. Elos Garland shook her head.

Ronan couldn't bite the $200,000 and said casually: "In this way, I have a proposal that is more in line with the interests of both of us." ”

Andrew Liu immediately looked over.

Ronan said unhurriedly: "I raised the transaction amount to $300,000, but there are other conditions. Embassy Pictures selects 20 old films from Media Asia Pictures' library, and you grant Embassy Pictures DVD and Internet distribution rights, and Embassy Pictures is responsible for distributing Infernal Affairs in North America, and then splitting the box office proceeds. ”

As soon as he heard about the split according to the box office revenues, Elos Garland immediately objected: "I still want you to buy out the North American rights to this film for $200,000. ”

In fact, he knows very well how big a market for a typical Hong Kong-style film like "Infernal Affairs" can be in North America? The so-called box office revenue, after the distributor's commission, can be left in four figures, it is good.

It is even possible to lose money outright.

Ronan seemed a little impatient, and said directly: "Forget it, I don't want to go home empty-handed this time." On top of what I just said, Embassy Pictures added $200,000 to buy out the North American rights to "Infernal Affairs......"

In the case of occupying the absolute advantage of the industrial chain, first press the other party very right, and then give a little sweetness, the effect is not very good, but it basically meets expectations.

Ronan said seemingly casually: "The risk of losing money in this business is too great, and you should also increase your chips." Well, North American copyright covers all aspects of copyright, including theatrical screenings, television broadcasts, Internet downloads, adaptations, and merchandising. ”

Elos Garland and Andrew Liu exchanged a look and said, "Yes." But we need to routinely notify the company. ”

The fact that old films can be re-licensed to generate income is very convincing for them.

Ronan nodded: "I'll send someone over to talk to you in the afternoon." ”

"Okay. Elos Garland replied: "There will definitely be a clear result in the afternoon." ”

Ronan emphasized: "The copyright of twenty old films, not one is missing. ”

Elos Garland shook Ronan's hand: "Rest assured, we keep our word. ”

Andrew Liu seems to have been a little hit, in the eyes of this Hollywood bigwig, "Infernal Affairs" can only be used as a match for twenty old films?

Even if he is a mature director, he has a kind of indignation after being despised and ignored at this moment, and he is determined to make this film well and let this Yankee take a good look!