The Toronto Film Festival had just ended, and after Ronan hosted a banquet to entertain the crew of "Heroes" who had returned to Los Angeles from Toronto, he received an invitation from Los Angeles-based Outu Film Investment.

In Hollywood, they sent out invitations to film release companies and famous buyers to see a Brazilian film that had won a lot of acclaim at the Toronto Film Festival, and hoped that they would pay a fortune at the subsequent sale.

With the support of Embassy Pictures, "Hero" also participated in the competition unit of the Toronto Film Festival, and the purpose of promoting the film was basically achieved, but there was no award for it.

However, the news that an oriental sci-fi film similar to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" will soon be released in North America has gradually spread.

Compared with "Hero", which received mixed reviews at the film festival, Ronan went to the preview and auction to win a lot of praise.

This Brazilian film is called "City of God".

Since the preview was followed by a bidding session, the preview was not held in the theater, but was placed in a huge conference room at the Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, by the film's American investor, Outu Company.

Many of Hollywood's leading companies in the industry, known for their independent film distributions, have been invited, including Summit Entertainment, Embassy Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Miramax, Lionsgate and the recently formed Focus Pictures.

When Ronan enters the hotel, he meets an acquaintance.

"Good afternoon, Navas. Ronan shook hands with Keylor Navas, an executive from Lionsgate: "I didn't expect to meet you here." ”

Navas responded with a smile, and asked directly, "Ronan, are you here to participate in the audition of the Outu Company?"

Ronan admitted: "yes, I was invited to come and have a look. ”

Navas looked unmoved, but secretly wary that Lionsgate couldn't afford to ignore Embassy Pictures when it came to distributing independent films.

"Me too. Still smiling, Navas said, "Have you seen this in Toronto?"

Ronan shook his head: "I went to the UK some time ago and didn't attend the Toronto Film Festival. ”

"Let's go over and talk as we go," Navas said. ”

Ronan walked with Navas and said: "Although I didn't go to the festival, I also heard some news, and it is said that this "City of God" has received extremely high praise and won unanimous praise from the media and critics. ”

The news has already spread, and Navas said directly: "Yes, many companies originally wanted to buy the North American rights during the film festival, but the praise at the film festival has added a lot of confidence to the producers." Moreover, the main investor of this film is the Outu company in Los Angeles, who knows Hollywood very well, so there has been no North American rights transaction during the film festival, and a bidding party will be held in Hollywood after winning the award. ”

The two of them entered the large conference room one after another, and there were already many people sitting inside.

"A special award at the Toronto Film Festival attracts so many companies. Ronan whispered, "It looks like there's going to be a fierce competition today." ”

Navas looked calm: "Be sensible in competition." ”

This seems to mean something, as if it was specifically addressed to Ronan.

"Hello, Mr. Anderson. Welcome. ”

At this time, the president of Outu came over to say hello and introduced Ronan to a Latino next to him: "This is director Fernando Meriels from Brazil, director and producer of "City of God". ”

"Fernando. He also introduced Ronan: "This is Ronan Anderson, the boss of Hollywood Relativity Entertainment, whose embassy pictures is a well-known independent film distributor in Hollywood. ”

Ronan shook hands with Fernando Meriels and said a few words, stepped aside, and took the lead in finding a place to take a seat, and Navas, who had greeted the director and investors, followed and sat next to Ronan.

Although Relativity Entertainment and Lionsgate had a secret rivalry when recruiting the former Fox animation team, none of this was put on the surface, and Hollywood both cooperation and competition were the norm, and Ronan and Navas acted as if nothing had happened before.

"Harvey Weinstein from Miramax didn't come, it was Vice President Javier. Navas quickly swept over the people in the conference room: "That bearded man is Owen Carlos of Summit Entertainment, the bald head is the newly formed focal point, I can't name it, the brunette woman is from Fox Searchlight, if I'm not mistaken, it's Cheryl, the head of the selection department......"

Ronan nodded and said softly: "It seems that "City of God" is very important, and it may not be possible to take it at a low price. ”

Navas asked tentatively, "Are you going to take it at a high price?"

Ronan smiled, "I haven't seen the movie yet." ”

Navas didn't test the result, his heart was still full of vigilance, and once the competition started, he could only rely on the bid to speak.

Ronan fell silent, trying to recall the story of "City of God."

This is undoubtedly a very famous film, as if it was adapted from a documentary, and vaguely remembered that it also won an important Oscar, which should be the best foreign language film.

If I'm not mistaken, it's the upcoming Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.

Specific business data, that's really not impressive at all.

Generally speaking, the North American box office will not be bad for a movie that can win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, and tens of millions of dollars should be easy, and if you add offline income in the later stage, it is not a problem to have a total revenue of tens of millions of dollars.

According to Ronan's judgment under the usual circumstances, as long as the copyright price is not too outrageous, there should be room for operation when he buys this "City of God".

"Thank you for joining us. At this time, the president of Outu Company said loudly: "'City of God' is a masterpiece that received unanimous praise during the Toronto Film Festival. Mr. Roger Albert, who saw the film during the festival, called it thrilling and even thrilling, and considered "City of God" the best film so far this year. ”

Ronan was unmoved, with too many memories of his past life, and he knew that Roger Albert's comments didn't have much commercial reference.

How much money is spent to participate in the bidding is not about the artistic and social relevance of "City of God", Ronan has only one reference standard, and what is the future commercial value?

The president of Outu Company said: "There is no need to say much about good movies, and I will not delay everyone from enjoying this masterpiece." ”

He pushed aside and waved to the staff in the conference room, the lights were quickly turned off, and the picture lit up on the large screen that had already been hung.

Almost everyone, including Ronan, is immersed in the film after watching the beginning of the film.

The content of the film is indeed somewhat amazing, even a little scary.

Purely from the film itself, "City of God" is undoubtedly a very outstanding work.

The film gives people a sharp visual impact, and the rapid switching of the camera is like a dagger that has been sharpened repeatedly to shine with a dazzling cold light, simply and directly showing everything that is worthy of being represented, and never dragging the mud and water.

The director clearly borrowed techniques rarely involved in documentaries, such as MTV-esque psychedelic colors, high-speed flashes, and sudden freeze frames.

What is even more shocking than the visual image is the film's direct portrayal of crime scenes.

The murder is not exaggerated in this film, nor is it subtle, it just convinces the audience that the city was originally a paradise for criminals and executioners.

Endless plundering and slaughter are not only their pleasure, but even constitute the entire content of their life value.

The film is a group scene, but the real protagonist is Rio de Janeiro as the background.

Rio de Janeiro is famously a synthesis of heaven and hell, and the City of God is undoubtedly a portrayal of Rio de Janeiro's favelas, perhaps for the reason that the realism makes it a breathtaking film.

In his previous life, Ronan had read some travelogues written by Chinese people, many of which described Rio de Janeiro, and the beautiful side of the city was extremely attractive, but the hidden evil was terrifying.

It is said that a group of Brazilian children saw a group of Brazilian children playing football on the beach against the blue sky and blue sea, and came over curiously, this group of football children in their early teens, quickly took out a pistol from the sand, robbed them, and after the robbery drove away the tourists, they hid their guns and continued to play football......

In fact, many cities in the United States are also very chaotic.

In contrast, the security and social stability in the East are really very rare.

You can hang out on the street late at night, dare to get drunk and go home in the early hours of the morning, and walk alone in a small alley without worrying about someone suddenly jumping out and pointing a gun at your forehead......

Ronan has seen this film, abandoning the so-called commercial position, and can only praise "City of God" for being very well made.

The film is as stunning as a beautiful prose.

The seemingly scattered pattern tells several stories from the perspective of the third-person spectator.

Several protagonists take turns to connect all the stories in a delicate, obvious, yet subtle way.

As a result, under the scattered structure is a more detailed and delicate calculation than a flat and direct statement, and there are many small places, which only suddenly realize when you look back.

Many of the plots are too dramatic, and perhaps the director's intention is to deliberately highlight that everyone's fates are intertwined.

Superb editing, rich plots, and a suitable soundtrack make for a very good film.

It's no wonder that some people in previous lives said that it was shameful to comment on this movie itself.

But after admiring the film, Ronan quickly returned to his proper position, after all, he is not a critic, but a film buyer at the moment.

Changing angles brings a different view, the filming techniques and editing of this film are quite avant-garde, and the content also makes people feel a strong cruelty.

Also, this is a Brazilian film about Rio de Janeiro.

Ronan quietly came down to judge, and the bid was to be controlled at $10 million...... No, it should be under $8 million.