After returning from the Toronto Film Festival, Ang Lee basically came to the Relativity Building two to three days a week to discuss the relevant publicity and public relations progress with the professionals of the embassy film.

In the past few years, the cooperation with Relativity Entertainment, especially the victory of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" at the Oscars, has made Ang Lee have a deep feeling that public relations is not only in the awards season, but also a kind of investment in public relations over the years.

The publicity period for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" lasted for more than seven months, probably because of a special educational experience and understanding of Western society, unlike other compatriot directors who always cling to each other when they are approaching, Ang Lee has focused on building friendships with distributors and media in various places since then, and has continued to operate.

He has always believed that the accumulated relationships will become important network support in the future.

In fact, the subject matter of "Brokeback Mountain" is a bit sensitive, and the media is arguing, but the voices of support are always heard.

These are not only from the film itself and the relativistic entertainment behind it, but also from Ang Lee's own efforts.

Since "The Wedding Banquet" made him really enter North America, Ang Lee has paid attention to the golden trophy and the weighty director's award.

But Ang Lee also knows that if you want to win the trophy, it is not enough to rely on your own efforts, but also to choose the right partner.

Ronan Anderson and Relativity Entertainment have been very supportive of him, and Ang Lee has gone out of his way to reciprocate with quality movies.

The $8 million allocated by Embassy Pictures for the awards season has already been paid, and in addition to a series of previous spending, including the Venice Film Festival, the total budget for awards public relations is as high as $12 million.

Now that the gay equality movement is on the rise in the United States, Ang Lee is very sure that "Brokeback Mountain" is another sprint to the Hollywood pyramid.

In order to achieve something at next year's Oscars, the great director can be said to have done his best, from Asia to Europe to the Americas, from Cannes to Venice to Toronto various film festivals, Ang Lee introduced the film bit by bit to the media around the world, in order to achieve the goal of successful momentum.

Because he knows that although the judges of the Oscars are concentrated in North America, they are distributed all over the world.

One vote from these overseas judges is worth the same amount as one vote from the North American judges.

In North America, the public relations work of Embassy Pictures has already begun.

Since "Brokeback Mountain" won the Golden Lion of Venice, Embassy Pictures has set up three highly professional public relations teams to be responsible for planning.

After several Oscar battles, Relativity Entertainment's in-house staff dedicated to awards has grown rapidly.

One group is responsible for contacting the media, one group is responsible for New York, where the judges are relatively concentrated, and the other group is responsible for public relations in the Los Angeles area, formulating and adjusting corresponding strategies according to different times and regions.

"I had lunch today at noon with Todd Mountbatten, vice president of the directors' guild. ”

In the office, Ang Lee said to Ronan, who had just come over: "He participated in the screening of "Brokeback Mountain" at the Toronto Film Festival, and he spoke highly of the film. ”

Ronan nodded slightly: "The opinions of industry leaders are quite important, and they can often affect many people, so you have to pay attention to them." ”

Li Ang said very seriously: "My daily schedule for the next three months is almost full, and I don't know how many lunches or dinners I will eat. ”

Ronan couldn't help laughing: "Li, I know this kind of rice is very difficult to eat, but if you want to win an award, it is basically impossible not to eat more than twenty meals." ”

Ang Lee knows very well that art will never be the only criterion for the Oscars, and factors such as luck, popularity, public relations, etc., will affect the attribution of the award in the end.

"No matter how bad it is. Li Ang said very firmly: "I will also eat it." ”

As the director and producer of the film, winning the award is not only his business, but also related to the invested production company and distribution company, the main creative team of the crew, and even all the staff.

There is still a long way to go!

No matter how unpalatable the food is, the actors' union, the directors' union, and the film critics association must all have to pull relations, not talk nonsense, and have to take one step at a time to win the Oscar.

Ang Lee remembered a news he heard earlier: "It is said that George Clooney's "Good Night, Far Away" will invest more than $8 million in the awards season. ”

Ronan said directly: "George Clooney's reputation as a director is far less than yours, and Relativity Entertainment is not short of money. ”

The Embassy Pictures' promotional campaign will soon be launched, inviting the academy judges to participate in a number of private screenings and various drinking parties attended by celebrities and creators, and buying layouts to promote them, which are the most conventional means of publicity.

Because this film is "Brokeback Mountain", Ronan also specially asked Embassy Pictures to be ready, and a highly professional sailor army will be dispatched at any time.

Ever since Harvey Weinstein hired professionals to discredit Private Ryan, Oscar PR has no longer just promoted himself, but also included cracking down on strong competitors.

When a major studio spent only $2 million on Oscar PR for a film, Miramax was willing to spend $5 million on Oscar PR.

Harvey Weinstein does have something unique, but you can never ignore the role of money in the Oscars.

After 2010, the PR costs of those popular Oscar seeds will basically reach the level of 20 million US dollars.

This has also derived a related industrial chain, and now there are special marketing companies to do Oscar projects, in fact, this kind of behavior is very common in North America, such as large companies like Relativity Entertainment are dedicated to raising lobbyists to lobby in the Senate and House of Representatives, and there are a lot of public relations fees, which are still reasonable and legal.

Ang Lee said: "When it comes to movies alone, my self-confidence is not inferior to anyone, and I am not afraid of public relations, and my communication skills are still guaranteed." ”

Ronan bowed his head slightly, Ang Lee's biggest advantage over other directors from the East is not his directorial ability, nor the combination of Eastern and Western cultures, but his initiative to integrate into the Hollywood circle.

"I'm worried that something will happen. Ang Lee said softly: "For example, when a certain director is seriously ill or something." ”

Ronan said, "This can only be dealt with when it appears." ”

Then again, the advantage of the dead is incomparable to that of the living.

Even if you are seriously ill, you will have sympathy.

Elizabeth Taylor had an operation before the Oscar vote because she was seriously ill, and the operation almost killed her, but she was a blessing in disguise and won the current Oscar.

The defeated Shirley McClaine said afterwards: "My defeat on the horse was due to a tracheal surgery!"

The two chatted for a while, and Ronan said: "No matter what the situation is, Lee, we only have two goals, Best Director and Best Picture!"

Ang Lee said, "I understand. ”

Ronan also advised: "You communicate well with the leading actors, and if the situation allows, it is best to participate in activities such as gay parades in the Los Angeles area." ”

"Jack, Anne and Michelle all attended today. Ang Lee pointed in the direction of the film school: "They're all over there." ”

He thought for a moment and then said: "Heath didn't attend, and I heard Michelle say that he had locked himself in the hotel for a long time, preparing for a new film directed by Nolan. ”

Ronan said, "I know about it, The Dark Knight. ”

Although Heath Ledger has all kinds of flaws, he is really impeccable when it comes to dedication.

In order to play the clown well, he began to study the psychology of the character very early.

A character who has the title of a supporting role, but is actually the main character, can also give Heath Ledger plenty of room to play.

Since the protagonist's aura is basically given to the Joker, Christian Bale's play in the role of Batman has been greatly limited.

Most typically, the clown in the setting always has easy access to all kinds of high-end places, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

Ronan leaves Ang Lee's office and heads to the post-production room on another floor to find David Fincher.

, a great director who works slowly and meticulously, finally finished the entire filming of "Girls" and led the crew to post-production.

Ronan specifically talked to David Fincher about "House of Cards", and the script for the first season of Shahai Entertainment has been written.

This is not the future, streaming media will be popular in the future, and famous directors have invested in the filming of dramas, thinking that they will earn better "money".

In this day and age, famous film directors rarely direct TV series unless they are interested.

David Fincher didn't refuse, but he didn't agree either.

"Is it okay to let Shahai Entertainment give me the script first?" David Fincher knows a little bit about Ronan and knows that it is not a particularly high-quality project, and it is impossible for the other party to invite him to be the director with a lot of money: "I will make a decision after reading the script." ”

When it comes to a director of David Fincher's level, he can't force it, Ronan said: "I'll let Shahai Entertainment send the script to you as soon as possible." ”

David Fincher said, "Yes. ”

Ronan instead asked, "When will the post-production of this film be completed?"

David Fincher thought about it for a moment and said, "It will be March or April next year at the earliest. ”

Ronan didn't say anything, after all, the post-production of half a year is a normal speed in the industry, and for a director of David Fincher's style, it can even be said that the speed is relatively fast.

Not every director is a fast gunner like Spielberg.

Taking advantage of this time, Ronan deliberately watched a short shot edited by David Fincher, but in terms of picture style, the gloomy tone was very big Wee Fincher.

The actress Rachel McAdams' performance is very outstanding, and it may be that this role can resonate strongly with her.

This kind of film may not be a box office hit like a commercial production, but if it is operated well, there will also be a huge market space.

As Ronan leaves, he meets Lindsay Beal.

"Do you have time?" said Lindsay-Beale, "and it just so happens that I'm looking for you too." ”