On the fifth day of this year's Sundance Film Festival, a blockbuster deal was reached that broke the previous transaction price record, and Flame Film Company bought out Newmarket's "Memory Fragments" at a price of 8 million, and obtained all the film rights including theatrical distribution rights and DVD distribution rights. When the buying manager of every film company saw the news in the newspaper, he couldn't help but mutter, "That young man is crazy again." ”

As Cinema Newspaper revealed, "Fragments of Memory" is not a sought-after commodity, although no one says it is a bad movie, on the contrary, it is a good acclaim, and its script is so good that it is expected to win this year's Sundance Award for Best Screenplay, but except for the Flame Movie, almost no one is interested in buying it. The labels that film companies label it are "popular or not", "box office up to 5 million", etc., if it costs 1 million, I believe many people will bid, but its cost is 5 million, it will definitely lose money.

"This is the first time that a flame film has been shot at an independent film festival, and it is a surprising and generous gesture, which is very much in line with Wonder Young's style. In the absence of companies competing for it, the purchase price of "Memory Fragments" is still as high as 8 million, which shows the determination and confidence of Flame Films in it.

At the beginning, the price of Flame Films was 6 million, Newmarket was not willing to sell, 1 million income was too little, it was better to continue to participate in other film festivals, or even release it by itself, until the price came to 8 million, and Flame Films made it clear that "there will be no more price increases", seeing that no company participated in the bidding, Newmarket finally nodded and agreed to the deal.

They are naturally very happy, this investment has brought them 3 million profits, and the cost rate of return has reached 60%, which is definitely an unexpectedly happy ratio! Of course, these 3 million they also have to share the accounts with several small companies such as the Todd team and Summit Entertainment who participated in the investment, and there are several investors for an independent film of 5 million, which is a normal phenomenon to reduce investment risks, if it is a blockbuster film with a cost of more than 100 million, there will sometimes be dozens of investors.

"Chris, I'm glad that Flame Films was able to buy Memory Fragments, which is the biggest takeaway we've had since we started buying films. Wang Yang smiled, and the Nolan couple across the table also smiled slightly, and he continued: "I believe that "Memory Fragments" can also make a big difference in the screening market, rather than those companies predicted that they could only receive 5 million. ”

After the deal was concluded, Mr. and Mrs. Nolan invited Wang Yang to dinner, and Wang Yang readily agreed, knowing that in addition to the meaning of friendship, Mr. and Mrs. Nolan also wanted to know about the plan for the flame movie.

Nolan on the opposite side is still wearing a suit and trousers, a white shirt and a blue tie, and a parted hairstyle, combed a little shiny; Emma Thomas is wearing a casual women's jacket, and both husband and wife are looking at Wang Yang talking with a serious face, and when they hear him say that the box office is a big success, Nolan said "thank you", Emma Thomas took the opportunity to laugh and said: "Jan, I want to know the release plan of "Memory Fragments"? Oh, this is my husband's brainchild, I want to know too much. ”

"Ha, I understand!" Wang Yang nodded with a smile, and was about to speak after a while, and the post-80s Shaolin abbot was on the line, and it was close to the start of pre-release publicity in September. "That is, the main place to spend money, including poster advertisements, interviews and so on. He added: "We plan to have a few specific cinemas for test screenings before the release, with 500 cinemas in the first week of the release, and if the results are good, we will expand further." ”

Emma Thomas couldn't help but smile, for an independent film, this number is very high, and it also shows the importance of flame films, and the previous promotional specifications will be higher. Nolan frowned slightly, telling himself not to be too happy, he took a sip of water and asked, "Yang, will the released version be the current one?"

"Of course!" Wang Yang replied to him without hesitation, smiling and spreading his hands, knowing what Nolan was worried about, and said, "Chris, I can tell you definitively that we will not re-edit and modify Memory Fragments, no! ”

Nolan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then smiled again, he was really afraid that "Memory Fragments" would be re-edited, he didn't think it would be cut into a "pseudo-documentary", but the current version poured his heart and soul into it, and he didn't want to modify it at all. If the flame movie wants to be modified, he can not participate, but it can't change anything, he has no right to decide, because the copyright of the movie is now in the hands of the flame movie.

Thankfully, I don't need to worry about that now. Nolan couldn't help but laugh: "I know what I'm shooting, and I know what I'm editing." Jan, I'm confident that your word is the best version of what you say. Emma Thomas smiled happily and breathed a sigh of relief, if the flame were to make changes to "Memory Fragments", with her husband's temper, it would definitely break up unhappily, which she extremely did not want to see.

"Chris, what I love about Memory Fragments is that it's so complex. Wang Yang looked at Nolan and said with his understanding: "Watching this movie is like playing a jigsaw puzzle, it seems to have a pattern, but sometimes you will be deceived by yourself, you need to analyze, think, slowly solve the mystery in the movie, be fascinated and excited, this is the charm of suspense films, and also the charm of "Memory Fragments", I will not destroy it." ”

Nolan still maintained a faint smile, but his shining eyes showed the joy in his heart, he let go of the last trace of worry, and was very glad that "Memory Fragments" was bought by Flame Films, Wang Yang is a person who understands movies and his films, and the respect and recognition he received is more happy than the release of "Memory Fragments".

"Actually, I have a question, what is the real ending of "Memory Fragments"?" Wang Yang asked with an interested face, at first he thought he understood everything, but when he looked at it again in his mind, he found that the more he looked, the more confused he became, there were many different ways of puzzles, and he could get different answers. Nolan was about to say something, but Wang Yang suddenly raised his hand and shouted to him, "Don't! Don't tell me!"

Nolan and Emma were stunned, Wang Yang shook his head with a smile, and said, "If I know the real answer, what else does it mean? The current open-ended ending is great, everyone can have their own set of plans, this is my favorite place." After a pause, he laughed to himself, "I just said I wouldn't destroy it, and I immediately asked a stupid question, oh my god......" Nolan and his wife both laughed.

Next, the three of them talked a lot about movies and Hollywood, and when they heard Emma Thomas talk about investing in "Memory Fragments", Wang Yang looked at Nolan and asked with interest: "Chris, do you have any ideas for the next movie?" We are happy to invest, but it will probably not be until next year. Ha, now that we have no money, we need time to get the money back. ”

Emma Thomas's face flashed with excitement, she looked at Nolan next to her, and gave him a look, "Behave better!" Nolan ignored her, nodded slightly, and said calmly: "There is an idea, but at the moment it is just an idea, I want to make a biographical film, Howard Hughes's ......"

※※After a week in Park City, before the Sundance Film Festival ended, Wang Yang said goodbye to this town full of film flavor, returned to Los Angeles, picked up scissors again, and continued the editing work of "When Happiness Knocks" with Margaret Goodspeed. The steps of the initial cut have already been completed, and they are now carrying out a fine cut, slowly reducing the picture and adjusting the structure, and then after fine editing, the current 200-minute first cut version is cut to 120 minutes, and this goal is being completed in an orderly manner.

And the position of the original musician of "When Happiness Knocks on the Door", Wang Yang also began to look for it, through the introduction of Robert Zemeckis, among several candidates, he contacted the 46-year-old Jenn Kezmelik, a famous Polish composer and film scorer, but it is very strange to Hollywood, but Wang Yang found the information in his mind, Jenn Kezmelik won the Oscar for Best Original Score in 2004 with "Finding Neverland", and another touching movie "The Story of Hachiko the Loyal Dog" The original soundtrack is also him.

Wang Yang was very happy, and almost without an interview, he decided that it was Jenn Kezmelik, not because Jenn was the "best original soundtrack", but because his soundtrack style, the kind of strings and piano used perfectly, simple and elegant, this style is the most suitable for "When Happiness Knocks on the Door", whether it is cheerful or sad, it does not lose that bit of freshness and warmth.

In a call with Jenn Kezmerik, Wang Yang expressed his sincerity and understanding and love for his music, and solemnly invited him to come to Los Angeles to score "When Happiness Knocks on the Door". Jenn Kezmelik didn't say no, nor did he say yes right away, he wanted to see what "When Happiness Knocks" before making a decision. Wang Yang naturally agreed, he understood Jenn Kezmerik's concerns, but also believed that "When Happiness Knocks on the Door" could impress the soundtrack, and the two finally agreed to wait for the film's cut version to be completed, and Jenn would come to Los Angeles to negotiate.

"Oh, really?"

In the living room, Wang Yang was lying on the rattan sofa, holding his mobile phone in one hand, and when he heard the news that Mark Slant said, he immediately smiled and said, "Wow, then I'm going to walk the red carpet? Yes, it's quite pleasant, although it's a foil." By the way, can I wear a pair of beach pants?" he chuckled, "Just kidding, Mark, I see that your head sometimes looks like a donkey." Ok, I'll look for a broker, I've been looking for ......"

There was a sound of the door opening the door, and there was only one girl except for him who had the key to the room. He said softly to the phone, "Mark, thank you for the news, bye!" After that, he put down the phone, he suddenly turned over and landed, and walked to the door, suddenly some mischievous thoughts arose in his heart, he came back early today, and Jessica didn't know that the house was not lit...... Thinking of this, he quietly hid his figure.

Soon, Jessica walked in with a few large bags of things, as if she had just returned from shopping at the supermarket, she put a bag of things on the coffee table, and walked to the kitchen with the others, and said to herself: "It seems that I forgot to buy something?

Coming to the kitchen, Jessica opened the refrigerator and put the drinks and other food in the bag. Wang Yang shrunk his head and walked behind her, stretched out his hand with a smile as he tried his best, and patted her shoulder gently. Jessica suddenly said "ah", the whole person turned around suddenly, Wang Yang quickly kissed her face, and then "snapped", and her cheek was hit hard by her conditioned reflex.

"Jan!?" Seeing that it was him, Jessica's eyes widened in surprise as she withdrew the kick she was about to kick. Wang Yang covered his hot face and said bitterly: "Yes, it's me." Jessica frowned and said angrily, "What are you doing!" She felt that her palms were aching, and she suddenly reached out to stroke his face apologetically: "Did I hurt you?" Wang Yang gritted his teeth and said: "I deserve it, a failed prank." As he spoke, he couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Did I just get domestic violence......?"

"You...... You're so boring!" Jessica couldn't help but laugh and punched him in the chest, "You scared me to death just now! Wang Yang watched her carry the food, walked around beside her, and said with a smile: "I bought a lot of things, do you have beer?"

Jessica gave him a strange look and said, "No, how can I buy it?" Wang Yang rubbed his still painful face and said, "I don't know, some people can buy it." By the way, Jessica, I have news for you, don't get too excited, okay?" Jessica's heart couldn't help but skip a beat, could it be about the marriage plan? She turned around and asked quietly, "What?"

"Oscar, we are shortlisted for the Oscar!" Wang Yang waved his fist and said excitedly: "We were nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress!" Jessica was slightly stunned and smiled: "Really!?" Wang Yang nodded and said, "Really!" Jessica rolled her eyes with a smile, closed the refrigerator and walked to the hall, and said, "I don't want to talk to you!"

"Well, it's actually the best original song, and there are probably several songs in "Youth Musical" that will be shortlisted. Wang Yang walked out after her and said solemnly: "There is also an invitation from the Oscar organizing committee to attend, and the invitation will be sent soon." Jessica said a little absentmindedly, "Oh, is it?" Seeing that she was not interested, Wang Yang's originally not high interest also dissipated, and shrugged his shoulders and said, "Yes." ”

(To be continued)