Chapter Twenty-Six: Lionsgate

Chen Tian is going to Lionsgate, the same company that later bought "Buried Alive" at the St. Denis Film Festival in 2010 for $4 million.

Yesterday afternoon, he made an appointment with Tom Odenberg, Lionsgate's purchasing manager, and he was interested in the script for "Buried Alive."

Lionsgate is headquartered in Santa Monica, just north of California's Los Angeles International Airport, and Santa Monica is California's most attractive seaside city, famous for its beaches.

However, Lionsgate is not an American company, but belongs to Canada and originated in Vancouver.

It has only been six years since it was built in 1997, and compared with the eight film giants with a history of nearly 100 years, such qualifications are particularly pale.

Needless to say, throughout the United States, Los Angeles alone is home to thousands of large and small film companies, and countless companies have sprung up in the 100-year history of Hollywood, but most of them have disappeared into history.

However, Lionsgate, which was only six years old, has successfully established itself in Hollywood, becoming one of the strongest companies outside of Hollywood's eight major companies.

Lionsgate relied on independent films, especially thrillers, horrors and controversial genres, and it was with this growth strategy that Lionsgate became the most commercially successful independent film and television company in Hollywood.

However, Lionsgate's development strategy is also destined to be controversial in the mainstream American film industry, and Chen Tian clearly remembers that next year's documentary "Fahrenheit 911" directed by Michael Moore will bring Lionsgate films to another peak.

Although Chen Tian did not live through this era, he knows how much impact this politically significant documentary has had.

Wen Ziren's "Chainsaw" was released by Lionsgate in later generations, and the "Chainsaw" series became Lionsgate's cash cow.

Chen Tian was the first person to contact Lionsgate yesterday afternoon, not only because they bought and distributed "Buried Alive" in later generations.

What's more, Lionsgate and Chen Tian share the same philosophy, and both have a lot of focus on independent films.

Lionsgate relies on independent films, and Chen Tian thinks the same way.

After taking the bus to Los Angeles International Airport, Chen Tian took the Big Blue Bus No. 3 to Santa Monica.

It took almost two hours to get to Santa Monica, and it was already 10 a.m. when Chen Tian arrived at Lionsgate.

After arranging his clothes against the curtain wall of the building, Chen Tian turned around and walked towards the door.

He looked at the Lionsgate sign, took a deep breath and walked inside.

"Hello, welcome to Lionsgate!" said the white lady at the front desk smiled professionally.

"Hello, my name is Chen Tian, Justin Chen, and I made an appointment with Mr. Tom Odenberg, the manager of your company's film buying department, yesterday. ”

"Okay, please wait a minute. Miss Bai lowered her head and checked the computer, quickly raised her head, looked at Chen Tian and said with a smile: "Yes, there is your appointment time here, turn left on the second floor and you can see the film purchase department, and there will be staff to take you there." ”

Chen Tian smiled and nodded, "Xie Luxie." ”

With his briefcase in hand, he walked to the elevator.

"Sorry to excuse me, but may I ask where Mr. Tom Odenberg's office is, I have made an appointment with him in advance. Chen Tian grabbed a black man and asked, the black man looked to be about thirty years old.

"Go straight over there and you'll see. The black man gestured.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome. ”

When Chen Tian walked into Tom Odenberg, he was already able to control his emotions, although this was only his first stop, but he hoped that the first stop would be successful.

Of course, there is also a very important reason for Lionsgate's vision and attitude towards independent films, especially the appreciation of thrillers.

Maybe other companies will buy it, but buying it is not the same thing as being willing to put a lot of effort into promoting the distribution, especially the big ones.

"You're Justin Chen?" Tom Odenberg didn't expect Chen Tian to be so young, even if he already thought Chen Tian was very young on the phone yesterday, but in fact, Chen Tian still surprised him at the moment.

His first thought in his heart was, can he shoot such an excellent script as "Buried Alive" at such a young age? and even had a plan in his heart that if the viewing effect was not good, he would directly buy the script of Chen Tian's "Buried Alive" and then remake it with Lionsgate's investment.

"Don't I look like it?" said Chen Tian with a smile.

Tom Oldenberg smiled and shook his head: "No, no, I don't have that idea, yesterday you said that you had already filmed "Buried Alive", and now you brought it? If so, we will go directly to the screening room." ”

"Brought it here, will you go now?"

"Uh-huh, let's go. Tom Oldenberg stood up and walked out of the office with Chen Tian.

Jon Fittimmel, Distribution Manager, and Michael Parsenech, Production Manager, were told to come to the screening room. Tom Odenberg explained to his assistant.

"You're Justin Chen, I heard from Tom yesterday that your script is great and it's been filmed, and I can't wait to see your work, I think it's going to be great." ”

A middle-aged white man with a big belly stretched out his hand with a smile before he could walk up to Chen Tian.

"This is Jon Fitimmel, our distribution manager, and that is Michael Parsenneck, our production manager. Tom Odenberg immediately introduced.

And the middle-aged man who greeted him from afar was Jon Filtimmel, the manager of the distribution department, no matter what the final result was, at least meeting at this moment made Chen Tian feel taken seriously, even if the other party might be a professional need.

"Thank you for your appreciation, I think it will be better to praise me later. Chen Tian smiled and stretched out his hand.

"You're a confident guy, but we at Lionsgate like young people like you. Michael Parsenneck, the manager of the production department, said with a smile.

Chen Tian handed over the copy of the film in his hand to the staff, and then sat down with the three managers.

The screening room is not large, probably only 100 people, but the huge screen and facilities are no different from a regular theater.

All the lights in the screening room were turned off, and the light appeared on the giant screen.

Guangliang told everyone that the film had officially begun, Chen Tian sat on a chair and looked at the screen seriously, this was also the first time he watched his work on the screen.

However, the three managers with purchasing decision-making power next to him frowned, because it was still dark on the screen.

Tom Odenberg couldn't help but glance at Chen Tian beside him, but Chen Tian was staring at the screen seriously.

Just then, there was a heavy, raffled, irregular wheezing sound accompanied by a rough grinding sound, and Tom Odenberg retracted his eyes and looked at the screen.

The heavy, rapid, irregular wheezing grew louder and louder, and the screen remained dark.