Speaking of which, compared with Spielberg, Li Xu and Lucas have a closer relationship, after all, Spielberg became famous earlier, and began to make TV series in the early 70s to accumulate experience, not to mention that "Jaws", which was released in 75, swept away nearly 500 million box office worldwide at a cost of 7 million US dollars, which can be described as a fight to fame. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Lucas was different, although he acted like a born-again at every turn, impressing Francis Coppola with a short film, making his debut film "American Painting" with his support, which was a good box office hit, and then he began to make the Star Wars trilogy and create an enduring pop culture icon.

And the Industrial Light and Magic, which was established to make a good Star Wars, has led to the development of the Hollywood film industry and laid a solid foundation for Hollywood to conquer cities all over the world in the future.

It's just that although "American Painting" is very good, it is not as rebellious as "Jaws", so the script of the first part of Star Wars was completed in 73, but it was only 3 years later that it received Fox's investment.

Even so, Fox was still hesitant, so he asked Li Xu to pick up a loophole.

He happened to have some pocket money at that time, and he had been paying attention to Hollywood, and after determining that Lucas was pulling investment, he contacted the other party through his father and directly took $5 million, accounting for almost half of the production fee, and even added it if it was not enough.

As for the result, needless to say, almost tenfold in return, and Lucas's friendship.

Spielberg couldn't do this, "Jaws" was released in 75, and the production time was naturally 74 years, when Li Xu had just made the snake, so naturally he couldn't cut off the movie, which had a much higher rate of return than Star Wars, and lost the opportunity to send charcoal in the snow.

But it's not a big deal, as mentioned above, Spielberg has long been qualified, and he is more shrewd than Lucas, and Lucas at this time is at least somewhat upright - although limited.

Later, when Spielberg filmed "The Third Kind of Contact" and "1941", Li Xu still invested a sum of money into it, and the big studios of this era were far less wealthy than 20 years later, and it was still more popular for someone to take the initiative to help share the risk.

What's more, Li Xu also told Spielberg like he did to Lucas that he needed to invest in himself. ，

So after "The Third Kind of Contact" and "1941" did not reach the expected goal - not that it didn't make money, "The Third Kind of Contact" cost more than 20 million, and the global box office was almost 300 million, and the profit must be there.

But as I said before, the big studios in this era mainly rely on the box office to make money, and there are not so many peripherals to develop, and they hope to have a blockbuster movie like "Jaws".

In other words, they want the cost to be as low as possible and the box office to be as high as possible.

Besides, "The Third Kind of Contact" has to make money, but "1941" almost served on the street, with a cost of more than 30 million, the global box office failed to exceed 100 million, not to mention, the North American box office is only more than 30 million, although Japan has a large part of the cost, it still almost failed to recover the cost.

Therefore, for Spielberg's new film, it must be considered "carefully".

In this case, Spielberg naturally found Li Xu with "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and after Li Xu fulfilled his promise, he now half-concealed hope that he could invest in the script called "Night Sky".

On the one hand, it can attract investment, and on the other hand, it can also exert pressure on large studios, which is really a few birds with one stone.

Although Li Xu understood this, he didn't care, anyway, he had a plan.

"By the way, Steven, I have a few questions for you about "The Empire Strikes Back", can you tell me the answer?" Li Xu asked at this time.

"If it's about some amazing episode, I'm sorry, I don't know. Spielberg's reaction was quick, and he immediately blocked a topic.

"Okay, okay," Li Xu raised his hands and made a helpless look, "Then change the question, I can't ask George, so I have to ask you." ”

Then, without waiting for Spielberg to speak, he continued: "I heard that "The Empire Strikes Back" was filmed in London and had a fire?"

"Yes. Spielberg replied after a moment's thought.

"So, is it possible that this fire is man-made?" Li Xu immediately asked.

"Artificial?" Spielberg looked stunned, "why do you think that?"

"Oh, I've heard that some people in Hollywood like to use this tactic, to cut off competitors by setting fire. Li Xu replied in a relaxed tone.

Spielberg blinked, as if shocked, and then slapped his arm with a smirk: "Welcome to the '80s, Eddie." ”

Then he immediately put away his smile and put on a serious face: "You must know that society is always changing, and in that disorderly 30s, this was indeed one of the main means of bad competition, but now it is the 80s. ”

"But......" Li Xu gestured his hands and wanted to say something.

"In the pioneer-era western towns, the sheriff was the representative of the law, and they could hang whoever they wanted. But now, what sheriff in a small western town would dare to do that?" Spielberg spread his hands, "or blatantly do it?"

Li Xu pinched his chin and stopped talking, Spielberg pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose and continued: "George's fire in London came from the "Shining" crew next door, and the "Shining" crew caught fire because flammable materials were used to make props, and the brightness of the lights was turned up too high, so-"

He spread his hands again: "In this case, if this is an artificial attempt to create an obstacle for "The Empire Strikes Back", then the first thing to do is to buy the prop master and lighting designer of "The Shining", let the former use flammable props, and the latter increase the intensity of the lights, and ensure that the fire is close to the "Empire Strikes Back" studio, and the fire must be large enough to prolong the past." ”

"So, if someone offends Warner and The Shining crew at the same time as Fox and the 'The Empire Strikes Back' crew, I think he must have a burnt head. Spielberg concluded.

Looking at his serious and somewhat helpless expression, if Li Xu wasn't Little Edward?Li, I'm afraid he wouldn't have said so much at all.

"But this can clear the suspicion," Li Xu said with a smile, "As long as the hands and feet are clean, no one would have thought that someone would dare to offend two film companies at the same time." ”

Spielberg twitched the corners of his mouth obviously, with a "you're kidding me" expression, and then sighed: "Okay, Eddie, you have to admit that if you want to snipe the release of "The Empire Strikes Back", setting fire to the film is the most direct and effective means. ”

After a pause, he then added: "However, as one of the investors in this film worth more than 20 million, what would you do if someone burned it?"

"Hmm......" Li Xu touched his chin, "I will find a way to find out, if there is evidence, it will be dealt with in a way with evidence, and if there is no evidence, it will be dealt with in a way without evidence." ”

"Mr. Alain Ryder Jr. will agree with you. Spielberg said.

Alain Ryder Jr. is the current CEO of 20th Century Fox.

"Okay......" Li Xu seemed to have accepted this statement, but he quickly asked again: "But what if the other party doesn't want to destroy "The Empire Strikes Back", he just wants to increase the cost of the movie and delay the release time?"

Spielberg immediately covered his forehead, rolled his eyes with an expression of not wanting to talk to you, and only after a while did he stare at Li Xu, who was still smiling: "Okay, Eddie, what are you asking this for?"

"Oh, of course I want to find an enemy," Li Xu shrugged, "If this is really man-made, I can fully exert the power in my hands in order to uphold justice." ”

Spielberg immediately covered his face: "I don't want to say anything anymore." ”

"Okay, okay, let's say something else. Li Xu laughed.

Of course, he was joking, about the fire issue of "The Empire Strikes Back", which had been clearly picked up on the Internet in his previous life. However, there are always some people with bad brains, who feel that there is a conspiracy, and this is a mutual tearing and conspiracy between the seven majors.

Tearing wool, if you want to say that it is just starting, you need to fight bloody hands to grab the territory, it will be like this, that's for sure. These people are already civilized people, they have to pay attention to their appearance, and they still use the same old routine, or they will be wiped out in a few days.

If Hollywood is like this, let alone sweeping the world, it won't be able to develop at all.

So, Li Xu, who was bored for a while, simply used this to tease Spielberg, who had not yet ascended to the throne, and it was really interesting to listen to him describe it himself, just like grandpa said that Kennedy was stupid.

After a few more conversations, he pulled the heroes and heroines Mark Hamill and Kelly Fisher over to keep Spielberg, and then entered the hall at the urging of Lucas.

As an investor, and Lucas has a good relationship, the location is naturally the best piece, relatively high but will not affect the viewing, Adam and Scott, as friends he invited, also enjoyed a high-standard treatment.

"It's finally about to start, and hopefully the introduction isn't too long, I'm so excited, and I can't wait to see that amazing episode. Adam started babbling again, well, he didn't have a time for peace.

Patience, patience! Li Xu, who rolled his eyes, could only say this to himself in his heart, for fear that if he couldn't hold back, he would spoil it.

But the guy didn't know whether to live or die and asked him, "Hey, Eddie, you're an investor in this movie, have you found out what that amazing plot is?"

Fortunately, Scott's head was not broken, and he interrupted next to him: "I think it's better to keep the suspense, whether Eddie inquires about it or not, he shouldn't tell us." ”

"Okay, okay. Adam finally reacted, and the hall lights began to dim.

Although it was a premiere, it was not as bells and whistles as it would be in this era, and the main creators would not come on stage until the movie ended, so after a guy who looked like a host said a few words to the front, the movie finally started.