At the same time as Taiwan's Longxiang Pictures made a high-profile entry into the Hong Kong film industry, the winners of the 5th Hong Kong Film Awards have also been announced. DreamWorks has received a total of 24 Academy Award nominations for films such as "Shushan", "A Chinese Ghost Story" and "Illegal Immigrant".

It is worth mentioning that the realistic film "Illegal Immigrant" should have been made by Shaw Brothers in the original time and space. But now that Shaw Brothers has long been discontinued, female director Zhang Wanting joined DreamWorks after returning to Hong Kong through her boyfriend's recommendation, and filmed "Illegal Immigrant" with the support of Tang Shuxuan. (Zhang Wanting's boyfriend Luo Qirui used to be Xu Anhua's assistant director, and is now working as a producer and director at Oriental Television Production)

"Illegal Immigrant" only has a measly 3 million at the box office in Hong Kong, and such a movie can't sell much money overseas, but the budget of this movie is 2.8 million, which can be called a rare failed investment by DreamWorks in recent years.

However, when the list of nominees for the Academy Awards was announced, "Illegal Immigrant" brought a surprise to DreamWorks, winning five nominations in one fell swoop, including Best Picture and Best Director.

In addition to DreamWorks, the biggest harvest is Golden Harvest, and only Cheng Long's "Police Investigation Story" has won 7 nominations. and Cheng Long and Hong Jinbao's "Dragon's Heart", which also received 4 nominations.

And the new art city is much more unlucky, and the total number of films nominated is also two. However, Zheng Zeshi's directorial debut "Why Have Me" is quite eye-catching, and I heard that the judges who reviewed the film liked it very much.

It was drizzling in the sky, and Li Yu, who was dragging his suitcase out of the airport hall, was quite depressed.

Standing at the door of the hall and waiting for a while, Li Yu saw Zhang Wanting and a man hurrying towards him, and as soon as they met, he hurriedly said, "I'm sorry." There was a lot of traffic jam on the road. ”

"It's okay." Li Yu smiled at Zhang Wanting.

Li Yu and Zhang Wanting not only know each other, but are also alumni of the same level and major at New York University, but after graduation, one chooses to stay in the United States, and the other chooses to return to Hong Kong for development.

Zhang Wanting pointed to the man next to her and said, "Let me introduce you, this is my boyfriend Luo Qirui." ”

"Hello!" Li Yan smiled after shaking hands with Luo Qirui. "Actually, there is no need to introduce it, Senior Luo was very famous when he was in school, and no one in New York film majors did not know him."

Luo Qirui joked: "I can't compare with you, both of you are master's talents, so I'll mix a bachelor's hat." ”

The three college campuses talked and laughed, and Luo Qirui helped Li Yu carry his luggage into the car. Then drive them to Tseung Kwan O Film and Television City.

After the car drove into the street, Li Yu asked Zhang Wanting: "Wanting, I heard that the movie you made won an award?" ”

"It's just a nomination, and it's hard to say whether you can get it or not." Zhang Wanting said and suddenly smiled, and said to her boyfriend, "Ah Rui." Our graduation work won the Wasserman Award for Best Director and Best Picture. ”

"Really? That's amazing! Luo Qirui, who was driving the car, couldn't help but glance back at Li Yu, he also graduated from New York University, so he naturally knows how difficult it is to win the Wasserman Award, not to mention that he can win two awards at the same time, Best Director and Best Picture.

Li Yu smiled bitterly: "Don't say it, what's the use of winning the Wasserman Award?" It's not that I can't get along in the United States, so I've come to Hong Kong to seek refuge with you? ”

Zhang Wanting asked, "Little Lizi." Ah Rui is in Oriental TV Company, and I have just entered DreamWorks, so I'm afraid I can't help you too much, so I can only help you introduce you to Mr. Tang. ”

Zhang Wanting is several years older than Li Yu, and the title of Little Li Zi is a nickname when she used to study. Li Yu nodded understandingly: "I know, I didn't think that I would be able to direct the tube independently as soon as I came back." ”

Luo Qirui comforted: "Don't worry, with the certificates of those two Wasserman Awards, DreamWorks will definitely treat you as a baby." ”

"I have been in the United States for several years, and I am familiar with the Hollywood model of making movies, but I don't know much about the rules in Hong Kong. I'm going to get started with the environment and get familiar with it. ”

When Luo Qirui heard this, he became more and more optimistic about Li Yu, a young man, and there are not many turtle masters who can put a correct attitude and lower their profile. Where would he have thought that Li Yu would spend more than a year in the United States and be a househusband for half a year. The water chestnut has long been smoothed.

The three of them chatted about interesting things at New York University and talked about the current situation of the Hong Kong film industry, and the car soon drove into Tseung Kwan O Film and Television City.

As the vehicle moved, Zhang Wanting pointed to the building outside the window and introduced: "There is the administrative area, the living area on the right, and the antique street and the studio in front of it." ”

Luo Qirui deliberately drove the car around, and after looking at it for a while, Li Yu said in surprise: "There are even places for printing, Mr. Kang's film and television city is really a small kingdom, and there is no need to take out the movie to make zuò." ”

Zhang Wanting said with a smile: "The big studios have long disappeared in the United States, but they are still the mainstream in Hong Kong. Although Golden Harvest Pictures has always advertised its independent production, it is actually half a large studio company. ”

"It's not the same environment." Li Yu nodded in understanding.

The disappearance of blockbuster studios in the United States is not because the system is not good and eliminated, but because this model will eventually lead to monopoly, which will be dismantled by the alliance with a piece of law.

The large-studio system has incomparable development advantages in the rising period of film companies, but it will also operate rigidly after the development of film companies. Once the company enters a period of recession, the horrific operating costs and rigid management of the big studio system will become a monster that will suck the company's blood alive - and this is how Shaw Brothers died.

Luo Qirui drove the car into the underground garage, and when the three of them went to take the elevator, they happened to meet Kang Jianfei, and immediately nodded and greeted: "Mr. Kang!" ”

Kang Jianfei was not impressed by Luo Qirui and Zhang Wanting, but recognized Li Yu, who had just returned from the United States, and asked with a puzzled look: "Hello, you are employees of DreamWorks?" ”

Luo Qirui introduced: "Mr. Kang, my name is Luo Qirui, I am the producer and director of Oriental Television Production Company, this is my girlfriend Zhang Wanting, and "Illegal Immigrant" is directed by her. This is Li Yu, who has just returned from the United States, and he has a master's degree in film production from New York University, and has won the Wasserman Award for Best Director and Best Picture. I want to join DreamWorks. ”

"Oh, it turned out to be Producer Luo and Director Zhang!" Kang Jianfei shook hands with Luo Qirui and Zhang Wanting again, and he only reacted now, it turned out that the two in front of him were the husband and wife who would make films such as "Autumn Fairy Tale" and "The Thief of Time" in the future.

After all, Kang Jianfei is an internationally renowned director, and he is also the boss of their salary. No matter how awesome Li Yu and the three of them are in the future. But now standing in front of Kang Jianfei, he is quite restrained and respectful, and his words are no longer as casual as before.

Everyone chatted casually, and when the elevator stopped upstairs, Kang Jianfei asked Li Yan: "Have you won two Wasserman trophies?" ”

Li Yu now felt like he was facing the interviewer, and he took a breath and said, "Yes." My graduation project has been shown on PBS and screened at Asian American Film Festivals. ”

"It seems that you are quite talented" Kang Jianfei smiled and glanced at Li Yu, "But talent doesn't mean anything, Hong Kong and Hollywood's film production models are very different, you need to re-adapt." ”

Li Yu nodded and said, "Mr. Kang." I understand. ”

Kang Jianfei didn't get out of the elevator, Luo Qirui could only keep pressing the door button, and it took a long time for Kang Jianfei to say: "That's it, I'm going to direct and act in an action movie soon, and you will be the executive director for me." ”

After Kang Jianfei finished speaking, he walked out of the elevator, leaving Li Yu, Luo Qirui and Zhang Wanting to look at each other.

After they came to their senses, Luo Qirui said with a smile: "Xiao Li." You're so lucky that you will be the executive director of Mr. Kang as soon as you come back. ”

"Hehe, thank you two for bringing me here." Li Yu said with a smile, for him, who was unemployed after graduation and ate his wife's soft rice for more than a year, this opportunity is too rare.

Li Jian was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth, and Kang Jianfei was also too happy.

What makes Kang Jianfei happy is the news that "Out of Africa" won the Oscars.

The $31 million documentary earned more than $87 million at the North American box office, ranking fifth on last year's North American box office list.

Just looking at the North American box office, it may not be much. After all, the film has a lot of investment. But it was nominated for 6 Oscars at the Golden Globes just past, and finally won 3 trophies, then won 11 Oscar nominations, and won 7 Oscar trophies, which can be said to have swept this year's Oscars.

With these seven Oscar trophies. At least it can increase the overseas box office by tens of millions of dollars, and Kang Jianfei, as one of the investors in the film, naturally has to help count the money.

But these are only secondary, the real reason why Kang Jianfei is happy is that the Oriental Film Company, which invested in "Out of Africa", has received another good script, and the original screenwriter will take the script to Kang Jianfei's office this morning.

"Mr. Kang, Ms. Anne and Mr. Morrow are here!" Li Yuanfeng rushed in with a cup of coffee, walked behind Kang Jianfei and pinched his shoulder and said.

Kang Jianfei touched Li Yuanfeng's hand and said, "Please let them in!" Brew two more cups of *coffee. ”

Less than a minute, Annie? Hurd walked into the office with the white little fat man and said with a smile, "Hey, Kang, my boss, it's been a long time." ”

"Hello, Annie, I heard that you are married to Cameron" Kang Jianfei and Annie? Hurd hugged him, "It's a shame I couldn't make it to your wedding, it's a shame." ”

"It's okay, you're a busy man" Annie? After Hurd and Kang Jianfei separated, he introduced the little fat man who came with him, "Kang, this is the screenwriter Barry?" Mr. Morrow. ”

"Hello, nice to meet." Kang Jianfei and Barry? Morrow shook his hand casually.

Barry? Moreau is very young, not yet 30 years old, and such an unknown young screenwriter has grabbed a lot of money in Hollywood.

And Kang Jianfei pointed out that he wanted Barry? The reason why Moreau came to Hong Kong with the script was because he had just written a script called "Rain Man", which would be the annual box office champion in North America in the future, and he won the Oscar softly.

On that plane, Barry? Morrow wrote the script "Rain Man" based on real people and real stories, and submitted it to several Hollywood giants, but no one cared about it. In the end, he found Spielberg, who was very interested in the script of "Rain Man" and was going to direct it himself, but gave up because he wanted to make other films and turned to Barry? Moreau looks for funding and recommends directors.

Several directors have been contacted before and after, and Spielberg still has Barry? Morrow ran a number of Hollywood studios, and finally MGM's Luen Mei Pictures agreed to invest.

And now, with the successful investment in several films such as "Terminator" and "Out of Africa", Kang Jianfei's shell film company Oriental Film Company in the United States has become a little famous in Hollywood, right? When Morrow submitted to several Hollywood giants to no avail, he did not get to know Spielberg like in the original time and space, but went directly to the Oriental Film Company to find Annie? Hurd.

Annie? In addition to "The Terminator" and "Out of Africa", she also helped Kang Jianfei produce two other Hollywood films, although they were not too successful, but they made a small profit.

This time Annie? After Hurd got the script of "Rain Man", she talked to her husband James? Cameron discussed it in bed, and both of them thought that the film might be successful, so they called Kang Jianfei to report the situation and apply for funding.

As soon as Kang Jianfei heard that it was the script of "Rain Man", he immediately asked Annie? Hurd brought the screenwriter to Hong Kong.