The cost of 200 million is a top-level production for a domestic movie. Only "Hero", "Ambush on All Sides", and "Wu Ji", which is currently being filmed, exceed this number.

However, high investment also means risk, as a producer, Zhao Linlin first has to consider the issue of risk: "If we invest 200 million, we have to prepare 240 million funds, and now we have 100 million in our hands, and after the release of "Dark Invasion", there will be 40 million, and there is still a gap of 100 million, how to solve this money?" Is it looking for an investor or a bank loan? ”

Finding investors and banks has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Choose investors or cooperate with other film companies, the box office has to be divided according to the proportion of investment, of course, everyone will share the box office losses, and the company will not be greatly hurt by the vitality of a movie, so Huayi's big productions generally have several investors.

And choose to borrow from the bank, whether you lose money or make money, it is your own, the risk is large, and the benefits are also large, and "Ambush on All Sides" is to solve the funds through bank loans.

Zhang Weiping dared to do this, mainly because of the outstanding performance of Zhang Yimou's films overseas, before the film was finished, he could sell the film flowers and sell the overseas copyright.

Although Cheng Peng is not as famous overseas as Zhang Yimou, he has established contacts with overseas filmmakers through "The Two of Us" and "Dark Invasion", and he is confident in overseas copyrights: "Find a bank loan!" ”

Zhao Linlin frowned and said, "Then we have to bear all the risks, the risks are too great, this is 200 million, our steps are too big!" ”

Cheng Peng smiled lightly: "The best selling Chinese films overseas are action movies, and then horror movies. But it's too difficult to make horror movies in China. Filming "Myth" is indeed risky, but it is not as big as imagined! ”

In fact, there is an important reason why Cheng Peng did not say. Next year there will be a very important event, which almost ruined the overseas road of Chinese films.

"Boundless" return event!

In 05, "Boundless" sold the copyright to Miramax through the trailer in Cannes. Miramax paid a deposit of $900,000, and the two parties agreed to pay the rest of the money after the film was released. A few months later, when Miramax saw the complete "Infinite", he insisted on returning it, and the deposit was not required.

The film industry is particularly small. Miramax lost a deposit of 900,000 yuan because of the return, and the entire Hollywood studios knew about it, and they felt that the films of Chinese directors were a little unreliable, and they were skeptical of the Chinese costume films behind.

What's worse is that after "Wu Ji" was returned by Miramax, Chen Kaige and they sold the movie to Warner Bros., but "Wu Ji" performed very badly in North America. The box office was only 600,000, and Warner Bros. lost millions.

Since then, large Hollywood companies rarely buy Chinese films, and those who buy Chinese films are basically small companies. These companies simply don't have the ability to publicize, "Let the Bullets Fly" is $90,000, and "Jinling Thirteen Hairpins" is $300,000. That's how the $170,000 of "Dragon Gate Flying Armor" came about.

This is still Zhang Yimou, Xu Ke, and other directors who have a certain reputation overseas, such as "Da Wusheng" and "Thai Embarrassment", which can only be sold to a Chinese company called Huashi, and the movies are basically released in Chinatown, and it is not difficult to understand that the box office is only tens of thousands of yuan.

Costume action movies are a signature of Chinese-language films. It is also a favorite genre of North American audiences, and this signboard should be smashed. It's really hard for Chinese films to get out.

Therefore, Cheng Peng made up his mind to make this story, and to shoot this story well, so that Hollywood studios could see that although "Wu Ji" was a loss, other Chinese films still had hope to make money. In this way, Hollywood studios will continue to buy Cheng Peng's movies and continue to buy Chinese movies!

However, Zhao Linlin does not have such a strong confidence as Cheng Peng: "Although there are many action scenes in "Myth", the theme is love, do you think European and American audiences will like this kind of pure love theme?" A love that spans thousands of years is as pure as water! ”

Zhang Meng, who was sitting next to him, was a little surprised when he heard Zhao Linlin say this: "Why don't you like it, "Titanic" is a beautiful love, isn't it good at the box office?" There are a lot of blockbuster romance movies in Hollywood! ”

"I didn't say that the love theme is not a blockbuster, but the love in "Mythology" is too pure and too clean, which does not meet the habits of European and American audiences. How many movie heroes and heroines in Hollywood are as pure as Meng Yi and Yushu, how many Hollywood movie heroes and heroines don't sleep, and Wallace slept with the princess in "Braveheart"! ”

Zhang Meng couldn't believe his ears: "What do you think?" Let Meng Yi and Yushu sleep, it will ruin the story! ”

Zhao Linlin had a speechless expression: "I didn't say let them sleep, I mean that this kind of pure love content does not conform to the habits of European and American audiences, and the copyright is not easy to sell!" ”

Cheng Peng knows that Zhao Linlin's words are reasonable, the story of pure love can't be eaten in Europe and the United States, and "Heartbeat", which is praised as a god film by domestic netizens, has a film investment of 14 million, and the North American box office is only 1.75 million, and there is no release in Europe at all, this is not an accidental phenomenon, and similar examples can be cited.

If Hollywood were to shoot "Myth", the hero and heroine would definitely not run away, but Cheng Peng would not be able to shoot like this, this is not in line with the character of the character, and it is also inconsistent with the historical environment at the time.

If it is according to the taste of Western audiences, and domestic audiences cannot accept it, it will become "Ambush on All Sides" and "Hero"; According to the taste of the Oriental audience, it does not meet the taste of the audience in Europe and the United States, and the copyright is not easy to sell.

This is a very troublesome question!

Cheng Peng is not sure that his movies can be liked by audiences on both sides, he can only try to make his movies more exciting: "I have considered this issue and hesitated for a long time, but I think different people see different things in the same movie, and for European and American audiences, they mainly want to see action and oriental culture, and I am sure of these two points." ”

Zhao Linlin was not convinced: "Investing 200 million, the risk is too great, I think you should think about whether you can recover the cost, and then talk about other things!" ”

Cheng Peng thinks about this. And I thought about it for a long time: "Let me talk about how this movie should recover its cost!" Let's talk about China first, the songs and flash of "Myth" are very popular in China. Everyone loves this story, so it has a very strong viewing base. In addition, the number of screens in the country has been increasing, and when "Myth" is released at the end of next year, it is entirely possible that the box office will reach 150 million. With this result, we will probably be able to share about 50 million, and the cost of publicity and distribution will be almost 50 million, which will be offset. So what do we make money on? It's simple, advertising! Mythology can have a lot of ads. Cars, computers, clothing, and more. The cost of this part is 20 million, 30 million for patch advertising, which is 50 million, plus DVD copyright, music copyright, and other expenses, even if it is 10 million. There is only 1 left. 400 million! ”

In fact, this part of Cheng Peng is calculated at a low level, and the cost of advertising is definitely more than 50 million, and the original version of "Mythology" is 40 million for patch advertising alone.

Cheng Peng continued: "Chinese historical films are more popular in East Asia, especially in Japan, such as "Jing Ke Assassinates the King of Qin", which is also based on the theme of the Qin Dynasty, has a box office of more than 800 million, and "Mandala" with the theme of the Tang Dynasty has a box office of 900 million. These are still relatively literary films. And "Mythology" is more well-made, the scene is larger, and the special effects are better, so the entire East Asian region of 8 million US dollars is absolutely not outrageous, and Zhang Yimou's "Hero" sold 8 million for the Japanese copyright alone. South Korea sold $300,000 even if it was 60 million, and there were 80 million left. ”

"Chinese films in the European and American markets have performed very well in the past two years. Chinese-language costume action movies are particularly popular with filmmakers. Although pure love is the main line, the content of the movie is still action-oriented, and you can also borrow the east wind of "Hero", "Myth" tells the story of "Hero" not long after, so it is not difficult to sell 10 million US dollars in the whole of Europe and the United States, and there is absolutely no problem with the return of the movie! ”

Zhao Linlin was still not convinced: "I admit that you have a point in Asia, but I think you are too optimistic about the European and American markets!" The year before last, there was a movie "The Legend of Tianmai" with an investment of 20 million US dollars, with big star Michelle Yeoh, oriental culture, and site exploration content similar to "Myth", what is the result? There was a fiasco at home, and Europe and the United States simply couldn't sell at a high price! ”

Cheng Peng laughed when he heard "The Legend of Tianmai", when he was thinking about the script of "Mythology", "The Legend of Tianmai" has always been used by him as a negative example, reminding himself how the script should be written: "The structure of that movie is not very good, the rhythm is relatively poor, and the special effects are not done well, and "Myth" will never make this kind of mistake, I have absolute confidence in the quality of the movie!" ”

This is definitely not bragging!

Cheng Peng is confident that he will make this movie well, confidence comes from strength, he has this strength!

Zhao Linlin didn't dwell on this issue anymore when she heard Cheng Peng say this, in fact, she also believed in Cheng Peng's strength, but as a producer, she had to remind Cheng Peng to consider the issue of profit: "I'm relieved if you say that." Let's talk about the actor, I think Yaya is the most suitable candidate for Yushu, she is a salaryman, she can dance, and she is of the right age, this role is simply like it was written for her! ”

Cheng Peng nodded with a smile and said, "If Yaya doesn't go to school, I will definitely let her act, but in the long run, it's still important to study!" ”

Zhao Linlin really couldn't understand Cheng Peng's thoughts, but she knew that Cheng Peng couldn't harm Tong Liyu, so she said: "Then let's choose Zhang Ziyi, it's famous enough, and everyone has cooperated, there is no run-in problem!" ”

"Zhang Ziyi is now filming "Memoirs of a Geisha", which will not be completed until February next year, and she has no time to receive training, and she is too mature, Yushu is still younger. I plan to let Master Liu play, this girl has a good temperament, and her appearance is also in line with traditional Chinese aesthetics. ”

The crew is very familiar with Master Liu, and they have filmed "Fairy Tale" and "Dark Invasion" together, and everyone likes this girl.

However, liking does not mean that the role is suitable, Wang Qinian disagreed: "Master Liu's image and temperament are very good, but this girl's acting skills are too tender, so it is a bit risky to let her play the starring role in such a big production!" ”

Cheng Peng is really optimistic about her: "I haven't seen her for a few months, and my acting skills will definitely improve." A person can endure the pain of pancreatitis for three days, and I don't believe her acting skills can't come out with this energy! ”

Everyone nodded silently, originally everyone thought she was a gentle and weak girl, but they didn't expect her to have such a hard side in her temperament, and everyone in the crew had to give a thumbs up when they mentioned this matter.

Seeing that everyone had no opinions, Cheng Peng continued: "I plan to find Huang Xiaoming for the actor, Meng Yi is a general, this role is more masculine, I must find a masculine actor, he and Nie Yuan are more masculine in domestic students, and he and Nie Yuan are better dressed in ancient costumes, but I personally prefer Huang Xiaoming!" ”

Zhao Linlin objected: "I won't talk about Huang Xiaoming's acting skills, the key is that he has not proven himself in the movie, and he has no appeal at all." The heroine is already a newcomer, and the actor should at least find someone who can afford the box office, right? In fact, you can find it from Xiangjiang, Gu Yule has age, acting skills, and fame, and he played Xiang Shaolong in "Looking for Qin". More suitable than Huang Xiaoming! ”

Gu Yule's fame and image are very suitable, but the filming cycle of this movie is too long, and Cheng Peng feels that it is difficult for him to agree: "The actors who make this movie must be trained in the etiquette of the Qin Dynasty, and the actor is a general, he must have the temperament of a soldier, and he must also undergo military training, and he must train for four or five months before the film can be started, plus three or four months of shooting, it is more than half a year." When it took time to make a "Myth", Gu Yule could make several movies, and it was unlikely that he would accept it! ”

At this time, a girl said: "Director, you forgot one thing, Huang Xiaoming is going to shoot Zhang Jizhong's "The Condor Heroes", and it will start at the end of this month!" ”

Cheng Peng forgot this, some time ago, the casting battle for "The Condor Heroes" was boiling, and Huang Xiaoming finally got the role, but he immediately laughed: "The Condor Heroes" is just a TV series with an investment of more than 30 million, and "Myth" is a movie with an investment of 200 million, is there any doubt about which one to choose?" ”