"Source Code" is a low-budget science fiction film directed by famous director Duncan Jones in 2009, which tells the story of a series of thrilling events experienced by Captain Kurt Stevens, a U.S. Air Force pilot on a mission in Afghanistan. The production cost is 32 million US dollars, which is about 250 million yuan according to the final settlement. The final global box office was $120 million.

Of course, it's 2004, and prices haven't risen as much. Moreover, "Source Code" invited three big-name stars, and the salary alone accounted for a large part, and it was filmed in the United States. If it is placed now, filmed in China, Shao Shuaijun is sure that he will reduce the cost exponentially.

He has learned about the current special effects company, which can completely make the effect of a train explosion, depending on the length of the shot, and the charge is also different. Shao Shuaijun summed it up, about 5 minutes of explosion effect, can cut the needs of the whole movie. Based on 5 million a minute, 5 minutes is 25 million.

Coupled with some other special effects, the whole movie needs more than 35 million to spend on special effects.

Secondly, the biggest prop cost of the movie is spent on the train. At the very least, you have to rent several train cars, coordinate with the railway authorities, and take helicopter aerial photography. This part can't be taken without 10 million.

The special effects and props add up to 45 million, and if you want to reduce the cost, you can save a little bit of the part reserved for shooting and salary. 500,000 contacted Liu Yifei, Shao Shuaijun is still very satisfied, Liu Yifei is very popular this year, and it is a guarantee for the mainland box office.

In addition to the heroine played by Liu Yifei, a college student. There is also a female officer who has a lot of scenes, this candidate, Shao Shuaijun contacted Huayi's own artist, Fan Bingbing. Fan Bingbing has been very popular since the golden lock in "Huanzhu Gege", and has participated in many TV series, all of which have good ratings.

and Li Bingbing are known as double soldiers in addition to the four little Hua Dan, as if they have the posture of impacting Hua Dan.

What is lacking is his achievements in movies, and he has not played any important roles.

With the love of Huayi Brothers, and the heroine Liu Yifei's salary of 500,000 yuan, Fan Bingbing took over the role of a female officer very happily, and the salary was also 500,000 yuan.

If the main actors are determined, the cost can be determined, and they will be pieced together at the line of 50 million.

With the cost budget in hand, the next step is to start pulling investment. Shao Shuaijun went to Huayi Brothers first, and talked with Wang Zhonglei, who was in charge of film and television projects, in the office.

"Mr. Wang, the movie script has been finished, how much can Mr. Wang solve with an investment of 50 million?"

Wang Zhonglei knocked on the table: "Xiao Shao, you are a pure science fiction movie." China's current slump in science fiction movies, you should know that there is no pure science fiction movie at all. Is it possible to make money making this kind of movie now? 50 million is not a small amount of money, and Huayi will definitely not invest it in full. ”

"I can be sure that the movie is a blockbuster, I calculated it, with the current market, a box office of 50 million is the minimum. If Chinese films are to develop, the Film Bureau will definitely encourage the filming of science fiction themes, and once it gets the support of the Film Bureau, it should not be difficult to increase the number and duration of films, and break the box office of 100 million. Moreover, Source Code is the litmus test I use to hit the American market. ”

Shao Shuaijun's shrewd calculations. The original version of "Source Code" landed in the mainland and got 43 million in the first week, but because the relationship between the distribution company was not in place, the number of films was repeatedly reduced, and finally only 65 million box office was obtained.

Nowadays, the film market is not as hot as in later generations, but it will not be affected too much by piracy.

Wang Zhonglei was obviously not so optimistic about Shao Shuaijun, and sighed: "Xiao Shao, why do you insist on making science fiction movies?" You can now make blockbuster films like Crazy Stone and make money while cementing your position as a director. You are still young, eighteen years old, and many directors are still playing with mud at this age, so why rush to hit Hollywood? ”

Can I tell you, I only have nine years, time passes little by little, no matter how good the movie is, if it is not made, there will be no drama for me?

Shao Shuaijun said that he had a hard time, how could he not know that his foundation was weak now, and the normal way should be steady and steady. But he must grasp the time and race against time to shoot good movies for future generations. Busy with China's little blockbuster comedy, wouldn't it be a waste of good foreign movies.

But he couldn't say the reason, he could only continue to persuade: "Mr. Wang, "Source Code" has a good idea, don't shoot it now, and when the movie develops rapidly in the future, there will definitely be a lot of science fiction films of this type, and "Source Code" will not be competitive." I have a lot of confidence in this movie, if it weren't for wanting the shares of Huayi Brothers, I really want to take back my 30 million and use it to invest in this movie. It's absolutely no problem to make big profits in the future. If Huayi is afraid of taking too many risks, then pull investment, Poly Bona, Media Asia, Warner, can all participate. ”

Speaking of this, whether it is reasonable or reasonable, Wang Zhonglei has no reason to refuse to cooperate: "Okay, if you have confidence, I will believe you!" Huayi's shares are already eyebrows, TOM Group preliminarily agrees to your shareholding plan, you can rest assured to join Huayi, we will start a career together! I'll talk about the investment in Source Code personally. ”

If you talk about the success of a movie, there is a possibility of shit luck. But the success of "Buried Alive" and "Crazy Stone" is not due to luck, Wang Zhonglei is really optimistic about Shao Shuaijun's future. After the conversation, together with Shao Shuaijun, he began to go to major film and television investment companies to discuss film cooperation.

Wang Zhonglei talked about cooperation, and Shao Shuaijun was responsible for explaining the script, which was thought to be a very difficult investment, but it was unexpectedly easy.

The first stop is the Century Hero, the Century Hero is a film and television investment company jointly established by CITIC Investment and China Film Group, and Chen Kaige's 300 million yuan masterpiece "Wuji" just started filming this year is the film invested by the Century Hero. The person in charge of the Century Hero did not agree to invest, and it was allegedly that the investment in "Wuji" drained the capital chain.

However, in the second stop, Poly Bona, it went unexpectedly well.

"Haha, if you don't come to me, I'll also go to find Xiao Shao. "Crazy Stone" can make me greedy, alas, I looked away at the beginning, Xiao Shao, I solemnly apologize to you, I didn't pay attention to the matter of "Buried Alive" at the beginning. As soon as Yu Dong came up, he said enthusiastically.

Shao Shuaijun was stunned for a moment, and sure enough, the businessman's face was rolled out of the hob. Stretch out your hand and don't hit the smiling person, today is to pull investment again, and there was not much of a holiday before, and the scene was immediately active. For "Source Code", Yu Dong agreed to invest after reading the rough script.

"We Poly Bona are willing to invest 20 million, as long as the box office shares 30%."

"30% is too high, we Huayi also plan to invest 20 million, plus issuance, only to get 35%. Shao Shuaijun, as a director, screenwriter and starring actor, does not get paid, he has to account for 10% of the share, and the remaining investment gap of 10 million yuan, plus the investment of publicity expenses, at least 30% of the share must be reserved, and you can only account for 25% at most. ”

"It depends on the amount of investment in the future, and we will negotiate."

"Okay."

The direction of cooperation was negotiated from Poly Bona, and the third stop was Media Asia Variety Entertainment, which is a Hong Kong film company that has had a good cooperation with Huayi Brothers. For this "Source Code", Zhuang Cheng, one of the leaders of Media Asia, is still very optimistic about this script, and once a science fiction movie is made, the reputation is no worse than that of an art film.

Chinese movies need the embellishment of science fiction movies too much.