There are eight major film companies in Hollywood, which have monopolized the entire Hollywood film business for decades.

Although they have met countless people who have tried to challenge or even replace them over the decades, no one has ever succeeded, and their position is still as solid as a rock.

Unless, of course, you die!

Even on a global scale, Hollywood giants have always been invincible, turning Southeast Asia and Europe into their backyards.

However, only in the growing fertile land of China, Hollywood blockbusters have repeatedly lost to local films.

At the beginning of the century, the movies of Zhang Yimou, Ma Xiaogang, and Zhou Xingchi frequently exceeded 100 million, pressing Hollywood blockbusters to the ground and rubbing them fiercely.

In recent years, the "Transformers" series has been a big hit, plus Nolan's "Inception", "Kung Fu Panda 2", and "Avatar" have sold 1.3 billion, which has made all Hollywood studios extremely excited, and they have the opportunity to aggressively attack the Chinese market.

However, I never expected that in a tight year, the record of "Avatar" was broken by the Chinese, and the box office of up to 1.6 billion yuan exceeded hundreds of millions of yuan, and it ravaged "Transformers 3" in the same period, and almost couldn't reach one billion.

This is unacceptable to the major Hollywood giants, as the vice president of distribution at Warner Bros., Thomas Gwick had to propose a plan to the top management to use Chinese people to attack the Chinese film market!

This is also the reason why he came to China in person.

In the hotel suite, Thomas and Fannan, president of Warnabe China, and Mary Parent, head of production at Legendary Pictures, quietly awaited Li Qian's arrival.

Looking at this head office leader who occupied his president's office as soon as he came, Fan Nan was really troubled.

"Mr. Thomas, I don't think your plan is perfect. After struggling for a while, Fan Nan still whispered.

Let Li Qian help them promote Hollywood movies and completely open the door to the domestic market, no matter how unreliable they look, they are not stupid, and they must give each other a lot of benefits.

"Fan. ”

Thomas glanced at him quietly, "For so many years, the Huaguo District Company has not made any achievements in Huaguo, and even the popular series of "Jaws" in North America has not been discovered, and it was picked up by Columbia, you are very unqualified!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, he buttoned himself a big hat, Fan Nan was choked at once, and said weakly, "It's because I didn't do my work meticulously enough." ”

"You are Chinese, you should know the difficulties of our invasion of this land, the government of this country will never be able to get around, as long as we do not release the quota for imported films, we will never be able to eat this bigger and bigger cake!" Thomas said to himself.

On the deepest resentment of the domestic market, in addition to Colombia, which has been pitted, has redeemed Warner.

Thomas still remembers that many years ago, Warner worked hard to develop all the technology and advanced management over the years, helping Wanda build a modern Warner Wanda cinema line from scratch.

As a result, when the results were just produced, the General Administration of Optoelectronics issued a piece of paper, which made all Warner's efforts go to waste, and he had no choice but to withdraw.

Since then, Warner Wanda Cinemas has become Wanda Cinemas and made wedding dresses for others.

After several years of hard work, a word of optoelectronics came to naught, but Warner deeply realized how strong the government of this country is.

What's more, optoelectronics firmly controls the quota and share ratio of imported films, and there are not enough films, how to occupy this market.

What makes them even more helpless is that imported films, or even buyout batches, have to get a voice from China Film Company if they want to be released in China.

The co-production requires China Film to go through the import declaration procedures, and if you really want to get stuck, you can't do it.

The quota for imported films is in the hands of China Film, and the films that are destined to sell well will not give you a quota, and you can only accept a low-price buyout.

Even if you buy out, even if you sign a contract with other domestic companies, China Film won't let you get on it, and you still can't get it.

Imported movies can be said to be pinched in the hands of China Film.

And the low share and buyout also make Hollywood companies reluctant to increase investment in China, and there is no solution!

In the past, except for "Avatar", two or three hundred million imported films were considered big hits, and they didn't particularly value it, after all, the share was so low.

However, "Transformers 3" broke one billion, "Kung Fu Panda 2" 600 million, and the domestic movie "I Am Not the God of Medicine" collected 1.6 billion, more than 250 million US dollars, which made people more and more popular.

There were many obstacles, and there was nothing they could do, so Thomas came up with a solution.

He has carefully studied the domestic films in recent years, and in addition to Li Qian's out-of-the-box appearance, his films have also been sold repeatedly.

After some investigation, it was found that the first few movies were all under the title of Li Qian's producer, even if it was a three-no movie without a big director, big star, or big investment, it could get huge attention and even sell at the box office.

The two words Li Qian have become a golden signboard.

Since this golden sign can be installed on domestic movies, why can't it be installed on Hollywood movies?

The Hollywood movies produced by Li Qian have continued to sell well in China with the help of this name, thus opening the door to the Chinese film market.

Thinking of this, Thomas couldn't help but be able to be clever by his wit, and said to Fannan in an educational tone, "I heard that there is a saying in your country, called Shiyi's long technique to control Yi, then we will also draw a scoop according to the gourd!"

"Yes, Mr. Thomas is right. ”

Fan Nan agreed again and again, but he scolded in his heart, he didn't have a good impression of this leader who commanded him as soon as he came and occupied his office!

Foreign devils can still speak human words!

At this time, there was a knock on the door, and Li Qian and Du Yang pushed the door in.

"I'm sorry, you just waited. ”

Thomas immediately put away his stinky face, put on a smile and got up to shake Li Qian's hand, "Hello Director Li." ”

"Director Li, Mr. Du. Fan Nan also said hello to the two, this was the first time he had seen Li Qian.

How young!

This is Mr. Thomas, Vice President of Distribution at Warner Bros., Ms. Mary, Head of Production at Legendary Pictures, and Mr. Fan, President of Warner Bros. Du Yang also accepted them one by one for Li Qian.

"Welcome to Mr. Thomas and Ms. Mary. Li Qian smiled and sat down on the sofa, and talked directly about business, and he didn't ink.

"Listen to Mr. Du, your company wants to cooperate with us to co-produce films?"

"That's right. Thomas said kindly, "With Director Li's fame and box office appeal in China, our movies will definitely sell higher in China, which is a win-win situation." ”

Then Thomas carefully explained the cooperation plan, that is, according to the normal co-production process, Li Qian invested a small part, and could stuff one or two small roles with a few lines a day, and it became a co-production.

Then Li Qian hung up the title of producer, and the domestic publicity was given to Li Qian's side to do, and he wanted to use his own name to promote the movie.

It's probably the same as what Du Yang said before.

Although Li Qian didn't know what the hell they had in mind, he didn't mind asking, "What about the specific proportion?"

Director Li only needs to make a 10% investment, plus a nominal producer, and promote the film, he can get 50% of the box office revenue in China, and he can arrange two characters with no less than five lines at will. Thomas said confidently.

Two roles with more than five lines are enough to make actors in this country crazy, especially big productions with an investment of thousands or even hundreds of millions!

He knows that Chinese actors are particularly keen to go to the world, even if they rub the red carpet for more than ten seconds at the Cannes Film Festival, they are worth mentioning, as if this can enhance their fame.

Li Qian quickly calculated in his heart that Hollywood movies selling 100 million in China are big hits, and 50% of the domestic box office revenue, that is, more than 16 million.

Converted into US dollars, 2.7 million, if calculated in this way, unless the film investment is less than 27 million, and the publicity income is thrown, Li Qian will have money to make.

If it is a box office of 200 million, it will be possible to make money with an investment of less than 55 million US dollars.

Movies invested within $27 million?

Don't talk nonsense, this kind of film is either a comedy or a horror movie.

And these two types are not popular in China.

Most domestic audiences only like Hollywood blockbusters, even if they are high-quality comedies and horror films, it is too difficult to sell 100 million, almost none.

Is this a big deal?

"Mr. Thomas, let's talk about the overseas release of Jaws 3. Li Qian didn't even have the idea of bargaining, and directly refused.

With such a crisp refusal, Thomas was a little surprised.

As far as he knows, Li Qian's film company has an artist agency business, and a role where an actor can get five lines in a Hollywood blockbuster will be worth a lot, and he can make a lot of money just through endorsements.

Thomas said, "Director Li, with your fame in China, you can supervise a movie and casually sell three or four billion box office ......"

What about fools?

Li Qian was not interested in listening to this little foreign devil's ramblings, so he directly interrupted him, "In the whole year last year, only two films, "Avatar" and "Inception", broke 300 million at the box office, Mr. Thomas thinks that Hollywood movies are so easy to sell three or four billion box office?"

"With Director Lee's fame, I think it's very possible!" Thomas said solemnly.

Li Qian shook his head and reported a plan, "5% investment, 50% domestic box office revenue, Mr. Thomas also knows that Hollywood blockbusters often invest hundreds of millions of dollars, 5% is already more than 30 million yuan, and if you want to reach 60 million yuan in revenue, it means that the box office is at least 180 million, and there are not a few imported movies in a year." ”

Thomas frowned, and this directly cut off half of it.

At a cost of 100 million US dollars and a box office of 200 million, the domestic box office revenue of the co-production is 66 million, and half is 33 million.

If you count it in terms of imported films, it is 50 million.

The difference is 17 million yuan, and Li Qian's $5 million is 30 million.

With the income of 17 million in exchange for the cost of 30 million, they still earned.

Thomas quickly calculated in his heart that it was still worth it, and it served the purpose of promoting Hollywood movies.

However, he still looked like he had suffered a big loss, and he talked with Li Qian for more than ten minutes before he reluctantly agreed.

"Then according to what Director Li said, we are willing to suffer a little loss, for long-term cooperation in the future. ”

Although Thomas said it so reluctantly, Li Qian still saw a hint of excitement in his eyes.

Moreover, Mary of Legendary Pictures and Fan Nan, the boss of Huaguo Branch, were not surprised at all.

Fannan forget it, Mary's expression is strange.

Legendary Pictures is a production company that has worked with Warner for several years, and they have always made the film and Warner distributed.

They have a share of the domestic box office, and it stands to reason that this kind of thing cannot be silent.

After all, Hollywood's production companies are exploited by distributors miserably, and they can make a single account and sell it well.

It is not uncommon for distribution companies to make a lot of money, but production companies to sell big and lose money.

The domestic market is a rare and transparent place, and for the production company, this part of the income will never be hacked by the distributor.

After all, the domestic company issued it, and Warner can't intervene or handle it, let alone do it.

The only piece of transparent income, Warner is whatever it is, and the people at Legendary Pictures don't have any opinions, which is a bit strange.

However, Li Qian still said with a happy face, "Thank you so much, Mr. Thomas." ”

Thomas breathed a sigh of relief and just talked about it.

Du Yang also feels that this ratio is beneficial to them, even if the box office is not profitable, there is still a distribution income.

What's more, the two supporting roles with 5 lines are also a fortune, even if you can't use it, it's worth a lot to take it out.

Fan Binbin, who hyped up and walked the red carpet all day long, came to a role in a big Hollywood production, she had to jump up happily and be willing to buy it for millions.

Just when Thomas was about to celebrate the cooperation between the two sides, Li Qian suddenly seemed to remember something, and said with some embarrassment, "I'm sorry Mr. Thomas, I just remembered one thing, I got a message from China Film a few days ago, and the Film Bureau will soon reformulate the requirements for co-production." ”

"What are the requirements?" Thomas had a bad premonition.

Li Qian said with a smile, "The proportion of Chinese investment is generally not less than one-third, and there must be a Chinese actor to play the main role, and it needs to be filmed in China, three conditions, one is not a lot, otherwise it will not meet the conditions for co-production!"

“?????”

Hearing this condition, Thomas was stunned.

"What Director Li said is true?"

"Of course, this is the news that I learned from the film, and it will be announced soon. Li Qian said.

If you count it this way, most of the co-productions are completely out of compliance.

Okay, this thing came out of nowhere.

Thomas thought about it, met Li Qian's smiling gaze, and suddenly reacted.

He had been coping with the more than ten minutes of negotiation before, planning to delay some time and then reluctantly cope with it.

But in retrospect, Li Qian seems to be negotiating perfunctorily.

It's as if two people are scolding each other, constantly pointing at each other, and scolding arrogantly, "Come here!"

It looks quite fierce, but in fact, he didn't plan to fight, just scolding.

In that case, this so-called sudden change in the rules of co-production is certainly not a sudden reminder.

But I didn't forget it from the beginning, so I negotiated casually, because I knew that no matter how it was discussed, it would be useless under the regulations.

Thomas's mind was spinning rapidly, analyzing Li Qian's purpose.

All of a sudden, he was full of confidence, but now he has become passive, and he can't let the other party see his urgency for cooperation.

His eyes met Li Qian's slightly smiling gaze again, and Thomas felt as if his plans had been seen through by Li Qian.

"What a cunning Chinese man!" scolded in his heart.