Director’s Legend

Following the box office of 10.35 million in the first week, in the second weekend, "Pounding Heart" only got a box office of 7.2 million US dollars in 2458 movie theaters in North America. As far as a single cinema is concerned, the downward trend of the box office is not obvious, but attendance is always a problem.

Audiences who have watched it all said it was good, and the Internet praised it a lot, but it just couldn't attract the audience to go to the cinema to watch the movie. As the "Los Angeles Times" said, this is a niche movie. There are no special effects, no handsome men and women, no big-name celebrities, no bizarre and twisted stories, and even only a few scenes, school, home...

Despite the reduction in theaters and lower box office, with the face of Shao Shuaijun and Summit Entertainment, as well as the good reputation, the release cycle of "Pounding Heart" must be very long, and it is expected to win the box office of 30 million US dollars. Generally speaking, the film will not lose money, and there will be a profit, but it is different from everyone's expectations.

Everyone has become accustomed to Shao Shuaijun's miraculous gold-absorbing ability...

In mid-April, Shao Shuaijun put the matter of "Pounding Heartbeat" aside, and another major event awaited his participation. The negotiations between Summit Entertainment and Marvel Comics have entered a substantive stage. Compared with Walt Disney’s toothpaste-like bidding and war-like negotiations, Summit Entertainment won the favor of Marvel Comics by relying on its boldness like a nouveau riche.

Now, they want to talk about the future with Shao Shuaijun, the behind-the-scenes boss of Summit Entertainment.

As a big boss and a financial professional boss, Shao Shuaijun will not participate in the negotiation process, and participating will only be a disservice. What he needs to do now. It is to talk to Kevin Feige, the boss of Marvel Comics, about the future, and how to treat Marvel Comics if it is merged into Summit Entertainment, etc.

Basically, Kevin Feige needs to know the status of Marvel Comics in Shao Shuaijun's mind.

If they just want a random subsidiary, Kevin Feige is not willing to be acquired. After all, they are also a comic giant, with confidence and dignity, and demand more attention.

Marvel Comics headquarters in New York. Shao Shuaijun and Kevin Feiji are in the restaurant of the cafeteria. Drinking one person drinking tea and the other drinking coffee, began to chat nonsense.

"I just watched "Pounding Heartbeat". It's a very good movie. After watching it, I felt a lot of emotions. It's like remembering the past. A lot of innocence has been found. Pick it up." Kevin Feige said A talkative middle-aged man, who can take charge of a giant comic book, is naturally dignified.

Shao Shuaijun smiled and said: "Thank you. This is a simple movie that can leave the audience with a little feeling. I don't think it was shot in vain."

"Yeah, the current mainstream of Hollywood is full of all kinds of commercial blockbusters, and occasionally you really need a little simple and innocent movie to spice up your appetite. But you give the impression that a commercial director full of magic suddenly transforms into this kind of The style is astonishing."

"Sometimes shooting a subject is just to see if you like it or not. No one is static."

Kevin nodded: "This era is changing, and we have to keep changing to ensure that we will not be thrown off by the progress of this world. Whether it is doing comics or running a company. This time the subprime mortgage crisis is worse than imagined. Fortunately, Summit Entertainment let us see that the threat to the entertainment industry is the least, and we can continue to stand firm. Those real estate tycoons will be unlucky, and their assets will shrink sharply."

"Yeah, the subprime mortgage crisis is broadcast on TV every day, making it seem like the world is about to go bankrupt. I don't think it's a big deal. Whether it's Golden Harvest or Summit Entertainment, they are listed against the trend and have a good momentum."

"Summit Entertainment is the most outstanding film company in North America in the past two years. During the period when the industry was affected, stockholders had great confidence in you. It can be said that you have also benefited from the subprime mortgage crisis and outshone others." Kevin Feiji said that Marvel Comics has also been hit by the subprime mortgage crisis, which is why they are willing to be acquired.

It can be said that Marvel Comics has experienced countless ups and downs, especially during the economic crisis at the end of the last century, the comics industry declined, and Marvel Comics almost went bankrupt. Had to sell the copyright of superheroes, Spiderman, Fantastic Four and other famous heroes have all become other people's money-making treasures.

Without the support of a strong parent company, it is difficult to rise again. Looking at the old rival DC Comics, since it became Warner Bros., Batman and Superman have made a lot of money, and Marvel Comics is also greedy.

Shao Shuaijun smiled: "We have the strength. Summit Entertainment not only has a unique vision, but also has a series of blockbuster movies one after another. It is also supported by the Internet and high technology, which is enough to survive. Besides, the parent company of Summit Entertainment is still China. China's economic development speed is visible to the world, and Summit Entertainment is strong in itself and in its background, so it makes no sense if it doesn't rise."

"That's true." Kevin flattened his mouth, feeling a little sour. Compared with Summit Entertainment, Marvel Comics is just a piece of fat left on the side of the road. Apart from being picked up by a wolf, it seems that there is no good result. Let's see now, whether this wolf is eaten raw or made into a delicacy...

Kevin was sour for a while, and suddenly asked: "I heard that the acquisition plan was proposed by you, Director Shao. Are you very optimistic about our Marvel comics?"

"How should I put it, I'm just optimistic about the cooperation between us. If Marvel Comics wants to remain independent, to put it bluntly, you don't have the financial resources to support your revitalization plan. I know you have been building the 'Ultimate Universe' plan, I really appreciate this plan."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, Kevin, you know, I'm also a fan of superhero comics. I like to see Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Fantastic Four, it's very cool. Of course, I don't mean the world in these comics, but Your rearranged 'Ultimate Universe' series..."

In the Marvel comics, superheroes know each other, and occasionally drop by for a soy sauce or something. For example, Spider-Man fights Hulk, Wolverine and Captain America save the life of Black Widow, etc. Although these superheroes come from different comics, they all belong to Marvel Comics.

Because manga is continuous, as long as it sells well, it can continue to be drawn. Comics companies can also stay in business forever. However, people who draw manga may experience changes such as resignation, reduction, and increase. In order to prevent the flow of personnel from ending the life of a comic, the comic company decided to set the background of the story within a frame.

In this way, whether it is a new painter or a painter who takes over in the middle, he can easily take over the drawing work of all comics without messing up the world settings, and comic fans can enjoy the comics more clearly. With more and more comic characters, the background of this story becomes larger and larger, and finally a "world" is formed. \u003cArvel is Marvel Comics, and universe is the world, also known as the true world. Sometimes it is also called earth-616 (earth 616, which means another earth, established in June 1961). This world ensures the overall continuity of Marvel's comic stories within a certain range.

But with the passage of time, children grow up and no longer read comics, and when new children read comics, they are completely powerless in the face of the vast background plot. This has led to a tragedy, fewer and fewer new readers, and comic shops are becoming more and more niche.

In order to change this embarrassing situation, in 2000, Marvel Comics made a bold plan. They abandoned the historical burden of the past and re-tell the stories of superheroes. The superhero is packaged again, and the story is also placed in a background similar to the 21st century.

The one listed as the subject of the experiment was Marvel Comics' most popular series at the time-Spider-Man. Then there's the X-Men. These two aces were a big success and gained a large number of new readers, so more and more superheroes began to join the project. Finally, Marvel Comics has created an important branch.

This system is called ultimate, that is, the ultimate universe, numbered earth-1610 (Earth 1610), and all comics titled "Ultimate" belong to this world.

In the ultimate universe, the superheroes not only return to the origin, but are even younger than when they appeared in the main story. Mr. Fantastic Mr. Reed Richards is no longer a grizzled scientist, but a young genius at only 21 years old; the ultimate version of Doctor Strange is the son of the original Doctor Strange, who often has problems with his mana and likes to appear in the media publicity...

Compared with the old-fashioned original world, the superheroes in the ultimate universe have more prominent personalities after improvement, and their identity backgrounds are more realistic, and they are more suitable for editing as movies. The popularity of "Spider-Man" and "X-Men" is proof.

"I'm very interested in the ultimate universe plan, and I think your setting is really cool." Shao Shuaijun praised it. "Whether it's Iron Man or Thor or the Avengers, it's a fantastic story that's perfect for a movie."

"That's right, that's what we thought." Kevin received the praise and was very excited, "The superheroes of our Marvel comics are more popular than the superheroes of DC comics, and the movies we develop must be more popular. The precious resources we have accumulated over decades are priceless. Shao, how much do you think they are worth?"

"Priceless treasure." Shao Shuaijun suddenly changed his subject, "But it's in the hands of others."

"Um." Kevin choked suddenly.

Marvel comics does have countless super popular heroes, but, because of the economic crisis, it almost went bankrupt, and the copyrights were almost sold out.

The film copyrights of X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Daredevil are in the hands of Twentieth Century Fox, the film copyrights of Spider-Man and Soul Chariot are in the hands of Sony, and the film copyrights of Blade Warrior are in the hands of New Line (owned by Warner Bros. ), the film copyright of The Punisher is in the hands of Lionsgate.

The film distribution rights of Iron Man and Thor are in the hands of Paramount.

Almost all superheroes are in the hands of others... (to be continued...)