Director’s Legend

() On January 28, 2005, the last day of the film festival, Shao Shuaijun slept in a small hotel with his head covered. "Buried Alive", apart from the few price inquiries before, no one came to look for it. The shadow of failure hung over everyone's heads, making Shao Shuaijun extremely depressed.

Squeaky, Zhao Cheng pushed the door open with sleepy eyes and came in: "Ah Jun, get up and have breakfast, we'll go to Sundance Institute to sell it later. At worst, we won't sell it, and give it to Sundance Institute for free screening."

"Go by yourself, I'm too lazy to look at these foreigners who look down on people."

"Get up, today is the last day, and the list of winners will be announced tomorrow. Everyone will go home. You may not see it if you want to."

He was dragged and dragged by Zhao Chenglian, and pulled up from the bed. After breakfast, leaving Li Xiuxiu, Wang Yixue and Ma Hu to wait in the small hotel, he and Zhao Cheng walked towards Sundance Institute. The Sundance Institute is not a school, but the organization of the Sundance Film Festival, which is responsible for organizing the film festival and funding du li filmmakers to participate in the exhibition.

Many du li filmmakers, in order to make a movie, consume their wealth, and can't even afford the travel expenses.

The town is still lively, even in the early morning, there are countless spectators wandering around. It had just snowed lightly, and there were still traces of snow on the road. The two of them were wearing fur coats, and as they walked, they discussed going to Sundance Institute and how to sell it. Just as he was talking, a laugh came from behind him unexpectedly.

"Oh, isn't this Zhao and Shao from China? What, did the movie sell? One million or ten million?"

Turning around, I saw Mike from the Telescope Entertainment Company, with his arms around a woman, standing at the entrance of a movie theater with an unabashed sarcasm on his face.

"Don't pay attention to him, let's go." Seeing Shao Shuaijun's gloomy face suddenly, Zhao Cheng took his arm and walked forward.

"Hey, how did you two leave? I heard that the director of this movie is this little brat Shao? Haha, a kid makes a movie and wants to make a lot of money. How can there be such a dream in the world! Country bumpkin, if you can’t sell it, I’m still very willing to give it away, $100,000, I’m waiting for you to sell it, ahaha!”

"You fucking Yankee." Shao Shuaijun was furious, and was about to have a good argument with Mike when Zhao Cheng pulled him away again.

"Forget it, don't be familiar with this kind of person."

"Hey, country bumpkins from China, movies are not something you can enjoy, you should go back and sing operas. Yiyiya, babble, look, how good I sing in opera." Mike laughed loudly, and the people beside him The pockmarked beauty also laughed coquettishly.

"Brother Zhao, don't hold back, you must beat this arrogant Yankee to death today!"

"Forget it, this is the United States, their territory, and they will suffer."

"Damn, we're here to sell movies, not to be angry!"

"What can we do? We're not celebrities. It's normal for a small-budget movie to be looked down upon. When you wait, only with Zhang Yimou's status, even if they are despised, no one will dare to be presumptuous in face."

"I'm really speechless, can I bear it like this?"

"No way, alas."

Seeing the two of them whispering, Mike yelled: "Hey, country bumpkin, have you negotiated, $100,000, if you delay, I won't buy $50,000, you just wait to get out of here."

"Why don't you die?" Shao Shuaijun stuttered a little, which did not prevent him from expressing himself.

"I'm dead, who will give you US dollars, don't you want to beg for food and go back to China, tsk tsk."

Mike spoke triumphantly, as if he was determined by the two of them. In his view, all Chinese movies are of low quality, and "Buried Alive" is the same, and buying it back can only be used as a film library resource. One hundred thousand dollars, the desperate Chinese will definitely accept it. Mike enjoys the feeling of giving to others.

At this moment, a gentle voice sounded: "Excuse me, are Mr. Shao and Mr. Zhao from China in front? I'm Morris from the Investment Department of Lionsgate Films. I want to discuss with you about the agency distribution of the movie "Buried Alive." From the street, a chubby and kind middle-aged man trotted over, and hurriedly took out his business card to Shao Shuaijun and Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Cheng and Shao Shuaijun only felt that this person came too timely and too cute, and they took the business card with some anticipation: "How much are you willing to pay?"

"A million dollars, what do you think?"

"What? One million, Morris, are you crazy!" Mike yelled, his face suddenly turned ugly.

"Oh, Mike, you're here too, you've also taken a fancy to "Buried Alive", why do you want to compete with our Lionsgate?" Morris looked at Mike warily.

"Competition? It's a joke, how can I like this kind of rubbish movie! Morris, give you advice, don't be taken advantage of, Chinese movie, heh, the best one is called "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", It's nothing but pretentiousness and rubbish! 1 million, beware of losing it, your boss will fire you."

"I don't think so." Morris smiled lightly, then turned to look at Zhao Cheng and Shao Shuaijun, "Since Mike doesn't like it, how about we find a coffee shop and sit down and talk?"

"Of course." Zhao Cheng was overjoyed. One million US dollars, equivalent to more than 8 million yuan, already met the expected income.

"You will regret it!" Mike still shouted.

Shao Shuaijun rolled his eyes and snorted coldly: "You will be the one who regrets it."

"Hmph, wait and see!"

Without the fly-like Mike, the negotiations with Lionsgate went smoothly. Morris is very optimistic about the market of "Buried Alive", and Lionsgate has always been very fond of this unique film. The final result of the negotiation is that the North American distribution rights of "Buried Alive" will be obtained for 1 million US dollars. Once the box office exceeds 10 million, an additional 1 million will be added, and if it exceeds 20 million, an additional 2.5 million will be added. If the box office exceeds 30 million, then the income will be split in half.

In fact, Morris doesn't think the box office can exceed tens of millions.

After signing the contract and getting the check, the two of them were still dizzy. One moment, he was being ridiculed and ridiculed by others, and the next moment, there was a magical turning point. The world really is impermanent.

"I really hope it will be released sooner. When that time comes, I will definitely go to the Telescope Entertainment Company and pay a visit to this stupid Mike!" Shao Shuaijun clenched his fists, excited after signing the contract, and bitterly angry on the other. Lionsgate has already scheduled a release on February 3rd.

"Actually, we should pay a visit to his boss." Zhao Cheng laughed.

...

Soon, the Sundance Film Festival came to an end. Not surprisingly, "Buried Alive" did not receive any awards at the film festival. After all, it is an American film festival that aims to encourage du li films in the United States, and the awards are not very fair. Shao Shuaijun didn't care. If it could be sold and released, "Buried Alive" would be a success.

After the film festival, Zhao Cheng took Wang Yixue and Sloppy to various special effects companies to contact post-production matters. Shao Shuaijun and Li Xiuxiu went to Phoenix, Arizona, a small town called Karst River. Here, there is a fat housewife who has just finished a novel of dreamy love.