Heads Up Hollywood

"Mulan" is a Disney animation that has achieved great success. However, to adapt it into a live-action movie, you need to take a lot of risks.

Especially after the disastrous failure of Disney's big production "80 Days Around the World" this summer, Disney began to stay away from movies with foreign cultural themes.

Disney doesn't think now is the best time to adapt "Mulan", especially when they heard that Tang En intends to let Ann Lee direct, they even disagree.

Ann Lee's last film, "The Chronicles of Narnia 2", was co-financed by Disney and Warner Bros. As a result, the production cost of the film was 210 million U.S. dollars, the publicity cost was 130 million U.S. dollars, and the total investment was 340 million U.S. dollars... The box office was only 420 million U.S. dollars, which was declared a failure.

Make Disney trip over a rock twice, thrice?

In the past few years, Disney's film business has been sluggish, mainly relying on the live-action films adapted from cartoons launched in cooperation with Rose Pictures.

In other words, New Universal can accept the failure of "Mulan", but Disney cannot!

"Michael, it's just a movie, is it worth it?"

Tang En personally called Disney's big boss, Michael Eisner.

Michael Eisner said resolutely: "Tang En, there is really no way this time. The movie "Mulan"... Counting the production cost and publicity expenses, it will cost at least 250 million US dollars! Even if The two are split equally, which is also 125 million US dollars! Disney, at this time, is unlikely to agree to shoot an Asian-themed movie, especially a movie directed by Ann Lee!"

Tang En pondered for a while, "Michael, this makes me very embarrassed."

Michael Eisner didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Are you in trouble? I'm the one in trouble, right? Dunn, you must be very familiar with Disney's situation. The adaptation of cartoons has become our biggest pillar. There is no room for loss in this series. Even if I agreed, the board would not approve such a project."

Tang En said: "But I have already issued an order to make Rose Films start preparing for "Mulan". The script is almost finished, and filming will definitely start before the end of the year."

Michael Eisner was speechless.

Believe it or not!

Besides, even if the order is issued, so what?

This is Hollywood, if you want to make money, stop loss is the first priority!

Not to mention that the script has just been prepared, even if the film is launched, if the film company thinks that encountering uncontrollable external factors will greatly increase the risk of failure of the film, the project will definitely be interrupted.

Tang En's words made no sense.

"Disney really can't make it?"

"At least not now."

Michael Eisner paused for a moment, and then said: "Twain, I know, you are interested in the Chinese market. Indeed, the box office growth rate there is very high, and there is great potential. With such a huge population base, Maybe 20 years later, China will surpass North America and become the world's largest ticket holder. But even so, it will be 20 years later! At that time, Disney will promote the shooting of "Mulan", not now!"

Tang En secretly laughed.

This Michael Eisner, after all, does not know enough about China's national conditions.

An American-style working method, with a businesslike look.

Tang En wants to shoot "Mulan", the biggest reason is to build a network of contacts, so as to promote the cooperation of the Shanghai real estate project!

China is not a pure market economy society, but a society based on official standards and human relations.

Want to promote real estate projects in Shanghai, Disney wants to play with the market economy, it doesn't work!

Build the government's personal connections, give the officials dignity, and give the country dignity, and they will reciprocate with peaches and plums. For foreign friends, China has always opened its arms with the greatest sincerity.

Michael Eisner thought that "Mulan" was too risky, but Tang En was passing on the risk through the real estate project with an investment of more than 4.5 billion US dollars.

Therefore, Tang En is determined to win the movie "Mulan".

Must shoot!

"If Disney doesn't want to make a film...then we will do it ourselves!" Tang En's attitude was very firm.

"Um?"

Michael Eisner was slightly taken aback.

Tang En said lightly: "As I said, I have already issued the order to start the movie. It's just a movie. If it fails, it will fail, but my face is more important. Every mouthful is a nail!"

Michael Eisner almost laughed angrily, he couldn't believe it, but asked hesitantly, "Is it Rose Films?"

"certainly!"

"Is it an adaptation of a legendary story, or...a cartoon?"

"cartoon!"

The story of "Mulan" has no copyright, and any film company is free to adapt it. As long as there is no overlap with the animation "Mulan" in terms of film shots, composition, plot, character design, etc., it will be fine.

However, Dunn must adapt the cartoon.

Ordinary people in the United States are very stupid, most of them are just waiting to die, and it is impossible to know the legendary stories of the East. If you want to have a big market in the United States, you must adapt Disney's classic animation "Mulan". indispensable.

"This..." Michael Eisner hesitated.

Tang En smiled and said, "Michael, you won't set barriers for me in terms of copyright, will you?"

"No, no, hehe." Michael Eisner smiled, "How about a basic fee of 2 million US dollars, plus 10% of the film's future profits?"

"No problem, deal!"

This trivial matter is not worth the bargaining between the two big bosses of the media group.

Dunn accepted the other party's proposal without hesitation.

...

After hanging up the phone, Tang En couldn't help showing a satisfied smile on his face.

nailed it!

"Hua Mulan"!

Ha ha!

Not only was it done, but Disney was successfully kicked out, and New Universal did it by itself!

That's great.

If "Mulan" has Disney's participation, it is equivalent to this "face", and half of it will be given to Disney, then it will be meaningless.

In the bidding for the Modu real estate project, New Universal and Disney were the main competition.

Without Disney, all the "faces" belong to New Universal!

In the office, there were also Tosca Musk, the assistant to the chairman, and Catherine Kennedy, the CEO of Rose Films. Seeing Tang En's excited look, they all looked at each other in blank dismay.

"Boss, is there a need to be so happy?" Catherine Kennedy was a little puzzled.

Tang En said with a smile: "It's very satisfying, of course it's necessary!"

Catherine Kennedy hesitated and said: "But... "Mulan" is really too risky. Now, John Wu, Ann Li, Jack Chen, Jeter Lee... these Chinese filmmakers , have collectively encountered the Waterloo of their careers. American audiences don’t like their style anymore, so let’s make a movie about traditional Chinese culture at this time, I’m afraid..."

"I know that the risk is huge. In fact, I also know that as long as the film is cast, there is no negotiating a loss." Tang En shrugged his shoulders with a look of indifference.

"ah?"

Catherine Kennedy was slightly taken aback, a little dumbfounded.

Knowing that you will lose money, but still insist on investing?

Boss, is this stupid?

As an assistant to the chairman, Tosca Musk knew Tang En's work and ideas better, so he smiled and said: "This movie will lose money, but the company can make more money through other aspects. If the movie If he can really make money, he will not agree to distribute 10% of the future profits to Disney."

Tang En gave her a thumbs up, "Amazing!"

Kathleen Kennedy is just a film producer, who is in charge of Rose Films. She doesn't understand the high-level decision-making, and she doesn't need to understand it. Just follow the orders and execute them.

"It's just...is the investment in the movie too big? Or, let's cut it by 50%. Production plus publicity, the total investment of 100 million US dollars is more than enough."

Tang En waved his hand, "No need!"

Kathleen Kennedy looked troubled.

Her basic annual salary is 1.15 million US dollars, and the bigger source of salary is a 3% dividend of Rose Films' net profit every year.

"Mulan" has such a large investment, once it fails, her dividend will be gone.

It is somewhat unfair for her to bear the consequences of the unreasonable demands of the upper management.

Tang En also knew what she was thinking, and said with a smile: "Catherine, you don't have to worry too much about the funding. "Mulan" is a movie that promotes Chinese culture, and the Chinese side will definitely be very interested in it. This time... we Let’s have a China-US co-production!”