Millennium director

Chapter 133: Laying out the Asian market, Zhang Guorong will play Pang Yong?

Wu Yuan has never held a premiere in China before.

"The Night the Comet Came" premiered in Sanchez.

"The Embalmer" also took advantage of the hot spot of winning Berlin's Best Director and was directly released in China.

"Your Name" is Wu Yuan's first domestic film premiere.

And this is the first time that Wu Yuan is going to do something special.

Although he cannot compare with "Hero", which has the support of the Ministry of Culture, Wu Yuan's own status is high enough that he can invite a large number of big names in the industry to attend the premiere.

"Your Name" is scheduled to be released on March 1st, and Wu Yuan decided to hold the premiere at the Beijing Grand Theater on February 28th.

Immediately, Light and Shadow Era sent out invitations.

Domestic actors who have worked with Wu Yuan before have all received invitations, friends of Wu Yuan, actors who have come to audition and have interacted with the era of light and shadow, the four major directors Zhang, Chen, Jiang and Feng, and directors from Nortel All professors in the department are on the invitation list.

As for some of the mainland's top filmmakers who have no connection with the era of light and shadow, such as Gong Huang, Uncle Ge, etc., they have also received invitations.

Almost two-thirds of people in the film industry are on the invitation list.

Those who have received invitations will have to take time off to attend the premiere of "Your Name" even if they are working, unless their schedule cannot be moved.

What a joke.

Is this Wu Yuan’s new movie? !

"Pirates of the Caribbean" just took in $700 million at the global box office!

Which mainland filmmaker now dares not to give Wu Yuan this face?

The higher the status of an actor in the industry, the more they want to attend this premiere. This is a good opportunity to get to know Wu Yuan!

Even Gong Huang, she doesn't really only want to make literary films. She also wants to break into Hollywood and star in Hollywood commercial blockbusters.

Otherwise, she would not have taken on "Memoirs of a Geisha" and later "Miami Vice."

Gong Huang was the chairman of the jury of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2000, and the chairman of the main competition unit of the Venice International Film Festival in 2002!

Such a top Chinese actress, even one of the top actresses in Europe, is willing to play the villain heroine in "Miami Vice" in order to break into Hollywood.

Now that Hollywood has such a great commercial film director as Wu Yuan, who is also a native of Beijing, can Emperor Gong not actively get closer to him?

When Gong Huangdu responded immediately and said he would attend the premiere on time, how could other filmmakers in the industry still put on a show?

Director Feng rushed up and said that he would definitely be there, even if Wu Yuan didn't go to the premiere of "Cell Phone"

Fortunately, there are not many people in the film industry now, and the top group is even smaller.

Even if all the invited guests come, it can still be arranged.

Otherwise, Wu Yuan would be worried about the lack of seats in the Beijing Grand Theater and would actually report to his superiors and borrow the Great Hall of the People for the premiere.

Just like that, as the news spread that "Your Name" was going to premiere, the mainland film industry immediately swarmed into action, with filmmakers scattered all over the country rushing to the capital.

Zhang Guorong, who had just finished filming the winter scenes of "If Love" in Northeast China, was the first to return to the capital.

"Director Wu, your new movie premiered with great fanfare."

In the office of the Light and Shadow Era, Zhang Guorong was sitting on the sofa, drinking hot tea with each sip.

"Yes." Wu Yuan asked casually while reviewing the publicity reports sent back from various places: "The filming of "If Love" has been completed now. When is it planned to be released?"

"I will definitely support you when you hold a premiere."

When "Stealing Hearts" premiered last time, Wu Yuan was not present.

But after thinking about it, he may go to the United States to film "Rush Hour 3" in the second half of the year. Wu Yuan added: "If I am in China at that time."

Zhang Guorong shook his head and laughed: "I don't expect your giant Buddha to come to the premiere."

"As for the fixed schedule, I want to put it on the Lunar New Year schedule."

"The Lunar New Year is the only popular time in mainland China."

"No." Wu Yuan quickly denied: "The competition in the Lunar New Year slot is too fierce. Mainland audiences are now accustomed to watching comedy movies in the Lunar New Year slot. If this kind of romance film enters the Lunar New Year slot, it will be crushed to pieces."

Wu Yuan knew how scary this year's Lunar New Year holiday was.

"A World Without Thieves" and "Kung Fu" almost wiped out the entire Lunar New Year box office, and the two are even frantically competing for each other's market.

To be honest, if these two movies can be released in two years during the Lunar New Year, the final box office will definitely be higher.

It's a pity that we can't.

"If Love" is so small that it can't be squeezed into the Lunar New Year movie.

"How about releasing it during the Chinese Valentine's Day?" Wu Yuan said thoughtfully.

In North America, Valentine's Day has always been a must-have time for romance movies.

However, in 2004, Valentine's Day on February 14 was not very popular in China, but the love atmosphere during the Chinese Valentine's Day was more intense.

"Qixi Festival?" Zhang Guorong frowned: ""House of Flying Daggers" is scheduled to be released on July 16th, right?"

"When is Chinese Valentine's Day this year?"

"I checked, it's August 22nd." Wu Yuan nodded: "At that time, "House of Flying Daggers" had been released for more than a month, and the impact was no longer big."

"And August 22 can catch up with the end of summer vacation, so we can capture part of the college student market."

"Nowadays, it is more popular among college students to invite their girlfriends or crushes to the cinema to watch movies."

"My "Your Name" is also targeting this market."

As the bosses of the main investment company and film directors, Wu Yuan and Zhang Guorong can set the release schedule of "If Love".

Director Han usually doesn't have any objections and will try his best to help coordinate arrangements.

So although it was just casual chatting, Zhang Guorong was very serious about it.

After frowning and thinking for a while, he nodded and said: "August 22nd is fine. The time is very flexible, and there is enough time for post-production and publicity."

"After the movie is released, I can also return to Hong Kong Island to release an album and hold a few concerts."

"After "If Love" ends, I plan to return to the music scene next year and focus on my career as a singer."

"My fans have really waited too long."

"It's up to you." Wu Yuan shrugged. He didn't have any plans for Zhang Guorong next year.

The focus of Wu Yuan's company's film projects in 2005 should be "Painted Skin".

This movie is the first special effects blockbuster in the true sense of the light and shadow era, although it is a fantasy and magical type of special effects.

Wu Yuan has great ambitions for this film.

The legend of fox spirits is not only found in China. It is a famous legend in the entire Chinese cultural circle.

And the legends are almost the same. They all say that vixens are very good at charming people and like to eat people's hearts.

Although the story of painted skin comes from Liaozhai, there are also legends in Japan and South Korea about ghosts who peel off human skin and put it on to disguise themselves as human beings.

Wu Yan's idea is to eat the Asian market.

There has not yet been any magical or fantasy Asian commercial blockbuster.

The emergence of "Painted Skin" has the opportunity to fill this space and seize this market.

In particular, the "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Lord of the Rings" series have opened up the fantasy and magic market for Asian movie fans.

If it were "Painted Skin" shot by Chen Jiashang, of course there would be no way to break into the overseas market. After all, the director is not famous overseas and no one would buy it.

The production company has no idea either.

But it would be different if it were Wu Yuan and the era of light and shadow.

Not to mention "The Embalmer", this "Your Name" is another big bomb that Wu Yuan has prepared for the Asian market!

After plowing the ground with "Your Name", Wu Yuan believes that he will be the producer of "Painted Skin" and is expected to enter Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Japan and South Korea rely on their own influence, while Southeast Asia relies on the influence that Chinese-language films have cultivated over the past few decades!

Chinese-language films should start making their own blockbusters as early as possible and go overseas to seize the Asian market.

It is unrealistic and impossible to compete with Hollywood in the global film market.

Don't even think about counterattacking North America.

But markets like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea have not yet been completely conquered by Hollywood.

Although Chinese-language films are a step late, they are not without opportunities to compete with Hollywood in this market!

And Wu Yuan has an advantage over Hollywood.

In my dream, even in 2020, the Japanese and Korean local film markets have not completely collapsed.

South Korea supports its own local films and has produced many excellent films.

Japan’s film aesthetic style is purely different from Hollywood.

Japanese movie fans are not interested in any of the superhero movies popular in Hollywood.

They prefer to watch their own fresh youth romance movies, or horror movies, suspense movies, as well as anime theater versions and special effects theater films.

Wu Yuan knew this, but Hollywood did not.

He can definitely prescribe the right medicine, and make the movies that will have high box office and good reputation in Japan and South Korea into Chinese films first, and then in turn get them to be released in Japan and South Korea.

Just like "The Embalmer" and "Your Name".

Although it may seem unethical to do so, a dead Taoist friend will never die a poor Taoist.

In order to develop his own film company and expand the Chinese film market, Wu Yuan had to sacrifice the Japanese and Korean film industry.

Is this better than copying a family member's movie?

The "Painted Skin" series and the planned "Along with the Gods" series are the movies Wu Yuan plans to use to enter the Japanese and Korean markets!

As for himself, of course, he mainly collects Hollywood's wool!

While grabbing good IP from Hollywood and producing it myself, using their global channels to make money, I can also copy some of Hollywood's outstanding movies and make them into Chinese films.

Even though it won't interrupt Hollywood's conquest of the city, it can enrich itself and the mainland film market.

After thinking about the future plan for a while, Wu Yuan's lips curled up slightly.

The idea is beautiful, but reality still has to be implemented step by step.

At the moment, let’s see if “My Name” can be successful in Japan and South Korea before talking about anything else.

but

Wu Yuan cast his eyes on Zhang Guorong, thought for a while, and asked: "Zhang Sheng, you don't plan to make a new movie next year, do you want to act in a play?"

"The company will make a fantasy movie called "Painted Skin" next year. This movie will be the first special effects blockbuster in China."

"How about it, do you want to come and act?"

"You and Chen Kun play the dual male leads!"

"Me?" Zhang Guorong was stunned.

Chen Kun and Zhou Xun were very strict. Although Wu Yuan had told them about "Painted Skin", neither of them mentioned it to Zhang Guorong when they were reshooting "If Love" in Northeast China.

It can be said that Zhang Guorong knows nothing about the movie "Painted Skin".

"Yes." Wu Yuan said matter-of-factly: ""Painted Skin" is the same as "A Chinese Ghost Story" you acted before, and it is also based on the story of Liaozhai."

"It's just that in "A Chinese Ghost Story" you are the scholar Ning Caichen, and in "Painted Skin" you have to play a wandering knight. He is the only decent person in this movie, the kind who slays demons and protects the moral."

Wu Yuan thought for a while, and if he didn't choose Donnie Yen for the role of Pang Yong, he could have let Zhang Guorong play it.

Even though he looks like a pretty boy, he still has a stubble and plays the role of a wandering swordsman, and his temperament is spot on.

The Ouyang Feng he played in "Ashes of Time" was very charming. He had a little stubble and was very charming!

In terms of image, not only does he match Pang Yong very well, but he also has an 80% rating.

And if "Painted Skin" can gather the four leading actors Zhang Guorong + Chen Kun, Zhou Xun + Zeng Li, it will really be Yan Gou's spring.

Stop pretending, Wu Yuan is just a handsome guy!

The more he thought about it, the more he thought the casting was good. He told Zhang Guorong the story background and character settings of "Painted Skin" with great interest.

"Zhang Sheng, the character Pang Yong is really very charming, and he is also a very contradictory character."

"I think it's best for you to act!"

"This" Zhang Guorong hesitated.

There is nothing about the characters. He has played many difficult roles with Wong Kar-Wai, but he is actually not very interested in this kind of challenge.

If another director asked him to act, he would definitely refuse. He has no pursuit of acting now.

What made him hesitate was that Wu Yuan said that the investment in this movie was not small, and the production cost would be more than 100 million yuan, or at least 15 million US dollars.

Although it is not as good as the US$30 million of "Hero", it is the first fantasy special effects blockbuster in China and a groundbreaking film.

If it succeeds, it will definitely go down in the history of Chinese movies like "Hero"!

This attraction is quite strong for him.

Now Zhang Guorong has become famous. In addition to his pursuits in the field of directing, he also cares about some achievements that can be remembered by future generations.

"Sounds cool." Zhang Guorong nodded and said, "But making a movie like this, there will be a lot of pressure to make back the money, right?"

He has now learned to look at things from the perspective of a director or producer.

Despite the huge fanfare of "Hero", with a box office of 250 million in the mainland and breaking numerous records, this movie has not made back its money, at least not yet.

As a contracted director of the Light and Film Era, Zhang Guorong is still worried about the company's operating conditions. He is afraid that this movie will destroy the company's capital flow, and that will be the end.

"Don't worry, since the company dares to shoot, it must be confident in this project." Wu Yuan said with confidence.

"Okay, I'll think about it." Zhang Guorong nodded hesitantly, "We'll see if the schedule is suitable after my new album is finished."

"Okay." Wu Yuan looked at his watch, stood up and greeted, "Come on, I'll treat you to lunch."

There's still a half-hour chapter left.