Chapter 237 Oscar Knot

? The far east, a city with a long history.

In a teahouse converted from a square courtyard, Zhang Baimao put down the newspaper in his hand, lamenting the lack of self-confidence of Chinese people nowadays. Even the professional commentators of such big newspapers need the approval of Americans to find confidence .

Bang——

The door opened, and a gust of cold rushed towards him, and the national teacher entered the room with a dimpled face.

"Close the door!" The two had worked together for many years, and Zhang Baimao was not polite: "It's cold!"

The national teacher took off his hat and coat, and went to the tea stove to warm his hands. Then he opened his chair and sat down, and said, "Did you read the report about the Oscars? That crooked guy won eleven Oscar nominations! "

Zhang Baimao first poured him a cup of hot tea, then pushed the newspaper over, and said, "This crooked guy is making a lot of money!"

The national teacher did not read the newspaper, took a sip of hot tea, felt his body gradually warming up, and said, "It is possible to get the best director."

Zhang Baimao took a look at the national teacher. As a partner, no one knew better than him what the national teacher's obsession with Oscar was.

Just now I was thinking that Chinese people lack self-confidence and need the approval of Yankees to find self-confidence. Even the national teacher is not immune.

"Xiao Zhang is going to show off this time." Zhang Baimao said.

The national teacher did not answer, and said: "Old Zhang, I heard from American friends that "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is very likely to break through 150 million US dollars at the North American box office."

"It's not a big problem." Thinking of the green dollar bills, Zhang Baimao felt a burst of envy and envy: "I remember that North America sold out the copyright for this film, and the real money is the North American distribution company."

The national teacher thought that Ang Lee was about to touch the Oscar trophy, and he was a little anxious, and asked anxiously: "Which company is it? Sixth? Or Miramax who is good at winning awards?"

Zhang Baimao shook his head: "Neither. The publisher is called Embassy Pictures, which belongs to Relativity Entertainment Group. This is a group company that has only been established for two years. I heard from Jiang Xiaojun that at the Cannes Film Festival last year, a man named Ronan Anderson The young producer of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" bought the North American copyright of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" from Ang Lee and Xu Ligong for US$8 million."

"Ronan Anderson?" The national teacher remembered the name.

Zhang Baimao continued: "I specifically asked my friends in Los Angeles to inquire about it.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" can get so many Oscar nominations, it's all done by Ronan Anderson! "

The national teacher's heart moved: "Xiao Zhang should know him?"

Zhang Baimao said: "Xiaozhang has participated in so many activities and will be stationed in Los Angeles. I must know him."

The national teacher calculated in his mind, poured another cup of hot tea, and said, "Old Zhang, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" gave me some inspiration, and I have a new filming plan."

Zhang Baimao got up by relying on the national teacher, and immediately said: "No matter what the plan is, I will support you."

"The success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" will inevitably trigger a wave of martial arts craze in the world." Guoshi seems to have a lot of ideas: "I also want to make a martial arts movie."

Zhang Baimao was a little stunned: "This...you haven't come into contact with this type, have you?"

The national teacher is quite confident: "It was a dream of mine when I was a child to make a martial arts movie." Seeing Zhang Baimao's silence, he said again: "Old Zhang, I am not joking. I decided to use the story of Jing Ke's assassination of Qin to make a martial arts film." New packaging."

Zhang Baimao said: "Have you considered it? Some people will say that you follow suit."

For the Oscar, the national teacher didn't care at all: "The Embassy Pictures in North America, and that Ronan Anderson, have made "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" so successful that it has reached an unprecedented level. No matter what I do, I can't hide from it." I lost the suspicion of following the trend. But I thought, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" has a far-reaching impact, how many years do I have to wait? How many years later, people will still be criticized when it is filmed, and it will be followed even later. Then why not shoot now, if you say I follow, follow, at least in the mainland, I am the first to follow."

Zhang Baimao asked: "Are you planning to transform into a martial arts director?"

The national teacher shook his head and said: "Since making movies, my strengths have been literary and artistic films. This kind of mainstream commercial films is actually not my strength. In the future, my ass will not really sit with martial arts. My opinion is that martial arts are originally It is a spiritual sustenance created by people, which does not exist at all. Since it is a dream of everyone, then don’t standardize, fix, and stereotype this dream, so I want a special martial arts.”

Zhang Baimao thought for a long time, considering the status and appeal of the national teacher, as well as the huge international influence of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and finally made a decision: "Shoot! We also shoot martial arts!"

"Old Zhang, I knew you would definitely support me." The national teacher's expression became a little strange afterwards: "The scale of this film may be larger, and the investment will not be less than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

What is the disclosed production cost of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"? $15 million? Or $16 million?

Zhang Baimao is very courageous in this regard, saying: "We either don't do it! If we do, we will make it bigger! Our investment must be higher than "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

The national teacher is not a pedantic person, and asked: "Funds..."

What to make a movie with no money? He knew that Zhang Baimao couldn't afford so much money.

Zhang Baimao lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, I have a way to raise money. The coal bosses have a lot of money. They spend money everywhere in Beijing and look for investment. I'll find someone to contact them."

The national teacher has not been fooling around for so many years. He came up with an idea: "Tell them, this is an Oscar-winning movie. This kind of high honor should attract those upstarts."

"Good idea!" Zhang Baimao clapped his hands lightly: "We're going to the Olympics too! Those old boys will definitely give money obediently! It's not a big deal to get 100 million from them."

The national teacher heard that money is not a problem, and his thinking became clearer: "As long as I have funds, I can gather the best crew. The cast cannot lose to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", it must be the top among Chinese! Behind the scenes production The top level abroad is required. Yes, there is also that Xiaozhang, who is famous abroad now, I will let her come back, I can't praise her for nothing."

Zhang Baimao and the national teacher are still in the honeymoon period, and he waved his hand: "You are in charge of the movie!"

The national teacher said very seriously: "Old Zhang, I also want to go to the Olympic Games."

Zhang Baimao knew about the Guoshi's Oscar knot, and said: "I support you, but this matter needs to be well planned."

The national teacher thought for a while and said, "What do you think about asking Xiao Zhang to contact that Ronan Anderson first?"

Hearing this, Zhang Baimao didn't answer immediately, instead he thought about it seriously, and after a few minutes, he said: "How about this, let Xiaozhang talk to Ronan-Anderson first, and then find a chance to invite Ronan- Anderson came here, since Embassy Pictures can successfully operate "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", it will not be difficult to operate another martial arts film."

"Yes." The national teacher nodded again and again: "Yes."

Zhang Baimao is a businessman, and said: "We can't put all our chips on Ronan Anderson, these Americans are very treacherous. Except for Ronan Anderson, we will invite people from other American film distribution companies at that time. "

The national teacher has doubts: "Will this affect the future Olympics..."

Oscar, a knot in the teacher's life that he can never get rid of.

"Have you heard of the names of Harvey Weinstein and Miramax?" Zhang Baimao said slowly: "He is the real Oscar pusher. He once let a romantic comedy get rid of the Oscars. Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, we extended an invitation to him as well."

I always dream about Oscar's national teacher, how could I not have heard the names of Harvey Weinstein and Miramax?

The national teacher nodded slightly: "Okay, I will do as you said. This will not only guarantee our commercial interests, but also find a reliable Olympic publisher in North America."

Zhang Baimao looked at the time and said, "I'll take you somewhere."

The national teacher was puzzled: "It's so cold outside, where are you going?"

Zhang Baimao said simply: "That Ronan Anderson's Embassy Films has opened an office in Beijing, and we'll pay a visit."

"This speed is fast enough." The national teacher was a little surprised: "An office has been set up on our side!"

Zhang Baimao said: "I feel that this Ronan Anderson is not simple."

Just as the outside world expected, just entered the second half of March, the North American box office of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" crossed the threshold of 150 million US dollars, and before the Oscars ceremony, the total reached 157.45 million US dollars!

This also allowed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to successfully squeeze out DreamWorks Pictures' "Behind the Lies", and climbed to the tenth place on the 2000 North American box office list in one fell swoop.

According to the calculation rules of the North American box office list, for a film like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" that was screened in December 2000, all box office revenue will be calculated based on the 2000 list.

This is also the first time in the history of North American film that a foreign language film can enter the top ten of the annual box office rankings.

It is no exaggeration to say that under the operation of Ronan and Embassy Pictures, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" has broken all records of foreign language films in North America.

Almost all the media, especially the Chinese media, praised this film to the sky.

"Ann Lee did not disappoint the Chinese people. His first martial arts film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" left the audience dumbfounded. Although this film is based on traditional oriental martial arts themes, he can break the pattern of previous martial arts films. , bringing the aesthetics of oriental martial arts to the extreme. The martial arts moves designed by Yuan Heping, including lightness kung fu and sword fighting, have escaped the model of previous Hong Kong and Taiwan martial arts movies. Not only are the moves solid, but they are also amazingly beautiful..."

""Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" won warm applause from the American audience, and also made the Chinese compatriots feel extremely proud and honored. Director Ang Lee not only realized the magnificent fantasy of the martial arts world when he was a child, but also allowed the audience to enter the martial arts world and dance with him Dance. And use your own views and strength to fulfill the dreams of every Chinese at home and abroad."

Countless eyes gathered at the Oscar Awards Ceremony, wanting to see how many statuettes this film can get.