Chapter 1054 Invitation
On March 11, Li Qian left for the United States.
And in the plan, he will travel to the United States at least three to four times this year, and there is actually only one goal for so many trips, and that is to hold talks with the American Theater Association, hoping that the other party can make as much as possible before May and June next year. The increase of 3D and 3D-IMAX theater transformation.
To put it bluntly, as a businessman, Li Qian went to promote his technology to the American Theater Alliance.
In terms of influence, based on "The Matrix", Li Qian already has a bit of face at the American Theater Alliance, not to mention that he is the boss behind Columbia, so here is a request for a meeting , the American Theater Alliance quickly replied and agreed.
But that's all.
Needless to say, Li Qian knew in his heart that the people he was going to meet were pure businessmen, they had nothing to do with art, they were just businessmen in charge of selling movies.
If I bring a new movie to them and hope that they will show it, they will definitely talk to me enthusiastically about the scale of the painting, the arrangement of the film, and so on. However, when I run over with a new technology, I hope they can adopt their own When he developed 3D technology to equip its theaters, he would not have any face—even if he told them clearly that his 3D movie with an investment of up to 250 million US dollars had finished shooting, And it will be released worldwide in June 2007, and the release of that movie will bring a lot of extra profits to every theater with 3D projection capabilities, but it is useless.
In fact, 3D is not a new technology, and it is not that Hollywood has never made 3D movies, but the past few experimental works, without exception, suffered a lot.
Therefore, Li Qian knew that no matter how extravagantly he said, the effect would probably be limited. Only when they see the real benefits, will they rush forward.
However, in order to pave the way for the film's market environment and screening conditions as much as possible before the film's release, in order to let the film release as much box-office harvesting capacity as possible, Li Qian also hoped that they would be able to prepare for the film before it was released. Be prepared for more.
This contradiction is simply irreconcilable.
But even so, Li Qian still had to make these trips.
Although the effect may not be too great, at least it will definitely not be like what I did to the Minghu Cinemas, directly ordering and investing in renovations, but if I can win one more screening hall, the influence of "Avatar" will expand by one point ——If Li Qian remembers correctly, James Cameron in another time and space did the same thing. It turned out that as a bystander, he talked about this incident as a joke, thinking that the truck driver went to work as a business salesman, but it was his turn to sit in this position. James Cameron, still himself in this time and space, was actually worried before the movie really became popular and 3D technology was really recognized and accepted.
Even if I know the development prospects of 3D technology in another time and space, but in this time and space, can my 3D technology work? Even if 3D technology will become popular in the future, can my "Avatar" start smoothly and become the pioneer of 3D technology?
There are so many unknowns.
Even Li Qian can only say that he will try his best!
Because other than that, he has absolutely no other way.
Now that Minghu Culture has acquired Columbia Pictures, it is impossible for Li Qian to have his own theater chain in the United States according to the US anti-monopoly law.
Film production and movie theaters must be separated, and no film company is allowed to hold shares in or open theaters, and vice versa.
Even if Minghu Culture is a Chinese company, if it dares to build a movie theater in the United States, it will immediately face the prosecution of the relevant American anti-monopoly department.
Therefore, American theater chain operators are very unique.
Perhaps when "Avatar" becomes popular, the American cinema dealers who come to ask for the technical authorization of Minghu Research Institute will break the threshold of Minghu culture, but at least for now, Li Qian can only turn into a salesman and go to the United States Do business with those guys.
Of course, now that he has gone to the United States, he still has a lot of things to deal with at the same time.
Therefore, not only Liao Liao, who had already planned to end his vacation, but also Sun Yuting and his party who were rushing to have full contact with Colombia were on the same plane with him to go to the United States.
Of course, there is also Qi Jie who will attend an internal high-level meeting in Colombia.
However, just as the plane landed in Los Angeles, Li Qian learned a piece of news from Du Yihua who came to pick him up, which stunned him for a long time.
While they were still flying in mid-air, the Cannes Film Festival officially sent an invitation letter to Li Qian's mailbox, inviting him to be the chairman of the jury of this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Hearing that Du Yihua couldn't wait to tell the news the first time he received them, Qi Jie was first surprised and then pleasantly surprised, Sun Yuting was first surprised and then ecstatic, and then looked at Li Qian with admiration.
Liao Liao couldn't help but put his arms around him, kissed him directly, and said, "Yes, good news!"
However, Li Qian was dumbfounded.
He couldn't help asking: "How is it possible? Why is it me?"
Du Yihua shrugged, "How would I know!"
After everyone got in the car, the group went to Liao Liao's villa. Slowly, Li Qian probably started to understand the meaning of the organizer of the Cannes Film Festival.
There are hundreds of registered film festivals in the world. Although the three major film festivals in Europe have always held high the banner of art films and have had great influence on a global scale, the three major film festivals The competition between the film festival and other film festivals, and even the competition between the three major film festivals, has always existed—and this kind of competition is all-round and comprehensive competition.
The competition for cutting-edge directors, the competition for good movies, and even the competition for stars, the respective efforts for publicity and exposure, and so on.
And all of this boils down to one point in the end, that is the influence of the film festival.
Today, when the influence of the Oscars in the United States is expanding more and more globally, how to survive and expand its influence is an urgent problem even for the three major European film festivals— —Less aside, ten years ago, they would never have considered inviting a filmmaker like themselves to be their jury chairman.
This is not absolutely related to age, it has nothing to do with qualifications, and it has little to do with ability and talent. Grand Slam, but in the final analysis, in fact, I have always insisted on taking the commercial film route.
However, for the three major European film festivals, which were at the end of the day and whose influence was not getting better every year, the global popularity and influence they had gained because of commercial films was exactly what they urgently needed.
Moreover, I am young enough and have low qualifications, so that I can be the chairman of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. This matter itself will be full of controversy!
It is no exaggeration to say that once the news is announced, it will immediately attract countless attention from all over the world.
And Cannes can give a confident reason for this, because "Red Sorghum" once won a grand slam in Berlin, and has considerable popularity and reputation in Europe, saying that it is not qualified to judge art films is obviously a stand Can't stand.
It has to be said that compared to this aspect, the contingencies made by the three major European film festivals based on the actual situation are much more enjoyable than domestic ones—even today, whether it is art films or commercial films, Li Qian has been He has proved himself globally, but the recognition of awards in China is still limited.
At the beginning of 2004, Li Qian, Lu Lingxi, Qin Jingjing, Zhu Qiang, and Han Shunzhang made an appointment to visit the old principal’s house to celebrate the New Year. The old principal said that the Yangcheng Film Festival invited him to be the chairman of the jury this year, but he declined. , and strongly recommended Li Qian, saying that these young, energetic and talented young people should be allowed to dominate the aesthetic taste of domestic film festivals, but in the end, this proposal was rejected.
It's not that he is not good enough, the reason is that Li Qian is still too young, so we can wait a few years later.
Speaking of this, the old man looked regretful and helpless.
Of course, Li Qian didn't think it mattered. Anyway, at the Yangcheng Film Festival, Li Qian didn't bother to send his own films to participate. The chairman of the jury committee didn't care much whether he did it or not.
In fact, apart from the fact that "Red Sorghum" went to Berlin to participate in the exhibition, and Jin Han once persistently pursued the recognition of art film awards, including Li Qian and the entire Minghu culture, from the beginning of the film and television department's establishment, I have always been firmly on the road of commercial films.
Because in Li Qian's view, honor and disgrace are known only when there is enough food and clothing. If the film market in China is so large, if you can't make movies that the audience likes, you will let Hollywood take over the big market. , That's really the last thing to do.
First occupy the film market, cultivate the film market, and cultivate Chinese-language films. When the market grows, the audience's aesthetic taste has begun to break away from the excitement of simply liking to watch big commercial productions, and they are willing to spend money to enjoy it. And support certain niche films with unique aesthetics, the real development opportunities for domestic literary and artistic films have arrived.
It's useless to say anything else before that.
Even if "Red Sorghum" swept Berlin and returned to China with a high box office, it was just an example, not enough for reference or emulation.
So for a long time, from Li Qian, to the directors of Minghu Culture, and even the actors, they don't actually value movie awards as much as the domestic atmosphere.
Not to mention the domestic ones, in fact Li Qian didn't care much about the six Oscar nominations for "The Matrix", as well as the best editing and best soundtrack that he got in the end.
Of course, the meaning and concept of winning and chasing awards by yourself, and being the chairman of the jury at a world-renowned film event such as the Cannes Film Festival, responsible for evaluating awards and presenting awards to others, are obviously not the same thing.
If Li Qian remembers correctly, up to now, among domestic filmmakers, Qin Wei, who is currently the most powerful, once served as a member of the jury of the Venice Film Festival, a member of the jury of the Cannes Film Festival, and another Once the jury chairman of the Tokyo Film Festival-this is the position of the film masters recognized by Chinese filmmakers so far.
It is no exaggeration to say that once Li Qian becomes the chairman of the jury of the Cannes Film Festival, his status in the global film industry, in the domestic film industry, and his subsequent appeal and influence will all be equal to those of the original Cannes Film Festival. Basically, there is an increase in the level of qualitative change.
From then on, no one is qualified to set up obstacles for him in terms of public opinion or awards, even in a country where seniority is emphasized.
This is obviously of great benefit to Li Qian himself and the future development of Minghu culture in China.
Therefore, Qi Jie couldn't help but said: "Go! Anyway, you don't have to worry about the company. In the later stage of "Avatar", if you leave for a month, you won't be affected too much."
However, Li Qian hesitated.
It’s not that he’s worried that this promise will put himself at the center of the controversy, and he doesn’t care if others question him, but the problem is—he’s particularly unwilling to watch those seemingly profound but blurred pictures. movies, but as the chairman of the jury, you have to watch many such movies every day!
Of course there will be good art films, and good art films really give people a very high-level artistic enjoyment. Li Qian really hopes to see those good films that are particularly good and have ideas.
However, he prefers to watch the good films that have been selected, rather than being the person in charge of the selection—especially, he probably knows the rules of the Cannes Film Festival. I started to retreat and watch movies, watching all kinds of beautiful or tragic or weird movies sent to the exhibition from all over the world.
For more than a month, he did nothing but watch movies over and over again. Li Qian felt that his concentration and patience were not up to that level.
So, facing Qi Jie and Sun Yuting's expectant eyes, Li Qian hesitated again and again, and said: "I'll write a letter back there myself! I still won't go!"
Everyone looked disappointed.
But Li Qian just smiled and said, "It's not a problem to be the chairman of the jury, but I don't think it's time for me yet."
This time, Sun Yuting couldn't help but said: "Everyone thinks you can do it, why are you being modest? This doesn't look like you! What are you afraid of, come on! This is the honor of the entire Chinese literary film! The three major European film festivals, We Chinese filmmakers haven’t been the chairman of the jury once!”
But Li Qian said: "Wait a little longer, I still have two films that I haven't made yet. After I make them, I will try to go to the Cannes and Venice film festivals respectively, and win all the awards that should be won. It’s not too late to think about this!”
Everyone was surprised.
Qi Jie soon became thoughtful, just nodded, and said nothing more.
After being surprised, Sun Yuting couldn't help but asked again with some excitement, "You will still make literary and artistic movies in the future, right? Like "Red Sorghum"?"
Li Qian smiled and said: "It must be different from "Red Sorghum". If it is the same, why should I make it? If you want to make it, make something different!"
So Sun Yuting said at the time: "Then tell me in advance, assistant director, I have made a reservation!"
Li Qian couldn't help laughing when he heard the words, but still nodded and said, "Okay!"
…………
On the second day, Li Qian personally replied to the Cannes Film Festival organizer's email and declined the other party's invitation. The reason he used was exactly what he had mentioned to Qi Jie and Sun Yuting——
"I haven't won the Grand Prix in Cannes yet, and I will definitely win it in the future! So I don't want to be the chairman of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival yet!"
This reply is a bit domineering.
However, after receiving the reply email, the organizer of the Cannes Film Festival expressed regret, but did not insist on the invitation. Instead, they repeatedly stated in their reply letters, "I am very much looking forward to the day when your new film will be exhibited in Cannes!"
Again, the film festival is certainly a place for many directors to become famous, but good directors and good works can also add points to the film festival in turn.
For a director like Li Qian who has "Red Sorghum" in art and "The Matrix" in business, the Cannes Film Festival is of course very happy to win over.
…………
Get rid of the jet lag and deal with the invitation to the Cannes Film Festival. After Qi Jie went to attend a high-level meeting in Columbia, Li Qian quickly brought Sun Yuting to the office building in Columbia. Here, the Colombian side sent The three producers and financial staff of the company had a preliminary contact with Sun Yuting—because Du Yihua was also one of the two producers sent by Columbia, and her appearance can also communicate things well, so after participating After this meeting, Li Qian was relieved a lot.
The movie "Transformers" has a huge investment, and it is the first time that Columbia has participated in the investment of a 3D movie, and the director is a director who cannot be recognized within Columbia. Therefore, Glenshire represents Columbia The statement is also quite cautious.
Li Qian, and John Days as Li Qian's representative, also became one of the producers of the crew, and together with the three Columbia producers headed by Du Yihua, constituted the producers of the "Transformers" crew The meeting is also where the crew really has the final decision.
And Sun Yuting, the director, is really just a paid director.
I have no ability to decide on the script, I have no ability to decide on the actors, and it is even more impossible to get the right to final cut.
However, she looked very excited.
In fact, Li Qian was the main focus of the production team from the beginning of script writing, and under Li Qian's strong push, the work progress of the entire production team moved forward quite quickly.
Therefore, when Li Qian finished a round of lobbying for the American Theater Alliance and got only a few empty promises, basically declaring that the lobbying this time was fruitless, the preparation and promotion of "Transformers" But it is gratifying.
The script first passed the approval of the producer meeting, and then Li Qian decided to return to China.
Sun Yuting will stay, as his representative, to participate in the subsequent filming preparations and auditions for actors.
The purpose of doing this is to allow Sun Yuting to barely gain a little power as a producer—in fact, since October last year, several producers in Columbia, including Du Yihua, have already started pre-production for this film. Even when Li Qian and the others came over, several versions of some basic robot models needed for filming had already been made for future directors to choose from. So Sun Yuting, the director and acting producer, can participate, in addition to the script writing, mainly the setting of the scene according to the script and the selection of film actors.
After returning to China, Li Qian was also not relaxed.
Because Liu Chengzhang's "Painted Skin" has completed the script, and even started the preliminary preparations. He plans to officially start filming this movie in May.
If there are no accidents, the film will be filmed in October and then transferred to post-production.
At this time, the contract between Minghu Culture and Zhou Baoshan expired, and it was getting closer and closer.
It is no exaggeration to say that Zhou Baoshan's next stay, and possible whereabouts, is definitely something that everyone in the industry is staring at.
And the competition among major companies in the industry for the "Zhou Baoshan Studio" that will almost inevitably appear in the future has completely entered a white-hot state.
But after attending the filming ceremony of "Journey to the West: Mrs. Bones", Li Qian just stared at the later stage of "Avatar" and watched all this with cold eyes.
At the end of April, he even suddenly decided to record a few songs.
It was just an idea that came out of nowhere.
Then, he went to record.
After hearing the news, Zhou Mo, He Runqing, Xie Bing, and even the musicians and singers in the company came to "visit the class" except for Liao Liaoyuan who could not come back in the United States. A look of curiosity and anticipation.
Because Li Qian hasn't recorded a new song for a long time.
Song writing is still being written one after another, but he himself has not even opened his voice for more than two years.
So everyone is curious about what kind of song he plans to record.
Of course, they were not disappointed.
After finishing the arrangement, the musicians rehearsed, and he went to the company's recording studio intermittently within a week, and recorded three songs successively.
Hearing these three songs, many people's expressions were first stunned, and then they shook their heads, sighed, sighed, and worshiped.
And half a month later, when this song was uploaded to the Internet one after another by Li Qian, it soon caused a major earthquake in the entire Chinese pop music scene.
The first song is called "Blue and White Porcelain".
The second song is called "Locked-Out-Of-Heaven", an English song.
The third song, called "Thinking-Out-Loud", is still an English song.
After the three songs, there is a sentence attached: There will be no album, download it and listen!
Three days later, when these three songs became popular in China, they were also reposted on many music websites in Europe and America, and were subsequently frequently played by many European and American music stations.
Within a week, through the Internet, but also through music stations around the world.
These three songs became popular all over China.
Two of the English songs became popular all over the world.
***
This chapter is a bit long, and it is estimated that many people will complain that it is too expensive.
Friends who follow the show should also be able to feel that the plot is accelerating. That's right, it is really coming to an end, and there is still the last bridge section left.
Reluctantly ah me!