Chapter 264: Shanghai Film Group Decisively Chooses to Cut Its Wrists

Cheng Er's movie "The Third Man" was released in June this year.

This is a suspenseful thriller, which can be regarded as Cheng Er's new attempt in the field of drama films besides literary and artistic films.

As early as October 2003, the film was reported to the Film Bureau and obtained a filming license through Beijing Digital Impression Culture Communication Co., Ltd.

It was only because he had been unable to raise the funds for filming that Cheng Er made the film until he participated in the Youth Director Support Program of the Light and Shadow Era.

Unexpectedly, this movie was plagiarized.

Moreover, the copied movie was released first.

The movie "Parasite" was released in April this year. It was cast by Emperor and starred by Zhang Jiahui and Fan Xiaopang.

It's just that the box office performance of this movie was mediocre, it didn't make a splash at all, and basically no one paid attention to it.

I didn't expect that this movie actually plagiarized a lot of the script of "The Third Man", which is ridiculous.

When Wu Yuan learned the news, he was caught off guard.

The box office performance of "The Third Man" is not that good either. The total box office has not exceeded 10 million, and it is basically a novice at each other with "Parasite".

Well, in a sense, it does seem to prove that the level of the two movies is indeed similar.

Wu Yuan never expected that something like this could happen.

Immediately, Wu Yuan ordered on the phone: "Find the most professional team of lawyers to appeal and accuse the other party!"

"We absolutely cannot tolerate such bad behavior as theft of intellectual property rights, and we must defend Cheng Er's rights."

"The other party's investors include Huying and Emperor?"

"So what, since plagiarism is a sure thing, it doesn't matter who is behind it!"

After hanging up the phone, Wu Yuan let out a long sigh.

What's going on!

Looking around at home, Liu Yifei was not at home. She went to attend an Olympic-related event held in Yili, and Liu Xiaoli also went with her.

At leisure, Wu Yuan packed up his things and went out to go to the company to check on the situation.

On the other side, Li Xiaoping was also surrounded by people in her office.

Cheng Er, the director of "The Third Man", and the leading actors Gao Yuanyuan, Xu Guangtou, and Yan Po all looked depressed.

"Mr. Li, this is too much."

"I have been filming for so many years, and this is the first time I have encountered such behavior of almost copying everything."

"The facts of this plagiarism and infringement could not be clearer."

"We must sue him!"

Xu Zheng was very indignant. Now he is not as diplomatic as he was later, and he is more indignant.

In comparison, Cheng Er was relatively calm. He discovered it too late. It took so long for "The Third Man" to be released before he discovered it. If he had discovered it when it was released, it would be considered a hot spot for speculation if it was exposed. It would be a pity.

"The company is already organizing a team of lawyers to prepare for an appeal, and public opinion will also build momentum to support it."

Li Xiaoping said helplessly: "I know that the filming of this movie is not easy for everyone. I will not let everyone's hard work be tainted like this."

Xu Zheng's face looked better now, and he later remembered that Li Xiaoping was the actual helmsman of the Light and Shadow Era, and quickly explained: "Mr. Li, my tone may have been a bit harsh, but it's really not directed at you. Forgive me."

The birth of the movie "The Third Man" was not easy.

At the beginning of writing the script, Cheng Er was troubled by the direction of the protagonist.

Later, after the filming started, he and Xu Zheng and Gao Yuanyuan repeatedly pondered the characters' personalities. Everyone held their own opinions and argued endlessly. Finally, based on the original screenwriter, several endings were filmed. After a long discussion together, they decided to use the current one. version of the ending.

Although the final box office performance of "The Third Man" was not very good, it does not mean that everyone's hard work was in vain.

Just when Li Xiaoping wanted to say a few words of comfort, the people in the office were pushed away, and Wu Yuan strode in.

"What's the noise about? I heard it from all the way in the corridor."

Wu Yuan casually pulled up a chair, sat in the middle of the crowd, and said calmly: "What's the rush?"

"Now that we have enough evidence, those who infringed will naturally be punished as they should."

"First send a lawyer's letter, and then ask the media to report the matter publicly and let the public opinion out."

"It should be the other party who should be anxious!"

In fact, on the original track, Cheng Er discovered that the film plagiarized his "The Third Man" when "Parasite" was released in April.

But considering that "Parasite" was released first, if this matter was exposed at that time, it would only affect the box office performance of "The Third Man".

So he held it in for half a year and waited until "The Third Man" was released before breaking the news.

But at that time, Cheng Er made "The Third Man" with scattered investments by himself, and there was no capital behind him to give him a platform.

Faced with the cooperation of Huying and Emperor, this plagiarism incident was suppressed without causing much splash.

Cheng Er also gained a reputation as a "hype lover". He was clearly a victim of plagiarism, but instead he was beaten down by the plagiarists.

But things are different now.

Cheng Er participated in the Youth Director Support Program of the Light and Shadow Era.

The producer of "The Third Man" is Light and Shadow Times, and the copyright also belongs to Light and Shadow Times.

Wu Yuan is not a good man. He has always adhered to a principle that he will not offend others if they do not offend him. However, if someone makes trouble, he will also strike back with thunder!

Three hours after receiving the news, Emperor Entertainment Group, Shanghai Film Group, and Youyou Sunshine Film and Television, the three investment companies of "Parasite", received a fax of a lawyer's letter from Light and Shadow Times.

On the Internet, the news that "Parasite" plagiarized "The Third Man" was also spreading rapidly.

The media that have a good cooperative relationship with Light and Shadow Times all published articles in unison to denounce the shameless behavior of the main creative team of "Parasite".

The entertainment industry, which has been relatively calm recently, immediately set off a wave after Light and Shadow Times dropped a small bomb.

A vice president in charge of distribution of Shanghai Film Group scolded his subordinates in a very irritable tone.

"Great, our Shanghai Film Studio can actually have such a big scandal!"

"Plagiarism! There are as many as 17 similarities, almost copied from the script!"

"When you were reviewing the project script, you didn't find this kind of thing?!"

"Are the project review department of the company full of people who just eat for free?"

"It's all right now, the lawyer's letter faxed from Light and Shadow Times is in my office!"

"How do you say, how to solve this?"

The vice president slammed the table loudly, and on his table, a lawyer's letter was floating.

"For this kind of lawsuit, if it really goes to court, based on the evidence that Guangying Times has in hand, we have no chance of winning!"

"Our Shanghai Film is a state-owned enterprise!"

"A state-owned enterprise takes the lead in plagiarism, can you bear this reputation?!"

One of the vice president's subordinates gritted his teeth, raised his head and said: "Mr. Chen, we should immediately issue a joint statement with Emperor Entertainment Group, stating that "Parasite" and its script are original film and television works created by it, and its originality and originality are unquestionable!"

"No matter whether it will go to court later, we must first strive for public opinion. After all, "Parasite" was released earlier than "The Third Man", and the audience must believe that we are innocent!"

This public relations plan is actually quite reasonable under normal circumstances.

How can the audience know that the script of "The Third Man" was filed in 2003? They will only think that this movie was released later than "Parasite", and it is obvious that the latter is the object of plagiarism!

However, it is not normal now.

After hearing this solution, the vice president of Shanghai Film not only did not agree with it, but became even more angry. He picked up a document and threw it at the subordinate who made the suggestion.

"Are you a pig?!"

"You can fool the audience and fans, but can you fool Director Wu and the judge?"

"After this incident, Director Wu's impression of our Shanghai Film has seriously declined. Do you still plan to blame him?"

"If this angers Director Wu, our Shanghai Film will never work with Director Wu and Light and Shadow Times again!"

"Is this price worth it?"

"The director of "Parasite", He Ping, right?"

"If ten of him are tied together, is it important to have one Director Wu?"

"Only those with a brain disease want to offend Director Wu in order to protect him!"

This team is too difficult to lead!

The vice president of Shanghai Film was so angry that he couldn't breathe. He pulled the tie around his neck and gasped angrily.

As the largest state-owned film and television media group in the mainland after China Film, it would be a lie to say that they have no thoughts when they see Wu Yuan and China Film working closely together.

Among the investors of "Gravity", Shanghai Film accounts for 30 million yuan of investment, and reasonably eats 100 million yuan of investment costs with China Film, Guangguang and Berna Sanjia Company.

Shanghai Film also hopes to establish a good cooperative relationship with Wu Yuan through this cooperation and continue to participate in his other film projects in the future.

You know, the film investment projects that can be shared by Wu Yuan are definitely big productions, and they are super blockbusters that cost hundreds of millions of yuan at any time!

Although the capital in the mainland has cooled down a bit for the "blockbuster fever", for a big director like Wu Yuan who has an international market, his blockbuster projects are still a good pie that everyone is scrambling for.

Even because other directors' blockbusters have lost money, capital investment has become more cautious, and the investment share of Wu Yuan's blockbusters has become more popular than before.

To offend Wu Yuan for such a flop movie with a box office of only about 10 million?

Isn't this crazy?

The vice president of Shanghai Film knocked on the table hard, and said in a cold tone, almost gritting his teeth: "Cut off!"

"Immediately cut off ties with the screenwriter and director of "Parasite", issue an apology announcement, and admit that the company was negligent in film review."

"Let the main creative team of "Parasite" hold a press conference to apologize publicly!"

"Try to downplay the influence of our Shanghai Film in this movie, and bring Emperor Entertainment and Sunshine Film to the front!"

"Cut off our wrists, it's our only choice now."

"The company's script review department immediately started self-examination and self-inspection. I hope this kind of thing will not happen again!"