Chapter 82: The Beginning of the Era of Blockbusters

After the four domestic directors gathered together to chat for a while, Director Zhang Yimou, who had dealt with other guests, also came to this circle.

As soon as he saw Zhang Yimou, Director Kaige showed a complicated expression on his face.

"Yimou, is it stressful to make a movie with such a high investment?" Director Kaige's tone was a little envious, and a little worried about his friend.

Zhang Yimou is definitely a friend to Director Kaige.

Although the two parted ways after "Yellow Earth" because of their different film concepts, they still regard each other as friends.

Director Kaige's mentality can be summed up in one sentence: I am afraid that my friends will suffer, and I am also afraid that my friends will drive a Land Rover.

I don't want Director Yimou to fail too much, nor do I want him to be too successful.

Director Yimou is still introverted, smiling shyly: "There is definitely pressure, so this time I will fully cooperate with the publicity. I will do whatever Wei Ping asks me to do."

"For me, there is a boss willing to pay so much money and bring so many stars together to give me such an opportunity. I should not be too selfish. I should fully cooperate with them to recover the cost."

"This will be a great comfort to my conscience."

"Of course, to put it more utilitarian, if the investment is recovered, more people will ask me to make movies, and more bosses will pay attention to the film industry, which is also good for the development of our mainland films."

Wu Yuan on the side nodded in admiration and gave a thumbs up: "Director Yimou, your courage to be the first in the world is really admirable!"

Last year, that is, in 2001, the total box office of mainland movies was only 890 million.

With such a small market, Zhang Yimou dared to shoot a blockbuster with an investment of 30 million US dollars, equivalent to 240 million RMB. This is definitely an unprecedented gamble in the history of mainland movies!

Wu Yuan, who knew the result, knew that he won this gamble, but others didn't know, and Zhang Yimou was even less sure!

But he still accepted the challenge bravely.

This is indeed worthy of praise, and Wu Yuan would not think that Director Yimou was not good just because he knew the future.

"What about the next movie? Do you have any ideas?" Jiang Wen also came up and asked curiously.

Everyone knows that Director Yimou is a well-known workaholic. He often has ideas and ideas before the movie he is working on is finished. Jiang Wen is also curious about Director Yimou's next movie.

This "Hero" has made 30 million US dollars, so the style of the next movie must not be low!

"It's still a martial arts movie!" As expected, Director Yimou said confidently: "In fact, before the filming of "Hero" started, I was also writing the script for the next movie."

"The next one is also going to be a martial arts movie!"

"Hero is my first time to shoot a martial arts movie and an action movie."

"Although we have a very good action director, the action is too unfamiliar to me and I am very passive."

"So my own ideas and the combination with the action are very rough, and the filming is not so perfect."

"Now I think I have accumulated experience in this area, and if I shoot another martial arts movie, it will be better!"

"Of course, the story of the next one is different, and I want to shoot a different feeling."

Wu Yuan nodded in understanding.

"House of Flying Daggers"!

The handsome Jin + Hua + Zhang Ziyi, this lineup does look great, and the box office is also pretty good.

"Then I wish "Hero" a big hit and revitalize our mainland film market!" Feng Xiaogang also blessed with a smile on his face.

He really hopes that "Hero" can be a big hit. After all, he attaches the most importance to the commercial film market. If "Hero" can awaken the public's desire to go to the cinema, it will be good news for Feng Xiaogang.

He has been thinking in his mind that he will also make a commercial blockbuster, and he can't keep making comedy movies.

Director Kai Ge and Jiang Wen also nodded thoughtfully.

They are also thinking about the transformation of commercial films.

It can be said that the success or failure of the movie "Hero" will affect the career planning of several top directors in the mainland!

Once "Hero" is a big hit, it proves that commercial blockbusters also have a market in the mainland, and then they will immediately try to shoot their own commercial blockbusters!

Who doesn't want to make money?

Only Wu Yuan sat on the Diaoyutai, his expression did not change.

Commercial blockbuster?

He has a "Pirates of the Caribbean" to be released worldwide next year

Several big directors have to consider the risks of transforming into commercial films, consider whether they can make commercial films, and if the transformation fails, will the consequences be serious.

Wu Yuan doesn't have to consider these.

My buddy started out as a commercial film director!

Don’t forget his films “The Night the Comet Came” and “Juno” just because “Departures” won an award at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Wu Yuan currently holds the box office record for mainland directors!

Juno’s global box office is 220 million US dollars, which even “Hero” can’t beat!

It’s just that “Juno” was not released in mainland China, which often makes most mainland audiences and filmmakers subconsciously ignore this matter!

It doesn’t matter, “Pirates of the Caribbean” will be released worldwide next year, and if nothing unexpected happens, it will also be released in mainland China.

By then, the “mainland director box office record” held by “Juno” should be broken, and it can be pulled to more than 600 million US dollars at once.

It is estimated that this box office record of mainland directors will not be broken until the mainland movie box office enters the 5 billion era

However, when calculating the mainland movie box office record, "Juno" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" must not be counted.

"Hero" can still win the crown of the first place in the mainland movie box office.

Wu Yuan is the director with the highest box office in the mainland, and "Hero" will be the first movie in the mainland box office. Everyone wins!

With a sincere smile on his face, Wu Yuan shook the hand of Director Yimou and said sincerely: "I have a hunch that "Hero" will create a new mainland movie box office record!"

"I hope so." Director Yimou's tone was full of expectation.

"Hey, Director Wu! Are you free? Let's chat for a while!" Not far away, Director Han, who had just finished chatting with some other guests, waved to Wu Yuan.

"Excuse me." Wu Yuan smiled apologetically to Director Yimou, temporarily left the director circle, and walked to the side of Director Han, "Director Han, do you have something to talk to me?"

"Can't I chat with you if I have nothing to do?" Director Han smiled and glared at Wu Yuan.

"But there is something, Director Wu. Look at Yimou's film "Hero". It has an investment of 30 million US dollars, and the domestic publicity cost is expected to be 20 million!"

"There will be a grand premiere next. Zhang Weiping is also going to have a 0:00 premiere."

"You are not moved after watching it?"

"Why should I be moved?" Wu Yuan was a little surprised.

"To make a blockbuster!" Director Han patted Wu Yuan's shoulder hard, saying with regret.

If you want to say which domestic director he is most optimistic about now, it is no longer Director Yimou, but Wu Yuan!

Director Han is now focused on expanding the domestic film market and wants to create an oriental Hollywood!

Domestic directors who make art films can't really do much in this regard.

Even Zhang Yimou's "Hero" is still on the edge of the cliff.

Even if it is premiered soon, no one dares to say that the investment of 30 million US dollars can be recovered!

But Wu Yuan can!

In North America, where the commercial film market is so mature, Wu Yuan's movies can be a hit!

North American audiences who are used to watching all kinds of commercial movies are willing to go to the cinema to contribute to Wu Yuan's box office!

His commercial value no longer needs to be proven!

If he shoots a commercial blockbuster in the mainland, it will definitely be a hit!

Even if it doesn't sell well, relying on the reputation of a Hollywood director, his film copyright is sold at a higher price than others. People in Japan, South Korea and even North America are willing to buy his movies.

Investing in him to make a commercial blockbuster, the loss rate is definitely the lowest among all mainland directors!

Now China Film wants to rush to give money to Wu Yuan!

Wu Yuan also understood Mr. Han's idea, he shook his head: "Next year, I'm still shooting "Pirates of the Caribbean" on hand."

"However, even if I want to make a commercial film in the mainland next year, I plan to invest my own money."

"No problem, just leave the distribution to China Film! I'll help you settle other things!" Mr. Han patted his chest and promised.

As long as Wu Yuan is willing to make commercial films in the mainland and stop studying literary and artistic films, Mr. Han will be satisfied.

China Film didn't invest a penny in "Hero", but Mr. Han was still very active!

What China Film Group wants now is to expand the mainland commercial film market!

As long as Wu Yuan is willing to make commercial films in the mainland, he will definitely drive the development of the mainland commercial film market!

The market has developed, the pie has grown, and China Film Group is still afraid of not making money?