Director’s Legend

"Source Code" is a low-cost science fiction film directed by famous director Duncan Jones in 2009. It tells a series of thrilling events experienced by Captain Kurt Stevens, a US Air Force pilot on mission in Afghanistan. The production cost is 32 million U.S. dollars, which is about 250 million RMB according to the calculation of the exchange rate. The final global box office harvest was 120 million US dollars.

Of course, it is 2004 and prices have not risen so much. Moreover, "Source Code" invited three big-name stars, and the salary alone accounted for a large part of the filming in the United States. If you put it now and shoot in China, Shao Shuaijun is confident that he will double the cost.

He has known that the current special effects company can fully produce the effect of a train explosion. Depending on the length of the shot, the charges are also different. In total, Shao Shuaijun, about 5 minutes of explosion effect, can cut to complete the needs of the entire movie. Calculated at 5 million in one minute, it is 25 million in 5 minutes.

Coupled with some other special effects pictures, the entire movie spends more than 35 million on special effects.

Secondly, the biggest prop cost of the movie is spent on the train. At the very least, several train skins must be leased, the railway department must be coordinated, and helicopter aerial photography must be required. This part cannot be won without 10 million.

Special effects and props add up to 45 million. If you want to reduce costs, you can save a bit of the part reserved for shooting and film compensation. 500,000 contacted Liu Yifei, and Shao Shuaijun was still very satisfied. Liu Yifei is very popular this year, and it is a guarantee of the mainland box office.

Except for the heroine played by Liu Yifei, a college student. There is also a female officer with a lot of roles. For this candidate, Shao Shuaijun contacted Huayi's own artist, Fan Bingbing. Fan Bingbing has been very popular since the golden lock in "The Princess of the Pearl". He has participated in many TV dramas and received good ratings.

He and Li Bingbing claim to be two soldiers in addition to the four little Huadans, and they seem to have an attacking attitude.

What is lacking is the achievement in the film, and he has not played any important roles.

With the love of the Huayi Brothers, and the heroine Liu Yifei with a salary of 500,000 in the front, Fan Bingbing readily took over the role of a female officer, and the salary was also 500,000.

The main actors are determined, and the cost can be determined, pieced together on the line of 50 million.

With a cost budget, the next step is to start investing. Shao Shuaijun went to Huayi Brothers first and talked with Wang Zhonglei, who is in charge of the film and television project, in his office.

"Mr. Wang, the script of the movie has been finished. With an investment of 50 million yuan, how much can Mr. Wang solve?"

Wang Zhonglei knocked on the table: "Xiao Shao, you are a pure science fiction movie. China's current sci-fi movies are in the doldrums, you should know that there is no pure science fiction movie at all. Now shooting this kind of movie can make money Isn't it? 50 million is not a small amount of money, and Huayi will definitely not invest in full."

"I can be sure that movies are selling well. I figured it out. With the current market, a box office of 50 million yuan is the minimum. For Chinese-language films to develop, the Film Bureau will definitely encourage the shooting of science fiction subjects. Once supported by the Film Bureau, increase the number of films. And the duration, it should not be difficult to break the 100 million box office. Moreover, "Source Code" is my touchstone for hitting the American market."

Shao Shuaijun calculated shrewdly. The original version of "Source Code" landed on the mainland and received 43 million in the first week. It was just because the distribution company was not in place and the number of films was repeatedly reduced. In the end, it only got 65 million in the box office. In fact, the audience did not cut too much. , Breaking 100 million is not difficult.

Nowadays, the film market is not as popular in future generations, but it will not be affected too much by piracy. On balance, there is a chance of breaking 100 million.

Wang Zhonglei was obviously not so optimistic about Shao Shuaijun, and he sighed: "Xiao Shao, why do you insist on making science fiction movies? You can now shoot some blockbuster movies like "Crazy Stone" and consolidate your position as a director while making money. You Young, eighteen years old. Many directors are still playing in the mud at this age. Why rush to hit Hollywood?"

Can I tell you, I only have nine years, and time passes little by little. No matter how good a movie is, there will be no more my scene if it is not made?

Shao Shuaijun has a hard time saying, why didn't he know that his foundation is weak now, and the normal way should be steady and steady. But he must grasp the time and race against time to shoot good movies for later generations. If only busy with China’s hit comedies, won’t all good foreign movies be wasted?

But this reason is unexplainable. He can only continue to persuade: "Mr. Wang, "Source Code" has a good idea. I will not shoot it now. When the film develops rapidly in the future, there are certainly many science fiction films of this type. "Source Code" There is no competitiveness. I have great confidence in this movie. If it weren’t because I wanted Huayi Brothers’ shares, I would really like to reclaim my 30 million yuan to invest in this movie. There is absolutely no problem with making big profits in the future. If Huayi is afraid of taking too much risk, then invest. Poly Bona, Media Asia, and Warner can all participate."

Speaking of this, Wang Zhonglei has no reason to refuse to cooperate anymore, whether it is reasonable or reasonable: "Well, if you have confidence, I believe you! Huayi's shares are already well-known, and TOM Group initially agrees to your holdings. Share plan, you can join Huayi with confidence and we will start a business together! I will personally discuss the investment of "Source Code"."

If a movie is successful, there is the possibility of luck. However, the success of "Buried Alive" and "Crazy Stone" is not justified by luck. Wang Zhonglei is really optimistic about Shao Shuaijun's future. After the conversation, together with Shao Shuaijun, they went to major film and television investment companies to discuss film cooperation.

Wang Zhonglei talked about cooperation, and Shao Shuaijun was in charge of explaining the script. The investment that was supposed to be difficult was unexpectedly easy.

The first stop is Century Hero. Century Hero is a film and television investment company jointly established by CITIC Investment and China Film Group. The 300 million yuan masterpiece "Promise" that Chen Kai just started shooting this year is a movie invested by Century Hero. The person in charge of Century Hero did not agree to invest. It is said that the investment in "Promise" drained the capital chain.

However, in the second stop, Pauli Bona, unexpectedly went well.

"Haha, if you don’t come to me, I’m going to find Xiao Shao too. "Crazy Stone" has bad eyes on my eyes. Alas, I missed it at first, Xiao Shao, I solemnly apologize to you. "I didn't take it seriously." As soon as Yu Dong came up, he said enthusiastically.

Shao Shuaijun was stunned for a while, and sure enough, the businessman's face was rolled out of the hob. Reaching out without hitting the smiling faces, today is another investment promotion, and there hasn’t been much celebration before, and the scene immediately became active. For "Source Code," Yu Dong agreed to invest after reading the approximate script.

"We, Poly Bona, are willing to invest 20 million yuan, as long as the box office is divided into 30%."

"30% is too high. We at Huayi also plan to invest 20 million yuan, plus release, and only get 35%. As a director, screenwriter, and lead actor, Shao Shuaijun does not get paid, he will account for 10% of the share, leaving an investment gap of 10 million. , Plus the investment in promotional expenses, at least 30% of the share must be reserved, and you can only account for 25% of the share."

"It depends on the next investment amount, we will discuss."

"Row."

After discussing the direction of cooperation from Poly Bona, the third stop is Media Asia Entertainment, which is a Hong Kong film company and has had a good cooperation with Huayi Brothers. For this "Source Code", Chuang Cheng, one of Media Asia's principals, is still very optimistic about the script, and once a science fiction movie is made, its reputation is no worse than an art movie.

Chinese movies need the embellishment of science fiction movies too much.