sovbooks Chapter 51: Share Allocation
Chapter 51: Share Allocation
The negotiations lasted for several days.
Liu Yu discovered that the sales experience he brought from his previous life was still useful at the international negotiation table.
Let the other party speak first, let their offer be on the table first, and then you can slowly increase it.
Lionsgate initially had a lot of confidence, saying that the film had to be made entirely in a foreign language and couldn't be labeled as a foreign language film in the North American market, as that would affect the box office.
Liu Yu agreed, but Qianlang Pictures had to retain all the copyrights and share the North American box office revenue.
The Lionsgate representatives shook their heads and said no, we provide the money and the distribution channels, why should we get a share?
Liu Yu said that he wrote the script, he conceived the project, and he said that if they were to leave this film, they could find someone else, but if they were to leave him, they would not find another one.
Zhong Lifang sat next to Liu Yu, and her facial expressions were textbook-perfect throughout.
David nodded in agreement. He had worked at MGM for over a decade and had never seen a Chinese producer dare to speak to a Hollywood company like that.
...
On February 25, the agreement was finally reached.
As the setting sun slanted into the conference room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, representatives from both sides signed the contract.
The total investment was $14 million, with $6 million allocated to marketing and distribution. Lionsgate contributed $8 million, handling global distribution and owning 70% of the revenue share in North America and the corresponding copyright revenue share, as well as 30% in other regions worldwide.
Qianlang Pictures invested 12 million, owning all copyrights, as well as 30% of the revenue share in North America and 70% in other regions.
This figure was calculated repeatedly by David and Lionsgate, with the main costs being actors, sets, and post-production.
When Liu Yu saw the budget, he did a quick mental calculation: 14 million US dollars, which is about 110 million RMB according to the exchange rate.
This is the largest investment he has ever made so far, costing more than ten times more than "Hearing Girl".
Liu Yu already had someone in mind for the male lead: Daniel Craig.
He is not yet the sixth James Bond; Casino Royale will not be released until November 2006. At present, Daniel Craig is just a somewhat famous actor in Hollywood, not yet a global superstar.
This is the opportunity. Wait until he finishes playing 007 and then contact him again; the price will be more than ten times higher.
Liu Yu asked Lionsgate to contact him. When the Lionsgate representative heard the name, their expression became somewhat subtle. "Are you sure? He's not from an action movie background."
"You'll understand once you read his 'Layer Cake'."
Liu Yu retains the main creative control and some editing rights; major decisions require consultation between both parties.
This was the part Liu Yu was insisting on; he knew the rules of Hollywood—they wouldn't give junior directors editing rights.
If he relinquished creative control, the film wouldn't be his anymore. Lionsgate negotiated this point for a long time, but finally gave in.
"It's a pleasure to work with you!" Michael extended his hand, and Liu Yu shook it with a smile.
The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly relaxed.
Staff from both sides shook hands, exchanged business cards, and took photos together.
David carefully put away the contract and headed back to North America with the Lionsgate team.
Liu Yu and Zhong Lifang packed their luggage, preparing to rush back to Beijing.
"The Hearing Girl" is scheduled for release on March 1st. China Film Group started promoting it the day after the Berlin Film Festival, with posters plastered all over major cinemas across the country and trailers playing repeatedly on television and the internet.
Han Sanping called, "Come back quickly, it's your turn to shine."
.......
As soon as he exited customs, Liu Yu saw a huge, dark mass of people.
People carrying video cameras, voice recorders, and cameras crowded densely outside the cordon, like a pack of wild dogs that had smelled meat.
He let out a long sigh. Zhong Lifang, who was next to him, heard the noise, turned her head to look at him, and had a smile that was not quite a smile on her lips. "Why are you sighing? This kind of treatment is something others would beg for."
Liu Yu tilted his head and thought for a moment, "Do you think I can slip away through the freight channel in time?"
Zhong Lifang rolled her eyes at him, too lazy to reply.
The flashes of light were continuous, a blinding white blur that made people dizzy.
Liu Yu steeled himself and walked out of customs, dressed in a black jacket, jeans, and sneakers.
He subconsciously raised his hand to block the light, a gesture that was precisely captured by the reporters, whose shutter clicks rang out like firecrackers during Chinese New Year.
"Director Liu! What do you want to do most after winning the award?" A young female reporter squeezed to the front.
Liu Yu squinted as the flash went off, and after thinking for a moment, his expression became extremely serious.
"I need to finish my graduation thesis first. I missed a lot of classes last semester, and I still have to make up my final exams."
There was a moment of silence, followed by a burst of good-natured laughter.
"Is your next movie still aiming for awards? Do you have any concrete plans?" Another male reporter squeezed through the security guards' line of people, his voice so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire corridor.
"There's a plan." Liu Yu walked forward under the escort of security guards, his pace neither fast nor slow. "It will be announced at the end of the month, and everyone will know then."
He didn't give a definitive answer, leaving the rest open.
Firstly, it hasn't been fully finalized yet, and it would be difficult to explain if something unexpected happened; secondly, after dealing with reporters for so many years, he has learned a lesson: if you say too much, what awaits you is not necessarily applause, but possibly a trap you've set.
The surrounding reporters began to whisper among themselves, some making quiet murmurs.
"Director Liu! I heard that many Hollywood companies have invited you to make movies. Is that true?" A middle-aged male reporter, carrying a camera, shouted as he walked backwards, almost tripping over the safety barrier several times.
Liu Yu stopped and glanced at him.
"Yes, that's true. It's in the planning stages." He didn't say how many companies were involved, which companies specifically, or what the conditions would be.
It's not that I'm trying to keep you in suspense, it's just that there are some things I can't say yet.
The atmosphere around them suddenly heated up, and the reporters' eyes seemed to be plated with gold, shining brightly.
Twenty-five years old, Berlin Silver Bear, Hollywood project in preparation.
This resume would be something any Chinese director could boast about for half their life.
After finally squeezing through the crowd and reaching the entrance of the arrival hall, Liu Yu froze.
Yu Li stood at the front, wearing a dark blue coat and a scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, holding a bouquet of flowers in her hands, lilies and baby's breath.
Behind her stood several management students, holding a handwritten sign that read in a crooked hand: "A warm welcome to Senior Brother Liu Yu's triumphant return."
Liu Yu strode over, and Yu Li shoved the flowers into his arms. She took a step back and looked him up and down, her tone as flat as if she were calling roll in class, "You've lost weight. Didn't you eat properly in Berlin?"
"Teacher Yu, what brings you here?" Liu Yu held the bouquet of flowers, the fragrance of lilies so strong it was almost pungent.
"Why can't I come?" Yu Li put her hands in her coat pockets, tilted her head slightly to look at him, "You're my student, you got the Silver Bear, isn't it only right that I come to pick you up?"
She paused, then added in a softer tone, "Besides, Principal Zhang said he absolutely must bring you back, so you don't get lured away by the reporters."
Liu Yu laughed, holding the flowers and standing at the entrance of the arrival hall, laughing like a fool.
Several passing travelers recognized him and took out their cameras to take pictures, but he didn't care and just stood there smiling.
Chung Lai-fang was surrounded by several reporters, all asking questions about the company's future plans.
Her answer was watertight, saying what needed to be said and not revealing a single word that shouldn't be said.
Liu Yu glanced at her from afar and thought to himself that this woman was born for this job; she was more composed in front of the camera than he was.
Before getting into the car, Liu Yu glanced back at the airport terminal.
Behind the glass door, a number of reporters were gathered, taking pictures of him. He waved to them, opened the car door, and got in.