Hollywood legendary director

China Film is very influential and popular throughout Asia. With a population base of more than 2 billion, it itself represents a huge movie market.

Hollywood is now paying more and more attention to internationalization. Of course, it is impossible to let go of the fat of Asia. Even smart people such as Colombia have tried Sino-US co-productions a few years ago, but they were not successful, and their interest also cooled down, but similar The action has never stopped, and they have also actively participated in the promotion of some excellent Chinese films into the United States, and they have also won the favor of many Chinese filmmakers.

Lehman wants to learn from Colombia now, because Firefly already has basic overseas distribution capabilities, and he can't miss it in the Asian market. However, his ideas are deeper and fresher than Colombia, and it is easier to maintain a good situation.

Why is Colombia not strong in Sino-US co-production?

Because they don’t have good projects, they can’t find the common points of Asian culture. In other words, their Sino-US co-productions are essentially adding some Chinese elements, rather than catering to the Chinese-speaking regions. A recent example can express it vividly: Disney's masterpiece "Mulan" is full of the producer's own interpretation, arrogant and arrogant, it seems normal if it fails.

Lehman’s thinking is more substantial and more realistic. He wants to absorb China’s regional resources and achieve market integration through co-production, cross-border investment, and joint issuance.

After all, it is extremely difficult for a simple foreign film to enter the Chinese market. In addition to the fact that there are only so many indicators for censored and imported films every year, it is also the biggest reason for restriction. However, if you cooperate with China Film and become a co-production film, you will not only be unrestricted, but also Enjoy the treatment of domestic films and continue to export.

Historically, when the Chinese market's share in the international box office market became higher and higher, in 2015 alone, the total number of Chinese and foreign co-produced films disclosed by the State Administration of Foreign Affairs was as high as 87, but most of them were co-produced, that is, "Snowflake Secret". "Fan" and "Memoirs of a Geisha", and the collaboration planned by Lehman is a joint filming:

It is a form of production in which domestic and foreign production companies jointly invest, produce together, share benefits and bear risks together.

In an in-depth summary, in addition to the principled requirements for the content of the film (not to touch the political red line), the General Administration also has a three-required rigid standard: domestic production personnel must be hired, and the scene must be set in China; the proportion of foreign actors must not exceed the main actors Two-thirds of the total; the proportion of Chinese capital must not be less than one-third.

All kinds of harsh conditions also limit the idea of ​​purely taking advantage, so most foreign investors will not choose this mode, but choose collaborative shooting. They can also enjoy the resource tilt of some co-produced films without so much trouble.

It's just that this kind of trouble is just a preventive measure by China, and it may not be transformed into an advantage if it is used well.

Take a look at the forerunner of China and the United States, "The Great Wall", although the results and content have been criticized, and it has become a black spot for the national teacher, but it enjoys the treatment and China Film spares no effort, and it really proclaims as a son. It is enough to see that this kind of cooperation is very serious and China is willing to implement it.

Of course, "The Great Wall" is a counterexample. Lehman didn't want to plan such a next work. He had a longer-term vision and a market-proven movie that he wanted to produce.

Let me talk about the Asian region first. What theme elements have a wide audience?

Monsters and Mecha Gundams have a solid foundation. The spread of special films and animated cartoons has made China, Japan, and South Korea have a lot of exposure to these theme elements.

Then we can deepen the joint a little bit. Why can't we use Monster Universe and "Pacific Rim" to make a movie series that is suitable for Asia, and the audience in Europe and the United States is not so repulsive?

The Monster Universe, which was inspired by Warner in the original space-time after the DC Universe was blocked. "Skull Island", "Godzilla" and so on have achieved good results; "Pacific Rim" is a typical Asian audience. Dividends, otherwise only rely on Europe and the United States, you will not be able to pay back.

It just so happens that "Pacific Rim" can be integrated with the world view of the Monster Universe, which Lehman has long thought about.

As for why this series is the most suitable, it is also because the series really meets the audience's point of view in the Asian region, and the addition of Asian cultural elements is not obtrusive.

After all, many Sino-US co-productions are facing a problem, that is, my project does not focus on Asia. The introduction of investment from Asian channels such as China Film is tantamount to lowering the proportion of our own interests, not to mention the appearance of some Asian actors. It will lead to the resistance of some old white men. The loss in the local market overwhelms the investment dividends. This is the biggest reason why the real Sino-US co-production is not popular.

But Lehman’s line of thinking does not have this problem. The monster universe built on the basis of "Pacific Rim" focuses on the Asian region. Even in order to obtain the right to shoot the monster image, it has to introduce a part of Japanese investment and become China and Japan. The three-nation joint auction of the United States and the United States has a strong demand for Asian channels.

Let’s put it this way, no one expected the birth of the “Pacific Rim” project and the result of not wanting fragrance outside the wall, and China Film’s promotion of “Pacific Rim” is also pitiful compared to “The Great Wall”—— After all, one is a very common imported film and the other is a co-production treatment.

Regardless of how you look at it, "Pacific Rim" should be more popular in the mainland market than "The Great Wall". In terms of content, subject matter, and quality, it is nothing more than the fact that the resources given by China Film Group are not so many. More than 90% of the lineups, you change to "Pacific Rim", the box office has exploded early, so why is it that the results were too good before they were added to the screening, after the peak of screening, the online pirated copies were flying all over the sky...

These concepts, in the current era, are undoubtedly what the American studios will not think about, and this is also Lyman’s advantage. He clearly knows it and is ready to implement it. It will increase the Chinese role and meet the needs of Sino-US co-production. Conditions, to enjoy 43% of the treatment of domestic blockbusters, not 13%.

So when Lehman really talked about the Sino-US co-production mode, which is also a joint production, with sincerity, and came up with a concrete and feasible co-production document, the heart of the team leader of China Film was already excited.

Do you think China does not want to develop special effects blockbusters?

It is not that the talent pool and various foundations are not enough, but the financial pressure for many US studios is not that big of the problem for China Film.

If Firefly is consistent with what it does, China Film will definitely welcome co-production, because according to the rules of co-production, China Film can directly insert people to learn, invest, and get part of the copyright of the project.

Note that it is copyright, not agency distribution rights. China Film can participate in all the benefits generated during the promotion of the project and share profits.

This is a true co-op, which is to share all the unknown market feedback such as benefits and risks.

This is the only way that China Film will treat it as a son, and everyone is not stupid.

It’s just such a major event. The China Film Group’s film purchase leader is definitely not the master. After they considered it, they decided to sign the introduction contract for "Avatar" and immediately went back to report to the senior management and give a reply...