Beijing, in the screening room on the basement floor of the Maoer Hutong mansion.
While the waitress was installing the copy in the operation room, Simon was surrounded by a group of girls in the middle seat of the screening room, looking through and discussing a 99 yuan collector's edition film and television package of "To Youth".
Ren Jingxi, who was playing with a Q-version character doll and sitting on Simon's left, said: "I heard that in the United States, the latest "Cars" toy sales will exceed 1 billion US dollars by the end of this year alone. Simon, is this true?"
Simon and Zhu Momo, who was clinging to him on the other side, unfolded a T-shirt together, a pure white T-shirt. This one showed the silhouettes of several characters from "To Youth" dancing together, and it also came with a lyric, 'You say dear dear forever, ever the same face'.
From "Youth Without Regrets".
Zhu Momo generously asked to wear it for Simon to see. There was plenty of heating here. Simon was not afraid that the girl next to him would get cold, so he let go. When Ren Jingxi asked on the other side, he nodded and said, "Yeah, probably. There are so many.”
Ren Jingxi was still in disbelief: "One billion U.S. dollars is equivalent to 8.3 billion yuan in China. It's so scary." As he spoke, he couldn't help but look forward to it: "Simon, do you think the Chinese film industry will have such a big impact in the future?" potential?"
Simon picked up another exquisite key chain in the box, and talking about it was full of memories. Back then, as a boy, who didn’t have a key chain full of various small items
When Ren Jingxi asked, Simon smiled and said: "Speaking of potential, in China, "Shaolin Temple" in the 1980s could sell more than 100 million box office for a few cents. Do you think this counts? Consider it potential?”
Mo Wuling sat on the other side of Ren Jingxi with a reserved attitude, listening to their conversation, and couldn't help but interject: "Those times were different."
"Same," Simon shook his head slightly and said with a smile: "There has never been such a thing as commercial potential. For example, I remember a joke about selling shoes to Africa. What someone saw was that Africans don't Wear shoes, so they feel there is no business potential. Some people are ecstatic because they discovered that Africans don’t wear shoes, so they discovered a huge market of one billion people. You think, between the two attitudes, who can succeed?"
Zhu Momo took off her bottoming shirt and put on the T-shirt she just wore. The girl's figure is actually a bit flat, but because she is tall enough, this women's T-shirt looks a bit slim, but it is covered A nice curve. Hearing what Simon said at this time, he rushed to say: "Of course it is the latter, but it is not easy to make people who don't wear shoes wear shoes."
"Of course it's not easy. If everything was easy, everyone would be a millionaire," Simon said. "This is what China is like now. You think that because no one buys it, there is no market. You are definitely wrong."
Jill Peckett, who has been living here for the past two years and is busy with her real estate business, and Zhao Anni sat behind the man together. Jill also interjected and said in quite fluent Beijing: "The problem is that China's consumption power is now limited. Boss, you just said that the ticket price in China in the 1980s was just a few cents. Now, let’s take our Jinshu Cinema, even with members, it costs about 15 yuan a ticket, which is very expensive compared to China. It’s too expensive, let alone an IMAX theater. Prices have increased, but income levels have not substantially improved, and spending power will definitely be limited.”
Simon nodded: "This is also a question, but, Jill, do you know how many people there are in China now?"
Jill said: "1.2 billion."
He said and reacted.
China's population base is too huge, 1.2 billion people, while the United States only has 280 million people, a gap of four times, let alone other Western countries.
With the support of such a population base, even if one-tenth of the population develops strong purchasing power, it will be enough to support the film industry they are currently discussing, and even more.
Thinking about China's current VCD industry with a scale of tens of billions, it is obvious that there is sufficient consumption power.
The problem is still development.
Zhu Momo threw herself on Simon, and then simply sat in the man's arms. Ignoring the envious and pouty expressions of Li Youhu and Teacher Yu in front of her, she put her arms around Simon's neck and said, "Simon, speaking of IMAX, what are you doing?" Why not invest in more IMAX screens here in China? The recent "Everest" IMAX show was so popular that my aunt and I had to ask someone to get tickets to watch it together."
The girl is naturally talking about "Everest" which will be released in mainland China on November 5th.
Relying on the accumulated popularity in North America and cooperating with the large-scale publicity here, as a documentary that many people thought had little potential, it earned 29 million yuan in the first week after it opened on November 5. box office.
Subsequently, the decline in the next week was only about 20%, and another 23 million was collected.
In two weeks, this documentary has grossed 52 million yuan at the box office in China. According to the current trend, it is only a matter of time before it exceeds 100 million yuan, which is a full double of the 50 million yuan originally expected by China Film and Jinshu.
Furthermore, compared with ordinary screen screenings, the IMAX screening version with the best visual experience, until now, people in the mainland still have to queue up to get tickets, which has also led to a wave of scalping craze.
When Simon was with Chen Qing in Suzhou, he heard Nizi mention it as an interesting anecdote. The ticket sellers at Jinshu Cinema in Suzhou cooperated with scalpers to resell IMAX movie tickets and made thousands of yuan in one week.
Then he was caught.
All right.
Caressing the girl's slender body, Simon smiled and shook his head when he heard what she said: "It's not that I don't want to, it's just that the conditions don't allow it."
Zhu Momo deliberately pouted and made a cute look: "You just said that you have to create conditions even if there are no conditions. The market is there."
"Did I say, oh, you just eat it as if I'm eating it back."
As Simon said this, he bit the girl's nose in a gesture, but unfortunately she blocked it with her mouth and resisted with all her strength. Several girls around her couldn't help but turn their heads.
Ren Jingxi waited for the two to separate and said: "Because of the success of "Everest", many people have recently focused on the project to explore the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon. I heard that a company in Sichuan tried to contact us and found that I don’t want to get involved, and I plan to do it myself.”
Zhu Momo's face was still pressed against Simon's chin, rubbing the man's stubble. Hearing this, he said, "Even if they make it, if there is no Hollywood market, who will they sell it to? It's so popular in China not because it's a big hit in the United States. And , and Simon's song, um, "Life is Like a Summer Flower", it's so nice, I want to listen to it again now. Auntie, give me your iPlayer."
When the girl suddenly said this, Mo Wuling suddenly felt guilty and pretended to be calm: "The movie will be played soon. What song are you listening to?"
Zhu Momo smiled, said no more, and twisted her body into Simon's arms.
Ren Jingxi allowed Zhu Momo to interrupt a few words, but was still more concerned with business: "Simon, even if Daenerys is not involved, there are other studios in Hollywood. Do you think the themes will conflict?"
Simon said: "There is nothing we can do if we bump into it. It is impossible to prohibit others from doing it. However, there are too many similar themes in Hollywood movies. The key is to see whether they can do it well."
"Yeah, yeah," Zhu Momo agreed again: "Simon can do it well, the others are just chickens and dogs."
Mo Wuling, who was sitting on the other side across from Ren Jingxi, wanted to cover his face when he saw his niece in the man's arms looking so aroused.
Just as he was talking, the waitress came over to remind him that it could be played, and everyone became quiet.
When the lights dimmed, Simon held Zhu Momo, who was unwilling to move, and looked at the big screen.
This is the first movie produced by Ren Jingxi's Huanzhu Pictures, and it is a test of the waters. It is called "Wormhole".
Simon read the script in advance, which is similar to a setting of Groundhog Day. Moreover, the comedy effect is much stronger than that of Groundhog Day. After all, a man jumps into a well repeatedly in order to recover his lost 10,000 yuan. , that picture is a bit nonsensical when you think about it.
In addition, what Simon noticed was the director of the film, Jing Shang.
This is a young man who returned from the Hollywood exchange study program. He is the same goal that Simon is more concerned about. If he can do it well this time, he can also give more support in the future.
On the big screen, there is no such thing as dragon logo, it is a feature film from the beginning.
After the short opening scene, which was full of science fiction and had an inexplicable sense of joy, Simon was very satisfied with just the first unfolding shot.
Mainly filter selection.
One of the reasons why many movies in the past were considered inferior to TV dramas was often because of the pictures. If they were too honest, they would inevitably lack some of the feel of a movie.
In this "Wormhole", under the yellowish filter, just the first shot gives the audience an atmosphere that this is a movie.
This kind of thing is very mysterious, but it is actually very simple.
The key is to look at personal skills.
When Simon produced the first "Lola Run", he also considered this issue from the beginning, and relied on the solid skills of more than a dozen professionals in his mind to create a version that could be used directly without color correction. Film used.
After a brief distraction, Simon's thoughts were quickly attracted by the plot.
On the big screen, Lao Qi, a dissolute young man, is usually uneducated. Of course, this is just an appearance. Through some small details, such as helping the neighbor's old lady move things, and not refuting some idle words when being scolded, it can be seen that he is still a good person at heart. people. Of course, the main thing is that if you want to pass the trial, this is very important here in China.
Otherwise, if it's like "Two Smoking Barrels", think about it... well, don't think about it, don't even think about it.
The story progressed, and soon, Lao Qi was ecstatic about the 10,000 yuan that fell from the sky. He was thinking of using this money to marry his childhood sweetheart Juanzi back home, but the money suddenly disappeared again.
In desperation, he jumped into the well.
Then, reincarnation.
Repeatedly, over and over again.
Full of comedy.
For example, the third time he jumped into a well, Lao Qi fell headlong in front of the neighbor's old lady. The old lady was so frightened that she covered her heart and fell backwards, making everyone in the screening room almost burst out laughing. .
Finally, after many reincarnations, Lao Qi gradually discovered the truth about the 10,000 yuan, gained insights into life, and finally got married to his girlfriend Juanzi.
Happy ending.