Chapter 261： Feelings are limited

This time in Cannes, Ronan did not have as good luck as last year. Although he also wrote down the names of several films at the film festival fair, there was no real hit.

So, he took the time to contact Monica Bellucci, and under her introduction, he met Gaspar No, the director of "Irrevocable".

But things didn't go as smoothly as thought.

"North America is 3 million U.S. dollars." Gaspar-Nau offered a somewhat exaggerated price: "I sold all North American rights to the film to Embassy Pictures at once."

Ronan simply suspected that he had heard it wrong, just such a film, sold for 3 million US dollars?

"300,000 U.S. dollars." Ronan directly cut nine out of ten.

Gaspar-Nou has the style of a European director: "We don't have to talk about it anymore."

Hearing this, Ronan didn't force it, and left directly.

Although I am a little disappointed, the movie deal is about your wishes, and I can barely come.

Perhaps after the story of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" spread, Gaspar-Nou had the illusion that "Irrevocable" was very valuable.

This project was not achieved. Luo Nan called at noon and asked him to make an appointment with the filmmaker in Hong Kong City. After lunch, he met his colleagues in Hong Kong City in the cafe where he checked into the hotel.

Before, at the film festival trade fair, Ronan saw a film called "Shaolin Football".

"Ronan, this is Stephen Zhou, a famous film star, director and producer in Hong Kong." Gabriel, director of the French office of Embassy Pictures, introduced the two parties: "Mr. Zhou, this is Ronan. -Anderson, the owner of Embassy Pictures and its affiliated Relativity Entertainment Group. The operation of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in North America was created by Mr. Anderson."

"Hello, long admiring the name." Stephen Zhou took the initiative to stretch out his right hand.

As a Hong Kong native, Stephen Chow's English is not very good, but he can also guarantee daily communication.

Ronan shook hands with him and looked up at the same time. This man was thin and serious. At first glance, he looked like a very rigid person, not a comedy star he had seen countless times in his previous life.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Zhou." Ronan said with a smile.

In his previous life, Zhou Xingxing’s films were one of the most important entertainment activities in his youth. At that time, apart from some indescribable tertiary films in Hong Kong City, Zhou Xingxing’s films should be one of the most popular. .

Of course, the most popular port city actor at that time was Jin Jiang-Thor-Aquaman-Santa Claus-Xu.

With Ronan's current mentality, these are all misses from his childhood, and of course they will not affect business negotiations.

With a simple greeting, Ronan said directly: "Mr. Zhou, I watched the "Shaolin Football" you shot the day before yesterday. It is very interesting. I want to ask, is the North American copyright still in your hands?"

Stephen Chou immediately thought of Ang Lee and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but he is different from European directors. Although he plays some absurd roles, he is a very realistic person.

"North American copyright is still there." Stephen Zhou said.

Ronan said: "The Embassy Pictures wants to buy out the North American copyright of your film."

This is not what Stephen Chou expected, he thought of it before he came.

Stephen Zhou asked: "I don't know what Mr. Anderson is making?"

He didn't ask much, as long as one-third or even one-fourth of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is enough.

"200,000 dollars," Ronan said.

Stephen Zhou frowned immediately: "The price is too low."

Ronan simply said: ""Shaolin Football" basically has no market in North American theaters. North America is originally a desert of football. The biggest selling point of this film is the elements of kung fu plus football. It may be very popular in the East, but it is very popular with American audiences. It’s not friendly, and the English translation of Mr. Zhou’s comedy lines is very difficult."

There are too many nonsensical lines, and the taste changes after being translated in English.

Steven Zhou was a little disappointed: "Can't enter the North American theater?"

Ronan didn’t say anything false: “Even if it’s in theaters, it will be shown in places where Chinese people gather like Los Angeles and New York. There are at most a dozen or twenty theaters. Mr. Zhou, I want to buy your film mainly because There is a part of the audience in the video tape market."

"US$200,000 is too little." Stephen Zhou is obviously not satisfied: "The last Chinese film bought by Mr. Anderson cost 8 million US dollars."

Ronan smiled: "There is no comparison between movies and movies."

When it comes to the revenue capacity of their respective films in the Eastern market, Lee An is far behind Stephen Zhou.

But in North America, the status of the two is exactly the opposite.

Ronan simply said: "US$200,000, all copyrights of "Shaolin Football" in North America." He took out his personal business card and handed it to Stephen Zhou: "If Mr. Zhou is willing to do this business, you can contact me at any time. "

Stephen Zhou collected his business card and then left.

Ronan didn't force it either, because what he said before was the truth. "Shaolin Football" has arrived in North America, that is, in the offline rental market, and there are a number of audiences.

It is impossible for Ronan to give out millions of dollars stupidly because the opponent is Zhou Xingxing.

That is really water in the head.

Let’s go back 10,000 steps. In his previous life, he owed Zhou Xingxing’s movie tickets because of many factors such as video studios and piracy. However, since "Shaolin Football", Ronan has been buying Zhou Xingxing’s movie tickets. I bought expensive genuine dolls and the like. Even afterwards, the quality of Zhou Xingxing’s films declined drastically. Not only did he continue to buy tickets to enter the venue, he also never slandered him anywhere, even the Internet Keyboard Man did not act.

The movie tickets owed back then have long since been paid off.

Can't you pay back the ticket for a lifetime? Feelings are also limited.

Hong Kong City movies have begun to decline, and the only way out is to go north. It seems that next year, there will be a rescue work for Hong Kong City movies, and it seems that the copyright can also be bought.

Of course, the romantic and poetic gangster style is the only way to beat the streets in North America, and the best way is to remake it.

Most of Lao Mei's gangster movies are realistic, dark and cold, and the words in the mouth of the characters are also easy to fuck.

The next day, Ronan continued to look for films at the film festival fair, and went to watch the premiere of "Irrevocable".

This film, which attempts to shock the audience visually and psychologically, is permeated with an extreme cynicism and a typical anarchist impulse from beginning to end. The rambling narrative, the abrupt and blunt switching, the sudden and rapid movement of the camera, and the occasional gunshots on the vocal cords, constitute a rough and emotional film.

Well, this is what a film critic in front of Ronan said.

The real situation is that "Irrevocable" has done a lot of large-scale publicity before, just like watching other banned films, most of the audience came here looking for **** and violence.

All kinds of meaningless shaking shots, like a boring experimental movie, Ronan was even a little confused by the chaotic story.

In fact, Ronan had never actually watched this film in his previous life, because he always watched the middle and last ten minutes.

Then, the scene where Monica Bellucci was violated appeared in the middle of the film.

The violent sexual assault scene in this underground passage is shocking, disgusting, and even overwhelming.

There was a lot of discussion around Ronan. Less than two minutes after the infringement scene began, a large number of female audience members retired in anger. After five minutes, even some male audience members began to leave.

I have to say that European art directors have focused on the darkness for decades and can always shoot the ugliest things of human nature.

Ronan used to watch this scene before using a small LCD screen on his computer. He has never had the opportunity to watch it on the big screen. Today, thousands of viewers are in the same theater and watch the scene on the big screen, even if it is. People like him can't bear it.

"In 20 years, or even only 5 years later, you will think that there is nothing to fuss about in the play."

Someone said so.

However, there were more and more scolding, and more and more people left.

The theater was in chaos, and even the audience was overwhelmed and fainted, and there was more than one person.

When the scene was over, nearly a quarter of the seats were empty.

Ronan knows very well that movies like "Irrevocable" can only survive in Cannes' avant-garde consciousness.

The North American copyright of this film is asking for $3 million? It's crazy.

On the day the film premiered, Ronan got news that the film set a record of 250 spectators leaving midway, 20 spectators fainted and needed oxygen therapy.

I can only say that the director Gaspar-Nou is too good.

The discussion aroused by this film can be imagined. In the TV interview after the premiere, Monica Bellucci’s husband Vincent Caso reportedly cried on the spot because of the tremendous pressure.

In this regard, Vincent Caso is weaker than Monica Bellucci, who is used to filming large-scale scenes.

Monica Bellucci was relaxed and freehand in an interview: "Irrevocable is somewhere between "A Clockwork Orange" and "120 Days of Sodom". This is a bold blend of violence and ecstasy, animalism and poetry. Sometimes movies can cause discomfort to people. This discomfort is not malicious, but the disguise of human nature is severely punctured."

It can only be said that every filmmaker has their own opinions.

"Irrevocable" gained popularity, but no good results.

Just one day later, the Cannes Film Festival officially announced the cancellation of all screenings and related promotional activities of "Irrevocable" during the Cannes Film Festival.

This is tantamount to expelling "Irrevocable" from this Cannes Film Festival.

Afterwards, Ronan received news that the companies that had discussed the issue with Gaspar-Nau had interrupted their negotiations.

This film can indeed create a topic, but it is also difficult to predict whether it will be released on the domestic market.

In countries that are slightly more conservative, let alone theaters, there is no hope in the offline market.

Lionsgate had contacted Gaspar Nou after Ronan, but after repeated considerations, they also gave up the film.

At this time, Ronan received a call from Monica Bellucci, and Gaspar Nou wanted to talk to him about North American copyright.