Chapter 888： A long way to go

The Relativity Building is an office floor for the production business of the crew. There has always been a dedicated office for Ang Lee. After returning from the Toronto Film Festival, Ang Lee usually comes to the Relativity Building for two to three days a week to discuss with professionals from the Embassy Film Industry. Related publicity and public relations progress.

The cooperation with Relativity Entertainment in the past few years, especially the victory of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" at the Oscars, gave Li Ang a deep feeling that PR is not only during the award season, but the years of PR work is an investment.

The publicity period of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" lasted more than seven months. It was probably a special educational experience and understanding of Western society. Unlike other compatriot directors who always embraced when approaching, Ang Lee has been Pay attention to establishing relationships with distributors and media in various regions and continue to operate.

He has always believed that the accumulated relationship will become an important network support in the future.

In fact, the subject of "Brokeback Mountain" is a bit sensitive, and the media has been arguing, but the voice of support has always been heard.

These come not only from the film itself and the relativity entertainment behind it, but also from Ang Lee's own efforts.

From the time "Wedding Banquet" allowed him to truly enter North America, Ang Lee paid attention to the golden trophy and the powerful director award.

But Ang Lee also knows that in order to win the trophy, it is far from enough to rely on his own efforts, and he has to choose the right partner.

Ronan Anderson and Relativity Entertainment supported him very strongly, and Ang Lee also tried his best to reward him with high-quality movies.

Embassy Pictures’ special allocation of US$8 million in awards season public relations expenses has been put in place, plus a series of previous expenses including the Venice Film Festival, the total budget for public relations and promotion of the awards is as high as US$12 million.

Today, the nationwide **** rights movement is on the rise, and Ang Lee is very sure that "Brokeback Mountain" is his another sprint to the Hollywood pyramid.

In order to gain something at next year’s Oscars, the great director can be described as doing his best. From Asia to Europe to the Americas, from Cannes to Venice to Toronto, Ang Lee will introduce every bit of the movie to the world. The media everywhere in order to achieve the purpose of successfully building momentum.

Because he knows that although the Oscar judges are concentrated in North America, they are distributed all over the world.

One vote from these overseas judges is the same value as one vote from North American judges.

In North America, the public relations work of Embassy Pictures has already begun.

Since "Brokeback Mountain" won the Golden Lion of Venice, Embassy Pictures has organized three highly specialized public relations teams to be responsible for planning.

After several Oscar battles, the staff responsible for awards business within Relativity Entertainment has grown rapidly.

One group is responsible for contacting the media, one group is responsible for New York where the judges are relatively concentrated, and the other group is responsible for public relations in the Los Angeles area, formulating and adjusting corresponding strategies according to the time and area.

"I had lunch with Todd Mountbatten, the vice chairman of the Directors Guild, at noon today."

In the office, Ang Lee said to Ronan, who had just arrived: "He participated in the screening of "Brokeback Mountain" at the Toronto Film Festival, and he spoke highly of the film.

Ronan nodded slightly: "The opinions of industry leaders are very important. They can often affect many people. You should focus on them."

Ang Li said seriously: "My daily schedule for the next three months is almost full. I don't know how many such lunches or dinners I want to eat."

Ronan couldn't help but laughed: "Li, I know this kind of meal is horrible, but I want to win a prize without eating more than 20 meals. It's basically impossible."

Ang Lee knows very well that art will never be the only criterion for Oscars. Factors such as luck, popularity, public relations, etc. will all influence the award at the end.

"Even if it tastes bad," Li Ang said very firmly, "I will eat it too."

As the director and producer of the film, winning the prize is not just for him alone, but also related to the investment production company and distribution company, the main creative team of the crew, and all the staff.

A long way to go!

No matter how unpleasant meals are to be eaten, the actors' union, directors' union, and film critics' association will all have to establish relationships. They can't talk nonsense. It takes a step by step to get to the Oscar.

Ang Lee remembered a news he had heard before: "It is said that George Clooney's "Good Night, So Far" will invest more than $8 million in the awards season.

Ronan said directly: "George Clooney's reputation as a director is far less than yours, and Relativity Entertainment is not short of money."

The publicity offensive of the Embassy Pictures will soon be rolled out. Inviting the college judges to participate in a number of private screenings and various cocktail parties where the celebrity creators are present, and buying space for publicity, these are the most conventional publicity methods.

Because this film is "Brokeback Mountain", Ronan also specially prepared the Embassy Pictures, and highly specialized naval forces would be dispatched at any time.

Since Harvey Weinstein hired professionals to discredit "Saving Private Ryan", Oscar public relations no longer just promoted themselves, but also included suppressing strong competitors.

When the big studios invested only $2 million in Oscar PR for a film, Miramax would spend $5 million on Oscar PR.

Harvey-Weinstein does have unique features, but the role of money in Oscars can never be ignored.

After 2010, the public relations expenses of those hot Oscar seed players will basically reach the level of 20 million US dollars.

This has also spawned a related industry chain. Nowadays, there are marketing companies that do Oscar projects. In fact, this behavior is very common in North America. For example, large companies like Relativity Entertainment specialize in raising lobbyists to lobby in the Senate and House of Representatives. Public relations fees are also a lot, which is reasonable and legal.

Ang Lee said: "On the film alone, I am not inferior to anyone, and I am not afraid of public relations. My communication skills are still guaranteed."

Ronan nodded lightly. Compared with other directors from the East, Ang Lee’s biggest advantage is not the ability to direct, nor the combination of Eastern and Western cultures, but to actively integrate into the Hollywood circle.

"I'm worried about some accidents." Li An said softly: "For example, a director is seriously ill or something else."

Ronan said: "This can only be dealt with after it appears."

Having said that, the advantages of the dead are incomparable to the living ones anyway.

Even if you are seriously ill, you will have sympathy.

Before the Oscar voting, Elizabeth Taylor had an operation due to a serious illness. The operation almost killed her, but she was upset and won the current Oscar queen because of a blessing in disguise.

The defeated Shirley McLean said afterwards: "I lost my horse to a tracheal operation!"

The two chatted for a while, and Ronan said again: "Regardless of the situation, Lee, we only have two goals, the best director and the best film!"

Ang Lee said, "I understand."

Ronan also exhorted: "You should communicate well with the protagonists. If the situation permits, it is best to participate in activities such as the **** parade in the Los Angeles area."

"Jack, Annie and Michelle all participated today." Ang Lee pointed to the direction of the Film Academy: "They are all over there."

He thought for a while and then said: "Heath did not attend. I heard Michelle say that he has locked himself in the hotel for a long time, preparing for the new film directed by Nolan."

Ronan said, "I know about it, "The Dark Knight."

Although Heath Ledger has all kinds of flaws, he is really impeccable when it comes to dedication.

In order to play a good clown, he began to study the psychology of the role very early.

A role with a supporting role but actually the protagonist can also give Heath Ledger plenty of room to play.

Since the protagonist's halo is basically handed over to the Joker, Christian Bale's play in the role of Batman is greatly restricted.

The most typical, the clown in the setting can always easily enter various high-level places, omnipresent and omnipotent.

Ronan left Ang Lee's office, went to the post-production room on the other floor, and found David Fincher.

This great director, who worked slowly and carefully, finally ended all filming of "girl" and led the crew to post-production.

Ronan specifically talked with David Fincher about "House of Cards", and the script for the first season of Shahai Entertainment has been completed.

This is not the future, streaming media will become popular in the future, and famous directors have invested in drama shooting, thinking that they will earn a better "money".

Nowadays, famous film directors rarely direct TV shows unless they are interested.

David Fincher did not refuse, but he did not agree.

"Can Shahai Entertainment give me the script first?" David Fincher knows a little about Ronan, knowing that it is not a particularly high-quality project, and the other party cannot afford to invite him to be the director: "I will do it after I read the script. Decided."

When it comes to a director at the level of David Fincher, he can't force it. Ronan said, "I will let Shahai Entertainment deliver the script to you as soon as possible."

David Fincher said, "Yes."

Ronan turned to ask: "When will the post-production of this film be completed?"

David Fincher thought about it for a while said: "It will be March or April next year at the earliest."

Ronan didn't say anything. After all, half a year of post-production is a normal speed in the industry. For a director with the style of David Fincher, it can even be said to be faster.

Not every director is a quick shooter like Spielberg.

Taking advantage of this time, Ronan deliberately watched a short shot edited by David Fincher, but from the picture style, the gloomy tone is very David Fincher.

The performance of the heroine Rachel McAdams is very brilliant, maybe this role can resonate with her.

This kind of film may not be as big as a commercial production, but if it works well, it will also have a huge market space.

When Ronan was leaving, he met Lindsay Bill.

"Is there time?" Lindsay Bill said, "It just so happens that I want you too."