Chapter 422: Investing in "Resident Evil"
Not long after, Qiao Ke found a professional manager for Lu Yiming.
He looked to be in his forties, tall, and a pure-blooded old white man.
"Let me introduce you, Mr. Lu. This is Jason, the professional manager I hired."
Lu Yiming nodded slightly, stretched out his hand and said, "Hello."
"Hello, Mr. Lu. I heard Mr. Qiao talk about your deeds. You are really successful at a young age."
Jason was very respectful to Lu Yiming and it was obvious that he cared very much about this job.
There was no way out. The film company where he used to work went bankrupt, and his family of five depended on him for support. He was already middle-aged, and his edges had long been smoothed out by reality. He would not look down on the company's three bosses just because they were Asian.
After all, capital has no borders, and making money is not shameful.
Jock said: "Jason has been working in Hollywood for more than ten years and is a very professional manager. If he manages the company, there will definitely be no problems with the daily operation."
Lu Yiming raised his eyebrows and said, "Who is the decision maker?"
Su Zhenge smiled and said, "Of course it's you. Qiao Ke and I will invest the money to set up the company. The company will be under your command, and Jason will be responsible for the daily management. If there is any profit, we will share it together."
Although it sounds a bit confusing, Lu Yiming doesn't care about it. As long as he can make money, that's enough.
"Very good, then you should set up the company first, and then prepare to shoot the first movie of Su Qiao Films."
When Jason heard that he had a job to do, he immediately perked up and asked, "Boss, what kind of movie are you going to make?"
Lu Yiming said without hesitation: "Horror movie."
"Horror movie?"
Jason was surprised. After all, the box office of horror movies these days is not on the same order of magnitude as other categories. It is a very niche subject.
But Jason later thought it was normal. After all, it was a new company, and it would be a good idea to start with a niche film to practice.
After all, a niche means less competition, so maybe you can stand out faster.
Jason was impressed by Lu Yiming's ability to accurately enter the track. Seeing is believing. Although he had heard Jock recount how Lu Yiming started from scratch, it was not as profound as talking to him in person.
The boss in front of me, although young, is calm and composed , and at first glance he is the kind of person who does things steadily.
This also made Jason feel relieved. He felt that with a reliable boss, he would be able to do his new job for a longer period of time.
The previous film companies were full of all kinds of monsters. Some bosses simply painted a big picture and fooled investors into spending money, but in fact they didn't even know where to start. As a result, the money was quickly spent, and then the company went bankrupt and ran away, leaving investors with nothing.
This kind of thing is so common in Hollywood that it happens almost every moment. You never know whether the person in front of you is really talented or a big liar.
"For a newly established company, it is indeed a very good choice to first make a low-budget horror film. After adapting to the market and understanding the rules, it is time to shoot a big production. This is the direction chosen by many Hollywood startups."
However, Lu Yiming gave him a sidelong look and said, "Who told you that I'm going to make a low-budget, niche horror movie?"
"ah?"
Jason was a little surprised: "Isn't it?"
Lu Yiming said shamelessly: "Of course not. We at Su Qiao Films will not shoot small-budget productions. If we want to do it, we must do it big, with an investment of at least 30 million US dollars."
When Jason heard that Lu Yiming was going to invest 30 million US dollars to make a horror film, he suddenly felt dizzy.
What did you just say? Is this boss steady?
Damn, it’s too early.
Oh, this world is so magical.
It seems that it is time to consider finding the next home.
I have only been in office for less than an hour!
What happened to the boss who was said to be more stable?
Who would just come up and go all in? And it’s a horror movie. If you don’t like money, you can donate it to me!
Jason really didn't know what words to use to describe his mood at the moment.
Seeing Jason's awkward expression, Lu Yiming immediately raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why? Do you have any objections?"
In order to avoid being laid off right after taking up the job, and to prevent Su Qiao Pictures from becoming another film and television company that goes bankrupt under his hands, Jason couldn't help but advise: "Boss, should we reconsider this? As far as I know, the investment in a horror movie is basically only three to five million US dollars nowadays, and some even only have a few hundred thousand dollars. After all, there are really few viewers for horror movies. It's probably difficult to make a profit if we spend 30 million at once."
In fact, Jason has already said it very tactfully. Based on his experience in Hollywood over the years, the box office of horror movies is a pit in itself. If it can make more , it is considered a big hit. You invested 30 million at the beginning. Isn't this a business that is bound to lose money?
"Loss of money?"
Lu Yiming couldn't help but laugh.
Is it possible to lose money by making "Resident Evil"?
Are you kidding me?
Although he was very confident, Lu Yiming was too lazy to explain too much and said in a tough manner: "How can the movie I want to make lose money? You just need to do what I say."
Seeing Lu Yiming's firm attitude, Jason sighed silently in his heart, but didn't say anything more. He asked, "Okay, then which director does the boss plan to find to shoot it?"
Lu Yiming blurted out: "Paul Anderson."
Jason frowned after hearing this. He was an insider in the industry, so he was familiar with Paul Anderson. He said, "His shooting style is indeed very suitable for directing horror movies, but boss, isn't he too young?"
Paul Anderson, who was born on the banks of the River Tyne in England in 1965, is only 34 years old now, which is indeed a bit young for a director.
Moreover, his record is not very good. The movies he directed, "Crazy Pursuit" and "The Surface", both received mediocre responses and failed at the box office.
Among them, "Current Horizon", released in 1997, was a huge flop. Even the collaboration of two big names, Sam Neill and Laurence Fishburne, could not save "Current Horizon" from sinking at the box office. This suspenseful science fiction film received rave reviews at the premiere, but unfortunately the box office was a dismal 26.7 million US dollars, with a loss of more than 30 million US dollars, which directly caused the investors to lose money.
Jason felt increasingly depressed. He finally found a job and even though he had an Asian boss, he didn't mind. But you gave me this?
It's one thing to invest 30 million to make a niche horror movie, but you even hired a losing director to make it. And you're just stacking debuffs here?
Facing Jason's doubts, Lu Yiming once again showed his tough attitude: "Being young is not an excuse. I am also so young, will it prevent me from becoming a billionaire? Will it prevent me from chatting and laughing with Bill Gates?"
Others may not know, but how could Lu Yiming not know? The entire "Resident Evil" series shines in the hands of Paul Anderson.
If you want to make money, you have to find him.
Jason was almost injured by Lu Yiming's self-righteousness, but after all, Lu Yiming was the boss and he was just a salaried employee. At least before he jumped to the next job, he could only arrange his work according to Lu Yiming's wishes.
"Okay, I'll contact him right away."
At this moment, Paul Anderson was drinking with his friend Harold Fox in a bar on the Avenue of Stars.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame was built in 1958. It stretches from Gower Street in the east to La Brea Avenue in the west along Hollywood Boulevard, and then extends from north to south along Vine Street between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard. There are more than 2,000 star-shaped medals with the names of Hollywood celebrities on it to commemorate their contributions to the entertainment industry. The first star was awarded to Joan Woodward on February 9, 1960. In 1978, Mickey Mouse became the first animated character to have a star.
Anyone working in a related industry would be proud to be on the Avenue of Stars.
Harold Fox asked, "Are you madly pursuing Mira?"
Paul Anderson said without hesitation: "Mira is so beautiful!"
The Milla they were referring to was Milla Jovovich.
Milla Jovovich, formerly known as Milica Bogdanovna Jovovich, is a Russian-American actress.
In 1988, Milla Jovovich starred in her first film, "The Moon Is the New Black". In 1991, she starred in the youth love film "Return to the Blue Coral Reef", for which she was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress. In 1994, she released the album "The Divine Comedy". In 1997, she starred in the science fiction film "The Fifth Element", for which she was nominated for the 24th Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Compared with her smooth career, her love life is much more tortuous. In 1997, Milla married director Luc Besson, whom she met through the film The Fifth Element. However, the two just divorced recently.
This gave Paul Anderson, who had always had fantasies about Milla Jovovich, an opportunity and he immediately began a fanatical pursuit of her.
It's a pity that Milla Jovovich was a little lukewarm towards him. They just went on a few dates but had no intention of taking things further.
Seeing Paul Anderson's obsession with Milla Jovovich, Harold Fox couldn't help but pour cold water on him, saying, "Milla is a very career-oriented woman. Although she is beautiful, she is too powerful. Anyway, I will definitely not date such a woman."
But Paul Anderson had obviously sunk into it completely, and naturally would not listen to Harold Fox's persuasion. He took a big gulp of rum, then burped, and said with a dazed look in his eyes: "Mira is very good, you must have some misunderstanding. I must marry Mira!"
Hardro Fox didn't want to continue talking about this with Paul Anderson, so he changed the subject and said, "Let's talk about work, Paul. Have you made any new movies recently?"
Paul Anderson said with a bitter face: "No, because the box office performance of "The Surface" was not as expected, no one dares to ask me to make a movie now, but someone asked me to make a TV series."
From the big screen to the small screen , this is equivalent to a setback in career. Paul Anderson is a proud man. He doesn't want to admit defeat, so he is very distressed. This is also one of the reasons why he asked Hadro Fox to drink here today.
Because of the unsatisfactory box office performance, no investor was willing to ask Paul Anderson to make a movie. In order to make a living, Paul Anderson seemed to have no other choice but to make TV series.
Maybe once the TV series is completed and the ratings go up, people will invest in making movies again?
Hadro Fox also heard about Paul Anderson's situation. He sighed and said, "Then let's talk about Mira again."
Just at this moment, Paul Anderson's cell phone rang.
"I'm going to take a call."
Paul Anderson pressed the answer button and heard a very unfamiliar voice.
"Hello, Paul. I'm Jason, a professional manager of Su Qiao Films. My boss wants to invest 30 million US dollars to shoot a horror movie, and specifically wants you to be the director. I wonder if you are interested?"
While saying this, Jason was praying in his heart, Paul, please don't agree to it. Your box office is so terrible that I don't want to look for you.
At that time, as long as Paul Anderson had any hesitation, Jason could tell Lu Yiming that Paul Anderson had refused and he could go find another director with box office appeal.
Investing 30 million US dollars in a horror movie is bound to result in a loss. At least the loss can be reduced by finding a director with box office appeal, right?
However, what Jason did not expect was that Paul Anderson was now so poor that he had to make a TV series. How could he refuse such an opportunity to collaborate on a movie?
Not to mention an investment of 30 million US dollars, Paul Anderson would not refuse even a super low-budget movie of 3 million US dollars!
"Of course I'm interested."
Seeing that Paul Anderson agreed so readily, Jason was depressed and asked indirectly: "Why don't you consider it again?"
"What's there to think about? We'll sign the contract right away!"
Jason was helpless and said, "Okay, I'll prepare the contract first and let you know when it's ready."
After hanging up the phone, Paul Anderson immediately told the good news to Harold Fox, and then he couldn't wait to call Milla Jovovich.
On the other end of the phone, Milla Jovovich, contrary to her usual behavior, said to Paul Anderson gently: "Is what you said true? This is really exciting news. I am free tonight and want to have a romantic date with you."
Paul Anderson was so happy that he was going crazy. He felt that today was definitely his lucky day and that his luck might turn. He immediately drank the wine in front of him and said to Hardro Fox, "Mira wants to date me, so I'm leaving first."
