Volume 3: Taking Roots 2016 Chapter 728: A Name in Film History
Inside a hotel in Shanghai, a middle-aged man with a friendly look and a beard was sitting on a chair with a sad face, smoking one cigarette after another.
"Emm~"
At this moment, the cell phone on the table vibrated. The man was startled and quickly picked up the phone. It turned out to be an unfamiliar number!
It’s a strange number. That’s what he is waiting for.
I hurriedly answered the phone, fearing that the person on the other end might be waiting anxiously, and said in a hurry: "Hello, who is this?"
"Hello, is this Director Guo Fan? I'm the director of film and television investment at Dongsheng Group, and my name is Xu Ruoan."
Director Guo immediately shook off his depressed look, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, "Yes, it's me! Hello, President Xu, I have heard of the Group for a long time, especially the name of Chairman Zhou. Director Ning has mentioned it to me more than once..."
"It is said that although Chairman Zhou is young, he not only understands movies, but also has artistic pursuits..."
Before Xu Ruoan could even say a word, Director Guo on the other end of the phone started boasting to him, which made Xu Ruoan admire him.
It seems that this guy is also an expert in this field. It would be a pity if such a talent did not join our group.
However, with such consummate skills, if he were to join his own group, I'm afraid his position would be in jeopardy!
No, this is such a rare opportunity, I have to ask for advice in person, I still need to improve in this aspect...
"Director Guo, thank you for your praise. Our chairman has also listened to Director Ning Hao's introduction and is very interested in you. He would like to invite you to have a private meal and meet you to discuss the film project you are working on in detail..."
"When is convenient?"
"Anytime! I'm in Shanghai, I'm always available, I don't even have to skip meals. As long as the chairman is free, I'll come to introduce him to me personally..."
When Director Guo heard that an investor had shown a hint of interest, he became extremely impatient and wished to convert this interest into investment as soon as possible.
After all, making movies is like a castle in the air. Only by investing real money can it be realized and transformed into an actual film.
Although it is impossible to make it come true, that is another price, but there is no doubt that both are first-class, big projects that burn money.
Making a movie is already very expensive, let alone a science fiction movie.
From an investment perspective, making a Chinese science fiction film is definitely an investment where the risk and return are not proportional. Investing hundreds of millions may only end up with nothing.
So it is conceivable that Director Guo had a hard time lobbying for investment, let alone forming a crew and team. It was simply like a good cook without rice.
However, personally directing a big production may be the ultimate goal of every director, but every director may have a different answer to the definition of this big production.
Some directors may want a luxurious cast, some may want to win international awards, and some may want cross-border collaboration, such as Sino-US co-production, and so on.
As for Director Guo’s answer, he already had his own answer in his mind as early as last year, after participating in a director support program and going to Hollywood, the temple of the world’s film industry, to study.
In the face of Hollywood's mature film industry system, Director Guo sincerely felt the gap in hard power.
When standing in front of the world's largest mountain for the first time, some people will feel despair, completely dispel their unrealistic ideas, and even turn against it and choose Mu Qiang...
But there are always people who choose another path, an unrealistic path, and give everything for it.
"Okay, Director Guo, I'll ask the chairman for instructions and give you a reply later!"
Director Guo's positive and enthusiastic attitude only strengthened Xu Ruoan's inner thoughts. Under the influence of preconceived ideas, he became even less optimistic about this project.
I couldn't help thinking that I must carefully check it when the time comes and persuade the chairman that the risk of this kind of investment is too great.
Even the well-known and established film and television investment tycoons in the industry are deterred from this, let alone the newcomers who have just entered this circle?
If you invest in this kind of book right from the start, the step is too big, so you'd better be on the safe side.
Thinking of this, Xu Ruoan strengthened his mind and immediately conveyed Guo Fan's reply to Zhou Dongsheng.
"It's better to do it today than to wait for a better day. Let's do it tonight. I don't have anything to do anyway~"
Zhou Dongsheng was in high spirits when he heard this. He felt like he had met his match in this man known as the "Cyber Succubus" and couldn't wait to meet him.
After all, when it comes to deceiving people, Zhou Dongsheng considers himself to be an expert at it and can be considered presentable.
However, there are always people who are better than you. You must find an opponent of equal ability to compete with in order to know your current level.
Now someone just happened to come to his doorstep, and with Director Guo's level he could just serve as a touchstone. Zhou Dongsheng was already eager to give it a try.
"Hush, there's a lone young cybersuccubus ahead, we can try to capture him~"
…
That night, Guo Fan, who had dressed up carefully, appeared outside a small Western-style building. If he had not been invited, he would not have realized that there was a restaurant inside.
Judging from the style, it is obvious that this restaurant is of high quality, Director Guo couldn't help but sigh.
" Why do you want to eat so well? I'm afraid that if you save this meal, you can make a few more scenes..."
"But the money you save isn't yours, so it's better to have a good meal, hey~"
After muttering a few words, Director Guo, who was considered a worldly-wise man after all, and certainly not a rookie who had just started out, walked in calmly.
After greeting the waiter, he was soon led to the door of a private room. The waiter opened the door directly and stretched out his hand to motion Guo Fan to go in.
"Please wait here for a moment..."
Obviously he had arrived too early, but Guo Fan was not surprised by this. He had come early on purpose to show his sincerity.
After all, if he needs help from others, he can't let them wait for him. He is used to waiting for people anyway.
In lobbying for investment, he not only encountered repeated setbacks, but also experienced the situation of losing both his wife and his army.
Not long ago, I had a hotpot dinner with an investor, and it turned out that he had never even heard of the famous "The Three-Body Problem" or the name of the writer Liu Cixin.
Therefore, there is naturally no need to talk about "The Wandering Earth". After hearing that it is a science fiction film, they directly and bluntly chose to give up investing.
Especially after hearing about his first two directorial works, he almost had the words "terrible bad movie" printed on his face, which made Guo Fan smile bitterly.
Not only did the investment fail to come to an agreement in the end, but he even paid for the hotpot. Isn't this a case of losing both the wife and the army?
Later, he heard that this investor turned around and invested in two horror films. Although the deal failed , Guo Fan still chose to block him for the sake of his own ideas.
People with different ideals cannot work together!
After learning from his mistakes, Guo Fan summed up his experience and completely changed his mindset. Even if the investment deal could not be reached, at least he had to get a free meal. He could not be taken advantage of anymore.
From then on, Guo Fan embarked on a path...
Ahem, just as Guo Fan was still organizing his thoughts in his mind, thinking about how to trick the financier later, especially this time, the financier was young, rich, and successful at a young age, full of vigor and vitality...
People like this are definitely easier to deal with than those old foxes, right?
Just as Guo Fan was still making his own wishful thinking in his heart, a laugh came from far away and soon appeared at the door.
"Oh, Director Guo, you're here so early? I've heard of your name for a long time." Zhou Dongsheng was extremely enthusiastic, with a bright smile on his face, which almost made Guo Fan unable to react.
What’s going on? Why is this sponsor more enthusiastic than me?
I met a master! No wonder he is so successful at such a young age! It turns out that those who achieve great things should not be underestimated.
Guo Fan's heart trembled, and he quickly forced out a smile that was three parts brilliant, three parts flattering, and four parts servile.
"I just arrived too. Compared to you, Chairman, my fame is nothing compared to yours. It's like a grain of rice competing with the bright moon. It's totally not worth mentioning."
"We who make movies are just bringing our inner fantasies to the big screen, but you, the chairman, have turned your life into a movie..."
"Even if your deeds were made into a movie, the audience would criticize them as fantastic."
Guo Fan started firing on all cylinders right from the start, but fortunately Zhou Dongsheng was no ordinary person either, after all, he was a seasoned expert, so his attack could only be considered “a gentle breeze blowing over the hills”.
Zhou Dongsheng smiled casually, "Hey, Director Guo, this is a good idea. If my personal story is made into a movie, wouldn't it be quite interesting?"
"That's quite interesting. Those who know about it think it's your autobiographical movie, while those who don't think about it think it's a Chinese adaptation of Forrest Gump..." Director Guo was obviously getting into the groove and was starting to strike while the iron was hot.
"Oh? Director Guo means that I look more like a fool?" Zhou Dongsheng joked nonchalantly.
"Ahem, well~ how can you calculate it like this~" Guo Fan almost choked on his own saliva and said with an embarrassed smile.
Of course, following closely behind was Xu Ruoan. As the person in charge of film and television investment, he naturally could not be absent. In addition, Li Jiana, the personal assistant, was of course indispensable.
Although she has now been promoted to Assistant Director and is also in charge of supervision, Li Jiana obviously knows very well what the real foundation of her career is.
"It's just a joke, but it's better to be a little stupid. Only fools can accomplish things. If you are too smart in everything, you will miss some opportunities. What do you think, Director Guo?"
Zhou Dongsheng waved , then took the first seat with his majestic sword.
Guo Fan couldn't help but ponder it. He had previously thought that Zhou Dongsheng didn't understand "Forrest Gump", but now it seems that this is not the case. Especially these words resonated with Guo Fan to some extent.
“Before you succeed, everyone is considered a fool by others. If you succeed, everything will be fine, but if you fail, you will really become a fool.”
Guo Fan took his seat right after him and said with emotion.
“Be a fool first and then be a father. Hope will appear after you persist in being a fool, rather than choosing to be a fool after seeing hope…” Zhou Dongsheng said meaningfully.
"The words may be rough, but the truth is there. Perhaps this is the simplicity of the truth!" Guo Fan said with deep agreement.
“Isn’t this what they call great minds think alike?” Zhou Dongsheng sarcastically said.
The two grown men couldn't help but smile at each other, with a feeling that they hit it off and regretted not meeting each other earlier. After just a few words, they started to talk arm in arm and call each other brothers.
For a moment, Xu Ruoan and Li Jiana looked at each other, somewhat confused. Their eyes met and they seemed to be communicating in a language unique to women.
Xu Ruoan: Are all men like this?
Li Jiana: The boss is indeed like this...
Xu Ruoan: Oh~
At the same time, the waiters began to serve the dishes. The group ate and chatted, and quickly became familiar with each other.
"I'm already in my thirties, and today I'm asking you to call me brother. Brother, you don't know how it felt when I participated in the director support program and went to Hollywood to observe and learn. ..."
"Director Ning is also in the group. No one can help but lament the gap. Compared with their film industry system, those of us who graduated from professional schools can be considered unsophisticated..."
"It was from that time that I started to wonder why we couldn't do it. It's just the film industry system..."
Although Zhou Dongsheng doesn't drink, Guo Fan didn't hold back. After a few drinks, he suddenly became different.
"Brother Fan, you are really a man of temperament, but you are really stupid. After all, you are not a fool. Who makes science fiction movies? Only a fool would do such a thankless task..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Dongsheng changed the subject, "But I just admire fools like you, Brother Fan. Miracles are usually created by fools like you..."
Guo Fan waved his hand and smiled bitterly, "Anyone can make lofty statements, but this matter is indeed difficult to handle. I am not afraid to be honest with you, my brother."
"The early preparations for this movie are still in the works. It's not just about investment. Even if there is investment, it will take several years at most. After all, it's too difficult..."
"But I never thought of giving up. I will work it out even if it takes time!"
There was a hint of alcohol in Guo Fan's voice, but his face was full of energy. At this moment, Zhou Dongsheng had a deep understanding of the four words "cyber succubus".
I have to say that when talking about movies, Guo Fan does have some unique personal charm.
It turns out that deception is a profound skill!
"It's really stupid, but it will be awesome if it succeeds. It doesn't matter whether there's money or not, but I just love doing awesome things like this. Do you understand me? Brother Fan..."
Although Zhou Dongsheng didn't drink, he was still a little drunk when he spoke.
Guo Fan's eyes lit up, "I understand! If this thing really succeeds, it will be absolutely amazing. Maybe it will go down in film history. Oh no, not maybe, it will definitely be an achievement that will go down in film history!"
"Okay, just because of what Brother Fan said, I, Zhou Dongsheng, will invest in this project!"
