Chapter 189: Stirring Stick and Opponent

"Bruce, there is no doubt that you are one of the hottest people in Hollywood, but I think many people will have a question now, why did you take this movie *The Sixth Sense*?"

The host threw out a question, and then hurriedly added a sentence:

"I mean, your past movies, and your image is a complete tough guy, but this *The Sixth Sense*, Wu just said that the whole movie doesn't have a bit of action scenes, all actors rely on acting skills to speak, this seems to be inconsistent with your past play path? Or are you trying to challenge yourself and transform?"

Bruce Willis shrugged and smiled: "Shi Tailong can transform, why can't I?"

As soon as this was said, the audience at the scene was amused. The host immediately pursued:

"Oh, can I understand it this way? Is it because Wu successfully helped Shi Tailong transform in *Frequency*, so you took this *The Sixth Sense*?"

The lens gave Wu Yu a close-up, and he maintained a faint smile.

Bruce Willis shook his head with a chuckle: "Okay, no kidding. Seriously, before receiving this script, I had dozens of project invitations waiting for me, but I pushed them all away and took *The Sixth Sense*, because this story is really great!"

Afterward, he looked at Wu Yu and said: "Of course, also because this is Director Wu's project. Wu's *Frequency* and *Phone Booth* two consecutive movies had a global box office of over 300 million. I don't think I need to say anything more to prove that he is really a very great director!"

The host took the words and looked at Wu Yu: "Wu, what about you, why did you consider choosing Bruce Willis? I found that you like to transform action superstars into acting schools, such as the previous Shi Tailong, is this your hobby?"

Wu Yu hurriedly shook his finger and said:

"Oh no no, I want to correct your point of view first. Whether it is Bruce Willis or Shi Tailong, their own acting skills are very good, but they were covered up by their past action scenes, and I just dug out this hidden side of them!"

This kind of program is like this, blowing each other, and then throwing out some interesting stories behind the scenes.

"I can guarantee that the actors in our crew are all strength-based actors, not just Bruce, but also Jennifer and our child actor Haley~"

Jennifer Connelly saw Wu Yu pass the words to her side, and also revealed an elegant smile, thinking that it was not in vain that she served with her body and exchanged knowledge.

The publicity of *The Sixth Sense* this time is naturally centered on Bruce Willis, and one of the gimmicks is Bruce Willis's transformation work.

Looking at these top tough guys and action superstars in Hollywood, Shi Tailong, Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, etc., all will be labeled, that is, stiff expressions, rotten acting skills, and several people have been rated as Golden Raspberry.

In fact, people don't say that acting skills are top-notch, but they are really not as rotten as they say, but this label is hit, making the public form a fixed impression, that is, tough guy action stars have no acting skills. Therefore, making a fuss about this point this time can also attract many people into the cinema.

And the second publicity point of the movie fell on Wu Yu. The Berlin Golden Bear can be mentioned, but most arrogant American audiences don't care about any awards outside North America, so the focus is still on his previous two Hollywood movies.

First of all, it was *Frequency* at the end of 97. The total North American box office of this movie was 167 million, ranking sixth in the 97 North American box office list. Thanks to the fame accumulated by Shi Tailong all over the world, its overseas box office exceeded 200 million, and the global box office reached 372 million US dollars, suppressing *Tomorrow Never Dies*'s 330 million, ranking fourth in the 97 global box office. As for the top three, the first is the *Titanic* 220 million plus, the second is *The Lost World: Jurassic Park* 618 million, and the third is Will Smith's *Men in Black* 590 million.

Then there is *Phone Booth* at the beginning of 98. Relying on the male lead Little Li, borrowing the hurricane that swept the world with *Titanic*, the North American box office was 183 million, ranking third in the 98 North American list, and the global box office was 381 million, ranking third in the 98 global box office.

With these two movie results, they were top-notch in Hollywood in these two years, and few directors could do it. Therefore, there is no doubt that Wu Yu is worth blowing now.

In fact, you can see from the salary. This time *The Sixth Sense* was 60 million, Bruce Willis took 20 million salary alone, Wu Yu was 5 million plus 10% share, and the two occupied almost half.

After the program was recorded and returned to the hotel, Wu Yu saw Disney's Myers walking over with a smile, and couldn't help asking: "Myers, what happy event happened?"

"Oh, nothing. *Tarzan*'s box office broke 150 million US dollars, and finally can explain to Mr. Eisner~"

The current Disney CEO Michael Eisner is known as the Disney Emperor, and is also privately known as the tyrant. No one in the whole Disney is not afraid of him, and they are all trembling in front of him.

*Tarzan* is that famous animated film *Tarzan*, with a production cost of 130 million, which is the key project of Disney this year. After *Tarzan* was released last month, the response was very good. Now the North American box office alone has exceeded 150 million, so the global box office is not much worse, not to mention that the peripheral product profits that animated films can derive are even more amazing. Therefore, these people are also relieved, no need to be afraid of the Emperor's anger again.

Wu Yu heard his words and just smiled. This movie has nothing to do with him, and it won't collide. Afterward, he asked: "Myers, how is the situation of *The Blair Witch Project* I asked you to pay attention to?"

"I went to see it. To be honest, it's a very bad movie, but their publicity means are really clever, making people think that those young people really encountered a witch and were killed! Now it has been released on a small scale for 10 days, and only 30 cinemas have achieved a box office of 500,000. You are right, their large-scale release time is likely to collide with us."

Listening to Myers's words, Wu Yu asked: "Can we expose their tricks? Or find some movie fans who have already watched it to denounce their false publicity?"

Myers shook his head and said: "I will try, but don't hold too much hope. If you want to expose them, you have to find those young people and appear in public, but I can guarantee that they have been hidden, and it is estimated that they will not appear within half a year."

Wu Yu also sighed upon hearing this. *The Blair Witch Project* is a movie that relies purely on marketing. It is nothing, but it finally achieved a super high box office of 140 million in North America and 248 million US dollars globally.

He knew this movie in his previous life, but it is a classic case of viral marketing. But he can't copy it, because it must rely on the publicity of big companies, and it is very bad for word of mouth, so he didn't consider earning this money.

It's just that when he arrived in North America this time, Wu Yu found that this was going to collide with his *The Sixth Sense*. This is a bit disgusting!

But just as Myers said, you can't help it. Originally, it relied on marketing. If you go to arch fire, you will increase the heat. People have already laid out half a year in advance. Those who have been deceived by lies won't believe the truth you expose, and will scold you for having no sympathy.

Wu Yu can only throw it aside. He has confidence in *The Sixth Sense*. After the movie is released, he will know after touching it.

At this time, Myers smiled at Wu Yu: "Wu, congratulations, I heard that your movie sold out in Asia~ In fact, you can consider establishing closer cooperation with our Disney, so that your next movie distribution will be much easier."

"Oh, Myers, I haven't looked for Disney, but unfortunately you weren't willing to give 10 million US dollars at the beginning." Wu Yu joked.

A few months ago, when *My Sassy Girl* was considering Asian distribution, because Wu Yu wanted simultaneous release, he naturally considered big distributors like Sony and Disney first. At that time, Sony quoted 9 million US dollars, Fox quoted 8.5 million, and Disney was only willing to give 8 million. Now seeing *My Sassy Girl* popular, this is starting to come up again.

Wu Yu doesn't know the specific box office of *My Sassy Girl* in the Asian region now. After all, the movie is still being released. He just heard Cai Yinong mention a general idea. The number of viewers in Korea has exceeded 3 million, the box office in Neon has exceeded 1.5 billion yen, Hong Kong broke 30 million in 2 weeks, and Taiwan region 150 million Taiwan dollars.

If you add Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, etc., Wu Yu estimates that the overseas box office has reached 350 million yuan. This is still a 2-week box office. When the movie is off the screen, it is not impossible to reach 500 million. Converting to US dollars is also more than 60 million, which is not a small number for any Hollywood distributor.

At the beginning, they felt that the appeal of Chinese films in the Asian region was not as good as before, and there were no action scenes, so no one was willing to pay more than 10 million US dollars. Now look again, don't say buy it for 10 million US dollars, buy it back for 20 million, so they regret it.

"Oh, Wu, because of this matter, Eisner has scolded the person in charge of the Asian region and transferred him away. Don't worry, all projects related to you will be directly connected by me in the future, and Mr. Eisner will always pay attention." Myers promised on his chest.

Wu Yu just smiled upon hearing this. If he wants to find a unified distribution channel in Asia, the best object is Sony. People have the strongest strength in the Asian region, and your Disney is a bit worse.

Wu Yu perfunctorily said two sentences, and then asked: "How is *Runaway Bride*?"

"What is the situation of *The Sixth Sense*?" On the other side, Julia Roberts, who had just finished the program and returned to the hotel, asked.

Nowadays, Julia Roberts is a big sister in Hollywood and the first female star to enter the Hollywood 20 million club.

And the biggest enemy of her new movie *Runaway Bride* in the same period is *The Sixth Sense*.

"With Bruce Willis and the popular Wu Yu joined forces, although it is not an action movie that the audience expects, the theater chain still gave them 3,000 opening numbers." The producer said.

Big Mouth Sister frowned. Although this opening number was not as much as her *Runaway Bride*, it was not far behind. Although *The Sixth Sense* and *Runaway Bride* are not the same type of movie, they are released in the same period, so naturally there must be competition.

Then she turned her head and asked a middle-aged man with a gentle temperament and handsome appearance beside her: "Richard, what is Bruce thinking? Does he really want to transform?"

This man is the Hollywood first-line star Richard Gere, the male lead of the movie *Runaway Bride*.

Richard Gere spread his hands: "I don't know either..."

In fact, many people don't understand Bruce Willis's transformation this time. Shi Tailong's transformation is because he is old and started to go downhill, but Bruce Willis has been in his prime these years, so there is no need to transform so urgently, right?

Every actor has his own characteristics. Like Julia Roberts, she is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people because of her friendly smile. Everyone likes to watch the love light comedies she acts in. Two months ago, her *Notting Hill* was a big sale, and this *Runaway Bride* is still this style.

Playing your own highlights and strengths is the key to these people becoming superstars, but now Bruce Willis has given up action scenes and tough guys, and acted in such a pure literary play when he was popular? You have to know that the career life of male stars is much longer than that of female actors. She hasn't transformed yet.

The producer on this side smiled and said: "This is a good thing for us. Bruce gave up the part he is best at, so he will naturally lose part of the audience. With you and Richard joined forces again, we will win this time!"

Big Mouth Sister bent her mouth and revealed a smile. The *Pretty Woman* that made her popular back then was her cooperation with Richard Gere. This time the two joined hands again, naturally attracting many people into the cinema.

Wu Yu knew that his 3050 opening number was 200 less than *Runaway Bride*, but he was not disappointed. This situation was already much better than the previous life.

In the previous life, although this *The Sixth Sense* had the joining of big star Bruce Willis, the producer's confidence was insufficient, because this was a newcomer director, and this movie was Bruce Willis's transformation work, without action scenes, how it looked didn't look like a big sale. Therefore, only 2161 opening cinemas were arranged, and it didn't rise until the second week of word of mouth exploded.

And this time, with Wu Yu's guarantee, Disney also tried its best to fight for it with the theater chain, and finally gave 3050 opening cinemas.

Although competing with *Runaway Bride*, there will be a stirring stick *The Blair Witch Project* to mix in, but the capacity of the North American summer vacation file is very large, and it is no problem to accommodate 3 big productions at the same time, not to mention these three movies are not big productions, and there are no big scenes.

The highest cost *Runaway Bride* is 70 million, two protagonists occupy 35 million, then what big scenes can there be?

This is the final word-of-mouth of the movie! ===== CHAPTER 190 =====