Chapter 89: I Only Accept Being the Director Myself

Looking at Takeshi Kitano, who looked a bit fierce after his face suddenly stiffened, Wu Yuchen was not scared. He slowly put down the teacup and looked directly at Takeshi Kitano:

"Mr. Kitano, there is nothing impossible.

First, *You and Me* has the titles of the Tokyo International Film Festival Jury Grand Prix and Best Actress, which greatly facilitates your promotion.

Second, I think you have also investigated the screening situation of *You and Me* during the film festival. It was almost full every time, and some audiences even brought their families to watch it a second or even third time after watching it. With the enthusiasm of the Japanese audience for *You and Me*, 300 million yen is not a difficult goal."

In many art cinemas in Japan, some films are shown for half a year. Like *Not One Less*, it was shown for more than a year. It had no awards before the screening, and it achieved a box office of 800 million yen just by word of mouth.

Even if *You and Me* can't compare to *Not One Less*, based on the situation Wu Yuchen observed, 300 million yen is not a big problem, and even 400-500 million is possible.

Then Wu Yuchen continued:

"And you can sell the TV copyright of *You and Me* to TV stations after the screening ends, and then release a boutique DVD collection. These are all profits."

After a pause, Wu Yuchen finally added:

"Note, I am talking about the copyright for all of Asia. Except for the Chinese mainland, the copyright for other regions is included. South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and even Hong Kong, as long as you can operate it, how much money you sell it for is your Kitano Studio's business, I don't care."

Yes, Wu Yuchen didn't want to toss and turn anymore. Packing these up and selling them all at once, he didn't have the channels and energy to do these things himself.

Takeshi Kitano's eyes couldn't help but light up after hearing this. If so, it's really not impossible to consider. How much money they can make depends on their studio's own ability. These economically developed regions all have art cinema chains, and art films also have a market. *You and Me* has the title of two Tokyo International Film Festival awards, so it's also negotiable in other regions.

"700,000 US dollars..." Takeshi Kitano, who had calculated the account in his heart, began to bargain with Wu Yuchen.

In the end, the two sides reached a deal at a price of 1.2 million US dollars. It wasn't that Takeshi Kitano had lost his mind, but that Wu Yuchen had added the European and American copyrights to him. He really didn't have the channels and energy to toss and turn, even if the company had Tang Yu, she couldn't be too busy.

Just now, Tang Yu had already taken *Comet* to participate in the Sitges Film Festival, striving to win an award and sell the copyrights in Asia and South America again.

Think about how Jia could earn 5 million yuan with *Xiao Wu* in his past life. Note, he earned 5 million yuan by himself alone, and the distributor must have earned more. It's not surprising that the copyright of *You and Me* sold for 1.2 million US dollars now. Someone like Takeshi Kitano who has channels and can toss and turn must have money to earn, maybe even more than double.

Wu Yuchen saved energy and time. Isn't it easier to invest this money in the stock market to buy Yahoo than to run around the world selling copyrights?

Speaking of Yahoo's stock, he invested 2 million US dollars a few months ago and bought it at a price of 18.55 US dollars. Now it has risen to 23.5 yuan, and the stock market value has reached 2.53 million US dollars.

How to put it, although he earned a lot, it seems that Yahoo hasn't started its upward mode yet. On the contrary, Changhong, which he bought in the domestic stock market, has started a crazy upward mode and is rising steadily. He initially invested 800,000, and even took out 160,000 in the middle to shoot *Comet*. As a result, it has now risen to 3.28 million. It's really awesome!

But the domestic stock market is not the largest asset. Before Wu Yuchen came to Japan, the publishing house where Wu Jianping worked sent him money. For the royalties of 2 million copies, they gave him a total of 4.38 million, after tax. Don't think it's small, mainly because the price of books these days is far from as high as it will be ten years later.

4.38 million was already a huge sum in 1996. The money in the account made the couple Wu Jianping and Zhou Shulan dizzy for several days.

Wu Jianping hadn't had time to discuss with Wu Yuchen how to handle the money, and he had already flown to Tokyo.

In fact, after Wu Yuchen arrived in Tokyo this time, he contacted an agency company at the first time, asking them to help him register several scripts in the United States.

And after Wu Yuchen inquired, he found that he also met the requirements for joining the Writers Guild of America. The US version of the film adapted from the short film *Car 44* had already been released, with a cost of 1.7 million US dollars and a box office of 12.5 million. As the original creator of the script, he had a credit, and Sony Classics making money and writing him a recommendation letter was naturally no problem.

The reason for registering scripts in the United States is naturally to pave the way for the future. Some films really can't be shot in China, and it will take at least 10 years for the domestic film box office to grow. During this period, he will most likely have to go to the United States to get some gilding. And some scripts, if he doesn't register them, it will be too late in a few years. Write them out first and hang them there, attracting people while also serving as a bargaining chip.

Just not long after he and Takeshi Kitano had just negotiated the deal, he received a call from the United States. The caller was Frank from Fox Searchlight, who had bought *Comet* before.

Not long after returning from Sydney, he arranged for *Comet* to be screened on a small scale in cinemas in Asian residential areas. At the beginning, the response was mediocre, not very surprising, but its attendance rate did not drop at all in the following two weeks. This made Fox Searchlight expand to more independent cinema chains, and the total box office for two months had reached 6.3 million.

Frank felt that if a US version were shot and expanded for screening, it would be very likely to earn more than 10 million US dollars.

"Wu, can you stay in Japan for another week? I will send someone to rush over and talk to you about the adaptation rights of *Comet*."

"Yes, but Frank, I think we can complete the price negotiation on the phone."

"Okay, Wu, I know you are a person with your own opinions. You can directly report the price you want."

"Frank, for the sake of our old friendship, I won't open my mouth like a lion. How about 1 million?"

"Haha, isn't this opening your mouth like a lion? It's just adaptation rights. We go to Europe to buy the adaptation rights of some films, which is only 500,000 US dollars."

Wu Yuchen didn't refute, but said to the phone with a smile:

"Frank, you know that films are different from films. My *Comet* relies entirely on creativity, and the essence of the whole film is also in the script. Moreover, the shooting cost is extremely low. Even if you find a bottom-level director and let him shoot according to the original version, the cost within 500,000 US dollars can definitely be done."

1 million adaptation rights plus 500,000 shooting costs is only 1.5 million, but I believe it can definitely bring you benefits far exceeding 1.5 million."

If you really can't accept it, then I can only go to Sony Classics."

Wu Yuchen also thinks very clearly now. In his past life, the box office of *Comet* in 2014 was sluggish. On the one hand, the beginning was long and tedious, and on the other hand, the creativity was no longer fresh at all. At that time, there was *Triangle* in front, so people naturally felt that this imitation routine was not so novel.

But now it is the 90s, and these highlights are enough to make many movie fans marvel, so whether in China or the United States, it achieved results exceeding Wu Yuchen's expectations after its release. 1 million US dollars for adaptation rights is really not high.

Frank was slightly silent, then said: "Okay, Wu, then 1 million US dollars. No need to contact Sony's people. I will call someone to rush to Japan immediately."

"Don't worry, Frank, I have always been a person who keeps his word. By the way, I just registered three new scripts in the United States. If you are interested, you can go and see them."

"Oh? Then I must go and have a good look!"

After the two talked and laughed for a few sentences, they ended the call.

Fox Searchlight moved very quickly. The day after the call, its employees had already arrived in Tokyo, and without rest, they rushed to Wu Yuchen with the contract.

The whole process went very smoothly. After signing the contract, they transferred the money immediately. Even the 1.2 million US dollars from Kitano Studio hadn't been transferred yet, but Fox Searchlight's money had already arrived, which also made Wu Yuchen understand that *Comet* must have achieved good results in the United States.

And it was the next day that Frank's call came again, and he praised it as soon as he came up:

"Wu, you are really very, very talented! I want all three of your scripts in a package. How about 1.5 million US dollars? This is already a high price for a screenwriter!"

"Frank, thank you for your praise. I only plan to sell one for the time being. Which one do you value the most?"

Frank on the other side of the phone hesitated, but still said: "*Frequency*."

The Chinese translation of the film *Frequency* is also called *Life and Death Frequency* or *Saving the Future Across Generations*. In fact, the latter two translations are more vivid. The film really has nothing to do with black holes.

*Frequency*, released in 2000, tells the story of a son in 1999 talking to his father in 1969 through an old-fashioned radio across the timeline, changing the past through his father and affecting the present.

It can be said that this film pioneered the genre of changing the past and affecting the present on the same timeline. For example, the later English *The Call*, the Spanish *Mirage*, the South Korean *Signal*, the Hong Kong drama *Across Generations*, etc., are all carrying forward this creativity. Some just changed the medium to a telephone.

This film can't be shot in China. Let alone the plot, just say what era China was 30 years ago. Even if it is changed to 20 years ago, it can't be shot. Therefore, Wu Yuchen didn't consider localization directly. It's meaningless.

*Frequency* is successful both commercially and in terms of reputation, so it was also listed by Wu Yuchen as one of the scripts for him to land in the United States.

"Wu, your creativity for time and space themes is really great. You are definitely a genius in this regard!"

Frank was praising him, and with the successful case of *Comet* in front, Frank first took a fancy to the script of *Frequency*.

"Frank, the price of 500,000 is no problem, but I have a condition."

"You just say it!"

"I want to be the director."

Frank on the other side of the phone was silent for a moment. After a few seconds, he smiled again and said:

"Wu, there is no problem with you wanting to be a director. I can hand over *Comet* to you and give you 1 million shooting funds. I think this is enough for you to shoot..."

Wu Yuchen interrupted directly: "Frank, you should understand what I mean. I want to be the director of *Frequency*."

Frank sighed, then said:

"Wu, I'm sorry, Fox will not agree to your request. After reading the script, I knew this was a 10-million-level project. Although your *Comet* has good results at present, it is only a Chinese film."

Wu Yuchen understood immediately, which means his qualifications are not enough to direct a project with a cost of 10 million.

"Then I won't sell the copyright. I only accept being the director myself. Frank, if you believe in my ability, you will definitely be surprised."

"Wu, this is not a question of ability. In Hollywood, everything is a transaction. You must have enough bargaining chips to get equal opportunities.

I have a proposal. If you are willing to come and direct the US version of *Comet*, after it is released, if the box office can be over 10 million, then you can accumulate a qualification, and perhaps you can make the company agree."

"Perhaps?" Wu Yuchen asked.

"Yes, perhaps." Frank confirmed.

Wu Yuchen sneered. Reality is just like this. Hollywood is not so easy for outsiders to enter, and it also has prejudices against yellow people.

If he were of Jewish descent, even if he only shot the short film *Car 44*, then holding *Frequency* might give him a chance to direct. But yellow people have to prove that they are good enough before they can enter Hollywood's eyes.

Wu Yuchen smiled:

"Frank, thank you for your suggestion, but the lives of artists are precious. I don't want to do repetitive and meaningless things. Also, it won't be too long before you will definitely invite me to be the director. I mean definitely!"

Frank sighed and didn't try to increase the offer again. This thing is not important anymore. The other party is obviously like many directors who value the opportunity to direct the most. These people's tempers are like this.

After hanging up the phone, Wu Yuchen let out a breath. Entering the United States is not so easy. Wu Baige also relied on the disc sales results of the many Hong Kong gunfight films he shot in the United States to make the film party willing to give him a chance.

Since Hollywood says he is not qualified enough, Wu Yuchen intends to shoot a time-loop film that is called a classic.

Subsequently, Wu Yuchen calculated the extra 2.2 million. He plans to divide it into 3 parts this time.

One part of 1 million US dollars to continue buying Yahoo, it should be fine in the end, it counts as a stable investment.

The second part of 800,000 US dollars to bring back to China to buy Changhong. According to the increase of more than 20 times that Zhou Shulan mentioned in his past life, Changhong should still have 4-5 times the space. Seeing Changhong rising so fiercely, Wu Yuchen also plans to earn more quick money.

The third part of 400,000 US dollars is temporarily kept as funds for the preparation of the next film. For example, the courtyard for shooting *You and Me* can be bought. 450,000, far from the exaggerated price later, mainly because the courtyard itself is broken and small. The remaining money should be enough to shoot the next film.

As for the four million earned from writing books, put it with his parents. He doesn't lack this money for the time being, and it counts as an emergency reserve fund.

However, regarding the shooting of the next film, he has to go back and ask someone to inquire first. He doesn't know if it needs to be made into a co-production, and he has to find someone to help him bridge the gap.

Thinking of this, Wu Yuchen didn't hesitate anymore and bought the return ticket for the next day immediately. The harvest of coming to Japan this time is big enough, he can go back. Grandma Jin Yaqin is probably still waiting for his trophy! ===== CHAPTER 90 =====