Chapter 78: Venice Film Sales, *The Equation of Love and Death* Released

*The Equation of Love and Death* is about to be released.

Although there aren't many films in the same period, *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor* is a mountain that every film cannot bypass.

"Venice Film Festival?"

Many European and American distributors gave Lin Nan the same advice: he should go to Venice.

People from Lionsgate and New Line Cinema told Lin Nan the same thing.

If he wants to sell the rights to *The Martian* for the best price, the Venice Film Festival is an opportunity not to be missed.

"Lin, believe us, with your resume of winning Best Director Silver Bear twice, the Venice side will be very happy to provide you with a venue and help you promote the film."

After thinking it over carefully and communicating with several people from China Film Group, Lin Nan decided to head to Venice with a copy of the film.

Domestic time is six hours ahead of Venice.

China Film Group sent staff to set off with Lin Nan, mainly to help out.

Departing at eight in the morning, they arrived in Venice exactly at noon local time.

"I didn't expect that the first time I came to Venice, it wouldn't be to compete for awards, but to sell a film."

Lin Nan remembers that last year in Berlin, an Italian filmmaker sincerely invited him to come to Venice to attend the film festival.

"Maybe the next time Director Lin comes, it will be to receive an award, haha."

The few people from China Film Group had gotten familiar with each other, and they joked around very casually.

"Let's contact the organizers first. There is only one week left until the closing ceremony, and we need their help to rent a venue."

"Okay, we have colleagues here, I will contact them to handle this matter."

The mid-level manager leading the China Film Group team said.

Han Sanping had instructed that they were here to help Lin Nan solve trivial matters; as for selling the film, it would depend on Lin Nan's appeal at the film festival.

Jia Zhangke is also very well-informed; he invited Lin Nan to dinner that same evening.

Among the domestic directors, Jia Zhangke belongs to the type who wanders around film festivals all year round.

He can't handle mainstream theatrical films, but in the field of award-contending films, he is an expert.

This time, his short film was shortlisted for the "Master Exhibition Unit."

"A master indeed!"

Being able to openly challenge Zhang Yimou, Jia Zhangke is indeed not far behind.

"Director Lin, please sit."

"Thank you, Director Jia."

Lin Nan thanked him politely; also at the table was Jia Zhangke's wife.

The industry is always lamenting that for Jia Zhangke's films, his wife is indispensable.

"You came a bit late; many distributors have already completed their purchasing."

"I know, but the big distributors are always the last to leave."

"That's true, you are different from me; mine are all low-budget."

"That *The Martian* of yours is enough for me to shoot twenty or thirty films."

"Director Jia is joking; it's precisely because the cost is high that there are so many things to deal with now," Lin Nan said with a smile.

"No need to be modest. Although I don't get along with Zhang Yimou, I am indeed not as good as him."

"I used to only lose on commercial films, but now that the Olympics have started, this gap has become even larger."

The dinner lasted two hours, mainly spent chatting a lot.

Jia Zhangke took the initiative to promise that he would introduce some European distributors who have long-term cooperation with him to Lin Nan.

The next day, the Venice Film Market had an extra promotional venue for *The Martian*.

In the director's introduction, the track record was quite magnificent—two Silver Bear awards for Best Director—attracting a large number of distributors to stop by.

"Lin? Haha, I didn't expect to see you in Venice too."

Damn it, it really is fate.

The guy in front of Lin Nan was the same brother who tried to buy his rights twice in Berlin but couldn't afford the price.

"When can we watch the film?"

"Wait until the evening. We have booked a screening hall specifically for distributors; it's better when there are more people."

The three major European film festivals are also the world's largest film sales venues.

Here, you can see films of all kinds of themes and genres.

…………

Domestic media are already reporting on the news from Venice, especially the sudden appearance of *The Martian*.

"Coming over at this time, it can't be to compete; it must be to sell the rights."

"Reliable news: *The Martian* will not be publicly screened in Venice; it is limited to distributors."

Piracy is impossible to leak out.

In two days, more than two hundred distributors watched *The Martian*.

By the third day, Lin Nan stopped screening it.

The distributors with any real background had already seen it, and those small distributors were not important.

Quotes were sent to Lin Nan one after another; everyone knew the news that he would leave on the day of the closing ceremony, so the efficiency was very high.

"So far, a total of 13 distributors have been screened, including 10 from Europe and 3 from North America."

The China Film Group staff handed a form to Lin Nan, and the latter looked at it in detail.

"Hmm, let's do it like this."

The eyes of the few people lit up instantly, "We will go and notify them now."

According to the agreement, these distributors cannot release the film within one month after receiving it; this is also to deal with domestic piracy.

Although such a film only has the best viewing experience in a theater, piracy must be guarded against.

While the China Film Group people were busy with contracts, Lin Nan went to keep an appointment.

The jury president for next year's Venice Film Festival, Li An.

The two met at a cafe in the Water City.

"Director Lin Nan, has the matter of *The Martian* been handled?"

"Yes, the European and American distributors have been finalized, and we are signing the contracts."

"I wonder why Director Li asked to see me?"

Li An put down the coffee in his hand and said bluntly: "I want to invite Director Lin to attend next year's Venice Film Festival."

Lin Nan was stunned for a moment, "Next year, that's too far away."

"It's not far. Regardless of whether you have a film work or not, I look forward to seeing Director Lin at next year's Venice Film Festival."

"Mainland film talent is abundant, far beyond what Hong Kong and Taiwan can compare to; besides, Director Lin also has fame in Europe and America, doesn't he?"

…………

Lin Nan doesn't know Li An well, but he feels that his understanding of film is truly something.

Without realizing it, the two chatted for a long time, and even mentioned Tang Wei in the middle.

Li An still has some sense of responsibility, letting Tang Wei go through the Talent Admission Scheme to Hong Kong, so that she could bypass the mainland's ban.

Sitting in the cafe for an entire afternoon, the sky was already a bit dark when he left.

"Director Li, goodbye."

"Director Lin, take care."

…………

Lin Nan won't be able to see the closing ceremony red carpet; he and the China Film Group people have already boarded the plane back home.

The airport was, as usual, full of a large wave of reporters.

"Director Lin, how much did *The Martian* sell for?"

"This question is confidential; I will talk about it at the premiere."

"What did you and Director Li An talk about? Was it a film project?"

"Just chatting."

Online speculation about the total transaction amount of *The Martian*'s rights is varied, but none of it is based on evidence.

Lin Nan had planned it beforehand; these figures will be made public on the day of the premiere, and China Film Group must also keep it confidential.

Just after returning to the company, someone from the marketing department came to find Lin Nan with data.

"How is the box office?"

*The Equation of Love and Death* has been released for several days.

"Director Lin, the data is not very good."

"Be more specific."

"The box office for the first three days of the opening weekend was 8 million..."

Lin Nan was puzzled. In the same type of film, this should be considered the best result.

"Are you sure this data is not very good?"

"Please let me finish. On the fourth day, the daily box office dropped to below one million, and these past few days it has been six or seven hundred thousand."

"What about *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor*?" Lin Nan asked.

"14 million on the first day; it has been released for five days now and has already reached 60 million."

Cao Baoping hasn't contacted Lin Nan; he probably isn't feeling very good inside either.

Lin Nan was alone in his office, flipping through the news.

Some media outlets had already asserted that this would be the second film Lin Nan invested in to lose money.

"Even if it loses money, it won't be too much; the total investment is only a little over ten million."

He could only comfort himself this way.

Fortunately, the word-of-mouth for *The Equation of Love and Death* was quite good, and he hoped it could attract some audiences later on.

…………

Tang Ren publicly released a large number of makeup photos and stills for *Chinese Paladin 3*.

Cai Yinong's intentions could be seen just from the promotional methods.

*Chinese Paladin 1* was used for comparison and marketing, with the focus being Liu Yifei.

"The new descendant of Nuwa, Tang Yan vs. Liu Yifei."

"Li Xiaoyao and Zhao Linger, Jingtian and Xuejian."

Even Liu Shishi was brought into the mix with clever phrasing, her temperament compared to Liu Yifei's.

In an interview, Cai Yinong even stated bluntly: all three actresses have great potential and have the opportunity to follow in Liu Yifei's footsteps and step onto the international stage...

Lin Nan also admired her; she really dared to say anything. Are you going to follow in her footsteps by relying on TV dramas?

In the Penguin group chat, people were gossiping.

Zhang Jingchu was truly something; after being lectured by Jiang Wenli, she probably learned a thing or two. A couple of days ago, she had a late-night meeting with Director Gu and was caught red-handed by reporters.

Facts proved that it really didn't matter much if a man was old and ugly, as long as he had talent and ability.

Jiang Wenli wasn't idle; she invited the directors' wives in Jingcheng out one by one for gatherings and meals, likely planning some move.

These days, many teachers and professors at the Film Academy were paying attention to *The Equation of Love and Death*.

The fact that Cao Baoping was able to secure ten million in investment from Lin Nan back then really gave many people ideas.

Don't look at how they all teach at the Beijing Film Academy; not many have truly participated in film shooting and production.

Everyone wanted to test their skills, but they were troubled by the lack of investors.

When Lin Nan returned to school, many teachers looked at him with strange eyes, as if looking at a sucker.

"Lin Nan, I suppose I've dragged you into a pit; this film is very hard to recoup its costs."

Cao Baoping felt a bit embarrassed.

"Teacher Cao, it won't lose money, it might just take a long time to recover the costs, after all, the film is truly good.

Don't talk about dragging me into a pit or not. Look at those directors from Hong Kong; even if they truly bankrupt the production company, you'd only see smiles on their faces. You are much more honest than them, haha."

"How can you talk like that?

However, I really do intend to come to you for investment again next time; don't pretend you don't know me then..."

Combining box office and word-of-mouth, the film Cao Baoping shot was actually already a success, and he would only go further next time.

"I still believe in Teacher Cao's ability; you can continue to come to me next time, as long as the script isn't bad."

Lin Nan promised with a guarantee.

Sometimes losing a little really doesn't matter; on the contrary, it's more profitable. Favors and connections are built this way.