Chapter 306: A man's desire to compare

Xiao Gangpao has been a bit proud lately.

Especially since *Long Humen*, with an investment of 80 million, was beaten by *Inception* and couldn't find north, even though it was released two weeks later than *Inception*, and its box office expectations were lowered again and again.

From the industry's estimate of 50 million as a bottom line before release, to the expected 30 million or so after the first day of release, to the current hope of rushing for 20 million in box office...

Xiao Gangpao, as a melon-eating crowd, watched with great interest.

And he was secretly proud that he had stubbornly resisted the pressure from Little Wang Zong and Emperor Motion Picture's boss Zhuang Cheng, and even slapped the table to set the release date of *The Banquet* on August 30th.

He had suffered in this regard, so he learned his lesson.

Last time, his *A World Without Thieves* was released two weeks before *District 9*. Looking at the box office results of the first two weeks, everyone optimistically estimated that *A World Without Thieves* would reach 150 million.

As a result, *District 9* was released and directly siphoned off the box office, making *A World Without Thieves*, which had already achieved 90 million in box office, barely reach 100 million.

Xiao Gangpao had long since stopped understanding the market. Don't look at the growth of the box office market, but the current situation cannot accommodate two blockbusters that sell well.

Especially if one is a big explosion, it will siphon off all the box office.

That's why he resisted the pressure from Huayi's Little Wang Zong and Emperor's Zhuang Cheng and stubbornly slapped the table to set the date at the end of August.

At that time, Zhuang Cheng said something like, according to market research, the box office of domestic films is concentrated in the first two weeks, so it is correct for *The Banquet* to be released half a month after *Inception*.

*Inception* warms up the market in the first two weeks and brings it to life, so our *The Banquet* can sit back and enjoy the fruits, harvesting the hot market...

I spit!

Damn it, if you weren't the boss of Emperor and one of the investors, see if I wouldn't spit on your face!

Don't think you know the market just because you are from Hong Kong. You don't know a hammer about the domestic market.

That's right, according to general rules, the domestic box office is mainly concentrated in the first two weeks, that's right.

But!

Is Cao Yang an ordinary person?

Is Cao Yang's film an ordinary film?

You can't treat that kid as an ordinary normal person.

Look, my words have been fulfilled, right?

That group of people in Shanghai Film Group blindly believed in those Hong Kong filmmakers and let *Long Humen* be released two weeks after *Inception*. I guess they had the same idea as Emperor's Zhuang Cheng.

Thinking about picking up leaks after the market is warmed up, right?

What was the result?

Do you really think Cao Yang's reputation was built on art films?

After *Long Humen* was beaten to the ground, Xiao Gangpao didn't show off much in front of Little Wang Zong to show his foresight and his vision.

Xiao Gangpao participated in an interview program today, with the purpose of promoting *The Banquet*.

It wasn't to promote *Inception*, but *Inception* was too popular, and mentioning *Inception* might increase attention.

Most importantly, Xiao Gangpao felt that he should throw out a "special" point of view to attract people's attention and also attract attention to *The Banquet*.

He called this "traffic diversion."

"I think Cao Yang might want to tell the audience: How do you prove that reality is reality and exists truly? How do you know that our reality is not illusory?"

"We might just be imagined by others in their dreams. Just like the different time flow in *Inception*, our short or long life might just be a nap of different degrees taken by the dreamer."

Xiao Gangpao's point of view is not outstanding, nor is it fresh. Similar points of view were proposed after the release of *The Matrix*, but it was said that we might just be a program.

However, Xiao Gangpao is a major director in the country. If he says such a point of view, it can definitely become a hot spot for media reports, and thus produce a "traffic diversion" effect.

Just like before his films are released, he often "speaks without restraint" in front of public media.

This is a strategy he uses to promote films.

Throwing out this point of view today, Xiao Gangpao was still secretly proud.

Plus, he had been proud of himself for postponing the release date of *The Banquet* these days, which was double pride and double happiness.

After coming out of the studio, Xiao Gangpao took a car directly home. When a person is proud, they are very excited mentally, and mental excitement easily leads to physiological excitement.

So Xiao Gangpao hummed a tune and prepared to go home and have a good time with Xu Fan. No way, he was indeed a bit physiologically excited these days.

The double mental happiness lasted all the way. When he got home, he saw Xu Fan and leaned over with a grin, hugging her face and wanting to bite.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute."

Xu Fan covered Xiao Gangpao's mouth with her hand, leaned back, and said with a complex expression: "I just heard something... um, wait, wait a minute, you listen to me... um, finish."

"What could it be? Let's talk later."

"What's wrong with you these past few days? Why are you so abnormal? Don't be so impatient..."

People are happy when they have happy events.

"What did you want to say just now?"

"It's Cao Yang. Cao Yang wrote a script..."

"That kid wrote a script again?"

"Hmm..."

"What kind of script did he write?"

"I don't know. It's for Tian..."

"For Tian? What for Tian?" Xiao Gangpao asked.

"Written for Tian Zhuangzhuang..."

"What?"

Xiao Gangpao felt as if a basin of cold water was poured from his head, and the triple pride in his spirit disappeared one by one.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I..."

Xiao Gangpao wanted to grin and muddle through, but this news was really depressing. Why did that grandson Cao Yang write a script for anyone, but it had to be that old kid Tian Zhuangzhuang!

He grinned and finally could only say dejectedly: "I... I... sigh!"

Xu Fan's heart moved, and she could roughly guess Xiao Gangpao's thoughts, wanting to laugh a bit, but also a bit depressed.

So Gangzi's thoughts are also so complex.

After Old Tian was banned, he kept sinking, and Gangzi performed very generously, and could still laugh and talk with Old Tian, looking completely indifferent.

Old Tian has a chance to turn over, and Gangzi is obviously uncomfortable, which is manifested in various aspects.

Men, they are really complex creatures.

Hearing from a little sister, there are some who are even more excited when mentioning their ex, I don't understand.

Xiao Gangpao turned over, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling for a long time. After Xu Fan went to wash up, he gritted his teeth and cursed in a low voice.

"Damn Old Tian, why does it have to be you? Can't you just be your department director quietly? You've already become like that, what kind of shit film are you filming!

And that grandson Cao Yang, why did you write a script for anyone, but it had to be that old kid? Is he your father or your son!"

After scolding for a while, he was still not relieved.

As a director, Xiao Gangpao certainly knows that Cao Yang's script is powerful. Three consecutive Golden Globe Best Screenplays and two consecutive Oscar Best Screenplays are not just talk.

The more he thought about it, the more depressed he became, and Xiao Gangpao sat up from the bed.

This sitting suddenly gave him inspiration.

Can I also please Cao Yang and let him write me a script?

After this thought flashed through his mind, it could no longer be shaken off.

At this moment, he seemed to see the European Three Major Film Festivals, saw the Oscars, saw the Golden Globes, and that small Golden Rooster.

These are all waving at him.

"Eh?"

This excitement seemed to have unblocked some obstacle again.

Sure enough, the mental victory method is still very reliable.

He jumped out of bed quickly and headed straight for the washroom.

Take advantage of now, hurry up and continue.

I, Xiao Gangpao, am not weaker than anyone in my life.

Old Tian decided to set the background of *Pieta* in Hong Kong, so the script didn't need to be changed, so he prepared to set up the project.

In terms of investment, the plot of this film is simple and single, without big scenes, so let's set it at 20 million for now.

It's not that this film really needs 20 million to film, but the script and Cao Yang are valuable.

Cao Yang is still one of the producers and the executive producer of the film. Plus the script, to be honest, if it were according to the market price, 20 million wouldn't be enough for him.

But in the country, Cao Yang generally doesn't ask for prices according to Hollywood, especially since the director is Old Tian, plus it is an investment by Cao Yang's studio and the Beijing Film Studio together, all of whom are their own people.

However, Jiang Zhiqiang, the boss of Hong Kong's Edko Films, heard that *Pieta* was going to set the background in Hong Kong, so he took the initiative to call and wanted to invest.

Jiang Zhiqiang is also a Hong Kong person who has cooperated a lot with Cao Yang, mainly because the distribution of his Chinese films in Hong Kong is handed over to Jiang Zhiqiang's Edko Films.

Han Zong of China Film Group also called Cao Yang, and the meaning between the lines was also wanting to invest.

Cao Yang clearly told Han Zong that this film was not aimed at the box office.

Han Zong was overjoyed after hearing this, and his determination to invest in *Pieta* became firmer.

Fine, since that's the case, then it's not that family-price investment quota.

Finally, after negotiating with Old Han and Jiang Zhiqiang, *Pieta* actually invested 36 million, and externally claimed 56 million. Cao Yang's remuneration was converted into a share.

His studio didn't invest money, but occupied a 34% share, and the other three companies split the remaining shares equally.

This price is already very friendly to the other three companies.

Although there was only 36 million in actual funds, Old Tian still couldn't help but sigh for a long time. Since his debut, he had never fought such a rich battle. Cao Yang only used a script to leverage such great power!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 307 =====

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