Chapter 350

Thinking he understood Cao Yang's idea, Jeff Robinov was also very happy.

If Cao Yang succeeds, and "Joker" can win major awards at the three major European festivals or even the Oscars, it is something worth celebrating for Warner and DC.

This will invisibly increase people's inherent cognition of "Batman," and can also give "Batman" another selling point—as long as it can win an award, then new comics of "Joker" can be released.

Who says only comics can be adapted into films? Films can also be adapted into comics; as long as they can make money, it's the same no matter who adapts whom.

"Cao, how much certainty do you have of winning an award? I mean at the three major European festivals or the Oscars."

Jeff Robinov was obviously interested; not to mention the positive impact on "Batman" and being able to release new comics, any film that can win an award at the three major European festivals or the Oscars almost never loses money.

Even if the box office is not necessarily ideal, the subsequent peripheral and disc rentals, or selling broadcast rights, can make the film make a lot of money.

What's more, so far, Cao Yang has not had a film with a very low box office.

After listening to Jeff Robinov's words, Cao Yang was also stunned for a moment, then reacted, thinking the other party might have misunderstood his meaning, thinking he wanted to shoot an art film aimed at winning awards.

If Cao Yang said this film could explode at the box office, Jeff Robinov might not necessarily believe it, and he would have to explain it with great effort, which is unnecessary.

In addition, letting Jeff Robinov misunderstand has another benefit.

That is, Cao Yang shoots commercial films that are mainly based on box office, and the share will be less; if he doesn't join a gambling agreement like "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," 13% of the total box office share is almost a hurdle on the surface.

Cao Yang needs at least two more films to explode to have a chance to break through this hurdle.

But art films are different.

Art films have less investment and are aimed at awards, and the box office cannot be too high, so Cao Yang's share ratio will be much more.

Like the previous "Juno" and the "The Fault in Our Stars" currently in production, Cao Yang, without directing it himself, got a 20% share of the global box office for adaptation rights plus producer and screenwriter fees.

Therefore, if Jeff Robinov feels that "Joker" is aimed at awards and is a pure art film, then so be it.

Cao Yang carefully considered it and said to Jeff Robinov: "If it's winning an award, if it's the Venice Film Festival, I have about 70% certainty, and the Cannes Film Festival also has 50%; if it's the Oscars..."

Looking at Jeff Robinov, Cao Yang continued: "If Warner fully cooperates to rush for awards, if the film rushes for awards before large-scale release, it should also have some."

Rushing for awards at the three major European festivals, the Venice Film Festival is what Cao Yang has the most certainty about, followed by the Cannes Film Festival.

As for why he didn't mention the Berlin International Film Festival... If "Joker" is in normal circumstances, plus the big environment of the financial crisis, the probability of winning the Jin Xiong at the Berlin International Film Festival is not low.

Unfortunately, this is Cao Yang's film; even if the Berlin International Film Festival wants to give Cao Yang the Jin Xiong, the Europeans will also put pressure on Berlin.

You can brush awards at Venice and Cannes, but no one in Europe will want to see a Chinese person win the Grand Slam of the three major European festivals and become the fourth person in the world.

Therefore, if you want to brush the Berlin Jin Xiong, you need the right time and the right film to have certainty; this is also the tacit understanding between Cao Yang and Berlin International Film Festival President Dieter Kosslick.

"Joker"... the artistry is there, but it still lacks some political correctness.

As for the Oscars, Cao Yang specifically emphasized rushing for awards before the film's large-scale release; otherwise, if it rushes for awards after the box office explodes, because the box office is too high, it will be "discriminated" against, and the difficulty of winning an award will automatically add 10086.

Just like in the original space-time, "Joker" won nine nominations at the 92nd Oscars.

But because it was rushing for awards after the box office exploded, it only won one Best Actor and one Best Original Score, and everything else was missed.

This time Jeff Robinov was truly stunned.

Damn, is this human language?

It's 50%, 60%, 70% certainty; do you think the three major European festivals and the Oscars are opened by your family?

"Cao, are you serious?"

Jeff Robinov asked particularly seriously this time.

Cao Yang nodded, "I never joke about awards."

Do it!

If Jeff Robinov weren't someone who had seen big scenes, he would have blurted out these two words.

"Cao, how much do you estimate this film needs to be invested?"

Jeff Robinov suppressed the restlessness in his heart and asked.

As the president of Warner Bros. Pictures, his business ability is still good; at least he can test whether Cao Yang truly wants to make this film through the film's budget.

Cao Yang carefully considered it for a while; this film has no big scenes, doesn't need much special effects, and doesn't need to invite major stars; it is just an ordinary narrative film.

The only thing that costs more is probably his own director and screenwriter remuneration.

In addition, all expenses and marketing costs for participating in one of the three major European festivals must be counted.

"60 million should be enough."

60 million?

I'll add it to 80 million for you; as long as you can guarantee to shoot a high-quality award-rushing film!

Of course, this is Jeff Robinov's inner activity; the film's budget and Cao Yang's treatment and share, these need to be calculated and the team to connect.

"Cao, what other ideas do you have, unfold and talk about them."

Jeff Robinov said impatiently.

Cao Yang actually hadn't considered shooting "Batman" or "Joker" films during the time before meeting Jeff Robinov.

These ideas were some whimsical ideas when Warner and Disney invited him at the same time last year; I didn't expect them to be used at this time.

"Jeff, my idea is, it's best for 'Joker' to be linked with the second 'Batman'; after the second 'Batman' is released, then release 'Joker'."

Jeff Robinov nodded; he certainly understands these principles, warming up and promoting, and can also arouse the audience's curiosity.

"Cao, have you ever thought about directing 'Batman' and 'Joker' at the same time? Such a linkage is more interesting, smoother, and can also create very big gimmicks."

Jeff Robinov still didn't give up and wanted to persuade Cao Yang to direct "Batman" again; this actually has favorable aspects for both films.

Cao Yang was also a bit hesitant for a while.

Actually, the two films don't need to be directed at the same time; it wouldn't be too late to shoot "Joker" after shooting "Batman."

"Batman" has a lot of special effects, and the production cycle is very long, while "Joker" is not; maybe "Joker" will be finished before the special effects of "Batman" are finished.

It's just that there is one point: if he directs this "Batman," should he invite Heath Ledger?

In America, the so-called drug overdose death is very likely the kind of death everyone thinks of.

And obviously, this "Batman" marketed the dead Heath Ledger, which made the film break out.

Without Heath Ledger, this film couldn't have achieved so much box office.

If Cao Yang doesn't direct, he can ignore all this and let things develop.

But if he directs, it's hard to do it while knowing all this.

If he is afraid that it is not easy to link, there is actually a compromise method, which is for Cao Yang to write the script for "Batman," which can also achieve linkage.

However, if Warner still invites Nolan to direct "Batman," it is very likely to cause conflict.

Nolan is a person with ideas and is now also a very famous director; will such a director honestly shoot according to someone else's script?

It's difficult.

(End of chapter)