Chapter 353

"The Fault in Our Stars" has no big scenes and does not need CG special effects, so the post-production is very fast, and the rough film has been cut out.

It is worth mentioning that because "The Fault in Our Stars" belongs to a co-production, both China Film Group and Qingyingchang have investments, so this time the crew inserted several domestic staff.

For example, the editor, there is Yang Qian, an editor from Qingyingchang, who has collaborated with Cao Yang on several movies before, and Cao Yang is also handy to use.

Yang Qian has the biggest characteristic, that is, he will edit completely according to Cao Yang's intentions, unlike other editors who think that good shots or inappropriate shots can argue with the director for a long time.

It may be that he has long been accustomed to Cao Yang's "streamlined" photography style. This time, the director of "The Fault in Our Stars" is not Cao Yang, which made Yang Qian a bit unaccustomed when he first started editing.

Mainly the workload has increased a lot.

If Cao Yang were the director, a shot would likely have only two to three alternatives, and there would not be too many redundant alternative shots.

But the director of "The Fault in Our Stars" would shoot a large number of alternative shots for a plot, and let the actors change different performance methods to reshoot, which undoubtedly increased the workload of the editor a lot.

However, Yang Qian knows that this is the norm.

Shooting as extremely streamlined as Cao Yang is an exception.

After the rough film of "The Fault in Our Stars" came out, Cao Yang watched it with Yang Qian several times, and then told Yang Qian his ideas and requirements, and let him cut it accordingly.

Columbia has already started to act.

They contacted the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the initiator of World Wish Day, and united with them to find some seriously ill children and adolescents, and communicated with their guardians to facilitate the next actions.

Of course, for seriously ill children and adolescents, they are not looking for them randomly. Cao Yang doesn't need to think to know that most of the people found in North America are white, and they have to attach some conditions.

Cao Yang didn't participate in this matter. Don't look at this marketing method he proposed, but Columbia hired a professional team to be responsible for this matter, which is definitely more professional than him.

What's more, participating in this kind of thing in America is a trouble for Cao Yang.

However, China can also follow up and do it.

Not for marketing the movie, just to take this opportunity to do some things within his power.

Cao Yang told Han Zong and Dean Hou about this matter, and let them use the name of China Film Group and Qingyingchang to also hold a Wish Day activity.

No need for hype and fanfare, just do this silently.

And urged them that this Wish Day is not really for wishing to see stars or something. Don't let some people take the opportunity to hype. This is just for the follow-up treatment of those seriously ill children and adolescents.

Cao Yang also didn't let them specifically mention his name. With Cao Yang's current status, there is no need to hype so-called "good deeds" to plate gold.

Dean Hou asked Cao Yang if he wanted to register a fund for him, such as "Cao Yang Charity Fund," etc. The benefits of this thing are many.

The public who doesn't know what it means, after hearing such a "high-end" name, thinks that this is true charity, and it is to help the bottom people who really need help.

Actually, hehe...

Of course, it is undeniable that there are still a small number of charity funds used for good deeds.

But the nature of most of them was not to do good deeds from the beginning.

The uses of this thing are too many.

Well, let's talk about the purpose of some so-called charity funds in America.

One is to reduce taxes.

When an individual or company donates to a charity fund, the donation amount can be deducted from taxable income.

By donating assets to a charity fund, the donor can reduce the size of their estate, thereby reducing potential estate taxes.

Some charity funds are established for the purpose of being part of estate planning, which allows the donor to transfer assets during their lifetime or after death, while retaining a certain degree of control over these assets.

There is also the most important point, the investment income of charity funds is usually tax-free, that is to say, using the name of the fund to invest, the income does not need to pay taxes.

This is also the reason why the shareholders of many large companies in America are various funds.

Moreover, the "controllable" point of this kind of charity fund is that the charity fund allows the donor to specify the direction of the use of funds, and can even set up a "donor-advised fund," allowing the donor to continue to guide the use of funds during their lifetime or after death.

Of course, it is not without restrictions.

Using the name of the fund to invest, the income does not need to pay taxes, but at least 5% of the assets must be allocated for charity every year, and the remaining assets can continue to invest and appreciate.

It seems that this is to protect the "charitable" nature of the charity fund.

But if you think so, that is a bit high-looking at them.

The calculation basis of this 5% includes direct expenditures for charitable projects, management fees, and grants, etc.

See this "management fee"? Is it very familiar?

Second point, wealth inheritance is one of the most important purposes of establishing a charity fund.

In America, many wealthy people inherit wealth through the form of foundations, which can not only protect funds from paying high estate taxes, but also allow children to enter the foundation to participate in management.

The last point, social influence is also an important reason for wealthy people to establish charity funds.

By targeting education, medical care, or scientific research fields, wealthy people can indirectly participate in the shaping of public issues and enhance their own social influence.

Moreover, occasionally using the fund to do some so-called "good deeds" and hype it up can also improve personal reputation.

In fact, in the United States, note, it is in the United States, some charity funds have another role, that is, they can receive some "anonymous" donations. These "anonymous" donations reach the fund's account, which is "legal" money.

Of course, this matter certainly cannot be done too much. Being stared at is a big trouble.

Cao Yang denied the suggestion of establishing a fund in China, Dean Hou laughed, and didn't say anything.

Establishing a fund in China is now considered a "fashionable" thing. Some well-known stars have learned to do this. Dean Hou is actually not very willing for Cao Yang to do this.

As an academic school, it is also considered to be in the system. Doing these things will sooner or later have trouble.

Since Cao Yang refused, Dean Hou was relieved. He was ready to analyze the pros and cons for Cao Yang.

On the side of "New Pirates of the Caribbean," the post-production work is advancing in an orderly manner, and the most time-consuming is still CG special effects.

This movie has a lot of CG special effects, this matter cannot be rushed, this is also one of the main highlights.

Bellman took the team and contacted the Warner people again. The negotiation of "Batman" is much more difficult than "Joker."

Even if Warner really wants Cao Yang's "name," but involving an investment of nearly 200 million US dollars, and it is a movie for the purpose of box office, zero point a few percentage points have to be argued for several days.

On the contrary, for the matter of making "Joker" a co-production proposed by Cao Yang, Bellman just said that as long as it is made into a co-production, it can be directly released in China without occupying the "imported film" quota.

Warner just asked which companies want to invest.

When hearing that China Film Group and Qingyingchang where Cao Yang works are involved, they agreed without hesitation.

Warner's idea is very simple. An art film, aimed at winning awards, having one more investor to share the investment is naturally excellent.

Don't say it is China Film Group and Qingyingchang. For this kind of movie that is not for the purpose of box office, Warner welcomes any company to share the investment with both hands.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the movie's box office does not explode.

If the box office explodes at that time, Warner has many ways and methods to make the movie "lose money," even if Wall Street comes, it cannot find any legal loopholes.

Well, legal ones.

As for some places that look unreasonable, such as a certain movie in China, a broken straw hat has to be reported for 6000 US dollars.

This looks obviously unreasonable. It is just a prop. Is the effect of the movie shot with a straw hat sold for 30 yuan on the roadside different from a 6000 US dollar straw hat?

Will the audience notice the value of the straw hat on the actor's head?

Of course not. Who has nothing to do to observe this thing.

However, they have purchase records and receipts, which is legal in law. Investors can only stare, and there is no way.

However, with the participation of China Film Group, no matter how high the box office of "Joker" will be in the future, Warner will not do tricks. It is not that they dare not, but it is not worth it. Unless Warner doesn't want the Chinese market in the future, unless any company in the Warner system is not prepared to enter China in the future.

Cao Yang told Bellman that since "Batman" is not easy to talk about, there is no need to worry, just talk slowly.

The one who should be anxious is Warner. Since they have already passed the budget for shooting "Batman" internally, and Nolan has also agreed to be the director, the one who should be anxious is them.

According to Cao Yang's plan, "Batman" must be released before "Joker," which is also a preheating for the market. At that time, linkage, the promotion of "Joker" will save a lot.

Cao Yang roughly calculated that "Batman" needs about 8 to 10 months from preparation to production completion, plus the promotion work before release and choosing a suitable schedule, it will take about a year to be released.

That is to say, even if everything goes well, the second "Batman" will not be released until about February next year.

It is also possible that Warner will wait until the summer schedule to be released. After all, the summer schedule is more conducive to harvesting the box office and is the schedule with the highest box office in North America.

Because "Joker" has no big scenes and does not need many special effects, half a year is enough from preparation to production completion.

Moreover, this movie can only exert its maximum effect against the background of the global financial crisis next year.

This subprime mortgage crisis that spread from America, although it began to form this year, it will not be until next year, which is September 2008, that the world will begin to lose control and reach a climax.

Therefore, "Joker" will definitely not be released until after September 2008, and may even have to wait to participate in the 2009 Oscars, and then be released on a large scale.

This can maximize the benefits.

As for whether Warner will agree to delay for so long before release, if they are told now that they have to wait until 2009 to release, they may have some complaints.

But if the financial crisis comes, combined with the plot of "Joker," even if Cao Yang wants to release it early, Warner is afraid that they will withstand Cao Yang's pressure and delay the release time.

In terms of the sensitivity of the film market, there is no need to doubt the vision of the seven major Hollywood studios. If they don't even have this vision, they can't reach the level of the seven major Hollywood studios.

Therefore, the shooting of "Joker" does not need to be anxious at all. It is not too late to shoot at the end of the year or early next year.

In the blink of an eye, it is April 29. This day is World Wish Day, and the purpose is to help seriously ill children realize their wishes and pass on hope and strength.

"The Fault in Our Stars" did not choose to be released on this day, but held a large-scale activity of "Passing on hope and strength, your wish, I will realize."

The subtitle is: "This is just a small joke of fate, it is a fault in the stars, what you need to do is to be strong and smile at life and defeat fate."

For this activity, Columbia invited many media and also conducted online live broadcasts.

In the activity, Columbia united with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to select 100 children and adolescents with serious illnesses from North America, let them write down their wishes, and seal them in a jar.

Columbia decided to realize the wishes of these 100 people in the name of "The Fault in Our Stars."

Every day, one patient is selected to let him break the jar, symbolizing breaking the harassment of the disease, and help him realize his wish.

Moreover, there will be cameras following, shooting the whole process of realizing the wish, and then putting it on the official website of "The Fault in Our Stars" for people to watch.

Columbia claimed to the outside world that the day when the last of these 100 patients realized their wish is the release date of "The Fault in Our Stars."

Of course, anything can happen in America.

So, there is the so-called spirit of contract.

In order to prevent these 100 patients from making some "unrealistic" wishes, long before April 29, when selecting these 100 patients, many terms had already been signed with their guardians.

Are there any who are unwilling to sign or open their mouths?

Of course there are.

Therefore, it is called selection.

Undoubtedly, the guardians of these 100 patients are all people who have signed agreements and Columbia's disclaimer clauses.

The "wishes" had already been "allocated" before being written down by the patients, and there would be no uncontrollable situation. Otherwise, what awaited them would be endless legal trouble.

What surprised Cao Yang the most was that Columbia also registered a series of copyrights such as variety shows and movies for this activity.

Because the marketing plan for this activity was proposed by Cao Yang at the beginning, Columbia also signed an agreement with Cao Yang to share this series of copyrights.

Cao Yang could know with his butt that if this so-called "realizing wishes" activity became popular, Columbia would really dare to make it into a variety show—only needing to select 100 patients every year to help them realize their wishes.

Even make it into a "touching" movie.

Will doing this be criticized?

It's actually very simple.

Just crown it with a "high-end" name, such as promoting to the outside world that the original intention of this variety show is to raise funds for the follow-up treatment of these children who are still cared for by God...

Look, doesn't this have a name that will be praised.

There are not so many good deeds, it's all business.

In order to produce a sensational effect in the early stage, the wishes of the first few patients were obviously deliberately arranged, and they were all wishes with a lot of highlights.

For example, a little patient's wish is to have dinner with the former President of America.

This may not be easy to achieve in other countries, but in America, it is a very simple thing.

Retired Presidents of America are all marked with prices.

What's more, this kind of thing is also a promotion for the former President, coupled with the inextricable relationship between Hollywood and the Democratic Party, this matter was contacted by Columbia with the former President long before the activity started.

Of course, among these wishes in front, there must be "touching America."

Well, Columbia had already invited people to write the script, and just interpret it according to the script.

No one expected that just after realizing the wishes of more than ten patients, the video was uploaded to the official website of "The Fault in Our Stars," and the click-through rate of these videos became higher and higher, with a trend of exploding.

Columbia held an emergency meeting, and then quickly approved 10 million US dollars to promote this activity, and must make the activity popular.

Cao Yang didn't expect that this kind of activity of helping seriously ill children realize their wishes would really have a trend of becoming popular.

He even specifically watched a "period" of video, and can only say that the photographer's skill is still very deep, and the editing is also good—the wish certainly cannot be realized all at once, and there is no lack of twists and turns in the middle, like a TV series.

Cao Yang didn't quite understand why this kind of activity, which obviously has editing and is like a "reality show," is a bit detached from the original intention of promotion, how can so many Americans like to watch it?

Just when this activity was in full swing, Cao Yang received two unexpected calls.

One was from Chen Chen Kaige, who said that he was preparing a biographical movie, in which there was a role added later, called Meng Cheng Xiaodong, which is considered one of the heroines, and the age of twenty to thirty is fine, asking Cao Yang if he has any recommendations.

Cao Yang didn't quite understand Old Chen's meaning at first.

Old Chen is also one of the most influential great directors in China, and he will lack heroine candidates?

To be honest, every female friend of Cao Yang is suitable for this age group.

But before understanding Old Chen's meaning, Cao Yang was not easy to promise anything immediately, only saying that he would ask about the schedule and then give an answer.

The second call was from Han Zong of China Film Group, and he was still talking about this matter.

China Film Group invested in Old Chen's new movie.

It turns out that Old Chen wanted Cao Yang to recommend this role because he wanted this movie to help when "rushing for the Oscars" or rushing for the Golden Globe Awards in the future.

After the last Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Old Chen saw Cao Yang's energy, but Old Chen, as Cao Yang's senior, coupled with his personality, certainly couldn't say it clearly.

This adopted this "circuitous" way.

Old Chen is really loving to hold on. You just explain the situation directly, and you have to let Old Han call to explain.

"Meng Cheng Xiaodong?"

Cao Yang knew what Old Chen wanted to shoot.

(End of chapter)