Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 132: Bingbing recommends himself
10 months, 7 script versions, 321 storyboard manuscripts, and 1655 art design drafts.

He has given speeches at almost all medium-sized and larger film investment companies in Beijing and Shanghai.

Hard work pays off.

Li Qiutang finally knocked on the door of Chengtian and Guangxian.

Orange Sky pledged to invest 3000 million, Guangxian contributed 3000 million and 500 million in publicity expenses, and Autumn Pictures' investment was reduced to 3700 million, with the remaining 4000 million to be made up by China Film.

The 1 million yuan plate of "In Time" was prepared in this way.

This project has not been leaked to the media yet, but the industry has already known about Li Qiutang and Huang Jianxin's travels around the world.

No one is optimistic!

It’s not that I don’t think highly of Li Qiutang, it’s that I don’t think highly of science fiction themes.

It’s the same old saying, the risk is too great!
However, the actors did respond positively. Perhaps influenced by "Transformers" and "Spider-Man", there was a wave of discussion about science fiction themes last year. I heard that some companies wanted to give it a try, and market opportunities have always been precious. Many actors do not have much active choice power. It would be nice if they could have a science fiction film to act in.

The risk lies with the investors. The actors receive a fixed salary, so what risk can they take?

Some friends are willing to help.

For example, Fan Bingbing.

She has had no shortage of roles to play in the past two years, and even has some big productions directed by big directors. However, ever since she ran into Li Qiutang and Liu Yifei "dating" in a restaurant last time and caught a glimpse of the script in front of Liu Yifei, she has been keeping this matter in mind.

She didn't know that Li Qiutang and Huang Jianxin were giving speeches everywhere to solicit investment, she just thought that Li Qiutang had started a new play and she should try her luck.

Who would complain that they don’t have enough films?

He also brought Mr. Hu, who had been with her before.

The two met in a cafe for afternoon tea.

When Li Qiutang saw that Mr. Hu from before was also there, she knew that Fan Bingbing was trying to show off.

Bring over a friend who works in the Propaganda Department. Even if the deal for "In Time" fails, I can show my strength to Li Qiutang - I have someone above me - and ask him to give me more opportunities in the future.

Fan Bingbing would not use Mr. Hu to force Li Qiutang to give her the role.

Li Qiutang sat down and said, "I've been so busy lately that having a cup of coffee with you guys is a break from my busy schedule. You guys order something, today's the deal."

Before Fan Bingbing could speak, Mr. Hu next to her spoke first: "The last time I met Director Qiu Tang, I went back to watch your film again. You are so talented."

"You're welcome. I've been scolded a lot for not taking good photos."

"If you don't attract envy, you are a mediocre person. Who doesn't talk about others behind their backs, and who doesn't get talked about behind their backs?"

"Mr. Hu has a very thorough understanding of this."

Fan Bingbing did not say what specific responsibilities Mr. Hu was in the Propaganda Department, but only said that he also loved movies very much.

After chatting for a while, we naturally talked about today's business.

Li Qiutang told them the story of "In Time".

Fan Bingbing only understood the story, but Mr. Hu next to him clearly understood the core of the story. He said:

"I didn't expect that Director Qiu Tang, who is still young, has such a profound vision. The good thing about this story is that it doesn't cover up or use metaphors, and everything it wants to express is on the surface."

Mr. Hu had to look at Li Qiutang with new eyes.

"It's not easy to shoot such a story, right?" Li Qiutang said, "Shooting any film is not easy. If there are any difficulties, they can be solved step by step." Li Qiutang glanced at his mobile phone.

From what Li Qiutang said just now, the heroine Lan Xin appeared in the early and middle stages and ran through the subsequent parts. The focus of the play was on the hero Yang Peng, but Lan Xin was online throughout the whole process. She was the hero's right-hand man and staunch comrade-in-arms. She had a lot of roles and was a good heroine.

Fan Bingbing talked about a science fiction film in which he made a guest appearance last year, in which he collaborated with Hua Ge and Wang Jing, called "Future Police".

Fan Bingbing was just there for a guest appearance, so he didn't know what to say and just shook his head.

Mr. Hu laughed: "You can just say it's a bad movie. There's no one else to worry about."

Fan Bingbing said softly: "For a few days on the set, I didn't know what I was acting. The filming started in early November and the whole play was wrapped in December. I thought they were joking."

"This is how Wang Jing films," Li Qiutang said, glancing at his phone.

"Maybe Hollywood science fiction themes have stimulated the domestic market. LeTV has also invested in a science fiction film about robots."

Li Qiutang said: "I know, 'Robot' was very popular last year. It's obvious that it was copied from 'Transformers'. And they found a director like Liu Zhenwei." Li Qiutang glanced at his phone.

Fan Bingbing heard from Li Qiutang's tone that he had a strong disdain for Liu Zhenwei, so he just smiled and said nothing.

Li Qiutang looked at her phone again.

"Are you busy?" Fan Bingbing saw Li Qiutang was looking at his phone.

"It's not a big deal. It's just that the crew is going to Korea in a few days to inspect the fireworks explosion team."

Mr. Hu said: "Why do you need Koreans for fireworks? They are already made in China."

Li Qiutang also wanted to use a domestic team, but domestic technology was already half a generation to a generation behind the international advanced level.

In addition, many people in "In Time" had worked with the Korean team before and said the level was good, so they organized people to go and take a look.

"Both the Bayi Film Studio and Changchun Film Studio can do it, and it's cheaper."

“It’s cheap, but their technology is backward.”

"It doesn't matter if we lag behind, as long as the results are the same." Mr. Hu took over the matter. "Well, I'll do it for you. For the same results, I guarantee that the prices of the Bayi Film Studio and Changchun Film Studio will be 3% lower than those of the Koreans."

But he did not force Li Qiutang: "You can also compare. If the Korean technology and price are really good, then use the Koreans.

"Shop around. If you go directly to the Koreans, they will know you are a fat sheep and who else will they rip off?"

Li Qiutang was slightly dissatisfied with the other party's monopolizing behavior. He thought that they were the ones who did everything for him, but the other party was so enthusiastic and what he said was not wrong. He compared the products from three different stores. The fireworks were made by his subordinates, and he had never compared the differences between Korean and domestic products.

Later, they naturally talked about the issue of actors. Li Qiutang knew what Fan Bingbing was thinking, but he said, "Bingbing, you are so busy. My play must start shooting this year, and I have to join the crew for action training at least three months in advance. Can you handle it?"

If it were any other director, Fan Bingbing would definitely say that he was busy enough and would take the role and then do another one, but he couldn't use this trick with Li Qiutang.

Li Qiutang continued, "But it's okay. You have plenty of roles to play, and we can still work together in the future."

Fan Bingbing said regretfully: "That's such a pity. I wanted to make another movie with you."

Then he laughed and said, “I don’t get along with other directors.”

Li Qiutang laughed and said, "If other directors hear this, they will misunderstand me." But Li Qiutang also felt that she had done a good job in portraying Fan Bingbing in "No One in My Eyes".

The afternoon tea lasted for about half an hour before it ended. Before leaving, Li Qiutang and Mr. Hu exchanged contact information, and he also said that he would help contact Changchun Film Studio and Bayi Film Studio.

On the way back, Li Qiutang was thinking, it seems that Mr. Hu likes Fan Bingbing very much.

(End of this chapter)