Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 25 Trip to Toronto

It's funny that Li Qiutang became famous in Canada not because of "The Night the Comet Came". Although he won the Best Picture, this award did not add much to his fame. Many European and American reporters and film producers knew him because he confronted reporters at an exchange meeting.

It is infuriating that Chinese filmmakers active in the international film scene today seem to be ashamed to declare their patriotic stance.

It’s not that I’m unpatriotic, it’s just that I can’t say it out loud.

There are few people like Li Qiutang who dare to slam the table in front of foreign reporters in someone else's home turf.

The copyright transaction was a success, which gave Li Qiutang more confidence.

After the film festival officially opened, more and more film producers came to the "The Night the Comet Came" booth.

On the first day, no less than five companies came to inquire about the European copyrights, but Li Qiutang told them that he had sold all the European copyrights to Memento Films: "You can contact them if you want to buy."

If the films are sold to each country separately, with one selling for 20 and another selling for 30, the total price might be higher than 150 million. However, there are only a few major European countries, and only these few can get a relatively good price. Li Qiutang does not expect small countries like Bulgaria and Romania to be able to afford the price. In the end, it is estimated that the price will be half-purchase and half-giveaway, which is about to US dollars. It is better to sell them together to major film producers and let them divide the money themselves.

Li Qiutang was quite satisfied with the price of 150 million. He was not a famous director, and "The Night the Comet Came" was not a blockbuster. As long as it could be sold for 150 million US dollars, there was nothing for Li Qiutang to be dissatisfied with.

This year's Toronto Film Festival lasts for 10 days, but according to previous years' experience, more than 80% of transactions in the film market will be completed within the first 7 days. In the last three days, the market is basically empty as both buyers and sellers go to enjoy the film festival party.

Li Qiutang was the only one on the scene of the crew of "The Night the Comet Came". He was a little too busy as the trading market needed him, and as a finalist, he had a lot of interviews to do. Finally, someone asked Li Qiutang to do an interview.

Fortunately, there was a promotion company to help. Li Qiutang asked the promotion company to look at the booth of "The Night the Comet Came" when she was out for an interview, and asked them to register the information of potential buyers and inform them: "The official screening of "Coherence" at the film festival will be on the morning of the 10th, but on the afternoon of the 9th, the "Coherence" crew will hold a buyer's film viewing meeting in the hotel conference room, at which time the film will be screened for buyers, and then the purchase of the film will be discussed."

There is a reason why Haitui Company is so concerned about "The Night the Comet Came". After all, "Comet" was in their company's exhibition hall. Although Li Qiutang did not report their promotion, "Comet" sold 150 million US dollars on the first day. Haitui Company helped out in the next few days, and then they can write about their own contribution in the report. It's a business with no capital, and they just need to provide some manpower. What can't they do?

Li Qiutang is now being interviewed by domestic media in the hotel garden.

"I'm mainly here to sell the film." Li Qiutang frankly stated the purpose of this trip. "It's going well so far. I've signed with a few companies. I'm the only one in the crew who came to Toronto, so I'm quite busy. Fortunately, there is a promotion company to help me."

The reporter told him that The Banquet would also be coming to Toronto. Li Qiutang was not very interested, but still said, "Really? I didn't know about it beforehand."

“You both have films shortlisted for the film festival. Have you ever thought about competing with director Feng Xiaogang?”

"We are not competing. He is in the competition screening and I am in the Un Certain Regard section," said Li Qiutang.

“The premiere will be on the morning of the 9th. We are now fully preparing for the premiere and hope it will be well received by the Toronto audience.”

Li Qiutang accepted interviews from five media outlets today, three from China and two from abroad. By the time he returned to the Hyatt Hotel trading market, it was already past 5 o'clock in the evening.

The trading market is more lively at 8 pm.

When Li Qiutang looked at the registration form, she was surprised to see that 12 film producers had inquired about the copyright of "The Night the Comet Came" today.

This makes Li Qiutang more confident about tomorrow's buyer screening.

"Mud howl." Another buyer came forward to inquire, with an Asian face.

“&@%#!)(￥@”

Li Qiutang: “???” I clearly practiced English, why can’t I understand it?

"Wo, Li, Chinese, a little bit."

Japanese, that's understandable, after all, even the British can't understand Japanese English.

After much communication, Li Qiutang learned that he was from Japan's GaGa Film Company and was very interested in "The Night the Comet Came". Hearing that there would be a buyer screening tomorrow, he came to sign up.

"OK, OK." Li Qiutang registered the Japanese man. "Tomorrow afternoon at 4:7, in the banquet hall on the th floor of this hotel."

"OK, OK, I will definitely come. I am very interested in your movie."

After a busy day, Li Qiutang finally had a break. She asked the people from Haitui Company, "How are the sales of your film?"

"It's OK, haha, it's OK."

Li Qiutang also glanced at their exhibition hall. Many of Haitui Company's films were produced by old directors from the original studio era, commonly known as in-system films, and there were also some opera films.

This kind of movie probably won't sell well.

Anyway, Haitui Company does not aim to make a profit.

After making an appointment to attend the screening of "Comet" tomorrow, Li Qiutang packed up and left.

The next morning, Li Qiutang was still inviting film producers and media to attend the afternoon screening. The venue had been rented, and it would be a loss if it was not full.

After lunch, Li Qiutang closed his cubicle and went to see the arrangements for the screening.

At 3 pm, some guests came in and Li Qiutang invited them to have some drinks and snacks.

The hotel was really ruthless. For this screening, from the venue to the drinks, it charged Li Qiutang 2.7 US dollars. Li Qiutang might not know that if such a screening was held in Cannes, the cost would at least double.

At 4 o'clock, the venue looked very lively, with about a hundred people crowded around. Li Qiutang came on stage and without further ado, first thanked the guests for coming, and then started showing a movie.

Li Qiutang sat in the front row, watching the film with Mr. Zhou Tiedong, general manager of Haitui Company, and occasionally talked to him in a low voice.

"I'm not even your promotional project, yet your company is doing me so much favor."

"It's okay. When we're out and about, our compatriots help each other. It doesn't take much energy."

After the screening, the audience stood up and applauded. Li Qiutang went on stage, bowed, and said, "The movie is over. If you like it, please spread the word. If you are interested in cooperating, please stay and we can discuss it in detail later.

"There are drinks and snacks on site, please help yourself."

Li Qiutang didn't expect that someone would get drunk in such a social occasion. Was he an alcoholic or an alcohol addict? In the end, the foreign reporter was carried out by the hotel security.

After this incident, the guests did not stay long. The reporters went back to continue their interviews and writing. The film producers who were interested stayed to talk to Li Qiutang, while those who were not interested just had some food and left.

(End of this chapter)