Chapter 277: 20 million to build a Peace Hotel
As the boss of a film and television company, the biggest advantage is that as long as the project is proposed, it can be started immediately.
In the field of TV dramas, Arclight Film and Television is a new player, but fortunately it has Huace
Film and Television, an old player, to lead. The person in charge of Huace's connection with Arclight is a woman named Fu Binxing. She is a non-executive director of Huace and a very experienced producer.
In addition, she is also the daughter of Huace boss Fu Meicheng and Zhao Yifang, a standard second-generation film star.
The two had contact when Arclight web dramas were sold overseas before, so they are quite familiar with each other.
"Mr. Meng, I have read the script. It is indeed very innovative and exciting."
In the office, Fu Binxing smiled and said to Meng Bai.
She still knows a lot about Arclight Film and Television and Meng Bai, and knows that he is the most famous suspense-themed screenwriter in recent years.
But it's just hearing about it, whether it is worthy of the reputation, we have to wait and see.
As a producer of Huace, she has also been exposed to spy war dramas. For example, she participated in the production of "The Listener" in 2012.
Therefore, after hearing about the cooperation of Arclight's project, she applied to be a co-producer to be responsible for this project.
After reading the script sent by Meng Bai, Fu Binxing had to admit that the rumors she had heard before were not exaggerated, and this young handsome guy was indeed quite capable.
In response to Fu Binxing's praise, Meng Bai smiled lightly and said modestly: "Mr. Fu is too polite. Arclight is still a newcomer in the field of TV dramas. I have to trouble you for more guidance on this project."
"That's natural, after all, we have invested money, haha." Fu Binxing said with a smile.
Like the previous web drama project, Arclight still found several partners for this "Peace Hotel".
In addition to Huace Film and Television, there is also Ruyi Films, which has always had a good cooperation.
In addition, there are Qiyi TV, Penguin Films, and Youku's Heyi Films.
The reason for finding several video platforms is to continue to deepen the connection with these companies, including Youku, which has never been contacted before.
Another point is that Meng Bai hopes that when it is broadcast in the future, it can be broadcast on both the TV and the Internet.
However, it must be said that the production process of TV series and web series is still very different.
The most typical one is that before the project is officially established, the project filing review must be completed first, and the shooting license must be obtained before the formal production can be carried out. Fortunately,
Huace Film and Television helped in this step, so it took about half a month before and after, and finally passed the review without any surprises.
Of course, this is only the first level.
When the TV series is finished and sold in the future, it will have to be reviewed again.
After getting the shooting license, the preparation work of the crew can be started.
As always, the crew building starts with the selection of directors.
The director of Arc Light, Wu Bai, is busy shooting "Psychological Crime 2", and Wang Wei is doing the post-production of "White Night Chase".
As for Li Muge, who has worked with him before, this time because the main scenes are all indoors, he can't use the large space picture aesthetics that he is best at, so he was not chosen.
And other directors who have been noticed before, after consideration, were also passed.
After all, spy war dramas are different from other themes. The grasp of the details of the film is very high, and it is best to choose an experienced director.
Meng Bai did think about looking for Li Xue, after all, they had the experience of working together on "The Disguiser" before, and Noon Sunshine did not require its directors not to take on other dramas.
But on the one hand, he has a medical drama "Surgeons" to shoot next year, which has some conflicts in time.
On the other hand, if he is asked to direct, he must bring the Noon Sunshine team, and then Arc Light's voice in the project will be limited.
So after considering the pros and cons, Meng Bai gave up this option.
Since there is no suitable candidate on hand, it is better to ask others to recommend.
Finally, Fu Binxing contacted a suitable choice for him.
Meng Bai came to Huace today just to meet the director recommended by the other party.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, there was a knock on the door. Then, the secretary girl led a young-looking man in.
"Mr. Meng, let me introduce you."
Fu Binxing stood up and gestured to the man who came in: "This is Director Yang Lei. He has cooperated with our Huace several times before and his ability is very outstanding."
"Director Yang Lei?"
Meng Bai stretched out his hand and shook hands with the other party, and then said uncertainly: "Is it the one who filmed "Red" before?"
Yang Lei nodded: "Yes, it was indeed directed by me. I didn't expect that Mr. Meng has also seen it."
"Haha, since you are going to make a spy war drama, you must always know about the classic works in the past."
Meng Bai smiled with satisfaction and said: "Since it is Director Yang, then I am relieved. This time, "Peace Hotel", I have to trouble you again."
Although the popularity of the drama "Red" is not very high, its reputation is very good.
With a rating of 9.2, it is the highest-quality spy drama after "The Hidden".
Meng Bai had seen this drama before, and it was very different from the grand style of other spy dramas.
The most plots in this drama are not the intrigues between secret agents, but the trivialities of the little people in that chaotic era, and the family and national hatred implied above.
It can be said that it is a very special spy drama.
This is not bad, and it just so happens that "Peace Hotel" is also a special drama, which can be regarded as a good match.
So after meeting, Meng Bai just chatted for a few words and decided that he would be responsible for directing.
"Mr. Meng, I have a question to ask first." Yang Lei said: "Regarding the scene of this drama, that is, the hotel "Peace Hotel", how do we arrange it?"
"We have discussed this before." Meng Bai said: "I plan to find a suitable place in Harbin and directly build a complete "Peace Hotel". "
Yang Lei took a deep breath: "This, the cost of the scene should be very high, right?"
As a director, before shooting a project, you must first understand the personality of the producer.
Especially for the use of funds.
Meng Bai naturally knew what he was worried about, and said with a smile: "Director Yang, don't worry. There is a budget of 20 million for the scene in the funding plan."
To restore a "most luxurious hotel in the entire Northeast" according to the background of the 1930s of the Republic of China, it is definitely not possible without spending a lot of money.
Meng Bai directly took out a quarter of the budget of more than 80 million for the entire "Peace Hotel" as scene expenses.
But in fact, if you calculate it, it is not that much.
After all, after the hotel was built, basically all the shots of the film were shot here.
Compared with those projects that require constant transitions to outdoor scenes, it is actually not much more expensive.
The only troublesome thing is that it will take a long time.
But it doesn't matter, it's just right to take advantage of this time to get the cast first.
(End of this chapter)
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