It doesn't matter anyway, since I didn't intend to hog all the benefits. As long as the Chinese and Bona don't play tricks on me, it's fine to get a share.
"By the way, I remember Director Zhang was planning to make a martial arts film, right? Why did he take on 'Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon'?" Han Sanping asked, puzzled.
Shen Fang smiled and said, "Two projects a year isn't much. My senior brother is filming too much. I'm trying to speed things up and put some pressure on him so he can earn more money. Besides, he just got married and has two kids. He needs to earn more money for baby formula."
Han Sanping was overjoyed.
"If I remember correctly, Director Zhang is 53 this year, right?"
Shen Fang nodded.
"Tsk, you better watch yourself, Director Zhang isn't young anymore, you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself."
Shen Fang smiled and said, "Uncle, you know that Director Zhang is very energetic. As long as there is a good work, he can go all out. If he weren't really getting old, I would be willing to put more pressure on him. Right now, the situation for Hero is very good. If we make another film, we can earn a lot more money."
Han Sanping nodded: "I still trust Director Zhang. As long as the quality is well controlled, making money is definitely not a problem. I heard that they won the weekly championship for two consecutive weeks in the United States?"
"Yes, it has already accumulated nearly $65 million in North American box office revenue. It's certain to break $100 million, but whether it can take the title of this year's North American box office champion is uncertain."
"Is there any hope with Oscar?" Han Sanping asked Shen Fang expectantly.
Shen Fang flashed his bright white teeth: "Absolutely no problem. I'll take the PR fee without hesitation, and they should also be efficient. Winning a Best Foreign Language Film award in exchange for a ticket to enter the Chinese market is a win-win situation."
Han Sanping nodded.
"American blockbusters have only been entering the Chinese market for the last two years. You've played this trick well, using an already achieved result to fool the Americans into doing things for you. The higher-ups have already decided that 2005 will see a surge in foreign films. Xiao Fang, you don't have much time left."
Chen Fang understood.
"Uncle Han, don't worry, my plan is basically complete. Even if Hollywood blockbusters come on strong, we can hold them off."
Han Sanping nodded and poured Shen Fang another cup of tea.
"Uncle, Hengdian wants to cooperate with me, but that old fox Xu Wensheng is a tough nut to crack. That old bastard won't give us a chance to get controlling stake. Can you put some pressure on him?"
Upon hearing this, Han Sanping rolled his eyes at Shen Fang.
"Hengdian is directly linked to the Ningbo government. Do you think I can get involved? If you really want to develop a film and television base, I can help with Feilong, Xiangshan, and the film and television bases under Beijing Film Studio."
Shen Fang curled his lip: "Uncle, that's not fair of you. Those are film and television bases under the Central Propaganda Department and CCTV. How can I get involved? Besides, the location, venue, and facilities are incomparable to Hengdian. Moreover, there are many preferential policies there, which are not available here."
Han Sanping grinned mischievously: "Xiao Fang, Feilong and Xiangshan have actually developed quite well in the last two years. It's just that the infrastructure is a bit old. As long as we're willing to spend money to repair it properly, it won't be any less than Hengdian. Besides, the domestic media and film resources, professional staff, costume and prop production staff, and writers are all in Beijing. Don't worry, as long as you have the will, I guarantee that you'll be in charge. As long as you can achieve results, we definitely won't discard you after you've served your purpose. You can rest assured about that."
Shen Fang curled his lip: "Uncle, do I look like a fool? The capital is a shallow place with many turtles. If I get involved, how am I supposed to deal with the interference of this section chief, that bureau chief, and that shareholder? You are all government agencies with established positions. If I get involved with you, do you think I'll have a good outcome? Besides, you say you won't kill the donkey after it has served its purpose, but how many people have been killed after serving their purpose in the past two years?"
Han Sanping smiled faintly. He also knew that in this place full of old-fashioned people, it was unrealistic to expect a businessman like Shen Fang to control a central enterprise.
However, things haven't been going well for film and television bases in the last two years. The rise of Hengdian has put a lot of pressure on these established film and television bases.
Since Han Sanping was unreliable, Shen Fang stopped wasting words.
"Uncle, I'll be going now. Let's have dinner together tonight with Director Liu, and I'll invite Jin Tianxia Er."
Han Sanping nodded.
Shen Fang and Shen Kun left China Film Group.
Inside the car, Shen Fang, with a cigarette dangling from his lips and his hands behind his back, gazed at the scenery along the way.
"Xiao Kun, go to Beijing Film Academy."
Shen Kun nodded and drove towards Beijing Film Academy.
Twenty minutes later, Shen Fang got out of the car.
"Xiao Kun, take the cigarettes and alcohol from the trunk."
He walked straight to the Beijing Film Academy's teaching building, to the principal's office.
"Knock knock knock".
"Please come in."
Shen Fang walked in, and Wang Hui's face lit up with a gleeful smile when he saw Shen Fang. He walked up to Shen Fang and patted him hard on the shoulder.
"Great! A hero emerges from among the young! Our Beijing Film Academy has produced such a talent as you, Shen Fang. You've really made our Beijing Film Academy proud this time. Good, good, good."
Shen Fang smiled and waved his hand: "Principal Wang, Director Zhang and I are both students of Beijing Film Academy. Beijing Film Academy also has a place on the medals of honor for heroes. A celebration banquet will be held at Beijing Theater in three days. You must go on stage and say a few words then."
Upon hearing this, Wang Hui looked at Shen Fang with delight, overjoyed.
"You're a good kid, it's good that you have this kind of heart."
"It's just in time that you're here. I need to talk to you. Could you ask Director Zhang if he would be willing to give a lecture to our students at Beijing Film Academy? It's a long-standing tradition at Beijing Film Academy. Outstanding graduates who have received honors will come back to their alma mater to give a lecture to our students."
Shen Fang nodded: "No problem, but we'll have to wait until the celebration banquet is over, and then it depends on your schedule, Senior Brother. We've done a co-production with Japan's Kogyo Co., Ltd., and we're planning to use the Three Kingdoms IP. Senior Brother also has a martial arts film, House of Flying Daggers, so he's a bit busy."
"A co-production? The Three Kingdoms? Which part are you planning to film? How much is the budget? Or is it 'House of Flying Daggers'? Come and tell me all about it..."
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