Chapter 873 Acquaintance

Dunn was in a hurry, and he didn't even have much energy to deal with Liverpool's affairs. He didn't even meet the head coach Benitez.

In two weeks, "The Avengers" will start filming.

This summer, Tang En's several important matters have basically been dealt with.

Getting rid of Harvey Weinstein, sanctioning the BBC, acquiring Liverpool... Even the handling of Harvey Weinstein's follow-up incidents shifted social conflicts after the "New York Times" exposed the extreme scandal in the gymnastics world.

Now, it's time to put all our energy into his films.

In September, "The Departed" starring him and Leonardo, Al Pacino, Cate Blanchett and others will be released. By then, he, the leading actor, will have to be busy for a while.

However, Tang En didn't make it.

Abramovich forced him to stay, even in a pleading tone.

The reason is simple, for Russian movies!

For such a super rich man with a net worth of close to 20 billion US dollars, Tang En couldn't help but feel unbearable for such a humble begging, so he gave him a face.

I feel somewhat emotional in my heart.

His personal assets have exceeded 60 billion US dollars, but why flatter the government?

He has always kept his distance from the White House and rejected politics.

In the handling of Harvey Weinstein and "Fahrenheit 9/11", he had a series of cooperation with the White House, not because the White House put pressure on him, nor because he wanted to please the White House, but because he really wanted to get Down Harvey Weinstein!

Abu is different.

He has no interest in the entertainment industry, but in order to conform to Russia's policy, he wants to lower his face, beg his grandpa to sue his grandma, and ask Tang En for help...

The purpose of seeking is just to please Putin.

"Twain, I'm really grateful that you can come here!"

Abramovich welcomed Tang En again in his mansion, and he was filled with emotion.

Tang En was even more emotional. Seeing the bitterness behind this famous super rich man in Europe and America, he waved his hand, "I know your difficulties. As long as I can do it, I will do my best."

"Thank you, thank you so much!"

Abu shook hands with Tang En enthusiastically. How could he have the prestige and arrogance of the country when he taught him the management experience of football clubs a month ago?

It is estimated that the control in Russia was too tight during this period, and he had to find a way to curry favor with Putin in order to get out of trouble.

Then, in the living room of the mansion, Tang En saw five Russians.

One is an official from the Ministry of Culture, the other is an official from the Film Bureau, a director of a TV station, a director, and an actor.

Tang En had no interest in the four bearded men, and they couldn't speak English well.

It was the actor, fair-skinned and beautiful, with blond hair and blue eyes, flaming red lips, plump and charming. At first glance, it has a bit of the amazing feeling of Nicole Kidman in the early years.

Her name is Yelena Kolikova. According to reports, she is a Russian national treasure beauty and the most popular actress voted by the audience.

After the brief introduction, she walked over with a smile on her face, and sat down next to Tang En.

That intoxicating fragrance came over his face, especially when his limp body squeezed beside him, it would inevitably make people feel distracted.

"Is it a beauty trick? Damn, you can't be fooled!"

Tang En immediately shivered.

It's okay to help, but it's absolutely impossible to die.

If Abramovich wants Twain to help and use New Universal's resources and channel advantages to promote the globalization of Russian films, then there is no need to talk about it.

impossible!

Considering Abramovich's IQ, he shouldn't have made such an outrageous demand.

Just as Tang En had predicted, Yelena Kolikova's job was to be a companion. When talking about serious matters, she leaned softly by his side without saying a word.

If you don't get paid for nothing, Tang En is not good at taking advantage of it.

Next, after a detailed discussion with several people, Dunn had a comprehensive understanding of the current situation of the Russian film industry.

Russia does have a very strong film heritage.

However, that was the Soviet era.

Even at the end of the Soviet Union, the number of people who went to the cinema to watch movies every year... was 2.5 billion people!

However, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the film industry collapsed, and now the annual number of movie viewers is only 80 million.

Last year, the total box office of Russian movies for the whole year was only 100 million US dollars.

You know, the government invests 1.5 billion rubles in supporting funds for movies every year! ($47 million)

Because Putin is an avid movie buff.

After he came to power, he launched a strong film support plan, which can be said to be an investment regardless of cost.

The government subsidy of 47 million U.S. dollars per year has only brought in a total annual box office of 100 million U.S. dollars, most of which are overseas movie box office proceeds!

However, if there is something good on the top, there must be something wrong on the bottom.

The president loves movies so much, many "patriotic businessmen" and business organizations, of course, have to express it.

Therefore, a wonderful Russian film model was born.

The current investment budget for Russian films mainly comes from three directions—government subsidies, state-owned enterprise investment, and private enterprise sponsorship.

Government subsidies are well understood.

It is also normal for state-owned enterprises to invest, to please the top leaders.

Sponsorship by private enterprises is very talkative. The private enterprises here...mainly refer to financial oligarchs!

For example, the movie "Countdown" released in Russia this year was jointly contributed by TV1, the Ministry of Film and Culture and Sibneft (Russia's fifth largest oil producer).

Another example, this summer's most popular local movie "Night Watchman" in Russia, the big investor behind the scenes is Abramovich!

The director who communicated with Tang En in the living room was Timo Bekmambetov, the director of "Night Watchman".

Usually, if a movie in Russia invests 5 million U.S. dollars and the box office can reach 2.5 million U.S. dollars, it is considered super successful.

profit?

Don't even think about it!

This is not a market economy at all, it is completely irrational investment, and it is spending money to curry favor with President Putin.

"The total investment of "Night Watchman" is only 3 million U.S. dollars, but it has achieved a box office of 2.7 million U.S. dollars in one week!" Timo Bekmambetov said excitedly in his buttery English .

As the director of the film, the success of this film is enough to make him the top director in Russia!

After hearing such data, Dunn really didn't know what to say.

In Hollywood, a movie with an investment of less than US$3 million cannot be called a "Hollywood movie" in theory, and does not need to abide by the rules of the association, nor does it need to pay dividends to the association, etc.

Belongs to the bottom of the film.

In the United States, there are 5,000 of these studios producing non-Hollywood films.

The gap is really too big.

The Soviet film industry, which was once able to challenge Hollywood, has completely fallen.

Timo Bekmambetov was in a good mood, and continued: "In the first week of the box office, the film almost paid back its budget. This is a record that Russian films have never achieved before."

"Night Watchman" invested 3 million U.S. dollars, half of which was subsidized by the government, and this money was given for nothing. In other words, the real investment was actually only US$1.5 million, and the box office of US$2.7 million in the first week was indeed almost returned.

The topic of everyone's conversation gradually shifted from Russian movies to "Night Watchman".

Tang En also gradually understood what Abu meant.

"The Night's Watch" was a movie he invested in, and it was a big hit.

If the film can achieve greater success, and even become a representative of Russian commercial films, it will have a good face and a basis to please Putin!

The most successful film in Russia was cast by him!

With a "great achievement", the Russian government will suffer less losses in the new round of sanctions imposed by the financial oligarchs.

Tang En didn't know what method Abu used in his previous life to overcome the crisis of rectification of the financial oligarchs.

It seems that this life has something to do with the movie, at least in part.

"What do you need me to do?"

Tang En had already understood the purpose of the visit, so he simply spoke bluntly.

Timo Bekmambetov immediately shut up.

Huh?

etc!

Timo Bekmambetov... so familiar?

No wonder so!

Isn't he the director of the Hollywood movie "Wanted" in his previous life?

Not only that, but he has also taken on a number of Hollywood films, including "Network Lost" starring Asian actors, which is also produced by him.

The world is really small, to be able to meet "acquaintances" by chance!

With this level of relationship, Tang En felt more inclined to help.

After all, he snatched the "Wanted" project and handed it over to J.J. Abrams.

Abramovich didn't know Tang En's complicated thoughts, and said: "Amusing oneself behind closed doors is not an act of a superpower. In the past few years, Russia still lacked enough good movies, but "The Night Watchman" is great. , can be released on a large scale all over the world."

Tang En said: "Then release it, there are so many distribution companies, as long as it is profitable, no one will refuse."

Issuing is simple.

Even asking Universal Pictures to help distribute it is no problem.

However, large-scale publicity will not work.

It is impossible for Twain to promote a Russian movie. This is not in line with the mainstream value orientation of Europe and the United States, and it is not in the interests of Hollywood.

Even a movie like "Fahrenheit 9/11" can be promoted, but Russian movies can't.

Besides, how can a Russian movie have an overseas box office?

Propaganda fart ah!

How much to spend, how much to lose.

"The movie is only a part, the key is people." Abu said solemnly.

"people?"

Tang En raised his eyebrows, and then saw Timo Bekmambetov, that big Russian man, and his old face blushed.

Now I finally understand!

It turns out that Abramovich is trying to push Timo Bekmambetov to Hollywood!

It is as if Ann Lee appeared in China, John Wu appeared, Jack Chen, Jeter Lee appeared, Lao Mouzi, Gong Huang and International Chapter appeared...

These people have all entered Hollywood and stood on the peak of the world's movies.

It has saved enough face for the Chinese film industry.

They impress the whole world on China, and they have even become the light of Asia!

Korea and Japan are envious of it.

Russia lacks such an influential and representative filmmaker who can break into Hollywood!