Zhuke is waiting.

Waiting for Netflix, the future streaming giant, to see a shortage of funds, fighter jets appear. However,... things often develop not by human will.

Zhuke made a wrong judgment!

A few days later.

Netflix's management borrowed $40 million from several commercial banks on Wall Street in the form of pledged shares to develop the company.

When Zucker received the news, he was already one step late.

"Boss, if you still want to invest in Netflix, you will have no chance this year." Alexander said.

Zhuke nodded with a serious expression, but he felt relieved after a few seconds.

"No hurry."

"As long as Netflix fails to turn losses into profits completely, I have a chance."

Zhu Ke is a time traveler. Not to mention anything else, he just knows that Netflix has turned losses into profits and has initially achieved a wrestling hand with Blockbuster. That was in 2003.

"Well, I have a chance as long as I'm going to start 2003." Zucker said in his heart.

The next day.

Wald Pictures.

The office of President Bill McNick.

Old Bill, who is about to retire, came to the company very early today and made an appointment with the crew of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" who had just returned from the Toronto Film Festival in Canada.

Director Ang Lee, producer Jiang Zhiqiang, and soundtrack master Tan Dun.

Needless to say, Ang Lee can be regarded as the number one Chinese film director in Hollywood;

Jiang Zhiqiang is notorious. He is a well-known film producer and one of the few people who can bring Oriental movies to the United States. Even the overseas release of Zhang Yimou and Zhang Guoshi's "Heroes" and "Ten-Ambushes" are also the number one promoter, and he has a close relationship with Sony Colombia;

Tan Dun, a famous music master in the Chinese circle, has won numerous awards at home and abroad. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he also participated in the creation of logo logo music and awards music.

All three of them are famous Chinese!

At this moment, the faces of Ang Lee and the other two were not very good.

"I watched the data report of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Since the film was completed in April 2000, it has participated in the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Jakarta Film Festival in Indonesia, and the Toronto Film Festival in Canada. However, it still cannot cover up the film's failure in the Celestial Market." Bill McNick said in a deep voice.

That’s right, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” failed in the box office!

Well, the kind that loses blood!

The movie was already on the Great Celestial Market and the Tennis Market in the Great Celestial Market in early July.

However, what is the result?

After three weeks of release, the movie only earned over NT$70 million in the bellow market of the Great Heavenly Dynasty, which was less than NT$2 million;

What about the mainland film market in the Great Heavenly Dynasty?

After three weeks of release, the box office will not exceed $1 million. Many cinema chains have forced "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to be removed from the shelves.

There is no way, it's not good-looking!

Even before, many viewers bought tickets for Ang Lee’s name, and now they are very disappointed.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a martial arts film with an oriental cloak but a completely Western-style core. It is very different from a traditional martial arts film. In other words, it is a non-mainstream martial arts film." "China Film Weekly".

"We cannot say that it is bad, we can only say that it is a product that caters to the West and refutes the traditional values ​​of Eastern civilization. Therefore, it is reasonable, or inevitable, to be unwilling to please Eastern audiences." "Oriental Age".

In a word, the current situation of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is very unoptimistic.

"The American market is the last life-saving straw for director Ang Lee. If he fails again, he will completely lose the opportunity to gain a foothold in Hollywood." Producer Jiang Zhiqiang said intimately.

a long time.

Director Ang Lee looked at Old Bill with a bright look and gritted his teeth: "Mr. McNick, according to the original plan, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" will be released in the United States in December 2000, and this will not change."

There is no way, the box office of the American market will be his only chance.

“This won’t change.”

Old Bill said in a deep voice: "The release date will not change, and the number of 200 cinemas will not change, but... I don't expect the box office of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" to be very good."

Upon hearing this, Ang Lee and the other two were shocked.

Judging from the current situation, even if "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is released in the United States, the situation will not be optimistic.

Looking at Hollywood's film history, there are really few "foreign films" that can achieve high box office in the United States, and only one "Beautiful Life" can achieve more than $50 million.

As the saying goes: If you have an old family, you will have a treasure.

Although Old Bill is about to retire and his mind is not as good as before, his decades of experience in Hollywood is a very valuable asset. Faced with the dilemma of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", he naturally has a feasible plan.

"You look at this." Old Bill took out a stack of information from the drawer.

The three took it.

【material】

September 29, 2000, Reykjavik Film Festival in Iceland;

On October 7, 2000, Hungary’s Huge International Film Festival;

October 9, 2000, New York Film Festival in the United States;

October 12, 2000, Austin Film Festival in the United States;

.........

Flanders International Film Festival, Vienna International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Hawaii Film Festival......

Before the end of December 2000 alone, the number of film festivals in various countries and regions will be as many as 27.

The number is amazing.

"Mr. McNick, will this be too much?" exclaimed the soundtrack master Tan Dun.

“Are there many?”

Old Bill looked at the three of them and spread his hands: "Attend to so many film festivals, we are all about creating momentum for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Don't forget that our goal is the Oscars in March next year! As long as we can win the Oscar nomination and award, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" will definitely soar to the sky."

...........

afternoon.

Since the old Bill interviewed Ang Lee in the morning, he immediately held a senior executive meeting of Wald Pictures in the afternoon.

"Kevin, has the Finance Department given the amount of publicity needed for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"?" asked Old Bill.

Upon hearing this, Kevin Feiqi nodded and said, "After accounting from the Finance Department and the Publicity Department, it is estimated that it will cost at least $8 million to complete such a large number of film festival promotions."

Old Bill said loudly: "Distribute $10 million directly, and the momentum will be created."

Give an extra $2 million?

Kevin Feige has no reason to object.

After a while, Old Bill stared at Zach Schneider again.

Zach is not just a director, but also has a job at Wald Pictures and is the director of the production department.

"Zach, you are responsible for the promotion of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" overseas film festival, OK?" Old Bill said seriously.

Zach Schneider knew it was a chore, but he still agreed.

Old Bill wants to turn the tide of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and create a box office miracle.

However, in the eyes of other film companies, this is an extremely bad decision.
Chapter completed!