Chapter 1841 1843 [Unintentionally inserted willow]
After signing the agreement, Michael handed over the script, expecting Xiang Nan's evaluation.
Xiang Nan immediately opened the script and read it.
That's right, it was the "Dances with Wolves" he knew.
This movie was directed and acted by Kevin Costner in 1990. It not only won more than 300 million US dollars at the box office, but also won Best Director, Best Actor, Best Movie, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Winning seven awards, including best editing and best sound effects, can be said to be both fame and fortune.
Kevin Costner officially became popular in Hollywood because of this, becoming the hottest artist in the early 1990s.
However, luck comes with misfortune, perhaps because he was so successful that he was blindly arrogant. When filming "Future Water World", he acted arbitrarily and acted on his own, which resulted in a huge loss at the box office and caused him to fall from the throne. , was once reduced to a situation where there was nothing to film.
Just in response to the old saying, it is a blessing in disguise.
…
Xiang Nan glanced at ten lines, quickly read the script, and then looked at Michael Blake.
Michael was a little nervous. He pursed his lips and asked nervously, "Charles, what do you think of it?"
"To be honest, the script is pretty good." Xiang Nan nodded.
When Michael heard this, his expression brightened. He contributed to many companies, and when they heard that it was a western, they threw it back to him. Even if someone took it, after reading the script, they all commented that it was nonsense and ulterior motives.
Because this "Dances with Wolves" exposed the ruthless persecution and massacre of the aborigines in the United States during the Westward Movement. The aborigines in the film are simple and kind, while the white people in the film are cruel and cruel...
Such a script in the United States in the 1980s was absolutely outrageous and extremely politically incorrect, so even if he wrote it well, no company would be willing to invest in it.
It’s like writing a movie for Hollywood with the Ku Klux Klan as the protagonist. No film company would dare to make it no matter how good the script is.
It is the first time that Xiang Nan has such a good evaluation, so Michael is naturally very excited.
"However, it is a bit difficult to shoot this script." Xiang Nan then said, "I believe, and you know why."
Michael was taken aback for a moment, then nodded awkwardly.
The script of "Dances with Wolves" is a bit of a bad idea, something he has known for a long time. It's just that he doesn't want to modify it. Because in that case, the theme and tone of the whole movie will be changed, which will make him more uncomfortable than killing him.
"So, even if I buy it, I won't invest in production in a short time. I also need to see the direction of the wind." Xiang Nan said again.
"Looking at the direction of the wind?" Michael Blake blinked.
"Yes, I want to adapt it into a novel first, and see everyone's reaction after publication." Xiang Nan explained, "If everyone thinks it is good and the protests are not so loud, then we will talk about the production of the film."
If Xiang Nan is a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, that is, upper-class American), or a worrying person, there is no need to be so troublesome. Once you get the script, you can directly produce the film.
But he happens to be of Chinese descent, so this story is a bit sensitive to him. Therefore, he needs to explore the road first, and if the wind direction is good, he will shoot again. If the wind is not blowing, postpone the project.
Michael nodded upon hearing this.
"Okay, I'll ask my agent to talk to you about the specifics." Xiang Nan then said, "Don't worry, I'll give you a reasonable price."
"Thank you, Charles, I don't know how to thank you." Michael said immediately.
…
Xiang Nan then bought the script of "Dances with Wolves" for US$150,000.
Michael Blake was responsible for adapting it into a novel, and then Xiang Nan helped him contact the publisher for distribution.
Xiang Nan guessed that since the movie "Dances with Wolves" is so popular, the novel must also be very popular.
And Michael's incident also reminded Xiang Nan, he then sent an agent to buy Stephen King's "Shawshank Redemption", Robert Lordlon's "Bourne Shadow", CBS's "Mission: Impossible" The film and television adaptation rights of novels and drama series.
These IPs have not attracted enough attention now, but in a few years, their value will increase exponentially.
In fact, what Xiang Nan wants most is Marvel Comics. It has more than a thousand superheroes, which means more than a thousand super IPs. It is definitely a priceless treasury.
But now Marvel is getting by. In the 1980s, under the background of economic depression, people were more inclined to cheap entertainment. Sales of movies, comics, and albums have all increased.
Combined with Marvel’s authorized video games, peripheral products, and the introduction of trading cards and other businesses, the company has been profitable year after year. So at this time, even if Xiang Nan offered to buy, Marvel would offer a sky-high price.
But the current computer special effects technology is not yet developed enough to perfectly demonstrate the superhero world. The adapted film can at most achieve the effect of Warner's "Superman" and "Batman", which is unqualified in Xiang Nan's view.
So he was prepared to wait a few more years. Wait for the computer special effects to develop for a while, and after Marvel's business crisis occurs, then find a way to buy it.
…
In December, "Crocodile Dundee", which Xiang Nan invested in Australia, was also officially released in Australia.
That movie was invested when he was filming "Best Partner 4" in Australia, and the total investment was less than five million US dollars.
Xiang Nan didn't pay much attention to this movie. In his opinion, if the film can sell for ten million dollars, it is not bad. After all, how many people can watch movies produced in Australia.
Unexpectedly, after the film was released in Australia and New Zealand, the box office was actually good, and it won 15 million US dollars at the box office.
Such a result surprised Xiang Nan.
He then helped to make a bridge, so that Warner Pictures can help distribute the film in the United States.
What surprised him even more was that this wild adventure film produced in Australia was actually very popular with American audiences.
After it was released, the box office has remained high. In the end, it actually achieved a box office of 170 million U.S. dollars, and the global box office was as high as 360 million, which made Xiang Nan feel incredible.
He invested in this movie, but he had no idea that it would be such a hit. I just thought this movie was interesting, so I tried to vote for it.
Never expected that this movie would bring him such a big surprise.
Investing five million U.S. dollars, in exchange for a return of more than one hundred million U.S. dollars, Xiang Nan felt that he was possessed by the God of Wealth.
(end of this chapter)