radicalducati Chapter 5: Every Encounter Was Planned in Adversity
Chapter 5: Every Encounter Was Planned in Adversity
At 2:17 a.m., in room 312 of the Gateway apartment building at USC, only the desk lamp cast a warm yellow glow.
On the laptop screen in front of Jiang Yu, there was not a document, but a huge timeline chart.
The timeline, spanning twelve years from 2005 to 2016, is densely marked with key milestones.
These were all copied from projects he had vivid memories of or had participated in. Reborn, he couldn't just focus on special effects; the content industry had a much brighter future!
[Animated Film]
2010's "Despicable Me" – Illumination Entertainment, founded by Chris Meledandri, who left Fox in 2007 to start his own business.
2013's Frozen – Disney, adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen". At that time, Disney had just acquired Pixar and its animation department was being restructured.
Zootopia (2016) – Disney, the project was only officially greenlit in 2013.
[Novel Copyright]
2006 Twilight – Stephenie Meyer, first draft completed, currently seeking a publisher!
2008 The Hunger Games – Susan Collins, who was still writing the first book at this time!
The Martian (2009) – Andy Weir, first serialized on his personal blog in 2011!
2011 Fifty Shades of Grey – by E.L. James, originally a fan fiction of Lord of the Universe!
[Live-action film]
2008 Taken
2009's *2012* – Roland Emmerich, screenplay began writing in late 2006.
2013's "Gravity" - Alfonso Cuarón, whose concept was proposed in 2009!
The script for 2013's "Now You See Me" didn't even appear until 2010!
2014's *Lucy* – Luc Besson, screenplay completed in 2009!
The Martian (2015) – Adapted from the novel by Andy Weir!
Jiang Yu stared at the chart, his expression complex.
In their past lives, each of these IPs built a business empire and changed the fate of a group of people.
Twilight propelled Summit Entertainment from a small company to an industry player; The Hunger Games became Lionsgate's lifeline; Frozen revived Disney animation; Zootopia became a cultural phenomenon...
Currently, most of these IPs are still in their infancy, or even yet to be created.
He picked up a pen and wrote down the battle plan in his notebook:
[First Tier: Immediate Action (2005-2006)]
1. The film and television adaptation rights to the novel "Twilight" – with a budget of less than $100 million, to be acquired by the end of 2006.
2. Copyright of the script for "Taken" secured – currently underway.
[Second Tier: Early Planning (2007-2008)]
1. Film and television adaptation rights for The Hunger Games novel – contact will be made immediately after the novel's publication in 2008!
2. 2012 script investment – Contact with Roland Emmerich's team in 2007!
[Third Tier: Long-Term Coverage (2009-2011)]
1. Participated in or independently developed the concept for "Frozen," with the project launched in 2008!
2. Co-developed with Gravity, contacted Alfonso Cuarón in 2009!
3. The copyright to the novel *The Martian* was secured when it was serialized online in 2011!
4. The film and television adaptation rights to "Fifty Shades of Grey" were quickly acquired after the novel was published in 2011!
After finishing writing, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
This is not just a business plan; it is a cultural ambush that spans twelve years.
What he's doing isn't "plagiarism," but rather "claiming a spot."
Entering the early stages of these future blockbuster projects at the right time and in the right way is an indispensable part of the process.
Then, use these projects as springboards to build your own platform.
.........
4:00 PM on the 20th, at a coffee shop near the USC Business School.
Jiang Yu sat by the window, with a laptop and a copy of The Wall Street Journal in front of him.
He is waiting.
According to his memories from his previous life, Chen Wei...
That guy, whose family had a background in the North American entertainment industry and who later became the CEO of Moonlight Pictures, should have been a junior at the USC business school in 2005.
He meets his friends at this coffee shop around 4 p.m. every Monday.
At 4:07, the door opened.
A mixed-race boy, about 1.85 meters tall, walked in. He was wearing a well-tailored dark shirt, his hair was neatly combed, and he wore a simple IWC watch on his wrist.
He was followed by two equally well-dressed boys who looked like his classmates from the business school.
Chen Wei.
Although she looks twenty years younger, her composed demeanor and impeccable taste in clothing are already beginning to emerge.
Jiang Yu did not step forward immediately.
He watched as Chen Wei and his friends ordered coffee, sat down on the sofa area not far away, and started discussing something.
Judging from the occasional mentions of terms like "hedge fund," "private equity," and "entertainment industry mergers and acquisitions," this is likely a small group project from a business school.
After patiently waiting for twenty minutes, Chen Wei's friends left one after another, leaving him alone to type on his laptop.
Jiang Yu got up, took the coffee, and walked over.
"Excuse me for bothering you," he said in English, his voice gentle. "Are you Chen Wei? A junior in the business school?"
Chen Wei looked up, his eyes holding a polite scrutiny: "I am. And you are?"
"Jiang Yu, an exchange student from the Film Academy, came from the Communication University of China."
Jiang Yu sat down opposite him naturally. "I heard your family is in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. I have some questions I'd like to ask."
"I wouldn't presume to ask for your advice." Chen Wei closed his laptop, leaning back slightly, relaxed yet maintaining a distance. "However, I do have some knowledge of the entertainment industry. What would you like to ask?"
"Investment and distribution of independent films."
Jiang Yu asked directly, "If I have a good script and want to collaborate with an independent production company in the United States, what process should I follow?"
Chen Wei raised an eyebrow: "You write screenplays?"
"It's not just about writing."
"Regarding investment and production of mid-budget action films," Chen Wei asked.
Jiang Yu put it bluntly: "If I have a tightly woven action movie script, emphasizing clean and efficient combat and a family-centric theme, and I want to find a production company in the United States to collaborate with, what process should I follow?"
Chen Wei raised an eyebrow: "You write screenplays?"
"It's not just about writing." Jiang Yu took out a printed document from his backpack. It was only three pages long and was the "core concept proposal" for "Taken".
He wrote it from memory last night, retaining the basic settings, action design, and emotional core.
"A story about a retired special agent rescuing his kidnapped daughter, 90 minutes long, a single narrative with no extra subplots." Jiang Yu pushed the document over. "The target audience is men aged 18-45, but female viewers will also be moved by the father-daughter emotional storyline."
......
Chen Wei took the document and quickly browsed through it.
His past life experience told him that although Chen Wei came from a business family, he had an instinctive sense for "precise business positioning".
In 2005, Hollywood action films were undergoing a transformation. The traditional muscle-bound tough-guy hero was gradually declining, while the realistic, fast-paced, and high-IQ action style pioneered by the Bourne series was on the rise.
Taken hit the cusp of this trend perfectly.
"It has a strong sense of rhythm." Chen Wei finished reading, put down the document, and said, "But why did you contact me? I'm just a student."
"Because you're not just a student." Jiang Yu looked him straight in the eye. "Your family business involves film investment, cinema chains, and talent management. While you were in business school, you interned at the family company for two years and participated in the financial analysis of three medium-budget projects, one of which was the Asian distribution assessment for the action film 'xXx'."
Chen Wei's eyes sharpened: "You investigated me?"
"Public information." Jiang Yu smiled. "A Variety magazine article last year about Asian capital entering Hollywood mentioned that 'the second generation of the Chen family has begun to participate in project screening.'"
A brief silence.
Chen Wei took a closer look at the Chinese exchange student in front of him. He was young, but his eyes held a maturity beyond his years.
He was dressed plainly, but his speech and logic were exceptionally clear; despite being a film school student, he had an in-depth understanding of business and industry.
"So, what do you want?" Chen Wei asked.
"A collaboration," Jiang Yu said. "I need a partner who understands the rules of Hollywood. What I offer is: some insights into action movie trends, if you're willing to listen."
"Judgment?" Chen Wei smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "For example?"
"For example, in the next five years, realistic, fast-paced, and intellectually stimulating action films will replace exaggerated explosions and superpowers."
Jiang Yu spoke calmly, "For example, the core theme of family affection will become the emotional breakthrough point for action films, expanding the female audience market. For example, mid-budget action films will achieve the best returns in the global market. And for example... Chinese action stars will find a new position in Hollywood, not to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger, but to fill the void of the Jason Bourne-style 'intelligent warrior'."
Chen Wei's smile gradually faded.
These judgments sounded somewhat ahead of their time in 2005; the Bourne series had just been a success, and the market was still observing.
However, coming from this Chinese student, there was a surprisingly calm, data-driven quality to it.
"You're quite outspoken," Chen Wei finally said.
"Because I have evidence." Jiang Yu took a sip of coffee. "The Bourne Ultimatum grossed $450 million last year on a $75 million budget, yielding a 6x return. Meanwhile, xXx: Return of Xander Cage grossed $85 million on a $170 million budget, resulting in a loss. The market is voting with its feet."
He paused, then pulled up a photo from his Nokia 6610.
Last night, he analyzed the box office data of action movies from 2000 to 2004 from the Box Office Mojo website, and marked the annual growth rate of the "realistic style" category: 32%.
"Audiences are tired of invincible Superman." Jiang Yu pushed his phone over. "What they want is the realism of 'If I were trained enough, maybe I could do that too.' And this script provides that kind of realism."
Chen Wei looked at the photo, then looked at Jiang Yu.
"Why did you contact me?" he asked again, this time more seriously.
"Because you have resources, but you don't want to just be a shadow of the family."
Jiang Yu put it bluntly: "You want to prove that you can independently discover and drive a successful project. I, on the other hand, offer a project that is cost-effective, precisely targeted, and fills a market gap."
That statement hit the nail on the head.
Chen Wei remained silent for a full minute.
"How much does it cost?" he asked.
"Script buyout: $100 million," Jiang Yu said. "Production budget: around $3000 million. If managed properly, the global box office is expected to be $1.5-2 million, a considerable return on investment."
Who is the screenwriter?
"I have completed the registration process." Jiang Yu stated clearly that, in his previous life, the script was only developed in 2006 and the film was not released until 2008.
Chen Wei took a closer look at the Chinese student in front of him.
This information gathering ability and industry insight are completely unlike those of a 21-year-old exchange student.
"What do you want?" Chen Wei asked.
"A collaboration." Jiang Yu looked directly at him. "I'll provide the script, and you'll provide Hollywood channels, production experience, and family resources. We'll operate as a joint venture, with you taking the majority and me the minority, but I'll retain priority over the special effects portion."
"Special effects?"
"Yes." Jiang Yu leaned forward. "The film needs digital Paris street scenes, physical simulations for car chases, and CG enhancements for fight scenes. I'd like to entrust this part to a technical team that's currently being assembled; they'll be our 'internal supplier.'"
Chen Wei understood: "You want to use this project to incubate your own special effects company."
"Why not?" Jiang Yu said, "The prices quoted by top Hollywood special effects companies are too high, eating up too much of the budget. If I can build a more cost-effective team, I can not only reduce the cost of this film, but also take on other projects. This is a long-term business."
Where is the team?
"It's being assembled," Jiang Yu said frankly. "USC has many technical geniuses, especially Chinese students; they are highly capable, but they are limited by the glass ceiling and find it difficult to stand out in big Hollywood companies. If we can provide a platform where they can conduct cutting-edge technology research and participate in practical projects..."
He didn't need to finish speaking.
Chen Wei understands.
He himself is of Chinese descent and knows the situation of this group in Hollywood. Technical backbone is possible, but decision-making is difficult.
"How much start-up capital do you need?" Chen Wei asked.
"Pre-production development for the visual effects team: $200 million," Jiang Yu stated specifically. "This is mainly for equipment, software licenses, and small stipends for key personnel. This money can come from the film's budget, or we can invest it separately."
"Return cycle?"
"If Taken is successful, the team will be able to establish itself in the industry and take on other projects in the future."
Jiang Yu said, "Conservatively speaking, it will take 18 months to break even. Optimistically, 12 months."
Chen Wei remained silent for a minute.
He was weighing his options.
Finally, he said, "I need to see the complete business plan, including the script, the technical solutions from the visual effects team, and risk control measures."
"Two weeks," Jiang Yu promised.
"Also," Chen Wei added, "I'd like to meet your technical partner."
"I'll arrange it this week," Jiang Yu said with a smile.
The two exchanged phone numbers and email addresses.