Chapter 479 Special Gift
The box office situation has not yet been finished. In addition to the major markets of Britain, France, Germany and Italy, "Warrior" earned a box office of US$22.946 million in the remaining European markets.
"Van Helsing" was far behind, with only $12.698 million, failing to meet expectations.
Coming to Australia and New Zealand, "Wushuang" continued to maintain a good advantage, earning a total box office of US$13.326 million in the two places.
In several Southeast Asian markets, "Wushuang" grossed a total box office of US$10.64 million.
"Van Helsing" did not perform well in these markets. The combined total of several markets in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia only earned US$10.398 million.
Southeast Asia was originally a traditional market for Hong Kong films, and Hong Kong films usually achieve pretty good results here.
But since Tyrannosaurus rex captured the Hong Kong market, Hong Kong films have been unable to defend their own market, let alone the Southeast Asian market.
The market of a single country in Southeast Asia is not large enough, but when combined together to form a large market, the box office provided is quite impressive.
Similarly, Hong Kong films were also very popular in the Japanese and Korean markets in the past. Cheng Long was very popular in the island country and had scandals with several island country actresses.
But now, with the decline of Hong Kong films, this market is gradually divided between Japanese and Korean local films and Hollywood films.
When "Wushuang" was released in the island country, it was very lucky that there were no popular animated movies, so it got off to a good start.
Coupled with the vigorous promotion of popular Japanese actresses such as Shizuka Kudo, Kyoko Fukada, and Satomi Ishihara, "Warriors" earned US$19.818 million in its first week in the Japanese country.
This result is quite good, and it is also the single market with the highest overseas box office.
The island market has always been valued by Hollywood because the spending power of island movie fans is indeed very high.
Also because of the market, Japanese actors or island actors are usually able to participate in the filming of Hollywood films.
Of course, because Japanese culture is a relatively popular subculture in North America, actors from these island countries usually play important roles.
This is much more powerful than those Chinese actors who can only show their faces for a few dozen seconds and then export them to domestic sales.
However, there is no need to be sad in the Chinese film and television industry. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a hit, Cheng Lung and Lien Kit Lee were successful in Hollywood, and the "Character" series was successfully developed.
The international status of Chinese-speaking actors has never been so high. Cheng Long can even become a first-line Hollywood superstar, with a salary of 20 plus 10.
Little Gilbert is indispensable for all this.
Without his strong support, Cheng Long would take on roles randomly. Then after the movie failed, I returned to Hong Kong in despair.
And Shu Chang and Bing Bingli will not have the opportunity to participate in major Hollywood productions, and they will not have their current status.
Nowadays, Bingbing Li is the first of the four great actresses. She is more beautiful than any other, and she has also received invitations from many Hollywood films.
Shu Chang became famous at a young age and was known as an international movie star in his teens.
Compared to Yifei, who is about the same age as her, Shu Chang is simply flying in the sky.
As for the fairy sister, she is indeed beautiful, but her popularity is much worse than that of Shu Chang.
It's just that Mother Liu didn't get this opportunity for the fairy sister, otherwise it wouldn't have been Shu Chang's turn to be arrogant.
It is said that Liu’s mother is so sad now, but fortunately there is no shortage of roles for the fairy sister. "Jinfen Family" and "Legend of Sword and Fairy" followed each other and began to gain popularity.
Therefore, opportunity is really important, and its importance is greater than personal efforts.
However, if you don’t have the ability and efforts to carry this opportunity, no matter how big the opportunity is, you will not be able to grasp it.
"Warriors" performed pretty well in the Korean market. Coupled with several Central and South American markets such as Mexico and Brazil, "Warriors" won the overseas box office championship with US$139.857 million in its first week.
Including the North American box office, "Warriors" won the global box office championship with US$221.382 million in its first week in the summer season.
This score is quite good for a crime film.
This achievement is the result of Gilbert Jr.'s years of accumulation, coupled with the strong box office appeal of the two Toms and Charlize Theron.
Little Gilbert thought it was normal, but others didn't.
At the moment when the global box office was released, the front page headline of the "Los Angeles Times" came out almost at the same time as the "Hollywood Reporter" broke the news.
"Los Angeles Times" reported: "In the summer of 2004, Little Gilbert once again gave us a huge shock. He used a not-so-popular subject to gather three major stars and tell us a wonderful story.
More importantly, this film exploded with incredible energy, grossing US$221 million worldwide in its first week.
Looking back on Gilbert Jr.'s career as a director, we always feel that he has reached his limit. But little Gilbert vividly demonstrated that his best movie is always the next one.
Gilbert Landrini Jr. is undoubtedly the first director of the Mesozoic generation in Hollywood and the king of summer movies. "
As for "Van Helsing," the Los Angeles Times didn't even want to mention it. Although the film also made $110.773 million in its first week worldwide, the Los Angeles Times didn't care at all.
Other media outlets that paid attention to this matter did not let "Van Helsing" go, nor did they let David Ellison go.
Soon, David Ellison was inundated with overwhelming reports, and he was so angry that he tore into pieces the English version of "Dream of Red Mansions" he bought.
At this time, something even more annoying came.
Little Gilbert asked someone to give David Ellison a book. It was actually in Chinese, and David Ellison couldn't understand it.
Later, when I asked someone about it, I found out that the book given by little Gilbert was called "The Tao Te Ching". David Ellison was confused for a moment, not knowing what little Gilbert meant.
Unable to figure it out, David Ellison had to call in Michael Ovitz and Martin Bob to ask. The three of them sat on two sofas respectively, with the "Tao Te Ching" on the coffee table.
The tea cup has long been replaced by coffee, and David Ellison swore that he would never drink tea again.
After a long time, Martin Bob said: "I heard that little Gilbert gave Stephen a tea set and tea leaves, and encouraged him to work hard."
"I also heard about it. Stephen is going to take over the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, which is normal." Michael Ovitz said.
But David Ellison obviously didn't think so: "He was insulting me. He was mocking me for not understanding movies and asking me to cultivate my morals."
Not to mention, what David Ellison said is interesting, but it was just a whim of little Gilbert when he was bored.
He was like a fishing guy who would throw a hook over to see David Ellison's reaction when he was bored.
But Michael Ovitz is a sensible person. He knows not to react too violently at this time, otherwise it will make people laugh.
He persuaded: "David, the Chinese always say that you should be calm and impulsive is the devil. Little Gilbert has accurately calculated your character and knows that you will not be able to bear it.
I think you should calm down and act as if nothing has happened. "
Some people say that North America is a place that likes to chase geniuses and also likes madmen, but it depends on where the madness is.
If David Ellison was crazy in front of little Gilbert, others would probably think he was sick. After receiving Little Gilbert's book and still getting angry, people would think that David Ellison lacks the most basic education.
David Ellison is a smart guy and quickly understands the joints.
He asked again: "Then what should we do?"
Martin Bob suggested: "Why don't we arrange an exclusive interview, in which you can specifically thank Little Gilbert for sending you the book.
After listening to your interview, little Gilbert is too embarrassed to prank you again. "
David Ellison nodded in agreement: "Okay, Martin, you go make arrangements!"
Martin Bob quickly arranged for The Century to conduct an exclusive interview with David Ellison. In the interview, David Ellison shared his love for movies and his determination to break into Hollywood.
This is David Ellison's first public interview. He hopes that everyone's understanding of him will not stop at Larry Ellison's son.
He hopes that in the future everyone will discuss what movies he has produced as he is a well-known producer in Hollywood.
"After being trained in 'Van Helsing', I am more confident about the future." David Ellison said.
The reporter asked: "But judging from the box office performance in the first week, "Van Helsing" is not considered a success!"
"Indeed," David Ellison did not deny this: "If you compare it with the works of director Gilbert Jr., it is certainly not a success.
But you have to understand, not everyone is little Gilbert.
At the very least, I am satisfied with this result. As long as we achieve profitability over the long term, it is not considered a failure. "
In his previous statement, David Ellison regarded himself as a challenger to defeat Gilbert Jr.
But in this interview, David Ellison said that he just wanted to accumulate experience and had no intention of competing with Gilbert Jr.
It has to be said that the real situation made David Ellison change his mind at least superficially.
Then David Ellison took out the "Tao Te Ching" and expressed his gratitude to little Gilbert, saying that he would work hard to live up to the book he gave to him.
When I saw this news, little Gilbert was having dinner with Donald in New York.
"It seems that your toys don't want you to play with them anymore, little Gilbert." Donald smiled at little Gilbert after reading the news.
Little Gilbert shrugged and said indifferently: "If the fish doesn't bite the hook, it's boring..."
The two of them didn't care about it, so they chatted for a while and put it aside.
Donald was mainly concerned about his daughter's work around little Gilbert: "How is Ivanka doing at your place?"
"Not bad, very capable, and the work is well organized." Little Gilbert said.
Donald was more relieved: "Originally, I wanted her to come to the group company as the vice president, but she insisted on working with you, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Seeing her happy at work now makes me, a father, feel relieved. "
Donald is very talkative, and his words swing from side to side, as if he has ADHD, which is very personal.
The chat between little Gilbert and Donald was quite enjoyable. The New York real estate tycoon was one of the few people in the upper class of New York who could talk to little Gilbert.
Before going to Donald's house for dinner, little Gilbert had received invitations from several Wall Street funds.
Little Gilbert refused. Needless to say, these funds must have taken a fancy to his shares in Silicon Valley companies and wanted to buy some from him.
But where would little Gilbert give them? Shares are not blown by strong winds.
In the upper class society, people abide by the rules and everyone has a tacit understanding. Little Gilbert was so powerful that he was not afraid of the Wall Street tycoons.
Besides, if the subprime mortgage crisis breaks out in 2008, it’s unclear how many of these tycoons will exist.
(End of chapter)