Chapter 274: Fox’s Misjudgment
Chapter 274: Fox’s Misjudgment
“Hello, Mr. Williams,” Raymond Chow said. Though he tried to appear calm and neither servile nor overbearing, there was inevitably a trace of eagerness in his expression. “Mr. Williams, I’ve seen your Running Out of Time. To be honest, this film shares many similarities with certain styles of Hong Kong cinema. Coincidentally, it was our Golden Harvest that handled Running Out of Time’s distribution in Hong Kong, and the box office performance was very good.”
“I’ve actually always liked Hong Kong films,” Eric said. “For example, several of Bruce Lee’s movies—Fist of Fury, The Big Boss, The Way of the Dragon, Enter the Dragon, and even that unfinished half of Game of Death. It’s truly a pity.”
As he spoke the last words, Eric shook his head regretfully.
Hearing Eric suddenly bring this up, Raymond Chow also revealed a nostalgic expression and sighed.
“It truly was a pity. Ah, it’s already been over ten years. I still remember the first time I worked with Bruce.”
After saying that, Raymond Chow suddenly looked up at Eric and sighed emotionally, “I remember you’re only nineteen this year, Mr. Williams. When Bruce passed away, you should have only been three years old. Truly unexpected.”
“A good movie will always be a good movie. Speaking of which, when I was filming in Seattle last time, I specifically visited Mr. Bruce Lee’s grave. Even though more than ten years have passed, fans from all over the world still regularly go there to leave flowers.”
Raymond Chow froze slightly. A faint trace of shame flashed across his face.
Back then, without Bruce Lee, perhaps he would never have achieved what he had today. Yet aside from Bruce Lee’s burial, he had hardly gone to Seattle more than a few times.
“Once I finish my business here, I’ll also go to Seattle to pay my respects.”
Eric merely nodded noncommittally before turning toward the mostly silent Robert Shaye. He still did not know why Robert had introduced the man to him.
Right in front of Raymond Chow, Robert pulled Eric slightly aside and said, “Here’s the thing, Eric. Last year I participated in a film invested in by Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest—Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You’ve heard of it, right? Fox originally agreed to distribute the film, but after seeing the finished cut, they backed out.”
Hearing the words Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eric quickly remembered the film.
Although he was not particularly familiar with how the movie had performed in America in his previous life, he did know a story from Hong Kong film history.
It was said that Raymond Chow of Golden Harvest had always wanted to break into Hollywood. After several small-scale attempts, Golden Harvest purchased the adaptation rights for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles intending to make a major move. Golden Harvest invested eighty million Hong Kong dollars into the film, and in the end, it earned over one billion Hong Kong dollars in North America alone.
At the current exchange rate, one billion Hong Kong dollars was equivalent to roughly 130 million US dollars.
A foreign company could never possibly take over one hundred million dollars away from Hollywood profits, meaning that amount had to represent the film’s North American box office gross.
A North American box office total exceeding one hundred million dollars would easily place the film among the current top ten highest-grossing movies.
And yet Fox had actually abandoned such a film.
Still, it sounded understandable enough. Fox had always loved doing this sort of thing.
In his previous life, Fox had given up North American distribution rights for Titanic, selling them cheaply to Paramount Pictures for sixty million dollars. In the end, Titanic earned more than six hundred million dollars in North America alone.
Even after such an experience, Fox learned nothing and “persisted tirelessly.” Later, when James Cameron’s Avatar came along, Fox again feared the risks and brought in outside investors. When Avatar became a massive box office explosion, Fox lost hundreds of millions more due to that mistaken decision.
Shaking those chaotic thoughts from his head, Eric asked, “Robert, what are you thinking?”
Robert Shaye replied, “Here’s the situation, Eric. The total investment in this film is thirteen million dollars. That’s not a small amount. New Line also invested three million. Now that Fox refuses to distribute it, we can only handle distribution ourselves. I think your eye for movies is pretty good, so I wanted you to watch the finished cut and give us some advice.”
“Did you bring the print?” Eric asked.
Robert Shaye blinked.
“No. I only brought Mr. Chow here to introduce him to you and mention the matter in passing. We can go to the company tomorrow to watch it.”
Eric also realized he had gotten ahead of himself.
Although he had a private screening room at home, even if Robert had brought the print, Eric could not possibly abandon the hundreds of guests in the hall to leave by himself. That would have been far too rude.
“Alright then. I’ll go to the company tomorrow morning, and we’ll watch it together.”
“Good, that settles it.” Robert pointed into the distance as he spoke. “I spotted an old friend. I’m going over to say hello.”
“Go ahead. Enjoy yourself,” Eric said with a smile.
Watching Robert leave, Eric noticed Raymond Chow had not followed him.
“Mr. Chow, is there something else?”
“No, it’s just… Mr. Williams, you said earlier that you really like Hong Kong cinema. Then what do you think of Hong Kong films?”
Eric led Raymond toward the buffet table, picked up some food, and only then sat down together on a sofa near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Seeing Eric approach, the couple cuddling on the sofa immediately got up and vacated their seats.
After the two sat down, Eric said, “Mr. Chow, I think Hong Kong cinema’s current development has already completely lost rationality. It gives people the feeling of one final frenzy before collapse.”
Raymond had originally only wanted to chat with Eric about some outstanding Hong Kong films, build some rapport, and perhaps establish cooperation if possible.
Unexpectedly, Eric instead brought up the current state of Hong Kong cinema.
Smiling bitterly, Raymond said helplessly, “Everyone’s gone mad making money. Who still thinks that far ahead? But as an outsider, Mr. Williams, you do see things quite clearly. Since that’s the case, what solution do you think there is?”
What solution could Eric possibly have?
He had only spoken casually based on memories from his previous life.
Due to various limitations, the future of Hong Kong cinema was practically already predetermined.
After thinking for a moment, Eric answered seriously, “Although I also like many Hong Kong films, I don’t really have any solution for this situation either.”
Even if he did, it would not be useful right now. At minimum, they would have to wait another twenty years until the mainland fully opened its film market.
But by then, the very concept of “Hong Kong cinema” might nearly cease to exist.
Raymond sighed, glanced at Eric, and probed tentatively, “Then, Mr. Williams, do you think there’s any possibility for cooperation between us?”