Becoming a Movie Star, System Only Finished Loading After Ten Years

Remake?

Many people might misunderstand, thinking that a remake simply involves buying the script from the screenwriter again.

But that's not always the case.

First, you need to see what the remake is based on.

Is it adapted from the original novel or the script? If it's the former, then you pay the original author, like with Jin Yong's works.

If it's based on the script, then you need to see who holds the copyright to the script.

Generally, when film companies purchase a script, they buy the copyright as well.

For example, "Lost on Journey."

No matter who made this script, Feiyang Media bought the copyright directly, so any subsequent remakes and sequels remain in Feiyang Media's hands.

Same with "Infernal Affairs."

It sold for a sky-high international copyright price, benefitting the film company, not a few screenwriters.

Of course, it mainly depends on the agreement.

Qi Hao purchased the script for "Uncle" and definitely would buy the copyright, so even the original screenwriter couldn't just remake it freely.

But now, this clause is defined in the agreement.

It's as if Li Zhenfan legally obtained the remake rights and doesn't even need to pay a remake fee.

Actually, Li Zhenfan is very confident in his script. He even arrogantly proposed selling the shooting rights for three hundred million Korean won to Feiyang Media, retaining the copyright for himself, allowing him to sell shooting rights multiple times externally.

Of course, he was immediately shot down.

Even someone like Gao Fei, who isn't short on money, was amused by the arrogance of the Korean guy.

Dream on, you damn Korean.

These damn Koreans are always daydreaming.

If you really don't want to sell, then keep it and shoot it yourself.

Li Zhenfan immediately backed down.

Since the script was completed in 2006, it's been almost four years now, and Li Zhenfan still hasn't secured investment. Now he is forced to sell the script to make a living.

There are actually many like him.

Many screenwriters with directing ability, if they weren't at their wits' end, wouldn't sell their scripts for others to shoot.

The screenwriter's fee is minimal compared to the director's fee.

The only problem with remakes is they create a comparison.

By then, the audience will compare the Chinese version of "Uncle" with the Korean version of "Uncle," and there must be a winner.

Remakes aren't scary; whoever's worse will be embarrassed.

Qi Hao, although making this movie for a task, doesn't intend to let the Koreans ride over him.

He definitely intends to make a classic action film.

At the very least, it needs to score above 8 on Douban.

Qi Hao's "Steel Piano" currently has a Douban rating of 8.5, Feng Xiaogang's "Client and Contractor" only has 8.4, and Jiang Wen's "Sunny Days" is just 8.8.

For Qi Hao to score above 8 on his first film is an explosive start.

"Uncle" is also called "Lone Agent," and just from the name, you can tell it's a commercial film.

Aiming for 8.5 is not easy.

Firstly, the story's background, with violence and gore, isn't easy to pass censorship domestically.

But you can't have a film of this genre without any violence or gore.

So, Qi Hao plans to set the story in Xiangjiang or keep it vague, but the production location should be Xiangjiang.

Currently, the mainland supports Xiangjiang films a lot. Films made there that pass censorship can come in without taking up an import quota.

This has led many Xiangjiang directors to come here to cash in.

If Qi Hao can find Xiangjiang capital to collaborate, he can surely enjoy the benefits of a Hong Kong film.

Then he can make two versions: one full of violence and gore, and another slightly toned down to pass domestic censorship.

Qi Hao definitely doesn't want to lose the mainland market.

Additionally, the action scenes need to be cool, and the performances can't be too weak.

"Old Tang!"

Qi Hao, sitting in the back seat, inquired to Tang Chuan, who was driving.

"I'm here, boss."

Tang Chuan responded to Qi Hao while driving.

"Can you help me find a special forces member? The kind that knows martial arts."

Qi Hao knows quite a few industry action directors and some who are quite capable.

However, these people have been in the business for too long, and their thinking is already fixed.

Moreover, the industry's standards for action are getting lower and lower. Just hanging on wires and swinging around is enough to make the stars complain, so they don't dare design complex actions.

If you can make money with minimal effort, why bother putting in more effort?

"Uncle" will definitely hire an industry action director, but Qi Hao also plans to hire a professional from outside the circle as a consultant, partly to give the action director new inspiration and partly to put some pressure on the professional action directors.

If they don't do well, they're out.

For action to look good, besides good choreography, the actor's performance is crucial.

Qi Hao also plans to get some special forces training for himself.

Many film and television dramas like to hype that the actors underwent months of martial arts training.

In reality, during those few months, they trained sporadically at best, and that's considered conscientious. Some barely trained three to five times in total.

The truth of it doesn't matter—just look at the result they present.

You can clearly see whether the fighting is good or not.

"Grandmaster," which started preparing in 2001, claims that Zhang Zhen trained hard in Baji Fist for three years for the film and even won some national Baji Fist competition.

Training might have happened, but training for three years and winning an award? Qi Hao doesn't believe it.

With their constant filming schedules, becoming a national martial arts champion after just three years is implausible. Where does that leave those who've been practicing since childhood for decades?

This time, Qi Hao is seeking training, not just for the movie, but also to learn some self-defense skills.

He didn't want to gamble on whether his luck would be as good as Wu Ruofu's, being found and rescued after being kidnapped.

Considering his status and position, the kidnappers would definitely not let him go.

Otherwise, they could wait for his heavy-handed revenge.

Although the system boosted Qi Hao's stamina by 40 points, it only enhanced his physical fitness, not much could be converted into combat power.

As for the swordsmanship he learned from the fake Daoist, though powerful, unfortunately, Qi Hao didn't have a sword, let alone one with a sharpened edge.

If this celebrity were caught with a sword in the car, not only would the police invite him for a "chat," but it might also become a hot news story.

Therefore, training in martial arts with capable people to convert his increased stamina into combat power should be enough to handle ordinary ruffians.

Tang Chuan, after understanding Qi Hao's needs, really helped him find someone.

But it wasn't the special forces soldier Qi Hao requested.

He explained that due to confidentiality regulations, real special forces soldiers couldn't take on such private jobs.

Even retirees couldn't serve as martial arts instructors.

Damn, Qi Hao realized he was overthinking it.

As for the guy Tang Chuan found, named Feng Bufan, he seemed to be from the outside, not bound by such constraints.

Moreover, he was born in a martial arts village, proficient in all styles of martial arts.

In his youth, he went to join his cousin abroad as a martial arts coach but somehow ended up in a bloody business.

"Why did he turn over a new leaf?"

"You'll know when you meet him."

Alright, and indeed, he understood after the meeting.

Feng Bufan, this elder brother, looked about forty years old, blind and limping, with half his face badly burnt.

Blind and limping isn't an exaggeration, but a statement of fact.

He calmly pulled up his pant leg to show Qi Hao his injuries.

"What happened to you?"

"I got careless while on a mission, and accidentally got blown up."

Feng Bufan received Qi Hao's surprised look with some embarrassment.

"Still out making a living like this?"

Qi Hao compared himself, thinking even doing a task like this brings so much profit, certainly, mercenaries, who risk their lives, wouldn't be short of money, right?

"The money I saved got scammed, what else can I eat if I don't work?"

The elder brother's temper was quite good, completely unlike a mercenary making a living in gunfire.

Not a hint of the cold character.

"Got scammed?"

Qi Hao put down the teacup, immediately perked up.

When you're unhappy, tell me so I can enjoy it.

For someone recommended by Tang Chuan, an old soldier, even if not a super soldier, should be a ruthless person, right?

How did he get scammed?

"Alas, I thought I found true love, but it turned out to be a scam, I don't believe in love anymore."

Feng Bufan also felt ashamed.

"Did you find the scammer and then..."

Qi Hao made a throat-slitting gesture, to be honest, he only wanted someone to design some actions, if the other party was truly ruthless, he wouldn't dare to engage.

"Reported to the police… couldn't find her..."

Feng Bufan lowered his head.

"Cough, cough, alright, scammers these days are indeed rampant."

Big brother, what are you, you are a rogue, rogues should do rogue things!

A simple 'reported to the police' left Qi Hao stumped.

"Feng isn't a bad person, he did a lot of good things when he returned to his hometown, just didn't meet a good wife."

Tang Chuan put in a good word for Feng Bufan.

"Alright, do you know how to read?" Qi Hao asked.

"Yes, yes, I went to a teacher's college, was even a teacher for a while before going abroad."

Feng Bufan hurriedly replied.

Unfortunately, the country developed rapidly in these twenty years he was away, a vocational teacher's degree, and a middle school teacher position were easy to secure back then.

Now, it's worthless.

Plus, with his appearance, he couldn't find a suitable job at all.

Thus, he paid a lot of attention to today's interview.

"Then help me take a look at this script, and with your… professional eye, give it a simple evaluation."

It was almost lunchtime, so Qi Hao gave Feng Bufan some time to read the script of "Uncle," planning for an afternoon discussion.

Then Qi Hao gathered his team for a meeting to discuss the new script preparation.

"I want to start filming in August or September, what do you guys think?"

This time Qi Hao didn't rely on exploiting loopholes.

Previously, for the task "take a leading role in a serious film or TV show," he signed a contract and after shooting the first scene on the "Wind Sound" set, the system counted it as task completion.

This proved that it wasn't necessary to finish shooting the film.

This time it should be similar.

However, Qi Hao's current schedule was open, so even without exploiting loopholes, he could start shooting in a short time.

If he kept exploiting loopholes, what if the system got fed up and patched them?

"Why so rushed again, even if we shoot in September, there's only a little over a month for preparation."

Old Tian couldn't help but complain, as the script had been bought less than a week ago.

"Everything else is manageable, but finding an actress for the little girl about ten years old is really difficult."

Yang Liu pointed out the biggest challenge of this film.