Chapter 398 Script Suffering and Hope

Hearing Liu Zhou's words, Leader Zhao became more energetic and asked:

"Director Liu, what's the solution?"

“You should know that the film and television center of North America is in Los Angeles, in Hollywood, where there are many large and small film and television companies and brokerage companies.

However, in recent years, an increasingly serious phenomenon has emerged in Los Angeles, that is, the film and television industry has begun to hollow out.

Many companies’ films are basically not shot in Los Angeles, but in other states or even in the United States.

Because film companies do not shoot in Los Angeles, filmmakers in Los Angeles are out of work, while Vancouver in the Country of the Maple Leaf has become a film center in the north.

The reason for this change is that other regions are implementing tax refund policies, with Vancouver offering a tax refund of up to 30%, while Los Angeles has no tax refund policy.

We spent 100 yuan filming in Vancouver, and the government subsidized us 30 yuan. If we spent 100 yuan in Los Angeles, it would be 100 yuan. So the film company naturally chose Vancouver.

Vancouver is very close to the United States, so it attracts most of the Hollywood crews.”

At this point, Liu Zhou looked at Leader Zhao and said:
"If we have a similar policy, instead of requiring a 30% tax refund, but only a 15% tax refund, I believe there will be an endless stream of crews coming to film.

If we can get a 30% tax refund, even foreign crews will come here to film, but can you give us this policy?"

Liu Zhou is very aware of the appeal of tax refunds, tax exemptions or even low taxes to people or companies in the entertainment industry.

Horgos in the original time and space is a typical example. Because of the preferential tax policies there, various film and television companies, celebrities' personal studios, or other related companies all moved there in large numbers.

In just less than two years, the number of entertainment-related companies or studios registered in Horgos reached tens of thousands.

Why is Horgos so attractive? Because the tax rate there is low.

Celebrities are all high-income earners, but the taxes they pay every year also make them very distressed. Otherwise, after a thorough investigation, it would not have been discovered that so many celebrities were evading taxes.

So if Tangshan dares to implement a tax refund policy for film crews coming to shoot movies, Liu Zhou will dare to build a large film and television city there.

However, after hearing what Liu Zhou said, Leader Zhao did not think for long before shaking his head and saying:
"We can subsidize the land transfer fee and provide adequate supporting facilities, but tax refunds are not realistic."

Liu Zhou knew this would happen. It is not uncommon for the government to subsidize certain projects, such as foreign trade. In order to stimulate foreign trade, the country generally gives foreign trade companies a certain amount of tax rebates.

However, there is no precedent in China for providing subsidies to all film crews that come to shoot movies, and there will be various problems such as false reporting. The other party does not dare to take such a risk, and Liu Zhou can understand it.

In fact, there are many voices of opposition to the tax rebate policy abroad. Legislative committees and state legislators in many states in the United States believe that tax rebates for the film industry cannot further stimulate economic development.

It is more troublesome to implement this policy in China, as too many things are involved. At least before his rebirth, no place in the country had introduced a similar tax refund policy.

"So let's talk about cooperation on the movie 'Aftershock'. The film and television city may not have a chance to cooperate this time."

"Okay, Director Liu, do you have any other ideas? I'll report them to you then."

"Nothing else. Oh, there is one more thing. I need absolute control over the crew. I have the final say on how the film is shot."

“No problem, we have already discussed this with Mr. Zhang.

Our main purpose is publicity and we will not interfere with your creation. But one thing is that the finished film needs our approval before it can be released.

We will not deliberately make things difficult. We do this to prevent accidents. We must ensure that the film promotes mainstream values, carries forward the main theme, and is positive.

A TV series like this happened two years ago and it had a very bad impact.”

Liu Zhou understood which TV series Leader Zhao was talking about. There was also a TV series about a major earthquake two years ago. When the crew was recruiting extras, they required them to be able to perform nude scenes at night.

Later, someone spread the news and it was immediately reported by many media outlets. It caused a lot of uproar and had a very bad impact.

"I understand. I agree to your request."

After basically everything was agreed upon, Liu Zhou chatted with him for a few more minutes and then left with Zhang Zhaoxian.

Now Liu Zhou has put forward his conditions, including increasing investment and modifying the script. It depends on what Tangshan decides.

However, Liu Zhou felt that they would most likely agree to his request. After all, following Liu Zhou's idea would bring better publicity to Tangshan.

So after returning to the company, Liu Zhou once again found the famous screenwriter Liu Heng.

The script of "Tangshan Earthquake" is very important. We had to go to the local area to look up historical materials, interview eyewitnesses, and put the real details into the movie to make the movie credible.

Liu Zhou has a lot of things to do next, and he doesn't have the time to do them.

So they had to find someone to write the script, but Liu Zhou, a general screenwriter, was not at ease. After much thought, he still felt that Liu Heng was suitable. Liu Heng is also a top screenwriter in China. The original time and space "Assembly", "The Flowers of War" and "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit" are all his works.

The "Assembly" produced by Golden Harvest in this generation was also written by Liu Heng, so the two parties have a basis for cooperation.

Liu Zhou didn't waste any words and directly told him about the situation of the "Tangshan Earthquake".

Liu Heng was very interested in this movie. After carefully reading the script outline written by Liu Zhou and understanding his ideas, he couldn't help but talk about his experience when he was young:

"I remember when Aftershock was filmed, I was working as an assembly fitter at the Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Plant. I was fast asleep and woke up to hear everything in the house making noises.

At that time, my mother pulled me out, but in a hurry, the door couldn't be opened. It took a lot of effort to open it.

When I got downstairs, there were people everywhere. Everyone was terrified, but after the earthquake was over, no one dared to go home.

In the following days, no one dared to stay at home, so my family and I built an earthquake-proof shed with wood, door panels and plastic sheets in an empty space in the courtyard.

Liu Heng looked at the script outline in his hand and said with emotion:
"Director Liu, your idea is very good. When an earthquake strikes, the most important thing is the safety of your loved ones. Writing about the earthquake as a story of family love and a story of returning home is very heartwarming."

Liu Zhou also smiled and felt happy. Liu Heng understood his thoughts and he was indeed planning to shoot a warm and powerful story.

“I have never liked dark things. I hope my movies can bring people something positive instead of making them feel more desperate after watching them.

The earthquake itself is painful and despairing enough, so when I was conceiving this movie, the main tone was to give people hope.

So when the heroine rushes back from her parents' home, I hope she can meet some children.

Because children are the future of the nation, and we can see the hope of the nation in children!"

Liu Heng smiled and said:
“This is the way it was done in Schindler’s List!”

"Yes, Schindler's List is a movie about the Holocaust, and the experience of the Jews is very tragic, but in the movie the Jews are quite smart, whether they are adults or children, they are always able to adapt to circumstances!

It is obviously a very tragic movie, but when we finish watching it, we will be moved and feel that the people of this nation are amazing and that this nation has hope.

We were also victims of World War II and experienced the Holocaust, but there has never been a movie like "Schindler's List" in our film and television works.

Our film and television works always blindly depict how miserable things are, but lack this kind of spiritual portrayal.

There are even people like Lu Chuan who have crooked butts and try to whitewash the beasts, which makes people speechless and sad.

Although the movie "Aftershock" is about suffering, it cannot just talk about misery, so I think "Schindler's List" is a good reference.

I hope that after watching this film, everyone will feel that we are amazing and that our nation has hope.”

Liu Heng also stopped smiling at this time and said seriously:
"Director Liu, this is our first time working together, but to be honest, working with you gives me a very different feeling. It makes me feel like I am not taking on a job, but a mission."

"Not really. Maybe I have placed too much hope on the movie Aftershock, so I'll have to trouble you next."

"I seem to have regained the passion I had when I created Ju Dou. It's not that hard. By the way, when do you want the script?

This subject is too important, and your requirements are very high. I must go to the local archives to look up information, collect folk songs and experience life, and walk the streets. If I want to write a good script, you have to give me half a year!"

"You don't have to rush. The filming of Aftershock will probably start around this time next year. You can take your time."

"That would put my mind at ease, but I hope we can keep the communication open in the future."

"No problem, I'll give you my personal contact information."

"Okay, that's no problem for me. I'll be leaving first. I can't wait to start working now."

"Don't worry, I have one more thing to tell you. Our play is also invested in Tangshan. Let me know when you are going to Tangshan and I will contact them. They will fully cooperate with you!"

Liu Heng laughed and said:

“It’s much easier with the support of the local government!”

After finalizing the script, Liu Zhou temporarily put aside matters concerning Aftershock and shifted his attention to the listing of Golden Harvest.

It was already August 11th, and there was only half a month left until the listing date of August 26th.

PS: I still owe two chapters and 6,000 words

(End of this chapter)