Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 172 Chapter 182 [The premiere of "The Sixth Sense" became a hot topic in North America]

"Supernatural phenomena definitely exist, but none of us really pay much attention to them."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "In the history of Taoism in China, it was said that people have a third eye, but it has degenerated due to various reasons. If you don't believe it, you can put your finger about two centimeters above your eyebrows."

Oprah subconsciously did what he said, and the audience, including Monica and Bruce, also followed suit.

"Close your eyes, can you feel a little bit of pressure above your eyebrows?"

Hearing this, Oprah closed her eyes and felt it carefully.

But before she could feel it, an audience member shouted, "I feel it, there is a real sense of oppression, Li, why is this? Do we really have a third eye?"

"Haha, whether it is true or not, I don't know. It may be true or false."

Li Yishu looked at the white guy and also found it very funny. This kind of trick that was very common in later generations was unexpectedly still effective now.

Secretary Li Yi seemed to have seen a relevant explanation as to why there was a feeling of oppression above the eyebrows, but he forgot what it was specifically.

Anyway, it’s definitely not a third eye.

Oprah felt it carefully and was also surprised: "Lee, I felt it too. Is this the sixth sense?"

"It can be considered a kind of sixth sense. The sixth sense is actually the heart's perception, which is somewhat similar to self-awareness, but it is different."

Li Yishu looked at everyone and said, "I wonder if you have ever felt a sense of déjà vu, that is, at a certain time and place, you seem to have been to this place before, and you have a sense of déjà vu about what is going to happen next?"

"Yes, that's right, I feel that way."

"Yeah, I always thought I had super powers."

"Oh my god, I've had that too. Is this the sixth sense?"

"..."

The audience exclaimed continuously, and Oprah said seriously: "It seems that we humans still have too many unsolved mysteries."

"Yes, my original intention of making this movie was because of my curiosity about this supernatural phenomenon. You don't have to worry that this is a horror thriller. In fact, it is a film that explores the different perspectives that humans show after they have a sixth sense..."

In order to gain the first wave of attendance after the movie was released, Li Yishu had no choice but to resort to this last resort. The saying "good wine needs no bush" is not applicable to the North American film market.

The cinemas here are very realistic. Hisao Morishima put a lot of effort into getting 2500 screens for this movie. Plus, there really haven't been any blockbusters during this period, so this number was achieved.

If the box office performance in the first three days is not ideal, the number of screens will drop sharply on the fourth day, and when "Jurassic Park" is released, it will almost sweep the entire North America.

Secretary Li Yi estimated that the global box office of this movie should be around 10 billion US dollars, with North America, a large box office, contributing at least to million US dollars. If the movie fails to gain a good reputation in the early stages, it will basically collapse later on.

It's not uncommon for good films to be buried. The box office of "The Shawshank Redemption" was so low that it was a huge loss.

The two-hour program recording is over.

Li Yishu didn't talk much about movies because he knew that moviegoers were not very interested in a Chinese director's award-winning journey. These things would be more likely to make American audiences curious than telling some stories.

In addition, China is still a bit mysterious in North America, so talking about your own experiences or filming experiences is not as good as telling stories.

Make money, not shabby.

Of course, we can’t follow the example of a certain international student who said something like “The air in the United States is so fresh.”

Backstage.

Oprah smiled and said, "Lee, today's show is very good. I believe that after it is broadcast on TV, it will attract many viewers to the cinema for you."

"Thank you Oprah for your help."

Just now during the recording, Li Yishu could feel the friendly attitude exuded by Oprah. She was always able to pick up some topics appropriately and then lead the audience to exclaim in surprise.

After the program has been edited and combined with some special effects and sounds in post-production, the effect will be better when it is broadcast. For example, "Into Science", a story about a man sleepwalking, can be made into a sci-fi blockbuster about being abducted by a UFO, and the audience still enjoys watching it. This is the charm of editing and dubbing.

"Haha~" Oprah laughed heartily and said, "If you really want to thank me, then why not tell me, do people have a sixth sense?"

"Have!"

Li Yishu said affirmatively: "But current science probably can't detect it yet."

Secretary Li Yi remembered that a certain team later experimented with the idea of ​​a sixth sense and it was indeed real, but it was not that magical.

This is the same reaction of animals when they know a natural disaster is about to come, they become irritable and run around, except that animals' sixth sense is stronger than humans'.

“It’s amazing, I hope I can see it in my lifetime.”

Oprah doesn't think Li Yishu is lying to her. Maybe she really has had some special experiences?
"Ms. Oprah, can I invite you to the premiere of the film at the Chinese Theater on the 25th?"

"On the 25th~~Li, I'm sorry, Li, I'm not sure if I have time on that day, but don't worry, if I have time, I will definitely attend your movie premiere."

"Thank you."

Li Yishu didn't care whether Oprah's words were polite or she was really unsure. Anyway, she had already invited him, and it was her business whether he came or not.

After exchanging pleasantries, before leaving, Li Yishu combined Oprah's personal experience and gave her a message, "In China, there is a phrase that praises people, which goes, 'Out of the mud without being stained, washing in the water without being coquettish.'"

Until Li Yishu left with Monica and others, Oprah's eyes flickered with light: "The flower grows out of the mud, but it is not polluted. It is washed in clean water, but it does not look seductive..."

She didn't expect Li Yishu to say such a thing to her. In fact, Oprah has never been shy about discussing her experiences in her youth. Instead, she discussed such topics openly on the show when talking to the guests.

Most people's responses to her experience were simply "Oh my God", "What a pity", "So sad" and so on.

Li Yishu's words gave Oprah a different feeling.

"Regret", "Sad", "Poor"...

She had heard these words too many times, but only this director from China said something that touched Oprah so much.

Yes, she was born a beautiful flower.

A beautiful flower that grows out of the mud but remains uncontaminated.

"McCoy, help me check if I have any plans on the 25th. If I do, please postpone it. I have to attend a movie premiere."

After leaving the recording site and saying goodbye to Bruce Willis, Li Yishu sat in the car. Monica Bellucci asked curiously while driving: "Honey, have you really experienced supernatural phenomena?"

"of course."

Li Yishu nodded seriously, "I personally experienced this supernatural phenomenon, and I am absolutely not lying."

His rebirth is a supernatural phenomenon in itself.
As for what kind of supernatural phenomenon it is, maybe quantum?

Isn’t there a saying that goes, when in doubt, quantum mechanics~~
"Oh my god, really?"

Monica Bellucci's face was full of shock: "Can you tell me what this supernatural phenomenon is? I'm so curious!"

Li Yishu’s “storytelling” was very exciting. Monica was already deeply attracted to it. Now that she got a positive answer, she was naturally very curious.

Supernatural phenomena were still quite a hot topic in 1993 when technology was not so advanced.

In the 8s, 90s and the millennium, UFO topics were the most popular in the United States, but after 2010, related topics began to decrease.

Why? Because we have smartphones, high-definition pixels, the Internet, and short videos~~
To quote a saying from the Internet, for extraterrestrial and supernatural events such as UFOs, the older they are and the blurrier the video, the lower their authenticity.

"Do you want to know?" Li Yishu raised his eyebrows.

"Of course I want to know."

"Haha, as long as you promise me one thing, I will tell you."

"what's up?"

"Let's go back to bed."

"what?"

"I said go home."

July 5th, Saturday.

After the "Oprah Winfrey Show" was broadcast in the evening, it unsurprisingly aroused the curiosity of North American audiences. Supernatural phenomena have always been a hot topic of discussion in the United States in recent years.

Especially after Spielberg directed and filmed "ET the Extraterrestrial" in 1982, a wave of searching for aliens was set off in North America.

Ten years have passed since then, and the topic of aliens in the United States remains hot.

This is the same as the “water monkey” that has been popular on the domestic Internet for more than ten years.

However, the 1990 film "Ghost" suddenly changed the topic from aliens to supernatural phenomena.

Now, a Chinese director from the mysterious East, a director who has won the European Double Gold Award, has filmed a supernatural phenomenon based on his own childhood experiences. The film is very similar to "Ghost" and has successfully caught the attention of many audiences.

On the morning of September 5th.

Dozens of newspapers, large and small, that had long been bought off by Columbia Pictures, reported on the award-winning record of Lee Ye-su, the director of "The Sixth Sense," including some of the supernatural phenomena he talked about on the show.

On May 5, Monday, a working day, Hisao Morishima once again spent two million dollars on large-scale publicity.

this day.

5:25 p.m. on May th.

The entrance of the Chinese Theatre.

There were not many guests on the red carpet of the premiere, except for some celebrity friends invited by Bruce Willis, some film critics invited by Columbia Pictures, and a large number of media reporters.

Li Yishu only invited Li An, who was still in the United States. What he didn't expect was that Xinhua News Agency also sent reporters over.

Li Yishu has appeared frequently in American newspapers in recent days. Xinhua News Agency also learned that Li Yishu, a famous domestic director, came to the United States to film and release a movie.

As the first film directed by a Chinese director in Hollywood, Xinhua News Agency naturally attaches great importance to it.

Oprah's arrival also made Li Yishu very happy. Oprah is a popular host in the United States. In terms of her value in the eyes of the audience, it is basically difficult to find a similar one in China.

After the not-so-grand red carpet ceremony, the group went into the cinema.

The 117-minute movie is over.

Oprah wiped the tears from her eyes and praised, "Lee, you told a great story. It's really a touching story. I believe my audience will like your movie. I will recommend to everyone on the show that they must bring their families and children to see this movie."

The PG-13 rating is not very high. It is mainly set for children under the age of 13. This rating is to warn parents that the film may include content that is not suitable for children under the age of 13.

Of course, this level does not mean that children under the age of 13 are not allowed to watch it, but it reminds parents to pay more attention.

So parents need to bring their children to watch.

"Thank you Oprah!"

Li Yishu quickly thanked her. With her words, as long as she encouraged and recommended it on the show, it would at least motivate a considerable number of parents to bring their children to watch it.

"Lee, Lee, this is wonderful."

Suddenly a group of reporters rushed over and said excitedly: "The twist in the ending of this movie is so wonderful. How did you come up with such a wonderful twist in the ending?"

The ending of "The Sixth Sense" is indeed a wonderful reversal. Unless you are a very powerful fan, most people would not be able to judge from the previous details that the male protagonist has already died, and the one who has been talking to the boy is the male protagonist's soul.

"Sorry, I guess how about we go somewhere else?"

Looking at the reporters rushing over, producer Thomas temporarily acted as a spokesperson and invited everyone not to crowd in the aisle.

After Thomas took the reporters downstairs, Bruce Willis came over with his wife Demi Moore.

Bruce Willis was full of praise. This was also the first time he watched the complete film after editing: "Great, Lee, you made a classic movie. The twist in the ending was beyond my expectation."

Looking at the lead actress of Ghost, Demi Moore, Li Yishu said jokingly, "Yes, the fact that your wife is Meili was beyond my expectation."

Hearing this, Demi Moore laughed. Meili was her name in the movie.

(End of this chapter)