Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 199 209 [Beijing Film Academy's Six Golden Flowers, Newcomers Replace Old Ones]

"Boss, do you think this is happening?"

"Do not care."

Li Yishu shook her head and said, "If Liu Xiaoqing comes to the company again, just tell them that I'm not here and that Jiang Wen's movies are not worth investing in."

Looking back at Jiang Wen's directorial career, apart from "Let the Bullets Fly" which was extremely popular, and later on "Let the Bullets Fly", his other movies were basically flops.

Whether it's the early "The Sun Also Rises" or "Devils on Doorstep", or the later "One Step Away" and "Hidden Man", whether the movie is wonderful or not depends on the audience. After all, everyone has their own aesthetic taste, but it will definitely make investors lose money.

Li Yishu doesn't necessarily need to make money. If a good art film comes to him for investment, as long as the script is good and the actors and director are not bad, investing several million will not be a problem.

What's more, now as long as you can win an award abroad, you can basically make back your investment or even make money by relying on overseas copyrights.

But not only did Jiang Wen’s movie suffer huge losses, it also barely won any awards.

A later film, "The Devils", won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, which is considered Jiang Wen's highest achievement in the field of director awards.

On the contrary, the film "Sunny Days" shot by Jiang Wen is quite interesting, and the plot is also pretty good. Not only was it shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival, but the male lead Xia Yu also won the trophy for the youngest actor.

But for Li Yishu, even if this movie has a high probability of making a small profit, he has no need to invest in it.

Although on the surface, the conflict between the two has not reached the point of being irreconcilable, Jiang Wen has a very stubborn personality, and Li Yishu is a strong person at heart. The previous small conflicts can be resolved, but waiting for the other party to take the initiative to make peace is basically unsolvable.

Since there is a grudge, it is despicable to rush to invest.

What's more, Li Yishu and Jiang Wen are also competitors. The next film he is going to shoot, "The Reader", is aimed at the Venice International Film Festival next year.

“Okay, no investment.”

Yongmei nodded, roughly understanding what the boss meant.

"Even if we want to invest, Jiang Wen will never agree."

Li Yishu waved her hand and said, "Let's not talk about Liu Xiaoqing. Amy should have told you that our company in the mainland is going to develop into TV drama production, right?"

"Yes boss."

Yongmei replied: "Sister Amy has already called me and told me to recruit behind-the-scenes staff for the crew."

"Well, now the film industry is also gradually beginning to move towards a market economy. In order to save costs, major studios are expected to reduce production sharply. By then, there will definitely be many directors, photographers, etc. who will leave the studios and look for opportunities outside the system..."

In the 90s, many well-known TV drama directors emerged in China, such as Zheng Xiaolong, Zhao Baogang, Guo Baochang and so on.

Li Yishu did remember these people, but now they either worked in TV stations or in other film and television institutions. If she wanted to poach them, she would have to see their willingness.

Instead of doing this, it would be better to let Yongmei promote it under the name of "Art Film Company".

At that time, there will naturally be people who want to try their luck in the business world and come forward to recommend themselves.

the other side.

No. 3, Zhangzizhong Road, Jingcheng District, Yanjing.

This is the former site of Duan Qirui's Executive Yuan, a typical Baroque-style European gray brick building, and also the filming location for the crew of "Sunny Days".

Now the budget has been seriously overspent, and there is not enough money to even pay for the film, which will cause the "Sunshine" crew to stop working directly.

However, director Jiang Wen was quite leisurely. Since he couldn't start filming, he would train the actors and flirt with the heroine Ning Jing. Anyway, his old lover Liu Xiaoqing was making connections outside, and investor Wen Jun was also trying to attract investment in Hong Kong.

"Director Jiang, can we finish filming this movie?"

Under the parasol, Ning Jing sat on a chair, looking at Jiang Wen lazily. The crew had stopped working for a week. The staff were paid monthly wages, and they were still there now. But if they couldn't get investment by next month, most of them would probably leave.

"It will definitely be finished, you don't have to worry about it."

Jiang Wen, who already had a beard, waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "What you should worry about now is how to shoot the next scene. The scene in the swimming pool will have to be re-shot later."

“We have to reshoot again.”

Ning Jing's face immediately turned pale. There was nothing wrong with reshooting, but what made her embarrassed was continuing to shoot the swimming pool scene.

In that scene, she wore a swimsuit and sat by the swimming pool chatting with a group of male actors. This would have been nothing, but Jiang Wen didn't allow her to wear anything covering her face, which was very embarrassing.

Before each filming, a group of male actors would stare at her intently. Even someone as careless as Ning Jing couldn't help feeling ashamed.

"It definitely needs to be reshot. I took a look yesterday and a few people's eyes looked a little off. They need to be changed."

Jiang Wen smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely pass it this time. By the way, Ning Jing, please stretch out your palm and I will read it for you."

"Director Jiang also knows this?" Ning Jing stretched out her hand in surprise.

"Haha, I understand a little bit."

Jiang Wen held Ning Jing's hand, looked left and right, and said solemnly: "The lines on your hand..."

"What's wrong with my hand lines?"

Ning Jing's heart skipped a beat. Could something bad have happened?
Since the Qigong craze began in the past two years, many people in China have become obsessed with Qigong and metaphysics. Although Ning Jing has not studied this thing, she has seen many reports on it in newspapers and magazines, so it is inevitable that she would feel a little awe.

"nothing."

Jiang Wen squeezed the other person's soft palm and said with a smile, "Your hand lines are pretty good. I guess if this movie is sent abroad to participate in film festivals, you have a high chance of winning the Best Actress award."

"Hehe~~"

Ning Jing was amused by Jiang Wen's words: "Director Jiang, are you serious? Don't lie to me."

The young Ning Jing was quite pretty, and she was also plump, so her whole body trembled when she smiled.

Jiang Wen raised the corner of his mouth and was about to say something funny when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.

"Director Jiang, something bad has happened!"

Jiang Wen looked back and saw producer Er Yong running over, looking anxious and saying, "I sent a fax to Wen Jun's company, but he never replied."

Jiang Wen said nonchalantly: "If he didn't reply, then he didn't reply. Maybe he's busy trying to attract investment."

"This……"

Er Yong glanced at Jiang Wen hesitantly: "Director Jiang, a few people just came to me to resign..."

"Resign?"

Jiang Wen frowned: "What's going on? Why did someone resign out of the blue?"

"They say...they say..."

"Speak directly."

"They said the film probably wouldn't be finished and the investors would definitely run away."

Hearing this, Jiang Wen frowned, and then said domineeringly: "Then let them resign. I'm worried about having too many people. I, Jiang Wen, will never have to worry about no one investing in my movie!"

Er Yong sighed, "Okay, then I'll send a few more faxes to Hong Kong, and then see if I can contact Wen Jun by phone."

Eryong is an employee of the Bayi Film Studio. He has a good personal relationship with Jiang Wen, so he comes to work as a producer for him. However, what Eryong never expected is that Jiang Wen is so terrible at making movies.

It's been a month, and we've only completed two-tenths of the script, which is a bad thing. The most terrible thing is that the speed at which the funds are being burned is a bit scary.

The camera was filming almost all the time, but Jiang Wen was never satisfied with the results. He would often shoot a single shot dozens or even hundreds of times. Just when he had finalized it, he had to start all over again.

To be honest, in Eryong's opinion, Jiang Wen is not a qualified director. Other directors are all well-prepared. Before filming, they will go through the shots in their minds and then let the actors shoot according to their own ideas, trying to achieve the shot effect he imagined.

Jiang Wen just lets the actors perform according to the script, and then he sees whether the actors perform well.

In addition, Jiang Wen always has ideas that are beyond the plan, which leads to slow progress in the filming of the crew and the speed at which funds are consumed far exceeds the budget.

You have to know that the production budget of 100 million US dollars is the cost of shooting the entire film.

But when it came to Jiang Wen, not only was it all spent in less than a month, but only two-tenths of the film's progress was completed.

This is a bit like Hong Kong's Wang Jiawei. Eryong heard that Director Wang is also good at forcing actors and crews to spend money.

After watching the producer leave, Jiang Wen didn't care and turned around to continue entertaining Ning Jing.

As for Liu Xiaoqing, who was running around for him outside, he had long forgotten about him.

An old lover or something is naturally not as good as a new girl. After all, the old is replaced by the new.

The next morning.

Nortel.

Today is Saturday, the school is closed and students have no classes.

On the basketball court, a group of boys were playing basketball happily, and on the way to the cafeteria, they were also in groups of three or four.

Some people exercise, some people eat breakfast, and naturally some people stay in bed.

In the girls' dormitory.

Jiang Qinqin yawned and woke up from her sleep.

The weather is a bit hot and humid during this period. There is no air conditioning in the dormitory, only electric fans, which blow hot air. People who are too hot at night can't sleep well.

click-

The door opened, Jiang Qinqin looked up with sleepy eyes, and saw her roommate and classmate Xu Jinglei.

"You woke up Qinqin!"

Xu Jinglei smiled and raised the aluminum lunch box in her hand. "I brought you breakfast, dumplings. Go wash up and come over to eat."

"Wow, that's great, Sister Jinglei!"

Jiang Qinqin's eyes brightened, and she immediately stood up, picked up the washbasin, toothbrush and cup, and ran to the public sink outside to wash up.

After a while, Jiang Qinqin ran back with something, sat on the edge of the bed, and started eating breakfast with the lunch box.

Xu Jinglei said, "Eat slowly. No one is going to snatch this from you. I brought this especially for you."

Jiang Qinqin swallowed the dumplings and said, "I can't help it. I didn't eat much last night and now I'm too hungry."

"You have a good figure. There's no need to starve yourself, right?"

"I've gained two pounds."

Jiang Qinqin said distressedly while eating: "Military training is too tiring. It made me eat more at every meal. I measured my weight a few days ago and found that I didn't lose weight but gained weight instead."

Xu Jinglei covered her mouth and laughed: "Haha, it's okay, it will fall off naturally after a while."

The two were talking and laughing, when suddenly Jiang Qinqin's cell phone rang. She took it out from the bedside and immediately stood up from the bed excitedly.

With a bang, her head hit the upper bunk bed directly, and Jiang Qinqin gasped in pain.

"Are you okay, Qinqin?"

The sound was so loud that Xu Jinglei was also frightened. She hurried over to help look after the hit head.

"It's okay, it's okay... I'll take a call."

Jiang Qinqin waved her hand quickly and pressed the answer button at the same time: "Hello, Brother Yishu!"

Hearing this name, Xu Jinglei's eyes flickered.

Ye-seo? Lee Ye-seo!
"Yeah, I'm in the dormitory. Today is a holiday. Did my godmother bring me something? Okay, okay, I'll come over now."

After a few words, Jiang Qinqin hung up the phone and said to Xu Jinglei with a smile: "Sister Jinglei, I'm going to go out for a while, so I won't eat the dumplings. You can eat at noon, and I'll give you the money later."

Xu Jinglei waved her hand nonchalantly, "No need to pay, these dumplings are cheap, why don't you treat me to a meal later?"

"Okay, I'll treat you to a meal later."

Having said that, Jiang Qinqin happily pulled out the suitcase from under the bed and began looking for nice clothes.

Xu Jinglei hesitated and asked, "Qinqin, is the person who called you Director Li Yishu?"

"Yes."

Jiang Qinqin, who was busy picking clothes, said this without even turning her head.

"Then... can you take me to meet him?"

Xu Jinglei smiled and said, "I really like Director Li's movies. I've told you before that I'm a loyal fan of Director Li. I've watched all his movies released in China, and I've managed to buy videotapes of his movies shot abroad. I've also collected a lot of his magazines and newspapers."

"Okay!"

Jiang Qinqin looked back at Xu Jinglei and said with a smile, "If Brother Yishu knew that he has such a big fan like you, he would definitely be very happy."

Jiang Qinqin knew that Xu Jinglei liked Yishu. After all, they had been in military training together for so long and lived in the same dormitory. It was inevitable that they would talk about their favorite director's movies or the performances of certain actors.

During the conversation, Jiang Qinqin was pleasantly surprised to find that not only Xu Jinglei liked Li Yishu's movies, but almost all the other nine girls in the class liked Li Yishu's movies.

This made Jiang Qinqin very happy, because the more popular Li Yishu was, the more proud she felt.

"Thank you, Qinqin."

Xu Jinglei was delighted, thinking that all her efforts over the past month had not been in vain. She was finally able to meet director Li Yishu through Jiang Qinqin.

Jiang Qinqin said with a smile: "Hehe, Sister Jinglei, there's nothing to thank me for. We are the six golden flowers of Beijing Film Academy!"

"Yes, we are the six golden flowers of Beijing Film Academy!"

Xu Jinglei nodded vigorously. It seems that this nickname is really useful. She could consolidate it in the future.

The nickname of the Six Golden Flowers of Beijing Film Academy came from the time when the military training just started. Female students such as Jiang Qinqin could not stand the military posture, so the instructor complained, "Delicate golden flowers." Then, the nickname was extended to the six beautiful female students in the class by the nosy male students.

The most beautiful one must be Jiang Qinqin.

She is the most beautiful among the freshmen in the acting department this year, and she has also starred in the movie "Sword Rain" directed by a famous director.

The other five golden flowers are Xu Jinglei, Liu Zi, Liu Lin and Xie Yan, as well as a female student from Taiwan, Jia Jingwen.

As the nickname of the Six Golden Flowers of Beijing Film Academy spread, it spread throughout the campus of Beijing Film Academy. Not only did the students know about it, but many teachers had also heard of it.

Yu Feihong was only a few years older than the freshmen, and he took the initiative to half-jokingly say in class: These six golden flowers must be comparable to beautiful flowers in appearance, and their abilities must be worthy of the word "gold" in front of them.

Flowers are delicate, but golden flowers are different. They are hard and beautiful, indicating both good looks and performance skills.

(End of this chapter)