Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 217 Chapter 227 [Ugly flowers, visit the crew of "To Live"]

Beijing Film Studio.

In the factory director's office.

"Yes, on the 15th of this month. Okay, Director Xie. I'll be waiting for your visit."

After chatting with Director Xie Jin for a few words and confirming the date for the seminar, Han Sanping hung up the phone with satisfaction.

The most enthusiastic director in producing the domestic blockbuster this time is Director Xie Jin. He had wanted to make a movie on the Three Kingdoms theme for a long time. However, making an epic ancient war blockbuster like the Three Kingdoms requires more than just a little money.

And in a sense, this is more expensive than modern war scenes. First of all, there is the cost of props. For modern war scenes, you only need to find a clothing factory to easily produce tens of thousands of military uniforms.

But ancient war dramas are different. Armor, swords and guns must be made, and the production costs are much more expensive than costumes.

To make a movie about the Three Kingdoms, there are only a few battles to talk about: Hulao Pass, Guandu, and Chibi, because only these three battles can define the era of the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms.

Whether you choose the Battle of Wuzhangyuan, the Battle of Yiling, or even Guan Yu's flooding of the Seven Armies, it will be difficult to arouse the audience's emotions, because these battles involved the Shu Han group's decline from its peak, which ordinary movie fans do not like very much.

Just like the 94 version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", after the Battle of Wuzhangyuan, the ratings dropped sharply, because the popular Zhuge Kongming passed away, and the subsequent late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms also went to destruction.

dong dong——

Just as Han Sanping was writing down the list of notifications, someone knocked on the office door and Xiao Zhang, the factory director's assistant, walked in. He said respectfully, "Director Han!"

Han Sanping nodded: "Xiao Zhang, you came at the right time. I want to ask you something."

"Director, please tell me."

"Is Director Teng Wenji preparing a new movie recently?"

"Yes, Director Teng has been preparing a new movie recently. It seems that the filming was about to start, but the leading actress suddenly quit the role, and Director Teng got really angry."

Hearing this, Han Sanping said, "Xiao Zhang, go and ask Director Teng to come to my office."

"Okay, director."

After assistant Xiao Zhang left, Han Sanping touched his chin and already had an idea in his mind about how to deal with this old guy.

When Teng Wenji was still in the Xi'an Film Studio, Han Sanping, for the sake of the old director of the Xi'an Film Studio, Wang Tianming, gradually calmed down the public opinion and did not continue to pick a fight with Teng Wenji.

After Han Sanping was transferred to the Beijing Film Studio in October, he has been busy taking over the work in the studio and helping to prepare for the Three Kingdoms crew. He did not know that Teng Wenji had been transferred to the Beijing Film Studio so early.

But when he met Li Yishu the day before yesterday, he took the initiative to bring up the matter of Teng Wenji. Only then did Han Sanping know that this old guy had actually been transferred to the Beijing Film Studio.

There was no way last year as Han Sanping couldn't reach that far. But now that Teng Wenji is working under him, it's a good opportunity to settle all the new and old grudges at once.

Director's office.

Teng Wenji is looking at some actresses from the Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy and Beijing Film Studio.

He looked at these photos and information over and over again, but he was not very satisfied because none of them was prettier than Chen Hong.

This made Teng Wenji very unhappy!
Originally, Teng Wenji had planned to find a way to get in touch with Chen Hong after she arrived at the crew. With his status as a big director, wouldn't it be easy for him to control this unknown little actor?
But who knew that the other party actually quit the show!!

If she had just quit the role, Teng Wenji would not have been very angry. What really made him angry was that Chen Hong quit the role of the heroine in his own movie and went to play a supporting role for that guy Li Yishu.

Isn't this clearly saying that Teng Wenji is not comparable to Li Yishu? A female lead in a movie is not as good as the supporting actress in other people's movies!
If Chen Hong was developing in the mainland, Teng Wenji could still rely on his seniority and find ways to put pressure on the other party.

But Chen Hong signed a contract with a company in Taiwan, and is now filming a Qiong Yao drama there. She has nothing to do with the mainland circle, and she is not aiming to star in the studio's movies. No matter how powerful Teng Wenji is, he cannot control who the film and television companies in Taiwan hire.

What's more, he is not that great. He is just a man with some experience and has made a few films that were nominated or won awards overseas. If we really talk about fame, he is nothing. It can only be said that he has been in the studio for many years and has a wide network of contacts and friends in the circle.

At this time, the assistant to the director, Xiao Zhang, ran to the director's office and shouted, "Director Teng, Director Han wants you to go to his office."

Teng Wenji was stunned: "Director Han wants to talk to me about something?"

Assistant Xiao Zhang nodded: "Well, I'll ask you to go, but I don't know what it is specifically about."

Hearing this, Teng Wenji frowned, but still stood up and prepared to meet Director Han who was transferred from Emei Film Studio.

At first, when he learned that the deputy director of Emei Film Studio was coming to Beijing Film Studio to be the director, Teng Wenji was a little worried that he would be bullied. But since Han Sanping has been here for more than a month and has no intention of making things difficult for him, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Inside the office, other people looked at Teng Wenji's departing back with amusement on their faces. It looked like Teng Wenji was going to be in trouble this time.

Teng Wenji is not very popular in the Beijing Film Studio. The main reason is that last year this old guy went to the newspaper to criticize Li Yishu for no reason.

The movies that Beijing Film Studio has collaborated with Li Yishu on in the past two years have made a lot of money. Although the dividend money will not go to the directors like them, it means that the studio has enough money, which means more funds for their production.

In addition, Li Yishu has often visited the Beijing Film Studio in recent years and is acquainted with many directors. In terms of relationships and interests, he is much stronger than Teng Wenji who was transferred from the Xi'an Film Studio. Naturally, no one likes this old guy.

Teng Wenji also knew his own limitations. He didn't interact with others at the Beijing Film Studio and only asked Brother Chen Kai for help if he had any problems.

"Hey, what do you think Director Han wants to do with Teng Wenji?"

"What else can we do? We should avenge Director Li. Everyone knows that Director Han is preparing a big production of the Three Kingdoms movie. Teng Wenji is also stupid. If I had known that Director Han was going to be transferred here, I would have been transferred away in disgrace."

"That's right. Teng Wenji just can't stand seeing others do well. But do you think we can have a role in this big production of the Three Kingdoms? It would be fine if we could just be an assistant director."

"Assistant director? I'd be content if I could just be a stagehand. Don't you know who the assistant directors are this time? They're Director Xie Jin and Director Li Jun..."

"..."

While a group of people were still chatting and discussing the project of the Three Kingdoms movie, Teng Wenji also rushed to the factory director's office in a hurry.

dong dong——

After knocking on the door, Teng Wenji came in and asked cautiously, "Director Han, are you looking for me?"

"Director Teng is here. Well, I have something to talk to you about. Please sit down and talk first."

Han Sanping smiled and asked the other party to sit down. He said directly, "I heard that Director Teng is preparing a movie recently. Is it a co-production with Hong Kong?"

"Yes... yes, Director Han." Teng Wenji's heart skipped a beat.

Han Sanping said, "Well, co-production is a good thing, but I heard that Director Teng has been selecting actresses recently and has been saying that the actresses are not pretty enough. This is not good." "Director Han, please listen to my explanation. This matter..."

"Don't rush to explain."

Han Sanping waved his hand: "I know this matter has little to do with Director Teng, and the selection of actresses must be cautious."

Teng Wenji breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "That's right, Director Han. The heroine of my movie is the key, so I have to choose carefully. I had already chosen her, but she suddenly quit the role, so I had no choice but to choose someone new."

"That's what you said, but now someone is using your previous work style problems at the Xiying Studio as an excuse!"

Han Sanping said meaningfully, "The style of work also needs to be treated with caution! Director Teng, since the studio has already reached an agreement with a Hong Kong film company on a co-production, then this movie must be made, but considering the impact, you should take a break first and let someone else take charge of the movie."

"I, Director Han, you can't do this, I..."

Teng Wenji wanted to argue a little more, but was interrupted by Han Sanping, "Okay, Director Teng, I have already discussed this matter with several leaders in the factory. Let's wait until the public opinion has passed. The factory will give you another chance to direct later."

Teng Wenji's face turned red and white with anger, but he finally said with a sullen face, "I understand, Director Han."

"Well, you go back first."

Han Sanping waved his hand and let Teng Wenji go.

If it was at the Xi'an Film Studio, Han Sanping might not have been able to remove director Teng Wenji from his position so easily, but this was the Beijing Film Studio, and both he and Teng Wenji were outsiders. No one would offend an outsider director for the sake of an outsider director.

What's more, the Beijing Film Studio is about to start a big-budget movie, and all the employees in the studio are looking forward to taking part in it, so no one will come out to support Teng Wenji at this critical juncture.

Seeing Teng Wenji leave in a rage, Han Sanping also showed disdain. He knew that Teng Wenji had caused work style problems in the Xi'an Film Studio more than once or twice, but they had always been suppressed.

This time I've offended Li Yishu and ended up in his hands. How can anything good happen to me?
Han Sanping immediately picked up the phone and called Li Yishu, ready to tell him the good news.

Jinmen.

Yangcun.

Li Yishu, who was visiting the crew of "To Live", received a call from Han Sanping. After learning that Teng Wenji's director position had been taken down, she was also satisfied and said, "Uncle San, thank you very much for this."

"Haha, I wanted to deal with Teng Wenji last year, but the old director of Xiying Studio, Wang Tianming, came to plead for him, and I was only the deputy director at the time, so I couldn't help much. Now that he has fallen into my hands, I must deal with him."

At this point, Han Sanping hesitated and said, "But Yishu, this is the best I can do. After all, Teng Wenji is a director with a permanent position."

"That's enough, Uncle San."

Li Yishu didn't expect Han Sanping to fire him. After all, Teng Wenji was a regular employee, and a iron rice bowl was no joke these days!
Although Han Sanping was the director, he did not have the power to fire Teng Wenji unless he made any serious mistakes, so he could only take away his film directing rights and isolate him in the Beijing Film Studio, and he would basically have no chance to make movies in the future.

It was only because Li Yishu was not in the mainland at the time, otherwise she would have cursed him harshly in the newspaper and exposed everything that the old man had done in the Xi'an Film Studio.

To use a different phrase, Teng Wenji is an ugly man who plays with flowers. A quick check reveals that he has many problems with his work style.

It is said that this old man Teng later turned a female actress into a "water fountain". It is not known whether it was Li Yishu or not, but since there are such rumors, it means that Teng Wenji is more or less good at using unspoken rules.

Now that quite a bit of time has passed since last year's newspaper war of words, it is not easy for Li Yishu to target Teng Wenji openly, but there is no problem in letting Han Sanping suppress him quietly at the Beijing Film Studio.

A philandering director cannot use filming as an excuse to take advantage of hidden rules and can only work in the studio and wait for his salary, which is probably more painful than killing him.

However, when private companies come to produce movies, this old guy might be able to direct a few movies. But when the era of private companies really comes, Li Yishu has many ways to target him. After all, it is difficult to kill him since he is within the system.

Han Sanping on the other end smiled and said, "By the way, Yishu, I have already contacted Director Xie Jin and the others. The higher-ups are paying great attention to this three-nation symposium. Not only will leaders from the Radio, Film and Television Bureau come, but I heard that leaders from the Propaganda Department will also be coming. You must seize this opportunity when the time comes."

Such a big deal?!

Li Yishu didn't expect that all the leaders of the publicity department would come, but when she thought about it, it made sense. "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" itself is one of the four great classic novels of China. It is not only well-known in Asia, but many people in Europe and the United States have also read the English version.

Nowadays, making a domestic blockbuster movie on the theme of the Three Kingdoms is not only a breakthrough in the film industry, but also a breakthrough in publicity.

From the perspective of the publicity department, the reason why the application for this year's Olympics was not successfully approved was not only because of bad luck, but also because of the failure to showcase Eastern culture.

This time we can make a big-budget movie to promote Chinese history and culture, and the next time we apply, we may be able to successfully get it.

"Okay, Uncle San, I'll rush back as soon as I'm done here."

After chatting for a few more sentences, Li Yishu hung up the phone. He felt more solemn and serious about "Red Cliff of Three Kingdoms". Before, he only regarded this movie as a clarion call for future domestic commercial blockbusters.

But judging from this trend now, I'm afraid it's not just about the movie.

The crew of "To Live".

Gong Li, who learned that Lee Yi-su was coming to visit the set, also ran to the door of the crew to greet her.

"Sister Gong Li."

As soon as she got off the car, Li Yishu saw Gong Li dressed as a peasant woman and said with a smile, "You've gone around and around and ended up playing this kind of role again."

"I can't help it. Director Zhang asked me to play this kind of role. But the script is really well written. I continued to play the role just for the role of Jiazhen."

Gong Li shook her head helplessly.

She actually didn't want to take on this role at first, but after reading the original novel, she was attracted by the hardworking, kind and virtuous Jiazhen, and finally agreed to continue acting.

After finally changing his acting style through "Sword Rain", he went on to star in the Hong Kong martial arts film "The Fairy of Tianshan" and collaborated with Zhou Xingchi in the nonsensical comedy "A Chinese Odyssey: Part One", no longer focusing on rural themes as in the past. Who would have thought that he would come back again.

"It's pretty good. I've read the original novel of To Live. It was written by Yu Xiao... Yu Hua. It's really good."

Li Yishu quickly changed her words and addressed him differently.

I almost called out Yu Hua’s future nickname “Sloppy Puppy”, and I don’t know if Yu Hua is that sloppy now.

"Then you came at the right time today."

Gong Li smiled and said, "Director Zhang is chatting with Yu Hua inside."

　Thanks to Shenqiangbawang, book friend 20200214082012684, and Wuyanshenghuo for their rewards. Thank you all for your support and monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)