Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 331 342 [Pushing Daddy to Become Deputy Factory, Formosa Bamboo Union Wu Dun]

Calligraphy Art Center!

"I think it's better to change the name to Qingyi."

Li Yishu looked at Qingxia with a smile: "Shuyi is a good name, but it won't work if it's just me and not you."

"Then I'll listen to you. But Qingyi doesn't sound good. It's better to call him Qingshu."

Qingxia raised the corners of her mouth, as if she was very pleased with his words.

"What a great name!"

Li Yishu nodded and said, "According to the ancient theory of the Five Elements, blue is the color of the East and also the color of bamboo. Writing is like this, writing on bamboo or silk, not just writing with a pen. Writing on bamboo or silk is called blue writing..."

Looking at him shaking his head, Qingxia leaned her elbows on the table, supported her chin with her palms, and just stared at him blankly, her eyes full of love.

"what happened?"

Li Yishu noticed her movements and asked with a curious smile, "Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Qingxia smiled and said, "No, I just think you are amazing. You know a little bit about everything. You can express so many profound truths with just one name."

"Haha, what's the point of this? There is no allusion or rhetoric. It's just nitpicking and forcing."

Li Yishu smiled happily. He felt very happy about Qingxia's silly and admiring look.

Men are like this, they always feel good when they show off in front of women.

Besides, he is already a second-generation man and his mental age is almost forty, so he prefers to tinker with this kind of sour, pretentious, half-literary, specious, and forced "literature".

To put it bluntly, it has a bit of a "daddy flavor".

It’s just that now that Li Yishu has been reborn, she is young in body, successful in career, and naturally her mentality is developing more like that of a young person.

"That's pretty impressive too. If you force me to say something good, I won't be able to get anything good out of you."

Qingxia smiled and said, "Come to think of it, during this time back in Taiwan, besides taking care of Tuantuan, I also occasionally read books. I always felt that I couldn't finish reading before, but after having a child, I found that it didn't seem that difficult."

Li Yishu said, "You have dyslexia. If you really can't read, just listen to the book. If there is a book you like, find someone to record it."

"Forget it, that's too much trouble." Qingxia shook her head: "Just take your time, anyway, I'm retired now, and besides taking care of the kids, I have plenty of time to read."

"If you feel bored at home, why don't you wait for two years until you grow up and become a producer or director?"

"I don't have the talent to be a director, but I'm fine now. I drink tea every day, take care of the kids, and go shopping with friends occasionally."

The two of them were chatting and laughing.

"Wow wow-"

Suddenly, the sound of a child crying was heard in the house.

"Tuan Tuan is awake, I'm going to go see him!"

After Qingxia said this, she hurriedly got up and walked into the house.

"Well, it turns out that the older child is still the most important thing now."

Li Yishu shook her head helplessly, then stood up and went to see her eldest son.

the next day.

1995 1 Month 1 Day.

That day was New Year's Day. The Li and Lin families had a delicious 100-day banquet for little Li Bangguo in the house which was officially renamed "Qingshu Jingshe".

Li Jian was very happy with his eldest grandson. After arriving in Taiwan, he went to a gold shop with Zhao Xue. He not only bought a gold lock and a gold bracelet for the child, but also bought a set of gold jewelry for Qingxia.

The previous trip to the United States was too hasty and neither of them was prepared. This time, they just took advantage of this day to get everything ready.

After New Year's Day, Li Jian left in a hurry the next day, not to return to his hometown in Sichuan, but to return to the expedition team.

This time, Li Jian came with the Emei Film Studio inspection team. The target of the inspection was Qiu Fusheng's Era Film Company, to learn about Taiwan's commercial films.

Of course, this was just one of the reasons why Li Yishu helped arrange it so that her father Li Jian would have an excuse to come to Taiwan.

"The Fugitive", which was released in November 1994, has grossed over 11 million RMB, becoming the highest-grossing film in mainland China. It is also the first film to be registered with a clear total box office since the reform of the box office system.

Since the release of this movie, it has put a terrible dent in the performance of other domestic films of the same period, especially the feature film "Wu Kui" released by Xi'an Film Studio in December. The style of this movie is somewhat similar to "Red Sorghum" and it was adapted from Jia Pingwa's novel of the same name.

The male lead is "Zhao Gao", who gradually rises to the top in the future, but the total box office of the movie is only a dismal one million.

Fortunately, it was Formosa Film Company that invested the bulk of the money, otherwise the leaders of Xi'an Film Studio would have cried their hearts out.

The box office is over one million, after deducting the distribution fee of the theater and the tax, it is estimated that only a few hundred thousand are left. This still has to be shared with the investors from Taiwan. After working hard for a year, the profit may be less than 100,000 yuan?
I didn’t even make back my original capital!

Director Huang Jianxin was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

The million-dollar box office issue caused a sensation in the circle. Although the box office system was not adopted in the past, but the number of moviegoers was used, the box office data could still be roughly calculated through movie tickets and the number of moviegoers.

After its release, the box office only reached over one million. This can be said to be the first time that this has happened since the development of domestic films!
Today, commercial films are all the rage, and after major reforms in production, distribution and other aspects, coupled with this million-dollar box office event, major studios have adopted new production ideas.

From a market that used to focus on art films, it has gradually developed towards commercial films.

It is precisely because of this incident that major film studios in the mainland have become more cautious about making movies. The era of self-financing has arrived. It is no longer possible to be like before, where whoever has more seniority is qualified to get money to make movies.

It's okay if it's one or two films, but if there are more, the studio will have to close down and declare bankruptcy.

So after Li Yishu sent an invitation to Emei Film Studio through Qiu Fusheng, the other party responded immediately. The director personally led the team and brought more than a dozen people, including producers, directors, supervisors, screenwriters and other important positions in the film organization.

Two days passed.

"Okay, I got it. I'll be there now."

Inside the house, Li Yishu put down the phone, looked up at Qingxia and others who were talking, and said, "I have to go out for something."

Mother Zhao Xue said angrily, "Where are you going again? You've been running around all year, and it's rare to see anyone these few days. Why don't you stay home and spend some time with Qingxia?"

"It's Dad who's looking for me."

Li Yishu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "They said a film company approached them and wanted to cooperate with our Emei Studio. They asked me to go over and take a look. Besides, I also wanted Sister Qingxia to drive me over."

"Go ahead, go ahead. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back."

When she heard that it was about the factory, Zhao Xue waved her hands.

"Then we'll leave first. We may not come back for dinner tonight."

Li Yishu went over and kissed her eldest son, then took Qingxia out the door.

In the car.

Li Yishu asked, "Sister Qingxia, do you know Changhong Film and Television Company?"

"Changhong Films?" Qingxia frowned and said while driving: "I don't seem to have any impression."

"It is said that the movie 'Tornado' released this year was produced by this company."

"I'm not sure. I haven't been in Taiwan for more than a year."

“That might be a new company that opened this year.”

Li Yishu nodded. He mainly wanted to ask whether this company had any background in organized crime.

Just now on the phone, my father Li Jian mentioned that this company filmed "The Young Master" and "Oolong Courtyard" this year, as well as "Chinese Dragon" which was released yesterday on New Year's Day. The male lead is Kim Sung-oh, and there are also fat Shao Wen and thin Xiaolong.

Of these movies, the ones that left the deepest impression on Li Yishu are "The Young Master" and "Abbot of Shaolin Temple". These two movies completely gave rise to films with the theme of child kung fu stars. Bruce Lee and Xie Miao were the child kung fu stars who emerged during this period. They are considered the pioneering works of the "Home Alone" type in China.

In her previous life, when filming online movies, Li Yishu had worked with these two child stars, but at that time, their fame was no longer as great as it is now.

It is said that during Bruce Lee's peak period, his salary was as high as several million Hong Kong dollars, simply because almost every movie he participated in was a big hit.

With a pay of several million, he is comparable to that of first-tier male stars.

More than half an hour later.

A large local hotel in Taipei.

Qingxia asked, "How about I wait for you in the car?"

"No need. I don't know when we'll end the conversation. You can go back first. I can take a taxi back by myself when the time comes."

Li Yishu shook her head. Qingxia has retired from the film industry and rarely appears in the eyes of people in the circle. What's more, Changhong Film and Television is a local film company in Taiwan. Seeing the two of them coming together, who knows if they will talk nonsense outside.

"it is good!"

"Kiss me!"

Qingxia smiled, moved closer, and was about to kiss him on the face, but Li Yishu hugged Qingxia and kissed her hard.

Qingxia rolled her eyes at him charmingly: "Hate it, your lipstick is all ruined."

"Hehe, get me a piece of paper."

Li Yishu took the paper, wiped her mouth, said "let's go", and got out of the car and left.

Watching his departing back, Qingxia shook her head with amusement, turned the key, started the engine, stepped on the accelerator and drove away.

Ten minutes later.

There is a small meeting room provided by the hotel.

Li Yishu's arrival naturally attracted the attention of both parties.

After he greeted his father Li Jian and the uncles and aunts from Emei Factory, he heard the director of Emei Factory say, "Yishu, let me introduce you. This is Wu Dun, the general manager of Changhong Film and Television!"

Wu Dun?

This name...

Li Yishu looked at the middle-aged man walking over. He was a little fat, with small eyes. He walked over with a smile, his eyes narrowed into slits.

Wu Dun extended his hand enthusiastically and said, "Hello, Director Li, hello. I have heard of you for a long time. I just heard from Director Chen that you are also in Taiwan. I really want to meet Director Li, so I can only ask Director Chen to help introduce me. I am really sorry to bother Director Li!"

"Mr. Wu, you're welcome."

Li Yishu smiled politely, shook hands with the other party and said, "I just happened to be free, so I came to visit."

"Haha, just don't disturb Director Li."

Wu Dun could sense that the other party was not very enthusiastic, but he did not care much. Instead, he introduced several people around him more enthusiastically, and finally introduced the pillar of their company: "Director Li, this is our company's director Zhu Yanping."

Zhu Yanping held Li Yishu's hand with both hands and said excitedly, "Hello, Director Li, hello. I'm Zhu Yanping. Nice to meet you!"

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Hello Director Zhu, I have seen your film "The Young Master", which is no less than the American film "Home Alone". It can be said to be our domestic version!"

"No, no, Director Li is over praising me. This movie is not as good as Home Alone."

Zhu Yanping spoke modestly, but even AK could hardly suppress his smile, he was so happy.

Lee Yi-shu is one of the few world-class directors who is able to handle both art films and commercial films.

He was very happy that this big shot not only watched the movie he made, but also compared it to the American movie "Home Alone".

You have to know that the "Home Alone" trilogy not only sold over a billion dollars at the global box office, but also created a new "child star" commercial theme.

Exchanging pleasantries.

The two groups began to take their seats one after another.

Director Chen sat next to Li Yishu and said, "Yishu, please come over here."

"You're too polite, Director. Although I'm not a formal employee of our Emei Factory, I'm still a non-staff member after all."

"Haha, that's right. You are indeed a non-staff member of our Emei Factory. If you want, you can become a staff member. I can arrange for you to join the company and you will have absolute autonomy."

Li Yishu glanced at his father who was three seats away from him and said with a smile, "Forget it, Director. He won't take up a position in the factory. But my father is getting old now. He may not be able to keep up with the filming. If there is a chance, transfer my father to a management position so that he can continue to contribute to our factory."

"no problem!"

Without even thinking about it, Director Chen nodded and agreed: "Originally, our factory team was planning to hold a meeting at the end of the year to discuss the factory's job transfer situation. The plan is to start at the beginning of next year. Your father, Li Jian, is one of them. So, I will talk to the committee later. Your father has been an old man in our Emei Factory for decades and has rich work experience. Let's see if he can be promoted directly to deputy director."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "Thank you, Director Chen."

He had thought before that when he had the chance to return to Emei Factory, he would talk to the factory director and committee members alone. Now that he had the opportunity, it would be good to talk about it in advance.

After chatting for a few more sentences, Wu Dun, the general manager of Changhong Film and Television Company, began to talk about their plan to cooperate with Emei Factory this time.

Thanks to the huge sales of several Kung Fu child star movies shot by Zhu Yanping, Changhong Film and Television tasted the sweetness and naturally wanted to delve deeper into this area.

However, if a series of similar movies continue to be made, the audience may become bored.

So after learning that the mainland Emei Film Studio was coming to Taiwan for inspection, Wu Dun discussed it with Zhu Yanping and felt that it would be entirely possible to cooperate with the mainland studio in producing the film, shoot the scene in mainland China, and make the plot more meaningful.

"Director Chen, Director Li, we discussed this a while ago and wanted to see if we could make a film about protecting national treasures..."

Zhu Yanping talked about the general content of the script he had been thinking about in the past few days.

As she listened, Li Yishu felt that it was very similar to the movie "Dragon in Shaolin" that Bruce Lee later filmed, except that the location was changed from Henan to Sichuan, and the stolen Buddha head became a national treasure that has not yet been unearthed in the Lingyun Cave of the Leshan Giant Buddha.

There is no problem with the plot of the movie, and it has two of today's most famous child stars, Bruce Lee and Shao Wen, as the male and female protagonists. I can't say that it will be a big hit at the box office, but it will definitely make money.

The only troublemaker is the boss of Changhong Film and Television Company, Wu Dun of Bamboo Union.

(End of this chapter)