Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 336 347 [Gong Li's cultural career, leaving the group early due to some matters]

Li Yishu asked, "Director Xing, how much money do you need?"

"This one……"

Xing Dan was a little embarrassed to say it out loud. The Liaoning Film Studio itself was not very profitable. Not many films had been made in recent years, and the number of co-productions was even fewer. If they wanted to make a good movie on the theme of Empress Xiao of Liao, the funds required were not a small amount, and their studio was facing a big gap now.

"How about this, Director Xing, I have an idea."

Seeing the other party hesitating, Li Yishu knew that it was probably not about how much money was lacking, but how much money was needed.

The filming of a historical film, especially one on the rare Liao Dynasty, will cost several million dollars. After all, the costumes and props have to be remade, unlike the Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, where costumes and props could be borrowed from other places.

Xing Dan quickly said, "Director Li, please tell me. As long as it can make a good movie, I can agree to it."

"Your factory is currently short of funds. My company can provide some, but considering the current domestic film market, I think Director Xing should be very clear that it will be difficult to make a profit, so we can only look to the overseas market."

Li Yishu paused and continued, "I want to make it a co-production. Your company will provide part of the funds, and our company will be responsible for the bulk. However, our company will choose the main actors who can have a certain influence overseas."

"So what does Director Li mean?"

"Please invite Gong Li to act!"

Li Yishu smiled and said, "The most famous actress in China now is Gong Li. She is well-known overseas. If the movie is well made, it won't be a problem to make a profit, not to mention a return on investment."

Hearing this, Xing Dan was delighted: "No problem, it would be great if Miss Gong Li could play the role! Miss Gong Li has good acting skills. She also performed very well in the film "Sword Rain" directed by Director Li. There will be no problem for her to play the role of Xiao Yanyan."

Li Yishu was not surprised by Deputy Director Xing's joy. Gong Li is now the undisputed number one actress in mainland China. Many of her films have been nominated for the three major European awards, and she also won the Venice Film Festival Best Actress award for "Qiu Ju Goes to Court."

In addition, Gong Li's own image is suitable for playing this kind of domineering queen role, so she is the best candidate.

Li Yishu said, "Then invite Ms. Gong Li to play the role. Director Xing can focus on Gong Li in the script. Since we are filming Xiao Yanyan, we should focus on her talent and gifts in politics and military affairs."

"No problem, Director Li, I will find someone to start writing the script when I get back." Xing Dan was very excited. She originally just wanted to come here to attract some investment, but she didn't expect that not only would she get investment, but she would also be able to let Gong Li play the role of Xiao Yanyan.

Once the movie is successful, their Liaoning Film Studio may be able to take this opportunity to regain its glory.

You have to know that in the 1950s and 1960s, the economy of the three northeastern provinces ranked first in the country. Relying on the prosperous local economy, the Liaoning Film Studio shot more and more films every year. However, after the 1980s, the domestic film market changed rapidly, and Hong Kong films were introduced into the country through videotapes.

The traditional production model is outdated, and boring plots have long failed to satisfy the audience. In recent years, the box office hits, apart from the red-themed films with indicators, are mainly co-productions with Hong Kong Island.

"Don't be in a hurry, Director Xing. The script needs to be carefully crafted. I will also start filming Red Cliff of the Three Kingdoms soon. If there are horse battle scenes, you can plan them in advance and shoot them with our crew."

"Really? Thank you so much, Director Li."

Xing Dan was deeply moved. She knew how big a project "Red Cliff of the Three Kingdoms" that Li Yishu mentioned was. An investment of 500 million RMB was a huge investment not only in China but also in the world.

One can imagine how exciting the circus of the Battle of Red Cliffs was. Now they can actually join in on the fun, so they are naturally very happy.

Li Yishu did all this not for Liaoning Film Studio, but mainly for Gong Li. He had promised her that he would make a costume film with a strong female theme for her, but he still has a lot of production plans on hand.

This year and next year it will be "Red Cliff of the Three Kingdoms", and in the second half of next year it will be "Rush Hour" co-starring with Jackie Chan and Yang Shoucheng.

There was no time in 1995 and 1996, and it would be too late to wait until 1997, so it would be better to arrange a historical role for Gong Li as a leading female character.

Empress Xiao of Liao was still very powerful. To some extent, she was more powerful than Empress Dowager Lu Zhi, because Empress Xiao had participated in wars seriously and defeated the Song army several times.

Li Yishu said, "The New Year is coming soon. After the New Year, I will arrange for someone to come and discuss cooperation with Liaoning Film Studio. What do you think, Director Xing?"

"Okay, okay. I'll listen to Director Li."

Xing Dan nodded rapidly. She would probably agree to whatever Li Yishu said at this moment.

Send Xing Dan away.

Li Yishu took out her cell phone and called Gong Li who was far away in her hometown in Shandong.

"Empress Dowager Xiao?" After Gong Li answered the call, she naturally would not refuse Li Yishu's invitation to film a movie, but she was surprised that she would play the role of Empress Dowager Xiao.

"Yes, I was filming in Northeast China. The deputy director of Liaoning Film Studio came to me..."

After briefly explaining the process, Gong Li hesitated and said, "You are not the director, so what is the point of me filming this movie?"

"Haha, I can be the producer. Besides, I will definitely ask Liaoning Film Studio to find an experienced director to shoot this movie. Some war scenes will also be filmed together with my Three Kingdoms: Red Cliff. Didn't you say you would also come to make a cameo appearance in my Three Kingdoms? It's just in time for me!"

"Okay, I'll take the role, but you have to attend the opening ceremony of our Gong Li Cultural Exhibition Center in March."

Li Yishu asked in surprise: "Is the cultural center ready?"

"Well, it's basically done." Gong Li on the other end of the phone said with a smile: "The city attaches great importance to this cultural exhibition center and hopes that I can invite some celebrities to participate. You are also the boss of the cultural center, how can you not come!"

After finishing filming "Raise the Red Lantern" with Zhang Yimou at the end of last year, Gong Li returned to continue to work on her Gong Li Cultural Exhibition Center.

Speaking of which, Gong Li Cultural Exhibition Center can now be said to be one of the most famous places in Jinan.

Not to mention the old train in Jinan with German architectural style, in the past two years alone, Gong Li has invested nearly 10 million yuan in the land around the exhibition center to build more than a dozen buildings, from libraries to shadow puppet performance halls, as well as the local Lu Opera Theater, which is like a cultural center.

Gong Li is also full of confidence in this undertaking and is determined to turn the cultural exhibition center that bears her name into the most culturally and humanistic attraction in Jinan and even Shandong.

When Gong Li first said she wanted to do this, Li Yishu was very surprised, but it was normal when she thought about it. The land of the old Jinan railway station was sold directly to Li Yishu by the Jinan government. Although there was a period of use, ninety-nine years was basically nothing.

After the train station was transformed into a cultural exhibition center, Li Yishu didn't pay much attention to it. Since Gong Li had the idea and confidence, he simply let her take charge.

"No problem. What date in March?"

"The specific date has not been finalized yet. We will wait and see after the Chinese New Year, but I plan to hold it on March 3 because that day is the spring equinox. Spring represents vitality. I hope our Gongli Cultural Exhibition Center can continue to prosper."

"Okay! I'll definitely go then."

Li Yishu agreed immediately and said that he would definitely be free on March 3st.

The post-production work of Chicago has been completed. Harvey planned to register for this year's Academy Awards and wanted to enjoy the sweetness of winning an Oscar, so he wanted to show the film in Los Angeles for a few days last December. The purpose was to register for this year's Academy Awards, and once it won one or two awards, it could be fully released in North America.

This operation method is not original to Harvey. Many American art films use this routine.

However, Li Yishu is not optimistic about Harvey's move, because "Forrest Gump", which was released last year, was too politically correct.

The quality of "Chicago" is definitely not bad, but the director is a foreigner named Lee Yi-su. Even though the Oscar judges, a bunch of old white men, have always missed the Hollywood of the musical era, there is a high probability that they will not give an award to a foreigner like him.

Harvey also felt that there was nothing wrong with Li Yishu's inference, so he had to put the movie on hold and planned to release it in December this year.

But Li Yishu doesn't think so. Since it has been produced, there is no reason not to release it.

The United States hasn't produced a decent musical for many years. Now that a musical like "Chicago" has been released, which captures the decadence and decadence of that era, there will definitely be a bunch of old white men who are delighted.

What's more, the hot favorite for this year's Oscar winner is Tom Hanks. Once he wins the award, it will naturally boost the box office of "Chicago".

After some discussion, Li Yishu asked Amy and Harvey to finalize the spring schedule in the United States, March 3st after the Oscars, six days later than the Oscars, and on Friday.

The reason for the six-day delay is that if Tom Hanks wins the award, he can use these six days to advertise across the United States. If he does not win the award, he will have to use the backup plan, which is to promote the musical itself.

Hang up the phone with Gong Li.

Li Yishu was about to go out when Yu Feihong walked in and said in a hoarse voice, "Yishu!"

The filming progress of "Black Coal, Thin Ice" was very fast. It started on January 1th and was completed in a little over half a month, which exceeded the twenty days originally planned by Li Yishu.

Li Yishu noticed that Yu Feihong's eyes were red, as if she had been crying, and asked in surprise, "What's wrong, Feihong?"

"I just talked to my mother on the phone, and she said that my grandmother's health has been getting worse since the beginning of winter this year, and she may not survive this winter."

As Yu Feihong spoke, he could no longer hold back his tears.

Li Yishu was stunned for a moment, then he walked forward and hugged Yu Feihong. It was useless to say more at this time. Since Yu Feihong's mother called, it meant that the old lady was most likely at the end of her life.

"I'll have someone book a flight for tomorrow morning. I'll go back with you to see grandma."

Li Yishu recalled that she accompanied Yu Feihong to Yuhang to see her grandmother last year. Although she looked haggard at that time, she was still in good health. She didn't expect that she would be unable to survive such a short time.

Hearing this, Yu Feihong raised his head and sobbed, "What about the crew?"

"It's okay. It's the final scene anyway. It only involves Senior Brother. Just let Old Zhao direct it. Your grandmother is not in good health. As her future grandson-in-law, I will definitely go to visit her."

Li Yishu touched her hair.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

Yu Feihong also hurriedly came out of his arms, tidied up his messy hair, and said, "I'll go book a plane ticket!"

"Yeah." Li Yishu nodded, and then Yu Feihong opened the door and walked out. Zhao Fei walked in from outside: "Director Li, the crew has packed up, how do you plan to perform tomorrow?"

Li Yishu got straight to the point: "Old Zhao, Feihong and I have something to do tomorrow so we have to leave first. You and Director Huang will direct the last scene tomorrow. Is that okay?"

Zhao Fei was stunned for a few seconds, then nodded: "It's okay, Director Li, it's the last scene anyway, if you and Teacher Yu have anything to do, just leave first."

"Okay, I'll leave it to you. After the filming is finished, treat everyone to a good meal. Chinese New Year is coming soon, so give each member of the crew a red envelope. You can discuss the specific amount with the producer."

"Okay Director Li, I know."

"Well, thank you for your help." Li Yishu patted his shoulder and said, "If you have plans to make a movie in the first half of the year, talk to Yongmei. I have already told her that for productions under 5 million, you can do whatever you want."

"Thank you, Director Li." Zhao Fei's face lit up with joy. He had been a photographer for so many years, so naturally he had a dream of becoming a director.

Li Yishu knew about his dream a long time ago and had promised to give him the opportunity to be a director.

Photographers who transform themselves into directors often achieve remarkable results.

Zhang Yimou was originally a photographer and had worked as a photographer for Chen Kai, as well as Gu Changwei, who had a very bad relationship with him. He also transformed from a gold medal photographer to a director. The films he shot later were not that good, but at least they won several foreign awards.

It just so happened that Li Yishu had almost no production plans in the first half of this year, so Zhao Fei was asked to try to direct a movie himself. If successful, he might not become the second Zhang Yimou, but he might become the second Gu Changwei.

The next morning.

Li Yishu and Yu Feihong left the hotel early and headed straight to Shenyang Taoxian International Airport.

That afternoon, they arrived at Hangzhou Jianqiao Airport from the northeast.

"Feihong, Director Li."

The person who came to pick him up at the airport was Yu Feihong's eldest cousin Qian Jiahao, who had met Li Yishu last year.

Yu Feihong quickly asked, "Cousin, how is grandma?"

Qian Jiahao hesitated for a moment and said, "In the early hours of yesterday morning, grandma's condition suddenly worsened. The hospital said she might not survive this New Year's Eve."

Hearing this, Yu Feihong could no longer control his tears and they flowed down.

"Let's go and see grandma first."

Li Yishu patted Yu Feihong on the shoulder, and then, under the guidance of his eldest cousin, he got in the car and drove straight to the First People's Hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, the two went in to visit their grandmother. She was a little confused at this time, and she looked much thinner than last year.

"Feihong is here."

Perhaps knowing that his granddaughter was here, the old man opened his eyes and saw that Li Yishu was also here. He happily held their hands and said, "All right, all right."

(End of this chapter)