Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 50 [It's time to get some foreign wool] Please read
If Lee Yi-su remembers correctly, "Love Letter" should have been released around 95-96. I'm not sure how much the box office was, but since it had a wide influence in Japan, it should have made some box office. At least breaking even would not be a problem.

But what Li Yishu values ​​more is actually publishing books.

Japanese writers still get a very high share of the profits from publishing books. For works by Golden Lion Award-winning directors like Li Yishu, they either follow the highest standards in the industry or negotiate a price that satisfies both parties.

But no matter which kind of profit sharing it is, it can bring Li Yishu a lot of royalties.

Yoshio Murakami immediately asked, "What type of production is this?"

"It should be pure love, right?" There seems to be no concept of pure love now. If Li Yishu brings it up, then he can also be regarded as the originator.

"Pure love?"

As expected, the three people, including Murakami Yoshio, all had puzzled looks on their faces.

"It's a kind of love movie. I wrote a love novel before, which has been published in a weekly magazine in China. If you are interested, you can ask someone to buy it and read it. If you think it's okay, then we can make this movie."

Li Yishu smiled and did not explain in detail what pure love meant. After reading the novel, you will probably understand. Moreover, on the eve of the movie's release, the first pure love movie will be released, which will probably attract a wave of attention and box office.

Japanese love movies are still very popular. Murakami Yoshio thought it was just another literary work, but he didn't expect Lee Yi-su to make a love movie. He was naturally overjoyed and said:

"Director Li, I just said that no matter what the subject matter is, we at Dongbao are willing to invest. I just don't know when Director Li will be free to shoot this movie?"

when?
That’s probably too early. We’ll probably have to wait until next year to finish filming the two movies.

However, Li Yishu thought about how difficult it would be to shoot a romance film, and he had seen the original version. In addition, Zhang Guorong and others would need half a year of training, so Farewell My Concubine would not start shooting until March or April next year at the latest.

There is still about half a year left.

At this point in time, it would be a bit difficult for Li Yishu to continue attending classes at the Beijing Film Academy.

I have been away from school for decades. It’s okay to go to school for one or two months, just to reminisce about my student days, but attending classes for too long is really torture.

After thinking for a moment, Li Yishu said, "How about next month?"

Winter is coming soon, and "Love Letter" was filmed in winter.

Lee Yi-su still remembers the scene where the female lead, Miho Nakayama, looked up in the snow.

"next month?!"

Several people were stunned, but Murakami Yoshio was very decisive: "No problem Director Li, whether it is actors or crew, we at Dongbao can help you arrange it in the first time."

Toho Co., Ltd. is one of the leading film companies in Japan with extensive experience in film production and all of its relevant staff are experienced veterans.

Not to mention starting it up next month, even starting it up a week later would not be a problem.

"Okay, then we'll start filming next month. I'll write the script in the next few days and try to finish filming within a month."

Li Yishu said to Ichiro Tanaka beside him, "Mr. Tanaka, please arrange for someone to go to China to buy a copy of Moeger magazine, and then find a professional publishing house to help me publish this book in Japan. This can also be regarded as warming up for the movie."

Ichiro Tanaka quickly agreed: "No problem, Mr. Li."

"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Tanaka."

Li Yishu smiled.

The plot of Love Letter is not complicated, and it does not require too many actors and locations, so it is more than enough to complete the filming within a month.

The only problem was the editing, but he had already decided to take the negatives to Yanjing for post-editing.

Besides, it’s only mid-October now, and filming will start next month, either in the middle or at the end of the month.

But it will most likely be at the end of the month, and the filming will be completed in December. We will return to China in January for editing, and finish it before the filming of Farewell My Concubine starts. The subsequent music, dubbing, etc. will be left to Toho Company.

On the night of November 10th.

Toho Film Company held a grand premiere event in front of the largest cinema in Tokyo, inviting many reporters as well as many Japanese film critics, directors and artists.

The scene was still full of stars, but Lee Yi-su didn't know many Japanese actors, but she knew quite a few singers.

But unfortunately, most of the people here today are movie actors. The most familiar face, apart from Suzuki Honami, who became famous in China for her role in "Tokyo Love Story", is probably the expressionless man Takeshi Kitano.

He was the host of the premiere tonight, and he was smiling and welcoming the guests with a microphone. As he hadn't had a car accident yet, his face was quite lively. After the lively opening event, everyone entered the theater one after another.

As guests, reporters, film critics and a small number of audience members who had purchased tickets for the premiere arrived one after another, Takeshi Kitano was the first to go on stage.

Amid the grand introduction, Li Yishu made a brilliant appearance with Izumi Sakai and Ichiro Tanaka.

Kitano Takeshi: "Director Li, can you tell us why you wanted to make this movie?"

"This movie is adapted from a short story by Mr. Peng Jianming, a very good writer in China. When I read this story, I was deeply touched..."

"Mr. Tanaka, how did you choose this film at the Venice Film Festival?"

"It's all Supervisor Li's talent..."

"..."

After a long chat, Ichiro Tanaka suddenly said, "We at Dongbao Company have already reached a verbal cooperation agreement with Director Li, and we intend to adapt a romantic novel written by Director Li. We have been casting recently, and we welcome all artists to audition and sign up..."

Izumi Sakai helped with the translation. Li Yishu frowned. He hadn't finalized the cooperation with Toho Company yet. He was very unhappy with the other party's behavior, but it was only natural for him to take advantage of it.

Kitano Takeshi is not only an excellent actor and director, but also a comedian. When he heard Tanaka Ichiro's words that were out of the script, he immediately became funny: "Director Li, what role do you think is suitable for me?"

Li Yishu looked at Kitano Takeshi, who looked fierce, and said with a smile, "Murderer."

"Hahaha--"

With Ichiro Tanaka translating, the audience burst into laughter.

Kitano Takeshi also scratched his head and pretended to be embarrassed, "Thank you for the compliment, Director Li."

"Hahaha--"

Laughed again.

Li Yishu didn't know what to laugh at first, but after hearing Izumi Sakai's translation, she began to realize how funny Kitano Takeshi was.

No wonder Takeshi Kitano is known as the deadpan comedian in the Japanese comedy world. With this fierce face, he can still make jokes in a serious manner. He is indeed gifted in comedy.

"Okay, dear audience friends, let's enjoy the movie "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog"!"

As Kitano Takeshi finished speaking, everyone left the stage one after another and the movie began to show.

The group returned to the backstage.

Li Yishu took the initiative to extend her hand and said, "Mr. Kitano Takeshi, I have seen your film "The Violent Man". You have great acting and directing talent. We can work together if there is a chance."

"Of course, Director Li, I'm looking forward to working with you." Kitano Takeshi's eyes lit up.

After his directorial debut in 89, he made two more films in the past two years, but overall they were just okay.

After all, he had not yet shot the films that would make him famous in the future, so Takeshi Kitano naturally hoped to work with a director like Lee Yi-su who had won a European award.

Li Yishu smiled and said, “Definitely!”

Lee Yi-su really likes the other party's film "Fireworks", which won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival. It would be a shame if she didn't direct it herself.

He can't always take advantage of domestic films. There are still many excellent foreign films that are worth taking advantage of.

Moreover, Takeshi Kitano is really talented. Whether he was a comedian, an actor, or even later as a director and actor, he has achieved heights in almost every field that ordinary people would find difficult to achieve in their lifetime.

You can make some good photos by making some money.

Unlike poet Chen...

Forget it, I won't fleece him anymore, and there's nothing worth fleecing anymore.

　Please continue reading, please vote for me, please collect me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)