Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 57 057 [Want to cooperate with Christopher Doyle, Director Chen's new film "Tree"? ]

on the plane.

"Gu Changwei suddenly changed his mind, and Director Zhang went to look for him, but Gu Changwei said he had already made an appointment with Chen Kai. He originally thought Chen Kai would not return to China until next year, but who would have thought that he would have plans for a new film when he returned recently."

Gong Li said angrily: "I think he did it on purpose. If he really had made an appointment earlier, he should have told Director Zhang first. That way, even if Chen Kai suddenly came back to shoot a new movie, we wouldn't blame him."

Li Yishu shook her head nonchalantly: "If Director Gu refuses, then let him refuse. Our film is still in preparation anyway. Isn't it easy to find an excellent photographer?"

Gong Li nodded: "That's what I said, and Director Zhang knows that I'm going to Hong Kong with you to film, so he asked me to apologize to you and tell you that if there's really no suitable one, he can help."

Zhang Yimou comes to be a photographer?

It’s quite exciting to think about it.

But the other party was probably just being polite. Li Yishu was not stupid. The other party was already a successful director. He had no relatives or friends with Zhang Yimou. At most, they had some affection for each other, but it was not enough for Zhang Yimou to condescend to be the director of photography.

And if Zhang Yimou really comes, there might be rumors that this movie was shot by Zhang Yimou instead of Lee Yi-su.

So Li Yishu refused directly: "Why should I trouble Director Zhang? Besides, Director Gu's change of heart has nothing to do with Director Zhang."

Gong Li didn't think Zhang Yimou really wanted to come, and probably just said it casually. Seeing Li Yishu say so, she nodded and said, "Who are you going to find to be the director of photography?"

The director of photography was a very important position in those days, because there was no director's monitor that allowed the director to see the shooting scenes in real time. Only the photographer could see the shooting shots. This also made the director of photography, especially the photographer who held the camera, particularly important.

The director can only know whether a play is good after it is finished, but the photographer can know whether it is OK during the shooting process.

"There are several candidates."

"Which ones?"

"Du Kefeng from Hong Kong, Li Pingbin from Taiwan, and Zhao Fei, who Gong Li worked with before."

Although Li Yishu accompanied his parents to visit Yanjing City these days, he was also thinking about who would be suitable as the director of photography for "Farewell My Concubine". For now, he could only think of these three photographers who were active in the 1990s and were already quite famous.

"I know Zhao Fei. He is indeed an excellent director of photography. The images in Raise the Red Lantern are very beautiful. I have also seen Days of Being Wild, directed by Christopher Doyle. But who is this Li Pingbin?"

Gong Li has worked with Zhao Fei before and knows him and is aware of his abilities. Du Kefeng's "Days of Being Wild" has beautiful visuals, but she has never worked with him and has never heard of Li Pingbin.

Li Yishu introduced: "Li Pingbin is a very good photographer in Taiwan. He has worked with many directors from Hong Kong and Taiwan. He won the Best Cinematography Award at the 1984th Asia Pacific Film Festival in 30 and the Golden Horse Cinematography Award in 87. He is a very capable director of photography."

It was normal that Gong Li didn't know Li Pingbin, because he was not very famous in the mainland at that time.

Even though he has won several photography awards and has shot many excellent works, there are no very representative works.

However, as a reborn person, Lee Yi-su has of course seen many excellent works shot by the other party, such as "Half Life" starring Leon Lai, "In the Mood for Love" starring Zhang Manyu, "The Sun Also Rises" directed by Jiang Wen, etc.

Seeing that Li Yishu knew a lot about that person, Gong Li didn't say anything else, but just asked curiously: "Who do you want to choose?"

"Du Kefeng or Zhao Fei."

The person Li Yishu most wants to choose is definitely Du Kefeng.

Although he is an Australian, he has been working as a photographer in Hong Kong since the 80s. He has shot "Days of Being Wild", "Ashes of Time", "Fallen Angels", "Hero", "2046", "Eros" and so on.

In her previous life, Li Yishu didn't have the ability to find someone to serve as a photographer, but now that the conditions are met, she naturally wants to cooperate.

Of course, Zhao Fei is also very good, it depends on who is free.

Li Yishu suddenly remembered the great poet Chen's new film, "By the way, Sister Gong Li, do you know what Brother Chen Kai's new film is about?"

"I don't know the details, but I heard the tentative name seems to be Tree."

"Tree? Just one word?" "Just one word."

Could it be the tree king of Acheng?

Li Yishu narrowed her eyes and said with a smile, "It looks like an art film. Director Chen is aiming for Cannes again."

Brother Chen Kai previously filmed "The King of Children", one of the Three Kings of Acheng.

"The Chess King" was also filmed by Fatty Teng and Xu Ke.

It is really possible to set your sights on the last "Tree King".

But he felt that Brother Chen Kai would not shoot the King of Trees.

But the only play that fits the name "Shu" is A Cheng's "The King of Trees". It can't be a script he wrote himself, right?
Wow, he is also one of the screenwriters of "The Promise".

Gong Li said angrily, "I don't know if he is pointing the sword at me or not, but I don't like this brother Chen Kai. He has no bottom line. He knew that Gu Changwei had already agreed to us, but he still went to Xiying Studio to lobby. It's obvious that he doesn't take you seriously."

"Sister Gong Li, don't be angry. If you get angry, you'll only hurt yourself."

"How can I not be angry? And you, Yishu, you have to shoot Farewell My Concubine well this time. I guess he still wants to make it to Cannes like before. Then we can also go to Cannes to participate in the exhibition and win the Palme d'Or to piss this guy off to death!"

"Haha, don't worry, Sister Gong Li, I will definitely take the film seriously and try to win the Palme d'Or at Cannes next year!"

Cannes is held in May every year. Even if Chen Kai starts filming next month, he will definitely not be able to make it in May next year. What's more, Chen Kai is slow in making movies, so it is estimated that he will participate in the 5 Cannes Film Festival like him.

When the plane landed at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong.

The people who came to pick them up at the airport were Amy and Huo Wenxi, who had just returned from Japan two days ago.

After Amy was officially appointed as the general manager of an art film company by Li Yishu, she has been very busy recently.

On the one hand, we need to find an office space, and on the other hand, we need to communicate with the Japanese side.
By the way, I will also discuss the distribution of "The Mountain" with Mr. Qiu's Era Film Company, as well as Li Yishu's visit to Hong Kong to participate in the guest appearance in "The Banquet".

After being picked up at the airport smoothly, Li Yishu did not go directly to the booked hotel, but brought Gong Li to the Fu Mao Building in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. His art film company is now settled here and is unlikely to change in the short term.

"Sure, Yishu, your film company is pretty good."

Gong Li took a tour.

The company is not large, with a public office area + tea room, a reception room, and two offices, which is at most about 70 or 80 square meters.

Fortunately, the simple style still looks quite presentable.

"This is not my fault. It's all Amy's fault."

Li Yishu turned to look at Amy who was accompanying her, "You chose a good place, and the environment is also very good."

"Thank you for the compliment, boss. This is what I should do."

Amy smiled.

It was only after her trip to Japan that she understood how much commercial value her boss had as a big director.

Just for making a movie, you can get millions of dollars in salary and a share of the box office revenue. This is almost unimaginable in Hong Kong.

What’s more, the boss is still so young and he will have at least several decades of directing career in the future.

The company will definitely grow bigger in the future, which naturally gives Amy the motivation to work actively.

(End of this chapter)