Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 431 Slap in the face
Star Entertainment
Zhang Chen was in Dong Jianqiang's office talking about the box office situation over the past two days when he received a notice from his secretary: "Mr. Zhao Benshan is visiting~"

"Uncle Benshan? What wind brought you, the great god, here?"

Zhang Chen was a little surprised to see that it was really Zhao Benshan.

"I have something to talk to you about~"

Zhao Benshan didn't exchange too many pleasantries and went straight to the point.

Zhang Chen and Dong Jianqiang looked at each other in surprise: "You want to cooperate with us to develop a movie?"

"To be exact, it is Benshan Media~"

"Oh, what kind of genre is that? Is there a script?"

Zhao Benshan spread his hands and said, "No, even if I had one, I wouldn't dare to shoot it. My previous comedy movies didn't do well at the box office~"

Zhang Chen smiled bitterly: "Then you~"

"Didn't you say at the premiere that other film and television companies could focus on one track? Benshan Media has decided to respond to your call and focus on comedy films, but I hope to work with Xingchen Entertainment on my first film..."

Zhang Chen smiled bitterly again: "Cooperation is fine, but we need a project first~"

"Aren't you planning a movie version of 'Wulin Wai Zhuan'? I think this will be fine~"

This time it was Zhang Chen and Dong Jianqiang's turn to be puzzled. This matter has not been announced to the public yet, so how did the other party know about it?
Zhao Benshan also knew the two's doubts and took the initiative to say, "At the premiere that day, I chatted with the crew members of your "Wulin Waijiao" and they said~"

That’s it~
This makes sense.

only……

"So how are you going to cooperate?"

"You will lead the project, Benshan Media will participate in the investment, and will also provide some actors..."

"The actors you are talking about are your apprentices?"

Zhao Benshan nodded: "Yes, don't underestimate them because they are just acting in skits. Their acting skills are actually quite good. The TV series I have been involved in are basically starred by my apprentices..."

Zhang Chen had no doubt about this. He always felt that the acting skills of sketch actors were OK, and sometimes they could even beat TV actors.

"Well, I have a plan. Please listen to it and see if you have any opinions~"

Zhao Benshan didn't expect that the other party would come up with a plan so quickly, and pretended to listen.

Dong Jianqiang also wanted to hear what plan Zhang Chen had come up with in such a short time.

"I am planning to make "Wulin Wai Zhuan Movie" into a series. Currently, two films are scheduled. We will be the main investor of the first one, and Benshan Media will participate in the investment. It will mainly tell the story of "Wulin Wai Zhuan". Your disciples can make cameo appearances and set fixed roles...

When the second part comes out next year, Benshan Media will be the main investor and we will participate in the investment. We will tell the stories of your disciples. The stories will no longer be confined to the inn, but can be about traveling around the world. Of course, if the cooperation is good, we can continue to cooperate in the future..."

Zhao Benshan hesitated a little, "Are there any other conditions?"

He didn't believe that Zhang Chen would be so good. According to the current mode of cooperation, it was equivalent to Xingchen Entertainment taking the initiative to help him train apprentices, and using its own IP.

"There are indeed other conditions..."

Zhang Chen rubbed his hands: "I heard that you started a TV series called "Country Love". Xingchen Entertainment must be the investor and have the right to invest in subsequent works..."

Zhao Benshan looked at Zhang Chen and said, "Boy, you were waiting for me here."

Zhang Chen didn't care. This was just a spur of the moment idea on his part, so it didn't matter if it failed.

Zhao Benshan asked again: "What about us?"

"Benshan Media also has the investment rights for the 'Wulin Wai Zhuan' film series. You and your disciples can also make guest appearances in the third season of the TV series..."

"What about the investment rights for the TV series version?"

"Sorry, this is impossible~"

"Wulin Wai Zhuan" is a gold mine, there is no way Zhang Chen would give it up.

Giving him the right to invest in the film version has already been done.

After all, "Wulin Waijia" is a mature IP.

Zhao Benshan was also thinking that he thought it was normal that Zhang Chen was unwilling to give up the investment rights for the TV series version.

"Wulin Waijia" is a mature IP that has been proven by the market, and the possibility of success of the movie version is very high. It is much safer for Benshan Media to get involved than to do it on their own.

As for the guest appearance in the third season, it's all as it should be.

Only if you become familiar with the audience can you take the leading role in the second part.

Moreover, the other party is willing to hand over the leadership of the second part to me, which shows great sincerity.

On the contrary, his own "Country Love" has not yet been tested by the market, so the other party's investment is risky.

"You're at a disadvantage in this way~"

"Let's not talk about this. The movie version of 'Wulin Wai Zhuan' may not necessarily be successful. We all took risks. If you really think I'm at a disadvantage, you can help me out if I have any problems in the Northeast in the future..."

Zhang Chen actually has other ideas, such as organizing a "Happy Comedian" with the TV station, but there is no need to talk about it now. If the cooperation between the two sides is pleasant, it can naturally be put on the agenda. If it is not pleasant, talking about it now may make others take advantage of it.

"Okay then, it's settled."

Hearing that it was just about settling trouble in the Northeast, Zhao Benshan agreed without much thought.

This was no big deal to him.

After passing Shanhaiguan, something happened to Zhao Benshan.

If King Liu can help, why can’t Zhang Chen?

After seeing Zhao Benshan off, Dong Jianqiang finally had the chance to ask, "Are you sure you can succeed by making two movies at once?"

Zhang Chen said confidently: "It is highly unlikely that we will lose money. The popularity of "Wulin Waijiao" is still good. As long as the script is not bad, the audience will definitely be willing to support it."

As for the second part, he actually has an idea, which is "The Laughing Man".

The box office of "The Laughing Man" was not bad, but the word of mouth was terrible. After all, it was the work of Chu Yen-ping!

If we change the director to Wang Jing and refine the script, there should be no problem.

As for "Country Love", it is a huge gold mine, and 17 films were made of it.

Although the movies are getting worse and worse, it is certain that they make money.

As he was talking, the public opinion director knocked on the door outside, and his tone was a little anxious: "Director Zhang, Manager Huang, there are suddenly a lot of negative comments about "A Quiet Place" on the Internet..."

The public opinion group is the previous Internet group, but it has been renamed.

The two then went to the public opinion team, where the other party personally showed them the data.

"Since about midnight yesterday, a lot of negative comments about A Quiet Place have appeared online."

"Let me see what you said~"

Zhang Chen browsed the comments. Most of them said weird things, such as it was not good to read and had many loopholes. There was no particularly favorable evidence.

"Do you know who did this?"

In fact, you can probably guess who it is without asking.

The only movie still in theaters in June is "Superman Returns", and the distributor is China Film Group, so it definitely wasn't made by them.

The only competitors in July are "Dragon Tiger Gate" and "Night Banquet", and it is likely to be "Night Banquet". Huayi has always loved to play small tricks.

Sure enough, the results of the public opinion team's reverse tracking were similar to what he had guessed.

This thing is actually very easy to check. There are only a few water army teams in the circle, and they all know each other. You can find out by just asking.

It seems that the two companies have joined forces.

"Try to suppress the negative reviews online. If they post negative reviews, we will post positive reviews.
Also, prepare some negative information, and we will go back after their movie is released~"

Since Oriental Film and Huayi are doing it on the first day, Xingchen Entertainment will definitely do it on the fifteenth.

"I'm already doing that, the real trouble is this..."

As he spoke, the public opinion director opened another web page and pulled up a video.

The video is a reporter interviewing a professor from Communication University:
"In my opinion, A Quiet Place is a completely bad movie. The whole movie is just about mystification and does not reflect on human nature at all. Such a movie is cultural garbage..."

When it looks about right, close the webpage and open another one. It’s also an interview:
"I don't understand how such a movie could pass the censorship. The whole movie is full of blood and violence, and there are scenes of children being killed. I suggest that the juvenile protection agency pay more attention to this movie..."

There are many similar videos:
"I don't see any positive side. So-called commercial movies are just pandering to people's tastes. They are like spiritual opium. After watching the movie, we don't get any enlightenment..."

“I don’t understand why Zhang Chen wants to make such a movie. If he is in the start-up stage and lacks money, then it is understandable.

But he is already a famous and successful director, why does he still make such films? I think he should pay more attention to the issues that the public cares about, but I don’t see these in his films…”

"The vulgarization of movies is a very serious problem. I hope the relevant departments will pay attention to it..."

"A Quiet Place obviously plagiarized the setting of Don't Breathe. Such a plagiarized movie can be released openly. The relevant departments must do something..."

"We cannot abandon the artistry for the commercialization of the film. This is a regression of literature and art..."

A bunch of old scholars jumped out to criticize Zhang Chen and his movie, and Zhang Chen was so angry that he laughed.

The public opinion director added: "Those who made comments are generally experts and professors from art schools. I just found out that these people held a seminar on A Quiet Place yesterday~"

"Seminar? What are you discussing?"

"Maybe they are studying how to discredit us."

The public opinion director was about to explain in detail when Zhang Chen's phone rang.

Seeing that it was Teacher Fu calling, Zhang Chen gestured to wait a moment and then answered the call first.

"Teacher~"

"Zhang Chen, Professor Huang from our school has convened a seminar on A Quiet Place to target you. Did you know about this?"

Zhang Chen frowned. "I know about the seminar, but this is the first time I know that the convener is a professor from our school. Why is he targeting me?"

Teacher Fu revealed the secret: "He is Wang Xiaoshuai's mentor~"

So this is the root cause.

This is to help your students.

In the last dispute between art films and commercial films, I defeated Wang Xiaoshuai.

In fantasy novels, this means that after the younger ones are beaten, the older ones come and the elders of the sect take action personally.

"But don't worry, I've asked Director Tian Zhuangzhuang to help you..."

Fu Donglai felt that his abilities were limited and he could not help his students, so he asked his senior teachers to leave.

The opponent of the Yuanying old monster must always be the Yuanying old monster~
Zhang Chen suddenly said, "No, Mr. Fu, I want to hear what conclusion they can draw. I don't intend to let this matter go. I don't want to implicate you and Director Tian..."

"Uh~"

"Don't worry, if we can't resolve this, I'll ask you and Director Tian to help~"

After hearing what Zhang Chen meant, Teacher Fu had no choice but to give up.

After hanging up the phone, he was really a little angry.

He even held seminars, acting like he was Zhang Yimou.

Two years ago, Zhang Yimou was scolded and became a hot topic because of "House of Flying Daggers" and the eight minutes of the Athens Olympics.

A group of cultural people felt that scolding was not enough, so they organized a seminar to scold together~
Now the same thing happened to Zhang Chen. He had never seen such bullying.

Zhang Chen is not Zhang Yimou, so he is not going to indulge them.

Isn't it just a war of words? Readers love to read this.

However, he still wanted to maximize his profits: "Don't worry about what these people say, let it ferment for a while~"

"Are you planning to take advantage of this opportunity to hype things up?" The public opinion director understood.

"Well, the movie is coming out and we just need some topics. They are willing to come and be cannon fodder, so why not?
But don't pay attention to it for now, let the bullet fly for a while~" "Okay, I'll keep a close eye on it."

If a movie wants to achieve box office success, it must break out of the circle.

There are many ways to get out of the circle, such as creating scandals, creating hot topics, quarreling with female celebrities, and even starting a war of words.

This is Feng Xiaogang's favorite trick.
Now there is one more Zhang Chen.

All he has to do now is wait for the topic to spread slowly. If necessary, the public opinion team can even help spread it.

The media all love to watch the fun, and soon such remarks were forwarded in large numbers.

The box office of "A Quiet Place" is still rising, but it is criticized in the academic community.

These academic giants have certain media resources and have begun to speak out frequently in various media, criticizing "A Quiet Place".

Many people were watching at first, but when they saw that Zhang Chen did not talk back, they joined in.

There was a wave of anti-Chen voices on the Internet.

Amid the chaos, Hong Kong media broke a piece of news - Wang Jing appeared in the cinema, suspected to be watching "A Quiet Place" ~
Below is a picture of Wang Jing leaving the cinema.

Someone interviewed Wang Jing, and Wang Jing frankly admitted: "I did go to see it. Of course I had to see it. People said that the atmosphere created by this film is first-class, so I wanted to learn from it. As a director, you must keep learning to make progress. If you stick to your old ways, you will be abandoned by the market sooner or later..."

No one asked Wang Jing to do this; it was Wang Jing's spontaneous behavior.

When the interview was broadcast, it immediately caused an uproar.

Directors are still very reluctant to do this. Even if they want to watch a movie, they will watch it alone in a private cinema. Otherwise, it is easy for people to say that you are not as good as so-and-so.

In this circle, fame means money. If you don’t perform well enough, the money will go to others.

Ye Weixin has been getting close to Wang Jing recently, so he specifically went to ask him about it.

"Why do you do this? Aren't you afraid that the paparazzi will flatter you?"

Wang Jing shrugged nonchalantly: "It doesn't matter~"

Ye Weixin hesitated for a while, and finally said: "Yesterday, Zeng Zhiwei came to me~"

Wang Jing looked disdainful: "Did I tell you about the Overthrow of Chen Alliance?"

"Looking for you too?"

Wang Jing spat: "Who the hell is he? He asked me to stand up for him, but he didn't even think about who I'm serving now~
They keep saying that Zhang Chen is targeting the Hong Kong circle. Can he represent the Hong Kong circle? Or can Wu Yusen represent the Hong Kong circle?
Golden Harvest is now at its peak, releasing three dramas at the same time. Which company dares to do this?

If you ask me, Zhang Chen is not targeting the Hong Kong industry, he is trying to save it. "

After saying that, he glanced at Ye Weixin again and said, "You should also be alert. What others say is what it is. Don't you understand who feeds you? What falls into your own pocket is the real benefit. The rest is bullshit~"

Ye Weixin knew that Wang Jing was a person who would always obey whoever gave her milk, but what he said did make sense.

He was originally wondering why Wang Jing wanted to flatter Zhang Chen, but it turned out that the other party was trying to help him in times of need.

Do you want to follow along?

As the saying goes, it is better to send charcoal in the snow than to add icing on the cake.
The next day, an interview with Wilson Yip appeared in the media. "A Quiet Place has a very good reputation in the circle. It is said that the atmosphere is very good, so I made a special trip to watch it. It is really amazing. Director Zhang Chen's grasp of the atmosphere is much better than mine..."

At a club somewhere in Hong Kong Island, Zeng Zhiwei's face turned pale after reading this interview.

"I knew these two flops were unreliable. They said they wanted to revitalize Hong Kong films, but then they turned around and flattered Zhang Chen..."

Wu Yusen was more shrewd. "What about Sanmao? What did he say?"

Zeng Zhiwei did not answer, but shook his head.

Fatty Hong obviously doesn't get along with Zhang Chen, but he also seems to look down on the two of them and has little interest in joining any anti-Chen alliance.

At the same time, the Seven Little Fortunes were having a party in a KTV.

The brothers were laughing and each of them hugged the beautiful women and made some moves on them, but Cheng Long clapped his hands and drove all the women out.

Everyone knew that there was something serious to be discussed, so they all gathered together.

Cheng Long then said seriously:
"Boss, there isn't really any big conflict between you and Zhang Chen, it's just a matter of face.

There is no need to make things so awkward. Given his status in the mainland film industry, it will be of no benefit to offend him."

Seeing Cheng Long taking the lead, the others also advised: "Yeah, boss, it's not necessary, we are just trying to make a living~"

Hong Jinbao didn't say anything.

Not speaking is the default.

Seeing that Hong Jinbao didn't say anything, Cheng Long knew his attitude.

He was afraid that his elder brother was too stubborn.

Just don't be stubborn.

"Let's find an opportunity. I'll be the middleman and help you guys make peace. It's better to resolve the feud than to create one~"

"He's so easy to talk to?"

"Don't worry, he's not bad."

Cheng Long thought to himself that he still had some face. If worse came to worst, there was still Liang Jiahui. Liang Jiahui was Zhang Chen's favorite actor, and the two had a very good relationship.

"Okay, then it's settled. I'll go talk to him later." Cheng Long took the responsibility.

"Okay, okay, hurry up and call the woman in, I can't wait~" Yuen Wah livened up the atmosphere.

When Hong Jinbao heard his fellow apprentices praising him for being able to take things and let go, he knew that they were just trying to save his face.

In fact, he had already let it go.

In the past, Zhang Chen was just a mainland director, so it didn’t matter if he just showed off his skills.

Now he is the head of Jiahe and a big boss. If I still don’t know what’s best for me, I would be immature and would let down my fellow apprentices.

Zhang Chen’s momentum is too strong.

Not to mention "Taken", which created a new genre of action films.

Later, any newcomer from his company filmed a movie called "Kowloon Walled City" which was able to beat "SPL". That newcomer is now filming "The Man from Lone Star".

He learned from others that this might be another "Taken". Hong Jinbao suddenly felt old.

He has been successful and also down, so he can think positively.
The 80s was his peak period. He pioneered kung fu comedy and supernatural kung fu. Everyone would give him a thumbs up when talking about this.

In addition, he is a righteous person who is willing to let his subordinates take the lead, so wherever he goes, people have to call him "Brother Sanmao".

Cheng Long is the big brother, he is the big brother, and he is unparalleled in his glory.

In the 90s, things were not going well and more than ten movies failed in succession.

"Ghost on Foot", "Dragons and Phoenixes", "The Crazy Man on the Pillow", "Give Me a Face", "Streets of Fire", "Ghost Bite Ghost", "Never Forget Love", "The Elf Transformation", each of them failed, and there was a point where he had no movies to shoot.

Although he doesn't have the title of 'box office poison', he is a walking box office poison.

No one dared to ask him to film a movie, and no one dared to ask him to direct a movie.

'Brother Sanmao' turned back into 'Sanmao' again and experienced the fickleness of human nature.

People in later generations thought that he bravely ventured into Hollywood, but in fact he had no choice but to go to Hollywood because he had no food to eat in Hong Kong.

But people always have two friends.

When he was down and out, people around him lent a helping hand.

Cheng Long invited him to direct "A Good Man", and Tang Jili invited him to be the male soccer star in his American TV series project "Dragon Crossing the River", which actually won the wireless TV championship in the United States in the same period.

After the millennium, he became popular again by playing villains.

……

Now in its third week, "A Quiet Place" successfully broke the 100 million yuan mark on the eighth day of its release, but the box office growth rate has visibly slowed down.

Zhang Chen felt that the time was right, and just then another professor made a comment:
"There are serious bugs in the plot of A Quiet Place. Such a serious thing has happened in the country. Where is the People's Liberation Army? Where is our people's army~"

If he hadn't confirmed again and again that he didn't know this professor, he would have almost thought that he was an underworld agent hidden within the enemy army.

Zhang Chen couldn't stand it anymore and replied: Professor, have you watched "A Quiet Place"? The background of this movie is obviously abroad, so where did the People's Liberation Army come from?
This reply was seen as the beginning of Zhang Chen’s slap in the face, and he soon wrote another blog post:
A word has become popular on the Internet recently – down-to-earth.

I originally thought this was a very simple matter, but in recent days I have read a lot of comments from experts and professors, which really opened my eyes.

Experts and professors, some accused the film of lacking humanistic care, some said that I was making commercial films for the sake of box office and that this was a regression in film art, some said that I plagiarized, and some said that it was wrong for me to encourage film companies to delve into genre films~
Come on, are you living in the cloud?

It's as if you no longer know what the world is like.

"A Quiet Place" is a commercial film. Commercial films pursue box office. Is there anything wrong with that?
Just like you promote art films, so you go for the awards, isn't that a very natural thing?

Comedies are meant to make people laugh, youth films are meant to make people nostalgic, and suspense films are meant to give the audience the pleasure of solving puzzles. Aren’t these genre films?

You must think I'm talking nonsense. After all, you are fans of art films and have always been hostile to commercial films.

But I can also say that "A Quiet Place" grossed over 100 million yuan in eight days, which shows that the people like it.

People like it, if you don’t like it, who do you think you are?

I would like to ask all the experts and professors, are movies meant to satisfy the people or to satisfy you?

You keep saying that commercial films are a regression of film art. Can you represent film art?
Or, do you really understand movies?

How many people like to watch the art films that you recommend? I'm afraid it's only you?

Dear experts and professors, you can ask your children whether they prefer to watch so-called art films or commercial films?

If the entire market really works the way you think, that would be the end of the movie.

Actually, I have said a lot about commercial films and art films last time. Last time, I said that no one can convince the other, so why not just do their own thing?
If you advocate art films, then just go ahead and make them yourself, as long as there are willing to provide the funding.

It is my own business that I promote commercial films. Whether I make a profit or a loss is none of your business.

The road is wide open, wouldn't it be better for us to just go our separate ways?

Why do you have to be so determined to kill commercial films?

Later, I gradually figured it out.
I might have touched someone's cake~
Or maybe it was because of a certain circle's cake.
They can't make a movie like "A Quiet Place", and by extension, they can't make a movie like "Pacific Rim".

Why do these people emphasize the need to make art films? Because art films need the recognition of people in the industry.

And who are the insiders?

It’s them~!

They are the ones who have the say.

Why do you hate commercial films?

Because commercial films deprive them of their right to speak.

It's very simple. For commercial films, everything is determined by box office. This is equivalent to opening up a new upward channel.

If you don't come to pay your respects, don't come to listen to the advice of your predecessors, and then make a successful film, then what are we?
Isn't this destroying your job?
So it must be removed.

Thinking from this perspective, why are you always targeting me?

Because I am not from this circle.

They didn't understand the movies I tinkered with, "A Quiet Place" and "Pacific Rim".

My existence shows their incompetence. They can't suck blood from me, so of course they are unhappy with me.

Therefore, these so-called artists are not opposing for the sake of film art at all, they are simply opposing for their own interests.

Experts and professors, please shut up.
Stop standing on the moral high ground and criticizing commercial movies. If you are really capable, just beat me in the field I am good at. I look forward to the day when you slap me in the face.
Zhang Chen showed no mercy this time, and even criticized the professor from his alma mater~
Slap on the face!

He stripped away all the background in the academic circle.

(End of this chapter)