Rebirth: I'm filming extra scenes on the set

Chapter 138 The only one who can calm down the Hong Kong producers is Chen Cheng

Chapter 138 The only one who can calm down the Hong Kong producers is Chen Cheng
"Director Huang, Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower actually broke the record of Hero, with a box office of nearly 3 million."

"Yeah, are you jealous?"

"I'm not jealous, but it would be a bit false to say I'm not envious."

After more than a month of release, "Curse of the Golden Flower" was finally taken off the shelves.

The total box office reached an astonishing 2.9 million, just a few million away from breaking 3 million.

This number is quite astonishing for many directors in the circle.

To know.

For the current directors, even the top ones, it is impossible for their movies to break the 1 million box office.

But Zhang Yi directly raised the box office record to 2.9 million.

This is not the first time that Zhang Yimou has broken the box office record.

The 2002 film Hero also grossed an astonishing 2.4 million yuan.

"In fact, the box office power of Curse of the Golden Flower is not as good as that of Hero. The reason why Curse of the Golden Flower can achieve such a box office is that it shows that mainland films have risen. The co-productions we have been doing before are based on seeing this trend."

Well-known producer Huang Jianxin said to Chen Kexin.

"I have a notebook recently."

"Oh, how about the book?"

"It's not worse than The Warlords, but this script requires a lot of well-known actors. But this is not the most important thing. I think, Director Huang, we can continue to work together."

"Haha, the letter of surrender didn't scare you."

"I made a mistake in my estimation for The Warlords. I was not very confident about the big scenes. But this one has a different style. There are no big scenes, but it is still a blockbuster. In addition, I don't want to be a director this time. I want to be a producer. Of course, I don't have much experience as a producer. Director Huang, please come and help me."

"Where's the book?"

"promise."

"You have already planned this for me."

Huang Jianxin smiled and picked up the script.

Chen Kexin didn't bother him and walked to the other side.

About an hour later, Huang Jianxin finished reading the script and said, "This script is good. Which director are you going to ask to shoot it?"

"Chen Desen."

"Chen Desen is fine. Although this movie is not as grand as The Warlords, these roles must be played by big-name actors. And there are so many roles that Chen Desen may not be able to handle them all by himself."

"Director Huang, you have a great vision. I think so too. So, I want to find a co-director."

"Co-director, who are you going to look for, Ye Weiming?"

"Ye Weiming is fine, but I want him to be the first assistant director."

"Ye Weiming has enough experience and is indeed the candidate for first assistant director. What do you mean?"

"My idea is that the co-director must be from the mainland."

"Oh, so you are interested in the mainland."

"It's all about making movies. The mainland market has already risen. It's all about box office."

"Hahaha……"

Huang Jianxin laughed out loud.

This was also a scene he liked to see.

Under the influence of the rise of mainland films, these Hong Kong directors will gradually put aside their prejudices against the mainland.

Even, actively embrace the mainland.

"Do you have any choice for mainland directors?"

"Not yet, Director Huang, how about you?"

"I have to think about it carefully. After all, to be a co-director in a co-production, one must have sufficient experience and a certain degree of fame."

"That's what I think too."

"Okay, think about it carefully during this time. Make a list and we'll talk to them later and see how it goes."

"OK."

The two of them talked it out and parted ways.

……

A week later.

Chen Kexin made a list.

Guan Hu, Wang Quanan, Lu Chuan, Jiang Wen, Jia Zhangke, Chen Cheng.

There are a total of six people on the list of co-directors.

Huang Jianxin took a look and said, "These few are considered representatives of the sixth generation of domestic directors."

"Yes, it's not as good as the fifth generation, but it still has great potential."

“Is it good news?”

"Not sure."

"Guan Hu is very talented. He made some good low-budget movies in his early years, but in recent years he has turned to TV dramas."

"Where's Wang Quanan?"

"Wang Quanan had a film called "The Awakening" released in France last year and received a lot of praise, but it felt too literary."

"Where's Lu Chuan?"

"Lu Chuan is quite famous. His film Hoh Xil won the Huabiao Award and the Grand Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival. His debut film, Looking for the Gun, was selected for the competition unit at the Venice Film Festival."

"Where's Jia Zhangke?"

"I think Jia Zhangke is the most talented, but he has a lot of personal opinions, which is a bit dangerous in the big movie industry."

"Where's Jiang Wen?"

"Jiang Wen is good, but because his film had not been reviewed before he went abroad to participate in an award, although he won the award, he was banned from directing for five years. The ban was lifted last year, so he can give it a try, but I am worried that he has not been a director for five years, and I don't know if he can keep up with the market."

"Where's Chen Cheng?"

"Chen Cheng."

Speaking of Chen Cheng, Chen Kexin smiled and said, "Director Huang, you know Chen Cheng very well."

"I want to hear your opinion."

"Chen Cheng is the youngest among these directors and has the most comprehensive skills. I am actually very optimistic about Chen Cheng, but Chen Cheng also has a shortcoming."

"What shortcomings."

"Chen Cheng has never independently produced a film. Although Chen Desen is the main co-director this time, the co-director also has to take the lead independently."

"Hahaha, now that you've said that, these directors are no longer good enough."

"It's not impossible. I'm not only talking about their strengths, but also their weaknesses. You have more experience, so you can analyze it."

"I can't analyze it. The best way is for you to talk to them."

"Too."

……

Finding a suitable co-director was not easy.

Chen Kexin first contacted Guan Hu.

But a pity.

Guan Hu has a few films on hand and doesn't have time to spare.

Chen Kexin had no choice but to give up.

Then Chen Kexin contacted Wang Quanan.

Wang Quanan is free.

When Wang Quanan learned that Chen Kexin was looking for him, he wondered what news he had received.

In short.

Wang Quanan just flattered Chen Kexin.

This made Chen Kexin a little unbearable, but Wang Quanan didn't think too much about it for the time being.

Next is Jia Zhangke.

Chen Kexin and Jia Zhangke got along quite well.

Chen Kexin agrees with many of Jia Zhangke's ideas.

But it was the same as what Chen Kexin had thought before.

This guy has too many private things, some of which cannot even be made public.

Chen Kexin makes movies to make money.

This won't work if we do it recklessly.

then.

Jia Zhangke was also temporarily put aside by Chen Kexin.

The back is ginger pattern.

The two of them had a pretty good chat.

Chen Kexin was quite satisfied and put Jiang Wen on hold.

Next came Lu Chuan.

Like Jiang Wen, Chen Kexin thought Lu Chuan was pretty good and put him on the waiting list.

the last one.

Chen Kexin met with Chen Cheng.

……

"Chen Cheng, Chen Kexin is looking for a co-director for a film. You are on his watch list. Maybe he will ask you out in the next few days. You should seize the opportunity."

This is the text message sent by agent Wang Hua to Chen Cheng.

A few days later.

Chen Kexin actually made an appointment to meet Chen Cheng.

The meeting place is in BJ.

Chen Cheng has nothing to do recently and has not received any film offers yet.

Chen Cheng did not return to Hengdian, but took classes at Beijing Film Academy.

After all, I am still a student.

I didn’t learn very well at Beijing Film Academy in my previous life.

Although I have shot a lot of films in this life, I was very busy for a period of time and did not attend classes every day.

"Chen Cheng, haven't seen you for a while."

"Yes, Director Chen, it's been more than a month."

"almost."

"Why are you back to school? You're a big director."

"I'm not a big director. Compared to Director Chen, I'm just a handyman. You asked me out this time. Are you asking me to do handyman work again?"

"It seems you received the message?"

"You made such a big move, so the news must have been received."

"How about it, are you interested in being the co-director of our next film?"

"Director Chen, do you mean that as long as I'm interested, you'll let me go?"

Chen Cheng said with a smile.

Chen Kexin also smiled: "You are quite smart. I won't say polite words. Before you, I have met with several other directors. Some of them are also good. I think you are very good too. But I have a doubt. I don't know if you can complete a film independently."

"I do not know either."

Chen Cheng spread his hands and told the truth.

Chen Kexin was stunned by this: "What's going on? You told me you don't know, but you don't want to promise me?" Chen Cheng took a sip of water and talked with Chen Kexin as they walked: "I would like to promise you, but who knows if you believe it. After all, I have never completed a film independently before. If I say I have, would you believe me? I have to give it a try, so that I can know if I can complete a film independently."

"really."

Chen Kexin nodded: "No one can guarantee anything unless they have made a film independently for the first time."

Wasn’t that the same thing I was like back then?

This made Chen Kexin admire Chen Cheng very much.

In fact.

If putting aside the issue of completing the film independently, Chen Kexin would definitely choose Chen Cheng.

But as a producer, he is more concerned about the box office.

In other words.

As for Chen Kexin, movies are actually a business, just as Wang Jing said.

When it comes to business, you have to consider whether you will make a profit or a loss.

If you want to make money.

Then you must find a director who has experience, qualifications and a track record.

of course.

It doesn't mean that just because Chen Cheng has never completed a film independently, he will never be able to complete it.

But within the circle, capital has very low trust in newcomers.

No capital is willing to invest tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars in a newcomer who has never completed a film independently.

If so, you might get millions at most.

This is also the reason why Chen Cheng doesn't want to take on any films recently.

One is that with his current qualifications, it is impossible for him to get a film with a big investment.

Even if we can get it, the maximum investment will be between several million and 1000 million.

Han Sanping and Chen Cheng have a pretty good relationship.

But he would never joke about investment. He would never say, Chen Cheng, I have prepared tens of millions or even 1 million for you. Go and make the movie. I believe in you.

Movies this thing.

If you are not careful, you may lose all the tens of millions or even hundreds of millions you have invested.

If the company suffers a loss, even the president will not be able to withstand the pressure from shareholders.

At the shareholders' meeting, all the shareholders and directors will ask you why you gave so much money to a new director?
in turn.

If this was given to a well-known director, it would be more or less understandable if he suffered a loss.

after all.

He had a good record in the past, but who knew he would stumble so badly now.

"Do you want to try it?"

Chen Kexin said.

"It would be a lie to say I don't want to."

Chen Cheng looked at Chen Kexin.

Chen Kexin didn't ask any more questions.

Chen Cheng was also tactful enough to stop talking about these things.

The two chatted about other things that had nothing to do with the film.

Chen Kexin was a little surprised: "I heard that you haven't taken any movies recently. As far as I know, there are several film and television companies that want to find you to make a movie. Why don't you consider it?"

"The investment is too small, so I don't really want to shoot it."

Chen Cheng also told the truth.

Although he directed all these films independently and was fully responsible for them.

But let's be honest.

It is really difficult for a film with a small investment to succeed.

Not every movie is like Crazy Stone, and not every movie can achieve high box office with low cost.

Even if some of them appeared in history, it was at a specific time.

Even if Chen Cheng were to bring out his previous life's "Charlotte's Troubles" now, the box office might not exceed 2000 million.

This is not bullshit.

This is what Chen Cheng obtained through data investigation.

Yes.

During this period at the Beijing Film Academy, in addition to attending classes, Chen Cheng also studied box office data.

The box office is very interesting.

Many times people think.

If a movie wants to achieve high box office, it must have a good director, good actors and a good script.

But in reality.

To achieve good box office, investment is the key.

The larger the investment, the higher the box office.

The smaller the investment, the lower the box office.

This is directly proportional.

Although there are also special ones.

Simultaneously.

In addition to investment, box office revenue is also related to the environment and market at the time.

Many times a film comes out.

You don't even have to see how well the movie is made, but you can predict its box office performance.

This is why.

This is why some distributors in later generations dared to sign minimum guarantee contracts with some films before they were released.

This is because they have done sufficient data research before these films were released.

"You have great ambitions."

Chen Kexin said.

"No."

Chen Cheng shook his head: "Maybe he thinks more clearly."

"You think clearly. Haha, that's an interesting statement. But have you ever thought that if you don't take on these small-budget films, then the big-budget films won't look for you."

"I thought about it."

"Then will you still take on films with small investments?"

"Still not answering."

"Pfft...you are really stubborn."

Chen Kexin was somewhat convinced by Chen Cheng.

He is also here.

Know the difficulties of this line of work.

Many behind-the-scenes producers are stuck at this step.

They clearly have the potential to become independent directors, but because they have never directed before, no one approaches them.

Then.

At this time, these behind-the-scenes producers will think about taking on some low-budget films with good scripts first.

of course.

In this, someone succeeded.

But many people failed.

"What if no one wants you to make a movie? I mean a big production."

"I can wait."

"How long can you wait?"

"I am 21 now. In another 20 years, I will be 40 years old... By then, I will not be older than you, Director Chen."

"Pfft... I would never believe you can wait for 20 years."

"I was just kidding. If I really waited 20 years, I would have been forgotten by the circle."

"Yes. But at your age, you can afford to wait."

Chen Kexin also sighed.

It is amazing that Chen Cheng has such a good mentality.

I also feel that Chen Cheng has such a thorough understanding of the current situation.

……

"Desen, Weiming, Yetai, among these people, who do you think can be the co-director?"

After meeting with Chen Cheng.

Chen Kexin was extremely conflicted for a moment, so he called Chen Desen, Ye Weimin, and his favorite art director Huang Yetai.

Chen Desen took a look and said, "Chen Cheng, right?"

This made Chen Kexin very curious: "What's going on, Desen, do you know Chen Cheng?"

"do not know."

"You're talking about Chen Cheng when you don't even know him?"

"I don't know him, but news about Chen Cheng comes out from time to time in the circle. I don't know how good the other two are. But Chen Cheng should be pretty good."

This is Chen Desen’s suggestion.

"Weimin, what about you?"

"Chen Cheng and I are close friends, what do you think?"

"Oh my god, you and him made a movie together. You really are best buddies."

"Otherwise, when we were on the set of The Warlords, he beat up all of us Hong Kong assistant directors. What could I do?"

"Cough cough..."

Speaking of it.

Chen Kexin seemed to have made a decision.

He was the one who filmed The Warlords.

Although the filming is finished.

But now that I think about it.

Chen Cheng’s contribution to the revolution was really great.