Generation Z Artists

Chapter 186 Hatred and Fear

Some questions are worth pondering deeply.

Han Sanping originally thought he was the one who considered the big picture the most, but now, he was being stirred up by Fang Xinghe and was starting to get restless.

Or... should we give them a warning this time?
Of course, ideas are one thing, but from his position, he must consider all aspects before making any decision.

"You really know how to give me a tough time."

Han Sanping rubbed his temples and turned to look at Zhang Weiping.

"Old Zhang, you know best what kind of film 'Hero' is and what its significance is. It's the first domestic period epic! The investment exceeded 2 million!"

Zhang Weiping nodded with a forced smile: "Yes, yes, I understand, I understand!"

Han Sanping continued, "If we make things too obvious, and those two sides protest to the propaganda and foreign affairs departments of the Guangdong Provincial Federation of Trade Unions, do you know how serious the consequences will be?"

Zhang Weiping glanced cautiously at Fang Xinghe—there were only a few people in the room, so who was he putting on this act for?

"Chairman Han, isn't there no other way?"

My little darling insists on doing it, what does that have to do with me?
This old fox can be ruthless when he wants to be, and slippery when he wants to be; he takes all the benefits but avoids all the responsibility.

Fang Xinghe really couldn't understand why Mou Zi had been able to cooperate with him for so many years.
They're incredibly stupid.

However, Han Sanping wasn't much better off. His questions weren't directed at Wei Ping at all; they were all subtle reminders to Fang Xinghe.

That earnest look on his face shows how much he cares.

“Old Zhang, China Film Group isn’t an ordinary company. If you really don’t employ any Hong Kong or Taiwan staff, I’ll really have a hard time managing this…”

It's difficult, but not impossible.

Old Han wants a clearer guarantee, or a more substantial bargaining chip.

Fang Xinghe understood, but he deliberately didn't give him a way out, and said with a smile, "Actually, I can make up for the entire investment gap. China Film Group will only handle distribution and will not participate in investment, so no one can complain."

Damn, you really dare to talk like that!
They actually want to ditch China Film Group and do this project all by themselves?!
Han Sanping glared at Fang Xinghe, looking genuinely anxious.

"Nonsense! Without China Film Group's protection, how would you manage such a huge project?"

Fang Xinghe retorted leisurely, "What? Does the fact that China Film Group isn't involved in the investment mean they won't protect us? You're not that kind of person."

Everyone: ⊙o⊙!
Lore!

Dog Fang's analysis was incredibly accurate; with just one sentence, he drove Han Sanping to the brink of despair.

It is clear that as long as "Hero" is successfully prepared for filming, regardless of the reason or whether or not China Film Group invests, Han Sanping must and will ensure the project proceeds smoothly.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is essentially a co-production dominated by international capital. Apart from Zhang Ziyi playing the second female lead, it has absolutely nothing to do with mainland China.

Therefore, "Hero" is the first domestically produced period drama blockbuster led by the mainland, and its importance cannot be overstated.

Han Sanping is not the kind of person who would sabotage key projects for his own benefit; his charade is no longer working.

"You, you, you..."

Old Han gave a wry smile twice, then waved his hand forcefully.

"China Film Group will definitely invest, and it will take the lead in the project. There is no doubt about that!"

General Fang Xinghe grinned mischievously: "Then the three of us are a community of shared interests. If you don't support me, who do you plan to support?"

Han Sanping, puffing out his beard and glaring at him, threatened, "I think we should kick you out, you troublemaker!"

The dog wasn't afraid at all, remaining calm and collected: "I can save the project tens of millions in costs. You might not be willing to part with it, but Mr. Zhang is even less willing."

Another game-winning shot.

Fang Xinghe's irreplaceable nature is clear to anyone with even a slight international perspective.

His box office performance is certainly not as good as Jet Li's—he may be popular, but that doesn't necessarily translate into box office success.

Westerners' understanding of Fang Xinghe is mostly based on three key words: classical Eastern beauty, kung fu master, and one-on-one duel with Jordan.

Only kung fu masters are highly relevant to movies, yet they lack audience trust.

However, it is an excellent publicity point, which can save a huge amount of publicity investment worldwide.

Whether it's Zhang Weiping or Han Sanping, they didn't have high hopes for Fang Xinghe's box office performance. Fans don't have that much influence on a film's box office; Leonardo DiCaprio's art-house films will still flop if they're not going to.

They were optimistic about Fang Xinghe's ability to generate buzz and the exceptional value of his zero-pay performance.

Fang Xinghe doesn't overestimate his influence, but he can accurately grasp the psychology of others and stir up their restlessness at the most appropriate time.

Seeing that the time was right, he lightly cast the fishing hook again.

"Chairman Han, to be blunt, if Jet Li were to act for free, it would only save him a maximum of 3000 million in costs."

In a fit of anger, I acted in the film for free. It was my first movie, a kung fu film, and I even had to fight Jet Li. The effect was at least doubled, saving me more than 6000 million.

A budget of 6000 million translates to a box office of 1.8 million. Can the combined box office from Hong Kong and Taiwan reach even half of that 1.8 million?

"Of course that's impossible!"

Wei Ping was allergic to the word money and replied firmly, "The local markets in these two places are quite ordinary. Even if you have 4000 million RMB, you'd be lucky to get any. You still have to share the profits with the locals. It's practically worthless."

Han Sanping started rubbing his temples again.

Fang Xinghe's chips are really too thick, and he himself is very clear about their value, making him really difficult to deal with.

If it were anything else, he would have fully supported Fang Xinghe long ago, so why would he be so conflicted?

But this really won't do; the impact is too great, and the consequences are too severe.

He was trying to make a final attempt, or rather, a resistance.

"Xiao Fang, what you said is all right, it makes perfect sense."

Old Han, with the earnest demeanor of a kind elder, meticulously and thoroughly explained everything from the inside out.

"Indeed, there are some Hong Kong and Taiwan filmmakers who are not of one mind with us. Their existence has indeed squeezed the living space of the mainland. Many people are dissatisfied with their arrogance. Today, we are having a heart-to-heart talk behind closed doors. I can say frankly that we are all aware of these things and we are all uncomfortable with them."

But we really have no choice!

Where in mainland China is there a commercial film atmosphere?

You're also aspiring director. If you count on your fingers, how many mainland directors can you trust? How many can make good commercial films?
The gap between celebrities is even wider. Anyone you pick from Hong Kong or Taiwan is an international superstar, and even the next tier is an Asian superstar. Chow Yun-fat, Stephen Chow, Jackie Chan, the Four Heavenly Kings, the Four Beauties, Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, and Kim Seung-go... How can we compare?

"Hero" is a project that can only succeed and cannot fail. We need the strength of Hong Kong and Taiwan to make it as perfect as possible.

The success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is evident to you; doesn't it move you at all?
Li An, Ye Jintian, Yuen Woo-ping, Chow Yun-fat, Yang Ziqiong, and Zhang Ziyi—who was the core guarantee of their success? Surely the credit can't be attributed solely to Ziyi?

I understand your anger, but we are indeed weak right now and must unite all forces that can be won over.

From the perspective of the overall development of Chinese cinema, China Film Group Corporation must protect Hong Kong and Taiwan filmmakers who are loyal to the motherland and strive to win over the centrists.

Without this inclusive spirit, and instead focusing all its energy on internal strife, Chinese cinema is doomed!
You surely understand the logic, so can you please stop getting stuck on this minor detail?
At the very least, don't get bogged down in this project. Next time you start your own project, don't hire a single Hong Kong or Taiwanese filmmaker; I'll publicly endorse you!

Han Sanping is very sincere.

Given his status, he shouldn't have needed Fang Xinghe to be so submissive—if he wasn't willing to do his job properly, then he was the father of all filmmakers, and he could manipulate them however he wanted.

However, Han Sanping did not do that; he simply tried to reason with Fang Xinghe.

Fang Xinghe was deeply moved, but he disagreed with this reasoning. Han Sanping had courage, determination, and resilience, but he was limited by historical inertia and overly reliant on the influence of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

"Chairman Han, I also want to say a few words from the heart."

Perhaps it was the huge success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" that made you start to have a blind faith in Hong Kong and Taiwan directors and stars.

But this is neither healthy nor scientific.

The success of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" lies in the fact that it was the first Chinese martial arts film shot from a Western perspective.

The film features a top-notch martial arts atmosphere and aesthetics of light-footed movement, offering a fresh and intriguing experience.

The film presents a complex and relatable collection of Western universal values—the conflict between freedom and responsibility, the struggle between desire and restraint, female awakening, and romantic love—combined with Li An's Westernized narrative, making it easy to understand and relatable.

As for Sony's distribution strategy, the international fame of the lead actors, and the buzz generated after a successful Oscar bid, these are all secondary, non-decisive factors.

The fundamental reason is simply that Li An filmed a highly novel subject in a version specifically for Western audiences.

The domestic box office of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was only 1500 million yuan. Does this mean that Chinese people do not understand martial arts?

No, it's simply because it's not pretty enough in the eyes of us Chinese.

Titanic is great because love is the same all over the world.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not good because our understanding of martial arts is fundamentally different from that of Westerners.

So let's put aside the question of how "Hero" should be filmed and just talk about the actors. The Hong Kong and Taiwan actors originally slated for the role were unnecessary.

You think they are a guarantee, but I don't think so.

Many viewers are also superstitious about their appeal, but I am not.

On the contrary, I want to break this superstition and tell the audience that I can do just as well, or even better, without them!
For me, "Heroes" is not a very valuable project. I want to be famous, I want to make money, and there are better channels and solutions.

You think I'm using "Hero" to uphold the authority of keeping one's word? No, what I'm trying to uphold is the belief that we can succeed on our own, without any Hong Kong or Taiwanese actors.

You also realize that they are difficult to manage and too arrogant, but you can't bring yourself to deal with the situation harshly, for fear that one mistake will have far-reaching consequences.

It's okay, I'm a barbarian, I'll do it.

I will shatter their aura, completely crush their arrogance, and make them realize what is right in the face of harsh reality.

The correct approach is this: only by tucking our tails between our legs and genuinely cooperating can we get a share of the spoils we've given us in this booming era.

Chairman Han, you are the one who will divide the cake, and you should believe this even more than I do—

Chinese films will always be primarily from mainland China.

The mainland market does not exclude any foreign capital or filmmakers, but you can only take what I bestow upon you.

"No one is allowed to move until I say so!"

In the sweltering heat of August, 16-year-old Fang Xinghe fed 48-year-old Han Sanping a huge bowl of chicken soup with an excessively high concentration.

It was very hot, and the fan was blowing hard, but Han Sanping's heart was getting hotter and hotter.

Such words alone were not enough to convince Han Sanping completely; he was not so easily fooled.

But Fang Xinghe's attitude was extraordinary and incredibly infectious.

Often, when you want to persuade others, you don't rely on logic or correct reasoning, but on your unwavering belief in that logic.

Confidence, determination, and enthusiasm are the emotions most likely to inspire trust.

Is that really the reason for the success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?
Han Sanping was unsure and couldn't think that far ahead at the moment, but he kept his eyes on Fang Xinghe the whole time, and Fang Xinghe didn't look away at all, his eyes always meeting his, his clear eyes filled with a dazzling light.

That light felt both familiar and strange to him, sparking a flood of thoughts in his mind.

Can we really achieve that level?
He subdued those disloyal individuals, and with a single order, no one dared to disobey him. They all obediently served the Chinese film industry like slaves.
How wonderful it would be if it could really come true!

Actually, he didn't dare to have high hopes; at this point in time, no one dared to have such high hopes.

But he decided to support Fang Xinghe, with a mixture of trepidation and hope, in his attempt.

"Alright, it seems I can't persuade you anymore. Do whatever you want. I'll give you the share of China Film Group, and I'll personally help you with the pressure."

Everyone knows where the pressure comes from.

Suddenly, Mou Zi rubbed his face vigorously and swore, "Damn it, looks like I'll have to risk my life too."

Fang Xinghe solemnly stated: "I will do my best."

Mou Zi perked up a bit: "You're in charge of the script too?"

"Tube!"

Fang Xinghe originally didn't want to get involved in revising the script, but the final version was a complete mess, drawing widespread criticism domestically and failing to gain international acclaim.

Since the goal is to use "Hero" as a model, and slap people across the face with a powerful swing of the arm, then the higher the box office, the better.

I've done my best...

When the moment came, Han Sanping suddenly felt a bit anxious: "Visuals and color are Zhang Yimou's domain, so I don't need to worry about them. Xiao Fang, the action choreographer and screenwriter are quite demanding. Do you have confidence?"

I have so much confidence.

Fang Xinghe raised an eyebrow, his arrogance radiating from him: "What a coincidence, isn't it? Martial arts and plot are exactly my domain."

If we only consider the quality of the fight, Fang Wusheng believes he has already surpassed Li Lianjie.

With better coordination, he is likely to have an advantage, and his height, long arms, better physique, and greater strength allow him to create many incredible effects without the need for wires.

As for the action design...

Isn't that a coincidence? There just happens to be a martial arts instructor career option in the system!

Although he didn't have enough Star Points to raise this thing to 99 points, and his level of 89 points was definitely not as good as Yuen Woo-ping and Cheng Xiaodong, he had memories of the future and many martial arts and fantasy fighting scenes stored in his mind.

We'll specially make several large guns of different materials for different special effects moves, guaranteed to make the audience swoon.

Thinking back to that scene, Fang Xinghe didn't get carried away, but Wei Ping did.

He chuckled to himself, grinning from ear to ear.

Shaking his head and sighing, he said, "In terms of creative work, it's Yi Mou and Fang Shao; in terms of martial arts, it's Jet Li and Fang Shao. I wonder if such a peak collaboration will ever happen again?"

Old Han couldn't help but laugh: "You really have wild ideas. If it weren't for the need to cause trouble, would Fang Xinghe be willing to cooperate with others?"

Mouzi immediately nodded: "Indeed, when I first approached him, he was unwilling to take on the role of assistant director no matter how much money I offered, and he was even less willing to touch the script."

Fang Xinghe smiled but remained silent, not responding.

Therefore, everyone realized that this was probably the only time the three of them would perform together on stage.

"Forget it, let's not think about it too much. Let's just do this one well."

Mou Zi was eager and impatient.

Fang Xinghe was the same, except that his expectations were more brutal—

While everything is just beginning, there is still time. I want to change this history with my own hands and break every bone of all those who are high and mighty!
Ultimately... I'll make you hate me when you think of me, fear me when you face me, and dare to be angry but not speak out!

(End of this chapter)