1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 97: I was fooled again (third update, please subscribe first)
One of the main reasons why Zhai Yuan chose a movie like "While You Were Sleeping" which did not perform well was that the setting of the heroine was very consistent with the promotional image of his telephone company.

No matter how many hardships we face, we can still serve every customer conscientiously.

A telephone company that appeals to emotions has such a gimmick, which immediately elevates its purpose. I wonder how many viewers will call the phone out of curiosity.

Even if it's a harassing call, it doesn't matter. It's nine dollars a minute. After the call is connected, you can say whatever you want and I won't say anything back.

Of course, the prerequisite is that people will watch the movie.

As a Spanish unpopular film, "While You Were Sleeping" was later called a five-star horror stalker movie.

Zhai Yuan is actually a very timid moviegoer, especially afraid of horror movies. He is the type who can be so scared that he becomes a soprano after watching a movie starring James Wan.

"While You Were Sleeping" is one of the few films of this type that he has watched.

Coupled with the two subsequent remakes in South Korea and mainland China, it undoubtedly left a deep impression on him.

Zhai Yuan was bored in the hospital during this period, so he looked through the box office rankings of Hong Kong movies in recent years.

The top movies on the list are almost monopolized by comedy and action. Horror movies have to be wrapped in the shell of kung fu comedy in order to sell well.

This also confirmed his previous idea that it would be extremely difficult to make a big profit with a horror movie in a theater with only a few thousand people.

The Yang energy could scare Sadako so much that she shrank back.

"The Scariest Movie in Hong Kong Film History", known as "The Scariest Movie in Hong Kong Film History", made it into the top 20 of the list with a box office of over 4 million last year. If it were this year, it would not even make it into the top 30.

But the movie "While You Were Sleeping" is not completely horror.

Instead, it uses horror and suspense as its selling points.

This type of film, after being localized, has a very good gimmick, called "New Wave Film".

The so-called New Wave in Hong Kong is to incorporate themes such as interpersonal relationships, social issues, and family ethics into movies, and add some bloody and erotic elements. The most famous of these should be the "Butterfly Change" trilogy directed by Xu Kui, including this year's "Youth in Flames" by Zhang Guorong.

But what really made Zhai Yuan make up his mind was a serial killer movie called "Nightmare".

It is also a suspense thriller, and also a small-to-medium-budget production, but it won the tenth place in Hong Kong box office rankings this year, with the local box office alone grossing nearly 10 million Hong Kong dollars. Below it are blockbuster films such as "The Prodigal Son" and "The Thousand Faces of Dunjia".

At this time, most of the films that can survive the two major genres of comedy and kung fu are these films with yellowish colors.

Simply put, it is to let the audience stand in the murderer's perspective to watch the crime, and strive to enrich and improve the details. Most of the perpetrators have mental illnesses, and the victims are either lonely girls or charming ladies. If some hot social news is added, the box office will probably not be too bad.

The market research conducted by Zhai Yuan can only prove that this type of movie has a specific audience.

But in order to make a movie a big hit at the box office, in addition to the quality of the film, the more important thing is of course the marketing method.

"You can actually try making an action movie or a comedy. Why do you have to make such a dark psychological movie?"

Peng Jiayan was silent for a long time before she slowly withdrew from the horror atmosphere of the story.

The first thought that flashed through my mind was to replace the entire bed with a floor-standing bed or tatami when I got home tonight.

If Zhai Yuan knew her idea, he would at least find a furniture company to discuss cooperation.

"Do you think I don't want to shoot? Nowadays, kung fu movies are either produced by the Cheng family or the Hong family, and comedy movies are monopolized by the bigwigs of Xinyicheng. Even if I have a story, I can't find actors!"

Just like loaned voice actors, loaned movie actors also have to pay double the pay, and it also depends on whether the other party is willing to lend.

After you have worked so hard to train an actor, you hand him over to a new director for a small amount of pay. What if the film turns out to be a bad one and gets a bad reputation?
Zhai Yuan is now poor and has no money, so he can only look at low-cost themes that are set indoors as much as possible with a small number of actors.

Fortunately, I have a natural talent for film.

Now we are still short of a pervert. The remaining extras are not that important.

“I have never tried this kind of narrative style of film, so I can only do my best, but it shouldn’t be too bad.”

Peng Jiayan hesitated for a moment and said to Zhai Yuan with some embarrassment.

"Director, you are too modest. Your last film, 'The Blind Girl', was very good. The audience in the video room stood up and applauded after watching the whole film. They said you are simply the Martin Scorsese of Hong Kong and the next Ann Hui of Hong Kong!"

Zhai Yuan was generous with his praise, and suddenly changed the subject: "Then can you please ask Wu Yusen to take the photo for me?"

"Oh, you praise me too highly... huh?"

Peng Jiayan was still immersed in the flattery, laughing so hard that her body shook, and suddenly reacted: "What did you say?"

"Can you please ask Wu Yusen to take the photo for me?"

Zhai Yuan repeated it again, rubbing his hands and smiling, "Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't mean to question your ability, but this is filmed on film after all, and you know this is a low-budget movie. Director Peng, although you have no problem at all, what if the actors see that you are young and deliberately sing against you, wouldn't it burn a lot of film? So I think we still need an older director to calm the scene, which can save a lot of money. Don't you think so, Haimei?"

Zhai Yuan asked the last question to Zhou Haimei who had been listening attentively beside him.

Zhou Haimei was like a student who was chosen to ask a question in class. She exclaimed in surprise and looked at Zhai Yuan and then at Peng Jiayan.

"I think it would be best if we could save money. My cousin works very hard to earn money..."

Before he could finish his words, Peng Jiayan glared back at him with murderous eyes.

"Yaoyao, you speak!" Peng Jiayan looked at Zhai Yao, whom she considered to be one of her own.

"He just looks down on you!"

Zhai Yao nodded vigorously. Just when Peng Jiayan was about to take the opportunity to attack, she followed up and said, "But Sister Jiayan, you have to understand my boss. Our family has just had a few days of good life, all thanks to him making money outside. In order to make this movie, he even mortgaged the house he just bought to the bank. I don't know how to say it in your movie terms, but if he loses money, our family of three will have to move back to public housing. Then he and cousin Haimei can only be a pair of miserable mandarin ducks. It's pitiful just to think about it."

well said!
If Peng Jiayan hadn't been sitting opposite him, Zhai Yuan would definitely high-five Zhai Yao. She's a real sister, so sensible!

Zhai Yuan sighed depressedly.

Zhai Yao rubbed her red eyes.

Zhou Haimei was a little confused.

"No! I won't allow you to question my professionalism!"

Pang Chia Yin suddenly stood up and said, "I must make this movie, no matter what anyone says!"

What? Zhai Yuan looked up at her in surprise. You also studied the Art of War?

Then Pang Ka Yin continued, "Isn't it just about money? I, Pang Ka Yin, invested in this movie! I will pay 50% of the production cost. Besides that, I will also bear all the wasted film. When you make money, you can return the production fee to me. That should be fine, right?"

Zhai Yuan pursed his lips and made a very embarrassed expression.

"Ok."

Trying hard not to burst into laughter, Zhai Yuan said in a low voice: "But director, since you plan to participate, can you also help with the subsequent publicity? After all, you are a new director, and I am afraid that the audience will not buy it."

Of course, if something comes to your door, you have to grab it thoroughly.

PS: Fight again at dawn

(End of this chapter)