Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 52 The turmoil continues
Do science fiction movies necessarily have to be full of futuristic technology?

This film, however, uses a single room and the conversations of a dozen or so people to complete a science fiction movie.

After reading the script, Walker and Roland were both amazed by Chen Shouzhe's wild imagination. Movies like "2012" and "The Day After Tomorrow" mainly rely on special effects as their selling point.

The film being shot in front of them is somewhat subverting their understanding of science fiction. Since the first generation of filmmakers defined science fiction special effects in the last century, many subsequent science fiction films have basically been moving in the direction of special effects.

The scene before us is simple, yet full of stories, with experts from different fields using their knowledge to illustrate another kind of science fiction.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a sci-fi movie like this," Walker said, putting down the script.

“Me too, Chen. I must say you’re a genius,” Roland nodded.

"No, no, I got it from someone else too," Chen Shouzhe waved his hand.

The scene is simple; the main focus is on the actors' delivery of lines.

This simple science fiction film was shot in a small room and completed in less than half a month.

Columbia Pictures has also completed its preparations and released the latest news to the public.

Columbia Pictures announced that Roland Garros, director of the film "2012," has teamed up again with Chinese director Chen Shou-zhe for a new disaster film, "The Day After Tomorrow," and casting will begin today.

[It is reported that Chinese director Chen Shouzhe was the screenwriter and assistant director of the film "2012." The film "The Day After Tomorrow" tells a disaster story about the global climate crisis and extreme weather. It is said that the film's investment was only US$1.2 million, less than "2012," and it was not a co-production.]

[The Hollywood Reporter: Chinese director Chen Shouzhe has finished filming an independent science fiction movie!]

The three pieces of news caused a small stir in Hollywood. After all, "2012" had only recently finished its theatrical run, grossing $13 billion worldwide. Now, the original team is back to continue making disaster movies, making other companies extremely envious.

Many Hollywood movie giants watched with envy, wishing they could take his place.

The news reached China a day later and was reported by numerous media outlets.

"Weren't you supposed to be making a short film? How come a new movie project has been approved? And it's not even a co-production!!"

Inside the China Film Group, Han Sanping's expression was very unpleasant. He felt that it should have been a co-production, and Chen Shouzhe's failure to produce a co-production this time clearly suggested that he was betraying his own people.

Sitting in front of him, Vice Chairman Wang shook his head. Han Sanping was still too domineering. Originally, Chen Shou was the one leading them on the project. If it were Columbia Company, would they have continued to lead them?
"Have you managed to contact Chen Shouzhe?" Han Sanping asked.

"Not yet, I can't get through on the phone, but he should be back soon, I think..." Vice Chairman Wang hesitated.

"Do you have anything else to say? Speak!"

“I think we should handle our relationship with Chen Shouzhe well. We are just business partners. If we push him too hard, he will completely switch to another company. With his abilities, he can do it even if he doesn’t work in the mainland market,” said Vice Chairman Wang.

"You mean you're just going to watch him collaborate with foreigners? He's Chinese, he should be fighting for Chinese films. With such a great opportunity, why not continue the co-production trend from '2012'?"

"If we were Columbia Pictures, would we hand over the cake a second time after the first time?"

Han Sanping immediately understood what Vice Chairman Wang meant and suddenly realized something. He had been too complacent and viewed the issue from the perspective of a state-owned enterprise leader, completely unaware that Chen Shou was actually a businessman.

Moreover, there are many people in China who don't respect China Film Group. Those who used to call him "Mountain Eagle" actually respected him.
Chen Shouzhe has even more potential than Zhang Weiping, who used his connections to blackmail cinemas. Although he is young, his films are box office hits, and cinemas love him, as do the investors in the industry.

Even though China Film Group is a state-owned enterprise, it's impossible for them to openly suppress him. They might even try to push him to other state-owned enterprises like Shanghai Film Group. What if they then abandon China Film Group?
Han Sanping calmed down immediately. He had been too presumptuous. If he were Columbia Pictures, he would have the ability to produce it himself and just buy the rights. Why did he insist on making a co-production? Besides, he wouldn't lose the domestic market. The trade regulations were there. Did China Film Group dare not allow it to be shown?

"But, but he is..." Han Sanping couldn't say anything for a moment.

The fact that this is not a co-production is a pity for countless companies in the film and television industry. If it could be made into a co-production, they would be willing to pay a premium to get involved.

Movie fans are very excited. Not long after "2012" ended, another blockbuster is coming.

They also learned that Chen Shou had filmed a science fiction movie, which was already finished.

"It seems Director Chen will be mingling with American circles from now on."

"Those traitors, they have a script but they don't film it domestically, they go abroad to pander to foreign countries."

"You can tell at a glance that Chen Shou is no good person. He'll escape sooner or later." "He probably already has foreign citizenship."

"I've seen the overseas version of '2012,' which is completely different from the domestic version. In that version, China, like the foreign version, abandons its own people."

"He's only been in the US for a few days, how could he have finished filming a sci-fi movie so quickly? What a joke."

"I heard it's a graduation short film."

"Does the Beijing Film Academy only admit students like this, who are traitors?"

With the help of certain individuals, public opinion has turned Chen Shou into a criminal against the state.

Many people are hurling insults at Chen Shouzhe, calling him a traitor and a rat overnight.

Even companies like China Film Group were surprised. Why were so many people suddenly criticizing Chen Shouzhe just because he was filming a movie abroad? China Film Group chose to remain silent, and the other companies did the same.
Chen Shouzhe, who was far away on the other side of the ocean, saw the domestic public opinion. As someone who had been through it all, he immediately understood that someone was deliberately guiding the narrative, saying that he sold the copyright to foreign countries and was deliberately trying to please foreigners, etc.

"Interesting, they're starting to smear us now." After reading it, Chen Shou made a phone call to Tao Le.

"Have you found out anything?" Chen Shou asked.

“They’re all professional online trolls, but we’ve already reported it to the police and handed it over to them. We can still find out who deliberately misled them, but I saw the shadows of several companies in there,” Tao Le said.

"You give us some guidance. Our PR team needs to get to work. Who else is there?" Chen Shou asked.

“It’s all arranged. Who else could it be besides those few companies? But it seems like Shanghai Film Group…” Tao Le nodded.

"Shanghai Film Studio? Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Chen Shou was stunned for a moment.

“That’s right, the movements were subtle, but they still gave themselves away,” Tao Le said.

"okay, I get it."

The call ended, and domestic public opinion, which had been brewing for a short time, was immediately steered to another topic.

Netizens are often the easiest to be swayed. They never think for themselves and are easily influenced by what others say with a bit of emotion.

It's hard to say anything about these kinds of people; they're not bad, they're just stupid.

Why do we say that arguing is a skill? It's about pursuing the truth in order to argue, and in doing so, you can gain more information from authorities.

Instead of being guided by a self-media outlet or a comment.

Changing public opinion is simple: just hurl insults and muddy the waters.

In response to comments that he was involved in American circles, he retorted.

"Oh, oh, oh, hello, sir. So, if other film companies can come here to make money, then our directors can't go to other countries to make money? What's the point of trade then? We should just let all foreign companies come here to make money. I don't know if Chen Shou has acquired foreign citizenship, but you definitely have a foreign heart. You just don't have the money."

"It seems you envy life abroad. It's a pity you're too poor. You can't even come up with 250. If you could, you would have immigrated long ago, right?"

"It seems we can't do business with foreign countries anymore, otherwise we'll be labeled as traitors."

“Normal business cooperation is not allowed. Our own directors are working hard to make a name for themselves and promote themselves abroad, but our own people regard them as traitors. It’s ridiculous.”

Once public opinion takes hold, especially when it involves the business environment, the first to object will definitely not be ordinary people, but the government.

Chen Shouzhe didn't need to say anything; authoritative media outlets would naturally step forward.

After all, global trade is more important, and if the domestic environment is not good, foreign investment and the country's overseas investments will run into problems.

Who would dare to do business here in the future? How could our people dare to do business outside? Anyone who does would be a traitor.

Isn't this a joke?
(End of this chapter)