1979: The child's mother is a celestial being.

Chapter 92 A Meeting to Discuss My Wife's Work (Please Subscribe!)
……

"Comrade Fusheng, you said yesterday in Haizi that we need to make movies that Western audiences can understand in order to go global. That's certainly true, but it's too general. Could you be more specific about what types of movies you mean that Western audiences can understand?"

The question Secretary Ding asked was one that Director Chen, who had spoken to him before, had already asked him, so Chen Fusheng answered without hesitation:

"Secretary Ding, in my personal understanding, I think our films are likely to resonate with Western audiences in the following categories."

"The first type is martial arts films and kung fu films..."

"Martial arts films and kung fu films?"

Seeing that he was interrupted, Chen Fusheng assumed that Secretary Ding was not familiar with these two types of movies, so he gave a brief explanation.

"Secretary Ding, you can understand martial arts films as period kung fu films, or you can understand kung fu films as modern martial arts films."

Secretary Ding nodded: "You may continue."

"In fact, whether it's a martial arts film or a kung fu film, their core is action aesthetics plus chivalrous spirit."

Chen Fusheng said, "The aesthetics of action, such as our various martial arts moves and the eighteen kinds of weapons, are very impactful to Western audiences and can be understood without a complicated cultural background. As for our chivalrous spirit, such as helping the weak and punishing the strong, and robbing the rich to help the poor, it is actually the same as the core of 'heroism' promoted in Western films."

"That's why I put martial arts films and kung fu films first."

Seeing Secretary Ding nod, Chen Fusheng didn't stop and continued speaking.

"The second category, in my opinion, is our epic films. my country has a civilization history spanning five thousand years, from myths and legends to dynastic changes, from the Hundred Schools of Thought to the dominance of Confucianism, from court struggles to folk tales—there are so many stories that can be made into films, but..."

"But what?" Secretary Ding hurriedly asked. To him, compared to the fighting and killing in martial arts and kung fu films, this kind of subject matter, which could be made into a movie and spread Chinese history, was undoubtedly more interesting.

Chen Fusheng sighed and said, "First of all, this kind of movie is not easy to make. Not only is the cost high, but the quality is also difficult to control. Secondly, it's the same problem. If it's too complicated, foreign audiences won't understand it. But if we just cater to the tastes of foreign audiences, it will be difficult to make a work that satisfies our own audiences. So I think this kind of movie has great potential, but the conditions in our country are not yet sufficient."

After listening to Chen Fusheng's analysis, Secretary Ding also sighed.

"anything else?"

"The third category is suspense and mystery films like 'Andhadhun.' These films also don't require much of a viewing threshold, which is why we were able to sell their overseas rights for such a high price at Cannes."

Secretary Ding thought for a moment and said, "I remember that the Shanghai Film Studio made a suspenseful mystery film called 'The 405 Murder Case' last year, which is the kind of suspenseful mystery you mentioned. Although it did quite well when it was released in China, China Film Group did not sell its overseas rights for a high price. Why is that?"

"Secretary Ding, although 'The 405 Murder Case' is also a suspenseful mystery film, I remember its content is closely intertwined with the social background of 1976, a special period that foreign audiences wouldn't understand, thus creating a certain viewing barrier. In addition, the director's narrative method..."

When the topic of the director came up, Chen Fusheng only touched on it briefly, without going into too much detail.

However, Secretary Ding remembered that Chen Fusheng had mentioned the problems of Chinese directors in their narrative methods in Haizi yesterday, so even though Chen Fusheng hadn't explained it very clearly, he understood what he meant.

After processing the information, she asked again, "Is there anything else?"

"There is another type of subject matter that foreign audiences would definitely buy into, but it is not allowed to be filmed in our country."

"What kind of subject matter?" Secretary Ding asked curiously.

"A supernatural film."

"This really can't be filmed."

Chen Fusheng made a small 'test' and, seeing Secretary Ding's attitude, was not too surprised.

Next, Secretary Ding discussed some other issues with him... For example:

"Comrade Fusheng, you and your spouse are living in Beijing now, right?"

"um, yes."

What company does your spouse work for now?

“She used to be a dancer at the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Theater. After we had our first child last year, because of the nature of my work, I often couldn’t be home for long periods of time to help her share the burden. And our child is too young, she can’t balance her career and family on her own, so she had to resign from her job at the Jiangcheng Song and Dance Theater and return to her family. She is currently unemployed.”

"In other words, you're currently the sole breadwinner for the family. Are you facing significant financial or other pressures?"

"fine……"

"Well, given Comrade Fusheng's tremendous contribution to the country's foreign exchange earnings this time, we can arrange a job for your wife in Beijing, depending on your wishes."

Chen Fusheng neither directly refused on behalf of his wife nor agreed on her behalf. Instead, he thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll go back and discuss it with her."

"Okay, just tell Director Shi the results later."

"Ok."

About half an hour later, just after the meeting was announced to be over, Secretary Ding added one last thing:
"Comrade Fusheng, you probably already have some idea of ​​the purpose of our conversation with you. So let me be frank with you. The organization may have some new arrangements for your work going forward, and the notification should be issued in the next couple of days. You should be mentally prepared. Unless there is something particularly urgent, it is best not to ask for leave."

"...Okay, thank you for your instructions, Secretary Ding."

Chen Fusheng nodded solemnly. Although he prided himself on not being a power-hungry person, no one would complain about having more power in their hands.

So, upon hearing Secretary Ding's blunt hint, it would be a lie to say that Chen Fusheng wasn't looking forward to it.

"Yes, keep up the good work. The leaders you met yesterday all had a very good impression of you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fusheng's expression became even more solemn.

……

After leaving Secretary Ding's office, Chen Fusheng did not find any other leaders' secretaries waiting for him.

It seems that this meeting is almost over with Secretary Ding.

Next, Chen Fusheng went to the office of their foreign exchange earning working group.

He discovered that many people hadn't left yet, including his wife.

"Fusheng, you've finally arrived. Reporter Zhong has been waiting for you for ages."

Reminded by Lingzi, Chen Fusheng, who had just entered the office, noticed that there were reporters in the room.

As he looked over, the other person stood up and introduced himself.

"Hello, Comrade Fusheng. I am Zhong Xiaofang, a reporter from People's Daily. This is my partner, Li Dong. We just heard from Comrade Ling Zi, Comrade Gong Xue, and others about your performance at the Cannes Film Festival. We would very much like to conduct an interview with you. Would it be convenient for you to be here for an interview?"

Chen Fusheng first glanced at everyone else in the room, then smiled and nodded at Reporter Zhong: "It's fine."

(End of this chapter)