Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 286: Super Visit 2
The reputation of a movie is important or not, of course it is important.

But it doesn't matter.

In its previous life, "Stone" was called a milestone in low-budget counterattack because it earned 2300 million at the box office.

It’s not that there weren’t low-budget movies before this.

Horror films, comedies, and erotic films are the genres where it is easiest to make a big profit with a small investment. Although this saying has not yet been made, everyone understands the principle.

In cinemas, there are many low-budget horror films released during unpopular periods. They are poorly made and pretentious, but why are they always there? Because they make money.

Although I don’t earn much, I still earn money.

Some companies specialize in making this kind of films, and even theaters get involved, because theaters also need to survive, and they also need profitable films to fill the unpopular schedules.

How can this kind of film make money? Of course it's quick money.

It has been released for ten days, half a month, and the word of mouth is not yet out, but it has already been taken offline.

The same goes for movies during popular seasons.

People at this time will not go online to check word of mouth before watching a movie. In most cases, they are aroused by the overwhelming publicity and simply go to the cinema.

Even if you feel cheated after watching the movie, you may not write a review.

Therefore, as long as the pre-promotion of a movie is done well, the box office will definitely be good.

Even if the movie is not good, the box office will not be bad, otherwise how could "The Promise" earn more than 100 million.

If the cinema dared to change the ticket price to require payment after watching half of the movie, the box office of "The Promise" might not even reach 1000 million.

In this regard, foreign countries have done better. Just as Chen Kexin said, "The Promise" sold very poorly all over the world, but it did well in China.

So in this era, publicity is king.

Even if you are a piece of shit, as long as you package it well, people will still come to eat it.

What Ning Hao said was equivalent to hype and creating topics.

The more popular "Stone" becomes, the more frequently it appears in the media, the more people will be interested in it, and the better the box office will be.

“I never understand why these film critics and experts keep advocating that we should make art films.

What’s so good about art films?
I used to make art films.

Later, people gradually came to their senses. They advocated art films because they only understood art films.

If you shoot a commercial film, they don’t understand it. How can they guide you if they don’t understand? If they don’t guide you, how can you demonstrate their superiority? "

No one expected Ning Hao to suddenly get angry and say anything.

Even Zhang Chen was surprised, "Dude, you're not going to stay in Beijing Film Academy anymore."

He had already thought it through. He would do the offending things, and Ning Hao would just say some polite words.

I didn't expect Ning Hao to change the script randomly.

But you know what, it really feels good.

A hit!

The two hosts on the opposite side were very excited, and the ratings for this episode were guaranteed.

Speaking of which, I really have to thank Star Entertainment. At the same time, I am also curious, are every director in your company so stubborn?
Ning Hao said a lot, without mentioning any names, but Zhang Chen knew who he was talking about, Huang Shixian~
Huang Shixian said that a director should make art films first and then commercial films.

Could this be grounds for accusation?
Come on, don't you check the information before you speak? Ning Hao made art films first, and then commercial films.

No matter what Ning Hao thought, Zhang Chen would definitely support him at this time and took the initiative to take over the conversation: "Ning Hao just said something right, you want me to make a movie in your way, who do you think you are?
I particularly agree with this statement.

You so-called experts, why should you ask others to do something that you can't do yourself?
"Stone" is just an ordinary entertainment movie, its only function is to make people laugh.

Make people laugh, do you understand?
We also said in our slogan that this summer will make you laugh.

For a movie like this, you must talk to me about the depth. Where does the depth come from?
What's the matter? It's just a movie. Do you expect to get 100 points in every subject after watching it?
Or maybe the murderer changed his ways after watching the movie?

I don’t deny that movies have the attribute of making people think deeply, but that is not the responsibility of every filmmaker. It is just a function of movies. If you are willing to shoot, you can shoot it well. There is no need to morally blackmail others. "

Zhang Chen talked for a long time, but felt that he had spoken too long, so he handed the speech back to the host.

Li Jing wanted to make a conclusion: "It seems that you don't approve of those so-called experts~"

Zhang Chen immediately said, "Of course I don't agree. What a bullshit expert! Screw the experts! Chinese films can't make it to the top because of these experts."

Zhang Chen himself was a little excited, and only realized it after he finished speaking: "Sorry, this part has been cut out~"

Li Jing smiled slyly: "Cut it off, cut it off~"

But in my heart I was complaining: "I would be surprised if I cut it off~"

Zhang Chen continued: "Why do Hong Kong filmmakers always look down on our mainland films? Their media have been claiming that mainlanders can't make commercial films. Because they really can't. Look at the commercial films made in the mainland, what kind of crap are they?
Let me put it this way. At this stage, except for Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang, other directors in the mainland have no commercial awareness. Their thinking is still at the stage that movies are works of art, so they advocate art films...

But looking around the world, there is no country whose film market is dominated by art films. In Europe, where art films originated and the base of the Big Three, the film market is still being conquered by Hollywood.

Don't think that Europeans are so elegant. French audiences like the same things as our audiences, which are Hollywood commercial films.

The reason why commercial films are called commercial films is because they have the lowest threshold and are most in line with the public's aesthetic taste. What is the public? The public is the mainstream.

What’s the point of your movie winning awards? What’s the point of art? It’s just too highbrow and unpopular.

Can the domestic film market be supported by just a few people who like art films?
When our filmmakers heard that Hollywood commercial films were coming, they started shouting "wolf, wolf", but they didn't try to change anything.

Is it useful to shout?

You have to change and adapt to the market.

After all, Hollywood is an imported product, and he cannot accurately grasp the preferences of domestic audiences.

What we are doing at Star Entertainment right now is to develop local commercial films, especially comedies.

You may not know that local comedies are a great weapon against Hollywood, which has been proven in both the French and Indian markets.

The answers are all given to you. Is it difficult to follow them?"

Zhang Chen's mouth was dry from talking so much, so he opened the bottle of mineral water and took a sip to moisten his throat.

Dai Jun took the opportunity to ask: "I once read a post on Tianya. The author should be an industry insider. He expressed a very pessimistic view that domestic films are at least several decades behind Hollywood films and there is no possibility of catching up.

I actually have the same feeling myself. Every time I watch a domestic movie and then a Hollywood movie, I feel there is a huge gap.”

Zhang Chen waved his hands when he heard this: "Don't underestimate yourself. Hollywood movies are not that great, right?"

"There's none?"

"of course not.

The reason we have that feeling is that the Hollywood movies we see are all Hollywood masterpieces.

Just think about it, the number of foreign films allowed to be imported into the country was 8 last year and 20 this year.

Hollywood produces at least several hundred movies a year.

So what kind of movies can be included in the import list? They must be the best.

Put yourself in their shoes and think about it. If China were to select 20 films to export every year, what would we choose?

Definitely choose the best.

Therefore, the Hollywood movies that we can see are all carefully selected and the top ones in all aspects. Of course, you will feel that we can’t compare with such movies.”

He knows all too well about this.

At this stage, the country can only rely on administrative intervention to ensure that Hollywood films do not overly shine in the domestic market. This is how the Domestic Film Protection Month was born.

But in a dozen years or so, it will be Hollywood that will be protected.

Although Hollywood still dominates the world's film industry, it is no longer so out of reach.

"So, in the final analysis, it still comes down to the old saying that if you are strong enough, you won't have so many messy things.

When do you see Hong Kong actors in my movies dare to put on airs? Why? It’s because I’m better at making commercial films than Hong Kong directors, my box office is better than theirs, my market is bigger than theirs, so I speak louder than them, it’s just that simple.”

After Zhang Chen finished speaking, Li Jing and Dai Jun's eyes were filled with stars.

Every time Zhang Chen comes on the show, he can speak a lot of truths.

It's obviously cynical, but it makes sense.

He is like a lone brave man who breaks through the darkness and walks alone on the correct yet misunderstood path.

"Okay, let's not talk about these controversial topics for now, and talk about something else, such as the box office..."

Dai Jun immediately followed up: "Yes, your previous prediction for "Stone" was a small goal. Do you think it can still be achieved now?"

Ever since Zhang Chen mentioned a small goal in an interview, it became a hot word on the Internet in just a few days.

“It may seem a little difficult at the moment, but I believe we can achieve it in the end…”

Generally speaking, the first weekend box office is one-third of the total box office.

If the box office wants to exceed 3500 million, then the first weekend box office must be at least 2400 million, but "Stone" only had million.

This was related to the sudden advance of the release date of "Seven Swords" and "Super Girl". But Zhang Chen was not worried, as he had a backup plan.

Dai Jun asked with a smile: "I'm very curious. When we asked other directors about their box office expectations, they all hesitated and were ashamed to talk about the box office, but you are different. Every time we asked you, you were very open about it. Why is that?"

Zhang Chen spread his hands and said, "This is normal. I am working on commercial films, and the only basis for the success of a commercial film is the box office.

Actually, I don’t understand those directors. Don’t they want their movies to have high box office? Of course they do.

Maybe deep down I still consider myself an artist, and I think it is a blasphemy to link art with money.

In fact, it means both being responsible and being independent.

What's wrong with talking about the box office? Just be open and honest. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"Both in charge and in office?" Li Jing didn't react at first, but after hearing the reminder from Dai Jun next to her, she suddenly realized what was going on. She covered her mouth in disbelief, wondering if this was a bit too offensive.

Will our program be banned?
(End of this chapter)