New Age Artists

Chapter 114 History is the best subject for big productions (23)

The most exciting people in the Battle of Red Cliff were Zhou Yu and Cao Cao.

The protagonists are Cao Wei and Eastern Wu.

To be precise, it was the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Sun Wu Dynasty at that time.

Cao Cao was nominally the prime minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Sun Wu had not yet been crowned king or established as a country.

Zhou Yu's analysis of Cao's army's weaknesses before the battle was very accurate.

Zhou Yu had rich experience in naval battles and was confident in commanding. He was able to adapt to changing circumstances during the battle and the entire battle was thrilling, demonstrating his outstanding military talent.

It is true that "with a feather fan and a blue silk scarf, he could reduce the masts, oars and sails to ashes while chatting and laughing." He became famous in one battle and his beauty will be passed down through the ages!

Cao Cao was originally known for his military talent.

Since he started his campaign against Dong Zhuo, he had more victories than defeats, and gradually he became able to predict the enemy's course and win every battle. His military command reached its peak when he attacked Wuhuan in the north and conquered Jingzhou in the south.

But he suffered a sudden setback at the Battle of Chibi.

I suffered the biggest loss in the area where I was most confident and when I was most successful. It was an unbearable ups and downs.

When Cao Cao later mentioned the Battle of Red Cliff, he always said unconvincedly: "The army was sick, so I burned my ships and retreated, and Zhou Yu got this reputation in vain."

Shen Santong answered the reporter's question: "I think it's just right from the perspective of the movie. Shu Han is weak but has the bonus of historical highlights, Cao Wei is strong but lost in the key battle for the unification of the world, and Dongwu is in the middle. The three form a balance."

"The Battle of Red Cliffs led to the formation of three separatist forces and marked the beginning of the Three Kingdoms. From the perspective of film presentation, the struggle between the three is dramatic enough."

Shen Santong had considered this a long time ago, and Red Cliff is divided into two parts.

The first part is the prelude to the Battle of Red Cliffs, and he feels that the focus should be on the Shu Han team.

Because the fuse of the Battle of Chibi was the death of Liu Biao, which gave Cao Cao the opportunity to unify the north and the south, and Liu Bei's team was in Jingzhou.

But Shen Santong would not make any final statements, and the plot details would have to wait until an editing team was formed to discuss them.

Another reporter asked Han Sanping: "Mr. Han, may I ask if Shen Santong's analysis of movie box office and cinema construction represents the attitude of China Film Group?"

"I'm here to answer this, but it's just my personal opinion, and at most I represent Locomotive Films, which is an optimistic estimate of the Chinese film market by a private film company."

Shen Santong answered this question: "I also ask all journalist friends to say something good about our private film companies and help revitalize our market."

Han Sanping nodded secretly, this is the best way to deal with Shen Santong.

When something happens, he really gets involved and really fights.

Another reporter asked: "Director Shen, I still want to ask, are you not considering the foreign market for your new film?"

"I don't have such big ambitions. I am not sure about conquering the foreign market, but I am sure of success in the domestic film market."

Shen Santong replied: "And I just analyzed that our film market is enough to make big movies profitable. The key lies in whether we can make movies that the audience likes. I am somewhat confident about this. I have invested 40 million yuan in it myself, and I want to choose a way with less risk to get my money back."

“Without foreign market returns, isn’t the risk greater?” The reporter was stunned for two seconds before asking.

I was almost silenced by Shen Santong.

Shen Santong's remarks are indeed a bit strange, but he always has his own logic.

"I have already given the analysis. Today's speech was also live-broadcasted on Dongtian.com. There should be a summary. You can take a look at the first part of my speech. It has been explained in the commercial feasibility analysis."

Shen Santong signaled the host to select the next reporter to ask questions.

A female reporter asked, "Director Shen, I want to ask about the progress of your new film. When will it be released?" Shen Santong felt that this was her fan, so she asked very gently. He also said gently, "Happy Birthday has entered the post-production stage. The first trailer and promotional song will be released in the near future. It should be released in early December."

A male reporter in his thirties asked, "Director Shen, the Battle of Red Cliffs is well known to all of us. You also said that our history is true. Does that mean you won't make any major changes? Isn't that a spoiler?"

"Your question is very good. I have thought about it a long time ago. In my opinion, historical blockbusters happen to be a very good subject."

Shen Santong said: "The bigger the movie, the less complicated the plot. To put it simply, the plot of Titanic is about a fiancée who falls in love with a gigolo during her honeymoon."

“The plot of Big Ship is simple, a melodramatic love story, but the special effects are top-notch and exceeded expectations, so it is accepted in many countries.”

"The story of Red Cliff is well-known to everyone. We have unique historical advantages, which have formed a unique advantage in historical blockbusters. The key is to make the visual effects good and shocking."

Shen Santong feels that historical blockbusters are really great subjects for big productions.

Based on history, the plot is familiar to the audience and they can naturally empathize with the story, so the visual effects can be added.

It’s a pity that I met Chinese filmmakers, a bunch of weirdos.

There are a lot of historical nihilists, a lot of self-hating, colonial groups.

This high-quality subject matter has been ruined.

If you watch "30,000 Miles from Chang'an", you will understand that the display of ancient style and the natural sense of familiarity can naturally resonate with the audience.

A topic that could make money with eyes closed was ruined by a bunch of rubbish.

Ordinary people really can’t do it, only Chinese filmmakers have this ability.

The next reporter asked a sensitive question: "Director Shen, will this drama still only use mainland actors? If so, you have not used Hong Kong and Taiwan actors in three consecutive dramas. Does this mean that you are hostile to Hong Kong and Taiwan?"

Han Sanping shook his head slightly at Shen Santong, asking him to be more cautious.

Pay attention to unity.

"I am a commercial film company. Business is my first consideration. I usually invest my own money in my films. For a film like Red Cliff, I also invested 40 million. I must be responsible for my own money."

Shen Santong said calmly, "As for which actor to choose for the play Red Cliff, it is also considered from a commercial perspective. When casting for a historical blockbuster, the actor should at least not give the audience a sense of tearing. The lines and screen image should not make the audience feel a little out of place as soon as he appears on the screen. That won't work."

"From a purely commercial perspective, Hong Kong stars have greater commercial appeal," the reporter asked.

Shen Santong asked back: "Who told you that Hong Kong stars are more appealing, or who told you that mainland stars have no appeal?"

Reporter: “What do you think?”

"I will treat it as a rumor if there is no data to support it. I have done a survey, and the survey data shows that 80% of moviegoers pay more attention to the quality of the movie rather than the stars. It's just that few mainland movies can meet the demand for watching movies nowadays."

Shen Santong made up this story on the spot. You can think so, and I can think so too: "It's just that Hong Kong directors like to make commercial films, and they use Hong Kong stars, so they give the illusion that Hong Kong stars have appeal."

"Ninety percent of moviegoers said they would like to see mainland stars they are familiar with on the big screen. They have watched them since childhood, which makes them feel more at home."

There was an uproar at the scene.

Shen Santong's "investigation" directly overturned the inertial thinking that had been formed for a long time.

No one suspected that Shen Santong was lying at the first moment.

Shen Santong couldn't help but nod secretly, indicating that his basic image as an honest and reliable Director Shen had been established.

Historical blockbusters really can’t use Hong Kong and Taiwan actors.

(End of this chapter)