New Age Artists

Chapter 221: A pledge of allegiance? If you don’t want to shoot, get out! (13)

The Ma Assassination Case refers to the historical event in which Zhang Wenxiang assassinated Ma Xinyi, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, in the late Qing Dynasty.

After Ma Xinyi was assassinated, a play called "The Assassination of Ma" was immediately performed.

The reason why it is called one of the four major cases of the late Qing Dynasty is because the case is shrouded in mystery and has been widely circulated.

After Shen Santong finished reading it, he asked, "Who will do it?"

This case is actually not complicated. What is really complicated is the conflict between the central government and local governments.

In order to suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Qing Dynasty allowed local areas to organize militia and loosened up local areas, allowing Zeng Guofan's Hunan Army to continue to grow in power.

After the Taiping Rebellion was suppressed, the Qing government transferred Zeng Guofan from Jiangning and appointed Ma Xinyi as the Governor-General of Liangjiang, and quickly disbanded the Hunan Army.

After that, Zhang Wenxiang assassinated Ma Xinyi in a single pounce at the heavily guarded governor's office.

After Ma Xinyi was assassinated, a play called "The Assassination of Ma" was immediately performed, and it happened during the provincial examination.

Yin Zhaoyong, the provincial education commissioner of Anhui, set the test questions with sarcasm in them. Qiao Songnian also joined in the fun and wrote a crooked poem as evidence. The generals of the Hunan Army erected a monument for Zhang Wenxiang, and so on.

The Ma assassination case was a planned and organized murder.

From the implementation of the case to the strong support of public opinion, as well as the careful planning of the trial and the shrewd design of the case closure, all show that it was done by a master.

As a result, Zhang Wenxiang was executed by slow slicing, and Zeng Guofan returned to Jiangning to take charge.

This marked the complete loss of face for the Qing central government, which could no longer exercise control over the Two Jiangs.

Many people believe that the Qing government lost its local control during the Southeast Mutual Protection during the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900.

In fact, thirty years ago, in 1870, when the Ma assassination case occurred, the local situation was out of control.

Han Sanping said: "Chen Kexin also wants to make a costume movie."

Shen Santong likes to speak the truth: "If this drama is fake, it will not be able to do well at the domestic box office. I mean, even if I were to shoot it, if you didn't take the initiative to intervene, this drama would not be able to make more than 200 million."

"The essence of this incident is that the local area has formed an independent kingdom. Any dynasty with control would definitely exterminate Zeng Guofan's entire clan to serve as a warning to others."

"From the audience's simple emotions, they hate local areas that are impenetrable, because history tells us that when local areas lose control, it is the prelude to war."

"But this was the late Qing dynasty, the Manchu Qing dynasty, and in terms of national sentiment, people were happy to see the Qing court and Empress Dowager Cixi suffer defeat."

"There is a rift between emotional feelings and rational personal pros and cons."

"Of course, the most important thing is that this is the late Qing Dynasty, which is essentially a painful part of modern history. Some viewers even regard the Qing Dynasty's entry into the Central Plains as the beginning of everything."

"That is to say, no matter which side you stand on or from which perspective you explain it, it is painful."

"Modern history itself is painful, a scar. Touching this scar reminds the audience of a fact."

"If Ryukyutai is not defended, the Three Kingdoms of Korea will be in ruins. Modern history has not ended yet!"

"Bend Island is farther away from us than the sun."

"From a commercial perspective, this topic is unlikely to be successful, and the domestic box office will definitely not be ideal."

"It's impossible to have box office success abroad. After The Promise, overseas film producers will cut off the copyright channels for costume blockbusters."

The original version of The Warlords captured the traditional brotherhood in Hong Kong.

Playing with the sister-in-law, adding a bit of humanity and betrayal.

Hong Kong directors do not understand history, nor are they willing to understand it.

Shen Santong remembers that the box office revenue was not enough to cover the pay for the leading actors. Jet Li took 100 million, Liu Dehua took 15 million, and Takeshi Kaneshiro and Xu Jinglei both broke new records.

Li Lianjie claimed that the 100 million was still a friendly price.
Jet Li has no box office appeal overseas, and only discs with good-looking martial arts themes can sell well.

A dark Kung Fu film that didn't sell discs.

Chen Kesin and Jet Li, one dares to direct and the other dares to act, and both are very brave to speak.

Treat investors as suckers.

The domestic box office required 200 million yuan to recoup the cost. In order to avoid losing too much, China Film Group took the initiative to intervene, which made Chen Kesin exclaim in disbelief.

Han Sanping: “.”

After listening to Shen Santong's analysis, Han Sanping's heart sank: "What you said makes sense in China, but you are so sure about pulling out the ladder abroad?"

He had wanted to ask this question for a long time, so he just said it: "If we follow the logic you said in the interview, Li An's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the beginning of everything."

"After Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won an Oscar and the U.S. box office exceeded $100 million."

"Someone in Hong Kong is taking advantage of the popularity and has invited some of the actors from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to shoot a similar movie."

"Zhang Yimou followed the model of the film "Hero" and released "House of Flying Daggers" one after another."

"Chinese films have entered the 'post-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' era."

“From then on, a craze for period action movies started, which continues to this day.”

"After Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Chinese-style costume action blockbusters were very popular overseas."

"Hero's box office in North America was over 50 million U.S. dollars, and the distribution rights in North America and Europe were said to have sold for 20 million U.S. dollars."

If Shen Santong's statement is true, then doesn't that mean that xx is still trying to destroy us? Han Sanping rejected this statement in his heart.

This kind of statement is not welcome in the current system.

But reason told him that it was possible.

Why do Americans support "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and costume films?
Just like soybeans, first you give them a sweet taste and then you stab them with a knife. The process is the same.

Shen Santong shook his head: "It's too much of a conspiracy theory to start with Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Maybe it's just going with the flow."

"But the fact is that the Weinstein Company, which spent $2100 million to purchase the overseas rights to Hero, broke the contract after paying the deposit for The Promise."

“Weinstein’s boss, Harvey Weinstein, is a close friend of the Zippers and the Green Party’s spokesperson in Hollywood.”

Coming from the future, he knew exactly what Harvey’s background was.

When interviewed by the media, Shen Santong did not mention the Zipper Couple.

At this moment, alas.

It's not just public opinion, there are many areas as well.

He mentioned that the former US President was not nice to him.

Han Sanping, who has also experienced all kinds of ups and downs, asked, "Zhang Yimou's new film and Feng Xiaogang's play will definitely not sell?"

Shen Santong said: "You can take this as an observation. They want to win the trust of overseas film producers and sell at a good price."

"I will definitely stand up and distance myself from The Promise, and explain how my film is different from The Promise,"

"Feng Xiaogang is not very important. He has no experience in successful costume blockbusters."

"Director Zhang has successful experience. According to Hollywood practice, they will pursue directors with successful experience."

"If they don't chase it anymore, it means that it's either a market problem or they're getting rid of the costume blockbusters."

Han Sanping had more information than Shen Santong. It seemed that Zhang Yimou's new film was not selling well. He cursed, "These devils have never changed!"

He sighed and said, "Luckily I have you, otherwise they would have succeeded."

The road to making costume blockbusters has been cut off, which has a certain impact on Han Sanping's blockbuster plans.

Fortunately, he has the powerful general Shen Santong.

It was he who promoted Shen Santong.

Although he was only a figurehead after the project and investment were completed, people outside thought that he was the one who promoted him.

Moreover, when Shen Santong and Huayi had a conflict, Old Han also supported Shen Santong, otherwise it would have been impossible to force Huayi to bow his head.

Han Sanping had a card in his hand, so he was not panicking: "Then do you think Chen Kexin's "The Assassination of Ma" should not be filmed?"

Shen Santong said: "Why not shoot it if it's possible? The cost can't be high, and there must be big stars. The cost should be controlled within 30 or 40 million."

Han Sanping asked: "With a big star, is it possible to keep the amount within 30 or 40 million?"

Shen Sandong said: "Things are different now. The road to costume blockbusters is cut off. Overseas box office cannot make money. The box office appeal of those Hong Kong stars is questionable."

"They dare to ask for pay because they have overseas appeal. Now that Hollywood giants have cut off overseas copyrights, they should just cut their pay."

Han Sanping took a breath of cold air. Shen Santong was really generous: "Are they willing to reduce their salary?"

Shen Santong smiled and said, "If you don't want to reduce your salary, just don't act. If you don't have a job, just retire. It's a good opportunity for newcomers."

"Of course they have to find a sucker who is willing to invest money, then just play with it. Give them the overseas money, and you just need to take the mainland box office revenue."

The fear is that "The Warlords" won't be filmed.

Shen Santong really dislikes "The Warlords".

Listen to this name, "The Warlords".

What do you mean?
A token of loyalty to go north to film a movie?

And the line "My life is like walking on thin ice. Do you think I can make it to the other side?"

The word "other side" is more interesting.

The essence of the Ma assassination case was a conflict between the central government and local governments, and a certain place in the southeast was essentially a rebellion.

In his previous life, Shen Santong couldn’t understand it, but in this life, he is the director and knows clearly that every sentence has a meaning.

Who forced you?

Such a great resentment!

If you don’t want to shoot, just get out!

Dongda is not Liangshanpo.

And if it comes to a token of allegiance, you, Chen Kexin, are not worthy of it. What the hell is that?

(End of this chapter)