New Age Artists

Chapter 274 Zhang Weiping’s broken defense, pathetic and ridiculous (13)

Zhang Weiping came out to speak.

If "Curse of the Golden Flower" doesn't make any more efforts, its overseas revenue will die.

When the project of Curse of the Golden Flower was launched, Zhang Yimou publicly stated: "Shooting this kind of costume blockbuster is purely for the market, especially the overseas market."

Overseas interests take priority.

In addition to Zhang Yimou, there are other directors with successful experience in the North American and EU markets.

For the sake of overseas interests, Gong Li and Chow Run-fat, two Asian stars who are well-known overseas, were chosen to star in the film.

When "The Promise" got into trouble and fought with Hollywood giants, their brains came out.

Zhang Weiping followed Jiang Zhiqiang's advice and chose to distance himself from the film: "The overseas market for Chinese films is very small. We are different from The Promise."

"It was Harvey who bought the North American rights to Heroes. He is a very astute film producer and has a very high status in Hollywood."

"But The Promise made him lose $100 million in vain. They are shouting everywhere that Chinese directors are cheating people and Chinese movies are cheating people."

"They lost so much money, I think it's reasonable to say a few words."

Not only that.

In recent months, it has also frequently shown goodwill to overseas film distributors.

Zhang Wei commented: "Why did Zhang Yimou have to use real colored glaze to build all the scenes? Why did even the thread on the yellow robe have to be gold thread?"

"The reason is very simple. It is to show overseas film producers that this is a genuine blockbuster, not an isolated fake or inferior product."

In the face of questions from overseas film distributors, we took the initiative to respond positively.

In order to dispel the doubts of overseas film producers about Chinese films, the producers invested money and personally invited eight major Hollywood film producers.

Treat them well and have them all come to the set to watch Zhang Yimou filming in person.

Look at the design of all scenes.

As The Promise achieved certain success in North America, the overseas rights of The Banquet were also sold.

The export of Chinese films overseas has generated a series of discussions, whether the reason is the costume blockbusters or the actual discrimination.

Zhang Weiping took the initiative to defend Hollywood: "Audiences generally can't tell, but Hollywood producers are getting smarter and smarter."

"They have a very good eye. We need to look for the reasons within ourselves. It's not enough to just show some trailers now."

"We, the producers, invited them to come and see the film in person, so that they would know that this film could not be made in Hollywood at this cost, and only then would they consider buying it."

The results of it?
It was released in 200 theaters in North America, and only grossed $23 in its first week, an average of $1100 per theater.

The number of theaters was halved in the second week, and the film was on the verge of being closed in the United States, with box office revenue of only 500,000 to 600,000.

Zhang Weiping felt aggrieved, frustrated and angry.

The American devils are too bullying!
After licking the film for so long, and distancing himself from “The Promise”, and being accused of being a traitor online, wasn’t it all for the sake of making some money?

Gong Li and Zhou Runfa did not follow through on their call, but what about Zhang Yimou?

"Hero" grossed $5370 million in North America, and "House of Flying Daggers" grossed $1100 million in North America.

The plot of Curse of the Golden Flower is much more complicated than that of Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

No foreigner would not be confused by that scene.

It can be said that Zhang Yimou applied some of his ideas from the Olympics to this.

It’s just big.

Big waves, big scene.

Isn't it gorgeous? Isn't it beautiful?
Damn, all these advantages have become disadvantages.

Zhang Weiping was really vomiting blood, and he understood Chen Kaige's feelings last year.

It’s fine that the West criticizes “The Promise” for its bad plot, but it’s shameless to criticize “The Promise” for its excessive pursuit of digitalization.

Now it falls on the Golden Armor's head.

What a cliché, what an over-pursuit of Oscars.

Can't I chase you and lick you?
Do you have this kind of movie in North America? Does it have this kind of scene?

The most shameless thing is that he has a mouth on other people's body and can say good things about them as bad.

The most important thing is that their behavior is too ugly. Ever since the "The Promise" incident, they have been dragging it on for half a year, and everything was going well.

Because "The Promise" had concerns, it did not accept a copyright buyout and only distributed profit-sharing.

Okay, they cooperate.

This is how you play now, right?

Zhang Weiping angrily blasted: "The American devils are too bullying. Discrimination, naked discrimination!"

“It’s said there are 200 theaters, but most of these theaters are in conservative communities that don’t accept foreign films at all.”

"There are only a handful of theaters near Chinese communities, and about a dozen theaters in non-conservative communities showing the film. I have data on Chinese theaters, and the attendance rate is 90%. In non-conservative communities, the average attendance rate is more than 50%."

"The audience's reaction was good. They didn't want to leave until the music started at the end. Most of the audience didn't even know about this movie."

"Not to mention the Chinese community theaters, the box office of theaters in non-conservative communities has reached tens of thousands of dollars per theater, which is no worse than Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon!"

"Look, everyone, look!"

"It's really bullying, bullying our costume blockbusters, naked discrimination!"

After Zhang Weiping's criticism, it became popular.

He excitedly accepted reporters' questions and continued to make a big deal out of the matter, trying to see if he could replicate the operation of "The Promise" and recover some of his losses.

However, the questions asked by the reporters were very strange.

"How do you feel?" "Will it affect Lao Mouzi's work on the Olympics?"

"Will the next play be a costume drama?"

“Does it feel good to lose overseas?”

"Will you comfort Lao Mouzi?"

"Why did you choose Gong Li? Are Lao Mouzi and Gong Li still in love?"

No.

Zhang Weiping found that no reporter asked about the discrimination faced by the cast of Curse of the Golden Flower.

He felt somewhat familiar.

There is also some fear.

The atmosphere was too similar to that overseas. When he made his speech in the United States, no one reported it.

No media outlet raised the issue of discrimination.

It’s the same if I return to China and make my speech.

Zhang Weiping's defense was completely broken and he was stunned.

I got goosebumps and muttered to myself, "Do we have our own media? They are all American media offices in Dongda!"

It’s not that no media cares. Some media have called for an investigation into cultural discrimination, but these media don’t have the attention span.

The media that are paying attention should just ignore it.

Start a one-stop service to send "Curse of the Golden Flower" to the grave.

Zhang Yimou's last masterpiece

"After a disastrous defeat in North America, where will the costume blockbusters go from here?"

"The shame of the Chinese people and the failure overseas are all the responsibility of Zhang Yimou!"

Other than that, it's just reposting.

Reprint and report the comments of Western media.

The overall review score of "Curse of the Golden Flower" in mainstream North American media is B-, which is lower than the B of "House of Flying Daggers".

"Curse of the Golden Flower" currently has a 57% approval rating from major media on the North American "Rotten Tomatoes" website, which has not yet reached the passing level.

A total of 53 critics reviewed the film on the site, with 23 giving it a "rotten tomatoes" (negative opinion).

Compared with Zhang Yimou's previous two blockbusters that broke into Hollywood, "Curse of the Golden Flower" received relatively low support on the website.

"House of Flying Daggers", which was released in North America at the end of 2004, received a high approval rating of 88%. Among 159 film critics from authoritative media, only 19 were critical.

Film critics from outlets including Variety, Time and Entertainment Weekly spoke out in agreement.

"Hero", which was released in North America in the summer of 2004, received a support rate of 94% on the website, and only 180 out of 10 film critics expressed criticism.

In the latest issue of Time magazine's top ten best movies, "Curse of the Golden Flower" ranked tenth.

The review said: "This film directed by Zhang Yimou is stunningly gorgeous! It looks like a kung fu film, but it is actually a crazy melodrama. Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat's performances are desperate and unparalleled. You can feel the wonderful contest when two charismatic masters fight each other."

USA Today commented that Curse of the Golden Flower is "a gorgeous soap opera."

The authoritative American Film Database website (IMDB) pointed out that this was the result of Zhang Yimou's desperate pursuit of an Oscar.

Don't talk about targeting or discrimination.

The times gave honor.

The first two films, "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", sold well, but "Curse of the Golden Flower" had its own problems.

The media is neutral, objective and reasonable.

The reason has been found.

Chow Yun-fat's career was at a low point and he returned from Hollywood in frustration. His appeal was very "weak" in Asia, let alone Europe and the United States.

Zhou Jielun can only contribute in the Chinese-speaking regions, and Gong Li is similar. Female stars are not good at carrying the box office.

Then let me say something from my conscience.

The actors cannot be blamed for the box office failure, as they tried their best. The main reason for the failure was the director and investors’ lack of foresight into the market.

He takes the initiative to put the blame on himself.

Further analyze the reasons why "Curse of the Golden Flower" had poor box office performance in North America.

After experiencing blockbuster films such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "Hero", "House of Flying Daggers", "The Promise" and "The Banquet", overseas audiences have already developed a sense of familiarity with the traditional Chinese elements used in the films.

The grand-scale scenes, the use of martial arts, the gorgeous costumes...all of these make the audience lose their sense of novelty.

In short, it’s the Chinese films themselves that are responsible.

Shen Santong paid close attention to the producers of "Curse of the Golden Flower", from trying to please them to breaking their defenses.

In recent days, he has been paying attention to the progress of the matter while filming.

Zhang Weiping screamed.

He felt happy and sad at the same time.

If I had known this would happen, I would have followed his command and fought for my own interests together. The copyright of Golden Armor would have been sold long ago.

Shen Santong also discovered that Director Chen, who had no filming arrangements, kept getting closer to him.

When you're done working and taking a break.

Director Chen came over again, holding a newspaper and angrily said, "These media are too shameless. They don't even speak up for Golden Armor!"

(End of this chapter)