New Age Artists

Chapter 480: Shen Santong wants to film "Mei Lanfang", Tangtang's three views exploded!

Get up early in the morning.

Shen Santong took out "Farewell My Concubine".

Tang Yan woke up when the sun was already high in the sky.

Seeing Shen Santong watching a movie, he recognized it as Farewell My Concubine at a glance: "Why are you watching this?"

Shen Santong: "Didn't I say that we should study biographical films?"

"Comparatively, Mei Lanfang and Farewell My Concubine are somewhat similar. The protagonists are both actors, both are famous actors, and even have some overlap in time periods."

Tang Yan leaned over to take a look: "What are you comparing?"

Shen Sandong said: "Mei Lanfang was produced because Chen Kaige was hurt by the criticism after The Promise, and he retreated to his comfort zone."

"Compared with Farewell My Concubine, it seems mediocre and there is a gap, but for today's audience, the quality of Mei Lanfang is acceptable."

"Plus, The Promise was badly criticized, Chen Kaige was somewhat receptive to others' advice, and it's also a biography, so it's considered a half-way good film."

Tang Yan also felt that it couldn't compare to Farewell My Concubine: "You said, Director Chen was able to make Farewell My Concubine 15 years ago, why can't he do it now?"

"Is it true, as rumored, that his father took the photo?"

Shen Santong shook his head: "He definitely shot the movie, but he is not the only contributor to Farewell My Concubine."

"It has an original novel, and the screenwriters are Li Bihua, the original author, and Lu Wei. The actors include Zhang Guorong, Gong Li, Zhang Fengyi, and Ge You."

"The initiator of the Farewell My Concubine project is Xu Feng. Her husband died early, and she took over her husband's position as chairman and general manager of Tomson Seaview and turned it into Tomson Yipin. She has a very strong ability to operate."

Tang Yan said, "I know, I know. Last year, I insisted on not bargaining for the sky-high-priced property."

"If something happens to you, I don't know if I can help you continue your career."

As she spoke, Tang Yan sipped some milk.

Delicious.

Shen Santong was very upset and didn't want to argue with Tang Yan.

“A director is not omnipotent. Rather than being an artist, he is more like a project manager.”

"The key point is that Chen Kaige was less than 40 years old at that time and could tolerate other people's opinions."

"Chen Kaige is just a representative of the main creators, absorbing all the light and heat."

"I won the first Palme d'Or, and it's still the only one I've won after more than a decade. I've accumulated a lot of experience and connections, enough to live on for the rest of my life."

"After winning the Palme d'Or, Chen Kaige thought he was the best in the world and became the only voice in the crew."

"His films are no longer the product of a team's rational configuration, but more of his own ideas."

"I am the director and my wife Chen Hong is the producer."

"Even if his idea is just a tiny hair, it can be as heavy as a thousand pounds."

"For a steamed bun, the world can be destroyed."

Tang Yan couldn't help but laugh: "You're such a bad mouth. If I were your producer, I would definitely remind you."

Shen Santong told her not to worry: "I still remind you."

Tang Yan was speechless. I want to be a producer, but you don’t want to respond, right?
Shen Santong said with emotion: "Mei Lanfang and Farewell My Concubine are exactly like that line."

"I wanted to buy sweet-scented osmanthus and drink it with me, but it turned out to be different. I was a young man traveling."

"Even if Chen Kaige wants to prove himself again, he no longer has the golden team he had back then, and capable people know his temper. Who would be willing to come?"

Tang Yan saw him writing and drawing, and looked at his notes: "What are your thoughts on the idolization of biographies?"

Shen Santong talked about his thoughts: "People who can stand the test are very suitable for magnifying the highlights."

"Next I will experiment with the movies Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang."

"I think it's a pity for "Mei Lanfang". The foreshadowing of this play is very good, and the supporting actors' acting is also good enough, but the male lead lacks subjective initiative and there are no overly brilliant scenes."

“It’s like some novels where the author writes well about the world and the characters are well portrayed, and when the characters go with the flow, it’s very real.”

"As the plot progresses, the protagonist is squeezed and oppressed, and the more I write, the more exciting it becomes."

"But the attack and defense were different. When the protagonist became stronger, I suddenly couldn't write anymore and didn't want to write anymore, so I just rushed through it."

Tang Yan listened to Shen Santong enthusiastically explaining his ideas, and she had to say that this man was quite talented.

"If I ask you to come, what will you do?"

Shen Santong said: "If I were to do it, I would definitely not be subtle and would design a plot that exudes emotions."

"Nothing else needs to change. In fact, the pressure is even greater. When facing Japan and the United States, there are all kinds of oppression and emotions piled up. I grew a beard to show my determination and retired from the stage."

"Highlighting this regret, and then celebrating the victory of the war, performing on stage, is a release."

"But this release had to be restrained and implicit, and even repeated, until the founding of New China."

"The climax came like rain hitting banana leaves, fully demonstrating how to gain respect as an actor or actress."

"Before that, no matter how many embellishments or doctoral degrees you have, discrimination from others will always follow you."

"I have no disrespect for Mr. Mei Lanfang's ideas, but they were indeed low-class at that time."

"Not only was there discrimination, his situation was similar to that of today's celebrities, he was very popular, but all kinds of people with all kinds of purposes approached him, and it was hard to tell who was human and who was not."

"When the Kuomintang carried out currency reform, Mei Lanfang took the lead, accompanied by two friends and covered by two reporters, and took his life savings and two boxes of gold bars to the bank to exchange for gold yuan coupons."

"Well, before exchanging money, Xiao Jiang invites you to have some tea. Either you can be decent yourself or help him be decent."

"Mei Lanfang had been famous for more than 20 years at that time, and all of his high-ranking friends urged him to exchange his money for gold yuan instead of dissuading him from doing so."

"Friends? Some celebrities are approached by their own men and given so-called tickets to high society. Are they friends?" "They are just hyenas that bite around the spotlight and celebrities. They are just prey."

"From this point of view, Chen Kaige's portrayal is very good. He is passive in various ways and is pushed around by his surroundings."

"But he didn't depict what happened after 49 years."

"When the new China was founded, it was like a dividing point, a watershed. It was self-evident without any embellishment. We are the masters of the country."

"Mei Lanfang risked his life to perform for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army at the front line during the Korean War."

"This change is mutual. The environment changes him, and he also changes the environment."

"Especially after the victory of the Peninsula, when we went to the script to do exchange performances, the previous script was a kind of scrutiny and watching the show."

"The Peninsula won, an agricultural country defeated the strongest industrial country. The attitude is respect and awe, because this time Mr. Mei Lanfang has a strong motherland behind him."

"It also conforms to historical facts. In 56, Mr. Mei Lanfang went to Benzi to perform for exchange."

"It can also give the changes in the United States. Although there was no diplomatic relationship at that time, it can provide a side description."

"The changes before and after are given, and the Peking Opera is on the stage of elegance. It doesn't need to be too long, two or three sections will be enough, and the plot of ten minutes or so will make the emotions better."

"If the emotions are raised at the end, even if this movie is more literary, it won't be a problem to get 400 to 500 million at the box office."

Tang Yan was indeed very excited to hear this story, but she couldn't help but complain: "According to you, is this still an art film? With such a high box office, can it still be considered an art film?"

Shen Santong thought it made sense.

It's beautifully shot, and it's definitely not an art film.

Tang Yan saw him lower his head to write again, he looked quite handsome!
I have to say that my man's talent is unique in the industry and his views are also unique.

This is his manly teeth!
Tang Yan asked curiously, "I don't know when we can have the second Palme d'Or. Also, you are not interested in international awards at all?"

Shen Santong knew that in the future, this was the only one: "The further we go in the future, the less chance we have."

Tang Yan was puzzled: "Why?"

Shen Santong replied: "Take Farewell My Concubine for example. It is undeniable that the quality is excellent, but the timing is wrong, so it is difficult to have a chance."

Tang Yan repeated the key words: "Time point?"

Shen Santong explained: "The full name of the Palme d'Or is the Golden Palm Award of the Cannes International Film Festival."

"In fact, it is Lao Su who has fallen, the middle-haired, central and European corners that are converging."

"Farewell My Concubine won the award in October 93, when Soviet leader Su Shi passed away and the European Union was established in November of that year."

"The EU is clearly eager to return to the center of the world and become the leader of the West again."

"The United States is more straightforward. After the Soviet Union collapsed, it was able to take advantage of both sides of the Cold War, and the European Union, which was the most popular, lost its value in united front work, so it began to work on the European Union."

"The eldest brother and the third brother wanted to get rid of the second brother. The third brother was us at that time, and the second brother was the European Union."

“Plus, the film has elements of homosexuality, ten years, and reflection, and it is also rich in elements, and has award-winning quality.”

“Having quality is just a threshold. The main thing is that the ceiling is gone and the door is wide open.”

“It’s hard to do that now.”

The more Tang Yan listened, the more confused she became: "Why is it not working now?"

Shen Santong said: "There are many reasons. Cannes is not only influential in China, but also in the United States."

"It is not easy to satisfy both the United States and the United States at the same time, at least it is not easy for us."

"Moreover, the West is becoming more and more petty. If they don't kneel completely, it won't work."

"But kneeling too thoroughly is not okay."

"If you can't pass the review, you can't be nominated for awards. If you bypass the review and go for awards, you will be banned from directing."

"These foreign directors are not stupid. The local market is getting bigger and bigger. Who is willing to give it up?"

"They all say they are art films, but in fact they are all very shrewd and self-serving."

"Even if there is a fool who abandons his personal future to wave the flag and shout outside, the problem still exists."

"There is no need for the West to give an award to a banned director."

"They give awards to shape this director, to promote him, to influence us, and to use him as a lever for us."

"That is to say, even for anti-directors, the source of their influence and value comes from our land."

"I've been banned from directing, I can't be a hook anymore, I'm useless, is there any need for people to support me?"

"Also, these awards don't dare to offend us too much. Our market is developing. International film festivals, to put it bluntly, are big film gatherings and big shopping malls."

"Movie sales and sponsorships are deliberately offending us, which means they will lose the booming market of 1.3 billion people."

"91 was a turning point, with full opening. 01 was also a turning point, with some opening. This year, after the financial crisis, it has become increasingly difficult."

"Understand, as our economy develops, they decline and become more and more conservative."

"Unless the sponsors spend money, it will be difficult to win awards for the film alone, not to mention Cannes, Oscars, Berlin, or even the weakest Venice."

“The harder life gets, the more sensitive we become, the more stingy we become, and the more particular we become.”

"There are too many demands. You have to kneel, but you can't kneel too much. You have to take care of the West and meet the different demands of the countries where the award is held, such as the United States, Germany, Italy, and the United States."

"The question is, with this kind of sense and ability, why bother kneeling for an international award?"

"To put it bluntly, it's just a shitty movie. Foreign trade makes more money than movies."

Tang Yan felt that her worldview had collapsed: "Why did you say so much, but it has nothing to do with art?"

(End of this chapter)