Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 202 Cao Sheng's Suggestions

Cao Sheng smiled and shook his head, "No! I just didn't expect Director Xu to want to shoot this kind of movie this time. The Legend of Shushan should be adapted from Huanzhu Louzhu's The Legend of the Swordsman of Shushan, right?"

Xu Ke nodded, "Yes! It is indeed adapted from The Legend of Swordsman of Shu Mountain. Have you read the original novel?"

Cao Sheng nodded, "I've seen a little bit, but not all of it."

Xu Ke smiled and said, "I haven't finished reading it either. The story of this book is not very strong, but it has a very rich imagination."

Cao Sheng nodded.

Xu Ke extended his hand and gestured, "Then would you like to take a look at the script first?"

Cao Sheng nodded, opened the script in his hand and read it quickly. He had seen the movie "The Legend of Zu" more than once before, so when he read this script, he mainly paid attention to how big the script was different from the plot of the movie he had seen, so he read it quickly.

His reading speed of turning a page after a few glances made Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng frown. They looked at each other and felt that Cao Sheng did not read seriously.

Cao Sheng didn't notice their expressions.

It took him a few minutes to translate the entire script.

I found that there were dozens of hand-drawn scene pictures attached to the script.

Cao Sheng was amazed by the artistry of these hand-drawn pictures. They were beautiful! Each one was much better than the comics he remembered.

Some of these scene pictures are of palaces on top of mountains, some are of scenes inside palaces, some are of two characters holding swords fighting in mid-air... and so on.

Cao Sheng couldn't help but look up at Xu Ke, "Director Xu! Did you draw these pictures yourself?"

Xu Ke smiled and said, "Yes!"

Cao Sheng gave a thumbs up.

I have only one feeling towards Xu Laoguai's painting skills - admiration.

Not only these hand drawings.

Even the script is very beautifully done, from the character setting to the plot, giving people a very formal and grand feeling.

It makes Cao Sheng, a layman, feel very professional.

But he knew very well that after the release of this movie, even if the special effects were amazing, no more awesome fantasy movie would be made by domestic films in the next twenty years.

But the film's box office failed to recoup its costs.

It's destined to be a blood-loss movie.

Xu Ke: "Mr. Cao, what do you think of this script?"

Shi Nansheng also stared at Cao Sheng.

Although they felt that Cao Sheng did not read the script seriously, they still wanted to hear Cao Sheng's opinion at this time.

Cao Sheng looked at the couple, frowned slightly, and for a moment he didn't know what to say to them.

In fact, he himself likes the movie "Shu Shan Zhuan" very much. In his new book, he also regards "Shu Shan Zhuan" as a movie world.

If Xu Ke hadn't come to him in person to ask for advice, then he would definitely not care about it. When the movie is released, he can go to the cinema to revisit this fantasy masterpiece.

Anyway, it is Xu Ke and the investors who are losing money, not Cao.

But today, the Xu Ke couple came to Huizhou in person to ask for advice, and he knew that the movie would be a flop, so how could he not tell the truth?
However, he felt that the couple might not want to hear the truth from him.

Telling the truth may offend people.

Shi Nansheng seemed to see his embarrassment, and smiled and said, "Mr. Cao, don't worry. Since my husband and I have come to ask you for advice, we must want to hear your true opinion."

Xu Ke looked at her and smiled at Cao Sheng, "Yes! Mr. Cao, you are a professional in writing stories. We believe in your vision in this regard. You don't have to worry about anything. Please speak frankly!"

Cao Sheng nodded and looked at the script in his hand. "Then I'll be frank! The script is a good one. If you don't plan to make it into a special effects blockbuster, you should be able to recoup your investment costs."

Xu Ke's expression changed slightly.

Not going to make it into a special effects blockbuster?
He chose this script just for the purpose of making a special effects blockbuster.

Shi Nansheng was a little confused. "Mr. Cao means that The Legend of Zu is not suitable for being made into a special effects film?"

Cao Sheng shook his head. "No! The Legend of Zu is certainly suitable for being made into a special effects movie. What I mean is that this story requires too many special effects, and special effects lenses are very expensive nowadays. However, there are not many audiences who can appreciate this kind of movie, so it is difficult to recoup the cost."

He vaguely remembered the original time and space, and the total investment of this movie seemed to be as high as more than 8000 million.

What does 8000 million mean around the millennium?
How much box office revenue is needed to recover the cost?

A simple estimate based on the three-to-one method shows that the total box office must reach about 2.4 million to recover the cost.

And how many Chinese-language films have had a total box office of over 100 million these days?

Any movie that can break 10 million at the box office is considered a big hit.

Want to make more than 2.4 million with a single movie? The hope is slim.

Xu Ke nodded slightly, but waved his hand without much concern. "Whether we can recover the cost, you don't need to consider it for us. Although special effects are expensive, I have my own special effects company, so I can save some money in this regard. You just need to help us evaluate the quality of this script. In your opinion, what parts of this script need to be adjusted?"

Shi Nansheng also said: "Yes! The budget of this movie is about 4000 million. Although the pressure to make a profit is great, if the audience likes to watch this kind of fairy tale special effects blockbuster, there is still hope to make a profit."

Budget of 4000 million?
For a moment, Cao Sheng didn't know if he had remembered it wrong?
Or did they keep adding more investment after the filming? And then they kept adding more and more, until the total investment reached 8000 million?
He felt that the second possibility was more likely.

He remembered that there were rumors that the investment in several special effects blockbusters was increased again and again, and eventually dragged down a film company.

But since the couple told him not to worry about whether he could recoup his costs, he just talked about the script.

"I just took a rough look at the character settings and story plot in the script. I personally think there are a few problems. Would you like to listen?" Xu Ke and Shi Nansheng both nodded.

Shi Nansheng: "Just say it!"

Cao Sheng: “First of all, there are too many characters in this movie!”

Shi Nansheng's expression changed slightly, and Xu Ke frowned.

Cao Sheng: "I know that with many characters and a rich plot, we can create a grand story background, but the more characters there are, the more dazzled the audience will feel when watching the movie. They may not have a deep memory of each character in the movie, and it is difficult to feel involved in the short two hours of the movie."

Xu Ke seemed to be thinking about something.

Shi Nansheng nodded slightly and gestured with his hand, "Please continue!"

Cao Sheng: "There are too many side plots in the story! This is probably caused by too many characters. I personally think that when a story is conceived, it is necessary to add and enrich the content of the story little by little, but after the story is formed, it is necessary to start subtracting! Some characters and side plots that are not closely related to the main plot need to be cut off! Only in this way can the main plot and the main characters be highlighted!

Director Xu just said that the original story of "Swordsman Legend" is not very strong, and I agree with this. I also think the story of your script is a bit loose. "

Xu Ke frowned, seeming to be in deeper thought.

Shi Nansheng looked at her husband and forced a smile, "Mr. Cao! Anything else?"

Cao Sheng thought of the villain boss in the original time and space "The Legend of Shushan" - the Blood Demon of Youquan.

When he first watched this movie, he always felt that the degree of anthropomorphism of the big boss was not high enough, and most of the time he was just an image of a sea of ​​blood.

If this kind of image appeared in a novel, it wouldn't be a big problem.

But he personally feels that it would be a bit distracting for the audience if it were played on the big screen.

Because many viewers may find it difficult to imagine what the Blood Demon is?
Some viewers may not even believe in the existence of a demon like the Blood Sea.

If the audience does not believe that such a demon could exist in this world, then all the characters in the movie desperately fighting against the blood demon will seem fake and boring.

But at this time, Cao Sheng didn't want to say it anymore.

Because he could see that Xu Ke's mind was no longer on him and he was pondering something.

And Shi Nansheng didn't seem to want him to express any more opinions.

So, he smiled and shook his head, "No more! These are just two of my opinions. They may not be correct, but they are for your reference only."

What he really wanted to say was not about the script.

He personally felt that the costs of "The Legend of Zu" and "A Chinese Odyssey" could not be recovered after their release, and even their reputation would take many years to turn around.

It’s not mainly a problem of the quality of the script and the film.

It's a matter of the times.

Both of these films were way ahead of their time.

Just imagine: Who were the main movie-watching groups around 2000?

The vast majority of these viewers were born before 1980.

A large proportion of them were born before 1970.

At that time, nine-year compulsory education had not yet been fully popularized in the mainland.

The cultural level of these audiences is generally not high.

Most of them have junior high school education.

Even primary school education.

Some people have never received any education at all.

Let such a group of audiences enjoy "The Legend of Zu" and "A Chinese Odyssey"? Many audiences will not understand them.

Due to cultural differences, foreign audiences find it difficult to understand what "Xianxia" means, let alone appreciate this movie.

The reputation of these two movies gradually changed after the post-80s and 90s generations gradually learned how to use the Internet and watched them online.

As an online writer, Cao Sheng has learned the lesson of the renewal of the reader group. Therefore, when he saw the script of "The Legend of Zu", the first thing he thought of was not the script, but whether the audience group would understand such a movie if it was made now? How many audiences can appreciate such a movie?

However, the Xu Ke couple told him not to worry about whether the movie could make a profit.

So, he didn't say that.

He had no relationship with the couple before today.

He naturally wouldn't say anything they didn't want to hear.

After a moment, Xu Ke came back to his senses, smiled, stood up and stretched out his hands to Cao Sheng, "Mr. Cao! Thank you very much for your advice. I have learned a lot. I wonder if you can help me revise the script? How much do you need? Just tell me the amount!"

Seeing this, Cao Sheng quickly stood up and held his hand.

But I don't want to take this job.

Because if you want to change a script like this into the way he likes, there are too many things that need to be changed.

"Director Xu! Your script is already very complete. I saw that your name is on the screenwriter's list, so I think you can revise it yourself. I won't interfere. You should just work on it yourself! Haha."

Xu Ke smiled and didn't insist.

He just said, "Can you please list yourself as the screenwriter? We can pay you a credit."

(End of this chapter)