Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 9: Fooling! Keep Fooling!

Science fiction is a very unpopular subject in domestic films, but domestic filmmakers have also shown a strong interest in science fiction themes.

From "Rhapsody of the Ming Tombs Reservoir" to "Little Sun", to "The Death Light on the Coral Island" and the famous children's science fiction film "Pili Baby", domestic science fiction actually started very early, but unfortunately, due to the backwardness of technological development and insufficient ideological liberation, domestic science fiction started very early, but... it seems that it didn't catch up.

The development of domestic science fiction has almost come to a standstill.

Zhang Zhao has been in the film, television and media industry for his entire life, so he must be someone who knows what's good. After watching "The Night the Comet Came", he concluded that this film was different from previous domestic science fiction films, and that the director was very smart.

He knew he didn't have the money to shoot robots, aliens, spaceships, etc., so he played with science fiction concepts.

This movie doesn't have any special effects, but he plays with the concept of parallel universes very well, making it very convincing.

If Zhang Zhao remembers correctly, this should be the first time that the concept of a parallel universe appears in a domestic film.

Putting aside the science fiction concept, just looking at the movie itself, the quality is also acceptable.

I can't say the acting is that good, but at least it didn't go out of character. All 8 actors completed their roles. The heroine wore a vest throughout the whole process. Although she was not given special shots, her plump chest was very pleasing to the eye. It was really well wiped.

The narrative rhythm is also fine. As long as you watch the necessary foreshadowing in the first ten minutes, the rest will be very interesting. Although it is just eight people chatting in a house, everything happens and progresses in an orderly manner, and the emotions are very mature.

This doesn't seem like the quality of a debut work from a college graduate.

Zhang Zhao had a momentary feeling that this movie was not shot by Li Qiutang: "Could it be someone else who shot it for you?"

But this is almost impossible to happen. Directors who are skilled in storytelling are in short supply in any country. How could a director who can make such a film give the opportunity to become famous to a college student who has not yet graduated?

From a filmmaker's perspective, "The Night the Comet Came" is a good movie, but Zhang Zhao is also the owner of a film company, and he has to look at this movie from a market perspective.

There are no big directors, no big stars, and no big scenes.

It’s difficult to ship products without any quality assurance.

Zhang Zhao didn't say anything after watching the movie, and Li Qiutang sat aside and didn't say anything either.

After a long pause, Zhang Zhao said, "Leave this film with me first. I'll show it to other people in the company and give you a reply in a few days."

In order to dispel Li Qiutang's doubts, Zhang Zhao added: "The film is a good one. I personally like it very much. I showed it to other people in the company to convince them to agree. After all, it's a big company like this. I can't just decide which film to buy."

Li Qiutang expressed her understanding. Zhang Zhao's words made Li Qiutang feel at ease. What he meant was that he personally agreed to release "The Night the Comet Came" and would show it to other people in the company, and he would also try his best to persuade other senior executives to agree to release the film.

As soon as Li Qiutang stepped out of the shiny building with his left foot, he felt something was wrong.

I was so happy when I went downstairs just now that I haven't talked about the issuance fee yet.

Li Qiutang has not yet expressed to Zhang Zhao her sincerity in being willing to bear part of the publishing costs.

With this sincerity, Zhang Zhao felt more confident when talking to the company.

Now that someone had taken over the issuance, Li Qiutang was free to do another thing - attracting investment!

Yes, the filming has been completed, and he still needs to raise investment.

The filming and production cost of "The Night the Comet Came" was 82 yuan, and Li Qiutang paid more than 50 yuan out of his own pocket. Without attracting investment, how could he get his personal money back?

If he doesn't attract investment, who will he collect his director's fee from?

If we don’t attract investment, where will the subsequent issuance fees come from?
You won’t ask Li Qiutang to pay for it, right?

The first lesson in production management: don’t use your own money to make a movie.

This cannot be considered shameless; this is the consensus formed as the film industry has developed.

Entrepreneurs have to raise funds and borrow money to start their businesses, so why can't filmmakers use other people's money?

But Li Qiutang did not have a producer to attract sponsorship and investment for her. Several producers of "The Night the Comet Came" were all named as school teachers. Li Qiutang could not ask them to help her raise money.

Teacher Jiang Wei has already helped him so much, and he feels embarrassed to trouble the teacher again.

Fortunately, Li Qiutang’s studio was not run in vain. Over the years, he shot commercials and promotional videos for many companies and got to know many people.

He wanted to find a coal boss, but the coal bosses were not fools. He was unknown now, so why would the coal bosses invest in him, not to mention that he didn't know any coal bosses. So he went to Qilu, where he knew a boss who was engaged in greenhouse vegetable business. The scale was not small, and Li Qiutang had filmed a promotional video for his company at an exhibition.

This boss is a generous, talkative and humorous person, but he hates that he did not receive much education when he was young. So after he became successful in his career, he liked to show off his writing skills and even managed to get himself the title of director of the local calligraphy association and member of the writers' association.

Li Qiutang thought of this boss first.

"Just say you're Director Li, the one who shot the promotional video for your company." Li Qiutang was stopped by the receptionist, who told her that she was not allowed to see the chairman without an appointment.

When I was shooting promotional videos before, my business card still said I was the general manager, but in less than two years I became the chairman.

The receptionist did not make things difficult for Li Qiutang and actually called in to report.

"Mr. Li, excuse me, please come in, Mr. Zhang is in the office."

Li Qiutang nodded in thanks and walked forward.

When I pushed open the office door, I saw Director Zhang sitting in his boss chair, wearing glasses and reading a book.

Director Zhang heard the sound of Li Qiutang pushing the door, looked up and said with a smile: "Director Li, long time no see." Then he took off his glasses, put down his book, stood up and invited him to sit down.

The two sat down, and Li Qiutang took out his gift: "This was given to me by someone. They said it was authentic Turkish stuff. I don't smoke this stuff, so it would be a waste to keep it with me. I brought it specially for you, please don't dislike it." This was a box of exquisite pipes and tobacco leaves.

"Who would dislike this?" Boss Zhang waved his hands happily. He had never smoked foreign cigarettes before, so he opened the box and wanted to try it.

Li Qiutang doesn't smoke, but knows how to brag: "Nowadays, people who have a little money smoke a cigar to show off, which is vulgar! What do rich people smoke? They smoke a pipe! That's so cool!"

As he was speaking, the secretary knocked on the door and brought in two cups of tea.

Although Boss Zhang is a pretentious person, he is not a fool. It is impossible for Li Qiutang to come to see him for no reason: "Is Director Li coming to Qilu for something this time?"

Li Qiutang said calmly, "A new movie is about to start filming, and I came to Qilu to scout the location. I thought this is your boss Zhang's territory, so I came to take a look. I'll be leaving soon."

Mr. Zhang asked curiously, "What kind of movie is this?"

"This is a science fiction movie. Do you understand what science fiction means? It's about science. Those robots, spaceships, and the outer space are science fiction." Li Qiutang began.

"I know, I know. You also shoot movies about robots and aliens?" Mr. Zhang said.

"I won't shoot it." Li Qiutang knows how to act. "Those things have been filmed to pieces by others. What's the point of me shooting them again? I'm shooting parallel universes!"

"What?"

"Parallel time and space is..." Li Qiutang explained the parallel time and space to Mr. Zhang again.

"According to what you said," Mr. Zhang took a puff of his pipe, "in another universe, I might not be a greenhouse vegetable grower?"

"It is entirely possible that in another universe, Mr. Zhang could be the richest man in the world."

"Hahaha!" This flattery is satisfying. "Your parallel universe is quite interesting."

Li Qiutang then began to talk about movies, starting with Fei Mu and going all the way to Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige: "Their generation of directors is called the fifth generation. The eldest brother of the fifth generation is Director Tian, who is also my teacher." Li Qiutang was not lying, he really had taken Teacher Tian's class.

Then there are Wang Jiawei, Hou Xiaoxian, Cai Mingliang, Edward Yang and others from Hong Kong and Taiwan: "Li An is half a Taiwan director, he is from Hollywood."

Then came Hitchcock, Bergman, Godard and others, and film intersected with fine arts, sociology, philosophy and other disciplines. Li Qiutang was as academic as she could be, as obscure as she could be: "The Dutch painter Rembrandt's technique of lighting from outside the picture had a significant impact on the creation of drama and film..."

He even talked about the influence of Zen Buddhism on Chinese culture and its performance in the movie. If you don't believe it, you will be confused.

Then back to science fiction, Kubrick and Tarkovsky must be mentioned.

Li Qiutang's goal of knocking the other person unconscious was definitely achieved. Boss Zhang, who was sitting on the side, was stunned as he listened.

He really didn't understand, but he felt that movies were really an art and a philosophy!
Li Qiutang looked at his watch, half stood up and said, "It's getting late, I have to go. I have lunch with a few investors at noon to discuss investing in my film."

Boss Zhang was anxious and grabbed Li Qiutang, "What's there to eat with them? Come eat here. Hey, Xiao Deng, let's book a private room tonight. You and a few vice presidents can come over. We'll welcome Director Xiao Li. I didn't treat you to a good meal last time when we were shooting the promotional video. I'll make it up to you this time. Hahahaha!"

(End of this chapter)