Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 75 The Invitation from the Central Academy of Drama

Chen Shou was supposed to go to the Central Academy of Drama that afternoon, but before he even got there, his interview with the Beijing Film Academy had already spread across the internet, causing quite a stir.

The two films Chen Shouzhe mentioned were his first two films, one of which grossed 1.5 billion yuan, and the other, due to some setbacks, grossed 600 million yuan.

Now Chen Shou is saying that both of these movies actually have sequels, which are undoubtedly two huge pieces of meat.

Suddenly, many people in the industry got excited, wondering if they could get a share of the profits from these two films.

The good news is that both films have sequels, and the even better news is that Chen Shouzhe may not direct, but will instead support others to become directors, so joining Shouzhe Pictures would definitely be an opportunity.

Many new directors have set their sights on Chen Shouzhe. If Chen Shouzhe can give them a chance, their future will be much smoother.

This is clearly a great opportunity to boost one's grades. Whoever makes the most of these two films will be able to use this opportunity to achieve great success in the future.

Every year, a large number of directors graduate, but very few have the opportunity to make movies. Moreover, no one can be sure that their film will make money. However, Chen Shou's two films have both been successful, making it difficult for them not to make money.

Chen Shouzhe's phone kept ringing around noon, so he turned it off. Zhou Xingxing and the others were eating lunch, occasionally glancing at Chen Shouzhe. To be honest, he was also tempted. He wanted to get involved in Chen Shouzhe's two movies, especially the sequel to the first one, Goodbye Mr. Loser. Unfortunately, it was too difficult. Everyone knew it could make money, so how could Chen Shouzhe possibly let it go?

During the meal, Bona's Yu Dong rushed over. In addition to him, Huo Wenxi and Ye Ning also came, making a total of five producers present.

Everyone present knew what the three of them were up to; they were simply trying to get close to each other.

The information Chen Shou released was too important; it consisted of projects that could make money, and they had no reason not to get involved.

Yu Dong even shamelessly said that he had a good relationship with Chen Shouzhe and should deepen their cooperation.

Wanda and Chen Shouzhe have been working together for a long time and have always been the closest partners. Ye Ning has never said anything. Yu Dong has only worked with them once. If "Kung Fu" loses money, he will definitely scold Chen Shouzhe, after all, he got on board twice over.

Chen Shouzhe neither agreed to his request nor to the Emperor's request.

Huo Wenxi said that he missed out on the first "Goodbye Mr. Loser" movie and hopes he won't miss the second one.

They added a few extra dishes to lunch because of their arrival, and Chen received a warm welcome when he went to the Central Academy of Drama in the afternoon.

“I have a question for Director Chen Shouzhe,” a female acting student stood up and said.

Chen Shouzhe took the microphone and waited for her to ask.

"I'd like to ask Director Chen Shouzhe, would you be interested in becoming a mentor at our Central Academy of Drama?"

"Pretty!"

Several school leaders nearby were secretly applauding.

It's been a common saying that the Central Academy of Drama produces actors while the Beijing Film Academy produces stars. This is a sarcastic remark, seemingly mocking the fact that all actors from the Beijing Film Academy are stars, while praising the Central Academy of Drama for producing excellent actors.

In reality, Beijing Film Academy's strength far surpasses that of the Central Academy of Drama in other aspects, especially in directing.

How many famous directors have come from the Beijing Film Academy? There are the older generation like the National Master, the great poet, and Teacher Xie, as well as Chen Shou, a leading figure of the younger generation.

No matter how well an actor is trained, the choice still rests with the director.

There are very few directors at the Central Academy of Drama who are truly outstanding. Jiang Wen is one of them, but the others are just so-so and can't compare to those at the Beijing Film Academy.

Comparing the worst acting department at Beijing Film Academy with the best acting department at the Central Academy of Drama is an insult to the Central Academy of Drama.

Outsiders might find it pleasant to see it as a denigration of the Beijing Film Academy, but from the perspective of the Central Academy of Drama, it's an insult to the academy, implying that apart from the acting department, the other departments are really not that great.

In an effort to enhance the capabilities of their other departments, the Central Academy of Drama extended invitations to these renowned directors, asking them to take up positions at the school, but unfortunately, few accepted.

If we can recruit Chen Shouzhe to the Central Academy of Drama, given his current age, he will become a shining example for the academy in the future, and will also be a blow to the Beijing Film Academy.

After all, when Chen Shouzhe graduated at the beginning of the year, the Beijing Film Academy didn't treat him very well, which was an opportunity to win him over.

The teachers were hesitant to ask questions, and the school leaders didn't know Chen Shouzhe very well. It was great that the students could ask questions, and being rejected wasn't a big deal. What if it worked out?

Everyone on and off the stage was watching Chen Shouzhe. The students stared at him with eyes like wolves, drooling.

Chen Shou was stunned for a moment; he had never thought about this question before.

be a teacher?

What can he teach? Can he mentor students?

However, he did have some ideas: to cultivate a group of professional behind-the-scenes film talents. Many people only pay attention to the stars on the screen and never care about the crew members.

All the money went to the actors, and the costumes and props were extremely perfunctory. They even used special effects for a steamed bun. They simply didn't value money.

A nail costs 11 cents, a taxi ride costs 77. How was the money spent? Why did it cost so much? The filth involved is beyond the imagination of outsiders.

"Maybe there will be a chance, but I don't have time to teach students right now," Chen Shouzhe said after thinking for a moment.

Many leaders at the Central Academy of Drama smiled. An opportunity indeed! Bringing Chen Shouzhe to the academy would be a huge benefit to the school and its students. "Director Chen, I'd like to ask you, why are you so persistent in making science fiction films, and why are your investments increasing? You even founded your own special effects company, named Little Dream. Could you explain that to us?" another student asked.

“This is Kung Fu’s home turf,” Chen Shou said.

“It’s okay, Director Chen, I also want to know the answer to this question.” Stephen Chow immediately picked up the microphone and said.

"Let me just say a few words. Regarding the box office plunder of the domestic market by foreign films, many people probably have a question: why do our films, despite having good stories, fail to make money? I guess very few filmmakers have thought about this question. Why is the box office of domestic films not high? Is it because the market is bad, or because the films are bad? I think neither. Rather, it's because no one has considered what the audience wants to see."
Movies are a visual feast. Audiences are actually quite simple: I come to watch a movie. I spend a few dozen yuan to sit for an hour or two just to enjoy a movie that makes me feel comfortable, not to receive an education. Of course, if a good movie does educate me, that's fine too.

But with ticket prices getting more and more expensive and movies getting worse and worse, how can there be high box office returns?

Going back to the question from the student earlier, why be so fixated on big-budget films?

My understanding is that it's a commonality.

For example, this student doesn't understand English, but you like English songs. Why?

In response to Chen Shouzhe's question, the student who had asked the question earlier picked up the microphone and said, "Because it sounds good."

"Yes, because it sounds good. You probably don't understand the lyrics, but the answer comes out just because it sounds good."

Do foreigners understand Chinese movie stories? Not necessarily. Take idioms, for example. Can English perfectly translate four-character idioms from our country?
Even if it's translated, it lacks the artistic conception.

Therefore, for a film to go global, the story is the core, but it also needs to have a selling point, which is the visual impact.

Why are Hollywood blockbusters so successful in the Chinese market? Because they're spoken in English, the story is easy to understand after watching, and the movies are simple, relaxing, and not tiring.

Many people call it a popcorn movie, but they have unknowingly spread their culture to our country.

If you want to spread culture, the most important thing is to knock on the other side's door, get the audience to accept your film, and be willing to go to the cinema and buy a movie ticket.

You're also viewers, do you enjoy foreign special effects blockbusters? Back then, kung fu movies went global, and now everyone in the world thinks every Chinese person knows kung fu.

Chen Shou's words silenced everyone present.

They hadn't really thought about cultural dissemination. But think about what Chen Shouzhe just said: box office revenue comes from the audience, and only by respecting the audience can you achieve box office success.

It's not that I'm afraid your movie is bad, nor that it lacks special effects; I'm afraid your movie is a jumbled mess of ideas that you insist on calling delicious, luring people into the theater only to then criticize the audience for being bad.

Typical paternalistic parenting; who cares about people like that?

They all act superior because they've been spoiled.

"Why did I establish Little Dream? It's simple. If foreigners don't make special effects for me one day, who will I ask? I want to have what others have, and I want to have what others don't have even more."

Yang Mi on the stage was the first to clap, and then everyone else followed suit.

Stephen Chow picked up the microphone and said, "It's hard for movies these days to do without special effects. Kung Fu Hustle had a lot of special effects shots in its 200 million yuan budget. If I have any more movie projects, I'll consider handing them over to Little Dream."

"I'll try my best not to disappoint you," Chen Shou said with a smile.

Afterwards, Chen Shouzhe was asked to leave by the leaders of the Central Academy of Drama and went to their office for some tea.

The content he said at the Central Academy of Drama, just like what he said at the Beijing Film Academy, has been circulated, along with videos and other materials.

When students asked Chen Shouzhe if he would ever teach at the Central Academy of Drama, and he said he had the opportunity, the leaders at the Beijing Film Academy turned pale.

This is clearly poaching talent, but when I think about the grievances Chen Shouzhe suffered at the Beijing Film Academy, how a great director didn't receive the title of outstanding graduate, it's a slap in the face for the Beijing Film Academy itself.

This even led to Chen Shouzhe being surrounded and attacked by a group of people. The trigger for all of this was his graduation defense at the Beijing Film Academy.

The Beijing Film Academy is still occasionally brought up and criticized, especially under news articles about Chen Shouzhe, where comments often accuse the academy of being blind to talent.

"We can't let him teach at the Central Academy of Drama. If he's going to be a teacher, he should come back to the Beijing Film Academy."

"Ask his teacher, Wang Hongwei."

"Yes, let Wang Hongwei talk to him and invite him back to teach at Beijing Film Academy."

The Beijing Film Academy noticed this, but onlookers focused on Chen Shouzhe's point about cultural dissemination, and many people started a debate under Chen Shouzhe's post.

"Science fiction is a foreign thing, and we should fight back with our own culture. He himself makes science fiction movies, and what kind of behavior is that?"

"Reverse propaganda? That's hilarious. Using foreign sci-fi movies to open the doors of other countries and promote their culture?"

"Who says science fiction is only from abroad? Does that mean we only have traditional culture and no futuristic culture? Who said that?"

"Those guys upstairs are all bad people. If we don't develop technology, do we want to go back to ancient times and fight the enemy with spears?"

"You guys are the joke. Science fiction is from abroad? Why don't you say the sun is from abroad? It's true that the moon is rounder and the air is sweeter abroad, right?"

(End of this chapter)