Huayu: A Commercial Director

Chapter 82 Mainstream Commercial Films
"Director Huang."

Chen Shouzhe looked at the man in front of him, whose temples were already gray. He was only in his early fifties. He often saw him on TV when he was young in the last century. He did not appear on the Spring Festival Gala stage last year, and many people said that something had happened to him.

He later explained that he was too busy with work and didn't have time to participate in the intensive rehearsals for the Spring Festival Gala, so he gave up appearing on the show.

They came knocking before the New Year was even over.

Chen Shouzhe had no choice but to rush back to Shouzhe Film Studio in Chaoyang from Xiao Xiaomeng.

The eight major film studios are outdated. In fact, many of the big directors in the industry today come from the old film studios. Even a great director like Guo Shishi was a cinematographer at the Guixi Film Studio.

In those days, film studios mainly focused on propaganda when making movies, conforming to the propaganda of the time. They never considered the issue of recouping costs, so the eight major film studios always lost money. It wasn't until after the reform of private enterprises that private film companies emerged, and the eight major film studios were no longer suited to the trends of the new era.

Film studios only occasionally reappear during major holidays; nobody remembers them anymore.

It was thanks to Director Huang that young people learned that the eight major film studios were still around.

Unlike China Film Group, which belongs to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the eight major film studios belong to the military. They are film companies under two completely different departments.

This also explains why many war films rely on the eight major studios. Only they can mobilize those guns and cannons, and if you want to use those things, you have to negotiate with the eight major studios.

Chen Shouzhe immediately understood that this person's visit was probably related to what he had said at China Film Group.

"Director Chen, hello there."

Factory Director Huang, dressed in a suit and tie, shook hands with Chen Shou in a very formal manner.

"Master, you didn't tell me you were coming, making you wait so long. It's my fault, my fault," Chen Shou said, bowing his head in apology.

"Haha, you actually called me 'Master'? But your Master and I do have a very good relationship," Director Huang said affectionately, holding Chen Shouzhe's hand.

Chen Shouzhe's master was Yu Qian, and his grandmaster was Shi Fukuang, who was also in the railway art troupe. Although Director Huang performed sketches, he had a close relationship with crosstalk performers and was of the same generation. It was only natural for Chen Shouzhe to call him grandmaster, and it would also help to build a closer relationship.

"Master, you've come to see me?"

"I heard you're planning to make a patriotic blockbuster, and a rather subversive one at that. You know the August First Film Studio isn't what it used to be; young people don't like patriotic movies anymore. The August First Film Studio is eager to attract more young people to the cinema. Times have changed; young people today don't like the old movies. You're a young person, and you're currently the highest-grossing person in China. I've heard you have a Midas touch, so I've come to learn from you," Director Huang said.

Chen Shou could sense that Director Huang was under a lot of pressure; he was only in his early fifties, but his temples were already gray.

When Chen Shouzhe was talking with Han Sanping at China Film Group, Han Sanping said that nowadays, apart from patriotic films, it is difficult for traditional patriotic films to have high box office. Moreover, to put it bluntly, the box office of patriotic films is mostly due to private screenings, and some are even delayed for three months.

Under those conditions, the box office was only a few hundred million, which shows that not many people watch this type of movie anymore.

Those days of having no movies to watch are over. With so many choices, who's so tired after work that they'd rather spend money at the cinema for a lesson?

It's not that young people don't like watching patriotic films, but that patriotic films can no longer be made in that way.

Foreign countries also have patriotic films, and the protagonists in their patriotic films are like gods. Who wouldn't like that?

The problem with our country's mainstream films is that they are too didactic, which is why young people don't like watching them and they can only be praised at so-called award ceremonies.

In reality, it's just the same people having fun and entertaining themselves.

If we want young people to go to the cinema to watch war movies, we should change our thinking, reduce didactic content, use more exciting plots to make the audience like it, and not be afraid to create heroes. Let's learn about our predecessors, who wasn't a god of war?

So back in 12, he talked to Han Sanping about making a different kind of patriotic film to attract more viewers to go to the cinema voluntarily and accept patriotism in a subtle way, instead of forcing you to be patriotic, which would only incite rebellion.

If you watch American movies closely, you'll easily notice the ubiquitous Stars and Stripes. This is a subtle influence, telling the world how powerful they are.

"I do have a different opinion on patriotic films. Patriotic films are definitely going to be made. If we can use commercial methods to make patriotic films, the audience's acceptance will be much higher," Chen Shou said.

"Using commercial methods to shoot a patriotic film?" Director Huang kept repeating this phrase.

Chen Shou watched his movements and took out a cigarette from his pocket.

"I still don't understand, how can a patriotic film be shot using commercial techniques?"

"Shedding the stereotype of traditional, rigid preaching, this film features large-scale investment, grand war scenes, and a fast pace. It avoids overly heavy political preaching, integrates positive energy into the plot, and subtly influences the audience, preventing aesthetic fatigue and allowing them to understand the underlying sentiments of the story amidst the tense and exciting plot."

After hearing Chen Shouzhe's words, Director Huang was stunned for a long time, until he was burned before he realized what was happening.

"It seems you already have an idea, Director Chen, no, Shou Zhe. Since you call me 'Master Chen,' I'll accept it. You mentioned a mainstream commercial film, can it be made? I'll go to China Film Group and several other film studios. We'll try our best, even if it means selling everything we own. If we succeed, then mainstream films will have another way out in the future." Director Huang said excitedly, holding Chen Shou Zhe's hand.

Chen Shouzhe had long considered making a patriotic commercial film, but he didn't expect it to happen so soon. However, he didn't have any film plans this year, so he could give it a try. If he started preparing now, according to the patriotic script he had, filming wouldn't be possible until the end of the year.

"How about I give you the script in a while?" Chen Shou said.

"You have a script?" Director Huang asked with delight. This was an unexpected bonus. Chen Shouzhe's ability to turn lead into gold lay in his scripts, and he hadn't expected that Chen Shouzhe had prepared them in advance.

"I should have come to find you sooner."

"I was just talking nonsense, I didn't expect you to hear me," Chen Shou said awkwardly.

"It's alright, it's not too late. Since you're prepared, show it to me as soon as possible. I'll take care of the investment issue." "No need, I'm not worried about finding investors for my film."

"That's true. I forgot you're a big commercial film director. People should be lining up to give you money for your movies. Remember to leave some for the August First Film Studio."

"No problem, how about you be the producer?"

"If there's nothing wrong with the script, of course I can do it."

The two chatted for a while longer in the office before Director Huang left due to work reasons. Before leaving, he asked Chen to take the script to the August First Film Studio to find him.

"I didn't expect to be involved in a patriotic film so soon." Chen Shouzhe felt overwhelmed; he knew he couldn't handle so much work by himself.

He's currently overseeing the post-production of The Martian, and plans for subsequent films need to be adjusted.

“I can’t just sit idle now, what should I film?” Chen Shou has been working on post-production since filming “The Martian” in the second half of last year. The team is all new, so it takes longer. Now it’s almost finished, and he has nothing to do, so he has to find something to do.

As we enter February, the news that started last month has begun to take shape this month.

After all, he's a big shot in the film and television industry, and the entire industry is watching closely when this position changes hands.

Rumors of Han Sanping's resignation first circulated in January, and many people initially thought it was a joke.

But as time went on, China Film Group didn't say anything, and more and more people believed that things were about to change drastically.

The former bandit leader is about to step down.

There is also a bandit named Shandiao in this world.

Many veteran filmmakers find it unbelievable that Han Sanping is really leaving. The once powerful Han Sanping is gone, so who will be next? Who will take his place?

While the outside world was buzzing with discussion, the bigwigs in the industry already knew that the head of China Film Group had changed since January of this year.

On the surface, it's still Han Sanping, but in reality, it's been replaced by the original Deputy Director, and the title of Deputy Director can be dropped; now it should be called Director La.

When Chen Shouzhe went to the United States for cooperation in 2012, La Dong went with him. At that time, La Dong was in charge of import and export films, but unexpectedly, the film ended up in his hands.

When Chen Shouzhe found out, he was stunned for a moment. Luckily, he knew the person. If it had been someone he didn't know, he would have had to rely on Vice Chairman Wang from now on.

Fortunately, he had a good relationship with Director La, and Director La was not as radical as Master Han. Chen Shou could imagine how difficult this year's film market would be.

Chen Shouzhe took the prepared script to the August First Film Studio and talked with Director Huang for a long time. Finally, they decided to make it into a film, and they would bring in China Film Group. However, the film was still in the planning stage, and Chen Shouzhe needed to go to China Film Group.

"Director Chen is here, come in quickly."

Inside the China Film Studio, Chen Shouzhe arrived at Han Sanping's office, which was already quite empty. Han Sanping was still the nominal chairman, but in reality, the past three months had been a period of handover.

There's a feeling of people leaving and the place growing cold; it's very deserted here.

The secretary poured Chen Shouzhe a cup of tea and left. Han Sanping smiled and said, "Are you not used to it?"

"It takes some getting used to," Chen Shou nodded.

"It's normal to feel uncomfortable. I'm not used to it either. I thought I could work for a few more years," Han Sanping said with a frank smile.

"What will Chairman Han do in the future?"

"I'm not old enough to retire and go fishing yet. Maybe I'll be rehired when the time comes."

"That's good."

"Why did you come to see me?"

“I wrote a script, and Director Huang contacted me a few days ago. I plan to film it at the end of the year.”

"Oh, that patriotic commercial film you mentioned before?" Han Sanping's eyes lit up.

"Yes, would you like to take a look?"

"Great, did you bring the script?"

"Brought it."

Chen Shou handed him the script and explained it to him for a long time.

"It's a pity, I'm no longer the chairman. You can take this to Chairman La later, he'll handle it." Han Sanping put down the script with regret. In his opinion, Chen Shou, a commercial director, was able to shoot a patriotic film. If he had done it earlier, perhaps he wouldn't have had to retire now.

Chen Shouzhe didn't know what to say, so he took the script and went next door.

(End of this chapter)