Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 124: Real or Fake? Chen Kaige's Complexity

“Chairman Han, it’s not that Chen Kaige can’t direct it, but someone has to be able to keep him in check. My script can’t be touched. But you know… his movies always have that kind of independent thinking that’s unique to artsy types.”

Cao Zhong hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Thinking independently is not like your usual style. If you have any concerns, just say so."

Han Sanpin narrowed his eyes.

"He keeps having relapses."

Cao Zhong coughed twice and continued, "He always has his own artistic obsessions, though it's unclear what he's obsessing over."

“Back when it was ‘Farewell My Concubine,’ it was his father who pressured him, which gave him the empty honor of winning the Palme d’Or,” Cao Zhongdao said. “Moreover, I have always believed that the real reason this film won the award was because the cause of death of the actor just happened to fit one of the characteristics of the triple structure.”

Upon hearing this, Han Sanpin stopped Cao Zhong from speaking, saying, "We understand this better than you do, otherwise we wouldn't have banned it."

Cao Zhong continued, "I don't deny that Chen Kaige is capable, but his true artistic level disappeared long after 'Yellow Earth'."

Han Sanpin couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted.

"Yellow Earth was Chen Kaige's first film."

Cao Zhong hummed in agreement: "I know."

"Yellow Earth was a groundbreaking display of Chen Kaige's talent, King of the Children was the pinnacle of his camera work and composition, and then that was it. His father forced him to make Farewell My Concubine, which extended his career for a long time. As for what the effects of his subsequent films, such as The Emperor and the Assassin, Together and The Promise, Mr. Han knows better than I do."

Han Sanpin felt like he was going crazy; Little Eagle was too arrogant!

The arrogant Han Sanpin was speechless. His lips trembled, but he didn't even make a sound.

The main problem is that there's no way to refute it.

The film "The Emperor and the Assassin" had a budget of 70 million yuan. The script underwent numerous revisions over eight years, and Lu Wei, the screenwriter of "Farewell My Concubine," was consulted for its quality control. Lu Wei pointed out more than 20 flaws, but Chen Kaige rejected all of them. In the end, the film grossed 10 million yuan at the box office.

"Together" grossed 1200 million at the box office.
"The Promise" set a precedent for a 20-year agreement, and even led some to believe that "Farewell My Concubine" was actually directed by Chen's father.

Fortunately, Chen Kaige built the Qin Palace, and the film and television base was later used to shoot "Hero", so it can be said that the resources were put to good use.

Han Sanpin, having thought of this, could only listen.

Although he really wanted to help Chen Kai, he couldn't bring himself to speak up after Cao Zhong said that.

"Oh right, and that Hollywood movie too." Cao Zhong suddenly remembered something. "The story was disjointed, the pacing was nonsensical, and the suspense was hollow."

"You mean 'Kill Me Gently'?"

Han Sanpin immediately realized which movie Cao Zhong was referring to. This movie was released in the United States in 2002 and was only urgently released in mainland China at the beginning of last year.

At the time, "The Promise" was criticized so harshly that Han Sanpin thought that even a worthless film should be put to use, so he released the film.

The total box office was only three or four million.

It's clear that Chen Kaige still has a small group of die-hard fans.

“Yes, that’s the one.” Cao Zhong smiled and said, “This film was free from censorship and restrictions, and it was also Director Chen’s first attempt to break into Hollywood. And what happened? At the time, the film had an investment of 3000 million US dollars, and the entire process from preparation to filming was kept secret. I remember that in the end, the box office was only a little over 700 million US dollars.”

Cao Zhong had seen the movie, but he hadn't really thought about it. He remembered that apart from the fact that the female lead, Heather Graham, was incredibly beautiful, there was nothing else to talk about in the film.

It's basically an Category III film! It's incredibly explicit!

Oh, right, it's also from MGM!
From this perspective, Chen Kaige is more capable than John Woo.

At least Wu Baige proved herself, while Chen Kaige proved that he really is a terrible storyteller.

Han Sanpin looked slightly embarrassed.

I told you to just say it, but you didn't have to be so blunt!

True artistic merit disappeared after "Yellow Earth," and then there were the comments made by Cao Zhong and others about Chen Kaige.

Even Han Sanpin felt embarrassed by what he said, and his face turned red.
Why don't you just say he had his most impressive debut and then his career has been declining ever since? Why beat around the bush?

Cao Zhong, of course, had no idea what Han Sanpin was thinking on the other end of the phone. He continued...

"Just now, Chairman Han mentioned 'The Big Parade,' so you must know very well why Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige parted ways because of this film, right?"

“Chen Kai told me before that it was because Zhang Yimou was somewhat ‘collectivist’ and ignored the struggles and awakenings of individuals within the collective.”

Han Sanpin certainly knows this.

“But this is a patriotic film,” Cao Zhong said. “Patriotic films can certainly depict individual struggles and awakenings, but they cannot be presented from a macro perspective. ‘Nanjing Photo Studio’ has struggles, awakenings, storytelling, and commercial appeal because its perspective is on ordinary people. But the storytelling in the film he made was okay, but the individuality was too prominent. He even forgot what he was trying to film. He was too fixated on his personal story.”

Cao Zhong didn't mention that this film was even considered by some American film critics to be a film with LGBT themes, and Chen Kaige was even convinced of this, believing that he had indeed unconsciously projected related themes. The word "gay" has been tarnished, also because of the Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.

In fact, there were some people who intentionally stigmatized people in that era, but many people were forced to turn a pure concept into a subtle form of replacement.

But when the conversation reached this point, Han Sanpin said, "Then I'll look for other directors."

Cao Zhong then asked, "You can ask Brother Chen Kai. If he wants to film it, it's not impossible."

"How to say?"

“I will find him a partner who can take the lead, but he cannot improvise or make any changes to the script or scenes.”

Han Sanpin said, "I'll give it a try."

Cao Zhongdao said, "I expect the box office of the movie 'Li Yannian, who is both literate and martial' to reach at least 300 million yuan. You can also tell Chen Kaige this."

Han Sanpin was stunned for a moment.

He had originally wanted to ask Cao Zhong about Hollywood, but upon hearing this, Han Sanpin's eyes immediately sharpened.

"You wait for my news."

……

Shanghai, Chedun Film and Television Base.

Filming location of "Mei Lanfang".

The Nanjing Road street at Chedun Film and Television Base is filled with buildings from the Republican era. The weather was nice, and the warm sun shone down, casting a peaceful glow on the wooden window frames of the buildings.

"Amin, get ready, we're about to film a major scene between you and Zhang Ziyi."

Chen Kaige was arranging the announcements for the next day, his brows furrowed and his eyes gloomy.

Although the internet is in chaos, it has nothing to do with Chen Kaige. In fact, Chen Kaige learned a lot from "Nanjing Photo Studio". In the movie, there was a scene about the Japanese invasion of China and the fact that he was not going to perform on stage. Chen Kaige had a vivid imagination and even wished that Mei Lanfang would recite a few poems.

Chen Guofu and Zhang Jialu forcefully held him down.

But Chen Kaige was clearly unconvinced.

Therefore, the atmosphere on set was not good.

Suddenly, the phone rang.

Chen Hong quickly handed over her phone, looking uneasy, and said, "The screenwriters are right. After all, Mr. Mei Lanfang was a Peking Opera singer; it's a bit strange for him to recite poetry."

"You don't believe me either?" Chen Kaige said, feeling wronged.

"Chairman Han is on the phone." Chen Hong didn't bother to explain. "Call him back first."

Chen Kai suppressed his dissatisfaction, answered the phone, and then his face became even more gloomy, even turning ashen, with the veins on his hands bulging slightly.

"Cao Zhong wrote the script, wants me to direct it, and even wants me to hire someone to back me up? He won't let me revise his script?"

Chen Kaige's voice grew louder and louder, and several actors who were preparing for the announcement looked over curiously.

The first word that reached their ears was Cao Zhong, and the second was Director Chen coming to film.

Chen Kai was filled with grief and indignation, and shouted angrily.

"Chairman Han, this call from you really chills me to the bone. I'm a Palme d'Or winner, what reputation does Cao Zhong have? He only made a little over 400 million at the box office, right? He just made money by selling the name 'Nanjing,' and his second movie was still about Nanjing, wasn't it?"

What does a mere kid know about art?
"Last time you pinned me down, I was already being quite lenient with him. And now he dares to criticize me?"

Chen Kaige couldn't hold back any longer. "Chairman Han, how dare a young man insult me ​​like this? How can you ask for my opinion? What am I to you?"

Han Sanpin sighed, "What's the rush? Let me finish what I have to say."

Chen Kaige's brows furrowed even more deeply. "Go on," he said.

"Cao Zhong said that if he finds someone to help you with the production, the box office is expected to exceed 300 million yuan."

Upon hearing the words "three hundred million," Chen Kaige's expression became somewhat complicated, but his emotions calmed down slightly.

He intended to say something to save face, but in the end he only asked four words.

"real or fake?"

(End of this chapter)