HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 311 [311] Intercepting Wu Baige's "Red Cliff"?
"I've realized that you're better at writing screenplays than I am."

Chen Kaige added.

"..."

Everyone was even more shocked.

He finally realized that he was a terrible screenwriter, and he actually admitted it, which is unbelievable!

In reality, Chen Kaige didn't realize that his script was bad; he simply admitted that his script was inferior to Qi Yuan's.

Even if it were another screenwriter, he would still think he is a hundred times better than them.

There is a very important reason why Chen Kaige wants Qi Yuan to write the script for his blockbuster film.

Through this collaboration on "Bouquet," he experienced the joy of working with Qi Yuan.

When he picks up a script, isn't it just to prove his talent, to get everyone to acknowledge his status as a cultured person, and to praise him as Mr. Chen, who is truly talented in literature?
He discovered that by collaborating with Qi Yuan, even without touching the script, people still praised him for his scholarly integrity.

Because Qi Yuan had previously said that he wouldn't touch the script because he didn't want to take away Qi Yuan's honor.

He changed one word, and the movie was a success. Everyone will think it's his achievement, and has nothing to do with Qi Yuan.

After Qi Yuan finished speaking, a large group of media outlets and netizens praised Chen Kaige as a literary director, which gave him a great sense of satisfaction.

If he continues to cooperate with Qi Yuan and doesn't change a single word, won't everyone praise him again?
With good box office returns, awards, and praise from everyone, what could be better than that?

Actually, there was another reason: he was never satisfied with the scripts he wrote himself.

In his previous life, he spent two years refining himself, a process that must have been painful, and the results weren't very good.

Since that's the case, why not just hand it over to Qi Yuan? Qi Yuan will write it, and he'll be in charge of filming.

The premise is that the film "Bouquet" can win awards and be a box office hit, proving that Qi Yuan's script can be recognized by the market.

His next film is a blockbuster, the kind with an investment of hundreds of millions.

He trusts Qi Yuan, but investors may not. Qi Yuan needs to demonstrate his abilities.

Qi Yuan looked bewildered.

He glanced at his attribute panel and saw that 'Strong Luck' was shining brightly again.

The system doesn't want him to act in the terrible movie "The Promise"?
“Mr. Chen, I’m afraid I can’t handle such a heavy burden.”

Qi Yuan didn't dare to agree immediately, as he wasn't sure if Chen Kaige was just acting on impulse.

"Don't underestimate yourself. I have high hopes for you. You are the most talented young person I have ever met. The script for 'Bouquet' is excellent."

Chen Kaige praised.

He has a soft spot for Qi Yuan. There's no way around it; Qi Yuan's technique for shooting music videos is exactly the same as his. How could someone so similar to him not be a genius?
Qi Yuan is so much like him, both are geniuses, so what's wrong with him having a genius write a script for him?
"..."

Qi Yuan was at a loss for words.

We'll see when the time comes. If Chen Kaige really insists on him writing it, he can always ask Lu Wei, the top screenwriter in mainland China, for help.

Lu Wei would definitely be interested in a big-budget production with an investment of hundreds of millions.

Chen Kaige's "Farewell My Concubine" and Zhang Yingmou's "To Live" are both works by this person.

By the way, after Wu Baige returned from Hollywood, the first screenwriter she approached for filming "Red Cliff" was Lu Wei.

Wu Baige said he wanted peace, but Lu Wei ignored him and wrote one according to her own ideas.

Wu Baige did not adopt Lu Wei's script, citing "incompatible historical views".

Qi Yuan was thinking, should we invite Lu Wei over and snatch "Red Cliff" away?

The story of the Three Kingdoms is known to every household, and the Battle of Red Cliffs is arguably the most exciting battle of the Three Kingdoms period.

Go to the countryside and find an eighty-year-old man who hasn't had much schooling. Ask him if he knows about Zhou Yu and Cao Cao, or the Battle of Red Cliffs. Give him a pipe and a teacup, and he can talk about it for half a day.

Red Cliff is one of the most prestigious historical sites in China, making it very suitable for a film adaptation.

It's well-known throughout the country and is a classic. If it's well-made, it'll definitely be a hit.

This top-tier subject matter was ruined by Wu Baige.

He filmed it once, and ever since then, when people mention the movie Red Cliff, the first thing that comes to mind is Mengmeng standing up and saying, "I'm not looking at you, I'm admiring you..." These ridiculous lines.

This is a classic example of ruining a good subject.

Yes, Red Cliff did not lose money; it recouped its costs through Japan and other overseas markets.

The problem is that so much money was spent domestically to invite Wu Baige to make this film, with the initial intention of resisting Hollywood blockbusters, saving face for Chinese films, and preventing Hollywood blockbusters from dominating the domestic box office charts.

As a result, despite burning through so much money and ruining the top-tier subject matter of Red Cliff, they still failed to resist the invasion of Hollywood blockbusters, barely managing to avoid losing money.

From this perspective, it was a complete failure.

It just so happens that Qi Yuan played a fake Zhou Yu in the music video for "Drunken Red Cliff".

If he snatches the role from "Red Cliff," wouldn't he be able to play the real Zhou Yu?

Zhou Yu is every man's dream. In the CCTV version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", male actors from all over the country were vying to audition for the role of Zhou Yu.

The guy who played Lü Yunfei, courtesy name Fengxian, also wanted to play Zhou Yu. When the director asked him to play Lü Bu, he was still dissatisfied, saying that he looked down on Lü Bu, a lecherous man.

Upon hearing that Diao Chan was played by Chen Hong, his expression immediately changed, saying that after a life of wandering, he had finally met a great director.

In short, the more Qi Yuan thought about it, the more he felt it had potential.

He played Zhou Yu. Chen Kaige can build a Three Kingdoms film and television city. Let's all make progress together and have a bright future.

A moment later, Third Master Han quietly pulled Qi Yuan aside and whispered, "If you can persuade him, please don't let him become the screenwriter himself."

These days, Chen Kaige has been busy with the post-production of "Bouquet" and working on new scripts.

Chen Kaige told Third Master his thoughts, but Third Master didn't understand what Chen Kaige was trying to express. He kept rambling on and on.

If Chen Kaige were to take the lead himself, the chances of it backfiring would be extremely high.

China Film Group has consistently promoted Chen Kaige.

Chen Kaige is determined to make the film, so Master Han needs to help him find the money.

China Film Group was one of the main investors in The Promise.

Of course, Master Han also didn't think Qi Yuan could handle the script of a commercial blockbuster.

That's not the point. The point is that Qi Yuan could persuade Chen Kaige to find a truly capable screenwriter and let that screenwriter write the script.

At worst, we can just add Qi Yuan's name to the screenwriter's list and tell Chen Kaige not to change a single word. Wouldn't that solve the problem?

A big-budget production costing hundreds of millions can definitely attract the best screenwriters in China.

"Third Master, that's what I'm thinking too. If Mr. Chen really asks me to write the script, I'll ask Lu Wei for help."

Qi Yuan found it amazing that he had the same idea as Master Han: to hire a master to write a script.

"That's it."

Master Han was very pleased. He thought that Qi Yuan, this young man, had good judgment, and Lu Wei was definitely one of the best candidates.

Lu Wei once said that he only writes one screenplay a year, and he has written ten screenplays that are no less than the quality of "To Live" and "Farewell My Concubine".

It's no use; even top-notch screenwriters have low status in the industry.

The screenwriter is treated like an unwanted stepmother; investors, directors, and powerful male and female leads can all rewrite the script.

Later, Wang Quan'an and Lu Wei collaborated on "White Deer Plain". When Wang Quan'an submitted the script for review, he replaced Lu Wei's script with his own and changed the epic into a story about a male-female relationship, which infuriated Lu Wei.

Wang Quan'an was only a third-rate director at the time. If a third-rate director could switch out the script of a first-rate screenwriter, you can imagine the status of screenwriters.

Qi Yuan only needs to maintain a balance. Lu Wei is responsible for writing the script, and he is responsible for preventing Chen Kaige from making changes. Isn't that enough?

(End of this chapter)