Run, Best Actor!

"They can actually make a sci-fi movie?"

Han Shanping sat in front of the computer, with "The Thinker in a Wheelchair" playing on the screen.

He has already watched this short film three times, but he still wants to watch it again.

Most people are drawn to the comedic parts at the beginning, or the shocked expressions on Liu Tai-le and his companion's faces at the end.

While the CG effects of the interstellar war in the latter half were accepted by the public, they could only be rated as slightly above average.

After all, although Guo Fan and the special effects company had put in a lot of effort, spending over a million yuan on this segment, it was still a long way from the level of current Hollywood blockbusters.

But Han Shanping watched this part and loved it to bits.

Although the general public felt that this aspect was only passable and not amazing, most of the reviews were positive.

Because everyone can see the dedication the filmmakers put into the production; they really spent the money wisely and didn't cut corners just because it's a short film.

It's completely different from those bad movies that used science fiction as a front.

If we don't treat the public as fools, then the public will naturally give us good reviews.

Take this as encouragement; I hope you can do even better in the future.

These positive reviews from the public are precisely what Han Shanping values.

"This proves that mainland China is absolutely capable of making a science fiction movie!"

Han Shanping affirmed: "It's just that directors in the past didn't put their hearts into it. If they didn't make a good film, they would deliberately try to get away with it. They forgot that our people are well-educated enough. Whether the film is good or not is another matter. Whether they put their heart into it or not is obvious at a glance!"

If this continues, all domestically produced science fiction films will naturally be classified as bad films.

"Sigh, if only Guo Fan had been born a few years earlier!"

"It should be that Liu Taile was born a few years earlier."

His secretary, Han Zheng, couldn't help but correct him, saying, "Without his investment in filming this kind of work, Guo Fan wouldn't be able to show his talent."

"Yes, you have a point."

Han Shanping nodded, then sighed softly, "But it's too late to say anything now, time waits for no one..."

Han Zheng remained silent, his gaze towards Han Shanping filled with a hint of heartache.

Han Shanping, who is respectfully called "Third Master" in the circle, will turn 60 next year, at which time he should officially retire.

The truth is, although he is still the chairman of China Film Group, he has gradually stepped down to the second line and there are some things he can no longer manage.

In the past, his word carried great weight, but now it doesn't carry as much weight anymore.

The original timeline was March 17, 2014, when Han Shanping officially stepped down as chairman of China Film Group Corporation, and then continued to work at China Film Group Corporation as a director.

But at that time it was a re-employment after retirement, and afterwards he was completely no longer involved.

So in the last few days before his retirement, Han Shanping has been desperately trying to give Chinese films another boost.

In the past, he would only be credited for one or two domestic films each year, but in the last two years he has produced 17 films!

This truly represents the "final madness."

My main goal is to help directors make more genre films.

To help domestically produced commercial films become more mature.

Ultimately, Han Shanping genuinely wants domestic films to be good, unlike many other countries where their films have completely lost ground to Hollywood blockbusters, and the domestic film market has become a playground for Hollywood to exploit.

After all, given the habits of Chinese civilization, it is unacceptable for China to be inferior to foreign countries in any industry.

Yes, it's "foreign countries" again, China's lifelong enemy.

No matter how later generations evaluate Han Shanping, whether they call him a dictator or stubborn, they cannot deny his outstanding contributions to Chinese cinema—he truly nurtured the then-weak Chinese film market!

Unfortunately, later generations were unworthy of respect, only willing to make easy money by relying on the genres pioneered by their predecessors, thus ruining the upward momentum of domestic films.

But this is all for later.

Has the list of the first batch of directors to go to the US for the China-US film talent exchange program been finalized?

Han Shanping suddenly asked.

"It's still being drafted, but it's already decided that there will be four people who will be sent to Paramount for training."

Han Zheng immediately replied, "We have currently selected three directors: 523, Zhang Yibai, and Zhang Meng. We are still selecting one more person."

Because coordination among all parties is still ongoing, it is expected that the trip will not be able to take place until the second half of next year.

"Send someone to investigate and add Guo Fan to the list."

Han Shanping said in a deep voice, "This is a talented person, someone who can make good science fiction films. He needs to learn from Hollywood's advanced experience so that he can truly make a science fiction blockbuster that belongs to our China in the future!"

"Yes, Mr. Han, I'll arrange it right away."

Han Zheng nodded in agreement.

The China-US film talent exchange program is a move made out of necessity by the Chinese side, mainly for the purpose of cultivating young filmmakers.

Since February 2012, when the WTO Memorandum of Understanding came into effect, the import quota for revenue-sharing films has increased from 20 to 34.

Since the quota was increased, the Chinese film market has felt tremendous pressure from Hollywood.

In the second quarter of 2012, domestic films were squeezed to only 28.9% of the market share.

It wasn't until December, when "Lost in Thailand" set a domestic box office record of 12.7 billion yuan, bringing the domestic box office share to 67.1% in the fourth quarter, that Chinese films were able to salvage their reputation.

Meanwhile, in the following year, those who stepped forward to fight against Hollywood's formidable rivals were not well-known directors like Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, and Feng Xiaogang, but rather a group of new directors such as Xu Zheng, 523, and Xue Xiaolu. Most of them were born in the 70s, did not come from traditional film education systems, and had been active in the industry for many years, working as actors, screenwriters, and actors.

The Film Bureau, as the competent authority, noticed this phenomenon immediately.

They found that these young directors were significantly different from the fifth and sixth generation directors. They were all newcomers who had only recently started directing, and their films were more relaxed and commercial compared to the rich artistic style of their predecessors.

However, while these people brought fresh perspectives and hope to the film industry, they also faced controversy. For example, their basic skills were not solid, and their films' box office performance did not match their artistic quality.

The Film Bureau believes these young directors should have a learning opportunity, such as visiting Hollywood, which has 100 years of commercial film experience.

Therefore, in early 2013, the China Film Bureau proposed to organize a Sino-US film talent exchange program, with a focus on inviting young directors from the domestic film industry to the United States for study and exchange.

The US, which had just received policy benefits in the Chinese market the previous year, naturally expressed its support. The US Motion Picture Association quickly conveyed this news to the six major Hollywood studios, with Paramount being the first to extend an olive branch.

From 2013 to 2016, Paramount successfully hosted four exchange events.

Subsequently, between 2015 and 2016, Disney and Fox also joined in.

Over the course of three years, the Film Bureau sent seven batches of nearly 60 young directors to the United States for exchanges, which included almost all of the most outstanding young directors who emerged in the domestic film market after 2012.

However, the earliest promoter of this plan was undoubtedly Han Shanping of China Film Group.

He began pushing for this plan after the quota for imported revenue-sharing films was increased at the beginning of this year, and now he has initially impressed the leaders of the Film Bureau, who have decided to propose it to the US at the appropriate time.

Originally, the last of the first batch of directors to go to the United States in the original timeline would have been Xue Xiaolu, who directed "Finding Mr. Right".

Now, thanks to The Thinker, Han Shanping has recognized Guo Fan's talent and has asked him to fill the last spot on the first list.

This can be considered a butterfly effect brought about by Liu Taile.

"I'd like to meet with Liu Taile at a suitable time."

Han Shanping thought for a moment and then gave the instructions.

"I just received an invitation from Huayi Brothers, inviting you to the premiere of 'Back to 1942' at the end of this month."

Han Zheng replied, "And as far as I know, they also invited Liu Taile."

"Oh……"

Han Shanping frowned slightly. "Hmm, it is indeed a good meeting place. Let's settle on that then."

"Yes, Mr. Han, I'll arrange it right away!"