Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Jiang Wen coughed lightly: "Creative work is subjective. What if inspiration strikes during filming?"

Tell me, and I will judge.

Jiang Wen hesitated for a moment before nodding: "Okay."

The two then discussed the script. To Yang Che's relief, Jiang Wen didn't object "for the sake of objecting," meaning he didn't have any ideas about changing the story's plot. Instead, he gave it high praise, although he still raised a lot of questions.

However, when talking about the typical "Jiang Wen" style lines in the script, he asked, "When you wrote this script, did you already know that you wanted me to play the role?"

Yang Che smiled and said, "That was indeed my initial thought, but I wasn't too keen on it. Everyone said you were disobedient and expensive. So when I started writing, I wrote it based on your brother Jiang Wu, but I wasn't satisfied with what I wrote. It wasn't intense or exciting enough, so I rewrote it, and it became a script tailor-made just for you."

Jiang Wen paused, then chuckled, "Aren't you afraid that after the movie is released, people will say you're just a figurehead director?"

"Go ahead and say it. In this line of work, half the money you earn comes from being scolded."

Jiang Wen gave a thumbs up: "That's a great point, it's absolutely true."

Yang Che waved his hand: "The main thing is that I will be making a movie that is even more awesome than this one in the future, so it doesn't matter."

Jiang Wen looked at Yang Che's casual yet confident expression and nodded silently.

Then they signed a contract, with Jiang Wen generously asking for 50 yuan for a 45-day shooting period.

If we consider it as an art film, this salary is relatively high; if we consider it as a commercial film, this salary is relatively low. So, all things considered, it is quite appropriate.

Jiang Wen had no objection; he nodded when Yang Che brought it up.

The two then discussed the casting choices. Jiang Wen had no objections to the cast list proposed by Yang Che, but he did not make any recommendations for the vacant roles. Of course, Yang Che did not ask him to make any recommendations either.

Jiang Wen had no objection to Yang Che's statement that he planned to play Zhou Xiaogang. In his opinion, anyone can be an actor; whether it's good or bad depends on the director's guidance and training.

"This room is the preparation room before filming starts. Come over whenever you have free time, or fly to Zhucheng. The crew will cover your travel expenses. Construction will begin there tomorrow."

"OK."

Yang Che was genuine from beginning to end, which touched Jiang Wen, who had been in a daze lately.

That evening, Yang Che invited Cao Yu and Lin Mu to have dinner with Jiang Wen.

Upon learning that Jiang Wen had been appointed as the producer, the two grinned from ear to ear.

Jiang Wen doesn't shy away from this; he was recently interviewed in Shanghai.

Cao Yu asked Jiang Wen how he came up with the idea of ​​making this film.

Jiang Wen said, "In my interactions with Japanese people, especially young Japanese people, I have found that the vast majority of anti-China forces in Japan who deny war crimes are not a small minority as we often say, but rather a small minority that is actively involved. This is completely different from the education and guidance we receive in China, where some films and television dramas often apologize to the Chinese on behalf of the Japanese, which is outrageous."

During my research, I discovered that some cinemas and museums in Japan frequently screen old Chinese films about the War of Resistance against Japan, in order to educate young Japanese people by saying: Look, which ordinary Chinese citizen isn't a spy? Which of them isn't a soldier without a uniform? Since they are "all soldiers," we can "annihilate them all."

Thus, these old Chinese films have become their pretext to cover up the massacre of Chinese civilians. Take the Nanjing Massacre, for example. The Japanese claim that the many people they killed were not civilians, but soldiers—deaths between soldiers. Absurd! Yet, this is the kind of thinking that Japan instills in its youth today.

How do you think I should film this?

The three of them listened in stunned silence. Yang Che was also hearing about Japan showing old Chinese movies for the first time.

After the event ended, Yang Che spoke privately to Jiang Wen, saying, "Old Jiang, I want to buy out the distribution rights and copyright of 'Devils on the Doorstep'."

Jiang Wen looked completely bewildered: "Huh?"

"Go back and tell those three companies that I'll offer 1800 million. But there's a condition: payment will be made a year later, because I don't have the money right now."

Jiang Wen was moved: "Really? No, what are you after?"

Yang Che smiled and said, "I said it was to ease your mental burden..."

Jiang Wen panicked: "No, that's not true."

Yang Che chuckled: "You're really not honest. I bought 'Devils on the Doorstep' because your initial intention in making the film moved me. I couldn't just leave it there, and besides, I thought about it, and I figured I wouldn't lose money."

Jiang Wen didn't say anything, but instead trembled a couple of times, took Yang Che's hand, and felt a lump in his throat.

The scene of Chen Weiming scolding him at Huayi a while ago—no matter what, he's a tough guy from a military family, how could he not care? Although he stubbornly said things like investment is risky, a mistake is a mistake, how could he not regret it, how could he not feel guilty?

Yang Che grinned and said, "If you're really grateful to me, then hurry up when filming 'Looking for a Gun,' because I'm really broke right now."

Jiang Wen pulled his hand back and cursed, "Damn it!"

Yang Che laughed heartily, and then urged him to hurry up and contact the three investors of "Devils on the Doorstep".

Jiang Wen nodded in agreement, then got into the car, waved, and drove off with a flourish.

What? You mean drunk driving? Right now, Yang Che is probably the only one in all of China who follows the rule of not drinking and driving...

Yang Che turned to Cao Yu and Lin Mu, who were waiting for him, and told them about it.

Unlike Cao Yu's bewildered and respectful expression, Lin Mu seemed thoughtful: "This film can make money?"

Yang Che stroked his chin: "Get lost. I'm not like those investors who only care about making money. I just want to do something, like release it in Japan or something."

Lin Mu curled his lip. "We've been brothers working together for so long, who doesn't know who? You're not being honest at all."

Yang Che didn't explain further and got into the car to return to Jialin Garden.

This film is bound to make a profit, and its global box office is not the $2 figure from another timeline; that figure is ridiculous.

This film was shown in 50 theaters in Japan during its initial release, received a 4.35 rating on Japanese film review websites (out of 5), and won Best Foreign Language Film of the year....

Moreover, the DVD sales of this film exceeded its theatrical box office, and many young people in Japan actually enjoyed watching it, since Chinese people are considered ignorant. It's just that the right wing was very unhappy and made a fuss for a long time.

Of course, the three investors definitely lost money. When the film couldn't pass the censorship, they gave up and sold the copyrights in various places at low prices. After all, it was Jiang Wen's movie, so they still managed to get back a little over 20 million yuan.