Chapter 773 Big plot, small plot, counter plot
Zhang Yuan was a little unconvinced after hearing this.
"Teacher Minghua, that's not necessarily the case."
"Really? Zhang Yuan, I estimate that young directors including you will soon lift the ban and watch it when it is released. How is your box office? "
"Okay, if I am lifted, I will make a film right away! Teacher Minghua, do you dare to invest in my film like Zhang Ke and Lou Ye? ? !" Zhang Yuan looked at the other party with squinted eyes.
"Why don't you dare?" Fang Minghua smiled heartily: "That's it, just come to me when the time comes."
"A gentleman's words are hard to follow!"
After finishing the meal , they dispersed and went home. Fang Minghua’s hotel was not far from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, so he and Jia Zhangke took a taxi back together.
On the way back, Jia Zhangke talked about what happened at the wine table and expressed his worries.
"Teacher Minghua, do you think this "Xiao Wu" will be a loss?"
"The investment is only over 300,000, how can we lose?" Fang Minghua said with a smile: "Don't worry, you won't lose. Even if the domestic box office is sluggish, there are overseas markets, and you will definitely make money."
" Now Zhang Yuan and the others are living a happy life relying solely on winning awards and overseas box office."
"That's right, so crying and shouting for domestic censorship to be relaxed and to be released in the country is actually of no use." Fang Minghua said.
“Movies can generally be divided into three categories: big plot, small plot, and anti-plot. The number of audiences for the three types of plots is decreasing. Theater blockbusters must be big plots, family fun, or superheroes, such as those introduced in the United States last year The blockbuster "True Lies" belongs to the category of superheroes and was a hit at the box office. "
"Small plot movies are relatively simple and usually do not involve complex story structures and multiple narrative clues. "Xiao Wu" is a typical example. A small plot movie.”
"Anti-plot movies break the traditional story structure and logic of the movie type, but tell the story through non-linear time, incoherent reality and coincidence. Typical Wong Kar-wai's "Ashes of Time" and "Chungking Express", Okay? I won the award, but it failed miserably at the box office."
Jia Zhangke nodded.
Indeed.
“Not many people in the world can watch movies with small plots and anti-plots like this. If you don’t want to lose money, you must operate Zhang Ke with a small cost. If your movie "Xiao Wu" wants If the investment is not 300,000 but 3 million, I won't invest," Fang Minghua said.
"The current investment is 380,000." Jia Zhangke also smiled.
"So, Zhang Ke, if you want to take the path of literary films, don't think about making big productions or making big investments, otherwise you'll lose all your pants. At the same time, don't expect domestic box office, just manage overseas copyrights well." Fang Minghua warned. .
Jia Zhangke nodded silently after hearing this.
After sending Jia Zhangke back to the Academy of Fine Arts, Fang Minghua returned to the hotel and returned to Xijing the next day.
As for entering the cinema to film and release the film, that is something that Shengshi Film and Television and Jia Zhangke worry about themselves, and Fang Minghua no longer cares.
A month later, "Xiao Wu" was released in China. The praise from film critics and scholars in newspapers and magazines was in sharp contrast with the disastrous failure at the box office.
The national box office was 280,000 yuan, while in Jia Zhangke’s hometown Fenyang, the box office revenue was 120 yuan.
Song Tangtang told him this news.
It was already mid-September, and the fourth volume of the Harry Potter novel "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" had been completed. After Fang Minghua sent an email to Li Li, he was preparing to publish the second volume of the novel "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." adapted into a screenplay.
The location shooting of the first "Harry Potter" movie has ended and is now entering the intense post-production stage. However, Wu Tianmin and Zhang Yimou were watching from the United States, so Song Tangtang didn't worry too much. She was now focusing on the second part of "Kangxi's Private Interviews".
Of course, there is also "Party A and Party B" that Feng Xiaogang is filming, which has now been completed.
"Xiao Wu" became the first movie released by Shengshi Film and Television this year.
This afternoon, Song Tangtang came back from the company. After eating, he sighed when he talked about it.
“Tangtang, this has been expected for a long time, what’s there to sigh about?” Fang Minghua was playing with a pot of night-flowers in the yard. When he saw his wife like this, he comforted her and said, “Here, help. I tied the flower branches to prevent them from falling. They are probably going to bloom tonight!”
“Not in the mood,” Song Tangtang muttered.
"Huh? Not in the mood? Are you like this in front of employees in the company? No way?" Fang Minghua laughed.
"Of course not. But you are my husband. Is it okay for me to complain in front of you?" Song Tangtang said angrily.
"Okay, okay, you can say anything you feel uncomfortable with! If you're still unhappy, just hit me twice, I'll be your punching bag!"
"Bah, bah. It's not like me. Shrew." Song Tangtang was amused and knelt down to help.
"Tangtang, I told you that Jia Zhangke's box office is all overseas. Don't worry about what's going on at home. If you firmly grasp the overseas distribution rights and run it well, you will definitely make money!" Fang Minghua comforted.
“I have contacted MK2 Film Company in France. They are very optimistic about this movie and are willing to be responsible for the distribution of the movie in Europe. The box office revenue will then be divided into shares.” Song Tangtang said.
"Isn't this possible? Just wait and count the money." Fang Minghua said with a smile.
“Well, why is it not good at the domestic box office?” Song Tangtang sighed.
"Literary films are not mainstream in Europe and the United States. Many theaters are unwilling to schedule films. However, there are The Electric BFI Southbank in the UK and "Art and Experimental" cinemas in France. The government provides financial subsidies to screen literary and niche films. Movies. Which cinema in our country is willing?" Fang Minghua asked.
"Minghua, in the future, the scale of Shengshi Film and Television will be further expanded and the funds will be abundant. I will also build some cinemas that specialize in playing literary films like the French "Art and Experimental" cinema!" Song Tangtang said.
“Have ambition!” Fang Minghua raised his thumb.
"Husband, do you support me?"
"Of course I do! How about I transfer some funds from the United States to the country now?" Fang Minghua said while holding a shovel to loosen the soil in the flower pots.
"Hey, let me finish my main business first. I can't eat the fat man in one bite." Song Tangtang said.
Fang Minghua smiled and said nothing.
Sure enough, the film "Xiao Wu" successively won the New Wave Award at the 2nd Busan International Film Festival, the Dragon and Tiger Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Best Director Award at the Three Continents Film Festival in Nantes, France, and the Berlin International Film Festival. First Prize of the Youth Forum of the Film Festival.
The European box office revenue was US$2 million, equivalent to RMB 16 million, of which Shengshi Film and Television received a share of RMB 5 million, while Jia Zhangke personally received RMB 500,000.
Jia Zhangke became famous in one fell swoop.
The time has arrived in December, and as 1997 is about to pass, Fang Minghua receives a notice.
The second meeting of the 4th Mao Dun Literary Award Jury is about to be held, and the final winner of the Mao Dun Award will be decided at this second meeting.
(End of this chapter)