Chapter 357 Mainland’s first zombie disaster blockbuster
In the original timeline, “Train to Busan” was actually able to land in Mainland theaters, and news had even spread that year.
Only due to other factors, the film was ultimately unable to be released in mainland theaters.
And now, not only is it 2008, when even ghost films can be released in theaters, Wang Shu even sets the story of this zombie film on Treasure Island.
And, in the end, mainland officers and soldiers saved the treasure island where the virus broke out and zombies were raging.
Setting the story on a treasure island means that the content has nothing to do with the mainland and does not have any accompanying associations.
Mainland officers and soldiers saved the treasure island again, and praised the mainland again.
In addition, Wang Shu approached Han Sanping and China Film Group came forward.
It’s not that the zombie movie “Travel to Taipei” cannot be made and released in theaters.
In fact, Wang Shu initially considered setting the story to take place on Hong Kong Island, where officers and soldiers stationed in Hong Kong would ultimately save Hong Kong Island.
After thinking about it, I decided to set the location on Treasure Island.
Hong Kong Island is a place that has returned after all. It is obviously not good to set up the garrison in Hong Kong to rescue and take over Hong Kong Island to save the people. It shows that the local police in Hong Kong Island are incompetent.
In comparison, Baodao has no such considerations.
Wang Shu saw that Han Sanping seemed to be thinking, and then he said: "Director Han, if this movie can be made well and released in theaters, it will be our first zombie disaster blockbuster in the mainland."
Han Sanping is so happy about his success. Sitting in the position of the boss of China Film and Television, all he wants is fame.
Therefore, when he heard the words "Mainland's first zombie disaster blockbuster" again, his heart skipped a beat again.
He knows about "Resident Evil". Three movies have been released in a row, and there will be more sequels in the future.
The entire series has long been famous all over the world.
In addition, many zombie works have been released one after another.
Zombie elements have become a popular film and television element.
Han Sanping raised his head and looked at Wang Shu, "We have always had zombies here. Can a movie element like zombies be achieved?"
Wang Shu heard this and said with a smile: "If a zombie movie was made ten years ago, maybe not It will be accepted by the domestic audience.”
“Nowadays, there are many zombie works coming out one after another, and many domestic audiences have already understood this element.”
“There is an audience for filming now.”< br>
“And the setting of zombie movies is metaphysics, and the setting of zombie movies is the raging virus.”
"The former is promoting metaphysics, while the latter is about viruses."
Han Sanping understood what Wang Shu meant. Spirituality is not allowed in the country. It is difficult for zombie movies to pass the review of movie theaters. Even if China Film Group comes forward, it will be embarrassing.
Zombie movies are different. They are about viruses. To a certain extent, they can serve as a warning to governments around the world not to blindly study viruses and harm people.
Relatively speaking, it is a subject that can be filmed and put into theaters.
That’s right, in Han Sanping’s eyes, zombie movies are themes that can be screened in theaters, not themes that are completely useless.
After all, this year, ghost movies with real ghosts can be released in theaters openly, and zombie movies can be released in theaters as long as they meet the review requirements.
For example, in 2010, "Resident Evil 4" was released in mainland theaters.
As for the previous 1, 2, and 3 films that have not been released in mainland theaters, it is not because they cannot pass the review, but because there is a limit on the foreign language films that China Film Group introduces every year, and "Resident Evil" will not be available.
Later, with the reputation and box office of series 1, 2, and 3, and as many people in China gradually understood the zombie elements and gained an audience, China Film followed up with the introduction of "Resident Evil 4".
China Film Group has the final say on whether foreign language films can enter mainland theaters.
Once China Film introduces "Resident Evil 4", it will be available in mainland theaters.
If you don’t import it, you can only watch it online.
Han Sanping nodded. He also knew that zombie movies now not only have an audience in China, but also have a very high voice.
For example, last year (2007), when "Resident Evil 3" was released, many people in China clamored to introduce this movie.
It’s just that there were too many Hollywood blockbusters released in 2007, and there is a limit on the number of foreign language films introduced into the country each year, so this movie was not eligible.
He asked that just now because he wanted to be more confident.
"We have never made a zombie movie in the mainland." Han Sanping looked at Wang Shu and asked about his inner worries, "Can it be made?"
Wang Shu asked confidently: "Director Han, we have never made a movie with the setting of "Terror Cruise" in our country. Hasn't it already been made?"
"The two are different." Han Sanping shook his head, "Terror Cruise" There are just a few people on the cruise ship, but there are many scenes in a zombie movie."
Wang Shu said with a smile: "Director Han, if you read the script carefully, you will know that although there are scenes, it is not that big. ”
"The perspective of this movie is focused on stations and trains, rather than the entire city."
"As long as the locations involved are not many and not large, it will be easier to control."
Finished , paused for a moment, and then said, "Actually, I originally wrote this script with the intention of filming it in Hollywood."
"The location was originally set in New York, and the story took place in the United States. "
"The script has been modified in the past few days and changed to take place in Taipei."
This is telling Han Sanping that if he hadn't gone to your house for a meal after returning to China, for the sake of your director Han, the script in his hand would have been left to Hollywood instead of being filmed in China. .
Had it not been for the sake of you, Director Han, who agreed to make another movie, I would not have revised the original script.
Obviously, the script has been written to be set in New York, but now in order to suit the domestic audience, it has been painstakingly changed to Taipei.
At the same time, he also expressed that the perspective of "Travel to Taipei" is only at the station and the train, and it is relatively not difficult to shoot.
Wang Shu said this, glanced at Han Sanping, and said, "The only difficulty is the makeup. As long as these are solved, other aspects will not be difficult."
"What about the special effects? Zombie movies are indispensable for special effects, right?" Han Sanping opened his mouth, "If the special effects are too fake and the content is nondescript, and it will be criticized, it is better not to make it."
Wang Shu smiled softly: "Director Han, I As I said just now, the perspective of this movie is small and not grand."
"This shows that there are not many places where special effects are needed."
"And, this. This time I will focus on real shots.”
“Don’t worry too much about the special effects.”
The special effects Han Sanping refers to are green screen shooting.
This shooting mode uses a green screen as the background, the actors perform non-physical performances in the camera, and then the portrait is placed in the scene produced by computer special effects through cutout.
In this way, the shots required in the film are completed.
For example, Marvel movies are basically shot in a studio with a green screen.
For Marvel, this model saves time, effort, worry and money.
In addition, there are also special effects shots completed in the form of real shots.
Nolan, the great Hollywood director, is a well-known real-shooting fiend.
For example, the tanks in the movie "Batman" and so on are all real objects. Real shots can make special effects images appear more realistic.
It’s just that the cost of filming the movie has doubled and skyrocketed.
Of course, this was not what Wang Shu had considered.
Because the film special effects technology in the Mainland is relatively lagging at this stage, it is extremely expensive to go to the United States to do film special effects.
If you want to make the footage of "Travel to Taipei" real, rather than a cheap film that is fake at first glance, real shooting is not only the only option, but also the most cost-effective option.
For Marvel, green screen shooting naturally saves money.
But for Wang Shu, it is impossible to save money if he wants to use green screen to shoot special effects shots that are not inferior to those of Marvel superhero movies in China.
Although the special effects shots of Marvel's superhero movies are just like that, at this stage in China, it is difficult to produce them without spending a lot of money to produce them in the United States.
“Real shooting?” Han Sanping thought that Wang Shu had gone to Hollywood and planned to use a green screen to complete the shooting after returning home.
Unexpectedly, it was a real shot.
“What if?” Wang Shu shrugged, as if he could not take the photo realistically.
"Don't you want to go to the treasure island to shoot the scene?" Han Sanping asked subconsciously.
Wang Shu said: "Scenes such as stations and trains will be set up here. We just go to the treasure island to shoot some easy shots."
What this means is that the station in "Taipei Trip" , trains and other shots will not be shot on Baodao. Instead, a venue will be built in the mainland imitating the stations and trains on Baodao, and then the shooting will be completed in the built venue.
"Building a venue?" Han Sanping heard what Wang Shu said. He naturally understood what Wang Shu meant, and then smiled and said, "The budget looks like it will be quite big."
"Initially it is set at 200 million." Wang Shu said a number.
200 million, it is already a well-deserved big-budget movie in China.
"200 million?" Han Sanping tasted the product, and then joked, "Are you worried that China Film Group won't be able to eat it, so you put on the upper shadow and light?"
"How can you worry that China Film Group Co., Ltd. won't be able to eat it?" Wang Shu Knowing that Han Sanping was joking, he smiled and said, "China Film Group has a huge business, let alone 200 million, even if it is doubled again, it will be no problem."
Wang Shu also said to himself, more What's more, the 200 million budget is not funded by China Film Group alone, China Film Group only occupies a part of it.
Although he said that it would be no problem for China Film to double its budget of 200 million, this is not actually the case.
China Film Group is indeed a big company, but the money in the account cannot be used casually.
Usually a project occupies a certain quota. If it exceeds the quota or risks, no additional investment will be made.
For example, in the movie "Red Cliff", China Film Group led the investment at first, and then because the funds required were too large, Chengtian was invited to join.
"200 million is really not that big." Han Sanping laughed, "The budget of "The Letter of Investment" directed by Chen Kexin was 40 million US dollars."
Wang Shu clearly felt that Han Sanping Although he kept a smile on his face, he was actually not very happy when he talked about "The Certificate of Voting".
This is excusable.
After all, a movie with an investment of 40 million US dollars has only reached nearly 100 million after being released in mainland theaters.
With this kind of box office trend, it is difficult to break through 200 million.
The sales of "Terror Cruise" in mainland theaters exceeded 300 million, which makes Han Sanping now feel that all film directors who invest heavily in productions but cannot exceed 200 million are in vain.
Unlike Wang Shu, with an investment of just over 100 million, the box office of the film in mainland theaters alone exceeded 300 million after its release.
Therefore, when Wang Shu mentioned the budget of 200 million, Han Sanping was not surprised at all, nor did he think that the budget was too much. He even thought that 200 million might not be enough.
After all, it is the first zombie disaster blockbuster in China, and Wang Shu will mainly use real shots, which shows that the budget cannot be low.
If you want to make a good film, a budget of 200 million may not be enough.
With this kind of budget, it is natural that the mainland market alone cannot make it back.
But there are overseas markets.
The first Chinese-language zombie disaster blockbuster
Han Sanping doesn't dare to think too much about the box office in Europe and the United States, but the markets in Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and other places are quite promising.
More importantly, the title of the first domestic zombie disaster blockbuster really made him extremely excited.
As long as this movie is made, and even if it is not a huge success, it will become a significant addition to the history of Chinese-language films.
His name, Han Sanping, will be as famous as Wang Shu’s.
Even, with these reputations and achievements, we can still take one step forward.
In the original timeline, Han Sanping took too big a step and offended many people, making it difficult for him to make progress.
Now, with Wang Shu, we have produced films such as "The Tuner", "Space Traveler", "Terror Cruise", etc. that will surely be mentioned in the history of Chinese films in the future.
With these false reputations and achievements, Han Sanping may be able to move forward even if he offends others.
The two continued chatting about "Travel to Taipei" for a while, and Wang Shu said goodbye and left.
After Wang Shu left, Han Sanping picked up the script on the table and looked at it carefully. He couldn't help but feel happy again when he saw that the mother and daughter who finally escaped death saw the light of day were mainland officers and soldiers.
This shot is completely suggestive of Chi Guoguo.
It implies that the treasure island is facing a disaster and they are flying away.
Then the mainland sent people over regardless of the difficulties and dangers, and also flattered the mainland.
Not only is the location in the movie set on a treasure island, which has nothing to do with the mainland, but it can also boast about the mainland.
Han Sanping had to admit that the script, which originally set the story in New York, was revised well.
He picked up the landline phone on his desk. He originally wanted to ask someone to take the script for review, but as soon as he made a move, he suddenly stopped.
"Let's go there in person."
Han Sanping stood up and left the office.
If he goes there in person, it will have more weight.
He didn’t want the script of this “domestic first zombie disaster blockbuster” to be stuck, so he immediately took action himself.
Wang Shu knew Han Sanping well, and when he pointed out this gimmick, Han Sanping was really interested.
Domestic film review actually has flexible standards to a certain extent.
Some films with sensitive themes would hardly pass the review if they were produced by ordinary film and television companies.
But if it is a movie invested by China Film, it may pass the censorship.
For example, if Yishu Company submits the script of "Travel to Taipei" for review, it may be stuck.
Even if it is not stuck, it may still be stuck when the finished film is submitted for review.
If China Film Group comes forward, not only will the review standards become more relaxed, but it will also get a green light all the way.
(End of this chapter)