Chapter 167 Another wave of scolding
Zhang Chen listened and stared at Zhang Yimou not far away. This was the first time he saw him up close.
After Zhang Yimou finished speaking, there was little applause, followed by Feng Xiaogang.
Today’s main topic is the sharing of experience in commercial films, and the chosen sharers are all those whose box office exceeded 100 million this year.
Zhang Chen originally thought there would be Poet Chen, but there was not.
His masterpiece "The Promise" is still being filmed and will not be released until the end of this year. It will cause a sensation by then.
According to the order, after Feng Xiaogang, it is Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen listened very carefully. It was his first time to participate in this kind of meeting. The previous parts did make him sleepy, but when it came to the experience sharing stage, he didn't expect it to be quite rewarding.
Feng Xiaogang also talked about a lot of useful information.
“A World Without Thieves brings together stars from Hong Kong, Bay Area and Mainland China. In the movie, we focused on the cultural differences between the North and the South...”
From the original design intention of "A World Without Thieves", the casting was considered from a market perspective, and even advertising placement was mentioned.
At this time, Feng Xiaogang was still full of enthusiasm for movies. When it comes to movies, I can feel that his whole spirit is different.
But the atmosphere at the scene was not enthusiastic. Zhang Chen even saw disdain in the expressions of some people.
This reminded him of a report he saw in his previous life, probably in 2000. The Film Bureau also held a similar symposium.
At that time, the WTO had not yet entered the world, but there were also various problems in the film industry.
State-owned film studios produce many films every year, all of which are literary and artistic films, and without exception they lose money.
Only Feng Xiaogang is unique.
His movies do not follow the literary route, but they can set box office records every year, which can be called a breath of fresh air.
The Film Bureau held a symposium specifically for him to share his successful experiences.
But what about the result?
What Feng Xiaogang said at the symposium did not attract anyone's attention. Those old artists who regarded themselves as elites did not have the slightest awareness to find the reasons from themselves. Instead, they criticized Feng Xiaogang's movies verbally and in writing.
It’s just that his movie has no artistic attributes, it’s just like a collection of Beijing-style jokes, and it doesn’t even deserve to be called a movie.
I am quite speechless.
Chinese movies are so boring, they don’t seek innovation or change, they stick to their own artistic ethics and don’t know how to adapt.
If it hadn’t been for Feng Xiaogang during those two years, I guess there wouldn’t be many cinemas left.
So Zhang Chen has always admired Feng Xiaogang.
This person really worked his way up from the grassroots to where he is now.
Just like in "Sunny Day", Feng flatters the horse with his trousers undressed and drips water from the tea, but this is exactly the sadness of the little man.
Of course, it would be another story if he drifted off later.
I don't care about other people's emotions at all, insisting on filming "Mobile Phone 2" and adding salt to other people's wounds.
At this time, he had lost the ability to empathize with the grassroots at the bottom, and his whole body exuded the stench of those in power.
Maybe he feels that he is already capital and can do whatever he wants.
After Feng Xiaogang finished speaking, the reaction at the scene was completely different from that of Zhang Yimou just now.
After Zhang Yimou finished speaking, everyone had no reaction at most.
After Feng Xiaogang finished speaking, many people did not hide their contempt, and some even chuckled, not afraid of Feng Xiaogang hearing it.
The meaning of provocation is very strong.
Zhang Chen noticed that these people were basically independent filmmakers, that is, the guys who made the author's films.
It’s normal. These guys like to flaunt themselves as artists the most, and what they despise the most are commercial movies.
After all, Zhang Yimou is a man who once won awards and got soft. Even if he turns to business now, they can't just criticize him if they want.
But Feng Xiaogang is different.
He has never received any art awards. To them, Feng Xiaogang is just a stranger. His artistic aesthetic is not even as good as that of a sophomore who has attended film school for one year.
So these people make no secret of their contempt.
It’s just that since the leaders of the film bureau were all there, there was no difficulty.
It is conceivable that if the film bureau leader asked who had any questions to ask, Feng Xiaogang would definitely be sprayed by these people.
Feng Xiaogang also discovered this, and his face turned ugly.
Fortunately, the leader of the film bureau was not stupid and did not hold any questions. He said directly: "Now I invite director Zhang Chen. Director Zhang Chen should be the youngest among everyone here. He is still in school. His "Shark Beach" is the first in the country. He is a monster thriller movie and has achieved considerable commercial success. Let us hear what he has to say~" After the sparse applause, Zhang Chen took the microphone.
Cleared his throat: "When I was very young, my family bought a video recorder and watched a lot of Hong Kong and foreign movies. At that time, I was very confused as to why they filmed The movie is so beautiful.
When I went to film school, I finally figured out that they were making commercial films.”
At this point, he could already see the expressions on some people’s faces. changed.
Zhang Chen is blatantly claiming that commercial films are better than literary films.
Zhang Chen smiled slightly, labor and management did it on purpose.
I’ve seen you unhappy for a long time.
The leader of the film bureau was also a little surprised, but he didn't say anything.
Zhang Chen continued: "Just now, the leader of the Film Bureau said that among the 10 top-grossing films in 2004, four were Hollywood commercial films, but what I want to say is that the first four were all our mainland films. And there is no Hollywood movie with a box office of over 100 million
So, from that point of view, things are not that bad. Although the audience likes Hollywood movies, we still have the strength to give it a try.
Director Zhang Yimou proved that there is a lot of potential for costume action films, Director Feng Xiaogang proved that there is a lot of potential for local movies, and my "Shark Beach" proved that thrillers and even horror films also have a lot of potential.
At least in these three themes, it has been proven that it can be deeply explored.
Some people may think that the investment in costume films is too high, but local dramas and horror films are both examples of low-cost. The cost of "Dark Invasion" was only 2 million, and "Shark Beach" was 10 million. That’s too much.
I feel that if you calm down, write a good story, and film it in the style of a commercial film, the probability of success is much higher than the probability of winning an award by spending the same cost on an artistic film.
At the same time, this can also protect our market. "
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, the leader of the Film Bureau was quite satisfied. What he wanted to find out most today was whether it was possible to copy commercial films like "Shark Beach".
Zhang Chen told He, absolutely.
But before he could express his opinion, someone couldn't sit still
The first person to jump out was Chief Jia
"Why does Director Zhang think that literary films cannot hold on to the domestic market?"
Zhang Chen looked at his fellow countryman and really didn't want to quarrel with him, but he couldn't help but said: "Why? Based on the box office. You Look at the box office of this year's movies. How many literary and artistic films are there in total? Is there any "Lord of the Rings 3" that has a higher box office?"
Chief Jia was speechless and Gu Changwei was speechless? Then he took up the topic: "But box office does not represent everything, and the development of art is not measured by box office..."
Zhang Chen rolled his eyes, brother, you know that my wife is cooperating with me. "Manslaughter"? Is it really appropriate for you to stand up and sing the opposite?
But Gu Changwei's way of thinking is obviously different from his.
Zhang Chen had no choice but to say: "It is true that art cannot be measured by box office, but if the entire film market disappears, is it necessary for art films to exist?
Hollywood also has art films, but they have always been niche. The public has always been a commercial film. Only when the entire market is prosperous can there be room for artistic films. Otherwise, what will happen if the skin is gone?”
Zhang Chen continued: “What I want to say is, Things are no longer the same now. The development of VCDs and video recorders has led to a rapid increase in the number of film viewings by ordinary audiences. Some viewers who love watching movies have no less film viewings than us professional directors or film critics.
Movies are no longer an art for a few people, it has become a mass entertainment.
In the past, everyone had no choice. If you didn’t like to watch art movies, you didn’t have to watch them.
It’s different now. If your movie doesn’t look good, I can watch other people’s movies.
Mainland movies are not good, but I can still watch Hong Kong and American movies.
Audiences are well-informed and are no longer easily fooled. This is no longer the age when professional film critics say whatever they say. "
"I can't accept a person who made "Shark Beach" commenting on art movies like this~" someone suddenly said.
Zhang Chen was unconvinced: "What happened to "Shark Beach"? ”
"In my opinion, "Shark Beach" has no artistic quality and is full of all kinds of low-level sensual things. It is simply not worthy of being called a movie."
Zhang Chen didn't know who this was, but No matter who it is, he is not ready to do anything good.
He smiled contemptuously and said with emotion: "I'm just annoying moral hypocrites like you. What's wrong with "Shark Beach"? It promotes the beauty of sports. Every shot in this movie is within a reasonable range. , there is nothing that crosses the line. If you feel low-level sensuality, it can only show your heart.
On the other hand, the "Kekexili" that you regard as a classic, like a palace of art, oh no, it is "The Beautiful Legend of Sicily". , the whole film is really full of sensuality.
I think the title can be changed to "Diary of Underage Boys' YYs with Mature Female Bodies". Where is the art of this kind of movie? You must say it expresses human nature? , does it have to be expressed through sex? In your eyes, only the most primitive things are called human nature?
If you like to analyze human nature so much, why can't you see the human nature in "Shark Beach"? What you see is sensuality. Can’t you see that the heroine is constantly striving for self-improvement and never gives up? Aren’t these the brilliance of human nature?
It is also full of sensuality. I seriously doubt that you have even seen it. Even if you are just following what others say, a thing without the ability to think independently is worthy of talking about art here! "
Zhang Chen did not tolerate the other party at all: "Everyone, please understand, this is the era of market economy. Whether a movie is good or not depends on the box office.
The high box office shows that people like to watch it. People like to watch it. Just saying "good-looking" is enough.
”
"Dear independent filmmakers, there is nothing wrong with focusing on expression in movies, but you must at least have a good story. With this, you have to consider techniques, human nature, and social significance. If you can't even tell the story well, who cares about that? The audience will understand. Only then can you think, you can’t even understand, what a waste of thinking~”
Zhang Chen didn’t think about saving face for the other party at all, so after a sudden pause, he was finally satisfied.
(End of this chapter)