Movie tycoon

Chapter 264 Directing "The Southern Emperor and the Northern Beggar" (Second Update)

It is said that because of the song "Until the End of the World", Chen Xiaotang is now very popular, and many record companies and big-name music production companies in Hong Kong are "missing" him.

Sixth Aunt Fang Yihua was also very happy, after all, Chen Xiaotang was "trained" by himself.

"A Tang, let me help you look at the conditions they offered. They are very good. Even Sony Records promised to pay you a signing fee of 50 yuan first, and then give you dividends based on sales after your record is released. Sony has always been a big name. I have never made a condition in such a low profile, I think you can think about it." Sixth Aunt analyzed.

Chen Xiaotang laughed, and he said: "If it's another record company, I can still consider it, but as for Sony, it's free!"

"Oh, why?" Sixth Aunt Fang Yihua was very surprised. After all, this is a condition that anyone can't help but accept--you have to pay a signing bonus of 50 yuan before the record is released, which is equivalent to picking it up for nothing.

Chen Xiaotang smiled lightly, and then said: "Because this company is a Japanese company!"

"Japanese company?" Fang Yihua had a hard time understanding what Chen Xiaotang's actions had to do with Japanese companies.

"Let's be honest, Sixth Aunt; I don't have much interest in those Japanese people. Whether you call me an angry youth or a dizzy head, in short, I don't have a good impression of the Japanese, and I don't even join the company they run. Meaning, that's all." Chen Xiaotang said bluntly.

Sixth Aunt Fang Yihua was stunned.You know, for many Hong Kong singers and movie stars, they have always attached great importance to the foreign market of Japan.For example, Cheng Long, the big brother in the film industry, almost every movie of his is released in Japan, so he enjoys high popularity in Japan. There are even Japanese women crying for him, forming the "Cheng Long Is Not Married" For a while, it became the news that the film industry talked about; for example, Mei Yanfang, the "Queen of the Variety Demon", succeeded in breaking into Japan, and became famous in one fell swoop, and achieved her reputation as the "Queen of the Demon" in the music circle.Therefore, it can be said that as long as they are in the Hong Kong entertainment industry, they all pay attention to markets outside Japan.

In fact, it's not that Chen Xiaotang doesn't pay attention to the Japanese market. Who wouldn't be happy to make money from here? It's best to make as much money as possible, and make little Japan poor.But let him join a Japanese company and help them make money with their records, which he can't do.

His uncle, 50 yuan just wants me to be your cow and horse, no way!

After listening to Chen Xiaotang's explanation, Fang Yihua seemed to understand something, he stopped pressing, and said, "Then I'll help you find other record companies..."

"Actually, Sixth Aunt, there is no need to be in such a hurry to release the record. I need your help with one thing now!" After speaking, Chen Xiaotang took out the movie script that he wrote last night.

"Look, I want to shoot this movie, and I will be the director myself." Chen Xiaotang expressed his thoughts.

After Fang Yihua heard Chen Xiaotang's words, he was stunned for a moment, but his expression returned to normal immediately. Chen Xiaotang had given her too many surprises, which made her somewhat immune.

After looking at the movie script of "The End of the World", Fang Yihua said: "It is undeniable that the script is good, but unfortunately there are two points that are not suitable for filming. First, this story is a tragedy. Second, this movie is an art film. category."

"People in Hong Kong don't like tragic stories very much, that's why "Hitch the Wrong Car" became famous in Taiwan; the wave of revival of art films in Hong Kong has basically passed, and now commercial films are in charge--A Tang, I hope you I can understand these two points." Fang Yihua said with concern, "What's more, if you want to be the director of this movie, you are good at acting and writing scripts, but you have never tried to be a director. Even if you say you are confident, the company will I can't just let you start the show."

Chen Xiaotang had expected that there would be trouble in this matter, after all good things are hard to endure, this has become a law.

"Sixth Aunt, I understand what you mean, but I really want to try it, after all, it's my hard work!"

Fang Yihua sighed, she understood that for Chen Xiaotang, who is now popular, she can only use the best gesture to win him over, and she must not dampen his enthusiasm.

So Fang Yihua thought of a compromise and said: "How about this, Ah Tang, I will give you a chance, you write a TV script, and I will let you have the title of director, so that some people can be blocked. Shut, don't bother with seniority issues, you can also direct this "Doomsday Dangerous Way" alone!"

"Hold the title of director?!" Chen Xiaotang couldn't help being startled.

You must know that the so-called "named director" is to learn how to film under the overall command of the producer. For the producer, it is equivalent to an "apprentice".

Hong Kong is different from Hollywood. Hollywood pursues the "director system". The "director" can restrict all actors and even the "producer". It can be said that it has great power.It is different in Hong Kong, where the "supervisor system" is practiced, and the "supervisor" has unlimited power, which can not only restrict actors, but also restrict directors, which is equivalent to the spokesperson of investors.One sentence can replace the director, or throw the director into limbo.

It is precisely because of the special system of Hong Kong that, on the one hand, it promotes the development of the quality of Hong Kong films, and on the other hand, it also restricts the creative talents of directors, which can be said to have advantages and disadvantages.Even in many cases, the producer and the director disagreed, went their separate ways, and intrigues caused the film to be difficult to produce.

For example, when filming "The God of Cookery" in the previous life, Li Lichi was originally the producer, and Zhou Xingchi became the director for the first time, but after the filming started, Zhou Xingchi continued to leapfrog and usurp power, making the film develop in the direction he imagined. This made Li Lichi, who is known as a comedy genius, very unhappy, and it became the fuse for the two to part ways later.

In addition, when Huang Boming produced the film "Happy Magic", he originally wanted to let his best partner Ma Weihao be the director of this film --- Ma Weihao once worked with him on the "Happy Ghost" series ——But before the filming started, Ma Weihao put forward some different opinions of his own, which were quite different from Huang Boming's plan, which caused Huang Boming to temporarily replace the director, which made Ye Weixin cheaper.

It can be seen that there has been a long-standing battle between the producer and the director. Whether the producer has decisively defeated the director, or the director turned the tide and overwhelmed the producer with a small gain, it is not a good thing for a drama.

But in fact, most of the top directors in Hong Kong started as nominal directors, such as Du Qifeng, who used to be the "nominal director" of his master Wang Tianlin. As for Cheng Xiaodong, he was once the "nominal director" of the great director Xu Ke. .With the protection of these big bosses, no matter how bad they are, they will not ruin the show.On the contrary, if a play is successful, it will become famous immediately, and then it will be let go to be a "real director".

It is not too much for Fang Yihua to make such a suggestion. After all, in such a huge entertainment organization as TVB, although Chen Xiaotang is famous, his qualifications are not high. It has been less than two years since you joined TVB. You have been a director and started making movies in two years , what does this make others think?With the title of "director", it's different to make a TV series first. How can you say that a TV director is also a director, and then you can be a film director as a matter of course. This is the reason for success.Although this is a bit "formalistic" in any way, it is the best choice now.

Faced with such a suggestion, Chen Xiaotang immediately agreed.

Seeing Chen Xiaotang being so talkative, Fang Yihua was really happy. After all, Fang Yihua has been in the entertainment industry for so many years, and he has met many artists who are not popular before they are proud. , very arrogant and arrogant stars, these people like to make some unreasonable demands, and even use the company as a cash machine——
Like Chen Xiaotang, but always so modest and polite, and never regards himself as a big-name artist, Fang Yihua likes it from the bottom of his heart.

For this reason, she also made up her mind that even if Chen Xiaotang's film "The End of the World" is bad, she will try her best to persuade her sixth uncle Shao Daheng to continue to give him a chance.

After the discussion, the most important thing for Chen Xiaotang at this moment is to watch what kind of TV series to write.At this time, Fang Yihua suggested again: "The "Zhong Shentong Wang Chongyang" you wrote is good, can you also shoot fan martial arts dramas, you are familiar with the road, and it is easy to learn!"

"Jin Yong's martial arts drama?" Hearing Fang Yihua's reminder, Chen Xiaotang's eyes lit up immediately, yes, why didn't he think of it.

In his previous life, Chen Xiaotang watched a lot of Hong Kong dramas."Wang Chongyang of Zhong Shentong" written by him before is one of them, and the rest are "Sword Demon Dugu Seeking Defeat" starring Huang Rihua, "Nine Yin Scriptures" starring David Jiang, and "Southern Emperor and North Beggar" starring Zheng Yijian , These are all Jin Yong martial arts fan dramas.But the question is, which one is better to shoot now? !

In terms of the splendor of these three plays, Chen Xiaotang's first favorite is "Sword Demon Dugu Begs for Defeat". In terms of the acting skills of the actors in these three plays, Chen Xiaotang chooses "Nine Yin Manual". Speaking of the grandeur of these three plays, You have to choose "Southern Emperor and Northern Beggar".

However, "Sword Demon" is starring Huang Rihua. As one of the five tiger generals, Huang Rihua has been full of rehearsals recently. If he wants to find time to play "Dugu Begging for Defeat", it may have to wait until the spring of next year. For Chen Xiaotang, I can't wait no matter what.

"Nine Yin Scriptures" starred David Jiang, such a good character actor, he was originally a Xiaosheng from the Shaw Brothers, but now he plays for ATV. Praise, it's a joke to ask him to shoot this movie, unless you have a strong relationship with ATV, you can second someone here, but ATV Wireless is a deadly enemy, is it possible to second people? !
In the end, only "Southern Emperor and Northern Beggar" remained.It seems that there is no choice.After thinking about it, Chen Xiaotang still decided to write this play, because this play needs two leading actors, and he happens to have such candidates.

Who are these two actors?
Ren Dahua and Zhou Xingchi! ! !
It turns out that since the last drama "Zhong Shen Tong" was broadcast, both of them have become popular to varying degrees. Although they are not as popular as Chen Xiaotang, they have gained some fame.

Not to mention Zhou Xingchi, the white board "newcomer", but Ren Dahua, the "veteran actor". Before filming this movie, he was just a single supporting role in TV dramas, and now he is more or less popular, so he is grateful to Chen Xiaotang Incomparable.

After all, it was because of Chen Xiaotang's recommendation that he got the role of the male lead in this play.

Therefore, Chen Xiaotang believes that as long as he speaks out, Ren Dahua and Zhou Xingchi will definitely follow his lead and join the filming of this film, not to mention, let them be the leading actors this time! ! !
Actors, the script is roughly determined, who will be the producer?
You know, this "producer" is actually the leader of this play.Never choose someone at random to replace him.

Think before and after.Chen Xiaotang proposed to Fang Yihua that Du Qifeng should direct the play.

The reason is very simple: first, Chen Xiaotang has more or less learned how to be a director and shoot movies from Du Qifeng. "Shooting the Condors" can be seen; thirdly, and most importantly, Du Qifeng is very popular now, among the younger generation of directors, it can be said that he is eagerly looking forward to it.If he is allowed to supervise the production of this movie, the quality will be more guaranteed.

TVB has always paid attention to work efficiency, and sometimes a TV series can even be filmed in just a dozen days, which is unimaginable, but it is the truth.

Therefore, as soon as Chen Xiaotang expressed his idea of ​​"The Southern Emperor and the Northern Beggar", Fang Yihua immediately made a decision and said: "OK, that's it, you write the script, and you can shoot and broadcast it while writing it. In short, it will not delay your directing the film." time--"

Chen Xiaotang was very grateful, he wrote and filmed while broadcasting, then he could start working on his first movie right away.

My future is not a dream! ! !
Chen Xiaotang shouted.

Seeing that Chen Xiaotang was happy, Fang Yihua took the opportunity to say: "By the way, Ah Tang, in three months' time, it will be the annual Golden Statue Awards. If you shoot the movie in time, maybe you can catch up with the election..."

Chen Xiaotang is satisfied enough to be a director and make a movie, how dare he hope that this movie will be selected for the Academy Award, just kidding, is it so easy to be selected for the Academy Award?
Although he knew that Fang Yihua was encouraging him, Chen Xiaotang was still grateful and said: "Don't worry, Aunt Six, I will work hard! At least the company won't lose money!"

"Hehe, you're offended by saying that. Although Shaw Brothers has always focused on shooting commercial films, it's not uncommon to support literary films once in a while. As long as you are willing to make progress, it's better than anything else!" Treat Chen Xiaotang as someone close to him.In the words, there is even caring care like a nephew.

Chen Xiaotang certainly understands this.But for this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, he shook his head, he still didn't dare to have too much hope, unless, unless he really had to create a miracle.

(End of this chapter)