Director’s Legend

The first weekend was released in more than 3,000 theaters, and only got 10.35 million US dollars at the box office. I have to say that this is a very poor start for Shao Shuaijun's film to be released in North America. If it weren't for the reputation of being very good, almost too good to be overwhelming, this would be another failure after "The Night Watcher".

Originally, "Stunned" was a movie that received great attention, after all, it was supported by Shao Shuaijun's golden signature. The media that had originally praised it immediately changed its direction.

"Applause, but don't win the crowd, "Popular" is embarrassed, and the theater chain will be greatly reduced in the next week."-"Hollywood Film Report"

"The magic of small fresh movies is no longer, and Shao Shuaijun encounters Waterloo for the second time."-"Chicago Post".

"The box office of "Pumping Heart" is no longer moving, and the miracle of Summer is over."-film film website.

From the United States to the world, the news of the box office loss of "Pumped" is like a storm. Shao Shuaijun, who has received the most attention in recent years and is known as the king of the next generation of the world, finally ushered in another setback in his life. Those who are jealous naturally clap their hands to celebrate, while those who use him as an idol cover their faces with their hands.

In any case, the media is busy.

Li Xiuxiu called the first time she asked for the film to be shot.

"Husband, I'm sorry, you lost the box office."

Shao Shuaijun said indifferently: "I never thought about making money from the beginning. Wife, please feel at ease, don't blame yourself. Don't look at the box office failures and loss of money that the media advocates all day long. In fact, the cost of movies is low. The publicity costs are also low. Only the box office in the US plus the follow-up income can protect the capital. Maybe the overseas box office is also not good, but DVD sales should be able to make a fortune."

"But it still caused you to put some bad comments on your back." Li Xiuxiu was still a little bit brooding.

"It's okay. I can get rid of it after receiving the interview. Whether it is good or not is the media. Don't you think I made this movie very well? The audience said it was good after watching it." Shao Shuaijun said with a smile.

"There is nothing bad about the movie my husband made. I really like "Stunned"."

"Haha, huh, huh, I will tell the media tomorrow, this is what I photographed for my wife to see, it is nothing to make money or not, the important thing is that my wife is happy to see it."

"Husband, you are so kind to me."

"Then what it is."

To comfort Li Xiuxiu, and in order to promote the movie, Shao Shuaijun accepted interviews with two of Hollywood's largest newspapers, "The Hollywood Reporter" and "Variety Show", and his own Pinnacle Video.

Shao Shuaijun and several reporters sat opposite each other in an elegant seat of a coffee shop in Hollywood.

"The box office of "Fantastic" is not very satisfactory. How does Director Shao think about this problem?" The reporter of "Variety Show" is a beautiful woman, and she does her part to start.

Shao Shuaijun laughed and said: "From the very beginning, I didn't have high expectations for the box office of "Pumpy". For me, neither "500 Days with Summer" or this one. There are too many commercial potentials in it. I hope to use these two films to give the audience some good memories about love and growth. After everyone has watched it, say good, then my goal will be achieved."

The "Hollywood Reporter" reporter followed: "Director Shao, if you say that your director career is divided by "The Nightman", before "The Nightman", you had an absolute magic aura in the Chinese film market. Movies are all hit movies. After "The Night Watcher", the movies you made have a global magical halo. Now that "Heartbeat" has ended such a halo, do you feel discouraged?"

"This box office magic halo is too exaggerated. I always claim to be a commercial director, but I am not a director who only box office theory. I think no matter how great the box office is, you must first have a story worthy of taste and a story worthy of taste. The emotion of aftertaste."

Shao Shuaijun leaned back in his chair casually, appearing very free and easy: "Before shooting "Popular", I had a lot of commercial film plans, but I pushed them away or postponed them. Because I just wanted to shoot such a pure film. The story of love, in fact, I never felt that I had to make money in the movies I made. "The Night Watcher" did not make money, and the word-of-mouth was not good. The first weekend of "Pumping" was 10.35 million, plus the previous movies 3.2 million box office, and subsequent box office, copyright transactions, DVD sales, etc., have not lost money. There is another good reputation, this is a success, of course I will not be discouraged."

"As a commercial director, why don't you pursue the box office and tend to tell stories instead?"

Shao Shuaijun laughed: "I used to be in China. The domestic media called me a director who can tell a story. For our habits, the best way to call a director is not to say that this is a profitable director, or that this He is a director who makes literary and artistic films, but he said that the director can tell stories. The highest level of storytelling is when the story is told well. Whether it is a commercial director or a literary film director, they are all pursuing a story-telling, and so am I."

"No more box office pursuit in the future?"

"I have never been a box office director."

"how to say?"

"If I want to go after the box office, it's actually very simple. You know I want a lot of creativity. "Twilight" is the copyright that I bought in my own name four years ago. I knew that "Twilight" must be big. Sold, but in the end I didn’t shoot. The previous "The Hangover" was also my creative idea. Similarly, I didn’t direct. I always felt that as a director, I am not easy-going and humble. In other words, I am a very A stubborn person, I have a lot of bad temper, or inexplicable ideas."

Shao Shuaijun waved his hand and strengthened his tone: "I'm the kind of director who chooses what to shoot according to my own preferences. I will shoot if I like it. I don't like it very much, even the best movie. I don’t want to shoot. Just like many people keep asking me, why do you never shoot a sequel? When I was in China, whether it was "Crazy Stone" or "Source Code" or "Painted Skin", many people wanted me Shoot the sequel."

"Then why not shoot?"

"Because I think a movie, the first one is because you have a lot of ideas to tell, it will be very passionate and full of a sense of struggle. When you shoot a sequel, what you have to say is finished in the first one. , You no longer want to say what you want, you have to contact the first part to cater to such a plot, thereby sacrificing many aspects. So I rarely go to shoot sequels, I hope to start, scribble After talking about what you want to say, you can leave the rest to others to improve. Or just conceive a big plan, like Nolan’s Batman, Lucas’ Star Wars, that can be described by several movies The form of a story, not for making a profit at the box office, just continue writing in a hurry." Shao Shuaijun bragged vigorously.

"Do you think there is a reason for this? You have already achieved fame, have a huge career, and have enough capital to do what you want to do, so that you can strive for excellence in shooting and be able to put aside commercial factors and be yourself What do you want to do?"

"There is a reason for this. In the past, I was afraid of losing money when making movies. I was afraid of losing money. But now you have achieved certain commercial success. When you are free to squander this kind of resources, really, very It’s hard to keep your original attitude anymore. Before you know it, you want to try something other than money."

"Does it mean that you will no longer take the line of commercial directors in the future?"

Shao Shuaijun shook his head: "How can I say, I used to position myself. I don't need positioning anymore. I can shoot as I want."

"We know that Director Shao's shooting speed is very fast. In less than five years, nine films have already been released. After "Stunned", is there any new plan? Is it convenient to reveal what direction it is? Is it pure love?"

"You must not know how many plans I have this year. There are several scripts in the collection of Summit Entertainment, all of which I want to shoot. But I don't know which one I should choose. I hoped to make "The Hunger Games" earlier. Said, this is another commercial production that is not inferior to "Twilight." The sub-shots of the script are almost ready, but sometimes a good movie does not have to be made by yourself. If you make everything by yourself, mine The plan is at least until 2020, haha. So, I am also choosing what to shoot next."

"So can you tell me, is it a big production?"

"I'm not sure about this, haha, but I think if nothing happens, my subsequent works will be commercial. As for the subject matter, it spans comedy, fantasy and science fiction." Shao Shuaijun said funny.

He is now hesitating in three plans, "Teddy Bear", "Rise of the Apes" and "The Hunger Games". In his memory, the box office of these three movies is similar. In addition, the box office and reputation of the three movies are good, and as long as they are shot, they can achieve huge fame and profits. He wants to shoot, but he doesn't know which one to shoot first.

In fact, in terms of long-term planning, "The Hunger Games" should be postponed as a pillar series that succeeds "Twilight" and continue to develop youth-themed movies. It's just that Shao Shuaijun has been fully prepared for "The Hunger Games", and he is afraid that if he delays for too long, his previous inspiration will run away.

And "Rise of the Apes" is a science fiction movie. Shooting now can revitalize the entire "Planet of the Apes" series, and then continue to dig out new works.

It doesn't matter when "Teddy Bear" was filmed, but the advantage is that this movie is very simple, except that a teddy bear needs special effects to produce, there is no challenge. If you take a challenge, you can finish shooting in one month, and then proceed to post-production without delay.

Shao Shuaijun has not yet decided which one to choose for shooting.

I didn't get too entangled in this aspect, and once again talked about the plot and behind-the-scenes of "Stunned", the interview is over.

On the other hand, after losing the box office in the first week, the theater line for the next week has been reduced to 2,458 cinemas.

The dream of high box office is out of play.

But Shao Shuaijun felt it was worth it to be able to move the audience.

At least I can say: "I have passed the period of making movies for money..." (to be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and updated faster!)