I’m a Director, I’m Not Bad

  Chapter 309 307. Give you the best (at the beginning of the month, ask for a monthly pass!)

   Perhaps Xu Xin's expression was too speechless and weird, so Zhang Yimou asked directly:

   "What do you think of the script of Three Shots?"

   "..."

  Xu Xin thought for a while, and tentatively said:

   "Still... okay?"

   Now it was Zhang Yimou's turn to be speechless.

  He asked again:

   "Then what do you think of Shen Xiaoyang's performance?"

   "Also... okay?"

   Zhang Yimou's face immediately showed a rather speechless expression, tilting his head, looking at Xu Xin:

   "Why haven't you seen each other for a few months? You haven't improved in other skills, but your ability to talk nonsense with your eyes open has improved a lot."

   Who knew it would be good if he didn't mention it, but Xu Xin was even more speechless when he mentioned it:

   "You all know that the script is bad, and the actors are bad, so you still ask me?"

   As he spoke, he pointed to the script of "Three Shots" in his hand:

"Do you know how I felt when I finished reading this script this afternoon? The first feeling was: I ate shit! And then...because it was your script, I thought...maybe I didn't understand it very well, so I re-read it once again..."

   "How does it feel now?"

   "I didn't just eat shit, I chewed it, and tasted what people who **** eat..."

   "..."

  Zhang Yimou silently looked down at his beef rice.

   Put down the spoon.

  This rice...

   I can't eat it anymore.

  This metaphor is too disgusting.

  But this time he did not refute, but said:

   "Actually... After the script settled on the absurd comedy style, I shot two scenes, and I knew it was going to be bad."

   "Then you still shoot?"

  Looking at Xu Xin who was puzzled, Zhang Yimou didn't have any special expression on his face.

   It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say calm.

   "Otherwise, what should I do? People eat horse chews, and tens of millions of dollars are spent in it? Money is not such a waste."

   "...?"

   Now, Xu Xin was really puzzled.

"Don't you say that there is not much investment in this drama? It's only 20 to 30 million... Even if the 20 to 30 million is lost, if you change the cast and work on this story, how can you get it back from the box office? Now go on like this..."

   "The reason is this, but now it has cost more than 70 million yuan... It's not much to say, but I don't want to do it."

   "...????"

  Looking at Xu Xin's puzzled face, Zhang Yimou began to explain what the film was about.

  In fact, the investment in "Three Guns" has already been mentioned by Zhang Weiping in an interview.

   Eighty million.

   But in fact, this piece can be used for 80 million?

   Don't be ridiculous.

  This film doesn’t even need 30 million yuan.

  Because of the investment in it, Zhang Weiping secretly changed the concept.

  The total budget of 80 million is indeed the real deal, not fake.

   But not all of them are used in movies.

  First of all, the copyright fee alone, the copyright fee of "Blood Maze", cost a lot of money!

  Forty-five million.

  Hollywood people... their hearts are really dark.

  A work that cost 800,000 U.S. dollars that year has a copyright of 45 million dollars.

  Xu Xin was numb.

  After deducting the 45 million yuan, the remaining 35 million yuan for the movie has about 10 million yuan in publicity expenses.

  Then the remaining 25 million miles, I am willing to use Wang Xiaohua as the proprietress, and the agreed remuneration, including Zhao Benshan's cameo money, and the total remuneration of Sun Honglei, Ni Dahong and others, is about 11 million or so.

  The remaining money is the production cost.

  The 80 million is such a composition.

  After hearing Zhang Yimou's explanation, Xu Xin asked dumbfounded:

   "According to this... Even if all the people are changed, it will be nothing more than an additional 10 to 20 million expenses?"

"Um."

"Then don't change it? If you don't change it...Shen Xiaoyang? This film is really dead. What's more, the biggest flaw of this film is the script. The serious thriller theme may be okay. But if it goes on like this, with such a group of unreliable actors, how can this film be good?"

  Xu Xin really didn't know what to say.

"You don't need to ruin your reputation because of this little money...Is it okay if I pay the money? I'm investing an additional 50 million, and you can do whatever you want...I don't invest, so can I lend you to shoot? Let's get it right. This... what is this thing now!"

  He was in a hurry.

  However, seeing his eager appearance, Zhang Yimou was delighted.

   Laughing quite happily:

"Okay, I know you have money. But didn't I tell you just now, I don't want to do this. If I really want to change, I would have changed it a long time ago. Why have I been shooting here for a month? I didn't even say to change people matter?"

   "Why?... After your Olympic Games are over, everyone is waiting for your film work under the eyes of everyone. This is the first film of your "comeback", you plan to come like this?"

"2:00."

  Zhang Yimou raised two fingers:

"There are two reasons why I did this. On the one hand, I liked this black humorous serious thriller movie when it was released. So now that I can make it, I simply give it a try. Just as It’s capricious, after all, I’ve made so many films, but I’ve never dabbled in this kind of subject matter, so I’ll give it a try. But this is not the main reason, it’s more like a compromise under no choice.”

   “…what about the second reason?”

  Hearing Xu Xin's question, Zhang Yimou paused.

   seems to be hesitating whether to talk to Xu Xin or not.

  But without hesitating for long, he said directly:

   "He stretched his hand too far, I want to give him a warning...or a lesson."

   "..."

  ? ? ? ? ?

  Looking at Xu Xin who didn't know what to say, with an absurd expression on his face, Zhang Yimou relaxed in his sitting posture.

  One finger outside the door:

   "I have never said this to anyone, including Momo, only you know."

   "You mean... Zhang Weiping?"

"Um."

  Zhang Yimou's eyes fell on the script of "Thirteen Panties of Jinling" in front of Xu Xin.

   "Actually, I originally wanted to shoot it. This script... So far, it has been revised at least forty times? It's about the same. In terms of preparations... Actually, preparations have already begun before the Olympics."

   "Then why..."

   "Because its script has not reached the level I am satisfied with."

  Watching Xu Xin take out the cigarette case, Zhang Yimou helped him get an ashtray from under the coffee table.

   Not everyone can smoke in front of him.

   Not to mention in his own room.

   Not everyone can ask him to hand over an ashtray and pour some tea from his own cup while smoking.

  Pushing the ashtray to Xu Xin, he continued:

   "Just like you are polishing "The Wind", a script needs a lot of patience and polishing from the initial stage to the final perfection. I still have patience, and a lot. But his patience is gone."

   "..."

  Lighting a cigarette, Xu Xin continued to listen.

   This is not the time for him to ask questions.

   "Yimou, we have to make a movie first, everyone is waiting to see you."

   "Yimou, just "Blood Labyrinth". The script of "Jinling" is not yet mature."

   "You don't know how much you have delayed the Olympics. In the past few years, people in the company have been eating horses, and they have been investing in vain."

   "Look at the current commercial film market, the prospects are bright."

   "You will definitely not be able to move "Jinling" this year. It's too late. If you miss this year, it won't be interesting, right?"

   "Let's take "Blood Maze". Except for the copyright fee, this film is quite cheap. There are few scenes, and it can be produced quickly, and it can be released in a few months."

   "Yimou, look at Shen Xiaoyang, how hot is he? He's no worse than Jay Chou back then."

   "I asked Zhao Benshan, what Zhao Benshan meant was that he has a lot of apprentices here, you can go and see them all, they are not expensive to pack together."

   "We still have to make money..."

   One sentence after another, uttered from Zhang Yimou's mouth.

   But Xu Xin knew that this was not what Director Zhang said.

   But Zhang Weiping told him.

   And, after passing these words, Xu Xin understood what Zhang Weiping meant.

   First make a small-budget movie that is fast-forward and fast-out, and talk about making some money.

  In addition to the high copyright fee, "Three Guns" is really not a big production in terms of production costs.

   But the question is... the copyright fee is not money?

   Don’t you understand such a simple truth?

  However... If you really want to look at the copyright, the production cost of tens of millions is considered "few".

  Besides, Shen Xiaoyang doesn't care about his acting skills, he's hot...it's really hot.

  Although he doesn't know how much the other party's performance fee is, and he doesn't know the division structure of Zhao's class. But this kind of fame that became popular all over the country overnight is equivalent to lying on a pile of money.

but…

   "So, now there is a problem with the script and the actors, right? Have you ever objected?"

   "Of course I objected. Do you know what is wrong with this script now?"

  Hearing this, Xu Xin thought for a while and said:

   "Although I haven't watched the original version of "Blood Maze". But I think... it should be acclimatized?"

  Zhang Yimou nodded in agreement:

   “That’s right, it’s not localized enough. The original version’s copying and changes are a bit plausible.”

   "You didn't say that?"

   "Yes. I told him, and I said that the script needs to be carefully polished when I come back."

   Obviously, Zhang Weiping didn't listen.

   "But this actor... still has a theme..."

"The subject matter, I set the style of serious horror at the beginning. But... he should have tasted the sweetness in "Golden Armor", and he likes this way of inviting anyone who is popular, which can save a lot of publicity costs. Repeatedly contact me We are discussing, find Shen Xiaoyang."

   "I'm looking for Shen Xiaoyang to change it, so you changed the absurd comedy?"

"right."

  Zhang Yimou agreed, and spread his hands:

   “However, it seems obvious now that comedy of the absurd is not compatible with dark humor.”

   "..."

  Xu Xin stopped talking now.

   It’s not that I have nothing to say, but I’m thinking.

   Thinking and thinking, he whispered:

"Now what?"

   "Just do it."

  Looking at Xu Xin's worried eyes, Zhang Yimou felt relaxed:

"I'm preparing the script of "The Thirteen Hairpins of Jinling". He told me that we should make a small production first to recover the blood. In fact, I have delayed a lot for the Olympics in the past few years, so I agreed. But the two of us At least before "House of Flying Daggers", I had the final say on movies.

  Even if everyone says "Hero" is the starting point for me to compromise like a commercial film...

   This is true.

  Everyone has a competitive heart.

  Before "Hero", I really didn't make a movie that was particularly popular at the box office. The appearance of "Hero" proved to me that I have the ability to make commercial films, but it also gave him an ambition that he shouldn't have. That is, I feel that I can direct my movies.

  So, "House of Flying Daggers" has Jin Chengwu, and "Golden Armor" has Jay Chou. And when Takakura Ken and I were filming "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles", he felt that I was wasting my time. He also felt that I was wasting time when I engaged in the Olympics.

   There were even times when I thought he forgot what we were doing with New Graphics in the first place. Isn't it just to seek a balance between commerce and art, to blur this boundary, and to shoot something that can be affirmed by art from a commercial point of view. And can it be commercially favored works in terms of artistry?

   But now, his hand is getting longer and longer, and it has even begun to disturb my creative thinking. And now "Three Shots" is what I want to say to him. Maybe I don't understand film and television investment, maybe I don't understand business operations. But by the same token, you don't know how to make a movie, and you don't know how to tell a good story. This is what happens when an outsider leads an insider. "

  Zhang Yimou spoke very calmly.

  But Xu Xin frowned more and more, and even wanted to interrupt him several times.

  Finally, after he finished speaking, Xu Xin asked suspiciously:

"Since that's the case... I don't want to stay here, so why don't we go? It's fine if it's another director. You just say you want to make a movie, and those investors are not allowed to kneel outside the door just to take a look for you." ? Now that it's all like this, let's go. There are more powerful investors outside..."

   "Don't understand, do you? Why would I choose to warn him in this way?"

   "Well, I don't understand."

  Looked at Xu Xin's puzzled eyes.

  Zhang Yimou shook his head with a smile:

"Because we are friends."

   "..."

   "Will you have such a big stress reaction because of your friend's little overstepping?"

  Amidst Xu Xin's silence, Zhang Yimou asked a question.

"We have known each other since 1995. Without him in 1995, "Speak Well" would not have come out. And after so many years of ups and downs, the friendship between friends will not be lost just because he wants to make money from movies. It collapsed. And if I really walked away, it would be my fault in turn. It is my inability to tolerate others, and I lack enough tolerance and understanding for my friends. So..."

  He waved his hand:

   "That being said, there are indeed a lot of investors outside. But at my age, how many true friends do you think I can keep by my side?"

   "..."

  Xu Xin was stunned.

   Then he gave a wry smile:

   "It turns out that..."

"How many decades can there be in life? Right. So... I told him through the film: I told you the script, immature. I told you the actor, no way. But you are my friend, you insist on In this way, knowing that there are pitfalls, I will go with you. And what I can do is like what we said when the first-instance proposal for the Olympics was returned. Rules..."

  He draws a box with two pens:

"It's fixed here. I can only do my best within the framework of this rule to make this movie a good one. People, you hand-picked the script, and you made the decision to shoot it directly. After the release, make money, then you start Happy to take…”

   "Then your word of mouth and audience expectations..."

   "..."

   Now, it was Zhang Yimou's turn to be silent.

   After a moment of silence, he shook his head:

"I can only do my best. As for the final filming... I don't know, just treat it as an old bar in a new bottle, at least the framework of "Blood Maze" is in place, and there will be no major mistakes. Tell the story clearly, That's what I need to do now."

  Xu Xin felt uncomfortable hearing that.

  Truth.

   Very uncomfortable.

  However, he understood that Zhang Dao's intention had been decided.

   It's not a compromise.

   On the contrary, it is more like a concession.

  The choice to retreat in the face of a cherished friendship.

  Although this is a bit stupid from an objective and commercial point of view.

   But if Zhang Weiping can understand this truth, it will be worthwhile for Director Zhang.

   You see, sometimes there are things that are virtues.

  Money is not the only criterion for measuring a particular thing.

   In the face of friendship, the old man in front of him chose to sacrifice his reputation, just to remind his friends.

But…

   "Then what about the heroine? This is the top priority now, right? ... I don't think anyone has seen her all day today. The scenes you picked are also scenes of other characters..."

   "I'll give her another chance, tomorrow."

  Zhang Yimou shook his head slightly:

   "If it doesn't work, the only option is to replace it."

   "...how about I talk to Mr. Benshan?"

   Seeing his troubled appearance, Xu Xin said:

"We should be able to chat better. The big deal... I'll take the blame for you, just like before. For the movie I'm going to release next, I will give some resources to Zhao's class. Put Shen Xiaoyang on my trainer, maybe it will work Become a talent."

  Hearing this, Zhang Yimou rolled his eyes directly:

   "What are you trying to do? What if he disagrees?"

   "Then suppress them. What a short answer~"

  Xu Xin is happy.

"There is no imperial decree, and the Five Immortals of the Northeast are not allowed to enter the customs. I can't handle Zhao Benshan. A few actors...should be pinched by hand. Not to mention, the filming rate of a Wanda theater is the same as that of a Western Film Studio, which is enough to get stuck. Are you in the Zhao family?"

  Zhang Yimou was stunned...

  Looking at the little tiger in front of him who suddenly started baring his teeth and showing a murderous look...

  Suddenly a smile appeared on his face.

  But after a flash, it was replaced by a touch of helplessness:

"What's the matter with you? I arranged for you to go to the West Film Studio to carry the flag. When we grow old, you have to stand up. Now who asked you to hold a chicken feather as an arrow? ... This is not the same as Zhao Benshan It’s okay, it’s okay with these actors. It’s about the money…”

   "About the money?"

  Xu Xin suddenly became happier:

   "Then I will sponsor 10 million in friendship, so let's quickly change the proprietress, okay? It's not disturbing enough..."

   "You have more money!"

  The old man looked happy, but he was speechless.

  Glared him angrily, and said:

   "Okay, take the script of "Jinling" and have a look, and stop messing around here! What's the matter?"

   "No, can I pay Yan Ni to come here? I know her well. She is the shopkeeper of my wife's house... Is it okay if I pay her to come here to make you happy?"

   "Hurry up and get out, I need you to make me happy?"

   Laughing and cursing, the old man kicked him out of the house.

  In the end, whether or not to invite Yan Ni turned out to be an unjust case with no owner.

   And as soon as he left the house, he ran into Zhang Mo holding a notebook.

   "Uh... Sister Mo, hello."

  Xu Xin greeted with a smile.

  Zhang Mo also nodded slightly:

   "Are you finished talking?"

   "I didn't chat much, oh yes, there is also a small beef rice for you on the table. It tastes pretty good."

  Xu Xin smiled and pointed to the inside of the room:

   "I'm going back to rest."

"Okay, good night."

  Zhang Mo waved goodbye to Xu Xin very politely, and then walked into the room.

  She didn't know what her father and Xu Xin talked about.

  But after entering the door, I saw my father eating beef noodles.

   To be honest, she was quite surprised.

  Because the filming was not going well, my father was very angry during this period. Sometimes he didn’t eat dinner, and he suffered from the old problem of stomach problems a few times.

  But not only did I eat a boxed lunch tonight, but now I also added a supper.

  Even the brows that were often furrowed smoothed out.

  You can tell that you are in a good mood just by looking at it...

  For a while, she didn't know what to say.

   "Here, try it, it's still hot."

  Zhang Yimou pointed to the unopened noodle bowl without a plastic bag.

  Zhang Mo was taken aback, and asked:

   "Where did this bowl come from?"

   "Restaurant."

   "Uh...does it still have to be sent over?"

   "No, Xiao Xu just bought it back."

  Zhang Yimou shook his head:

   "Keep it away, make instant noodles or something later, it can be used. Don't throw it away~"

  Hearing this, Zhang Mo sat down, opened the plastic bag in the porcelain bowl, stirred it with a spoon, and smelled the aroma of the beef...

  Although she was still managing her figure, she still drank the soup in small sips.

   Then pushed the notebook to the father:

   "Dad, take a look."

"Um…"

   Zhang Yimou was almost exhausted when talking.

   Pick up Notepad and start reading.

   It turned out that the first project was arranged wrong.

   "1, check the device first."

   This is the job of each department. What do you, an assistant director, do with your hands so long?

   And then look down:

   "2. Tell the actors about the shooting content of the day."

   This should be placed after "connecting with the director first about the shooting process".

  Continue to Article 3, Article 4, Article 5...

  Some are right, some are wrong.

  But Zhang Yimou didn't say anything after reading it all over. Instead, he closed the notebook and said:

   "After the shooting of "Three Guns", in the process of preparing for "Jinling", if there are any movies or TV series on Xiao Xu's side, you can go there. I have already finished talking to him."

"Well…"

  Zhang Mo was stunned for a moment, thought for a while, and asked:

   "He agreed?"

"Um."

  Hearing what his father said, Zhang Mo nodded:

"Okay, I know."

"You just came back from abroad, and you haven't figured out a lot of things in China. You need to accumulate more experience... Don't look at him as young. His way of filming is quite upright, and he is very talented. The habit is to put all the storylines of a script into shots. I polished them all in my own mind, drew them and then shot them step by step.

  This is why when you watch his movies, you will feel special, whether it is the camera movement or the sense of the camera, as well as the reason for the strong sense of immersion and coherence. You can try to learn his method. After you learn, understand, and get used to it, this method will allow you to maintain your own style from the stage of a new director to maturity... from beginning to end. "

   "..."

  Zhang Mo was a little surprised:

   "He did it all by himself?"

"right."

  Zhang Yimou nodded:

   "Tomorrow, you can ask him for the storyboard drafts of "The Wind" and "Secret", and you will know. He is not an outsider, so you are so close."

"Um…"

  Zhang Mo responded again, but at this moment, Zhang Yimou suddenly sighed:

"well…"

"What's wrong?"

  Zhang Mo was a little puzzled.

  I saw my father wiped his mouth and said in a low voice:

"In 2006, I met him for the first time. You know... At that time, I thought that this young man dared to talk about his ideals for the Olympics in front of us old guys. He was a very good boy... It's a pity. , if you didn't marry that bastard...I really want to match you two."

   "..."

  Zhang Mo was stunned...

   Laughing a bit reluctantly:

   "Look at what you said, at that time... wasn't I married?"

   "I don't blame you."

   Zhang Yimou obviously knew about his daughter's failed transnational marriage, and tried not to touch her scars as much as possible.

   "That's what I mean... At that time, I was thinking, if you two can be together, I'm really happy. This kid... From the day I joined the director team, I knew that I would definitely not be a mortal in the future..."

   "..."

  Zhang Mo didn't know what to say for a while.

"Later in "Golden Armor", I knew that when he and Mimi were in love, I tried my best to tell him how to maintain a long-term relationship. But in fact, I also thought about it in my heart. If Mimi and him After breaking up, I will introduce you to him..."

   "At that time... I haven't divorced yet, have I?"

  Zhang Mo couldn't help being a little absurd.

  But Zhang Yimou shook his head:

   "I've said it a long time ago, that domestic violence man is unreliable..."

   "Then I can't cheat."

"So... you two just missed it. You divorced last year... I actually thought about it. If he broke up with Mimi, I would introduce you to him. You are not bad, you are beautiful, and you have a good personality." good…"

   Clearly, on some level, parents have a shared view of their children.

   Hearing this, Zhang Mo was overjoyed:

   "As a result, I got divorced and my family got married. Now the child is about to be born... Is it even more impossible?"

   "..."

  Looking at the silent father, she smiled even more happily:

   "What's this called? It's called no fate and no share."

"well…"

   What responded to her was Zhang Yimou's long sigh.

yes.

   No chance or share.

   Really...

Pity.

   "What a child..."

   "Do you think Yang Mi is not good enough for her?"

   "I didn't say that."

  Zhang Yimou sat on the sofa with his legs leaning against the sofa, holding the cup of the precious gourd in his hand, his eyes were a little empty.

   "I just want to give you the best..."

   "..."

  Zhang Mo was taken aback.

   Then I heard my father sigh:

"well…"

   Ask for a monthly pass at the beginning of the month! Start paying off your debt tomorrow!

  (end of this chapter)