I'm the 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 immediately showed a rather speechless expression on his face. He tilted his head and looked at Xu Xin:

"Why haven't I seen you 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 fine if he didn't mention it, but when he did, Xu Xin was even more speechless:

"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 feel when I finish reading this script this afternoon? The first feeling is: I ate shit! Then... because it is your script, I think... maybe I didn't understand it very well, so I read it again Read it once..."

"How does it feel now?"

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

"..."

Zhang Yimou silently looked down at his beef rice.

Put down the spoon.

this meal...

I can't eat it anymore.

This analogy 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 had no special expression on his face.

It would not even be an exaggeration to say that it was calm.

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

"...?"

Now, Xu Xin was really puzzled.

"Didn't you say that there is not much investment in this drama? It's only 3000 to 3000 million... Even if the [-] to [-] million is lost, if you change the cast and work on this story, how can you get it back from the box office? But now Keep playing like this..."

"The truth is this, but now it has cost more than 7000 million... It's not much to say, but I don't want to do it."

"...????"

Seeing 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.

8000 million.

But in fact, this piece can be used for 8000 million?
But stop being funny.

This film can't even use 3000 million.

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

The total budget of 8000 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.

People in Hollywood... have really dark hearts.

A work with an investment of 80 US dollars that year has a copyright of 500 million.

Everyone in Xu Xin was numb.

After deducting the 500 million, out of the 500 million remaining for the movie, there are about 1000 million in publicity expenses.

And then the remaining 500 million miles, willing to use Wang Xiaohua as the proprietress, the agreed remuneration, including Zhao Benshan's cameo money, and the total remuneration of Sun Honglei, Ni Dahong and others, is about 100 million or so.

The rest of the money is production costs.

This 8000 million is such a composition.

After hearing Zhang Yimou's explanation, Xu Xin asked dumbfounded:
"Then according to this... even if all the people are changed, it's nothing more than 2000 million extra expenses?"

"Ah."

"Then don't change it? If you don't change it... then... Shen Xiaoyang? This movie is really dead. What's more, the biggest flaw of this movie is the script. Changing it to the original 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 5000 million yuan, and you can do whatever you want...I don't invest, so can I borrow you to shoot? ? Let's get it right. This... what is this thing now!"

He is really in a hurry.

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

Smiling 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 looking forward to your film work. This is the first film of your "comeback". Is this how you intend to come?"

"2 point."

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.

He seemed 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's absurd expression, which he didn't know what to say, Zhang Yimou relaxed in his sitting posture.

Pointing out the door:
"I have never said this to anyone, including Momo, only you know."

"You mean... Zhang Weiping?"

"Ah."

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 40 times? It's about the same. In terms of preparation... Actually, preparations have already started before the Olympics."

"Then why..."

"Because its script has not reached the level that 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 his face.

Especially in your own house.

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

Pushing the ashtray to Xu Xin, he continued:
"Just like you polish "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."

"..."

After 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 horse chews, and they have been investing in vain."

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

"You won't 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 Labyrinth". Except for the higher copyright fee, this film is quite cheap. There are few scenes, and it can be produced quickly. 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 many apprentices here, you can go and see them all, and 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.

It was Zhang Weiping who told him.

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

Let's make a small-budget movie that is fast in and fast out, and make 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?
But... If you really want to look at the copyright aside, the tens of millions of production costs are considered "few".

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

Although he didn't know how much the other party's performance fee was, nor did he 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's 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 Labyrinth". But I think... it must be acclimatized?"

Zhang Yimou nodded in agreement:
"That's right, it's not localized enough. The original copy and changes are somewhat plausible."

"You didn't say it?"

"Say it. 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. Repeated and I'm discussing, find Shen Xiaoyang."

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

"Correct."

Zhang Yimou responded, 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:

"What now?"

"Just do it."

Looking at Xu Xin's worried eyes, Zhang Yimou felt quite 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.

Therefore, "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.

Sometimes I even think he forgot what we started New Picture 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. "

What Zhang Yimou said was very calm.

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 just go? It's okay if there are other directors. You just say you want to make a movie, and those investors are not allowed to kneel outside the door, just to watch it for you." A glance? Since everything is like this now, let's go. There are more powerful investors outside..."

"Don't understand, right? Why did I choose to warn him in this way?"

"Well, I don't understand."

Looking 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?"

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

"We have known each other since 95. Without him in 95, "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 was my inability to tolerate others, and I lacked 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:
"So that's how it is..."

"How many decades can there be in life? Right. So... I told him through the film: I told you the script, immature. I also told you the actors, no. But you are my friend, you If you insist on this, then knowing that there are pitfalls, I will go with you. And what I can do is just like what we said when the first-instance plan for the Olympics was returned. The 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 the audience's 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. It's an old bar in a new bottle. At least the framework of "Blood Maze" is still there, and there will be no major mistakes. Tell the story clearly. , that's what I need to do now."

What Xu Xin heard was uncomfortable.

truth.

Very uncomfortable.

However, he understood that Zhang Daoyi had already made up his mind.

This is no compromise.

On the contrary, it is more like giving in.

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

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

But if Zhang Weiping can understand this truth, then 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 Teacher 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 about to open next, give some resources to Zhao's class. Let Shen Xiaoyang be my teacher, maybe it's okay Can become a talent."

Hearing this, Zhang Yimou rolled his eyes directly:

"What can you do? What if he doesn't agree?"

"Then suppress them. What a short answer~"

Xu Xin was delighted.

"There is no imperial decree, and the Five Immortals of the Northeast are not allowed to enter the customs. I can't control 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. Are you dead from 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 fleeting moment, it was replaced by a touch of helplessness:
"What's the matter with you? I arranged for you to go to Xiying 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 the same as It has nothing to do with Zhao Benshan, and it has nothing to do with these actors. It's about money..."

"About the money?"

Xu Xin suddenly became happier:

"Then I'll sponsor 1000 million as a friendship, can we quickly change the proprietress, okay? It's not annoying enough..."

"You have more money!"

The old man had a look of joy on his face, but was a little speechless.

She glared at 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 over? I know her very well. She is the shopkeeper of my wife's house...Can 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 to invite Yan Ni or not turned out to be an unjust case.

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 talk much, oh yes, there is 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 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 wrinkled were smoothed out.

I can tell I'm in a good mood just by looking at it...

For a moment, 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 stunned and asked:

"Where did this bowl come from?"

"The restaurant."

"Uh...does it have to be sent there?"

"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 he pushed the notebook to his father:
"Dad, take a look."

"Um……"

Zhang Yimou was almost exhausted when it came to talking.

Just pick up Notepad and start reading.

It turned out that the first project was arranged wrong.

"1, check the equipment first."

This is the job of each department. What do you do as an assistant director with such a long reach?
And then look down:

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

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

Then the third, fourth, fifth...

Some are right and some are wrong.

But Zhang Yimou didn't say anything after reading it for a while. Instead, after closing the book, he said:
"After the filming 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."

"Uh……"

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

"He agreed?"

"Ah."

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, he has a very upright way of filming, and he is very talented. The habit is to put all the story lines of a script, The sub-shots are all polished in my heart, drawn out and then shot step by step.

This is why when you watch his movies, you will feel special, whether it is the movement of the camera 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 have learned, understood, and got 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?"

"Correct."

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:
"Ugh……"

"what happened?"

Zhang Mo was a little puzzled.

I saw my father wiped his mouth and said in a low voice:
"In 06, I met him for the first time, you know... At that time, I felt that this young man dared to talk about his ideas 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 already 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 he joined the director team, I knew that he 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."

"That's why... you two just missed it. You divorced last year... I actually thought about it. If he breaks up with Mimi, I'll introduce you to him. You are not bad, and you are beautiful. Good personality..."

Clearly, on some level, parents' views on their children are shared.

But upon hearing this, Zhang Mo was overjoyed:

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

"..."

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

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

"Ugh……"

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

Yes.

No fate and no share.

Really...

Pity.

"What a child..."

"You think Yang Mi is not good enough for her?"

"I didn't say it."

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

"I just want to give you the... best of what I have encountered."

"..."

Zhang Mo was taken aback.

Then I heard my father sigh:
"Ugh……"

　Ask for a monthly ticket at the beginning of the month!Start paying off your debt tomorrow!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)