I am a director, but I have the skills of an actor

Chapter 51 Commercial Films, Literary Films

"Commercial films, well, are the mainstream of the market. If you want to make a big movie market, you still have to rely on commercial films, not literary films." Wan Qingshan said slowly.

Ning Hua was a little surprised. He thought that Wan Qingshan, who had a background in making literary films, would belittle commercial films!
"Senior, don't you think making commercial films has no meaning?"

Wan Qingshan chuckled, "Brother Hao, connotation can only make the movie market bigger. If you want to make the movie market bigger, you have to attract people into the cinema. This can only rely on commercial films."

Ning Hua frowned and thought for a while before replying, "Commercial films just have more big stars. Literary films can also hire big stars."

Wan Qingshan shook his head slightly, "Celebrities attract audiences. This is not the point. The point is that commercial films tell the story straightforwardly to the audience, while literary and artistic films are a bit confusing. Most viewers watch movies to relax. If they watch a full head It’s foggy, so what are you looking at?”

"That's the current poor level of audience appreciation, and we can guide that."

Wan Qingshan's expression suddenly changed, and he said seriously, "Brother Ha, as directors, we must not place our position too high. If we lose touch with the audience, no one will watch the movie we make."

Immediately, he asked curiously, "Also, why do you think the current audience's appreciation level is poor? In my opinion, the current audience's appreciation level is very good."

Wan Qingshan pursed his dry lips and muttered in his heart. "The current level of the audience is still low. Then, what will the level of the audience be like in the future when they will find shitty movies great?"

"If the audience's level of appreciation is high, why can't many good literary films sell at the box office?" Ning Hua asked with a frown.

Wan Qingshan, who was walking towards the water fountain in the corner, turned around and said,
"As I said just now, most viewers go to the movies to relax, not to think, so they don't like to watch literary films."

After taking a glass of water, Wan Qingshan turned around and saw Ning Shu standing there with a depressed expression. He thought for a while and asked, "Brother Shu, do you think it is better to win awards for commercial films or literary films? "

"Of course it's a literary film." Ning Hua, who had regained his composure, replied without thinking.

"That's right, commercial films have high box office but are hard to win awards. Literary and artistic films are easy to win awards but have low box office. This is fair. If literary and artistic films win awards but still want high box office, then commercial films will have no way to survive."

"That's right." Ning Hua murmured two words, hesitated for a long time, and asked, "Senior, what do you think about me going to make a commercial film?"

Wan Qingshan was overjoyed and said calmly, "Okay, I have thought about making a commercial film next time."

Ning Hua's eyes widened and he asked eagerly, "No, senior, "Selection" has a high box office. Why do you want to make a commercial film?"

Ning Hua couldn't figure it out. He wanted to make commercial films because the movies he made couldn't be sold. However, Wan Qingshan's artistic films were not bad at the box office, so he wanted to make commercial films instead.

Some time ago, Ning Hua participated in the Magic City International Film Festival. Although "Green Grass" won the most popular film in the Best Newcomer Award, it is difficult for movies to make money nowadays, let alone a literary film without any reputation. So no one bought it at all.

In the end, it was Jia Zhangke, the chairman of the jury for the Best Newcomer Award, who helped him contact a foreign publisher and sold "Green Grass" for 40.

It was precisely because of this experience that he was very confused, so he asked Wan Qingshan what he thought of commercial films.

"In the future, the box office of literary and artistic films will get worse and worse, and we can't do it without making commercial films." Wan Qingshan sighed.

"Senior, why do you think so?"

"Now that the Internet is becoming more and more developed and information is being transferred faster and faster, in this environment, fewer and fewer people will be willing to watch dull literary and artistic films."

Ning Huan was confused and didn't understand what he meant, but he had already asked so many questions and it was hard to ask this question again. After all, Wan Qingshan was not his teacher.

Ning Hua was silent for a moment and said, "Senior, thank you for your advice. I'm leaving now." "Brother Hua, when you want to make a commercial film, come to me and I will invest for you."

Ning Hua, who had experienced the difficulty of attracting investment, trembled all over and said sincerely, "Senior, thank you, I will definitely look for you when the time comes."

After deciding to edit the two versions, Wan Qingshan and Lu Ben had almost no room for argument. Without Wan Qingshan's interruption, Lu Ben, who was extremely enthusiastic about the [-]-minute scene, worked day and night to speed up the editing, resulting in a week's work. Two versions have been edited.

One morning, Wan Qingshan had just left the editing room with these two versions. When he was about to do the post-subtitles, he suddenly saw Han Sanping leading the two of them over.

"Qingshan, these two are Marco Muller and his wife Du Amei." Han Sanping introduced.

Wan Qingshan has heard of the name Marco Muller. He is the driving force behind the introduction of domestic films to the world. He is responsible for many domestic directors becoming famous in Europe.

"Hello!" Wan Qingshan put the roll of film in his right hand under his left armpit and stretched out his hand.

"Hello, Mr. Wan, I like your "Selection" very much." Marco Muller reached out to hold Wan Qingshan's hand and praised.

"Thank you!"

"The appearance of "Selection" makes me very happy. Zhang Yimou's films are all aimed at primitiveness and human nature, but "Selection" is aimed at the social class. This makes me feel that your country's movies are becoming more and more popular. It’s becoming more diverse,” Marco Muller said.

"Maybe it's because we grew up in different environments, so what we pay attention to is different."

Han Sanping on the side suddenly interrupted, "Qingshan, Mr. Marco Muller heard that your new movie is almost finished, so he wants to watch it."

Wan Qingshan immediately understood that Marco Muller was actually invited by Han Sanping.Marco Muller is now the chairman of the Venice Film Festival. Han Sanping invited him because he wanted "Heart" to participate in the Venice Film Festival.

This made Wan Qingshan feel hesitant.

Seeing that Wan Qingshan didn't speak, Han Sanping, who didn't know that there were two versions of "Heart", frowned. He looked at the two rolls of film in Wan Qingshan's hand and said, "Qingshan, the movie has been edited."

"I just finished editing, there are still some post-production work to be done." Wan Qingshan nodded.
"Can I watch it now?" Marco Muller asked directly.

"You two, we have to go to the Magic City tomorrow, and then fly to Europe, so we only have time today." Duame on the side explained for Marco Muller.

"Thank you both for coming despite your busy schedule. Let's go to the screening room." Han Sanping said immediately.

Led by Han Sanping, the group came to the screening room.

"Director Han, I have cut two versions. This version is more suitable for exhibitions, but it is probably difficult to pass the review!" Wan Qingshan handed over the one-man show version.

On the way, Wan Qingshan also figured out that China Film Corporation accounted for half of the investment in the movie, so the two versions gave Han Sanping a headache.

It has almost become a routine for domestic directors to make literary films and edit two versions, so Han Sanping was not surprised. He took over the one-man show version and said nonchalantly, "Leave it to China Film for review."

During his contact with Wan Qingshan, Han Sanping knew that Wan Qingshan was not the kind of person who doesn't know the importance of things, so he thought that there would be no big problems in the movie. It would be difficult to pass, so it was probably just a small problem.

Han Sanping did not take these minor problems seriously. In his honor, the General Administration would deal with them.

(End of this chapter)