Started as an independent producer in 1988

Chapter 151 Incorporating Zhang Yimou

In the main building of Beijing Film Studio, Gong Li came to the co-production department on the second floor. She walked around but didn't see Chen Shiping. After asking about it, she found out that Chen Shiping had gone to the filming base.

In desperation, Gong Li went to the filming base. In addition to several photography workshops, there was also a large location outside the Beijing Film Studio.

The exterior scenes of Farewell My Concubine were built here. Chen Shiping rebuilt five streets, half of which were used to film the exterior scenes of Luo Tuo Xiangzi in the first few years.

Now it can be called Ming and Qing Style Street, and it has become a signboard of Beijing Film Studio.

Many people from other factories came to Beijing Film Studio and saw these streets and wanted to shoot scenes here.

There are only a few professional film and television bases in China, and not many people are willing to spend money to do this.

In the past, we spent the funds allocated from above to build a lot of scenery, but now that we are responsible for our own profits and losses, who would bother to do this?

If it hadn't been for Xu Feng's money this time, the factory wouldn't have been so aggressive in covering a few streets.

There is also a famous location in Beijing Film Studio, which is the Five Spine and Six Beasts in Rongguo Mansion.

Gong Li came to the location, and before she even got close, she heard slogans being shouted inside.

"Down with RB imperialism!"

"Defend North China!"

Gong Li walked around the street in front of the theater. When she emerged from the alley, she saw a group of students marching on the street. When she looked up, she saw Chen Shiping standing on the second floor with a viewfinder.

Chen Shiping wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned to Zhao Fei and said, "Everyone is here today. When it gets cooler in the afternoon, we will walk through that section. Have the art props been sent over?"

Chen Shiping's last words were shouted to the producer, and Xiao Li immediately responded: "They were delivered together in the morning, and they are piled up in the house over there."

"Okay, let's organize the group performances during the lunch break and practice them in advance so that we don't have to turn back and start up the camera and waste time."

Chen Shiping casually explained a few words, looked down at the storyboard in his hand, frowned and discussed the shot arrangement of this scene with Zhao Fei.

It's too hot today, and it's almost noon now, so it can really make you feel hot.

After Chen Shiping and Zhao Fei discussed for a while, they looked at the hundreds of extras dressed in Republic of China student uniforms and couldn't help but pull up the loudspeaker and shout: "Lift up your energy! Why are you so weak? If our seniors were like you, how could they still be there?" How to save the country!”

Many people in the group performance couldn't help complaining about Chen Shiping in their hearts. It was almost too hot to wear a long-sleeved student uniform on such a hot day.

"Walking a few times, you'll have something to eat after practice!" Chen Shiping shouted again and put down the loudspeaker in his hand, feeling like smoke was coming out of his throat.

At this time Gong Li came up the stairs along the street.

Chen Shiping turned to look at her and asked, "Here we go, I was planning to find you tonight."

Gong Li walked up with a smile and said, "If I had known I would have rested at home. It's hot enough today."

"No, come in and chat. It's cool inside."

The two of them entered the house. This building was the studio where Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou took photos in the movie Mileage.

Chen Shiping sat on a chair, looked at Gong Li and asked, "What did Zhang Yimo say?"

Gong Li smiled, changed the subject and asked, "Have you bought the copyright of Wanjia Litigation?"

"I told you this was a meeting gift." Chen Shiping raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at Gong Li and said, "He doesn't want to come over and wants to buy the copyright?"

Gong Li chuckled and said, "The main reason is that I feel guilty and want to buy it myself."

"If he comes, I will give it to him for free. If he doesn't come, I won't sell it for any price." Chen Shiping looked at Gong Li and smiled meaningfully.

Gong Li fell silent, looked at Chen Shiping and said, "Yimou likes this novel very much, as do everyone."

"No, if he doesn't come, he's not a friend. It's great if I keep it to myself. If I give it to him, I won't be sending ammunition to Xiying Studio."

Chen Shiping made no secret of his words. He looked at Gong Li and said seriously: "Don't spread the word about this matter. I'll talk to him in person."

Gong Li sighed in her heart and said tentatively: "Can't we discuss it?"

"It stands to reason that you and I are friends, so I should give you this face." Chen Shiping stood up directly and said, "But this is a matter between the two factories."

"Let's talk later, I have something else to do here."

After Chen Shiping finished speaking, he went out, yelled at the extras with a loudspeaker outside, and after scolding, he used ice cream to seduce the college students who were working during the summer vacation.

On such a hot day, the temptation of an ice cream cone is not small.

Gong Li in the room felt a little uncomfortable as she listened to Chen Shiping scolding people and offering benefits.

He has a big stick in one hand and sweet dates in the other. If he doesn't agree to his invitation this time, he might not be able to be friends in the future.

Gong Li sat in the room for a while, then reluctantly let go of her depression, thinking that she might as well go back and persuade Zhang Yimo.

It's okay to betray Xiying Studio. Chen Shiping may have a higher position in the future. If he offends him now, it may be really difficult to get along in the future.

Thinking of this, Gong Li went outside and called Zhang Yimo, wanting to hear his opinion.

After Zhang Yimo heard what Gong Li said, he said after a while: "I will go to the capital to interview him tomorrow!"

Hearing what Zhang Yimo said, Gong Li knew his choice in her heart. She was already planning to agree to Chen Shiping.

Gong Li, who originally hoped that Zhang Yimo would come to Beijing Film Studio, now feels uncomfortable.

Xiying Studio was the starting point of his artistic journey, and even if Wu Tianming could give up even if he was his boss, how could he, the so-called muse, last long?

Somehow, Gong Li thought about Ju Dou and the large-scale scenes in Walking and Singing, and the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt.

Grandma’s! How could he be willing to let me film such a scene!

Gong Li felt inexplicably angry, and suddenly realized in her heart that Zhang Yimo only cared about his career and his art, and nothing else mattered to him.

After being depressed for a while, Gong Li went back to Chen Shiping and told him about Zhang Yimo's coming.

Chen Shiping was quite surprised. He didn't expect Comrade Lao Zhang to make a decision so quickly. It seemed that he was not very firm in principle.

I'll go back and work overtime at night to write out the script for Wanjia's lawsuit, and use the script to kill Zhang Yimo tomorrow!

The next day Chen Shiping saw Zhang Yimo, who was dark and thin, but had bright eyes.

The two met inside the Beijing Film Studio and were sitting in the conference room looking at each other.

Gong Li sat between the two of them, looked around and took the initiative to stir up the topic: "Yimou, this is Director Chen. Is this the first time you have met?"

Zhang Yimo nodded and was a little silent. His character was like this, he spoke very little.

Chen Shiping smiled and took the initiative to hand over the script he had worked on yesterday and said: "The script of Wanjia Litigation is given to you as a meeting gift."

Everyone is here, and Chen Shiping doesn't say anything about promises. He has already stated all the conditions before.

Zhang Yimo picked up the script and looked at it, and the conference room became quiet again.

Seeing that there was only one script, Gong Li had no choice but to chat with Chen Shiping. After chatting for a while, she took the initiative to bring up the topic of the movie's box office and profit sharing.

Zhang Yimo paused while turning the pages, and then continued reading the script. Upon seeing this, Chen Shiping smiled and said: "There is no case in the mainland where directors share a share. This standard is not easy to determine, but I can make the decision and give 8% of the profit to seek good luck."

"Eight percent of the profit?" Gong Li calculated in her mind and asked: "Is it the profit after deducting distribution, screening and production costs?"

Chen Shiping nodded. Otherwise, how else can we divide it? I can't give you 8% of the total box office. There are no such valuable directors in the world.

If you think about it this way, it doesn't seem to be much money.

Nowadays, theaters and distribution take more than half, and the producers can only get about 30%. After deducting the production fee, the profit is only about 20% of the box office.

Gong Li did a quick calculation in her mind and found that it was not a lot. The main reason was that Zhang Yimou's movies were not very profitable.

"Does it include overseas profits?" Gong Li asked again.

Chen Shiping nodded and said, "Of course it is included."

If it includes overseas lisuo, that's a lot.

Zhang Yimo, who was reading the script, couldn't help but nodded. He felt that it was quite suitable. It was much more than his current salary.

"What if there is no profit?" Gong Li couldn't help but ask.

"I have a guaranteed salary, so you won't have to work in vain. I'm not a capitalist."

"How much exactly?"

"The guarantee is 5% of the production fee."

Gong Li nodded, probably understanding in her heart that it is impossible for a movie to be profitable.

Zhang Yimou's movies are still very popular with overseas film producers, and the conditions offered by Chen Shiping are very good.

Gong Li glanced at Zhang Yimo, who was still reading the script carefully, and continued to help him inquire about the details of other conditions.

Chen Shiping also answered them one by one and explained all the conditions clearly, mainly to Zhang Yimo.

Chen Shiping and Gong Li chatted for nearly an hour. Logically speaking, Zhang Yimo should have read the script long ago, but he was still reading the script over and over.

It wasn't until Chen Shiping and Gong Li finished talking that Zhang Yimo put down the script in his hand.

"The script is well written, but is it a little too bland?"

Zhang Yimo didn't feel too surprised after reading the script, but he also admired Chen Shiping's adaption ability.

The script is quite different from the novel, and the relationships and images of the characters are more dramatic.

Chen Shiping coughed lightly and said, "The script is indeed a bit mediocre, but the filming can be innovative."

"How to say?"

"It was shot as a documentary, to be precise, it was shot secretly."

Secretly photographed? Documentary format?

After hearing Chen Shiping's words, the inspiration in Zhang Yimo's mind suddenly exploded, and he became visibly excited.

When Gong Li saw him like this, she knew in her heart that it was done.

I can't stop him now even if I want to.

Zhang Yimo looked at Chen Shiping excitedly and said, "How did you come up with this idea, secret photography? Why didn't I think of it!"

Chen Shiping smiled and didn't answer. He just read your reference answers.

The more Zhang Yimo thought about it, the more he felt that secret photography would work, and the way he looked at Chen Shiping changed.

What a tacit understanding! A close friend!

Let me call you Director Chen!

Ten minutes later, Chen Shiping smiled and extended his hand to Zhang Yimo and said, "Welcome to Beijing Film Studio!"

"I am also honored to join Beiying!" Zhang Yimo said with a smile.

Chen Shiping chatted with Zhang Yimo for a while and then sent him away. Later, he had to apply for a transfer order for Zhang Yimo. He also had to arrange a house for him and his salary had to keep up.

After sending Zhang Yimo away, Chen Shiping went to Song Tao's office. He did such a big thing in secret, but he couldn't make him jump with joy.

In the factory director's office, Song Tao looked at Chen Shiping and said with some confusion: "Wu Tianming treats him so well, why is he here like this?"

Chen Shiping shrugged and said, "Isn't it strange? People go to higher places. Although Xiying Studio developed well in the past few years, it has been left behind by us now."

Chen Shiping was not surprised at all that Zhang Yimo changed jobs.

Zhang Yimou did leave Xiying Studio in the later period, and did not go back during Xiying Studio's anniversary, as if he didn't know.

Talking about repaying a favor and giving support are not as important as real money.

After Song Tao confirmed that Chen Shiping was not joking, he was still a little worried and couldn't help but said: "There is no precedent for the director to share this matter, and it may be a bit dangerous."

"It hasn't happened before. We are just setting a precedent." Chen Shiping said with a smile: "The director's share will come sooner or later. We are just moving a little faster to set an example for other brother factories."

After hearing Chen Shiping's words, Song Zhu couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "They can hate you to death."

Chen Shiping chuckled and said, "I don't care, this is healthy competition. If a director wants to make money, he has to put one hundred and twenty percent of his effort into making a film."

"You don't care?" Song Zhu snorted and said, "Think about how to explain it to the directors in the factory. If they know about it, they will definitely take a share!"

"Just give it if you want. As long as their movie is profitable, it doesn't matter if they give you a share." Chen Shiping said nonchalantly.

The reluctance to let go of children leads to a wolf, which forces directors to create better films, to think about and study the film market, and to learn how to make commercial films.

Literary films are important, but commercial films are the foundation for the survival of the film market.

After chatting with Song Zhu, Chen Shiping ran away. Zhang Yimo's coming to Beijing Film Studio was not that simple, and he would inevitably have to argue with Xiying Film Studio.

Let Song Tao do the wrangling, recruit a general for him, and let him do the work of banging the table and swearing.

When Chen Shiping came out of Song Zhuo's office, he bumped into Xia Gang. As soon as he saw Chen Shiping, he trotted over and said, "The factory director has found you!"

"What happened?" Chen Shiping asked doubtfully.

Xia Gang said anxiously: "The factory's application for co-production with the army has not been approved yet."

Chen Shiping scratched his hair and said, "Look for China Film and Television. Contact the Bayi Factory to coordinate the shooting. Just adjust some tanks and armored vehicles. Don't bother with it."

There is a unit in Party A and Party B that is indeed involved in these, but there is no need to find troops to coordinate the filming, just get a few armored vehicles and tanks to support the scene.

Chen Shiping was really embarrassed to ask the army to co-produce a comedy film. If he didn't make a big production, how could he have the nerve to trouble the soldiers?

Party A and Party B are not the Three Kingdoms crew next door. They are not on the same level of production at all. They can just do their own thing.

(End of this chapter)