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Chapter 175 "Hero" and Goodbye Zhang Ziyi

Author: Knight Confused 2023

Chapter 175 "Hero" and Goodbye Zhang Ziyi

"Combined with martial arts?"

"Although Qin Shihuang's life was magnificent and there are many stories to tell, his story is very familiar to the audience. Since we choose the story of Qin Shihuang and since it is new wine in old bottles, we need to innovate and tell new stories, so as to attract the audience.

So I think it’s very good to combine it with martial arts.”

What Qi Wei said in the previous paragraph makes sense, but it is combined with martial arts.

Zhang Weiping couldn't help but look at Lao Mouzi, and the two looked at each other.

Martial arts movies are a very popular subject in movies, but at this time, no one in the mainland dares to try them.

One of the reasons is that mainland filmmakers have no advantage in making martial arts films. Martial arts films are popular in Hong Kong. Hong Kong filmmakers have rich experience in making martial arts films and are leading in terms of shooting technology and action creativity.

If you want to make a good martial arts film, you need to hire a film team from Hong Kong.

Of course, in today's environment where filmmakers from Hong Kong are moving north, this is not a problem.

In fact, the most fundamental reason why I dare not try it is that I have no confidence in martial arts movies.

In 1994, Wang Sunglasses made a movie called "Ashes of Time" that failed at the box office, leaving the investors in tears. From then on, martial arts movies started to decline.

Later, some film companies also tried martial arts movies, but the box office was not satisfactory, and they were basically a loss-making business.

Naturally, no one makes money-losing business, no one is willing to invest, and martial arts movies become fewer and fewer.

But after sunset comes sunrise.

Martial arts movies are popular for a while and unpopular for a while. Martial arts craze has a cycle.

Qi Wei discovered this from studying the history of film development in Hong Kong.

The last round of martial arts craze started with Xu Ke’s new martial arts movie, and it also experienced a period of lull in the middle, but now it’s a new cycle.

"This year there is a movie "Wind and Cloud" released in Hong Kong City. I wonder if you two have noticed it. It is a martial arts movie. It has made more than 40 million box office this year. Not surprisingly, it will be the box office of Chinese movies in Hong Kong City this year.

champion."

If it had a box office of 40 million in the previous few years when Hong Kong films were the hottest, it would most likely not have won the box office championship. However, in today's era when Hong Kong films are beginning to decline, it has basically become a small existence that can see all the mountains.

"But this is not a martial arts movie in the ordinary sense." Zhang Weiping said.

"This should be regarded as a fantasy martial arts movie, but in any case, this movie proves that today's audience can accept martial arts movies."

Still waiting for Er Zhang's reply, Qi Wei continued: "I don't know if you two have noticed the TV drama market. My film and television company produces TV dramas and has also done research on the TV drama market.

Nowadays, in the domestic TV drama market, martial arts dramas are one of the hottest themes. There is no other genre. No matter how bad you make it, the audience will buy it and the ratings will not be low.

My film and television company is also preparing a martial arts TV series.

My film and television company conducted a market survey and found a very interesting problem. Teenagers like me who grew up in the 70s or 80s were more or less exposed to martial arts novels by Jin Yong, Gu Long and others when they were growing up.

, this has already planted a seed in their hearts, and each of them has a martial arts dream in their hearts.

Now, they have grown up when they were young, and the seeds they planted have begun to bear fruit, which will lead to a new round of martial arts dreams.

The craze for martial arts is not just for TV series, they are also very eager for martial arts movies."

In fact, this cycle from Shaw Brothers' martial arts in the 1960s and 1970s to Xu Ke's new martial arts in the early 1990s lasted for more than 20 years.

But from Xu Ke's new martial arts in the early 1990s to the popularity of martial arts blockbusters in the early 2000s, this cycle was quickly shortened to within ten years.

One of the most important reasons for this is that the Chinese-language film market has begun to shift to the mainland, and it has begun to focus on the preferences of mainland audiences, which coincides with the martial arts craze in the mainland.

Qi Wei's words made Er Zhang think deeply. Zhang Weiping soon agreed with Qi Wei's words, but he still had a question.

"Your idea is very novel, but the problem is that the investment to make a martial arts blockbuster according to your idea is likely to exceed 100 million, and this cannot be repaid by relying on the mainland market."

Qi Wei, who knew the standard answer, raised the corner of his mouth, showed a confident smile, and then replied: "Martial arts movies are also a Chinese-language movie type that foreign audiences like, especially martial arts movies covered with history, which can arouse their interest.

Mr. Zhang, if you do some research, you can discover this."

These words made Zhang Weiping fall into silence. He was interested and prepared to go back and conduct an investigation to see the feasibility of this matter.

Qi Wei continued: "Of course, if this movie wants to sell well, it needs internationally renowned movie stars to star in it. If the leading actor can recruit Big Brother Long or Jet Li, then the movie will be half successful."

"The remuneration of the two of them is not low. If they are invited to participate in the film, I am afraid that the investment of 100 million will not be enough."

The Hong Kong City Temple is too small to accommodate the Big Buddha. Both Long and Jet Li went to Hollywood to develop their careers. As they became more and more successful, their net worths also increased.

Nowadays, asking Big Brother Long to make a movie requires a salary of at least tens of millions. Even if he makes a movie for his old club Jiahe, the investment will be hundreds of millions.

Li Lianjie is a little bit inferior, but one of his movies in Hollywood requires millions of dollars in salary, which translates into tens of millions. Even if he is given a friendly price for domestic movies, his net worth will not be less.

How many.

After all, the status is worth at least tens of millions.

In later generations, when Lao Mouzi was preparing for "Hero", his expenditure on actors' remuneration alone exceeded 70 million, which also brought the investment in the entire film to a terrifying 260 million.

260 million. At the beginning of the millennium when investment in domestic commercial blockbusters was limited to less than 100 million yuan, you will know how terrifying it is when you think about it.

"If you can't get it done with an investment of 100 million, then 200 million."

Qi Wei couldn't help but look at Lao Mouzi, "I believe that Director Zhang's ability can control such a blockbuster, and he will definitely succeed."

Zhang Weiping thought that Lao Mouzi was one of his own, Qi Wei trusted him so much, and he had no reason not to trust him. In addition, Qi Wei was right, so there was indeed a high possibility.

In addition, Zhang Weiping originally wanted to create a commercial blockbuster for Lao Mouzi, and when it comes to commercial blockbusters, the bigger the gimmick, the better.

And a blockbuster with an investment of over 200 million is the biggest gimmick.

This made Zhang Weiping a little bit anxious and started to have the idea of ​​giving it a try.

He also began to look at Qi Wei again.

I first heard the story "Man Jiang Hong" from Lao Mouzi, and then I heard this story from Qi Wei, and then this story led to a martial arts blockbuster.

Zhang Weiping already suspected that Qi Wei himself was a drunkard who was not interested in drinking. He had already had the idea of ​​making a martial arts movie and deliberately lured him into the trap.

If so, that would be a bit scary.

"You want to make a martial arts blockbuster about Qin Shihuang. Do you have a complete story?" Zhang Weiping asked.

"The complete story is not yet complete, but I have a general idea. If Mr. Zhang is interested, after I finish filming "My Father and Mother", I will let the company's team write the first version of the script of this story.

"

It took Qi Wei about a month to shoot "My Father and Mother", which was enough time for Zhang Weiping to do market research.

"At that time, I hope Mr. Zhang and Director Zhang can point out the shortcomings and improve the script."

"Wait a minute, you two have said so much, why don't you ask me for my opinion, and why don't you ask me if I want to film this movie?" At this time, Lao Mouzi intervened.

"Because Mr. Zhang can definitely convince you."

Qi Wei just laughed when he finished speaking, and then said: "It's just a joke. I know Director Zhang also has a martial arts dream in his heart, otherwise he wouldn't have acted in the movie "Ancient and Modern Battles between Qin Terracotta Warriors". I'm just trying to make you happy."

A martial arts dream."

Finally, Qi Wei added with a serious look, "I also hope that Director Zhang can fulfill my martial arts dream."

Lao Mouzi laughed and replied: "Then I'm looking forward to your script."

"That means you agreed."

Lao Mouzi glanced at Zhang Weiping and nodded.

Then Zhang Weiping asked Qi Wei: "I wonder what your martial arts story is called?"

"Hero" Qi Wei replied simply.

This made Zhang Weiping truly sure that Qi Wei was well prepared and he did not dare to look down upon Qi Wei again.

But in fact, the "Hero" project is not what Zhang Weiping thought.

It should be said that this was a whim that Qi Wei was well prepared for.

Because in later generations, Qi Wei once read a piece of news that Lao Mouzi started preparing for this project four years before "Hero" was launched.

"Heroes" was launched in 2001, which means that the script was probably already in existence at this time.

And "Hero" is another very successful film project.

Qi Wei's original idea was to get in touch with Lao Mouzi after successfully filming "My Father and Mother", and then see if it was possible to invest in the film and get a share of the profits.

But when Zhang Weiping and Qi Wei mentioned that they wanted to make a commercial blockbuster for Lao Mouzi and use their story of "Man Jiang Hong"...

Only then did Qi Wei realize that he might have been wrong, and that the news he had read at the beginning might not be true.

More likely, it was because the great success of Li Yu's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" made them see the huge potential of martial arts blockbusters, and they created "Hero", a martial arts follow-up film.

Realizing this, Qi Wei immediately changed his mind.

If we follow the original idea, "Hero" is a project of Zhang Weiping's company. If you want to invest in it and get a piece of the pie, you have to look at other people's faces and get their consent. Not only will you owe a favor, but you won't make much money if you get a piece of the pie.

.

But now that they don’t have this project, if they propose this project and become the initiator of this project, they will have the initiative. If this project can be as successful as later generations, not only will they earn more than the original idea

If you do more, you can also make yourself and your film and television company famous all over the world, and completely establish your position in the industry.

True fame and fortune.

Since Zhang Weiping and the others don't have this project yet, and this project can bring them both fame and fortune, why doesn't Qi Wei do it himself and persuade Zhang Weiping to cooperate together?

The reason is simple: when everyone adds fuel, the flames will rise.

The later blockbuster "Hero", from the preparation of the film to the selection of actors, the anti-theft work when the film was released, to the final withdrawal of domestic and foreign funds, was the result of full cooperation.

Without so many investors and producers working together, this movie would not have achieved such high achievements.

Eating alone won't work.

This is true not only in the entertainment industry, but in all walks of life.

Let's make the cake bigger together and get a big piece of it.

In this case, no matter who you cooperate with, it is cooperation, so why should you look for Zhang Weiping?

It's simple, because he has Lao Mouzi.

Movies are the director's art. The success of "Hero" in later generations is inseparable from Lao Mouzi.

Nowadays, there are only a few internationally influential mainland directors such as Chen Dadao and Lao Mouzi.

If movies want to sell at high prices abroad, they really need their influence.

Among these great directors, only a few have tried to make commercial films, and even fewer can handle such commercial blockbusters.

As for Director Chen, he has just "messed up" a commercial blockbuster. If he is allowed to direct this movie, with his current dictatorial style on the crew, it is very likely that "Tragedy Caused by a Steamed Bun" will be staged ahead of schedule.

.

He had already begun to let himself go when he filmed the TV series "Lu Bu and Diao Chan" at the beginning of the millennium.

No one can find him.

As for the others, they are not as reliable as Lao Mouzi.

Then why not broaden the selection of directors to Hong Kong, Taiwan and even the world.

Because Qi Wei doesn't trust them. At this time, mainland capital is regarded as a success by the Hong Kong and Taiwan film and television circles. Qi Wei doesn't want to become a big drain for them to deceive and defraud.

Or Lao Mouzi is the right choice.

So it is more appropriate to cooperate with Zhang Weiping.

Seeing that Er Zhang already had the idea of ​​cooperation, and now that Qi Wei and their relationship was in the honeymoon period, Qi Wei suddenly thought of something.

Then he said: "I heard that Mr. Zhang's company has established a distribution channel in Xiaobenzi. Is this true?"

Zhang Weiping nodded and replied: "This is thanks to Lao Mouzi's reputation."

This is the embodiment of the fame of the great international director.

The investment in "My Father and Mother" that Lao Mouzi is currently filming has exceeded 10 million, and such a relatively literary film cannot recoup this investment in China.

Even a great director like Lao Mouzi can't do it because the subject matter is not popular.

Zhang Weiping invested in a film like this for Lao Mouzi because he wanted to sell the film internationally to recoup costs or even make a profit.

Zhang Weiping also has a certain sensitivity to the market, and he also feels that family and love literature and art movies like this can be popular in small books.

He set up distribution channels at Xiaobenzi to prepare to sell this movie to Xiaobenzi.

In fact, from the memory of later generations, Qi Wei knew that "My Father and Mother" was very good at the box office in the small book. It was second only to Qi Wei's "The Mountain, That Man, That Dog" in the small book.

"Mr. Zhang should know that before I joined the team, I filmed "The Man and the Dog in the Mountain" directed by Huo Jianqi. This is a movie invested and produced by our company. This movie may not be so popular in China, so I

I want to sell it abroad through Mr. Zhang’s company channels.”

"That's no problem." Zhang Weiping agreed readily.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Zhang."

The reason why Zhang Weiping agreed so readily was because he had the idea to jointly develop the "Hero" project with Qi Wei.

Another reason is that Qi Wei has already sold him a good deal.

Through the box office performance of "Love in the Internet Age" exceeding 10 million, Qi Wei has proven his appeal in the film market.

Qi Wei's participation can make a movie earn millions more at the box office, and the 200,000 yuan salary that Lao Mouzi offered Qi Wei was inappropriate.

Qi Wei hasn't joined the team yet, so he has the capital to renegotiate his salary.

Raising prices may have an impact on the credibility of other actors, but it will not affect Qi Wei, who has become a capital.

A salary of millions is not too much, because the crew previously invited Qi Wei to make a movie and offered a higher salary.

But Qi Wei did not do this.

We were almost chatting with Zhang Weiping and the others when a ghostly girl appeared out of nowhere.

"Qi Wei, you're here." She smiled happily and shouted to Qi Wei.

Qi Wei turned around and saw that it was Zhang Ziyi.

(End of chapter)