Director’s Legend

It was released in more than 3,000 theaters on the first weekend, and only made a box office of 10.35 million US dollars. I have to say that this is a very poor start for Shao Shuaijun's film to be released in North America. If it wasn't for the very good word-of-mouth, almost overwhelming, this would be another failure after "Night Watchman".

Originally, "Pounding Heartbeat" was a very popular movie, after all, it was supported by Shao Shuaijun's golden signature. The media that originally praised it immediately changed direction.

"It's a hit but it's not a hit. "Pounding Heart" has encountered embarrassment. In the second week, the theater line may be greatly reduced." - "Hollywood Film Report".

"The magic of small fresh movies is gone, and Shao Shuaijun encounters Waterloo for the second time." - "Chicago Post".

"The box office of "Pounding Heart" is no longer exciting, and Summer's miracle has come to an end." ——film movie website.

From the United States to the world, the news of the box office failure of "Pounding Heart" is like a storm. Shao Shuaijun, who has received the most attention in recent years and is known as the king of the next generation of the world, has finally ushered in another setback in his life. Those who are jealous naturally clap their hands to celebrate, while those who idolize him cover their faces with their hands.

Anyway, the media is busy.

Li Xiuxiu called at the first time, and she asked to shoot the movie at first.

"Honey, I'm sorry, I caused you to fail at the box office."

Shao Shuaijun said indifferently: "From the beginning, I never thought about making money. My wife, you can rest assured that you don't have to blame yourself. Don't look at the box office failures and money losses that the media is advocating all day long. In fact, the film cost is low. The cost is also low. Just the US box office plus follow-up income can protect the capital. Maybe the overseas box office is not the same, but DVD sales should make a fortune."

"But you still got some bad comments on your back." Li Xiuxiu was still a little brooding.

"It doesn't matter, I can get rid of it after I accept an interview. It's not up to the media to decide whether it's good or not. Don't you think my film is very good, and the audience will say yes after watching it." Shao Shuaijun said with a smile.

"There are no bad movies made by my husband. I like "Pounding Heartbeat" very much."

"Haha, huh. I'll tell the media tomorrow. I filmed this for my wife. It doesn't matter if I make money or not. The important thing is that my wife enjoys watching it."

"Husband, you are so kind to me."

"That's all."

To comfort Li Xiuxiu, but also to promote the movie again. Shao Shuaijun accepted the two largest newspapers in Hollywood, "The Hollywood Reporter" and "Variety Show". As well as an interview with their own summit video.

In the booth of a coffee shop in Hollywood. Shao Shuaijun sat opposite to several reporters.

"The box office of "Pounding Heartbeat" is not very satisfactory. How does Director Shao view this issue?" The reporter of "Variety Show" is a beautiful woman, and she did her part to start.

Shao Shuaijun said with a smile: "I didn't have great expectations for the box office of "Pounding Heart" from the very beginning. For me, whether it was "500 Days with Summer" or this one, I didn't watch it. There are too many commercial potentials in the film. I hope to use these two films to leave the audience with some good memories about love and growth. After everyone has finished watching, say hello, then my goal will be achieved.”

The reporter of "Hollywood Reporter" followed closely behind: "Director Shao, if you divide your directorial career by "Night Watchman", before "Night Watchman", you had an absolute magic aura in the Chinese film market. All movies are blockbusters, and after "Nightman", the movies you made have a global aura of magic. Now that "Pounding Heart" has ended such an aura, do you feel discouraged?"

"The magical aura of the box office is too exaggerated. I have always called myself a commercial director, but I am not a director who only focuses on the box office. I think that no matter how great the box office is, you must first have a story worth tasting, and a story worth watching. Emotional aftertaste.”

Shao Shuaijun leaned back in his chair casually, looking very free and easy: "Before filming "Pounding", I had a lot of plans for commercial films, but I rejected them or postponed them. Because I just want to shoot such a pure film. The story of love, in fact, I never thought that the movies I made had to make money. "Night Watchman" didn't make money, and its reputation was not good. The box office of 3.2 million, as well as the subsequent box office, copyright transactions, DVD sales, etc., will no longer lose money. Another good word of mouth, this is a success, of course I will not be discouraged."

"As a commercial director, why don't you pursue box office, and instead tend to tell stories?"

Shao Shuaijun laughed: "I used to be in China, and the domestic media called me a director who can tell stories. According to our habits, the best way to call a director is not to say that this is a director who can make money, or that this He is a director who shoots literary and artistic films, but he can tell stories. A good storytelling is the highest state. Whether it is a commercial director or an artistic film director, they are all pursuing a storytelling, and I am the same.”

"Will you no longer pursue the box office?"

"I've never been a box office director."

"how to say?"

"If I'm after the box office, it's actually very simple. You know I want a lot of ideas. "Twilight" is the copyright that I personally bought four years ago. I knew at that time that "Twilight" must be big. sold, but in the end I didn't shoot. "The Hangover" years ago was also my idea, and likewise, I didn't direct. I always feel that as a director, I am not easy-going and humble. In other words, I am a very Stubborn person, I have a lot of bad temper, or inexplicable ideas."

Shao Shuaijun waved his hand and strengthened his tone: "I am the kind of director who chooses what to shoot according to his own preferences. If I like it, I will shoot it. I don't like it very much. Even if it is the best movie, I will I don’t want to shoot. Just like many people keep asking me, why do you never make a sequel? When I was in China, whether it was “Crazy Stone” or “Source Code” or “Painted Skin”, many people wanted me to Make a sequel."

"Then why didn't you shoot?"

"Because I think that for a movie, the first film is made because you have a lot of ideas to tell, and it will be full of passion and struggle. When you shoot the sequel, what you want to say is finished in the first film. , you no longer just say what you want, you have to connect with the first part to cater to such a plot, thus sacrificing many aspects. So I rarely shoot sequels, I hope I can start a scribble After you have finished what you want to say, the rest can be handed over to others to perfect. Or just conceive a big plan, like Nolan's Batman, Lucas' Star Wars, that can be expressed in several movies It should be in the form of a story, not a hasty continuation of it because it will make money at the box office." Shao Shuaijun bragged vigorously.

"Do you think there is a reason for this? You have become famous, have a huge career, and have enough capital to do what you want to do, so you can keep improving in shooting, and you can put aside commercial factors and be yourself want to do?"

"There are reasons for this. In the past, I was afraid of losing money when I made a movie, and I was afraid that if I lost, I would lose everything. But now that you have achieved certain commercial success, when you can squander such resources at will, it is really, really difficult. If you keep your original attitude, before you know it, you will want to try something other than money."

"Does it mean that you will no longer take the route of commercial director in the future?"

Shao Shuaijun shook his head: "How should I put it, I used to position myself. Now I don't need to position myself. I can shoot as I like."

"We know that Director Shao's shooting speed is very fast. In less than five years, nine films have been released. After "Pounding Heart", do you have any new plans? Can you tell me what direction it is? No more Is it a pure love theme?"

"You don't know how many plans I have for this year. Now there are several scripts in Summit Entertainment's collection, all of which I want to shoot. But I don't know which one to choose. I hoped to make "The Hunger Games" earlier. Say, this is another commercial production that is not inferior to "Twilight". The storyboard of the script and everything are almost ready, but sometimes a good movie does not have to be shot by yourself. If you shoot everything by yourself, my The plan can be scheduled until 2020 at least, haha. So, I am also choosing what to shoot next."

"Then can you tell me, is it a big production?"

"I'm not sure about this, haha, but I think if there are no accidents, my next few works will be commercial. As for themes, they span comedy, fantasy and science fiction." Shao Shuaijun said with a smile.

He is now hesitating in three plans, "Teddy Bear", "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "The Hunger Games". The box office of these three films is similar in memory. Moreover, the box office and word-of-mouth of the three films are not bad, as long as they are filmed, they can gain huge fame and profits. He wanted to shoot them all, but he didn't know which one to shoot first.

In fact, in terms of long-term planning, "The Hunger Games" should be postponed, and continue to develop youth-themed movies as the pillar series to succeed "Twilight". It's just that Shao Shuaijun has already prepared well for "The Hunger Games", and he is afraid that if the delay is too long, the previous inspiration will run away.

And "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is a sci-fi movie. Shooting now can revitalize the entire "Planet of the Apes" series, and then continue to dig out new works.

It doesn't matter when "Teddy Bear" was shot, but the advantage is that this movie is very simple, except for a teddy bear that needs special effects, there are no challenges. If you challenge it, the shooting can be completed in one month, and then the post-production will be carried out without any delay.

Shao Shuaijun has not yet decided which one to choose for filming.

I didn't get too entangled in this aspect, and talked about the plot and behind-the-scenes of "Pounding Heartbeat" again, and the interview ends here.

On the other hand, after the box office failure in the first week, the number of theaters for the next week has been confirmed to be reduced to 2,458 cinemas.

The dream of high box office is gone.

But Shao Shuaijun felt it was worth it if he could move the audience.

At least I can say with confidence: "I have passed the period of making movies for money..." (To be continued...)