Chapter 259 Sketch Contest (24)

Zhao Linhai and the others are not fledglings, nor are they the kind of people who have enough money to pursue art...

Although I have some pursuits, I know it well.

There was only one reason why they stopped Shen Xudong: the risk was too great!

Zhao Linhai was the most direct: "Investing in movies? Are you crazy? Do you know how risky it is?"

Zhao Xin added: "Not to mention those directors who failed, the Youth Film Studio next door has not opened for three years. Why? Isn't it just a movie that failed... Other film studios have been immersed in the market for many years, and they can't hold it back..."

Liao Gaoxiang concluded: "Don't you think that the two dramas "Lost Orphan" and "Outstanding Citizen" have made money, so you are jealous? I told you that these are special cases. I don't mention "Lost Orphan" because of Feng Xiaogang , "Outstanding Citizen" mainly relies on overseas copyrights. Do you have overseas contact channels? Can you guarantee that "The Aviator" will be shortlisted for film festivals? Even if it is shortlisted, can it win a trophy? If you take 10,000 steps back, even if you can win a trophy, will you? Overseas copyright sales? Do you know how to sell?"

The three brothers all said the same thing - only idiots invest in movies!

Shen Xudong had a different idea...

He is not a fool, of course he knows the risks.

"I'm not talking about controlling investment. I happened to have an agreement with Senior Chen Hao's Chengtian to help them write a few movie scripts... "The Aviator" is the script I wrote..."

“…use other people’s money…then it’ll be fine…

You should have said it earlier, it would be a waste of emotions!

The three of them went back to discuss the casting of "The Great Butler"...

Why should art practitioners feel sorry for investors?

Besides, Shen Xudong has helped Cheng Tian make a lot of money - "The Best in the World" helped Cheng Tian earn at least 20 million!

Shen Xudong thought for a while and said, "I'm going to ask Zhou Shen to direct..."

"Li Xiaoran must be fine..." Before he finished speaking, Zhao Linhai was a little surprised when he heard Shen Xudong mention Zhou Shen: "Zhou Shen? Is he okay?"

Shen Xudong shrugged; "... Anyway, the cost does not exceed 5 million, just as a training... Huang Bo + Chen Xi are the leading actors, both of whom are our own..."

After a pause, he added: "And I have a good relationship with Wang Qingqiang..."

"Is that the film selector?"

"Um…"

"...Then hire a better producer, that won't be a big problem!"

Feng Xiaogang has publicly said before, "Those Hong Kong directors who often compete abroad rely on connections." Some films haven’t even been finished yet, but they’ve been selected by film festivals with whom they have connections to be the opening film.’

He also named Jiao Xiongping, "There is a group of people in Taiwan who specialize in public relations for film festivals. There is a man named Jiao who knows the chairmen of various film festivals and is very familiar with them..."

Then it would be easier if you knew her, or if you had a good relationship with her. A publishing company will find him and ask her to arrange it, and she will confidently say don't worry, at least they will arrange one. ’

Does it make sense?

In fact, there is. The European Film Festival itself is indeed a game of small circles. After all, everyone knows that Hollywood is popular all over the world, and small art circles stick together to keep warm...

Shen Xudong... has knocked on the door with "Outstanding Citizen". Of course, he can only be regarded as a small figure in the circle.

But no matter whether you are a small person or a big person, at least you have entered this circle!

Of course, Shen Xudong was non-committal about the suggestion of finding a better producer...

Are you looking for a supervisor? Not to mention the issue of better supervisor remuneration, the key point is...the positions and duties of supervisor and producer overlap. He plans to be both producer and supervisor himself...

The matter was settled, and Shen Xudong joined the casting discussion for "The Great Butler" - commenting on the actress's photos...

By the way, he didn't say that Tian Zhuangzhuang wanted to accept him as his apprentice.

On the one hand, there is no need to stimulate them. On the other hand, after all, we are all students of China National Theater and it is still a bit embarrassing to go to Nortel to study directing...

…

Just when Shen Xudong and the others were discussing actresses, "New Police Story" was released!

Released on September 24th…

During its opening week, the box office was a hit, with the mainland box office exceeding 20 million yuan, surpassing the 15 million yuan achieved by "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Troy" in three days.

Second only to "House of Flying Daggers"'s first week of 55 million, and not as good as "The Orphan"'s first week of 22 million...

A bunch of media praised "breaking the record for co-productions"...

I'm really speechless. Is "New Police Story" a stupid co-production?

After "New Police Story" was released, "Outstanding Citizen" film schedule dropped like crazy, from 35% before to less than 5%, and there was no prime screening...

Media reports: "Outstanding Citizen" grossed 6.2 million in its second week, and its cumulative box office successfully exceeded 10 million...

In fact, there are only 4.8 million…

Why don't you brag about it? It's a movie starring the Venice Best Actor after all. If the box office in the mainland doesn't reach more than 10 million, that would be too embarrassing!

For Shen Xudong, the release of "New Police Story" has nothing to do with him...

The next week, he was busy rehearsing the sketch "Glory of the Tang Dynasty" - cut into a 30-minute sketch, divided into three sections...

Those who said they would participate in the sketch competition this year must keep their word!

Shen Xudong is relatively well-known in Chinese dramas, and the team formation went very smoothly. Most of the actors were actors of the same generation. He called Zhang Bo, Yang Shuo, Li Zefeng, and Sun Jian.

Why no coat of arms?

He is filming a movie, "Jinyiwei", directed by Zhang Li...

It was also in this drama that he and Ma Yili fell in love.

As for the actress...except for the need for a female shopkeeper in the second part, Shen Xudong wanted Chen Xi to come and make a cameo, and Zhao Xin found...Mary!

Yes, that Mary!

Mary is actually an actress in a Chinese opera...

When Shen Xudong saw her, the latter was a little embarrassed...

In fact, Mary is Shen Xudong's senior student. She is a 01-level acting major at the Chinese Theater Academy, a serious academic school!

At the same time, it also solved Shen Xudong's confusion - why Mary is unwilling to be a simple comedian!

Most of the actors from the Chinese Academy of Drama want to take the route of serious dramas - Mary does not regard herself as a female comedian. She is positioned as a serious actor and has only acted in a few comedies. It can also be seen from her acting career. "Beyond" and "You Go Against the Current" also have many unknown supporting roles...

It doesn't matter, the female shopkeeper of "Glory of the Tang Dynasty" has a fierce personality. She falls in love with the male protagonist and wants to dominate him...

Mary is perfect for the role!

…

"…Pause…"

In the rehearsal hall, Shen Xudong looked at the full version of the rehearsal and thought it was pretty good. Then he called the junior student who came over to help: "Go move two boxes of drinks... When you're done, ask me to pay the bill!"

On the stage, the actors who had finished the performance heard Shen Xudong's arrangements and thanked them in unison: "Thank you, director!"

"...I am really incompetent as a director..."

Yes, Shen Xudong is the screenwriter and director of "Glory of the Tang Dynasty"...

However, he asked for leave every three days, but there was nothing he could do about it. "Housekeeper" entered the preparatory period, and he would always have to show his face as a producer...

Zhang Bo said: "You are a very busy man..."

"fuss…"

Mary suddenly pointed to Shen Xudong's trouser pocket: "Your phone is ringing!"

"...Oh, let me see..."

Shen Xudong took out his mobile phone and looked at the caller ID. It was Chen Musheng...

Why is Chen Musheng looking for him?