Chapter 470 "Ghost Blows Out the Lamp"

How does a movie become a blockbuster?

There are many factors that lead to a blockbuster, such as a big director, a big star, a big investment, a big scene, a big theme, etc.

It is easy to put these together, but to combine them into a complete mainstream commercial movie is still quite difficult at the current level.

Works that fall into the category of domestic blockbusters include "Hero", "Seven Swords", "House of Flying Daggers", "The Promise", "Myth", "The Night Banquet", "The City of Golden Armor", "Red Cliff", "Mei Lanfang" 》…

Almost all are period costumes.

The theme is either ancient martial arts or palace struggle.

In fact, according to Shen Xudong's understanding, the so-called domestic blockbusters refer to commercial films of a certain scale shot by Chinese directors...

Each film created a high box office of 100 million yuan and became the "main force" in the movie box office revenue that year.

From this conceptual point of view, can a commercial film with a main theme be considered a blockbuster?

It definitely counts...

Does the tomb robbing adventure type count?

It doesn’t matter!

Shen Xudong thought for a while and suggested: "Otherwise, let's make "Ghost Blowing the Lamp"!"

""Ghost Blowing the Lamp"? Horror movie?"

Shen Xudong shook his head: "No, it belongs to the tomb robbing and exploring type..."

"Tomb robbing..." Gao Fenfen hesitated: "You have to consider overseas markets!"

Uh, I almost forgot, blockbusters nowadays are aimed at the global market...

Shen Xudong said: "Actually, my opinion is to continue making action movies and continue the Asian influence of Hong Kong movies back then..."

"...Think carefully first. When you go to Cannes this time, you can broaden your horizons and see more popular themes overseas..."

"It's useless. The only ones recognized overseas are Chinese Kung Fu movies..."

"...You can also make kung fu movies and package them directly with Jackie Chan and Li Lianlian!"

"I...I want to think about it..." Shen Xudong was about to ask, but Gao Fenfen suddenly remembered something: "About your criticism of the Writers Association..."

Shen Xudong looked expectant: "How is it? What's their response?"

"...No response...But don't say anything...they are not ready to respond."

Shen Xudong looked surprised: "I said it so directly, but they didn't respond?"

"...What do you think this is? Zheng Yuanjie also scolded him back then... and they ignored him. However, since then, Zheng Yuanjie has been marginalized by the literary world. He is not even called upon to be interviewed by the industry, and he is not included in major awards. It’s none of his business…”

The jokes about Zheng Yuanjie's battle with the Writers Association are not limited to "I attended a writers' pen meeting in 1986." Writers talk about what books they have read. After one person finished talking about a book by a Russian writer, he asked me: "Have you read it?" I shook my head. She was shocked: "How can you write if you haven't even read his book?" When it was my turn to speak, I made up a name. I said that I was reading Kuskaya's book recently and was inspired by it. You have read it. ? 70% of people nodded. I said I made up the name. I have never attended a Writers PEN meeting since. ’

There is also the need to openly question the existence of the Writers' Association - 'Euphemistically speaking, he went to the place where the drought occurred to collect stories, stayed in the top presidential suite, and talked about ten thousand reasons for the existence of the Writers' Association'. In addition, he also questioned another person who had taken it. Cao Wenxuan, the writer who won the Andersen Fairy Tale Award and sold 27 million copies, asked him to disclose his tax returns - Zheng Yuanjie himself did so first.

He even quit the Writers Association!

what's the function?

The Writers Association ignored him at all...

Zheng Yuanjie eh…

The same goes for Shen Xudong this time, and Bai Ye still participated in a bunch of awards activities, and even the 'Sina Original Literature Grand Prix'... Yes, he was famous - he became a hot celebrity from a low-key critic. Celebrities, then flaunted themselves everywhere and appeared in public...

Are there any penalties?

What a damn punishment!

Shen Xudong nodded, indicating that he understood: "Shen Haobo has advised me to shut up a long time ago...I understand!"

…

Jackie Chan and Li Lian collaborate on "The King of Kung Fu"...

Travel through time, get plug-ins, be taught by experts, prepare to fight the boss, form teammates, form female teammates, there are many mobs, there is a gatekeeper boss, one person kites everyone to push quickly, but can't beat it, someone sacrifices himself to enlarge his moves, the boss dies , A dream is not all a dream...

This script is actually a bedtime story - screenwriter John Fusco completed the prototype of the script for "The King of Kung Fu" in 2004.

Because he is very interested in Chinese culture, he often tells his son bedtime stories such as the Monkey King and the Golden Cudgel.

Then, the script ended up being picked up by director Rob Minkoff.

Minkoff makes animations, such as "The Lion King", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Little Mermaid"...

The story of "The Lord of the Rings" is stuffed into it, and it is adapted into the "Guardian"...

It satisfies the long-cherished wish of Chinese kung fu fans: the peak showdown between two kung fu superstars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li!

As for the plot, let me translate it: a white loser leads Jackie Chan and Li Lianjie to fight monsters and save the world. By the way, Liu Yifei comes to comment...

The essence is still an old story about Westerners saving the world!

Of course, the film made money - it didn't make a profit at the box office, but the DVD copyright revenue was very high. The North American video rental revenue and sales revenue of "The King of Kung Fu" was close to 60 million US dollars...

Therefore, Li Lien-lien earned more than 100 million dollars - this film was Li Lien-lien's team, and Jackie Chan received a symbolic salary of 10 million U.S. dollars.

But... let's be honest, "King of Kung Fu" isn't good enough.

The plot is too ridiculous. If you have a golden cudgel, why do you still need to keep a white guy?

Two people teach him kung fu, so it's obvious that he is the protagonist...

Then, the final fight had nothing to do with him?

The final big boss was also dealt with by Li Lianlian alone...

How about playing?

Too many loopholes...

If Shen Xudong is asked to write the screenplay...forget it, he has no idea...

Because both of them have to be positive characters, how can they be positive?

Team up to fight monsters…

Therefore, there is no big problem with the framework of "The King of Kung Fu"...

What’s the point of making minor repairs?

Besides, how could it be so easy to convince Li Lianlian and Jackie Chan to co-star in a movie?

…

The celebration banquet ended very early. Shen Xudong returned home at around ten o'clock, and then received a call from Shen Haobo. It is said that a company is interested in "Ghost Blowing the Lamp" and wants to develop it into a movie...

"What company?"

"China Film Warner Hengdian Pictures..."

China Film Warner Hengdian Pictures, as you can tell from the name, is a joint venture!

It was established with a 4:3:3 share investment from China Film, Warner, and Hengdian. It specializes in co-productions and has produced "The Veil" and "Jade Warrior"...

The box office was just like that, not making much money!

What has Warner relied on to conquer the world in the past two years?

"Harry Potter"!

How did "Harry Potter" come about?

Adaptation of bestseller!

Under this logic, it is understandable that they would like "Ghost Blowing the Lamp"...

"Ghost Blowing the Lamp"... Shen Xudong happened to think of developing it, so he said: "It's good. Do they have any plans?"

Shen Haobo explained: "They may want to develop it themselves..."

"Tell them that the right to adapt is in my hands. I am the producer. I have the final say on how to film it... If you are interested, just invest money. If you are not interested, forget it..."

Hollywood knows a lot about "Ghost Blowing the Lamp". If they get the rights to adapt it, will they follow the original script?

No, they will definitely replace all the characters with white people, add at most a few black people, and then take the adventure together...

Is that still "Ghost Blowing the Lamp"?

Shen Haobo had a different opinion: "I think we can talk, after all, China Film Group is also involved in this company..."

"It will take some time to talk..."

"Ah? Why?"

"I...have to leave for Cannes tomorrow!"