The sun sets in the west, leaving only a splendid sunset, like a piece of flying horse racing, slanting on the upper floors of the Shangri-La Hotel.
The hotel's banquet hall floor, which is dedicated to hosting banquets, has reserved three spacious and gorgeous halls on the left, middle and right of the entire floor, becoming a grand venue for the premiere dinner.
The banquets in the three halls were filled with sumptuous food and wine, and there was a dazzling array of delicacies.
Some people were sitting comfortably, shaking wine glasses in their hands, laughing heartily and speaking cheerfully.
There are also people who stand elegantly, holding wine in their hands, and move freely among the crowd in various communication circles.
Hundreds of invited guests gathered to communicate and communicate with each other. It was like three large-scale social vanity fairs.
In the large conference hall upstairs, there is no bustle and noise like downstairs. There are only the sounds of flashing spotlights and the neat applause of the guests who can come for the post-screening interview.
Tang Jili, Chenglong, Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei appeared on the stage and sat down on four chairs with office desks. A director and the three protagonists accepted post-screening interviews with domestic and foreign media on behalf of the crew.
Pre-screening interview, the two parties met just to get to know each other.
For post-screening interviews and after watching the movie, the media will have a basis for what they want to ask.
"Tang, this movie will be released on China's National Day. Has a date been set for its global release?"
"It hasn't been decided yet, but there will be news soon."
"Why do your Chinese movies never seem to be released globally at the same time? I am talking about simultaneous global releases including your Chinese market. As far as I know, your Chinese movies will be released locally first and then in
It was released in other regions, why is this?"
Tang Jili was startled. He was already prepared to be challenged in the post-screening interview, but he didn't expect that the first thing he would be challenged about was a question that was not directly related to the movie.
Han Sanping, Wang Jinhua and others sitting in the front row also frowned, knowing that these foreign media like to cause trouble, as expected.
Isn’t this a question that the Western reporter himself has no idea about? If the Hollywood market representing the West was open to them, Chinese movies would have been released globally at the same time, so why bother to test the local market first and then rely on the local market?
Only when the market conditions are good can it be released in the West.
This is the current helpless rule for Chinese films, or Asian films, to be released in the Hollywood market, or it can be said to be the arbitrary rules set by Western capital.
It's impossible for this old American reporter not to know this, and he obviously asked on purpose.
Chu Xuan, Liu Yifei and Chenglong turned their heads and glanced at Tang Jili, only to hear Tang Jili say calmly: "There are cultural differences between countries, and it is inevitable that there will be secondary editing before overseas release. Over time, our domestic creators will also have bad habits."
It has become a habit to release and release films first domestically and then overseas."
It neither exposes the disadvantage of the domestic market being blocked from overseas channels, nor does it indicate the strong pressure from Hollywood. This answer is not satisfactory.
"According to what you said, Tang, does this movie need to be edited again before it can be released in the West? After all, there are cultural differences as you mentioned, so some things are appropriate to be broadcast in your country, but not in other countries.
"The reporter asked.
As soon as this question came out, no matter it was Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Feng Xiaogang and other great directors, they all disdainfully smiled.
The reporter's purpose in asking this question is obvious. It is nothing more than to use media pressure or publicity reports to change Tang Jili's mind and re-edit the movie.
What to re-cut? The answer is self-evident. Cut out as many things that belong to Chinese elements as you can.
On the contrary, this old American reporter is a Chinese xenophobe, and his prejudice against China was fully exposed at this moment.
But what is worth pondering is that by asking such questions to make things difficult for people and trying to create obstacles for the film to be released overseas, it means that this reporter also recognized the excellence of the film.
Liu Yifei and Chu Xuan looked at each other, with helplessness in each other's eyes. Sure enough, as Chenglong said, pre-screening interviews and post-screening interviews are two completely different atmospheres.
I just heard Tang Jili say calmly: "UA Cinemas is the global distributor of this movie. On the way to the hotel, its person in charge in China told me that there is nothing in the entire movie that needs to be edited, so I invited this
Journalists, please rest assured that our film will appear in front of global audiences in its entirety, bringing the most perfect visual effects feast to global audiences."
The old American reporter showed a confused expression as he tried to understand the translated word order logic of these words.
When I figured it out, I was speechless for a moment. I am making things difficult for you. You reassure me? I treat you as an enemy, but you treat me as a friend?
Chu Xuan, Liu Yifei and Chenglong on the stage, Han Sanping, Wang Jinhua and hundreds of people in the audience couldn't help laughing. The reporter looked a little confused, obviously confused by the logic of Tang Jili's speech.
The atmosphere of the scene also changed from tense to dramatic in a comedy atmosphere.
The old American reporter was confused and switched to the next British reporter: "During the movie-watching experience, what I saw was that people in the two worlds were very friendly, and there was almost no conflict between characters throughout the whole process. Is this a world view?
Too idealistic to be realistic?"
His voice was particularly clear in the venue, with strong doubt in his tone: "Although film art is higher than real humanities, doesn't it also have to conform to the underlying humanities? Tang, what considerations did you have to design such a worldview?
?”
Jon, Emmerich and other foreign filmmakers in the audience narrowed their eyes. This question involves the profound cultural and ideological differences between the two countries, and this question is also what makes them slightly uncomfortable with the film.
Their Hollywood movies always have character conflicts that first subside and then develop. Fierce confrontations and the outbreak of conflicts between people are common methods to attract the audience's attention.
But this movie only has unity without character conflict. The cultural differences here are a bit big, so I felt something was wrong when watching the movie.
On this issue, if Tang Jili spoke to promote Chinese culture, it would definitely make overseas media displeased or disdainful. This issue is even more tricky than the previous one.
I saw Tang Jili modestly saying: "Such a design, I was inspired by the utopian civilization envisioned by Hollywood. Just as Hollywood has been promoting world peace and equality for all, I have benefited greatly.
With this inspiration from Yu, we came up with this character plot design where everyone unites.”
As soon as these words came out, not only the reporters were confused, but also foreigners such as Jon and Emmerich.
Not only that, the Chinese people present were also stunned for a moment, then raised their hands and applauded, just because this answer was so wonderful.
Is it unrealistic to say that this movie has no character conflicts? In essence, it is a subtle attack on Chinese solidarity, because the unity and cohesion embodied by the characters are contrary to Western individual heroism.
But what does Tang Ji say? I am drawing on your Hollywood culture and your utopian vision. If you want to criticize the unifying element of this movie, you are criticizing yourself.
What’s even more ridiculous is that the West has been promoting itself as a utopian country for many years, but in fact the social environment in the West has nothing to do with utopia, and now China has made a movie with utopian colors. You guys The West is dissatisfied? Then you are slandering the persona you have created.
"Absolutely amazing." Zhou Xingchi in the audience could not help but admire in a low voice. Tsui Hark, Wang Jin and others nearby also had interesting faces.
The reporter burst into laughter at first, and his original mentality of being a push turned into deep admiration. His admiration for Tang Jili's eloquence left him speechless on this difficult issue.
Foreigners such as Jon and Emmerich were even more ashamed. What Tang Ji said about Hollywood promoting world peace and equality for all made them feel a strong sense of ridicule.
According to Tang Ji, Chinese filmmakers borrowed their Hollywood elements to make a movie that yearns for peace and human unity. However, most of their cool movies go against this and focus on inciting evil in people's hearts. Shoot, when you compare this pattern with the height, you feel a sense of humiliation.
According to the practice of Westerners asking others to reflect at every turn, at this moment they started to reflect inexplicably because of Tang Jili's clever answer.
"Director Tang is so amazing." Liu Yifei said lightly to Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan nodded slightly. After all, he was a veteran in the film and television industry who had a lot of knowledge and quick reactions. These answers were really wonderful.
It’s just that the critical foreign media didn’t finish. The first American reporter fell down, the next British reporter fell down, and then a French reporter asked doubtfully: “During the second half of watching the movie, I discovered that the military’s The weapons are all the equipment of your country from China several years ago or even more than ten years ago. You used these old weapons to wipe out alien life. Isn’t it too fake?”
Wang Jinhua in the audience felt displeased. These reporters were endless and really annoying.
The company spent a lot of money to invite these foreign media.
But the current situation gave her the feeling of shooting herself in the foot.
She also understands the rules of foreign media. She pays people to interview and publicize, and there will definitely be publicity. This is the underlying spirit of the contract, but she cannot control what questions she asks during the interview. It is normal to be tricky. No matter what, it just depends on how the interviewee answers.
If the answer is correct, then press the correct promotion button.
If the answer is wrong, sorry, it will be a source of public opinion in the media.
Such foreign media rules are now gradually spreading in the domestic media circle. In the past, domestic media paid to hire the media and the media were polite. However, as the Internet becomes more and more developed, there are more and more channels and ways to spread news.
The media industry has changed its attitude and started to follow the behavior of foreign media.
I have to take the money, and there will definitely be publicity, but I am free to ask the questions in the interview, and how I answer them depends on the person involved.
The current situation in the media circle is that even if you spend money to invite these media, it is not necessarily a good thing.
And this question sounded like a joke to the ears of the Chinese people present, saying that science fiction movies are too fake?
Then stop making science fiction and focus on realistic themes. It sounds like your Marvel science fiction is very real. A Rubik's Cube can dominate the universe. Why can't our weapons and equipment be used to fight aliens?
This prejudice against China was truly unreasonable, leaving Tang Jili speechless. He no longer wanted to reason, and said directly: "That's why I designed the material Star Mine in my movie, which is the same as Marvel's Cosmic Cube.
It’s a very powerful thing.”
With such an answer, the French reporter had nothing to say.
Next, it was the turn of the domestic reporters to interview. It finally became a bit normal, and they asked about various shots and designs in the movie.
Chu Xuan and Liu Yifei were always prepared, waiting with heart for interviews, especially those from foreign media. Suddenly, a bunch of inexplicable questions came to them.
But it turns out that the couple thought too much.
Foreign media are interested in Chenglong, not these two transparent people who are not well-known in the West.
"Chu, Liu, I know that your "Hope" won the Cannes Short Film Gold Award and was broadcast several times through BBC TV. We also gained some audiences in Europe who liked this short film. Your film will also be broadcast overseas.
If it is released, will you come to the UK for a roadshow to meet the British audience who like you?"
"Uh, I will." Chu Xuan said.
"Well, the company will make arrangements." Liu Yifei said.
With just this question, the scene fell into a brief silence, and no foreign reporters continued to ask them questions.
It's good that foreign media likes to tease newcomers, but the prerequisite is that the newcomer is a Westerner.
Facing the newcomers from China, they seemed to have no interest at all.
This reminded the couple of the scene last year when they attended the Cannes ceremony in Paris.
At that time, when I was walking on the red carpet, I saw the excitement of the photographers when the Western movie stars appeared, and the sound of shutters kept coming and going.
However, when it was the turn of the couple and other Chinese colleagues, the photographers instantly lost interest, and some even turned off the camera without politeness. Their indifferent attitude seemed to clearly indicate: photographing China.
Chinese movie star is a pure waste of battery power.
I didn't expect that these Western media would still be so arrogant when it comes to China's away game.
It seems that Director Tang and the eldest brother can only bear the difficulties that were predicted in the post-screening interview.
The couple is very popular in China, but when they encountered such a cold reception, it was inevitable that there was some gap in their hearts.
However, fortunately, there are also domestic media and media in Asia that support it.
"Chu Xuan, do you and Liu Yifei plan to take an international route in movies?" a Singaporean media reporter asked.
"Mainly focused on domestic, we are trying internationally." Chu Xuan answered with a smile.
"Liu Yifei, what is your expected box office for this work?" a domestic reporter asked.
"No one can tell for sure, let's wait and see." Liu Yifei responded calmly.
"..."
The post-screening interview lasted until after eight o'clock in the evening, and the guests present were already hungry.
Seeing that the media interview had finally ended and everyone was leaving the venue, everyone seemed to have received unified instructions. They all stood up and left the table and dispersed, rushing to the dinner venue downstairs to eat.