"We have officially reached a cooperation agreement with Liu Cixin on the film and television copyright of science fiction novels. In the future, we will work together to promote the progress of domestic science fiction films."
After reaching a film and television copyright cooperation agreement with Liu, Haotian Studio executive Cai Runping held a press conference to announce Haotian Studio's plans for science fiction films.
Of course, this is just a rough idea.
The media is still very interested in Zhang Hao. After all, "Manslaughter" is still showing in cinemas, so there are quite a few reporters here.
But when they heard that Haotian Studio was going to promote domestic science fiction movies, the reporters in the audience were in an uproar and talked about it.
Although it has not yet reached the reporter's question period, some reporters can't help but raise their hands.
Cai Runping ignored it and finished talking about the contents of the press conference before continuing: "Now, I would like to invite Director Zhang Hao and the well-known science fiction writer Liu Cixin to come on stage to give us a detailed introduction to the relevant situation."
Zhang Hao and Liu Cixin went on stage together, and reporters kept flashing their lights to take photos of the two.
Zhang Hao was okay, but Da Liu had never experienced such a scene and was almost blinded by the flash.
Zhang Hao and Liu Cixin sat down on the chairs prepared on the stage, took the microphone from Cai Runping, and greeted the media reporters.
"Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Hao."
"I am Liu Cixin..."
Zhang Hao continued: "I have always been a fan of science fiction movies, and "Terminator 2" was my first teacher on the road to film directing.
When I was very young, I played at Beijing Film Studio. I couldn’t help but watch "ET", "Star Wars", "Alien", "Blade Runner" and other classic science fiction movies in film history.
In my fantasy, I will one day become an excellent science fiction film director.
Now, this dream will be one step closer, because Teacher Liu Cixin and I have reached a cooperation and will produce our own Chinese science fiction movie."
Finally, a reporter couldn't help it anymore. Before the reporters could ask questions, he stood up and asked: "Director Zhang, do you understand that the domestic environment is not suitable for shooting science fiction films?
Hollywood has a group of outstanding directors and creators, as well as advanced institutions and systems, and developed technology, but China does not have any conditions."
Zhang Hao shook his head and said: "The gap you mentioned does exist objectively. This is a fact that we cannot deny. But, just because our conditions are not good, why don't we try and do it?"
The reporter who asked the question did not speak, but Zhang Hao could tell from his expression that he probably felt that science fiction had nothing to do with the Chinese film industry.
Everyone should just go ahead and film the history of your ancestors. Aren’t costume blockbusters very popular in the past two years?
"Conditions can be created. We Chinese filmmakers are no worse than Hollywood filmmakers. They don't have more heads and more legs than us." Zhang Hao glanced at the reporter who asked the question without permission, and then said:
“Our plan is long-term and may take five to ten years to gradually improve the construction of the domestic science fiction film industry.
Of course, this is not something we alone can do as a studio. For this reason, we also invited China Film General Manager Mao Yu to welcome him to the stage today."
Amid applause, Mao Yu came on stage: "Welcome to all media friends to come to our press conference despite your busy schedule, so I will take this opportunity to say a few words.
Director Zhang talked a lot with us and put forward a complete plan. At present, we all believe that technology accumulation and talent cultivation are the top priorities at this stage.
To this end, China Film has adopted a training program for young directors, who will be sent to Hollywood to learn advanced techniques and concepts."
Mao Yu's words attracted the reporter's attention. Speaking from Mao Yu, the general manager of China Film Group, the effect was much better than that of Zhang Hao.
After all, Zhang Hao is too young. Although he has achieved results, in the eyes of the public, he is not qualified to represent Chinese films.
To say that he is qualified, perhaps only the National Master is the only one at this time.
But Mao Yu is different. He is the general manager of China Film, which is the leader of the state-owned film company. If he said that there is such a plan, it will definitely happen.
But journalists who have been in the industry for many years are still very skeptical: Can Chinese-language filmmakers really make science fiction movies?
It’s no wonder that they have such suspicions. After all, there are so many clear examples before. Liu Tianwang’s "Future Police" was wildly criticized by the Hong Kong media.
When it came to the media question and answer session, the reporters went crazy and raised their hands to ask questions.
"Director Zhang, you have achieved a lot of success through "Manslaughter", and your next step is to enter the field of science fiction films. Are you a little overconfident?"
"I have already said that this is a long-term process. I did not say that my next film will be a science fiction film. Please don't take it out of context."
"Teacher Liu Cixin, isn't it a little too hasty for you to hand over your work to a young director?"
Liu: "No, Director Zhang is very mature, has many ideas, and is also very pragmatic. He has painted a bright future for Chinese science fiction movies. I believe he can do it."
"Mr. Mao, China Film supports Director Zhang's science fiction film plan. Does this mean a change in China Film's overall strategy?"
Mao Yu: "China Film is a responsible film company that focuses on the development of the entire Chinese-language film industry, and of course not just science fiction films.
We have more plans in the future, so please stay tuned.”
The question-and-answer session ended quickly. Not all reporters got the opportunity to ask questions, but the content of this press conference was enough for the media to write some reports.
When they were about to leave, Tang Qianxi pointed to the video camera and said to reporters: "We have recorded the entire press conference. We hope that all media friends will report it truthfully and do not take quotes out of context."
The reporters who were preparing to leave frowned secretly and did not take Tang Qianqian's warning seriously.
After all, they, the uncrowned kings, are used to being lawless, and it is common for them to scold celebrities and artists.
Even more daring, some media outlets that receive U.S. dollars dare to directly criticize the government.
The details of the press conference were later revealed, causing heated discussions among the public. There were various analyzes and pessimistic responses from the media. Even the media with the best attitudes were basically not optimistic about Haotian Studio’s so-called domestic science fiction film plan.
Due to their distrust of domestic science fiction movies, most netizens on the Internet did not take it seriously and just laughed and cursed. A few netizens went too far with their cynicism.
It's just that Zhang Hao has experienced the later era of cyber violence. In Zhang Hao's opinion, these sarcastic netizens are not painful. The combat power of those netizens later can be as far as a solar system away from those netizens in 2009.
On the contrary, the plan announced by China Film Corporation for young directors to study in Hollywood has attracted the attention of many young directors.
Learning something is secondary. I heard that the air over there in the United States is sweet, and I want to feel the air of free cooking.
To put it bluntly, I just want to eat and drink, travel at public expense, and maybe develop a purchasing agency business.
As for learning advanced film technology, let’s not talk about whether others can teach it. Even if they teach it, we won’t be able to learn it...
This kind of argument is still mainstream in this era, and it is also because the public intellectuals in this era have exaggerated the other side so beautifully that many people have beautiful illusions.
Zhang Hao was also this type of person in the past, but after experiencing a series of events later, he saw through it long ago.
Someone has said that movies are the business card of a country. If the business card looks good, it will leave a good impression on people.
Hollywood is a representative of this kind. How many Hollywood blockbusters have shaped the image of the other side and made movie fans around the world have beautiful fantasies about the other side.
On the contrary, Chinese-language films are only circulated in China, and are mostly spread in East and Southeast Asia. Their influence is limited, and their impression is not very good.
Zhang Hao is just a film director. He doesn’t have so many great ideals and sense of mission. His principle is: make movies and make money...