Chapter 520 Movies can only be movies (Happy New Year to everyone
Tom Cruise did not show too much surprise and said: "This is understandable. Spielberg once told me that Wu Jianye, as a director, also gave the rights to adapt "Jurassic Park"
, sold to Phantom Entertainment, they must have ideas for this movie!"
Although Tom Cruise has no Jewish ancestry, he has always had a good relationship with Spielberg. The two began to collaborate after entering the new millennium.
Dustin Hoffman laughed and said: "If this is really the case, then Phantom Entertainment will probably suffer a heavy blow."
Looking at Tom Cruise's confused look, Dustin Hoffman explained: "Although Wu Jianye has made several good independent movies, if he really wants to make "Jurassic Park",
Then this movie must be made in Hollywood. I have read this novel. It involves dinosaurs, which is a technical problem. It will be an astronomical number to overcome these problems. Can Wu Jianye, a Chinese director, be able to
Getting this investment is a matter of course, and since this is a science fiction movie, do you think a Chinese film director can make a movie that is popular with mainstream European and American audiences?"
This is actually what mainstream European and American filmmakers think of Wu Jianye. He can produce Chinese films with beautiful images. Although these films are very popular at European film festivals, to put it bluntly, these films can only be classified as
Niche movies.
It is not accepted by mainstream audiences, and now if the movie "Jurassic Park" is really going to be filmed, then it will not only have to face a simple niche, but more importantly, it will have to be accepted by European and American audiences.
Mainstream audiences must accept it, otherwise the sky-high investment will lead to huge losses.
Then this will greatly undermine the impression created by Phantom Entertainment in Hollywood that it has always invested huge amounts of money in making movies.
Tom Cruise thought for a moment, then understood what Dustin Hoffman meant, and said with a smile: "It seems that this Chinese film director will definitely be hit by then!"
Dustin Hoffman said with some regret: "It's just a pity that the novel "Jurassic Park" is indeed a very suitable novel for film adaptation!"
Tom Cruise nodded, and he did not deny this.
The opening ceremony of the Berlin Film Festival is not as grand as the closing ceremony. It is an appearance of the film crew entering various units. After walking on the red carpet and accepting interviews with the media, the opening ceremony is basically over.
Wu Jianye was also stopped by reporters.
"Director Wu, hello, I am a reporter from the British "Screen International". This time, Director Wu, your film "New Dragon Inn" was selected for the Berlin Film Festival. As far as we know, this is your third film.
, the previous "Raise the Red Lantern" won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival, and "The Last Emperor" won the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival. Do you also want to continue your "New Dragon Inn" this time? You just need to participate
What’s the tradition of winning awards at film festivals?”
Wu Jianye said with a smile: "If I can come to the Berlin Film Festival, I naturally hope to win an award. There is no doubt about it, but in the end it still depends on the judges' choices!"
The reporter from "Screen International" also showed a happy smile after hearing this. This is not his first time participating in a European film festival. Although it is his first time to visit a Chinese director, his colleagues have also interviewed him before.
Chinese director.
But their answers are often based on the tone of participation is victory, which is not popular in Europe and America at all.
Now Wu Jianye's answer is much more in line with the psychology of European and American readers.
"So Director Wu, which one of the films selected this time is your favorite?"
Wu Jianye said with a smile: "Of course I admire my own "New Dragon Inn" the most. Just kidding, other movies that have been selected must have their own merits, but there are some movies that I haven't seen yet.
Only then can I answer your question."
"Director Wu, in the past few years, every movie you have shot is of a different type. The "New Dragon Inn" brought to the Berlin Film Festival this time is even more of a magical action-themed movie. What is your next movie?
What type of movie will the movie attempt?"
"New Dragon Inn" has been released in Europe, but unlike Southeast Asian audiences who view the film as a martial arts movie, in Europe and the United States, more audiences view the film as a fantasy film.
The reason is also dumbfounding.
The fight scenes in "New Dragon Inn" are so beautiful. These bumpkins in Europe and America haven't even watched a few serious action scenes. As for action scenes like those between Schwarzenegger and Stallone, they are more about showing off their muscles.
.
Therefore, after "New Dragon Inn" came to Europe and the United States, European and American audiences immediately thought it was an action movie with a magical genre.
"First of all, I want to say that this movie is not a fantasy action movie. In China, there is a general term for this type of movie, called martial arts movies. As for the next movie, I haven't decided yet. It may be
A romance film, maybe a science fiction film!”
"A martial arts movie?" A reporter from "Screen International" repeated Wu Jianye's answer and asked: "Is it like Bruce Lee's Kong fu movie?"
Today, the most famous Chinese actor in the world is still the deceased Li Xiaolong. In fact, twenty or thirty years later, Li Xiaolong still has a good reputation in the international film industry.
In another time and space, among the Chinese actors, the two dragons with the highest international reputation were Li Xiaolong and Cheng Long.
However, what makes Wu Jianye speechless is that these two actors, who have competed for countless honors for Chinese films overseas, have to face harsh criticism from many people at home.
At that time, there was a small group of Chinese people. Even though New China had been established for decades, their servility had not gone away. They believed that their own people were not worthy of such an honor, so they slandered the two actors in various ways.
I think that Li Xiaolong is just a show-off, not a martial arts master at all, but just being touted. Especially after seeing Li Xiaolong being smeared in a movie shot by a foreigner, not only did he not feel indignant, but he showed a smug look on the sidelines.
I've known for a long time that this is the case.
But I wonder if Li Xiaolong had not really achieved indelible achievements, how could the word "kong fu" appear in the ranks of English?
The same is true for Cheng Long. Although in later generations, Cheng Long is already older and it is impossible to film the peak of his youth, but at such an advanced age, he can still work hard in filming without a substitute.
His attitude of handling dangerous action scenes personally is enough to make people respect and admire him.
But look at the attitude of some Chinese people?
China has thousands of years of culture, but in just a few decades, it has produced a group of servile people. Sometimes it really makes people feel helpless and sad.
"To be precise, martial arts movies are also a branch of action movies, a branch of movies unique to China. I believe you have also seen this movie. Why don't you tell me how this movie is?" Wu Jianye
asked rhetorically.
The reporter replied excitedly: "It's very beautiful. It's a very beautiful movie. I like this movie very much. Not only is it beautifully shot, but I also like the political metaphors in it very much!"
Wu Jianye showed a wry smile in his heart. He really didn't think so about the political metaphor. It was just a foreshadowing for the second part.
However, it was impossible for Wu Jianye to remind them of this. He just smiled and said: "I hope more European audiences will like this type of movie in the future!"
After the interview, Wu Jianye went to Moritz's invitation for an appointment.
Accompanying him is Chen Kaige.
At this time, Berlin was actually divided into East Berlin and West Berlin, just like the two Germanys.
As the host city of the Berlin Film Festival, it is actually West Berlin, where West Germany is rich and East Germany is poor. The East and West Germany are separated by the Berlin Wall, just like the Northern and Southern Dynasties are separated by the 38th Parallel...
The three of them were sitting in a coffee shop and chatting about the gap between Eastern and Western film culture. Wu Jianye discovered that Moritz had a strong desire to incorporate Eastern and Western cultures into one movie.
Wu Jianye said: "This is very difficult. Culture is the foundation of a nation. Every nation has its own unique culture. It is very difficult to integrate film culture with national culture, let alone
It’s a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures.”
This is what Wu Jianye thinks. Not to mention now, even in later generations, if a movie wants to achieve both word-of-mouth and box-office success in the East and the West, Wu Jianye can't even choose a few.
Movies such as "Shawshank Redemption" and "Forrest Gump" are regarded as classics by countless people. Although "Shawshank Redemption" has a better reputation, it is also a box office flop in North America, let alone in the East.
As for movies like "Forrest Gump", although they have received high box office and high reputation in North America and have also gained high reputation in the East, Wu Jianye dares to conclude that if such a movie is really popular in
If it were released in the East, it would only be a movie that would be well-received but not a box office hit.
Although the later Marvel hero movies also received good reputations and amazing box office, they were also criticized by a group of senior filmmakers as not being movies at all.
As for Chinese films, "Farewell My Concubine" and "Alive" are known as two monumental films in the domestic film industry, what happened? Both films were banned in China, and these two
The box office of the movie in Europe and the United States is only a few million dollars. How successful it is is a matter of opinion.
Moritz smiled and said: "It is precisely because of the difficulties that it is worthwhile to do it. I hope that I can make films like this in Berlin in the future!"
Wu Jianye did not have any more entanglements with Moritz on this topic. It is not surprising that Moritz has such an idea. As a pure filmmaker, it is understandable that he has such a pursuit. Finally, he added a message of hope.
The appearance of such a film at the Berlin Film Festival is just out of self-interest.
Therefore, no matter how pure a person is, what he ultimately pursues is interests, but the interests here are not necessarily monetary.
Fame is also an appeal for interests!
When Chen Kaige was being spoken to by Moritz with some passion, he felt that what Moritz said was his own voice. Now he is different from another time and space. Although Chen Kaige in another time and space has also gone
He studied in Hollywood, but at that time he was a marginal figure to Hollywood.
So even though he stayed there for two years, he didn't really get what he wanted. This time it was different. With the help of Phantom Entertainment, Chen Kaige participated in the production of two or three Hollywood movies.
This allowed Chen Kaige to learn a lot. It is precisely because of this that the proud Chen Kaige believed that as long as he returned to China after completing his studies, he could cause a sensation again.
He wants to make a movie like what Moritz said and shock the world!
Chinese movies must be revitalized in my hands, Chen Kaige!
"Yes, Lao Wu, I have countless ideas now. If it weren't for the fact that I still haven't learned a lot of things in North America, I can't wait to return to China to shoot new movies!" Chen Kaige said passionately.
Wu Jianye: "Haha!"
Moritz said from the side: "Hollywood movies pay more attention to industrial assembly line production. Although it helps the development of the film industry, it does not have any more benefits for the film itself. Chen, I still suggest that you take some time to
Traveling around Europe, movies can’t just be movies!”
Movies can’t just be movies!
This is the view of European filmmakers on movies. They believe that in addition to their own value, movies must also bear more social responsibilities or have a deeper meaning.
Wu Jianye had a different view on this.
"I think movies should just be movies. As for the meaning outside the movie itself, that is given by the audience. As a filmmaker, you should focus all your attention on the movie itself instead of thinking about the meaning outside the movie.
Those meanings are interpreted by the audience themselves, rather than deliberately added to the film by the filmmakers!"
When "Westward Journey" was released, it was a hit at the box office and word-of-mouth. But when it was released in China, after it was interpreted by countless people, so-called postmodernist analysis emerged. These were actually added by the audience themselves.
Wu Jianye once watched interviews with Zhou Xingchi, Liu Zhenwei, Wu Mengda, Luo Jiaying and others. When they were filming, no one thought about the meaning of this movie. They just wanted to make a movie worthy of the audience.
The movie, and those so-called interpretations, made them even more confused.
Movies can only be movies!
Moritz shook his head and did not agree with Wu Jianye's statement, "Movies are like books and can be circulated. If we just make movies for the sake of making movies, then we will not be sorry for what this era has given us as filmmakers."
It’s mission!”
Wu Jianye said with a smile: "The mission of a filmmaker is to make a qualified movie. You can also add your own ideas to the movie, but the most important thing about the movie is to be responsible for the audience. The other missions are just for the filmmaker to add more to himself.
It’s just meaningless things. If you pay too much attention to these things, you will lose the charm of the movie itself.”
Both parties went back and forth, each expounding their own opinions on the movie. In the end, the old man and the young man were so blushing that they almost banged the table.
Chen Kaige was shocked as he watched.
But in the end, neither of them convinced the other.
"Wu, I am very happy to have this conversation with you. I hope we can have more conversations like this in the future!" Moritz said sincerely when the three of them separated.
Arguing does not mean that both parties will turn against each other. This is just like the argument between Wu Jianye and Tian Zhuangzhuang when they were in school. Everyone described their own opinions, but after the argument, they were still good classmates...
At this time, Chen Kaige couldn't understand this, so when he saw Wu Jianye and Moritz hugging each other to say goodbye, he couldn't understand it!
The three of them returned to the hotel.
Moritz returned to his room, while Chen Kaige was left behind by Wu Jianye.
"Don't you forget that you still owe me a meal?" Wu Jianye said with a smile.