"I'm Not the God of Medicine" was successfully completed on June 6, but Li Qian couldn't be idle. After two days of rest, he rushed to the company.
Now Li Qian is not only a director, but also the boss of a large company. Even if he doesn't care much about the company, it has been more than two months and he still has to go and see it.
In the conference room, Du Yang and various company executives were already waiting.
"Good morning everyone, I have worked hard during this time."
Li Qian walked into the conference room with a smile, but when he saw the thick stack of documents in front of everyone, the smile stopped on his face.
"Director Li." Everyone said quickly.
In fact, logically, he should be called boss, but Li Qian thought it was too tacky, and he didn't care much about the company's affairs.
"How's it going? How are the company's preparations for several projects? Is there any new progress in each department?"
"The preparations for "Thirty-three Days of Love" are almost complete, and it is expected to start filming next month. "The Adventures of Li Xianji" has some scenes from ancient times. The special effects company over there is modeling, and the filming crew has also found the location.
We are about to start filming "Legend of Lu Zhen" produced by Shonan TV Station. The producer is Yu Zheng Studio, who are experts in ancient palace dramas.
The film and television rights for a total of eight parts of the "Ghost Blowing Lamp" series were finally packaged for RMB 8 million. Our screenwriters have not yet had a clue about the adaptation of "Celebrating More Than Years". This film is too long, nearly 4 million words, and there is no way to start."
Du Yang briefly talked about the company's recent projects.
There hasn't been much progress, and Li Qian is not surprised. He can maintain a high frequency of one movie a year. Except for the Hong Kong film industry in the 1980s and 1990s, no one can find him.
It is not so easy for a film or television drama to come out without others standing on the shoulders of giants.
"Didn't Song Ge also talk to the other party before and he gave up?" Li Qian asked curiously.
Speaking of this, Du Yang laughed, "He really wanted to. Originally, Shengda Literature planned to sell it separately and sell four units at a time. However, Song Ge had to report to Wanda headquarters for approval. The process for large companies is particularly troublesome, and Wanda is in
I didn’t make any achievements in the film industry, so in the end I just applied for 8 million and won.”
Two months ago, Li Qian directly delegated power to Du Yang. The amount should not exceed 10 million. When it was increased to 8 million, he also sent an email to Li Qian to report it. Obviously, Li Qian did not check the email.
Li Qian had explained before that, except for calling for particularly important matters, they would solve whatever they could by themselves.
"It seems that Wang Jianlin's one billion is not so generous." Li Qian shook his head.
Wanda is coming aggressively, announcing that it will initially invest one billion in film and television production, but just a few million would require such troublesome procedures.
"More than that, Song Ge now pays for his business trips by himself. He thinks Wanda's reimbursement process is too troublesome." Du Yang said with some humor.
"..."
Not only was Li Qian speechless, but Zhong Lifang and Huang Yan also found it a bit strange.
As the president of a dignified company, he has to pay for his business trip.
Li Qian shook his head, stopped chatting, and continued, "For "Ghost Blowing the Lamp", we will slowly find a suitable director first. For "Celebrating More Than Years", we can find a few more screenwriters who are good at ancient costumes and machinations to adapt it, and we can also involve the original author.
, after all, you know your own work best,”
"How about Yu Zheng? He is best at ancient costumes." Du Yang suggested.
"He's not good at it. The costume films he writes are all about harem battles and love affairs. "Celebrating More Than Years" is positioned as a light comedy about the power of ancient costumes, which is very different from harem dramas. There are too many harem dramas being filmed now." Li
Qian shook his head.
It's close to 4 million words. How can it be so easy to change? Zheng Xiaolong's "The Legend of Zhen Huan", which he just finished filming, originally cost 1.5 million, and he had to shoot 70 episodes.
Li Qian set the tone for the TV series, and it was Du Yang's business how to do it and who to do it.
"In addition, Mr. Huang and Mr. Zhang can start preparing for the release of "I'm Not the God of Medicine". The movie will be released at the end of July, so be prepared."
"July?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked. Although Li Qian completed the filming of the movie in early June, they never thought that Li Qian would release it at the end of July, which is not a good schedule.
"Director Li, it's too late at the end of July. There are less than sixty days left."
"Two months is enough. In the past two days since I came back, Wen Muye has finished sorting out the materials. One month of editing and post-production is enough, half a month of review, and one week of screening before release."
"But Director Li, "Transformers 3" will be released in mid-July. The second part sold more than 400 million in the past two years. I'm afraid it will go for 1 billion this time. After all, even "Kung Fu Panda 2"
It exceeded 50 million on the first day, and it was nearly 400 million in nine days.”
Zhang Hao has some doubts. As a distribution director, he knows a lot about the movies that will be released in China in the next few months. The most important movie in the summer season is undoubtedly "Transformers 3".
It sold 460 million yuan two years ago. With the fame and ticket prices of this series, many people believe that this will be another movie that exceeds 1 billion yuan after "Avatar".
It's a phenomenal movie, and Li Qian actually arranged for it to be released together.
"Don't worry about this. There is no conflict between the two audiences. And I have done research. In addition to "Transformers 3", there will be three movies in July: "Martial Arts", "Harry Potter" and "Overheard 2".
Well, a film of this size will not have much influence on us, it is not enough to watch at all, and the release time interval is relatively long, and there are not many films in the schedule." Li Qian waved his hand.
"Martial Arts", a collaboration between the great director Peter Chan and the smash-hit Donnie Yen, a phenomenon-level Hong Kong film, the sequel to "The Overheard" which was hailed as a rescue effort by the Hong Kong media, and the classic movie series "Harry Potter", these three
In Li Qian's mouth, it turned out to be something he couldn't get enough of.
Everyone feels a little ridiculous. Each of these movies is very competitive.
But when I think about it, there seems to be nothing wrong with it.
Li Qian's last movie sold 800 million yuan, which is not on the same level at all.
The only doubt is that the film was produced in half a year, and it has a realistic theme, and it happened to be a popcorn commercial blockbuster like "Transformers".
Li Qian could see that they all had doubts, but he didn't have time to say so much, so he waved his hand and said, "Let's get ready. There's no need to discuss it. It will be released at the end of July, and there is still one month left in the summer season. It's enough."
After saying that, he left the conference room and went straight into the computer room.
Looking at Li Qian's back as he walked away gracefully, everyone couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Our Director Li has delegated authority enough and is completely consistent with his words. Just follow the instructions. Mr. Zhang, Mr. Huang, and Xuanfa are starting to prepare." Du Yang shook his head and smiled.
Come on, what else can we do?
It's not a big deal to finish the production in half a year. Li Qian has always been nicknamed a quick shooter by movie fans, so it's not surprising if it goes faster.
As for realistic themes and super popcorn blockbusters, Li Qian continues to create magic. His last movie sold 800 million yuan. I believe he has the wisest idea.
To put it bluntly, Li Qian's past achievements qualify him to be arrogant, and it's natural.
...
For Li Qian, opening a company is only to serve his own movies, and everything else is secondary. So in terms of the movie business, everyone can just do what he says, and there is no need to explain too much.
He has never worried about "I'm Not the God of Medicine". Isn't it the kind of heavy reality-themed movie that will make people uncomfortable to watch? The first half is quite funny, but the second half is touching and not uncomfortable.
"Tangshan Earthquake" can sell nearly 700 million yuan. Except for the beginning and the end, many plots in the middle are not particularly gripping. At least they are not as good as "I am not the God of Medicine".
If it were an unknown director, his reputation might be in the dust, but just two words, Li Qian, are enough to make everyone care about this movie.
Therefore, the only thing Li Qian has to do is to ensure the quality of the movie.
There are Li Qian and Wen Muye in the computer room. Before Wen Muye came to film school for further studies, he had shot many commercials and MVs with realistic themes. In the past two years, he also shot "Golden Orchid and Guiqin" and "Stone".
A short film of 10 minutes, which can be said to be realistic, witty, humorous, and touching, can be used as an assistant editor to match it.
"Have the materials been sorted out?"
Wen Muye stood up and gave up his seat to Li Qian and said, "It's already done, boss."
Li Qian nodded and looked at him with a tired look on his face. He was arranged by Li Qian to sort out the materials as soon as the project was finished and he hadn't even taken a break.
"You go and rest for a few days."
"No need, boss." Wen Muye smiled honestly, "I want to learn how to edit this kind of multi-character feature film."
Shaking his head, Li Qian let him go and imported the materials into the software. He spent a whole morning going over the materials and started working on it after lunch.
Instead of cutting it from scratch, I first found a scene in the middle, played a few scenes, and told Wen Muye, "In a multi-character drama, like ours, the supporting characters are all important characters.
, especially to avoid confusing plot and rhythm, and to find the key point, the key point of every plot node, the key point of every scene, and even every shot. It will be much easier to handle if you find that axis."
"I'm Not the God of Medicine" can be cut into a very realistic and artistic life flow with the existing materials, and something with a strong texture. It can also be cut into what Li Qian wants, including character conflicts and lines.
, the emotions are very full, a real commercial movie.
It's not impossible to even edit the film in Wang Jiawei's style.
The type determines a lot of feasibility, and you should also pay attention to the style.
However, standing on the shoulders of giants, Li Qian still had time to explain to Wen Muye that digital film editing is much more convenient.
What is being edited is a scene of Cheng Yong and his group eating hot pot and about to break up, and they leave one after another.
"Four people left one after another. There was a door for each person to leave. This was the first person. Huang Mao left. That was the clearest way of conveying that he left that door through Cheng Yong's subjective perspective.
Then the second person was Liu Sihui leaving. This is not a separate shot. I chose a long shot. She got up from drinking and left, walked out of the door frame, and then the camera came back. We saw Pastor Liu stood up, and the pastor said,
"Lord bless you", and then until the movement of his hands, he also left, and I used one shot to explain the two people.
Li Qian skillfully operated the computer and explained while still having time.
"Why do I use one shot to overdo it? It's because I need to highlight the more important performance, that is, I need to find the key point in every link. There are two particularly big points in this scene, one is Huang Mao, and the other is Lu Yiyi
.
Therefore, Liu Sihui and Pastor Liu used one continuous long shot to show the departure of two people, without one short shot for each person. Otherwise, four short shots for four people leaving would be very inappropriate compared to a purely commercial movie.
, the rhythm is slowed down.
Then when Lu Yiyi left, instead of watching him leave from Cheng Yong's perspective, the camera followed him. All the previous scenes took place in a confined space until Lu Yiyi. Why did I let the camera follow this character as he left?
That magic oil store, instead of using a close-up shot of that store?"
"I don't quite understand." Wen Muye shook his head.
It stands to reason that Cheng Yong should feel guilty at this time, because he had made enough money and wanted to quit, so he passed the patient to the counterfeit drug dealer Zhang Changlin.
Although Cheng Yong deceived himself and said that Zhang Changlin had obtained his channel and could buy medicine from him in the future, as a businessman, how could he not know that Zhang Changlin would definitely not sell it as cheaply as he did.
Counterfeit medicines that are ineffective are sold for 3,000 yuan, but truly effective medicines may be sold for how much.
Therefore, according to Wen Muye's understanding, it is most appropriate to end with a close-up shot of Cheng Yong's face showing shame.
Li Qian smiled and said, "Editing is a technical job. Each scene must be separated and considered individually, and its significance as a whole must also be considered. It is a link between the previous and the following. Our elementary school Chinese teacher taught us how to write essays.
This is a very impactful point. In terms of the camera, we follow Lu Yiyi to leave and see Lu Yiyi disappear from the camera. At this time, the camera returns to the Shenyou store and sees Cheng Yong compressed in a small
inside the space.
Everyone left, and then he was covered up by the glass door frame, the decorative words, and the smoke from the hot pot on the table, as if he was buried in the lens.
Such shots help the characters express their emotions and help the movie convey emotions. When the audience watches it, they can feel it invisibly. The impact of the image cannot be expressed in words. It is an intangible feeling, so
You can’t see it in the script, so you need to visually see it with your eyes during post-editing.”
Wen Muye was not an idiot. He suddenly said, "Cheng Yong was locked in a closed space, which also symbolized a prison. In order to escape the threat of the law, he put himself in the inner prison and was drowned in smoke.
, also indicates that although he can be upright without smuggling and selling counterfeit medicines, his heart is in darkness."
"Absolutely. You can understand it however you want. I get the idea. I also came out with Lu Yiyi to feel his despair. After all, he will die soon."
Li Qian then said, "But later on, the camera still has to go back indoors. The close-up is of him smoking as if he was crying again, such a sad and sad scene with mixed emotions.
Why come back? Because at this time, I hope that the audience can clearly feel his sadness, his helplessness, and all the emotions of the character in that shadow. The audience will also feel it, know his helplessness, and also prepare for the future.
Selling medicine plants a nail."
"Editing a feature film is the most difficult thing. There are so many profound meanings in one shot." Wen Muye said with emotion.
"It's two-way, it's both simple and difficult. The simplicity lies in the pure editing technology, but the difficulty lies in the understanding and control of the film and the lens. After all, feature films are story-based, unlike other themes." Li Qianyao
Shake his head.
The first digital editing was simple and quick. While editing, Li Qian would explain some important shots to Wen Muye.
...
Until the afternoon of the 11th, Li Qian spent nearly four days completing the rough cut of "I'm Not the God of Medicine".
The Magic City International Film Festival opened in the evening, and Li Qian also took the time to go there.
It only takes a few hours to attend the opening ceremony. I can go in the afternoon and come back late at night without any delay.
It’s also to give Optoelectronics face. They want to make the Magic City International Film Festival, the only international A-class film festival in China, bigger and stronger, expand its influence, and go global.
When we arrived at the Magic City Grand Theater, the scene was very lively. There were many famous directors in the red carpet waiting area. Wu Yusen, Cheng Kaige, Ma Xiaogang all came to join in the fun, and even Li An, who was filming the new film "Pi", came.
As both directors, Li Qian is not familiar with them, or even doesn't know them at all. The industry is like this, many people don't see each other for several years.
The only person he knew was Ma Xiaogang. He was an old acquaintance. Li Qian walked forward with a smile. He was an old-timer after all.
"Director Cheng, Director Li, Director Wu, hello."
After saying hello to the three of them, Li Qian looked at Ma Xiaogang with a smile and said, "Director Ma, long time no see. I'm in a good mood."