Huayu: From an ordinary person to a happy director

Chapter 15 Arrogant Speech
The premiere was very strict and even cell phones and watches were not allowed into the venue.

Shi Lei's seat was in the front middle of the guest area. Although he had three major advantages, people in China still like to rank people based on seniority. Ning Hao was even worse off and was arranged at the back. Both of them sat there obediently.

……

After the film ended, a press conference was held at 3:30 p.m., attended by journalists from home and abroad and some fans.

A reporter asked: Mr. Zhang Yimou, what was your real intention in making this movie?
Zhang Yimou: To put it simply, I like martial arts novels and movies very much. This has been my long-term wish. In this film, I really hope to make an excellent Chinese film with the help of the Chinese elite.

……

A reporter asked: Mr. Jet Li, do you think people in foreign countries will understand this film after it is shown abroad? How many Oscars do you think this film can win?

Jet Li: I am not a feng shui expert, so it is difficult for me to answer your question. In my opinion, it is not important to have such an opportunity and so many good friends to participate in this film and give their all to it. What will happen in the future, whether people all over the world accept it or not, whether North Americans and Westerners accept it or not, is not important.

……

After the press conference, Shi Lei took Ning Hao away in a low-key manner.

Unfortunately, although they wanted to keep a low profile, someone had already been watching them, and several reporters swarmed in, blocking their way.

"Director Shi, you invested 10 million US dollars to shoot the martial arts film "No One" , are you confident that it can surpass "Hero"? " A reporter raised the microphone to him.

Shi Lei was speechless. Was the first question so tricky?
"'No Man' is a medium-budget martial arts film, a notch below 'Hero'. There is no comparison at all. There is no need to compare. 'No Man' is bound to lose."

"Does that mean that 'No One' can crush martial arts films with medium investment?" the reporter asked.

"This is inevitable. After all, the investment is there. The goal of "No One" is to be the box office champion in 03." Shi Lei said arrogantly.

He has to be arrogant. The more confident he is, the more people want to watch the movie.

The production cost is 10 million US dollars. If you are not arrogant, people will think you are a liar!
He is also doing this for the movie box office. The more arrogant he is as a newcomer, the more space he will occupy in tomorrow's newspapers.

Mr. Lei spent 200 million to design the logo, which was praised by netizens and brought a huge amount of traffic to Xiaomi.

Those internationally renowned bag brands design a super ugly bag from time to time, such as the Balenciaga garbage bag, just to attract attention and traffic, and they don’t expect many people to buy it.

His arrogance is similar in nature. The staying power of a movie depends on its quality. The box office in the past few days was all dependent on publicity. In this era, publicity still relies on traditional media, and new media has not yet emerged.

There is a reason why he dares to say that he won the box office championship. The box office champion in 03 was Feng Dapao's "Cell Phone", with a box office of 5600 million. There is still room for improvement.

Even if he fails, it doesn't matter. He has already thought of a way to fool Warner Bros. and he can make the money back by selling overseas copyrights.

As for the consequences of his arrogant failure, it is normal for a young man like him to fail once or twice.

It's not a big problem if his reputation is damaged and he is criticized. Other directors need external investment and need to keep an eye on the domestic box office; he is different. He invests in himself, so it doesn't matter if his reputation is damaged.

And for people with strength, these are not a problem.

How was Zhang Yimou criticized in his previous life in 04?
He is still the chief director of the Olympic opening ceremony!
Later, "Three Shots" and "The Great Wall" were also criticized, but Zhang Yimou's position remained stable.

Shi Lei's arrogant remarks caused an uproar.

This excited the reporters, who kept asking questions, and Shi Lei answered selectively.

Anyway, "No One" is the box office champion for next year.

The commotion caused by Shi Lei also attracted the attention of other directors.

Feng Dapao looked at the confident Shi Lei and complained to Wang Zhonglei next to him: "Young people nowadays dare to say anything. They want to be the box office champion even though they haven't even grown all their hair yet. He only made one movie, and it's still a movie that only made tens of millions, but he dares to brag here. Isn't he afraid of being struck by lightning?" "He's just a newborn calf who is not afraid of a tiger. He dares to say anything, but he will realize his mistake one day." Wang Zhonglei was also quite dissatisfied with Shi Lei. He took the initiative to bring two beauties to his door, but Shi Lei refused to even see him. This was not giving him face!
This bridge is finally settled!

"Hmph, I will teach him a lesson next year." Feng Dapao said coldly.

……

Shi Lei and Ning Hao got into the Volvo they had just bought for the company and the door had just closed.

Ning Hao worriedly asked, "Did you say too much today? It's easy to offend people this way!"

"We made a $10 million movie and rejected so many investments, which offended a lot of people," Shi Lei explained.

With the cost being that high, it would be impossible for him to attract many investors.

One or two can be kept secret, but more than that won’t work.

"But these dissatisfactions are all hidden. Your words today put us in the spotlight, and they will use this to attack us."

"You can criticize them all you want! As long as China Film Group is here, the movie can still be released normally."

"What I'm worried about is that something might go wrong with Zhou Zhaolong. The film's sales overseas depend on him." Ning Hao expressed his concerns.

"Don't worry about this. Zhou Zhaolong has already signed the contract and he dare not breach the contract." Shi Lei was really not worried about this at all.

The spirit of contract is very important in foreign countries. Now that Zhou Zhaolong still wants to make it in Hollywood, he will not breach the contract easily.

The main reason is that he has not touched the interests of the Hong Kong circle now, so the Hong Kong circle will not attack him.

That night, his cell phone kept ringing. Han Sanpin, Hua Shihong, teachers from Beijing Film Academy and others called him, urging him to be more restrained.

Shi Lei also readily agreed and said that he was just impulsive at the moment.

At this time, the young man's advantage was reflected. Everyone believed his words and expressed their willingness to help him calm down.

Shi Lei really wanted to say there was no need to calm down, but thinking that this was the care and concern of his elders, he did not stop it.

This also has an advantage, it allows him to recognize some people and know at a glance who is good to him.

The next day, Shi Lei's arrogant remarks appeared in the entertainment sections of major newspapers, occupying the second largest page, sparking heated discussions in society.

In the afternoon, an unexpected phone call came in.

"Director Zhang, what do you want to talk to me about?" The person who called him was Zhang Jizhong. He had not yet entered the television industry, so he really didn't know why Zhang Jizhong wanted to talk to him.

"It's like this, 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' is currently being filmed, and I'd like to invite you to come and shoot for a few days, and use your name to promote it. You won't be shortchanged on the pay."

???

Shi Lei was confused at first, but then he suddenly realized that Zhang Jizhong had done a lot of things when filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in his previous life.

This is a producer who understands publicity.

Are they inviting him to star in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" now to take advantage of his popularity in the news?

(End of this chapter)