Superstars start as villains

Chapter 212 Thai embarrassment.

2012 is a special year for Xu Zheng. This year he is 40 years old. Of course, as an actor, 40 years old is not the end of the world. This has advantages that many actresses cannot match. However, Xu Zheng does not Thinking this way, he is not reconciled to just being an ordinary actor.

Xu Zheng is very clear that his image is not suitable for the male lead in those love scenes, and such films account for half or even more of the Chinese film market.

So Xu Zheng began to seek transformation a long time ago. He wanted to be a director by himself. However, for an actor who is not from a professional background and has no solid background, the difficulty can be imagined.

However, none of this made Xu Zheng back down. After so many years in the circle, he knew exactly what he wanted.

With the explosive box office development of mainland movies in recent years, Xu Zheng knew that his opportunity had come, and [Tai囧] was his ladder to complete the transition from actor to director, so Xu Zheng found his most familiar Hua Hua with a dream in mind. Friendship, but what greeted him was a basin of cold water.

Huayi read the script and gave him the answer: This script is too vulgar.

Is it really because of vulgarity?Obviously not, were the movies made back then not bad?

In fact, Huayi also gave him another plan, buy his script, and let him play the leading role. As for the director
So, without a trace of nostalgia, Xu Zheng took back his script. This blow did not make him slump, but strengthened his belief that he must be a director and prove himself.

However, beliefs cannot solve practical problems. Xu Zheng went to several other film and television companies, and the answers he received were even worse than Huayi. One film and television company even expressed willingness to accept his script at a "high price" of 5 yuan.

Well, this is the salary of Huaxia screenwriters, 5 yuan a book is indeed a high price for a new screenwriter, Xu Zheng resisted the urge to pour hot coffee on the other's face, and said that he would go back and think about it.

Failure again and again, no matter how strong the mentality is, it is inevitable that there will be frustration. Just when Xu Zheng felt that his future was bleak, he suddenly received a call.

"Hello, is this Director Xu?" There was a very young voice on the other end of the phone.

Xu Zheng was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously said: You made a mistake, there is no Director Xu here, but soon he will be a jerk, Director Xu?Is this talking about him?This title is so cool!
"Yes, it's me, you are"

"Director Xu, that's it. I'm the liaison of Zhixing Film and Television. I want to confirm with you that you own all the copyrights of the script of [Thailand]?"

Xu Zheng quickly said: "That's right, the copyright belongs to me."

"Okay, Director Xu, is it convenient for you to come to our company soon? We, Mr. Gao, would like to chat with you face to face."

"Director Gao?"

"Oh, it's Director Gao Qunshu. Director Gao is also the manager of our company's production department."

Xu Zheng was overjoyed: "I can do it anytime."

"YES!" Hanging up the phone, Xu Zheng almost jumped up excitedly. Although the two parties haven't met yet, he knows that "Zhixing Film and Television" is interested in his script, otherwise he would not offer to order for him The air ticket is ready. Before those film and television companies, he took the initiative to sell them door-to-door.

Two days later, Xu Zheng came to "Zhixing Film and Television". Before he came, he checked some information and found that although the company is small in scale, it has been gaining momentum in the past two years, especially "33 Days of Broken Love" with a production cost of only 890 million. Won 3.8 million box office.

"Hello, my name is Xu Zheng. I have an appointment with Manager Gao at ten o'clock today." Xu Zheng said politely to the receptionist.

The front desk checked the records and showed a professional smile: "Hi, Director Xu, it's 9:30, and Manager Gao is still in a meeting. Would you like to take a rest in the reception room first?"

"Okay." Xu Zheng nodded.

"What would you like to drink? Tea, coffee, Coke."

"Coffee, thank you."

Xu Zheng came to the reception room under the guidance of a girl at the front desk, and found that there were quite a few people here. Listening to their chats, he found that many of them came to solicit investment. I know him, when he just debuted, he also filmed other people's movies.

Immediately, Xu Zheng's heart skipped a beat. It seems that "Zhixing Film and Television" does not have no projects. On the contrary, the company's projects may be too many to invest in, and it is not because of him.

At 10 o'clock, under the guidance of the sister paper at the front desk, Xu Zheng came to the office area of ​​the project team on the second floor. The office area on the first floor has given Xu Zheng a lot of shock. The future is bleak, the wages are low, and the benefits are poor. Employees naturally cannot be motivated.

And "Zhixing Film and Television" gave Xu Zheng the first impression of "busy", everyone is busy, even if he has such an obvious bald head feature, few people look up at him when he walks past the office, everyone is busy the work at hand.

And the second floor gave him a different feeling. Although the people here are not as busy as the first floor, there are still some vacant offices in the office area, but judging from the heated discussions from the two conference rooms from time to time, you can tell that they The work pressure should not be small.

"Director Xu, you are really young and promising. Please sit down." Gao Qunshu was attracted by Xu Zheng's shiny bald head at the first sight. Look, a little impolite.

Xu Zheng hurriedly said politely: "Director Gao, you are welcome. I especially like your [Tokyo Trial] and [Wind Sound]. In front of you, I am just a primary school student."

Gao Qunshu laughed, of course, he would listen to such scenes, but from this sentence, he could feel that Xu Zheng was different from many professional directors, and he didn't have those Wen Qing problems.

A smart layman, this is Gao Qunshu's first impression of Xu Zheng.

"Oh, I'm ashamed to say that when I was shooting [Tokyo Judgment], the investors withdrew their capital midway, which almost killed me. If the boss hadn't lent me 500 million, [Tokyo Trial] probably wouldn't be able to finish filming now." Gao Qunshu laughed Shaking his head.

Xu Zheng nodded deeply. Yes, when he was an actor, he only knew how to act. How could he know that it was so difficult to attract investment? If it comes to it, he didn't even take the first step on the Long March.

"Come back to business, Director Xu, I read the script of [Tai囧] and let our producer team evaluate it, so I can invest. However, as far as I know, you are not from a major, and you have never worked as a film director before. Director." Gao Qunshu leaned back slightly, leaning on the back of the chair.

Xu Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he stood up completely: "Director Gao, I really don't have experience as a film director, but I have been a TV drama director before, and I have been preparing for this film all these years."

"Don't be so excited, let's just chat casually, sit down and have a sip of tea." Gao Qunshu said with a smile, his eyes almost narrowed when he smiled with a fat face.

Xu Zheng scolded inwardly, poking his heart right after casual chatting?If it wasn't casual, wouldn't he be riddled with holes?

But when he calmed down, Xu Zheng was secretly delighted. After all, he was the one who bought the goods. Those who praised you as the best in the world as soon as they met, and who could become famous contemporary directors with a raise of their hands, would definitely not give it to you. You put in a penny.

Gao Qunshu picked up a document and handed it to Xu Zheng: "This is the evaluation report made by our project team. There is no problem with the investment of 3000 million yuan, but you also know that the company's money is not blown by the wind. Why do you Guaranteed, if you direct this movie, can you make money?"

Xu Zheng didn't answer directly, but opened the document, and saw that it was actually the evaluation and analysis of [Thailand], this report gave him the first feeling: professional, some jokes about [Thailand] in the report I have done analysis, and even fine-tuned these jokes and burdens. After careful consideration, the jokes have indeed become more prominent after adjustments.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Zheng took out a document from his briefcase. This is his optimized version of the script of "囧囧 in Thailand". It can be said that this is also his last hole card.

"Director Gao, I have no way to guarantee that this movie will definitely make money, and any guarantee before the movie is released is nonsense, but I have been preparing for this movie all these years, I am the most suitable for [Thailand] Although I am not as professional as some professional directors, I cannot draw a professional storyboard script, but every scene in the script is in my mind, and all I need now is to turn them into reality." Xu Zheng said excitedly .

Gao Qunshu took a deep look at Xu Zheng. He could feel the bald head's dedication to enthusiasm. He hadn't seen this feeling in others for many years. The rapid development of mainland movies made many directors obsessed with this film. During the carnival, it seemed that everyone was busy making money, who cares about the rest?

Gao Qunshu flipped through the latest script of "囧囧 in Thailand" page by page. It was indeed full of jokes and the plot was more reasonable than the previous ones.

"Okay, you convinced me that you can be the director of [囧囧 in Thailand], but the company has taken such a big risk, it's impossible for you to ask for 10% of the final revenue share."

Xu Zheng was stunned for a moment, this is it?Can he be a director?Movie director?As for the 10% of the final proceeds, it was actually a wild asking price. He knew that no film and television company would be so generous, and Lao Mouzi didn't even have this kind of treatment.

In the past, almost everyone in the circle thought that Lao Mouzi must have made a lot of money by cooperating with Zhang Weiping for more than ten years. With so many box office hits, he only got a salary of more than 1200 million yuan.

That's right, Lao Mouzi, the most influential Chinese movie and the most popular at the box office, has only been paid 1200 million yuan for more than ten years. Once the news broke out, it shocked the entire Chinese movie circle. Comparing other directors: It seems that I live Had a good time.

"Uh, the division can be discussed." Xu Zheng said cautiously.

Gao Qunshu nodded: "2%, I will give you 2% at most, and you must sign under the name of the company. Of course, the conditions for this can be discussed later."

With the example of Lao Mouzi, Xu Zheng is actually satisfied with the 2% share, but he is a little hesitant about whether to sign a contract with "Zhixing Film and Television". make a decision.

But he also knows the rules in the industry, no one is willing to make wedding dresses for others, if he doesn't sign the contract, the director of "囧太囧" will probably put a big question mark on it.

"Okay, I'll sign!" Xu Zheng gritted his teeth.

Gao Qunshu laughed in satisfaction, and stretched out his hand: "Welcome to Zhixing Film and Television. Looking back after many years, you will find that you have made a wise decision."

"Thank you, I hope so." Xu Zheng shook Gao Qunshu's fat hand.

Three days later, Xu Zheng officially signed a contract with "Zhixing Film and Television" and became the second director of the company. Of course, from the outside world, "Zhixing Film and Television" signed Xu Zheng because of his value as an actor.

After Xu Zheng was settled, Gao Qunshu held a project meeting for "囧囧 in Thailand".

"Director Xu, it's fine for you to play the role of Xu Lang. Do you have any suitable candidates for Wang Bao and Gao Bo?" Gao Qunshu asked.

Xu Zheng said seriously: "Actually, I set the two roles of Wang Bao and Gao Bo according to Wang Baoshen and Huang Bo."

"Wang Baoxin should be fine. Our relationship with Huayi has always been good, but Huang Bo, we had an invitation to a drama some time ago and he pushed him away, saying that he was too tired recently and wanted to take a break." Wang Xiao used to Sexually pressed the ballpoint pen.

If "Crazy Stone" made Huang Bo stand out, then in 09, after winning the title of best actor at the Golden Horse Awards with Guan Hu's "Bullfighting", Huang Bo became completely popular.

Xu Zheng immediately said: "I will do Huang Bo's work, and I will definitely persuade him to play this role."

"Okay, since Director Xu is sure."

In fact, Xu Zheng has a certainty. Since "Crazy Stone", Xu Zheng and Huang Bo have not had much contact with each other.

But now, Xu Zheng can only go all out, and bought a lot of things to visit the crew where Huang Bo is filming.

When old friends met, Huang Bo was surprised to see Xu Zheng, but he was quite happy, but when Xu Zheng asked him to film, Huang Bo said that he was too tired recently and wanted to rest for a while.

Xu Zheng also stopped persuading, but helped the crew every day. After a few days, Huang Bo began to feel embarrassed, and after a week, he finally agreed to Xu Zheng's request.

"I'm really scared of you. I can't act." Huang Bo said this, but he was actually quite moved in his heart.

And in Huang Bo's view, although Xu Zheng is the first time to be a director, but because of his tenacious spirit, even if this film is not successful, it will definitely succeed in the future, so let's regard it as a good relationship.

(End of this chapter)