Since 1983

Morning, Mr. Wu!

Hello, Mr. Wu!

On a cloudy morning in November, Wu Mengchen walked into the China Film Academy wrapped in frost, with a trace of melancholy on his chubby face.

I didn't go upstairs, so I asked someone to explain the work, I'm going to XX department, call me if you need anything.

OK.

He immediately went out, got into the car and headed west to Chang'an Street.

Next to the red wall, on the right side of the mansion, there is a large courtyard. Vehicles are checked at the gate, and they drive in slowly after showing their IDs. Wu Mengchen came to an office, waited for a while, and finally saw a leader.

There was a meeting just now, sit down, what do you want to drink?

Tea is fine.

Xiao Wu is from Shanghai, right? Make some green tea, I like black tea.

The leader poured tea by himself, sat on the sofa and said with a smile: I heard about your name a long time ago, but I haven't had a chance to chat with you. You are a smart person, and I don't beat around the bush, mainly because recently, I have received a lot of feedback from the following. I want to hear what you have to say.

Well, I don't know where to start when you ask that question.

Then start with the reform, and I just took a look at it.

OK.

Wu Mengchen pondered for a while, then said: The main purpose of film reform is to transform the planned economy into a market economy. In fact, just like the reform of state-owned enterprises and factories, their problems and difficulties are similar to ours. There is nothing mysterious about them.

Since 1993, we have successively canceled the unified purchase and overall planning, broken the monopoly of provincial companies, relaxed the shooting qualifications, merged Xinying and CCTV, took over Erying by China Film, introduced ten foreign films, and so on.

In the past, the distribution and screening were chaotic, and the rights and responsibilities were unclear. We hand over the distribution rights to the studios and the screening options to the theaters. The next step is to take back the management rights, that is, to take the studios back from the cultural entrance to the broadcasting system.

Such clear responsibilities and clear relationships will help catalyze the market.

Well, continue. The leader nodded.

The so-called marketization of movies simply means that more people make movies, more people show movies, and more people watch movies.

Our current steps are to gradually release shooting qualifications, followed by distribution and screening qualifications. Let capital from all walks of life participate, you can set up a distribution company and set up a theater chain.

Tell me about the introduction film.

The imported films are mainly considered to stimulate the market, broaden horizons, and also stimulate domestic literary and art workers to make progress.

The original intention is good, but there are many problems.

The leader held a cigarette between his teeth and said, You're too one-sided and didn't take into account the actual difficulties. This year, 146 feature films were expected to be produced, but these few films took over all of them, such as Red Fan District and True Lies.

The studio has invested money, but they can't even recover the cost. Their life is already difficult, and if you do it like this, it will make the situation worse.

But it's not like we don't have good movies. Sunshine is more than 60 million, and there are two more than 40 million. We can make our own blockbusters!

Wu Mengchen was a little excited.

I know, I know, it's not that I haven't investigated...

The leader signaled him to be calm and earnestly said: Studios generally report that filming is difficult in funds and the administrative burden is too heavy. Like Changying Studio, there are many employees and many retirees, and they are all veteran comrades.

If you invest 1 million yuan to make a film, you need to spend 400,000 yuan in administrative expenses. You said that under such circumstances, how could it be possible to make a blockbuster film?

So we are liberalizing qualifications and encouraging cooperation between studios and private companies. There are also theaters...

The theater chain is what Wu Mengchen wants to do the most, saying: Multiple theaters must be the standard configuration in the future. Now one hall can show one movie, and if there are seven halls, seven movies can be shown.

There is nowhere to show the films of the studio, we just need to expand the platform, and more than 100 films can be fully loaded every year.

No, no, your thinking is fundamentally wrong.

The leader obviously disapproved, saying: Xiao Wu, what did the chief emphasize at the meeting? Leading cadres must talk about politics.

No wonder some people say that you have too much habit of being a businessman! Carrying forward the main theme and advocating diversity are the general tone of the Ninth Five-Year Plan period.

The studio has made great contributions in the past, and we cannot give up easily. We must encourage and help them produce more good works, especially excellent works that promote the main theme.

But the theater chain is really the focus of reform...

Hey, even if you build the theater chain, the imported films will still capture the city, and the studio will still lose money, so what?

This is the audience's choice. Can we force the audience to like something? Moreover, the reform will not happen overnight, and it will inevitably experience pain. When we accumulate slowly, we will definitely be able to catch up.

So, the root is still in our own company. Protect domestic films and improve the quality, so it doesn't conflict with what you said!

The leader stopped him and said, Okay, our primary goal is to produce more main theme movies and reduce the burden on the studio. With policy support, the output and quality will naturally increase.

Let's stop here today, you go back first, it is best to learn the spirit of the meeting, and talk about politics.

...

Wu Mengchen walked out of the office somehow, and breathed out when he went outside, the sun hadn't come out yet.

Go to radio and television.

He gave an order, and the vehicle drove out of the compound and came to Radio and Television again.

After seeing Leader Tian, ​​and talking about the matter, Leader Tian was also excited, and said: I also talked to the leader once, and I don't agree with his thinking.

As long as there is a film reform, everyone has to do so, unless there is no reform!

There are also those who make use of the topic. Although imported films are popular, haven't the number of viewers and box office of domestic films also increased? It proves that the audience is willing to enter the theater!

Studios are in difficulties, of course I know it is difficult, why don't we introduce policies to let them transform slowly? Isn't there a next step to continue to promote the policy...

I vented, Xiao Wu, you go back first, and I'll have an in-depth chat with him.

good.

...

The film world has suddenly changed, and there are countless rumors.

It is said that Leader Tian and Leader Ding had several long talks, but failed to reach an agreement, and even slapped the table on the spot.

It is said that Wu Mengchen was called to give lectures several times, his face was ashamed, and his actions were completely denied by his superiors.

Drama and Film News published Where is the way for Hollywood films to seize the domestic film market? , carried out a series of accusations and criticisms.

Letters of report and suggestions flew into the XX department like a snowflake, all of which were used to make use of the topic to exaggerate the difficult situation of domestic feature films.

This kind of statement is easy to get a lot of support, and for a while, all the blame is directed at Wu Mengchen.

Pointing to him clearly, actually pointing to the leader Tian behind him.

One day not long after, Wu Mengchen was called to the XX Department again.

The leader didn't say anything, just passed some letters, the words were shocking:

Let American films occupy our market, and use Chinese ticket money to nourish foreign film producers. May I ask, are such people considered new foreign compradors?

It's time for life and death, imported blockbusters will bring disaster to national films!

...

Killing and killing people, but that's all. Wu Mengchen didn't say anything, just sat on the sofa and waited silently.

After Huitian, the leader also came. After reading the letter, he said: The imported film cannot be abolished. We are applying to join the WTO. This must be one of the contents.

I know. We've talked about this many times, and I stand by my thoughts.

The leader nodded and said: After the Spring Festival next year, I will hold a film work meeting, and I will personally handle the preparation work, and then I will announce some policies.

Well, let's go out without first.

(besides……)