Chapter 160 Give domestic science fiction a chance in the future
Every director, or in other words, every creator has his own persistent subject matter.
Some focus on big scenes, some like to do art; some focus on realistic themes, and some specialize in low-level and shit and fart.
This persistence is both a constraint for creators and their personal style.
Like Meng Bai, before the rise of the online drama market, the "suspense" theme was actually a niche, so he went around for a long time without any results.
But as long as he seizes the opportunity to do it, it will immediately become his exclusive "moat".
Just like now, as long as the "suspense" theme is mentioned, whether it is the audience or the industry, Arclight Film and Television is the name that ranks first.
Guo Fan is the same. His favorite theme is "science fiction", and his ideal is to be able to shoot a "domestic science fiction blockbuster".
It can only be said that for the domestic audience of science fiction, the idea of shooting a "science fiction masterpiece" itself is quite "science fiction".
He first studied law in college, then switched to art design, and finally, for his ideal, he took the master's degree in management at Beijing Film Academy.
The first official movie he shot was Meng Bai's "The Adventures of Li Xianji".
Unfortunately, due to the blind operation of the investors and producers, the reputation of this project failed and the box office performance was also a big loss.
The film and television industry is a circle that pays great attention to "successful experience".
If you were awesome before, the investors will believe that you will continue to be awesome. If you failed before, I'm sorry, it's hard for anyone to give you a second chance.
The main creators who participated in the failure of the film naturally had a hard time.
Meng Bai, needless to say, was soft-banned and no such person was found. Guo Fan was not much better, and he didn't receive any new projects for more than two years.
Fortunately, he signed the director agency contract with Shiba Culture two years ago, which is the company of Wang Jinghua, who is known as the "No. 1 Agent in the Mainland".
Wang Jinghua is also quite resourceful in the Beijing circle. It happened that Gao Dajin, who is also from the Beijing circle, was making a movie, so this project fell into Guo Fan's hands.
Objectively speaking, the plot and production level of this movie are quite average. But it hit the outlet of youth films and took off directly.
Just like the success of Meng Bai's "Soul Ferry", it immediately became a "platform attractor", and various video websites waved generous conditions, wanting to cooperate with Arclight Films.
Guo Fan is the same. With a 20-fold return on investment for a movie, he directly turned into a "capital succubus" and became a hot new director.
At this time, the best choice is naturally to take advantage of the popularity of youth films and quickly shoot another work of the same theme according to previous experience.
With the popularity and popularity of the previous one, you can make enough money.
With these two works with outstanding commercial results as a foundation, the road to being a director is smooth.
Therefore, Meng Bai asked him if he planned to continue shooting youth films.
Hearing this, Guo Fan was silent for a few seconds, and then smiled with emotion: "Don't laugh when I say this, I still want to shoot science fiction."
Meng Bai naturally didn't laugh, and didn't even feel strange.
As early as the premiere of "My Deskmate", when he saw the news transition shot that was forcibly inserted into the plot and obviously had a "science fiction flavor", he guessed that this guy had never given up the idea of science fiction.
Making youth films is for survival, and making science fiction is the ideal.
However...
"For science fiction themes, the most difficult ones are funding and the script." Meng Bai said: "Funding can still be found, but the script may be really hard to find."
Even "Science Fiction World" ceased publication the year before last, where else can we find science fiction creators.
Speaking of this, Guo Fan perked up.
He looked at Meng Bai and asked, "Xiao Meng, have you heard of Liu Cixin?"
"I have heard of it." Meng Bai nodded: "But to be honest, I have only read "The Three-Body Problem" and a few short stories of his."
"Okay, your science fiction reading volume is already above the average level." Gongger said beside him.
After that, the three of them laughed.
After the laughter ended, Meng Bai said: "So, you are planning to shoot Liu Cixin's works? I remember that his film and television copyrights have been sold, right?"
"Indeed, they have been sold." Guo Fan said: "But these copyrights are basically in the hands of China Film now."
Meng Bai touched his chin: "I remember that your "China-US Director Exchange Program" seems to be a project led by China Film."
"Indeed." Guo Fan nodded, his eyes bursting with spirit and said: "In fact, after the exchange, there is another follow-up plan, which is a domestic science fiction film project."
The "China-US Director Exchange Program" can be divided into two parts.
One is "recognizing the gap", which can be seen from Guo Fan's admiration for Hollywood. The effect is remarkable.
The other is "brave development", which involves all aspects of the entire domestic film industry, naturally including the creation of "science fiction" works.
Guo Fan introduced to Meng Bai that the copyrights currently held by China Film include "The Wandering Earth", "Micro Era", "Supernova Era", "Rural Teachers" and many other projects.
What they mean is that they want to find a team, choose one from them, and shoot it.
This plan actually came as early as 2012. At that time, China Film also contacted Hollywood directors including James Cameron, Alfonso Cuarón, Spielberg, and even Luc Besson.
Unfortunately, these directors have no interest in coming to China to shoot science fiction. And domestic directors also know what a big pit science fiction is, and no one is willing to jump into the pit with their eyes open.
So now, China Film can only pin their hopes on a group of young directors.
So after the "Exchange Plan" ended, China Film took out these IP copyrights and let these young directors choose for themselves.
This is in line with Guo Fan's wishes. After considering for a long time, he chose the novella "The Wandering Earth".
Of course, China Film is not saying that whoever is chosen will be used. You have to take out some real things first to see before you can decide.
Guo Fan gritted his teeth and pulled his friend Gongger together, planning to first come up with a complete set of architecture books, background chronicles and design drawings, and then use these practical things to impress China Film.
Although it seems to be just some data settings, you will find that the cost is not small when you actually do it.
For example, various model making, 3D image rendering equipment, including personnel salary costs, are not small numbers.
So far, Guo Fan and his team have invested more than 500,000 yuan, and this part is all paid out of his own pocket by him and Gongger.
One took out all the previous director's salary and savings, and the other sold his car.
But even so, the preparation part is only preliminary, and there are still many details to be filled.
Going further, it is estimated that the house will have to be mortgaged.
"Alas, the funding is a big problem now."
Guo Fan sighed, and Gongger beside him also sighed.
Meng Bai smacked his lips, looked at the two people with an expression of wanting to say something but stopping, and slowly came back to his senses.
"No, brothers, I was wondering why you were so eager to invite me to dinner." Meng Bai said with a smile, "It turns out that today's dinner is a 'Hongmen Banquet'."
"Oh, that's an exaggeration." Guo Fan said quickly, "We are just chatting, don't think too much."
After that, he changed the subject and said, "Of course, we do hope that more people will join in and give domestic science fiction a chance in the future."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com