Chapter 175 On Export


    "I haven''t been making movies for a long time, and I don''t have much experience. My film theory and technology are really not as good as those of my predecessors, so I just don''t do what I do."


    Chen Qi opened his mouth to set his own tone and said: "But since we are talking about earning foreign exchange through exports, it is equivalent to selling things and buying things. Everyone is familiar with this. Let me talk about it from this perspective."


    “If we want them to buy movies, we need to study the psychology of buyers.


    Take the United States as an example. I went to Hong Kong and Berlin this time and learned a lot about American movies. Their industry is very developed and they have a rich variety of genre films. They have filmed almost all genres. Last year''s "Star Wars" was a hit in North America. It grossed more than $200 million at the box office.


    Why would such a country spend 3 million to buy "Tai Chi"?


    The reason is very simple, because "Tai Chi" is a Chinese kung fu movie, which is not available in the United States. From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan, and then to Li Lianlian, the United States will never be able to produce a martial arts star like this.


    The label of Chinese Kung Fu is unique, it is the only one in the world, so I think we should make more martial arts films. "


    In front of several big leaders, he didn''t want to make long speeches and wanted to be concise and quick. But after hearing this, the big leaders didn''t comment and just said: "Keep talking!"


    “We have something they don’t have, that’s the first category.


    The second category is naturally something everyone has.


    For example, murder, romance, comedy, tragedy, they all have them, and they are more developed than us, so how do we shoot them? It would be too difficult to surpass simply based on the quality of the work. I think there is a shortcut.


    Find the differences among the same!


    Chinese films have reappeared on the world stage. They are unfamiliar to Western society. I think they have a voyeuristic mentality and hope to see the true face of China''s history, traditional culture and contemporary life...


    For example, in movies about ordinary citizens, our ordinary citizens are definitely different from their ordinary citizens in terms of living environment, clothing, eating habits, family values, social ethics, etc. If we want to film these things, if we are lucky, we can even win an award.


    Winning awards overseas is also very important. Winning awards can help sell your work at a higher price, and it can also inspire people.


    But it’s a pity, alas, we didn’t take good pictures…”


    Chen Qi talked about what to shoot above, and how to shoot next, and continued: "First of all, we have to let people understand it. If people can''t understand it, how can we buy it?


    One of my deepest experiences in Berlin is that foreigners feel that Chinese films are too theatrical, have a poor sense of reality, and have too many political phrases. They feel that they are being educated.


    The way our director expressed it was too straightforward, just like giving a lecture to children, directly saying that you must love the motherland and love this land... Of course this is right, but can the children understand?


    And there is another way, take him to see the great rivers and mountains of the motherland, let him experience the beautiful scenery for himself, let him read history and know the sufferings that the Chinese nation has suffered.


    It might be better to be more subtle and tactful, hide political words in the plot, and use stories to tell the truth instead of directly stating the lines.


    Secondly, our movie is too slow! "


    "Too slow?"


    “The plot develops slowly, there are too many plots, and it’s dull and boring to watch. If your own audience doesn’t like watching it, how can it make foreign audiences like it?


    For example, "Tai Chi" starts with a martial arts competition, and then Yang Yuqian is taught by an expert, and goes to Henan to study, but is rejected. However, he meets Chen Shaomei by chance, is taught Tai Chi, and is discovered by Chen Zhengying...


    Every time he goes a little further, he is bound to encounter setbacks and then solve them. If he goes a little further, there will be new troubles... This is fast-paced, highly entertaining, and full of ups and downs, and the audience likes to watch it. "


    Compared with usual times, Chen Qi was very conservative, not spitting, but full of practical information. Finally, he said: "In short, I personally think that if you want to earn foreign exchange through exports, you can take two routes. One is to make entertainment films based on martial arts films." , one is to win prizes.


    Oh, by the way, don’t be timid when negotiating with foreigners. Some of our films are really good. It would be a shame to sell them cheaply! "


    In fact, in the 1980s, some knowledgeable people proposed the idea of ??earning foreign exchange from movies. However, from top to bottom, the entire industry chain was not strong enough, and it was never mentioned again later.


    Nowadays, "Tai Chi" is ground-breaking, making feasibility a reality. The top leaders listened very carefully and asked: "You said that our domestic directors'' films are slow, is there any way to make them faster?"


    "I can''t do anything about others, but I can do something about my own films."


    "What''s your next idea?"


    "That''s what I just said, make two types of films, one to make money, and one to win awards... I mean, if I were still allowed to make it." Chen Qi was shy and scratched his head. "Is there any way to distribute it to Taiwan?"


    The leader who had been silent until now suddenly asked.


    Chen Qi was stunned and said: "A pure mainland film is impossible, but according to Uncle Fu Qi, I think it can be achieved.


    We find directors and actors who can enter Taiwan. After filming, we remove the producer, release it in Taiwan first, and then add the producer when we come back. Or you can secretly invest in a company and let them film it.


    But when it is released to Taiwan, there must be no political words or phrases in it, otherwise it will not be reviewed. "


    "The little comrade''s mind is quite flexible."


    The leader smiled.


    Mr. Liao also understood and said: "The reason is very simple. This has nothing to do with domestic movies. It specializes in export movies to earn foreign exchange, just like those products for foreign trade."


    "It''s like this..."


    The big leader nodded, flicked his cigarette ashes, and suddenly started chatting with Mr. Liao about home affairs.


    Chen Qi had no such experience. Wang Yang understood that there were other things to discuss and quickly pulled him to leave. The leader of the Ministry of Culture still stayed.


    "I think this guy can do whatever he wants to demote talents! And now that the reform is in its early stages, anything that is beneficial to the country can be tested. He is only one person, and the scale is small. If he fails, it won''t have much impact."


    "I have the same opinion. Xiao Chen has proven that this approach is feasible, so let him try it." Liao Gongdao.


    "We hope to ease relations with Taiwan. Film is a good communication channel. We can use Hong Kong and overseas film festivals as bridges to contact film workers there," the leader said.


    The three leaders discussing movies here may seem exaggerated, but it''s normal these days. In the early days of reform, Nian Guangjiu was mentioned many times by senior officials for selling melon seeds for a fool, let alone something as important as a movie?


    After a brief discussion, the senior leader said to Liao Gong: "This situation is special and there is no precedent. Can you coordinate with all units and come up with a plan?"


    "Okay!"


    This is the end of the encounter.


    The leader of the Ministry of Culture, who had been afraid to say anything, quickly left, secretly exclaiming, "We are doing something special, things are going to change!"


    …


    Chen Qi finally returned to his loyal Beijing Film Studio.


    He took a shower first and then fell asleep. On the day he came back from Berlin, he was called directly to the Ministry of Culture. He worked there for several days and was exhausted both physically and mentally.


    And right now.


    The leaders of China Youth Daily repeatedly confirmed the authenticity of the data and decided to let Yu Jiajia publish the article. With a stroke of her pen, Yu Jiajia said: ""Tai Chi" spread its influence over West Berlin, conquered big-nosed foreigners, and earned a sky-high US$4.8 million in foreign exchange!"


    boom!


    Just drop a bomb, or just kill it and leave it alone.


    Ordinary people would probably say it was awesome when they saw it, but people in the industry would see it and their eyes would turn green! While Chen Qi was soundly asleep, countless people rushed to the capital to catch a glimpse of the holy face!


    (No more...)


    (End of chapter)