After hearing this, Li Xiuxian's eyes lit up: "So you have such a plan! Very good, very good. You are indeed a man of the hour among us Chinese. You think so long-term! I took this job, and I will definitely make sure to help you attract as many senior bosses as possible, and your starting point is very positive, and you deserve the support of the people in Hong Kong! Alas, in this regard, your kid is much better than Xing Zai, even in his own movie , would not have thought of such a far-reaching potential meaning!”
Zhang Zhaohui on the side also sighed: "It's rare for anyone to think so deeply. Even if there are Brother Fa and Brother Chen Long in the front row, they can't show the importance of our Chinese artists. If only a few of them There are only two big names sitting in one row, and the middle position is given to those seniors, which really reflects the deep connections in our Chinese entertainment industry! This is an international image issue, and it really cannot be ignored!"
Hong Dabao, who was behind the two of them, laughed loudly, which was particularly obvious in the relatively quiet conference room: "Let me just say, Shanzi's other abilities aside, the broadening of his horizons alone is not something that ordinary people can achieve! Fa Ge and Chen Long can't do it. Are their reputations big enough here? What if you go to Hollywood and still get squeezed out? Only Shanzi can make a lot of Hollywood big names come eagerly to participate in a competition. At a premiere, the funny thing is that the protagonist in that movie is not him! This is not only a matter of his personal ability, but more importantly, others know that if you follow him, you will have opportunities and benefits, and there is no long-term plan to get it. Come out, are those people stupid or dumb?"
"The key is to have a long-term plan that is likely to succeed!" Li Xiuxian added with a smile, "What happened last night is the most obvious example. Kung Fu movies in Hong Kong will dominate in the future. Only all the film companies in Hong Kong and If martial arts actors unite and fight separately, the quality of their works will only be uneven, good and bad, which will ruin the reputation!"
As if he heard the noise here, Luo Shuyao handed the script to Ren Jiahua, walked over and said to Liu Qingshan: "I have roughly heard what you said, and I support you on this matter! In addition, I accepted the script, and you still I have casting rights similar to those in "The Handsome Man", and I recognize you as my brother!"
Li Xiuxian asked curiously: "Which book is good? Otherwise you wouldn't be so generous. Everyone knows how domineering you are in casting!"
Luo Shouyao sighed, and the meaning in it was quite meaningful: "What Shanzi brought out made me tingle all over. He subverted the myth of Hong Kong gangster movies, and also dispelled all romantic martial arts gangster hero movies! This kind of thing The elimination of exceptions, both in terms of technique and conception, will reach its peak in "Dragon City Years"."
"No way? You've only watched it for a few minutes, and you can have such a profound sigh?" Zhang Zhaohui's tone was full of confusion.
Luo Shouyao seems to still be immersed in a certain emotion: "The anti-mythical realism may be due to the poisonous influence of the heroes and Wei Qiang young and Dangerous boys directed by Zhongwu. The Hong Kong underworld social elements in our impression are not the knights in adult fairy tales." Ponyboy is the trendy and cool new gangster in the Young and Dangerous comics and movies. The only ones left are flamboyant warriors and vicious beasts. They haunt nightclubs, casinos, and docks, often engaging in gunfire, bullets, and street fights. In short, , a person from another world entirely.”
Having said this, he lit a cigarette, "Looking at his script, in appearance, the so-called underworld is just a group of inconspicuous little people: they are short, fat old men walking their dogs in the evening, a group of people who have no rights in normal society." The powerless old man, the shabby bar owner in shabby clothes, the loving father who goes to the butcher shop to order meat and bones for his son, the motivated student studying economics in the university classroom, etc. This kind of setting has already been revealed in "Gunfire" : The extraordinary bodyguards are barbers, bar owners, and pimps. Black social elements do not wear uniforms and have no words engraved on their foreheads. Their world is not only parallel to ours but also intersects with it. They live among us. They even work for us.”
"Are you saying that the descriptions in his script are infinitely close to realism?" Li Xiuxian interjected.
Luo Shoanyao nodded, "Shanzi places many scenes at the dinner table or wine table. The film opens with the underworld elements using the family playing mahjong in the hotel as a cover, talking about the election of the boss while drinking tea, and bribery. The bribery of the electors was negotiated at the small dining table on the fishing boat. Since then, there have been endless scenes of eating, drinking tea, drinking, etc. Those people are no different from ordinary people. Drinking, tea and food are also the focus of their lives, and they are not just eating abalone. Dayton , that is, love brothers, or love gold? The theme. Therefore, I say it subverts the inherent perception of Hong Kong gangster movies. Such a thing, at least so far, we have not written! "
Liu Qingshan shook his head, "I am ignorant and fearless. You in Xiangjiang will consider the market's acceptance capacity more and dare not make changes easily! But I am different. I just write what I want to say. As for future market returns, it’s not an issue I should consider!”
Luo Shuanyao shook his head, "You are too modest! I think it is the best work with the highest overall quality, and there is another reason. Behind the thriller and crime plot, the more content is actually a Chinese-style demonstration of power. The power checks and balances of the bosses, the vigorous maintenance of the order of life, the disputes between various gangs, etc., are all played to perfection with power and tactics, revealing various characters with deep ambitions and lust for power. Shanzi is packaged in a new form The old themes and themes are eliminated, and the entire film does not fire a single shot, which has broken through the clichés of Hong Kong gangster movies in the past. However, the weirdness and excitement it creates, and the most direct description of primitive violence, make it as charming as "The Godfather" and "The Good Lord". Guy" style."
"Oh, your evaluation is high enough!" Li Xiuxian shouted in surprise.
"It's more than that!" Luo Shoanyao continued, "Shanzi has written the characters and events of all sizes in an orderly manner, with a neat and fast pace from beginning to end, making the whole story always in the midst of imminent storms and ups and downs. It makes me feel. The characters in it are described in such a way that everyone has a role to play, and everyone can shine. If this movie succeeds in the future, his contribution will be the greatest."
"Good guy! Since Director Luo's evaluation is so high, Shanzi, will you also let me play one of the roles?" Zhang Zhaohui's tone was a little urgent.
Liu Qingshan immediately answered: "Brother Hui is more suitable for Master Su, what do Director Luo think?"
Luo Shouyao nodded, "Ah Fai is very suitable for this role! In addition, I think Jia Hui will play Big D, Goo Jai will play Jimmy, and Nick Cheung Ka Fai is more suitable for Airplane, but I don't have a clue about Dongguan Zai yet!"
"Lin Jiadong! This character is arrogant, domineering, and has a great desire for power. It matches Jiadong's screen image very well!"
"Hey, it's true! For the rest of you, if you have any other ideas, please tell them."
"No, I don't have Director Luo who understands the Hong Kong entertainment industry, so I don't dare to talk nonsense about other candidates. But I have one more request. The investors of this film do not allow Sanyou Pictures to participate!"
"Hahaha!" Luo Shunyao laughed a few times and patted Liu Qingshan on the shoulder, "So it turns out that your legendary refusal to delegate power is all false. This film only takes some screenwriter's royalties and doesn't want to invest part of it? Sanyou's I understand the matter, even if I don’t say it, I still have to take care of your face!”
At this time, he no longer had the stern smile he had before. His attitude turned 180 degrees, and the smile on his face was like a bright spring.
No wonder, after getting a good and subversive script, for a thoughtful director who focuses on treating movies as art, it is undoubtedly a major event that allows him to unlimitedly use his talents.
This is probably the truth that it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice, not to mention that the author of this script himself has a terrifying social influence, and the future of the movie box office has been guaranteed.
Because of him, it is very likely that this film will not be banned in the mainland due to subject matter. Even if it is just a castrated version with part of the plot deleted, it will mean amazing commercial gains.
Sure enough, as soon as this question started to swirl in his mind, Liu Qingshan sounded almost committed: "Originally, it was called "Underworld 1". It was named after taking into account the issue of simultaneous screenings in the mainland. "Dragon City Years". Of course, you can still choose not to change the title of the film in Hong Kong and overseas, and you and the investors will make the final decision!"
Compared to others who were stunned for a moment, Luo Shuyao was the first to hear the deeper meaning: "Shanzi, are you saying that it will become a series of movies like "Infernal Affairs"?"
Liu Qingshan nodded and shook his head with a smile: "It will have a second part, but it is not suitable to appear too much in a short period of time. This subject is inherently niche, and it is unavoidable to stop it in moderation. Moreover, its social influence cannot be underestimated. Look, maybe if you take it out after settling for a while, it will have a different effect!"
This statement is very realistic. Just like the huge negative social impact brought by "Young and Dangerous", it was once criticized by all walks of life. The reason why its series continuation was terminated was one of the main reasons.
Moreover, it is almost a common problem for such works that the series of movies are magically modified in the later stages. Each episode uses the momentary pleasure as a big selling point, which leads to the subsequent parts becoming more and more deviated from the main line.
Once the entire story outline comes to an end, as far as the crew is concerned, there is no room for creation. Even if more selling points are invited to join in, it is inevitable that the flavor of the past will no longer exist.
For any classic work, the very clear image established at the beginning will never be forgotten, but overly accumulating this image will easily make people bored. Try to give up some commercial pressure and decisively temporarily Suspending the continuation of the plot is undoubtedly the wisest choice.
