There is no official trading market for this short film festival, but the festival's many activities and parties have built a good platform for investors, encouraging them to expand high-quality short films into feature films, or support the creation of outstanding directors.
Today's UCLA forum mainly focuses on a series of issues related to short film expansion and investment in new directors.
The host is Mark Rothman, a professor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, who is also a director and screenwriter.
The main guests were a professor from the same school and the director of the upcoming film "Lord of War", Andrew Nicol, who was also here to promote the film, and a short film director named Rodrigo Cortez. , and a screenwriter named Arthur Gordon.
The five of them sat on stage, with Andrew Niccol and Arthur Gordon first promoting their films.
After saying this, Zhang Yuanjun and Liu Yifei sitting in the audience realized that Arthur Gordon was the screenwriter of "Memoirs of a Geisha".
"Do you think that's Zhang Ziyi?" Zhang Yuanjun and others were sitting in the middle and back. He saw a woman sitting in the first row who looked like Zhang Ziyi.
Liu Yifei and Xiao Zhao looked forward and saw half of the woman's face: "They are quite similar."
Under the guidance of the host Professor Mark, the four guests discussed the theme of this forum.
Zhang Yuanjun and Liu Yifei listened with gusto. Zhang Leping had no interest in movies and was distracted while listening. Xiao Zhao couldn't understand it at all and was distracted.
"Although the cost of shooting short films is low, there is still a lack of investors. Many of our directors can only get investment from some non-profit cultural funds." Rodrigo Cortez said, "I know many excellent directors, but they They cannot make a living by making short films, so most of them work as assistants on the set for two to three years until they save enough money to make a movie."
"But the profit prospects of short films are particularly unclear. In other words, apart from participating in awards, short films have basically no other channels for dissemination and profit."
"Of 100 short films made by 100 directors, only two at most can get the opportunity to shoot a feature film, and the feature film still cannot guarantee profitability."
Rodrigo Cortez expressed the pain of short film directors around the world and received applause and cheers from the directors present.
Because he himself is like this, making a short film in two or three years, participating in awards and evaluations, hoping to be appreciated by film producers and investors. So far, I have not been given the opportunity to shoot a feature film.
Other guests spoke one after another to express their views on the short film.
After the discussion, it was time for audience questions.
The audience raised their hands to ask the guests questions, some of which were pointed. For example, a UCLA student asked Andrew Nicol: "I am a directing student who is about to graduate, but the short films I shot can only It was broadcast in schools, but there was no chance of promotion. I sent it to Fox and other film producers, but I couldn't get a reply from them. In the era of big studio monopoly, how can a new director get a formal filming opportunity?"
This question was confused by Andrew Nicol. He said: "I think new directors should stick to creation. As Rodrigo said before, it is not easy to be a short film director, but if you have decided to be a director , we must persist in creating. The starting point of directing students is already higher than others. Don’t think about becoming famous overnight. You are only in your twenties. Since the birth of film, how many directors have become famous in their twenties? A director The golden period of creation is after the age of 40, so don’t worry, as long as you have good works, you will definitely have a chance."
Later, five more audience members asked questions to the guests, and the event ended.
Liu Yifei went to say hello to Zhang Ziyi in the front row: "You're all here, let's meet."
Before Zhang Yuanjun could agree, Liu Yifei waved her hands forward and shouted: "Teacher Ziyi!"
Zhang Ziyi turned around and saw Liu Yifei and others.
She is actually not familiar with Liu Yifei and Zhang Yuanjun, but she knows them.
When meeting Chinese people in a foreign country, Zhang Ziyi always greets them with a smile even if he doesn't want to meet them.
"Why are you here?" Zhang Ziyi asked in surprise.
"We were on vacation in Los Angeles and happened to be attending a film festival."
Zhang Ziyi glanced at Zhang Yuanjun and Liu Yifei ambiguously, guessing their relationship.
This is still unclear.
"Oh, no, he was in Los Angeles and I was in New York. We happened to meet each other." Liu Yifei couldn't explain clearly.
Zhang Yuanjun didn’t explain too much and just said: “Sister Ziyi is here to promote Memoirs of a Geisha?”
"Yes," Zhang Ziyi said with a smile, "It will be released in a few months. Let's promote it on a small scale first."
She was very proud of "Memoirs of a Geisha".
"How's your movie going?" asked Zhang Yuanjun.
She has never met Zhang Yuanjun, but she still knows that "there is a student at the film school who is ignorant and has made a movie by himself."
"It's almost there. It will be launched in a month or two." Speaking of his movie, Zhang Yuanjun was also very proud.
"Then I wish you a smooth startup." It was obvious that Zhang Ziyi didn't want to talk to them any more.
Zhang Ziyi wanted to leave, but then Rodrigo Cortez stepped forward to talk: "Hi, Zhang, what are you talking about?" As a short film director who is neither high nor low, Rodrigo Cortez is very Good at looking for opportunities.
He knew that Oriental people were rich, and Zhang Ziyi's friends looked like they were rich.
Zhang Ziyi took the opportunity to escape: "This is our famous young actor in China. This Zhang is also an investor and film producer. The film he invested in will be launched soon."
Rodrigo Cortez was surprised: "Oh my God, you are investing at such a young age. Orientals can really surprise people."
"You guys chat, I have some activities over there, I'm leaving first." Zhang Ziyi got away.
Rodrigo Cortez started the conversation: "Zhang, I have always been curious about the mysterious East, but unfortunately, I have no chance to work in China. Can you tell me about it?"
But Zhang Yuanjun said: "I am here for vacation and have no intention of investing."
"It doesn't matter," Rodrigo Cortez smiled, "We will be friends from now on. This is my business card." He handed over his business card.
Without reaching out to hit the smiling man, Zhang Yuanjun also gave him his hotel phone number.
Rodrigo Cortez certainly knew that Zhang Yuanjun didn't want to talk to him, otherwise he wouldn't have just called the hotel, or he should have at least given him the phone number of his assistant.
But Rodrigo Cortez is a veteran after all and doesn't care.
If he can get film investment from this oriental man - if he has dates or not, it will be a three-point deal - then it doesn't matter if he feels a little wronged.
Therefore, in the following week of the film festival, Rodrigo Cortez came to "harass" Zhang Yuanjun every day.
Call the hotel to contact Zhang Yuanjun, ask him to have dinner, ask him to go to the film festival, ask him to go to a party.
During this period, he kept promoting the short films he had made and the ideas in his mind.
Zhang Yuanjun was pulled by him to watch the short films he had made before, and it was obvious that he was a director with ideas. Although the lens language was not very clever, it was enough.
As he said himself, he just lacked an opportunity.
Therefore, Zhang Yuanjun decided to give him a chance.
On this day, Rodrigo Cortez came to the hotel again and asked him to go to the bar for a drink.
Zhang Yuanjun said: "Don't rush to drink. I have an idea here. Take a look."
(End of chapter)
