"Comrade Xiao Gu, you know more about the cultural differences between film and television creation at home and abroad, why don't you help us explain it? We can't help it, the boss was frightened by the events of the year, and we will definitely not allow cooperation if we don't get the final review right of the script. ”

After Qiao Yinghua and Bertolucci beeped for a while, they finally noticed Gu Wei, who was silent, and began to ask him for help.

Gu Biao looked helpless, so he could only set a tone first: "Mr. Bertolucci, today's matter actually has nothing to do with me. It's just that the itinerary of the princess and her entourage doesn't have to be kept secret, so the princess asked me to inform you so that you don't have any worries. It's up to you to make all the decisions. ”

"Hey, Comrade Xiao Gu, you're doing you a disservice!" Qiao Yinghua was anxious.

"No, I just can't deceive my friends, let's just talk about things. Gu Biao came back with a fair voice.

He knows the difficulties of the CFCC.

Because of the incident of the last world-renowned Italian director Antonioni eight years ago, the relevant departments are now afraid that the Italians will shake out something discordant and incorrect. In that way, the purpose of cultural promotion was not achieved, but it caused a commotion.

The power of final adjudication is absolutely impossible to let go.

However, while listening to the negotiations between Bertolucci and Qiao Yinghua, Gu Biao also figured out a little taste,

The things that both sides are afraid of seem to be different.

What the Chinese side is afraid of is that the historical qualitative part of the script will be left behind.

And Bertolucci is afraid of the clapper power of artistic tonality.

In fact, what the two sides are afraid of is not at the same point at all, and it is possible to bridge the gap if they have said it openly.

Although Gu Biao doesn't like Qing court dramas, he also knows that historical movies that go to win awards seriously must be modern themes with detailed historical materials.

Even if he is a bit of an emperor in his heart, he also knows that Da Ming's things will definitely be regarded as jokes rather than historical records, and there is too little first-hand information about that thing. rushed to win the award, Pu YI's play is very suitable.

Of course, you can't say it absolutely, the Oscar in 99 years in history gave the ancient drama "Shakespeare in Love", and even killed Spielberg's painstaking "Saving Private Ryan" in the same year-

In the eyes of the media at the time, Spielberg met the requirements of the director being a Jew, the subject matter is adapted from a real and heavy story, reflecting the American spirit and anti-tolerance to Jews, the struggle of ethnic minorities, and the large investment in filming, so he had to win an Oscar for Best Picture.

However, the victory of "Shakespeare in Love" also shocked the entire Hollywood for the first time by Harvey Weinstein and Miramax's ability to worship votes in the lobby, known as the "Shakespeare Murder Case" until Harvey was killed 20 years later, and this public case has always been criticized by Hollywood people and called it "Hollywood's shame".

Although it can't be said that "it is a shame for Hollywood for ancient dramas to kill modern dramas", it is generally no problem to conclude that "modern dramas have more advantages in winning awards". What people like is "The King's Speech" and other period themes. (If the Chinese have to be emperor Han and shoot the complexity and struggle of human nature, it is estimated that they can only shoot President Yuan, but unfortunately that will be more 404 than the last emperor)

Since you can't stop history, let's sell personal favors.

……

"Mr. Bertolucci, I see that your struggle with the style of the script is mainly focused on the tragic ending of the script, right? I don't think there is any misunderstanding in my interpretation. Gu Biao's plot has been decided, and he finally began to play his golden words.

Bertolucci said bluntly: "Yes, I think if you are going to win the award, you have to make sure that the film is absolutely tragic - Mr. Joe does not understand the rules of the three major film festivals at all. If a film is not completely pathetic, but also unsolvable and irredeemable, it will be at a great disadvantage in the awards!"

On the other side, Qiao Yinghua hurriedly complained: "But you know, Mr. Pu YI finally accepted the transformation of our great motherland and became a good comrade and a good citizen. He is redeemed, and you ignore this ending and have to write it as a tragedy, doesn't this discredit our great influence!"

Gu Biao motioned for both sides to be quiet: "Then can I understand it this way: you have no disagreement about the main body of the plot and the interpretation of the original autobiographical work "The First Half of My Life"? The difference is only in the final finalization, whether it is a tragedy or a comedy, and whether the protagonist repents and redeems?"

Bertolucci was the first to agree: "Yes, because "The First Half of My Life" does not mention this part, I think I can interpret it reasonably artistically, after all, this belongs to the second half of His Majesty's life." ”

Gu Biao listened to it and was slightly puzzled, because he vaguely remembered that the last "The Last Emperor" in history was finally filmed, and it didn't seem to be a "tragedy full of helplessness", and in the end, Pu YI was indeed transformed and redeemed.

But why is this Bertolucci now insisting on not embodying the theme of redemption?

He seems to have mentioned that it does not meet the criteria of the three major European film festivals.

Gu Biao pondered for a while, and finally found the problem.

First of all, Bertolucci's understanding of the value judgment orientation of the three major film festivals is very accurate.

That group of European academic veterans has a very vicious vision, and they not only like tragedy, but only the kind of tragedy that is desperate, and there is no salvation and a way out until the last second of the movie.

The tragic fate of your protagonist must die thoroughly, not only in the flesh but also in the soul.

In other words, you have to create a "no solution" of human nature, so that you can win the three major film festival awards, and the characters and humanity will stand up at once, and countless academic masters will applaud you.

If there is a solution and a way out, they will be killed and spurned as "kitsch to cater to the audience" and "not abuse the master".

In contrast, the Oscars are a little more commercial and a little more "vulgar", and you can be just as hard and profound in the early stage. But in the end, a little redemption, a sublimation of the soul, or a small reunion is indeed a little lucky, and the jury can tolerate it.

Therefore, the shooting method of "The Last Emperor" in history can only win the Academy Award at best, but it will definitely not win the main unit award of the three major European film festivals.

If "The Shawshank Redemption" wants to be judged at the three major film festivals in Europe, then it should end abruptly where the old prisoner hangs himself in despair after being released from prison. In the end, it dragged on until the redemption came out, then I'm sorry, don't come to Europe, obediently follow the Oscar vulgarity of the Americans.

……

Thinking of this, Gu Biao suddenly realized a possibility: wouldn't it be because Bertolucci came to China more than four years in advance, so his own mental journey has not been adjusted, so he is still focused on the "three major European film festivals" and has not paid attention to the development of the Oscars, right?

This is very possible, after all, he has just been nominated for the Cannes Palme d'Or this year, and his enthusiasm has not yet cooled, and he may be holding back his energy to actually win a Palme d'Or or a golden lion. It takes four or five years in history to find that he can't reach the highest peak of literature and art, so he decadently pursues the Academy Award.

Gu Biao pointed out sharply: "Mr. Bertolucci, I don't think you can consider a different way of thinking about promotion? If you make this movie, you don't go to the three major European film festivals at the beginning, but go to Hollywood and run for the Oscars, then the redemption of human nature and the like are not a problem."

Hollywood's tonal tolerance for art films is more relaxed than that of the three major film festivals, and they can tolerate a redeemed protagonist, and even they actively want to see redemption. ”

Bertolucci was stunned: "Give up the three major film festivals? I went to the Oscars? I was nominated for the Oscar for Best Director at the age of 32, and what I'm staring at now is the Palme d'Or!"

People are like this, what is easy to get is not easy to cherish, and what is not yet available is the best.

In fact, the Oscar is not so low, but Bertolucci won the Oscar nomination for Best Director 9 years ago, when he was just 32 years old. So in his heart, he has always been paranoid that the three major film festivals are worth more than the Oscars.

What's more, he is engaged in "art", not "commercial films". In the West in the 1980s, the discrimination of art film directors against commercial films was obvious, a bit like the discrimination of serious writers against online writers in the 21st century.

It was not until after the collapse of the Soviet Union and when the United States won the ideological right to define the world's advanced culture that the situation fundamentally changed.

Gu Biao could only prescribe the right medicine and continue to persuade: "You just got the Best Director nomination." The Oscars can't be regarded as the end of the game, maybe they can win the award this time, or even win the best picture directly? The current ideology of the Americans is also inclined to be friendly to China and to explore the rich history, and they should follow the trend.

In contrast, the French and Italians, on the other hand, have a very strong sense of their own cultural superiority and do not think much of China's historical accumulation. I think as long as you are willing to put in it, this film will definitely have a good harvest at the Oscars. ”

Gu Biao's words were all persuaded on the point, and at first glance, he was much higher than a layman like Qiao Yinghua who didn't understand the tendency of foreigners to evaluate awards.

Bertolucci was finally a little moved.

However, this kind of movie is destined to be bad at the box office, and from the beginning, it is obvious at a glance that it is impossible to win the three awards, and investors will hesitate. China's box office market is so small. What's more, I haven't had a publisher or promoter in Hollywood for many years, and several of my friends who worked with me nine years ago have retired. ”

Although he is still explaining, he is willing to explain that he is already thinking about things at the operational level, and the intention of cooperation is solved.

Gu Biao suggested on his behalf: "The matter of investment and ticket worship, I believe that as long as you plead with the princess, it will be resolved." The key now is to achieve unity between the two sides in the tone of the screenplay, and at least come up with an outline of the plot scope that is acceptable to both parties. Follow-up creation can be done slowly, as long as it does not exceed the outline. ”

Bertolucci thought for a while and had a showdown with Qiao Yinghua: "For the sake of Mr. Gu and the princess's face, I accept this condition." Let's first come up with a script that is acceptable to both parties, and then the specific creation of the script will be completed by me, and I don't want the screenwriting team of your China Television Company. After the creation is completed, you can take it to the relevant departments for review, and if you pass it, you will shoot it, and forget it if you can't pass it. ”

Qiao Yinghua thought about it, the other party had already agreed to hand over the final right of trial, and if he wanted to master the creative process, he should also be.

can only make the screenwriters of China Television lose their jobs.

In fact, it's not called unemployment, after all, they are all employees of central enterprises, it's nothing more than not having to work for nothing to get a salary, maybe the screenwriting team of China Television will be secretly happy when they hear the news.