In November 1983, after more than a year of careful production, "A Chinese Ghost Story" finally began to prepare for the market. The beautiful and amorous Nie Xiaoqian, the poor but not forgetting the scholarly Ning Caichen, and the righteous hero Yan Chixia

In this movie, there are not many characters, and the scenes of the plot are not complicated. However, it is the interpretation of classical Chinese style of love to the extreme.

People and ghosts have different paths, and they can't stop love.

Even if you break through countless obstacles, you must carry out love to the end. Nie Xiaoqian is willing to pay all kinds of costs for Ning Caichen, and Ning Caichen is also willing to sacrifice his life for Nie Xiaoqian.

If a woman meets a Lang Jun like Ning Caichen, she will feel that although she dies, she has no regrets. And the man, what he dreams of is actually an infatuated and unrepentant woman like Nie Xiaoqian.

If there is only the poignant love between Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen, it is just a romantic drama. But in addition, Yan Chixia's chivalrous courage, this movie has been sublimated.

The 87 version of "A Chinese Ghost Story", Zhang Shaojie has watched it many times. At this time, the script of "A Chinese Ghost Story", which came out several years in advance, was also written in accordance with the 87th version of "A Chinese Ghost Story" in history.

However, in the Lanruo Temple.

Nie Xiaoqian's beauty, Ning Caichen's infatuation, and Yan Chixia's righteousness moved Zhang Shaojie again.

"Cheng Xiaodong, "A Chinese Ghost Story" moved me!" Although Zhang Shaojie was emotional, his heart was stirring.

"I'm surprised myself, I really made it?" Cheng Xiaodong felt that "A Chinese Ghost Story" had almost become a work of art, which made him tired of watching it in vain and fascinated.

In general, most writers are difficult to be moved by what they write.

It is also difficult for a director to be emotional about the movies he makes.

The best singers tend to be less interested in their own voices.

But "A Chinese Ghost Story" moved screenwriter Zhang Shaojie and director Cheng Xiaodong.

Other audiences who watched the test screening of "A Chinese Ghost Story" were moved. Xu Guanwen, Jackie Chan, He Guanchang and others who were invited to watch the movie by Golden Harvest Company were also inexplicably emotional.

"Nie Xiaoqian is really beautiful, but that kind of beauty only exists on the silver screen. If a real person appears in front of you, it may be difficult to show the beauty in the movie! Gu Long commented with emotion.

He Guanchang couldn't help but show his appreciation for Wang Zuxian, who played Nie Xiaoqian: "Congratulations to you Baolong, after Lin Qingxia, you have cultivated Wang Zuxian, a new superstar!" ”

Gu Long said with a smile: "With a budget of more than 50 million Hong Kong dollars, if it is just a popular actress, is it too extravagant?" ”

Jackie Chan said with a smile: "I think this movie can not only be popular female stars, but most of them can have the potential to be popular all over Asia and even the world." In the past, I was not convinced by Brother Gulong, but after the establishment of Baolong Company, I felt that I was still too narrow and radical in the past. ”

Gu Long laughed: "I apologize to you, you are a clear proof that I have lost my eyes!" At the beginning, I thought that you kid was not handsome or handsome, and he didn't quite meet the requirements of my script, so I refused to write a script for you. Who knows, after all these years, you have actually become a top star in Hong Kong! I've always wanted to find an opportunity to admit my mistake to you and admit that I was blind back then! However, due to the problem of face, I have not made up my mind! ”

"Haha, bringing Jackie Chan here today is in itself a hope that you will laugh and enmity. Seeing that the knot between you is understood, I know that this trip is worthwhile! He Guanchang stroked his palms and smiled.

Xu Guanwen also smiled and said: "Shaojie's screenwriting ability is still so sharp, comedy, martial arts, love, everything you write is a classic." It's a pity, you kid rarely writes scripts for me now! ”

Zhang Shaojie couldn't help but humbly said: "This is the result of the good acting of the actors, the outstanding ability of the director, and the hard work of the crew, special training and other personnel." My script, in this film, plays very little role! If Brother Guanwen can afford me, I will write a script and send it to you. ”

"Huh? How can it be said that the script has little effect? For example, the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story" is about love - love and friendship! To interpret love well, you must first have a good script and good lines. A bad script can't make a good movie that is moving! He Guanchang commented, "The merits of this movie, Shaojie's script occupies 3 percent, the director occupies 3 percent, the actors occupy 2 percent, and the crew and special effects occupy 2 percent!" Everyone has brought out their best strength, and in the end, an excellent big production will be formed! ”

When Zhang Shaojie heard this, he was quite touched.

Yes, in the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story", everyone has played their best! Hong Kong filmmakers in the 80s were basically powerful people who kept working in the crew.

Even if it is some tricks, it is often the experience of playing tricks in more than a dozen or even dozens of film and television works.

In any important link, Hong Kong can find experienced elite soldiers at any time, how can Hong Kong movies in this era not sweep Asia?

And Hong Kong movies in the 21st century often remake some classics of the past, although in terms of funds and big names, they are better than in the past. However, due to the perennial depression in the Hong Kong film industry, the new generation of film talents did not get enough training opportunities. At that time, the level of film production declined very quickly, and it was difficult to reach the level of production in the 80s and 90s.

The film industry, in fact, is very delicate.

Every detail requires the most professional talents. As long as there is a decade of depression and a large number of filmmakers lose their jobs, the creativity of the film industry will drop a few notches.

To cultivate excellent filmmakers, it is not enough to just learn theory, but they need to work the set, in the studio, and in the post-production studio for more than ten years in order to develop excellent skills.

It is precisely because of the realization of the rich strength of the Hong Kong film industry at this time. Zhang Shaojie is determined to continue to take everyone on adventures and make blockbuster movies.

What the current Hong Kong film industry lacks is not a solid foundation and talents, but a lack of funds.

Zhang Shaojie and Baolong Film Company are currently investing in blockbusters, in order to invest more money, cultivate top talents, and complete the transformation of Hong Kong's film industry.

Every blockbuster will have more demanding requirements, and film talents are required to further innovate on the basis of past experience and skills to meet the requirements of this kind of blockbuster.

Blockbusters such as "The Tang Dynasty" and "A Chinese Ghost Story" have stimulated many Hong Kong film talents, constantly breaking through themselves and advancing towards a broader field of film art and technology.

Directors such as Tsui Hark, Cheng Xiaodong and others have received forty or fifty million blockbusters, making their ability to control movies more atmospheric than before.

The Baolong Film Special Effects Studio has continuously produced special effects shots for this blockbuster and has accumulated hundreds of advanced technology patents.

In various fields such as lighting, modeling, screenwriting, martial arts instruction, photography, editing, etc., due to the requirements of Baolong Company's excellence, the speed of progress is also amazing.

Historically, Hong Kong films have been completely defeated, and that is because the Hong Kong film industry has no heavyweight chaebol giants to support it, and Lei Juekun, the owner of the most bullish New Arts City, only has a capital of more than 2 billion Hong Kong dollars, which has cast ten years of glory in the New Art City. After the death of Lui Juekun due to illness, the dissolution of New Arts City marked the gradual collapse of the Hong Kong film industry.

However, the American film giants are backed by a large number of financial, industrial, and media giants, and the combined financial resources of those giants have reached hundreds of billions. With the support of such a strong capital backstage, Hollywood's victory is also a complete victory for the chaebols to squander their money.

Zhang Shaojie believes that his vision and financial resources completely surpass Lei Juekun.

A tycoon like Lei Juekun can only lead the Hong Kong film industry to glory for ten years. Then Zhang Shaojie is confident that he will lead the Hong Kong film industry to a more brilliant road in the future!

The film industry, although microscopically, has some small-budget films that generate high box office revenues. However, on the macro level, it is a capital race with high input and high output!

Without a huge amount of capital, you can't make a high-quality blockbuster. Without blockbusters as a foundation, it can occupy the mainstream market of world cinema.

The investment scale of "A Chinese Ghost Story" is a step higher than that of "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty", representing the strongest production strength in the Hong Kong film industry at this time.

Zhang Shaojie's expectations for "A Chinese Ghost Story" are better than "The Legend of Double Dragons of the Tang Dynasty".

The 87 versions of "A Chinese Ghost Story" in history did not use computer CG special effects, but it still achieved acclaimed results around the world.

Now Baolong's 83 version of "A Chinese Ghost Story", the investment cost and technical advantages far exceed the 87 version of the classic "A Chinese Ghost Story" in history.

"To hit a higher box office target, advertising needs to be coordinated properly! I think the advertising cost of 30 million Hong Kong dollars is a necessary figure! Zhang Shaojie suddenly announced a huge decision to everyone.

"The cost of 30 million publicity?" Whether it was Gu Long, He Guanchang, or Xu Guanwen, Jackie Chan, and Cheng Xiaodong were all shocked.

"Isn't that too much?" He Guanchang couldn't help but say. You must know that Golden Harvest's blockbusters generally only have an advertising budget of two or three million.

"I think 15 million Hong Kong dollars in advertising is enough!" Gu Long also said.

Zhang Shaojie said: "No! Blockbusters should have the treatment of blockbusters, and overwhelming advertising can also enhance the audience's confidence in the movie! ”

Since Zhang Shaojie said so, everyone did not object.

After all, Zhang Shaojie's planning in the film industry has never failed. In the Hong Kong film industry, no one dares to say that he is more authoritative than Zhang Shaojie and understands the film market better!

(To be continued)