Chapter 296: Film Industry

Compared to the cast of the *Chinese Paladin* TV series, Wu Yuchen was actually more concerned about its special effects production.

In his past life, *Chinese Paladin* also used special effects. Although the level wasn't high, the combination of special effects and on-location shooting actually looked more pleasing to the eye than many "five-cent" special effects ten years later.

However, this time the funding for *Chinese Paladin* was certainly more abundant than in his past life, and Wu Yuchen was more willing to pour money into it.

The several special effects companies he had acquired in Hong Kong previously had already been merged into one, named Feidie Special Effects Company. This was also the largest and most capable special effects company in China.

Over the past two years, not only had internal Miracle Film and Television dramas like *Water Moon Cave*, *Wind and Cloud*, and *Xiao Shiyilang* used special effects from Feidie, but with the explosion of various Wu Xia dramas, many companies in the circle had also flocked to Feidie. After all, having special effects versus not having them looked different to the audience—it was cool!

In the past, it didn't matter that everyone didn't have them, but once the dramas produced by Miracle Film and Television used special effects, it naturally raised the audience's standards. Other film and television companies had no choice but to keep up; they all had to have at least a little bit.

Not to mention the films from Hong Kong; after all, the three companies that formed Feidie were already very famous in Hong Kong. This time, the special effects for *Kung Fu Hustle* were also fully entrusted to Feidie.

Supporting one special effects company with the entire Chinese-language film and television circle was naturally enough. However, Wu Yuchen didn't open this special effects company for the sake of making money; he still wanted it to develop as quickly as possible and improve its own technical level to catch up with Hollywood.

Therefore, whenever he went to Hollywood to shoot blockbusters now, he would bring along several Feidie employees to join the crew and learn. This was also the reason why it attracted many technical talents within Feidie. Not long after, when the second and third parts of *Pirates of the Caribbean* were shot back-to-back, many people at Feidie scrambled to join Wu Yuchen's crew to learn.

Cai Yinong continued to report work to Wu Yuchen. In the second half of this year, besides *Chinese Paladin*, Miracle Film and Television had two other dramas.

One was *Amazing Detective Di Renjie*. When shooting *Brotherhood of Blades* the year before last, Wu Yuchen had already collaborated with "Fatty Di" Liang Guanhua. He had taken the project to heart at the time, and last year, he had Miracle Film and Television contact Qian Yanqiu.

Qian Yanqiu was naturally overjoyed when he saw Miracle Film and Television take the initiative to come to him, and he began to create the script for *Amazing Detective Di Renjie*.

Come to think of it, this guy Qian Yanqiu was quite talented. Long before *Amazing Detective Di Renjie*, he had written the subversive *Journey to the West Afterstory*—the one with "I want to become an immortal, happy in the sky." Moreover, in the past two years, he had also shot *Flying Tiger God Eagle Prequel* with his classmate Zhang Zijian, and thus Yan Shuangying was born!

Such a talented person naturally had to be brought under the Miracle Film and Television banner. The *Amazing Detective Di Renjie* tetralogy and the *Yan Shuangying* series were all there! Take it slow; even if they shot one a year, they could shoot for ten years!

As for the other one, it was *The Great Protector*, which was also a costume suspense and reasoning drama. When it came to achievements, *The Great Protector* was not at all inferior to *Amazing Detective Di Renjie*; in his past life, it took the number one spot in ratings for the first half of 2005. It was just that it wasn't as sturdy as Fatty Di, and the sequel flopped.

However, the first part of *The Great Protector* was indeed a classic, especially the scenes where He Bing's Song Ci and Guo Da's Diao Guangdou faced off; it was simply breathtaking, making people realize for the first time how exquisite the acting skills of Guo Da, a sketch comedian, were.

Wu Yuchen pondered inadvertently and realized that whether it was Liang Guanhua, He Bing, or Guo Da, it seemed they had all collaborated with him. He couldn't help but sigh again that there were indeed many good middle-aged actors in the country; what they actually lacked were opportunities to showcase themselves, good scripts, and good projects.

At noon, in front of a simple and unadorned door, Wu Yuchen knocked on the security door.

"Coming, coming~"

Before long, Han Sanping opened the door from inside and greeted Wu Yuchen: "Come, come, just come in, no need to change shoes~"

After entering, Wu Yuchen saw a middle-aged woman and immediately smiled and called out: "Hello, sister-in-law!"

He also saw that many dishes had already been set on the dining table, so he smiled and said: "Thank you for your hard work, sister-in-law. My mouth is watering just looking at this!"

The middle-aged woman smiled at Wu Yuchen: "I didn't cook this today; Old Han cooked it himself!"

Only then did Wu Yuchen remember that Han Sanping was from Sichuan and, unlike many northern men, knew how to cook.

Han Sanping smiled and said to Wu Yuchen: "I haven't cooked for a while, so my skills are rusty. Don't blame me if it doesn't taste good!"

"Don't worry, Brother Han. If it doesn't taste good, I definitely won't say a word. Only if it tastes good will I pester you!"

As the two chatted and laughed, they sat down to eat and talk.

"Brother Wu, you are truly amazing this time! I see that the whole country is discussing your movie now. Such a grand occasion, even *Lushan Love* back in the day couldn't compare. Just now, I heard from the Movie Channel that their ratings this time exceeded *Xinwen Lianbo*, reaching 28.8%, chasing after the Spring Festival Gala!"

Hearing this data, Wu Yuchen was also stunned for a moment. This was a serious national rating, which meant that more than a quarter of the people in front of the TV had watched it. If the Movie Channel continued to rebroadcast it repeatedly, this number would definitely be higher, likely exceeding one-third.

Currently, the TV viewing population in China was 900 million, and one-third was over 300 million. If calculated by the number of viewers, this indeed set a Chinese record to some extent.

Wu Yuchen then humbly said: "Brother Han, I also took advantage of the free broadcast."

"Hey, the Movie Channel has shown many movies; which one could have such high ratings? Could have your influence, Brother Wu? You don't need to be humble~"

"Haha, Brother Han, stop praising me, or I'm afraid I'll really float to the sky~"

"You are our national treasure-level director now. In our Chinese-language film industry, who else but you!"

Hearing Han Sanping praise him so hard today, Wu Yuchen's heart stirred. He didn't stand on ceremony with him and asked directly: "Brother Han, don't give me that. I've already eaten your meal; if you have something to say, just say it."

Han Sanping smiled upon hearing this: "It's nothing major; I just want to learn from you, Brother Wu~"

"Learn from me?" Wu Yuchen asked suspiciously.

"Isn't it? Brother Wu, you are the leader of our Chinese-language film industry now, and you also have rich Hollywood experience. Regarding the development of our Chinese films, you, the leader, must give some good suggestions."

Hearing this, Wu Yuchen immediately said: "Brother Han, don't say that. I'm just shooting movies. If we really talk about the development of Chinese-language films, it still has to be you, Brother, to command~"

Han Sanping waved his hand:

"Alright, alright, we are so familiar with each other, would I mind this?

To be honest, in the past few years, Brother Wu, you have brought so many achievements to our Chinese-language films. Whether for Chinese films or for me personally, I have to say thank you to you, Brother Wu!

There is a saying: 'If you are in that position, you should plan for that administration.' Since I sat in this position, I have been thinking about how to make our Chinese-language films develop rapidly, so that we can catch up with the world-class level and catch up with Hollywood as soon as possible.

Brother Wu, you are the person who understands Hollywood best in our China; your opinions have the most reference value!"

Hearing this, Wu Yuchen put down his chopsticks. Catch up with Hollywood?

Wu Yuchen sighed and then said to Han Sanping: "Brother Han, since you asked me, I will tell you something practical. The more you understand Hollywood, the more you can feel how big the gap is between the current Chinese film industry and the Hollywood film industry system."

The gap in the film industry is not just about the level of special effects, visual effects, etc., but a whole set of systems surrounding the film industry. Broadly speaking, from financing, censorship, and shooting to promotion and distribution, they already have a complete and mature set of processes. The mainland's current system, let alone comparing it to Hollywood, can't even compare to Hong Kong.

On a smaller scale, Hollywood has as many as 173 job categories, and if subdivided, it can reach more than 300. A single prop master can be divided into 30 types, and there are various unions. In Hollywood, you can go to various unions to find the crew members you want and then build the crew you want.

For example, if Wu Yuchen wants to shoot a new movie, he doesn't even need to go himself; his agency will get various materials from the union, find those staff members who have participated in films of the same type as his new movie, and provide several experienced candidates for each position for Wu Yuchen to choose from.

And in China?

In the current Chinese film and television circle, many staff members eat "relationship meals." For example, most of the makeup artists and prop masters in the crew have to rely on mutual recommendations to get job opportunities. If a friend says there is a shortage of people here, they go. Usually, they have to rely on their own network of relationships to get various news to find work; if there is no news, they can only rest.

Comparing the two, the gap is still very obvious. Hollywood is undoubtedly more mature and standardized, and in many aspects, it has already been standardized, and the cultivation and interest protection of various job talents are also more mature.

Speaking of standardization, take the script as an example. In America, from the stage of students writing scripts, a standard has been set: one page represents one minute of shooting time. Then, in the process of shooting implementation, everyone can clearly know how to shoot, and how much capacity one page needs. In this way, after graduation and shooting movies, it is easy for everyone to apply this knowledge in one system and one atmosphere.

If we really talk about this, it is indeed an all-around gap, from funding to management, from talent cultivation to technological updates, lagging behind in all aspects.

Han Sanping listened to Wu Yuchen talk about all aspects, and his brows became tighter and tighter. Then he picked up his wine glass and took a sip, then sighed: "I knew there was a gap before, but I only knew there was a gap. If I didn't listen to you, I wouldn't know the gap was so big!"

There are many problems that he, Han Sanping, has no way to solve at all. For example, piracy; can he solve this thing?

And the cultivation and rights protection of practitioners in various job categories, such as makeup, props, lighting, etc.; can he handle this? Let alone these people, even the rights of such an important job category as screenwriters cannot be guaranteed in the country now!

However, Wu Yuchen then comforted Han Sanping:

"American films already have a history of 110 years, and their industrial system was also built over a long period of time. Although we are still lagging behind, the speed of development is still fast. Walk steadily step by step. Let alone catching up with Hollywood, it is still no problem to walk to the forefront of the world."

In fact, this set of film industrialization has to be piled up with money. Only places with economic prosperity can engage in film industrialization, accumulate experience by relying on the output of a large number of film and television works, and constantly evolve in trial and error to make it develop rapidly; poor and backward regions should not think too much, just play their own art films well.

Han Sanping nodded silently, but then he looked at Wu Yuchen and said:

"Brother Wu, after listening to you say so much, I feel that time waits for no one! I have an idea: can you act as a bridge to help our talents go to Hollywood for training and learning?"

Wu Yuchen asked directly: "Brother Han, what kind of talents do you want to cultivate?"

Han Sanping wanted to say cultivate in all aspects, but he also felt that this was not very realistic. He thought for a while and then said: "Our China has always been director-centered, so let's cultivate directors first. Only when directors have different thinking and vision can they drive the whole crew!"

Wu Yuchen nodded and then said: "In this way, I can contact the studios in Hollywood and try to facilitate a talent exchange program between our China and there.

In addition, in the future, whenever I personally go to America to shoot movies, I will give two assistant spots each time, so that young directors can follow the crew to learn! This can also more quickly and effectively get in touch with the full set of Hollywood processes."

Han Sanping was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Good, good, good! Brother Wu is worthy of being the mainstay of our Chinese films!"

After Wu Yuchen came out of Han Sanping's house, he was also thinking about the matter of film industrialization.

It's not that you have to shoot movies according to this set of industrialization; you can completely engage in that set of independent films yourself and still shoot good movies. It's just that for a country's film industry, having it and not having it are two concepts.

Since Wu Yuchen has already reached this position now, he really has to do some things within his power for Chinese films.

If he really wants to let Wu Yuchen promote the significant progress of Chinese film industrialization with his own strength, this is purely nonsense; it is simply not something that can be done with personal strength.

What can Wu Yuchen do?

For example, promote the faster development of special effects levels;

For example, let Miracle Film and Television become a benchmark in the industry in China. Formulate a set of sustainable development systems within the company, and its influence will slowly spread to the entire circle;

And just like the promise just made to Han Sanping, become a bridge for talent exchange.

He remembered the director Guo Fan who shot *The Wandering Earth* in his past life. In 2014, he was a member of this talent exchange program to the US! ===== CHAPTER 297 =====