Chapter 349

The boundary between art films and commercial films is inherently difficult to distinguish strictly, especially when the film possesses both artistry and high box office.

"Joker," this film, essentially, can be classified into standard art films.

The film focuses on the mental breakdown process of social outcasts, explores serious issues such as class oppression and mental health, and has strong authorial expression and criticality.

And the overall tone of the film is gloomy, which conforms to the common realist aesthetics of art films.

However, when a film's box office is too high, people will subconsciously avoid this topic and subconsciously classify the film into commercial films.

And they will also find suitable reasons—this is a commercial film with authorial quality, not an art film in the traditional sense.

For example, the few films Cao Yang shot recently.

Whether it's "District 9" or "Inception," because the box office is too high, even if they have art film attributes, they are classified in Hollywood as commercial films with strong authorial expression attributes and artistic value.

In Hollywood, there is another director who is also classified into this category, which is Nolan.

However, it is different domestically and in Europe.

Starting from "The Nine-Tailed Fox," because at the Venice Film Festival, this film was called an experimental New Wave film, and Cao Yang was also given Best Director.

For this awkward title, perhaps out of the "authority" of the Venice Film Festival, Europe and the country both accepted it.

So the subsequent "District 9" and "Inception," even if the box office is higher, were all classified into the ranks of experimental films.

Domestically, there is also Feng Xiaogang who "follows the trend" of Cao Yang to shoot experimental films.

Starting from "A World Without Thieves," he publicly supported the experimental films "pioneered" by Cao Yang in the media, and then changed his tone, saying that his "A World Without Thieves" is also an experimental film.

The subsequent "The Banquet" was claimed to be an oriental "Hamlet" combined with Confucian culture; from this slogan, it can also be seen that it is again focusing on promoting that this is another experimental film.

Including the "Assembly" he is shooting now, the external promotion is neither a commercial film nor a mainstream film in the traditional sense.

But a film with strong ideological functions of an experimental nature, aiming to convey specific social information through film, referred to as an experimental film.

Of course, Feng Xiaogang calling his film an experimental film is mainly to get rid of the inherent impression left on people—you all misunderstood me; I am not just a commercial film director; I can also play with art.

Cao Yang analyzed the film "Joker."

To be honest, if this film didn't explode at the box office, no matter who it was, it would be impossible to say this is a commercial film.

And the reason why this film exploded at the box office, Cao Yang believes there are several points.

First, it must be the IP effect; people's first reaction to this film is that he is the Joker in "Batman."

The second point, and also the most important point, is the deep mapping of social reality; through the protagonist's predicament, it sharply presents the struggle of the bottom group in social injustice.

Especially the class contradiction and psychological repression issues; this depiction of reality issues triggered widespread resonance, especially the emotional projection of the audience in the economic downturn, making the film have super good word-of-mouth.

Then there is the blessing of awards and performances.

This film won the Golden Lion Award in Venice before it was released.

This makes people even more curious; how could a comic-adapted film win the artistic Golden Lion Award? There will be many audiences who walk into the cinema out of curiosity.

And the film's word-of-mouth and the protagonist's super good acting skills finally boosted the film's box office explosion.

Actually, there is one point that must be mentioned; although this point is a bit criticized, it has played quite a role.

That is, before the release of "The Dark Knight," the accidental death of Heath Ledger, who played the "Joker," was secretly marketed as having produced severe depression because he was too invested in playing the Joker, and finally overdosed on drugs to control the depression...

Heath Ledger became a tragic figure.

His death not only made "The Dark Knight" successfully break out and explode at the box office, but also made people have not small curiosity about the "Joker."

As a result, ten years later, "Joker" was shot, and people saw it and said, oh, the Joker is indeed a tragic figure, and the resonance is even stronger.

Today is February 26, 2007; Cao Yang estimates that even if Warner agrees to set up "Joker," by the time he finishes the post-production of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," it will be at least June before he can start preparations.

However, the shooting of "Joker" is not urgent, as long as it can be released after September next year.

Why September?

One is that it is the most correct choice to release "Joker" after "The Dark Knight" is released.

The second point is particularly important: on September 15 next year, Lehman Brothers, the fourth largest investment bank in the United States, announced bankruptcy, marking the comprehensive outbreak of the subprime mortgage crisis.

This is a global financial crisis.

The most important point for "Joker" to explode at the box office is the deep mapping of social reality; through the protagonist's predicament, it sharply presents the struggle of the bottom group in social injustice.

Especially the class contradiction and psychological repression issues; this depiction of reality issues triggered widespread resonance, especially the emotional projection of the audience in the economic downturn...

Under the financial crisis, people all over the world will have wider resonance and emotional projection for "Joker"; this is the stage most suitable for "Joker"!

There is no period more suitable for the release of "Joker" than the financial crisis; the period when "Joker" exploded at the box office ten years later cannot compare.

Don't say that the financial crisis will have an impact on the film box office; the real situation is that the 2008 financial crisis actually made the global film box office grow quite a bit.

For example, Hollywood's overseas box office in 2008 set a record in history.

According to data from Xinhua Net and the Motion Picture Association of America, Hollywood's overseas box office revenue in 2008 reached 9.9 billion USD, an increase of 4% over 2007.

This growth indicates that although the economic crisis had an impact on the overall economy, the popularity and market demand for Hollywood films on a global scale were not significantly affected.

And domestically, it is even more awesome; the total box office not only was not affected, but also increased by more than 30% year-on-year, and the annual total box office also set a historical record.

Why did this situation occur?

Actually, it's very simple.

In an economic downturn, film becomes a relatively cheap form of entertainment, belonging to low-elasticity consumer goods; when people reduce medium and high consumption such as dining and tourism, they are more inclined to choose low-cost entertainment activities such as film.

In addition, the anxiety and confusion brought about by the economic recession prompted people to escape reality and vent their emotions through film.

Therefore, after the outbreak of the financial crisis next year, no matter from which aspect, it is suitable for the release of "Joker."

Listening to Jeff Robinov nagging a lot of things, summarized, it is nothing more than wanting Cao Yang to take over "Batman."

"Jeff, have you ever thought about shooting a different film extended from 'Batman'?"

Cao Yang asked after Jeff Robinov finished a long paragraph.

Jeff Robinov was slightly stunned, a bit not understanding Cao Yang's meaning.

Isn't the highlight of "Batman" all on Batman? This is the most popular and influential superhero in the United States; can such a comic-adapted film extend any particularly interesting stories?

Jeff Robinov had no clue for a while, so he simply asked directly: "I don't quite understand what you mean; can you be more specific?"

"Jeff, have you ever thought about shooting Batman's biggest nemesis into a film and putting it on the big screen?"

Cao Yang asked with a smile.

"You mean... Joker?"

Jeff Robinov shook his head without thinking and said:

"This is impossible! Cao, Joker is a villain, do you know what a villain is? How can a villain become the protagonist? How can a film with a villain as the protagonist be accepted by the market? How can it sell at the box office?"

Jeff Robinov's series of questions, it is estimated that this last sentence is what Jeff Robinov really wanted to say.

If it weren't for the box office or awards, who would be full and have nothing to do to invite such an expensive director as Cao Yang?

"'The Silence of the Lambs,' 'The Godfather,' 'Catch Me If You Can,' and 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Léon: The Professional' which sold well on discs later."

Cao Yang counted with a smile.

"That's different..." Jeff Robinov said, then fell silent.

What's different?

The protagonists of these few films are all non-typical Hollywood protagonists; at the current stage, they are all considered successful films, and like "The Godfather" and "The Silence of the Lambs," they all won awards until their hands went soft...

Winning awards?

Jeff Robinov's heart moved, then he suddenly realized, feeling that he understood Cao Yang's meaning—this is aimed at winning major awards.

Can a comic-adapted film like "Joker" win awards?

To be honest, it's very difficult.

Comic-adapted films are different from films adapted from novels or based on true stories.

The latter two are very easy types to win awards, while for comic-adapted films, people naturally have a kind of "discrimination" against such films, thinking that comic-adapted films cannot be on the table in terms of art and can only be shot into popcorn films.

If it were another director, even a very famous one, Jeff Robinov would definitely spit in his face—what the hell are you thinking? If a comic-adapted film could win a major award, I would dare to strip naked and run around Beverly Hills!

However, the one who proposed wanting to shoot is Cao Yang, so that's different.

This is the weight of speech; even if it is a more outrageous idea, the listener will carefully consider and seriously ponder it.

Jeff Robinov is, after all, someone who can become the president of Warner Bros. Pictures, and he is still very knowledgeable about film.

If "Joker" wants to win an award, it is nothing more than shooting the powerlessness of small people in the big environment—the exploration of marginal characters and the criticism of society.

Many people know how a film should be shot if it wants to win an award.

However, knowing how to shoot and the effect presented after shooting are two different things!

This can very obviously highlight the director's skill.

Jeff Robinov certainly believes that Cao Yang is the top in this regard.

(End of chapter)