Forcing Me to Be a Godly Tycoon, Right?

Chapter 271: Chapter 156 Grasping the Future Film and Television Industry Mogul (Large Chapter Seeking Subscriptions)_3

”In short, those foreign award organisations are basically controlled by Western countries. What kind of Huaxia films do those Western countries want the world to see?”

”This can be seen from the awards our country’s films have won at the three major European festivals over the years,”Red Sorghum,” ”Farewell My Concubine,” ”To Live,” have you noticed that these films largely share some common features? That is, they all show our country’s poverty, backwardness, feudalism, ignorance...”

Ning Hao couldn’t help but be shocked upon hearing this.

He had thought about this issue before, but he had not thought about it so deeply.

Firstly, being in the midst of it, he often followed in the footsteps of his predecessors without ever wondering if what he was doing was fundamentally right or wrong.

For instance, making films to win awards overseas, he was practically following the successful path of Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, and even his film style was imitating their early works.

Secondly, he knew that even if he fully understood the issue, with his current capabilities, he wouldn’t be able to change anything.

Hearing Zhang Jingdong’s words now, he suddenly developed a deep respect for this big boss from the bottom of his heart.

Not to mention anything else, but Zhang Jingdong’s profound insight into the domestic film circle already set him apart from many professional filmmakers.

It also showed that he was utterly different from those trashy bosses who only wanted to invest in films to hook up with female stars—he truly understood the film industry.

But Ning Hao was a bit confused about why Zhang Jingdong wanted to discuss all this with him.

Chen Hui, sitting on the side, also looked at Zhang Jingdong with newfound respect. Although he specialized in music, he was also a die-hard film enthusiast.

His reflections on the domestic film industry were even more limited than Ning Hao’s; he was still at the stage of a pure film fan thinking, ”When can our country make cool films like ’Titanic’ and ’2001: A Space Odyssey’?”

But he agreed very much with Zhang Jingdong’s view ”Film is a very important medium for cultural output” and also felt strange about films like ”Red Sorghum,” ”Farewell My Concubine,” ”To Live,” because every time he watched them, he felt particularly oppressed,

Especially compared with ”Titanic,” he would wonder why foreign films could be so beautifully made and so pleasant, while those internationally awarded domestic films were always steeped in suffering?

Zhang Jingdong continued: ”The reason I’m telling you this is that I want to tell you that I can invest in you, and I will give you however much money you need, but from now on, you must not make those films that are specifically for winning awards abroad. You must make films that our people in Huaxia really like to watch, how about that?”

Zhang Jingdong knew that if it were up to Ning Hao to choose between making art films or commercial films, he might still lean towards the former now.

After all, these days, in the eyes of film directors like him, making art films meant you had depth, you had something to express, and, most crucially, you could win awards.

In fact, next year, Ning Hao would indeed make another highly artistic film called ”Green Fields,” which would again win awards abroad.

But it was this film that made him fully realize if making a film was just to win the recognition of a few foreign judges who didn’t even understand Chinese, then that would be exceedingly boring.

So, after returning to his country this time, he made a complete 360-degree turn and wholeheartedly embraced commercial films, thus becoming the world-renowned genius director of later years.

Therefore, Zhang Jingdong intended to use patriotism, and above all, financial power, to hasten Ning Hao’s ideological enlightenment.

Seeing Ning Hao’s hesitation, Zhang Jingdong continued: ”Director Ning, let me ask you, what is your favorite or most memorable film?”

Ning Hao paused, then replied: ”’Ghost’... and ’Jurassic Park.’”

”Do you like them because they don’t preach, don’t deliberately sensationalize suffering, but you just simply find them enjoyable?”

Ning Hao thought Zhang Jingdong’s question, though seemingly simple, hit on the initial reason most people liked films.

So, he felt as if he had had an epiphany: ”Indeed... Mr. Zhang, I understand...”

”But the things you just talked about are so densely loaded with meaning that I might need a little time to digest it all, okay?”

Seeing that he didn’t readily agree, Zhang Jingdong intentionally spoke solemnly: ”Alright, then you go think it over properly. But I can only give you three days at most. If you still can’t figure it out by then, it just means our philosophies don’t align, and we can discuss investment another time!”

Zhang Jingdong didn’t intend to indulge Ning Hao one bit, even though talented people are rare. If it came down to it, he could just continue drawing lots, write a few good scripts himself, and then find another director to shoot them.

”I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. You old friends can catch up.”

After finishing his statement, Zhang Jingdong gave Chen Hui a glance, then turned and left the office.

Watching the door close, Chen Hui quickly said: ”Old Ning, I’m a bit confused, what exactly are you thinking?”

”Brother Hui, I know you mean well for me, and your boss is indeed very generous, but I still haven’t completely figured some things out yet, so I...”

Chen Hui cut him off: ”Old Ning, I’ll just ask you one thing, do you really want this investment or not?”

”Of course I do, otherwise why would I run all over the place during this time?”

”Have you met any investors before Mr. Chen who understand films, appreciate you, and are also willing to give you unlimited funding?”

”No, but... I can’t just for the sake of investment... ”

Chen Hui interrupted again: ”I’ll just make one point—if my boss says three days, but from what I know about him, if you can’t give him a satisfying response by tonight, then he absolutely won’t see you again!”

”Old Ning, to be honest, shouldn’t what you most need to do now is try everything possible to secure the investment first, and then make a few good films?”

”Moreover, my boss hasn’t limited the topics of the films you make; he just wants you to make real good films, so I really don’t understand what you’re still hesitant about.”

Ning Hao actually observed the change in Zhang Jingdong’s mood just now but didn’t realize it was as serious as Chen Hui had said.

Plus, he felt that Chen Hui made a lot of sense. With nothing at hand, the only thing he could do was try to get the investment and then make a few good films. Only when he had made a name for himself would he have the right to control his own destiny.

So, after quickly contemplating, he said: ”Brother Hui, I understand, I’ll listen to you!”

”But now that Mr. Zhang has left, should I... chase after him now?”

Observing that Ning Hao had finally made up his mind, Chen Hui let out a sigh of relief: ”No need, Mr. Zhang’s bar is opening tonight, and I’ll take you there in the evening. Just make a gesture to him then.”

Ning Hao nodded readily: ”Okay.”