Han Sanping's wording was much milder than Shen Shanden's, and he showed little emotion.
But his position was different. He was now in charge of the marketization of the China Film Market.
Calling filmmakers "unclear-headed" was already a very harsh choice of words.
Many reporters thought Han Sanping had simply misspoken, but they were wrong.
Han Sanping was not acting recklessly.
He had come prepared!
At fifty-four, he was at the prime age for making a bold push!
"Last year, a heavy chill hung over the costume blockbuster sector of our film market. The works of Director Zhang Yimou, Director Chen Kaige, and Director Feng Xiaogang—three films that brought together the finest domestic resources—all suffered crushing defeats overseas, especially in the European and American markets."
"This was a dangerous warning sign. It declared that the costume blockbuster model of Eastern spectacle plus Western core, which had begun with Director Paperclip's House of Flying Daggers and been brought to its peak by Director Zhang Yimou's Hero, had reached the end of the overseas road it relied upon for survival."
"The crisis has already appeared. Where did it come from? At its root, we face a highly mature and extremely aggressive opponent: Hollywood."
"Their operating model, capital strength, and global distribution network are more mature than ours. In the early stages, they are happy to accept works with Exotic Charm, cultivate specific audiences, and create market dependence. Once the time is ripe and they pour in massive investment expecting returns, they can easily tighten the purse strings."
"Faced with Hollywood watching us like a tiger, the foundation for keeping China's film industry from being crushed lies in serving Chinese audiences. Our 1.3 billion compatriots are our strongest and most reliable base!"
"The direction and positioning of Chinese Cinema, and the primary goal of film creation, should be to satisfy local audiences' aesthetic needs, emotional needs, and cultural identification."
Han Sanping kept it simple and did not say much more.
If he went on, it would start to sound like localism, and that would not be right.
"As the main person in charge of China Film Group, we must put this into action. A crisis brings both danger and opportunity. We must upgrade costume blockbusters, upgrade blockbusters, and upgrade Chinese Cinema industrially."
The stars and entertainers present all put on thoughtful expressions.
Of course, they did not understand.
But whether they understood or not was unimportant. At a time like this, they definitely had to look like they were thinking.
Shen Shanden felt that something was off.
Han Sanping's words sounded so familiar!
Though he himself had copied some of Han Sanping's interviews, the old man could not just copy them back, could he? Was that okay? That was not okay.
The entertainment reporters found it dull, but reporters who leaned toward film academia and social issues were deeply shaken.
Foundation, direction, positioning, primary goal, concrete measures.
Han Sanping definitely was not speaking off the cuff. He had prepared himself, and he was laying out his philosophy and ideas after taking charge of China Film Group.
Some reporters were already wondering why Han Sanping had chosen this occasion to say such things.
There had to be deeper meaning behind it!
Han Sanping continued according to the draft he had prepared in his head.
"Chinese Cinema must explore diversified genre-film development, support low- and mid-budget local works close to reality, and establish a healthier market structure and investment-financing system."
"China Film Group will also make appropriately forward-looking investments in the infrastructure of the film industry. Blockbuster filmmaking is infrastructure. We must consider economic benefits, but we must also consider social responsibility. Appropriately forward-looking construction benefits society."
Han Sanping used the infrastructure industry as a straightforward example.
Then he returned to film. "The setback suffered by the costume blockbuster model is precisely an opportunity for Chinese Cinema to return to its roots. In costume subjects, our Industry Chain is already relatively mature. The next step should be to aim at Chinese history and clothe it in the Chinese soul."
Shen Shanden wanted to call the police!
Before, it could be called borrowing ideas. Now this was absolutely plagiarism!
He nearly could not keep a straight face!
Old comrade, are you trying to be a parrot?
The reporter from the professional film outlet China Film News checked his recorder and took shorthand with a grave expression, sensing the old comrade's eagerness to make progress.
He had not only carried on the previous Blockbuster Strategy, but built upon it to outline a complete path for film development, even touching slightly upon the path of cultural development.
This was no coincidence. It was a carefully prepared test of the waters, a signal being released.
Han Sanping said, "Today is May Fourth Youth Day. More than eighty years ago, young students carried out patriotic movements in many forms, giving birth to the great May Fourth Spirit. China Film Group places great importance on the growth of young directors."
"China Film Group cares about the growth of young directors. Director Shen Shanden is an outstanding graduate of Beijing Film Academy. He personally came to me and said that he wanted to be a trailblazer, willing to take the lead for Chinese Cinema!"
"What spirit!"
A wave of sharp inhalations rose around them, followed by thunderous applause.
Take the lead!
That indomitable momentum—this was what young people were like!
Chinese people loved this sort of story too much!
As expected of Shen Shanden, the man who had declared, "Film will save the nation"!
Da Mimi's eyes turned soft and sultry.
This was her man.
And Shen Shanden had never mentioned any of this to her in private. Her man was far too low-key.
Was this what it meant for everything to succeed through Mi?
He threw himself into his career with burning passion, yet was content to remain ordinary.
Da Mimi asked herself if she could do the same. That level of spiritual dedication was simply too high.
Wu Jing's gaze burned as he felt the radiance of The Sun.
Taking the lead was a role where one faced nine deaths out of ten, perhaps even ten deaths with no chance of survival.
This was Director Shen. He was not afraid of death—no wonder he had dared to directly challenge John Woo!
Fan Bingbing and the others also looked at him with solemn respect.
A few months ago, they would have thought it was merely polite talk. But having personally participated in this project, and combining it with their own experiences, they all knew it was the truth.
The director was giving it everything he had!
At this point, Han Sanping paused and looked at Shen Shanden with an encouraging gaze.
Shen Shanden pursed his lips and returned a resolute look.
Little did anyone know that deep inside, he was already screaming, What the fuck!
The old man had made their private conversation public!
A sneak attack—was that okay? That was not okay!
No martial virtue at all!
No warning!
Just a direct sneak attack!
Trailblazer, bold pioneer—did people like that ever get good endings?
Those who survived after leading the charge might be honored, but most died. And behind every successful general lay ten thousand bleached bones.
Shen Shanden, with his skinny arms and legs, only wanted to make films quietly. He did not want to be too high-profile!
Han Sanping continued, "Since young people are so spirited, then as a middle-aged young man, I should join in too."
Everyone was caught off guard by Han Sanping's joke and burst into laughter.
Shen Shanden could only force out a smile as well.
Finally, Han Sanping said, "The Grand Director is an attempt by China Film Group focused on the strategy of upgrading China's film industry. It must find an upgraded path for costume blockbusters and the Blockbuster Strategy."
Hissss!
Everyone was stunned!
They drew in sharp breaths!
Open support!
The reporters were so happy they could have cried. There were too many explosive headlines today. Compared with other start of filming ceremonies, The Grand Director was simply spectacular.
Han Sanping's remarks gave The Grand Director an extremely lofty position, and he had even tied his own future to Shen Shanden's.
Especially Liao Yun, Han Sanping's secretary, and Deputy Manager Wang from the production department, who were both inwardly shocked.
This gamble was a little too big!
Only then did Shen Shanden reveal a smile.
At least Han Sanping had given him support.
If he had not, Shen Shanden would definitely have found a way to farm the old man for coins later. No, there might not be many coins to farm; resources were what he should really farm. For now, he decided to wait.
Han Sanping saw the shock in everyone's eyes, but what could he do?
He was desperate too!
John Woo's Red Cliff had started filming in the middle of last month, and Han Sanping had completely given up hope.
The man had really let his wife write the screenplay, then promoted Lin Chi-ling from Taiwan, who had no acting skills at all.
Every scene was handled according to whatever spent the most money, and the management was a complete mess.
It had already been chaotic before, with several delays, and it had not improved after filming began.
And they would rather let the production grind to a halt than consider actors from the mainland for the lead roles.
Was that even filmmaking?
Everything Shen Shanden had said had come true!
John Woo was a little stronger than the small-studio model of the Sixth Generation, but not much better than the workshop style of the Fifth Generation. It was full of casual improvisation.
Meanwhile, the The Grand Director crew had a rigorous plan, scientific procedures, clear divisions of authority and responsibility, powerful pre-production preparation, and cost control.
Compared with the Red Cliff crew, who was the International Great Director, and who was the rookie director?
Han Sanping was truly afraid that Shen Shanden would run away.
He hurriedly tied himself to him. He had been promoted anyway, so he was not afraid of a little controversy.
Han Sanping was not trying to make progress for himself. He was risking everything to achieve the industrial upgrade of Chinese Cinema!
Han Sanping had achieved his goal and said nothing more.
Next came the main stars.
Fan Bingbing and Huang Xiaoming were asked why they had joined the production, about their characters' traits, and what it felt like to work with a rookie director.
The two answered appropriately, lavishly praising the script and the director's vision, emphasizing the team's professionalism while avoiding the open and covert rivalry between Hong Kong Island and the mainland.
Fan Bingbing occasionally displayed a bit of charm, and her answer regarding the rumors between her and Shen Shanden was ambiguous.
She was not trying to steal anyone's man.
She was just somewhat interested in the twenty-four-hour usage rights!
Huang Xiaoming, meanwhile, emphasized the action challenges and breakthroughs of his role.
Wu Jing received more questions: the pressure of his multiple roles, his action-design philosophy, and whether betting his entire fortune was worth it.
Wu Jing's answers were relatively formal and serious, plain yet powerful. He emphasized his trust in the director and the team, expressed confidence in the action scenes, and said, "Even if I have to risk my life, I'll make it good."
It sounded like polite talk, but it was actually Wu Jing's heartfelt truth.
He was too grateful to have an opportunity like The Grand Director.
The reporters' questions for Chen Kun and Chen Daoming focused more on the depth of their characters and the script's appeal.
Chen Kun spoke of his character's complexity.
Chen Daoming did not say much. His cameo role was Yang Tinghe, yet he gave a weighty affirmation of the script and the creative atmosphere.
The media session ended, and the main creative team took a group photo.
All the main creators and principal actors stood in a line before the backdrop.
At the center stood Director Shen Shanden and Han Sanping. Wu Jing, Fan Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming, Chen Kun, Chen Hao, Chen Daoming, and the others stood on either side, while representatives of the creative team formed a circle around them.
When the photographer from China Film News pressed the shutter, he suddenly felt something strange.
Combining Shen Shanden's speech with Han Sanping's remarks, he looked at the group photo before him—a gathering of the mainland's top stars, film-industry giants, and a rising new director—and felt as though he had stepped into history, witnessing history unfold.
"This seems like it could become a memorable moment in the history of Chinese Cinema."
That was what the photographer thought.
The start of filming ceremony ended.
Han Sanping left first, surrounded by a crowd.
Without resting for even a moment, Shen Shanden immediately gathered the heads of every department—production, cinematography, art, action, stage management, and more—for an on-site coordination meeting to inspect the preparations for the first scene.
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