The Spark

Han Sanping had originally thought highly of Shen Shanden.

In the prime of youth, full of vigor and ambition. Scholarly spirit soaring, pointing at the world, stirring up words, treating the mighty lords of old as dirt.

Young people needed a bit of drive.

And Shen Shanden was different from ordinary young directors—or rather, different from most directors.

Nearly all mainland directors regarded filmmaking as a form of expression, an artistic endeavor.

By comparison, Hong Kong Island directors at least had the awareness to please audiences.

Shen Shanden did not have the young-director habit of constantly talking about art and expression. He understood the need to serve the audience.

When analyzing problems, he was admittedly a little arrogant, but everything he said began with the industry's fundamentals. He was relatively realistic in how he handled matters.

He had plans, a roadmap, and action. Han Sanping did not mind being the talent scout who discovered him.

Han Sanping had also intended to let Shen Shanden sharpen himself with small- and medium-budget productions.

Big productions never had short preparation periods. The Warlords had been established as a project in 2005, then formally announced during the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Several months later, filming began, after they had already conducted test shoots in advance.

The Warlords would not be released until this year's year-end holiday season. From beginning to end, it took three years, and that was already considered fast.

Red Cliff, meanwhile, had first begun circulating as a possibility in 2004. Producer Terence Chang, John Woo's longtime partner, formally announced it at an American film market.

After that came a long period of script revisions, casting, and preparation.

It had originally been scheduled to start filming in 2005, but script problems led to a change of screenwriters. Combined with budget overruns, it was delayed several times.

Around April last year, it officially began filming at the Yi County Film Base near Beijing. Then Chow Yun-fat announced his departure from the production, and filming was halted again.

Nearly four years had passed since the project was established.

Even now, the main cast had yet to stabilize.

Han Sanping had high hopes for Brotherhood of Blades and took it very seriously.

They could use a mid-budget production to build experience and treat it as a test shoot.

The money involved was far less than what Red Cliff had burned through during its repeated delays.

Someone had to use the money. Using it on Shen Shanden was no different. He had patience.

He simply could not stand the feeling of being deceived.

Shen Shanden had been all slogans. The pressure here had only just begun, and he was already running away.

When it was time to fight, he was the first to run!

What kind of nonsense was that?!

It was like Selling Crutches. Han Sanping had not even named a price yet, and Shen Shanden had immediately agreed to the deal!

He had come to swindle him, to launch a sneak attack on this old comrade.

Was that acceptable? It was not!

Han Sanping was furious!

Who had said the path of "costume blockbusters" had reached a crisis point and needed reform?!

Who had said costume blockbusters should stay rooted in Chinese history and carry the soul of China within them?!

Who had said he wanted to make costume blockbusters, upgrade the Blockbuster Strategy, and become a fierce vanguard of Chinese Cinema?!

Who had vowed that the Fifth Generation, Sixth Generation, and New Generation were all beneath his notice?!

He had declared that earning one billion was not difficult, and had even promised Han Sanping that he would definitely withstand the pressure!

And then—

This?

Seeing the old man about to lose his temper, Shen Shanden immediately swore, "Director Han, I, Shen Shanden, am not afraid for myself. But I'm afraid of dragging you down!"

Han Sanping was stunned. What, was this somehow for his sake?

Did he need to say thank you?

He wanted to hear what kind of ivory Shen Shanden could spit from that dog mouth.

"What do you mean by that?"

Shen Shanden said sincerely, "Isn't Director Han at a crucial moment in your career adjustment? You are devoted to the film industry, but other people don't understand you."

"During the initial review, I was confident because I was a newborn calf unafraid of tigers. Only after the scope of the evaluation widened did I finally understand—truly understand—how difficult things have been for you, Director Han!"

"Brotherhood of Blades has not even been officially approved, yet all sorts of people are already reaching for it. Some want to drive me out, some want to skim money from it, and some instinctively dislike and reject its subject matter because of its national pride."

"Without you, Director Han, how many people would want to carve up China Film Group behind closed doors? The theaters would probably screen nothing but Hollywood movies. What would become of Chinese Cinema then?"

"It means nothing if I get battered and bloodied, but the burden of China's film industry rests on your shoulders, Director Han. There absolutely cannot be any mistake!"

Hearing this, Han Sanping waved his hands repeatedly. "You brat, stop putting a tall hat on me."

Shen Shanden pulled a bitter face. "Director Han, I can't hide it from you. I do have a little selfish motive."

Han Sanping looked as though he had known it all along.

Shen Shanden said, "After gradually working out Brotherhood of Blades' production plan, I realized it would be difficult for me to control. If we rashly launch it, we may end up wasting this subject matter for nothing."

"To put it more seriously, the future of costume blockbusters may now rest on Brotherhood of Blades."

Han Sanping's expression shifted, then he grew wary. "You brat, what twisted logic are you coming up with now?"

Shen Shanden said aggrievedly, "What twisted logic could I have? Among domestic costume blockbusters, one of the Big Three Directors has had his reputation ruined, one has suffered a disastrous box office defeat, and another has lost interest altogether."

"The only major projects now are John Woo's Red Cliff over in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and Peter Chan's The Warlords."

"I must respect both directors. I respect them very much."

"But frankly, Director Wu has no interest in building a career anymore. Production costs have exceeded the budget repeatedly, then he promoted Lin Chi-ling from Taiwan, used Zhao Yutian to elevate her status, kicked out a famous screenwriter, and had his own wife write the script."

"As for Director Peter Chan, he gave Jet Li a one-hundred-million-yuan salary. Tell me, Director Han, how much shady business and padding do you think is hidden in that?"

"I read reports saying he even had Jet Li perform dramatic scenes, and from the information released so far, the film leans dark and metaphorical."

"To put it bluntly, House of Flying Daggers did not merely establish the formula of Eastern spectacle with a Western core. It also turned beautiful, dazzling martial arts action into boring slow motion."

"The Warlords goes even further. It does away with martial arts altogether."

"The Ma Incident is also extremely complicated. It involves conflict between local powers and the central government. Emphasizing patriotism too much could easily make people feel like it was glorifying the Qing."

"If it disparages the imperial court and supports local powers—namely Southeast Self-Preservation—it carries separatist overtones and does not suit audience tastes."

"It is a classic dead end from both sides."

"And with a title like The Warlords, we treat the other side as human beings, but given their colonial temperament of fearing power while lacking gratitude, they may develop some especially strange ideas again."

"They want to head north to make money, yet also insist on displaying their independent character despite being kept, all while biting the hand that feeds them."

Han Sanping was absorbed in listening. He liked Three Kingdoms subject matter, and this was indeed a genre with potential.

But Red Cliff's repeated troubles also showed that John Woo truly no longer had the heart for his career.

As for Peter Chan, he was even more outrageous. Han Sanping understood The Warlords project better than Shen Shanden did.

He had offered Jet Li an astronomical salary, then made a film that leaned toward an arthouse flavor.

But the more Han Sanping listened, the more something felt wrong. Shen Shanden loved putting others down too much!

Coming back to himself, Han Sanping slapped the table. "Xiao Shen, you need to change that personality of yours. You can't dismiss people so easily!"

Even if Shen Shanden had spoken straight to his heart, Han Sanping could not agree with him.

If word got out, it would not look good.

Han Sanping was speechless.

The Xiao Deng before him had dismissed the mainland's Fifth Generation, Sixth Generation, and New Generation, then dismissed the major directors from Hong Kong and Taiwan as well.

So you, Shen Shanden, were the only amazing one, huh?

Still, Shen Shanden's perspective was unique and could give him some inspiration.

Han Sanping warned him, "Stick to the matter at hand."

"I am sticking to the matter at hand." Shen Shanden immediately admitted fault. "In short, Red Cliff and The Warlords will most likely flop."

Han Sanping lost it again. "The Warlords and Red Cliff are both major projects assembled by China Film Group. You're that pessimistic about them?"

Shen Shanden said, "They may not lose money at the box office, since China Film Group will be there to support them. But if that happens, it will actually diminish China Film Group's prestige."

Naturally, it would also diminish Han Sanping's prestige. Forcing theaters to distribute them would definitely have adverse consequences.

Shen Shanden did not say that aloud.

For now, he still needed the other man to enter the industry. He should show Old Deng a bit of surface-level respect.

Han Sanping understood. Lies did not hurt people; the truth was the sharpest blade.

He fell silent.

Shen Shanden was also afraid he had PUA'd Old Deng too hard, so he hurriedly pulled the conversation back. "Here's the question: given the temperament of filmmakers today, would they admit that the problem was theirs? Probably not."

"They would definitely say the audience was the problem. Audiences may not like it now, but in ten years or so, they'll understand."

"They would definitely say the subject matter was the problem—that costume dramas had become outdated, that even China's vast history no longer held any appeal."

"When that time comes, costume blockbusters—and even the historical genre along with them, which should have been our strength, the familiar stories and this treasure trove—will have been turned into a cesspit."

"Brotherhood of Blades may be the last chance to prove that it is not that audiences do not love history, but that the creators cannot handle it properly."

"Otherwise, this genre will need ten years, perhaps more than a decade or twenty years, before it can rise again—or it may sink forever."

"Director Han, Brotherhood of Blades cannot be allowed to fail. You could say the spark of costume blockbusters and historical films rests in this movie."

Han Sanping sank into thought.

Shen Shanden's mouth was dry from talking, so he took a sip of water.

PUA'ing Old Deng was far too difficult. He had to force the man to bring out the real goods.

These analyses were objective descriptions. Otherwise, there would have been no way to convince Han Sanping.

Shen Shanden truly wanted the Brotherhood of Blades project to wait.

He had not been lying. Brotherhood of Blades might become the swan song of costume films, perhaps even costume martial arts films.

If he considered only his personal interests, Shen Shanden should have done everything possible to push Brotherhood of Blades forward.

Even if the film flopped, with Han Sanping's influence, its box office could still surpass one hundred million.

The Warlords and Red Cliff could both earn two or three hundred million. Crossing one hundred million would be easy.

Having directed a film project that crossed one hundred million, with box office revenue above one hundred million—and it was fucking his directorial debut—Shen Shanden would absolutely become a representative of New Generation directors, perhaps even their leading figure.

But Shen Shanden had his own principles.

He had already been reborn. If he was still going to compete at being less terrible, would that not make his rebirth pointless?