Chapter 550: Zhang Yimou, who graduated in 1982

"Cao, Director Cao, can we discuss something with you?"

"Huh?" Cao Zhiqiang, who came back to his senses, looked at Xu Qingdong and found the other person's flattering smile. He immediately laughed and said, "What are you doing? What do you call the factory director in private? I don't call you Lao Xu, you call me

Qiangzi or Zhiqiang?"

"Hehe." Xu Qingdong chuckled, "That's what I said, but whenever I ask for something, I accidentally end up talking baldly, haha."

"Tell me, what do you want me to ask you for?" Cao Zhiqiang said with a smile.

Xu Qingdong rubbed his hands: "That's right, aren't you going to Japan this time? Can you also take me to open my eyes? I don't ask for anything else, I just want to see what the post-production is like there. I want to

Learn to learn.”

Cao Zhiqiang raised his eyebrows, then smiled and said: "Hey, what do I think? In fact, if you don't tell me, I will take you to Japan, but not now."

"Ah?" Xu Qingdong was stunned, "Why?"

Cao Zhiqiang said: "That's right, there are three main things I want to do when I go to Japan this time.

First of all, the first thing actually has nothing to do with the movie, so I won’t talk about it for now.

The second thing is to find a reliable post-production special effects production team for our film.

As for the third thing, it is to discuss the introduction of movies with Japan.

I'm sure about the first and second things, but as for the third thing, we haven't discussed it yet, and I'm not sure that Japan will definitely be able to introduce this movie and premiere it in Japan.

So, Lao Xu, don’t be anxious about going to Japan. After I have almost finished talking with the Japanese side and they have decided to introduce this movie, I will ask the Japanese side to send us a formal invitation letter. Please, Zhu

My sister and other main actors went to Japan together to cooperate with the promotion there.

Japanese movies are different from ours. They don’t release the movie directly after filming. Instead, they have to spend money to promote it first, that is, to do publicity.

After the publicity is almost done and many people know about it, it will be officially released.

This is just like the way I used to play a few singles on the radio before releasing a record as a singer.

In short, it's not that I don't want to take you there, it's just that the situation doesn't allow it.

Because you currently do not have a formal invitation from Japan, it is difficult for you to go abroad. You should know better than me in this regard."

"That's right." Xu Qingdong nodded, "It's me, Meng Lang."

Indeed, in 1983, it was difficult for Chinese people to go abroad. In addition to going abroad for business, if you wanted to go abroad privately, you basically had to have overseas connections.

Even for people like Xu Qingdong, it is basically impossible to go abroad at present.

"Hadron." Xu Qingdong sighed, "Actually, I don't want to go to Japan. I really want to see how other people's movies are shot, and I really want to see what their post-production technology is like.

We have been working behind closed doors for so many years, and there must be a big gap with foreign countries. I really want to learn from it."

"I understand." Cao Zhiqiang smiled, "But there is no rush for this kind of thing. Anyway, you know the country's policies. It is impossible to stop opening up. In the future, the policies will only get better and better. By then, you will not be able to go abroad.

It couldn’t be harder.”

"I hope so." Xu Qingdong raised his glass, "Come on, don't talk anymore, just leave. You have to do it no matter what. You can't waste this imported red wine!"

Cao Zhiqiang chuckled: "Forget it, I have something to do in the afternoon, and I have been taking Chinese medicine to take care of my body recently, so I won't drink it now. If you like this red wine, just take it away and drink it slowly by yourself later."

"Really?" Xu Qingdong's eyes lit up, "Can I still take this away?"

"That's not true." Cao Zhiqiang said, "We spent all this money, what do you think? It's time to pack up, not only the wine, but also the food. If you like it, you can pack it up and take it away."

"Would that make people laugh?" Xu Qingdong looked at the dishes on the table.

"What a joke." Cao Zhiqiang said, "Wasting is shameful. How long have you been full before you learn to waste?"

Then, Cao Zhiqiang said: "That's it. I haven't touched many of these dishes. You can pack them up and take them away."

"This is not good." Xu Qingdong rubbed his hands in embarrassment.

"You wait here." Cao Zhiqiang stood up directly, "I'll ask the waiter to pack it."

After speaking, Cao Zhiqiang walked out of the private room, called a waiter in, and asked her to pack all the dishes inside.

Sure enough, after listening to Cao Zhiqiang's instructions, the waiter didn't say anything and went straight to get a few oil paper packages and packaged all the dishes Cao Zhiqiang pointed out.

Yes, you read that right, it’s an oil paper bag.

In 1983, although plastic bags existed, they were not popular. What was really popular among the people was the oil-paper bag. Even big hotels used oil paper for packaging.

Plastic bags really became popular in our country only after the 1990s, because at that time several large ethylene projects were established in the country, plastic products increased, and plastic bags began to flow into the homes of ordinary people.

In the early 1980s, although plastic bags already existed, they were still relatively expensive packaging.

In fact, to be honest, Cao Zhiqiang thinks this kind of oil paper is very good. Although it doesn't look as convenient as plastic bags, it has more charm, is more environmentally friendly, and is non-toxic and harmless.

However, Cao Zhiqiang also knows that with the development of the times, these things will disappear from the stage of history sooner or later. Otherwise, they are indeed not as convenient as plastic bags, and they are also more expensive.

For example, the current method of packaging leftovers with oily paper requires you to be able to pack them, unlike plastic bags, which can only be filled once.

In addition, in the 1980s, Chinese people were not used to packing food when eating out, especially in big hotels. This was mainly a matter of saving face, not that hotels did not allow packing.

In fact, in the early 1980s, ordinary people who occasionally went to big hotels for dinner did not like to pack, and felt that packing was a loss of face. On the contrary, it was department heads who often went to big hotels for meals, as well as those who came to travel.

Foreigners and overseas Chinese who visit relatives or work like to pack.

It was only after the 1990s that it became popular for ordinary Chinese people to go to big hotels to eat and then take away their meals.

This may be because the poorer you are, the more you care about face.

No matter what, Xu Qingdong easily accepted Cao Zhiqiang's request to pack the meal. After all, it was Cao Zhiqiang who invited the meal.

"Thank you very much." Xu Qingdong, who was holding the big and small bags, chuckled, "Look at this, you invited me to dinner and you asked me to take so much back, I'm a little embarrassed."

"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Cao Zhiqiang chuckled, "Just treat it like you're eating with me, and you can give it to your sister-in-law."

Xu Qingdong nodded, and then said seriously: "Since you have decided, I won't say anything, but what are our film studio's plans next? Do you want to continue making new films?"

Cao Zhiqiang shook his head and said: "There is no need to rush to make a new movie. We will wait until this movie is released. As for now, you should help me reorganize the film studio first.

Especially when it comes to staff recruitment, you have to at least set up a crew first, right?"

Xu Qingdong said: "There is no problem in recruiting people. Even if we don't mention film schools, just talking about the film studios in other places, there are many people and staff who want to transfer to the units in the capital.

Although our factory is new, it is still a unit in Beijing, which is a great advantage.

As long as we spread the news, there will be many people who want to come."

Cao Zhiqiang rolled his eyes: "Can you help me find a group of filmmakers?"

"Oh?" Xu Qingdong looked at Cao Zhiqiang, "What, do you want to poach someone?"

"Yes." Cao Zhiqiang nodded.

"I want to recruit a photographer named Zhang Yimou.

He also graduated from Nortel in 1982 and was assigned to the Guangxi Film Factory after graduation.

Do you have any impression of this person?"

Well, the person Cao Zhiqiang is talking about is Zhang Yimou, the great director among the fifth generation directors, also known as Lao Mouzi.

In fact, most of today's fifth-generation directors have just started working and have not yet had a chance to officially show their prominence, so it is not difficult to recruit these people at this time.

Despite this, Cao Zhiqiang does not want all directors to poach him.

There is only one person that Cao Zhiqiang wants to poach most, and that is Zhang Yimou, Lao Mouzi.

This person's photography skills are very good, and he is also a real big-name director. Moreover, he is currently working as a photographer at the Guangxi Film Factory and his background is not strong. If he is transferred here, it will not be a big problem.

Others are different, and most of them have considerable difficulties or potential problems.

For example, Chen Kaige, who is currently working as the deputy director of the Peking Children's Film Factory, will most likely not agree to come to the Hongguang Film Factory as an ordinary director.

Others also have their own problems.

Take Tianzhuangzhuang for example. This person's early thinking was a little bit different, and he had a very strong personality. Cao Zhiqiang didn't dare to use him.

In short, at present, the only director Cao Zhiqiang really wants to recruit is Zhang Yimou.

In fact, in Cao Zhiqiang's view, the so-called fifth generation of directors is not just those people. Other contemporaries are also excellent. It's just that in this era, directors have too few opportunities to make movies, and those people missed the opportunity and the stage.

That's all.

If Cao Zhiqiang is willing to give those unknown young directors a chance, they may not be worse than those famous directors.

For example, Xu Qingdong, strictly speaking, was not famous in Cao Zhiqiang's previous life. At least in terms of movies, he was not outstanding and did not have any particularly famous works.

Most of Xu Qingdong's famous works are TV series, such as "Serious Case Group Six".

Therefore, if you look purely at fame, Xu Qingdong is really far behind and weak compared to directors of his generation.

When Cao Zhiqiang asked Xu Qingdong to come, it was just a matter of chance. He wanted to find a director first.

However, after they actually started working together, Cao Zhiqiang discovered that Xu Qingdong is serious about his work, has solid skills, has his own unique insights into camera movements and rhythm, and is straightforward and outspoken.

For the sake of others, communication is very comfortable and effortless at all. To put it simply, the emotional intelligence is very high.

Therefore, Cao Zhiqiang felt that working with Xu Qingdong was very good and he had found a treasure.

Although the real director of the movie "Love in the Ancient Pavilion" is Cao Zhiqiang, after all, the content and core of the story are all showing Cao Zhiqiang's will.
To be continued...