independent filmmaker

After talking with Mr. Ye, the way to respond was determined.

Deep Blue Films quickly held a press conference at the XYZ Hotel, and the director personally clarified the false rumors about the "hidden rules".

After the PR department's opening remarks, Xie Lansheng squared Mike with his hand, and said, "Deep Blue Pictures' conclusion is... this is a deliberate frame-up. People who posted on the Internet turned black and white and confused right and wrong."

Xie Lansheng's voice was very steady, and he pointed to the screen to show the picture: "First of all, I must apologize to everyone. I made a mistake in the investigation when I set up the team, and I failed to find out the major flaws in the character of the actor's assistant director. However, when I found out that the deputy director surnamed Zhou After the director charged the audition and lured the actor, he immediately terminated the contract with him. On the screen is the contract termination between "Love at First Sight" and this person."

After a pause, Xie Lansheng said again: "I asked an assistant to go to the audition scene that day, she noticed some problems, I went there with Mr. Xin immediately, and at that time, the actor's assistant director was doing dirty things to the actors upstairs. "

This clarification was so explosive that the reporters in the audience were dumbfounded.

"I met the person involved. After knocking on the door, I told her that all the roles in a movie must be decided by the director himself. Moreover, most of the assistant directors choose actors normally. No one can block her. Need to be threatened by someone, and then let the other party leave the hotel." Xie Lansheng asked the people in Deep Blue to click to play a video, "This is the most complete surveillance video of the hotel during that time, it is quite long, please be patient and watch it."

The video plays slowly.Xie Lansheng and Xin Ye rushed to the door and slammed on the door hard, but the door never closed after that.After only seven or eight minutes, the actress who posted the post came out with her things and wiped her tears as she walked.About two or three minutes later, Xie Lansheng and Xin Ye also left.

"Wow..." As expected, the faces of the entertainment reporters began to light up.

Xie Lansheng sighed inwardly, and said: "After we returned to the first floor, the production director immediately refunded the auditioners. This is a signed photo of the actor, and this is the bank statement of the day." The actor's signature only has the surname, The following words are coded.The bank statement is stamped with "Industrial and Commercial Bank of China", each column is 500 yuan, and the remark reads "Refund for audition".

"In addition," Lan Sheng said again, "Boss Xin and I went to the police station to report the incident that night. The police receipt is on the screen. We will not forge this, or we will commit a crime."

Another sound of camera shutters.

"Finally, there are the most absurd 'negative energy' and 'betrayal of the country'..." Xie Lansheng said, "First of all, I always believed at that time, and I may still believe that honesty, facing the truth, facing human nature, and accepting everything about people Good and evil are the greatest positive energy, while dishonesty, evasion of the truth, and denial of human nature are the greatest negative energy. "Rooting" originated from a news, and there were related reports on the screen. I found it this morning through old newspapers in the library. It came out. I just want to record these people and these things, and let everyone take a look. To be honest, the debates we have today... I didn’t expect it at the age of 21. In 1991, 14 years ago, it didn’t exist These things." Then, "In 1994, my third film was almost shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival. As you know, this is a prestigious competition. But that year's organizing committee changed a new selection chairman. Shankan promotes politics, and the scene where the police rescue the mute at the end is too 'impassionate'. I hope that "Black and White" will participate in the exhibition. I believe that many people here have seen "Shankan" and "Black and White"...I can't accept these, and follow The chairman had a big fight, wrote a statement, and quit Cannes. This statement is on the screen. I faxed it back then. This incident proves time a little bit. I think it can prove that at that time I just wanted to shoot some stories, and I didn’t succumb to power, no matter which side of the power it was, and I didn’t succumb to capital——Universal Pictures changed it to goodending I also refused." The fax has legal effect, and the organizing committee accepted it.

A few seconds later, Lan Sheng said: "The copyright of "Rooting" was sold after a Japanese friend's party. I don't deny it. At that time, only Japanese movies in Asia could sell European and American copyrights, so I was very happy when I was invited— ——I have to sell the film, recover the cost, and pay off the debt. However, the mutual communication of filmmakers should not be bound by nationality. We just make friends normally. I cherish this friendship. Ms. Morita is very thoughtful and inspired by masters It has had a profound impact." Xie Lansheng clenched his fingers, and his voice trembled a little, "Just after the incident, Morita, who was far away in Japan, sent some information... I implicated my friend, and I was very angry and very angry. have no choice."

The material was typed out again, with a Chinese translation next to it.

"Okay," Xie Lansheng said, "I sincerely hope that this turmoil will calm down quickly, this farce will pass quickly, and the audience can focus on the movie "Love at First Sight" itself."

After he finished speaking, Mr. Ye from Deep Blue Films made some supplementary responses.

The room is full of entertainment reporters from major TV stations and websites, and they will spread these responses to the maximum extent possible.

…………

At 02:30, after the press conference of Deep Blue Films ended, the company's public relations also issued a clarification announcement on the Internet.

Because the two posts against Xie Lansheng were posted on the Tianxia Film Forum, the response from Deep Blue Films was also posted on the Tianxia Movies main forum.

It adopts the form of asking questions, and it is divided into four parts. The first part is called "Love at First Sight" has hidden rules?" The second part is called "Love at First Sight". The film industry has posted a bunch of actual evidence, which cannot be refuted, and there is also a clear and calm explanation juxtaposed with it, which is very credible.

At the same time, it also issued a supplementary announcement from director Xie Lansheng, titled "It was I who started to rebel - my 15 years, my reflection".

Everyone was moved.

Xie Lansheng wrote in the letter:

[I have only recently realized that this society is changing too fast, and many friends are not aware of the situation more than ten years ago. Therefore, I am willing to talk about my 15 years and my thoughts casually.

I was born in 1969.It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I became obsessed with "movies" when I was about three years old.You may not know that European and American films did not officially enter China until 1994, but I was very lucky at that time, because my uncle had some connections to watch "internal reference films" with him--films introduced and translated by special personnel for the heads of state .When I was three years old, my hands and feet twitched and I screamed "ahhh" when I saw the machine guns on the screen bursting into flames.This incident later became the material for my family to make fun of me.But I think, it is so real, so real... It is real and dreamy, like our real world, but more beautiful.Really more beautiful.

I like to watch "internal reference films", such as "The Phantom", "A Clockwork Orange", "Midnight Cowboy", "Annie Hall"... and I am deeply fascinated by them.I couldn't help imitating the characters in the movies every day, imitating their speech, imitating their actions... But then I realized that those friends in my school hadn't seen these films, or even seen any films.So, in order not to make my friends greedy, I deeply hid my love for movies, but when it became a secret, it became more precious.This hiding is ten years.

It’s still embarrassing to say that I could have been admitted to Peking University and Tsinghua University, but I chose to go to the Film Academy, and secretly changed my first choice on the day I handed in my choice.At that time, the family was in a state of chaos, and I was beaten countless times.But I am very happy, really happy. It seems that Godard's intense emotions, Truffaut's insight into human nature, and Scorsese's terrifying tension are all within reach.

But it's not like that.

After graduation, I was assigned to work in a state-run film studio.I voluntarily gave up my quota to stay in Beijing in order to have a chance to be filmed, but in the end I was disappointed.At that time, filming required a factory logo, and our unit had one a year. There were not enough points for big directors, and those who had just graduated had to wait.Once, the factory had to prepare and shoot a movie of a related household. The literature department asked a lot, and no director was willing to participate. In order to be able to release the film, I drastically revised the script. Director" to other people who are related, I can only be the executive director.I refused and continued to hibernate.By March 1991, I heard the director of the factory say, "Xie Lansheng will have to practice for five years before he can really take on the heavy responsibility." I don't know if it's because I'm not "obedient" or because I'm a new graduate.

But "waiting" would drain my talent.That day, I decided to make my own film.I said to myself at the time: "Hello, my name is Xie Lansheng. I have graduated for two years. If I don't make films, I will die." I thought, why can painters draw pictures, writers can write books, but directors can't make films? ?I secretly photographed and then secretly sold, I can't control so much, I also admitted that I was in jail.A writer can't just be an assistant, and neither can a painter. Other people's films are completely different from mine.

So the preparations for "Rooting" began.

It was difficult.In order to raise funds, I acted as an orangutan in a park...Because...I...could not be printed in China, I sent the film to Australia, the Australian customs opened the box for inspection, the film saw X-rays, it was scrapped, and everything had to start again... 】Xie Lansheng wrote it down on paper bit by bit.

Starting a new line, Lan Sheng continued:

[Once again I am very lucky, "Rooting" was shortlisted for the Turin Film Festival.I had no money to advertise, so I could only stand at the entrance of the hotel or the venue, handing out flyers and saying, "Please come and see my film! Please come and see my film!" At that time, participating in Film festivals, selling copyrights, and being screened in European and American film festivals and cinemas are the only opportunities to see the light.Besides, I also have to pay off my debts.

As a result, everyone knows.I was banned for 8 years when I came back.

In 1993, "The Beautiful Sea" was shortlisted in Cannes. In 1994, "Shankan" and "Black and White" withdrew from the film festival.Once, when I was holding a large black cloth to cover the skylight of a certain cafe, I fell and broke my leg. I cried quietly in the hospital, thinking, "I really want to be screened." "Really, I really want to be screened." It was released."

In 1995, VCD pirated discs became popular. I think it was a hope, a hope to be seen.So, I invited Xinye to film "Consummation" and participated in the film festival again. After "Consummation" captured the bear in Berlin, the pirates didn't respond, so I took the crew to ask the disc rental agencies across the country, and asked the boss to give feedback to the pirates on this market demand. In the end, my pirated version appeared, and I At that time, I was ecstatic and ran on the street.

1997...

In 2003, I will never forget it. On the afternoon of November 11st, I was wandering aimlessly in the newly opened book city, but I met Zhang Xuewen, the editor-in-chief of "Watching Movies" magazine.There, Editor-in-Chief Zhang revealed to me, "Private companies don't need to buy labels from big studios anymore!" "The process has changed, and we are moving forward!"

He was right. On November 2003, 11, at the symposium between the Film Bureau and young directors, I and other independent directors were officially lifted by the Film Bureau.

Then, in the past year and a half, I filmed "Love at First Sight".

So far, after 15 long years, I can finally be screened publicly.

I am alive when I am seen.

In my opinion, it was natural to take the original path, and I had no choice. Even if it was discussed and disputed later, I never regretted it, nor was I ashamed.The situation at that time was too special, completely different from today, and there was no such thing as catering to anyone or pleasing anyone for fame and fortune.Sometimes I feel aggrieved and think: Are you too sensitive?Are you out of face?Is it okay to ignore those who are still suffering?To be honest, I don't want my film to be used to prove something, or the rise of a great power, or something else, I am very embarrassed, it can't do it.However, at other times, I fell into a kind of confusion.Politics is so complicated that it's dangerous for a director to talk about it.I only know that a 21-year-old youth can't judge "passing the line".As for now, I don't want to think about it anymore. As long as the director still wants to release it publicly, someone will decide "I can't cross the line", and it cannot be decided by him.I am more concerned about what I can do. For example, just last month, I once again expressed my thoughts with the Sichuan Bureau of the Film Bureau, and at the same time expressed the thoughts of filmmakers—hope that the composition of the film review committee can be further improved to reduce The number of officials increased the number of other people, such as scholars of film and society, children's education experts, and suggested the rejuvenation of film review committees, etc., and... to make it easier for filmmakers' works to meet the audience.I just want to start from the movie, and only from the movie.I want to be more free, I don't shy away from that. 】

Due to his personality, Xie Lansheng is relatively gentle. At this stage, he is more thinking about "what can be done", such as promoting the relaxation of standards, or striving for standardized terms.However, he also knows that many, many filmmakers strongly oppose censorship. Even though they know that it is absolutely impossible to cancel, "no communication" expresses their attitude and at the same time gives up communication and games.

Finally, Xie Lansheng wrote:

[These days, some friends often ask me: Xie Lansheng, have you seen the fangs of capital?Have you seen the ferocity of capital?Are you very sad?Are you desperate?

Honestly, no.

Those of us "independent directors" whose banned films were released one after another, were ridiculed by the audience as "boring", and sentenced to death by the media, and I still have "Love at First Sight", which was debated and suppressed, but we are still making movies, we are still Live here.It was in the past, it is in the present, and it will be in the future.We have experienced too much, we will never wither.Therefore, despite the controversy and suppression, I don't want to get rid of the label of 'independent director', nor do I want to escape the new market that is about to be cut off. "Six generations of directors", "independent directors", "Chinese directors"...or, "Chinese directors in transition", "Chinese directors in the cracks", I have heard these words, often not good words, but I am willing to belong to them, Willing to continue to belong to them from the bottom of my heart.

Xie Lansheng

September 2005, 5]

As soon as the two announcements from Deep Blue and Xie Lansheng were posted, the entire trend of the forums such as Tianxia Movies and others changed.

Countless people said:

[I believe it. 】

[I also believe it. 】

【that era……】

【God, I really never knew it was so difficult to direct...】

[I just want to shoot a book I wrote... Xie Lansheng and Sun Fengmao were the first to make independent films. They have been scolded a lot these years, it's so pitiful and miserable. 】

[I used to scold them both, but now I actually admire them...I don't have the madness to be desperate for ideals. 】

[It's really "movies have nothing to do with life and death, movies are higher than life and death". 】

[Oh my god, did Xie Lansheng dare to quit Cannes when he was 25 years old? !It's so awesome. 】

【It's true that fame and wealth are like dung... It's scary to be scolded for greed. 】

[I want to watch "Love at First Sight".A good director who shoots movies with heart. 】

[Well, I feel that this "Love at One Point" will have something special, it is different from the blockbuster films of the past few years, not for the box office. 】

[Ah, I want to give Director Xie a movie ticket, and I want to make Director Xie happy.He is too difficult, too miserable. 】

[+1, I also want to give Director Xie a movie ticket, he really wants to be seen. 】

Some people are still questioning, accounting for about a quarter:

【No, everyone else can wait, but Xie Lansheng can be a monster. 】

[At that time, there must be a reason why the factory logo was required for filming.Just him smart? 】

But someone will reply to them:

[Why not be like others? 】

[Is it a treason for a director to want to make a movie?Is there anything more normal in the universe than this? 】

Through this supplementary announcement, most people understood him-it turns out that independent directors such as Xie Lansheng had a lot of helplessness and difficulties back then.Even if the announcement is somewhat ambiguous, it goes both ways.

"It was I who became a rebel -- my 15 years, my reflection" was also reposted on Tieba, other forums, and the school's BBS.

Then came another actress who had auditioned for a movie, and she posted:

[It is true that one person paid 500. However, the crew refunded it on the same day. The production director personally explained the illegal operation of the actor and assistant director, and even gave a cup of milk tea to one of us who went back!It's Streeter! 】

Now, the onlookers believed even more that Xie Lansheng was innocent.

They also said:

[This pile of operations is surging...]

[It must be surging. 】

[Wow, likes and dislikes! ! 】

[It's really fortunate that Xie Lansheng has hotel surveillance and alarm records, otherwise, he would not be able to tell clearly with 100 mouths. 】

[No, that woman is too disgusting. 】

[For red.You can take off your clothes before, but now you can splash dirty water. 】

【She is really famous this time...】

[I'm going to support "Love at First Sight", fuck it, die surging! 】

[If "Grape Wine Luminous Cup" really makes a lot of money, Chinese movies can die... That's too weird, too shameful. 】

Lan Sheng read these comments and only heaved a long sigh.

Has he fallen into the world of mortals?Is he wallowing in the world?

he does not know.

…………

这天，因为被泼脏水，10到12点、12到14点、14到16点，这三场的《一见钟情》票房明显受了影响。深蓝影业和谢兰生还挺担心明日排片的。

However, starting at four o'clock in the afternoon, the number of viewers of "Grape and Wine Luminous Cup" dropped precipitously, while Xie Lansheng's "Love at First Sight" soared to the naked eye. From 16 to 18 o'clock, from 18 to 20 o'clock, and from 20 to 22 o'clock, the attendance rate of "Love at First Sight" in major theaters was full!Even the first row is sold out! From 22 to 0 o'clock, the field has dropped slightly, but it is still about 90%.At the same time, the attendance rate of "Wine and Wine Luminous Glass" was only 75%. Most people went to the cinema and chose to watch "Love at First Sight".

So, on the day after the release, although "Grape Wine Luminous Cup" was still higher than "Love at First Sight" in terms of single-day box office, the gap narrowed significantly. The ratio between the two was 3:2, which is much better than the first day. .And in the four shows from 16:0 to 1.5:12.5, "Love at First Sight" overtook "Grape and Wine Luminous Cup", which is very impressive. "Grape and Wine Luminous Cup" barely exceeded [-]% ​​by [-] times the filming rate.

On the whole, in the first two days of the May Day holiday, the box office of "Grape and Wine Luminous Cup" was 3564 million.

Xie Lansheng is quite confident about the box office for the remaining few days.There are still five days left in the May Day holiday, and the release period will be even longer.

The public is stupid, but not that stupid.

At 12 o'clock in the middle of the night, after getting the box office, Lan Sheng, Xin Ye, Deep Blue Pictures and the crew of "Love at First Sight" all let out a long breath.

Every day is like a war.

After the press conference in the afternoon, Xin Ye went back to Deep Blue Films, because it was easier to communicate with the PR department at any time, Xie Lansheng also followed, waiting in Xin Ye's room.

Now that the day is finally over, and all the smears have finally been clarified, Xinye proposes to ask the PR department to go to the first floor for supper.The first floor of this building is full of various restaurants and coffee shops. Because companies like to work overtime, some restaurants are open until the early hours of the morning.A dozen people in the public relations department were tired and hungry after working all day. When they heard that Mr. Xin invited them to have supper, they cheered and agreed quickly.It just so happened that the main creators of the crew—the producer, production director, accountant and others signed by Deep Blue were also working overtime in the company to check accounts, so they joined together.

They entered a very authentic Hong Kong-style restaurant on the first floor.One person ordered a Binghuo pineapple oil, and ordered a few side dishes.

While eating, everyone was happy and cursing. Xie Lansheng only smiled slightly, feeling quite warm.

The producer in the middle went out to the toilet, and when he came back, he said, "I just saw that in the toilet."

Everyone asked, "Who?"

"I forgot his name... that one, the makeup artist of "Pure White Peacock", quite famous... that Sao Ling."

"Ahhh!" Someone knew, "He is always paired with the senior vice president of the film and television company next door!"

Some people didn't understand and asked: "...what is 'Sao Ling'?"

Xie Lansheng also looked at the producer.He didn't understand, and wanted to know.

"Hi," said the producer, "the gay man at the bottom is the bottom and is called 'Zero', and the one above is the top and is called 'One', do you know?"

"???"

Producer: "These zeros are called Sao Ling. Zeros are all coquettish, there is no one who is not coquettish, the one who likes her husband, um, without exception."

Xie Lansheng: "..."

After eating and drinking, everyone went home separately.Xin Ye told the public relations department that they could come over at 9:21 tomorrow and asked everyone to take a taxi, saying that the finance department would reimburse the fare.The regulation of Deep Blue Films is that taxis can be taken after [-]:[-], and the company will reimburse them.

Saying goodbye to everyone, Xin Ye took Xie Lansheng to the parking lot of the building to pick up the car.

Along the way, Xie Lansheng was thoughtful, hesitated to speak, and silently followed behind Xin Ye.

Xinye smiled and asked: "What's wrong? The box office has exceeded 1890 million, are you still not happy?"

"Xin Ye, I..." Director Xie, who was still able to answer questions at the press conference during the day, and the box office of the movie exceeded 1890 million just two days after its release, couldn't hold it back, frowned slightly, and asked, "Me too Sao Ling?"

The author has something to say: Isn't it...? ? ?

The words "positive energy" and "negative energy" may not have come out in 2005, so put them here first, and I will look them up later.