Chapter 232 Road Movie

To be honest, the closer it gets to the end of the year, the busier the celebrities and artists in the circle, including directors, become. They are constantly attending events, doing various endorsements, roadshows, commercial promotions, etc.

In the China Film Grand Auditorium, the movie "No Man's Land" is being screened. It is Ning Hao's transitional work and the quality of the film is indeed good.

Pan Xiao (Xu Zheng), a well-known but greedy lawyer, successfully helped the boss of a Northwest poaching gang (Chen Minghao) who stole the national rare bird Altai falcon and brutally killed a policeman to clear his name with his solid legal knowledge and eloquent court defense skills.

The boss promised to pay the remaining balance in ten days, and Pan Xiao asked the other party to mortgage a red car.

“This movie is a little too real.”

"Well, it's completely different from Director Ning Hao's previous works."

Some people in the movie-watching crowd were already whispering.

In the movie, the image of JC is a bit negative, no wonder the General Administration had to review it several times before approving it.

After that, he drove his new car back to the metropolis from the northwest desert. Unexpectedly, he encountered many dangers on the road. First, he had a friction with a pair of brothers (played by Wang Shuangbao and Baduo) who were pulling thatch in a truck, causing injuries to the truck, and then he accidentally hit a man (played by Huang Bo) who seemed to stop the car for help.

Knowing that his life was in jeopardy, Pan Xiao went to a black shop specializing in illegal activities, where he met a prostitute (played by Yu Nan) trapped there.

At the same time, the poaching boss followed him and seemed to have other sinister plans. At this time, Pan Xiao had not really realized what a dangerous journey he was facing.

"There are a lot of metaphors, and you can say there is not a single good person in the film."

The nearly two-hour movie ended very quickly, and the original open ending was changed to one where all the bad guys were brought to justice, which is in line with the national conditions.

"Clap clap clap."

Applause rang out, and Ning Hao took the main creative team onto the stage. Chen Minghao was busy filming and did not attend the premiere.

"This work is my transitional work. I am very satisfied with the result after filming. The actors' acting skills are also good..."

On the stage, Ning Hao was talking about what happened during the filming, while Han Sanping, Wang Changtian, Gu Wei and others were listening with smiles below the stage.

"It's not easy, it's a good thing that it can be released."

Turning his head, Han Sanping said to Gu Weishun.

“The quality of the video is quite good.”

"Well, there are just too many metaphors. No wonder those old guys have opinions."

The premiere of "No Man's Land" is scheduled for the 10th. The guest invitation list for this premiere is not too long, but almost no one below the second-tier will come.

People came from all the film and television companies, brokerage firms, celebrity studios, and the three major universities in the industry.

"Director Ning, what are your box office expectations for this movie?"

A reporter asked the question, and instantly everyone's eyes were focused on him. As long as it was a movie, this question would always touch everyone's nerves.

"As for the box office, Director Gu mentioned to me that he had seen the movie before and gave it a box office estimate of more than 200 million."

Looking at this guy Ning Hao on the stage, Gu Wei felt a little helpless. The other guy was cheating his father, but he was trying to cheat his boss.

"Director Gu, you are the world's top commercial film director. You have never lost money on commercial films. Is this movie like Director Ning said, with a guaranteed box office of 200 million?"

The reporter heard the news and walked up to Gu Wei, raised the microphone and asked.

The other directors nearby also looked at him with interest, wanting to hear the basis for Gu Wei's prediction.

"After watching the movie, everyone said whether it was good or not."

"nice."

"The movie is good, but a little too depressing."

"Haha."

Hearing this, everyone laughed.

Gu Wei paused, thought for a moment and said.

"Speaking of box office expectations, it is indeed as Ning Hao said. This movie is the first Northwest road movie in China. I am very optimistic about its box office."

Road movies, or road films, are a type of film that sets the story theme or background on a road. The protagonist in the play often embarks on a road trip for some reason. During the road trip, the protagonist completes life experience, changes in thoughts, shapes character, and produces a series of dramatic conflicts, or communicates with others and the soul.

The road movie developed into a film genre after the 60s in Hollywood. "Easy Rider" and "Bonnie and Clyde" are considered the origins of road movies.

The movie "No Man's Land" has all the elements of a road movie, and Gu Wei is still very confident about the box office expectation of 200 million.

As soon as Gu Wei finished speaking, the atmosphere on the scene reached a climax.

The reporters at the scene also had smiles on their faces, and the press release contained a lot more content to report.

During the cocktail party, everyone was socializing.

There were a lot of people around Liu Yifei, and the group was chatting together, laughing from time to time.

Gu Wei was also surrounded by a group of people from film and television companies, most of whom were newly established companies, and they were talking about future film collaborations.

Wang Zhonglei, on the other hand, has seemed particularly high-profile recently. As one of the richest men in the circle, he has no shortage of all kinds of female celebrities around him.

.........

On the 12th, "No Man's Land" was officially released in major theaters. According to feedback from China Film, the attendance rate was very high and the number of copies is still increasing.

"The first day box office was 2400 million."

After the data from China Film came out, Ning Hao also breathed a sigh of relief and was now lying on the sofa in a very ungraceful manner.

"It's too difficult. I'm almost exhausted to death during this period."

"Looking at the box office, 200 million will definitely be no problem, we can rest assured."

"I am very satisfied. I can report to my wife when I go back."

"Exit."

Gu Wei said jokingly.

"Director, I want to submit my film to the Berlin Film Festival. What do you think about this?"

Ning Hao sat up from the sofa and mentioned another matter.

"Good fellow, you think far ahead. The box office is not enough for you, and you still want awards?"

"Hey, we won't go to the Golden Rooster Awards in China, but after thinking about it, I still want to go and see the foreign ones. After all, the subject matter of this movie is suitable."

"That's true."

The three major European film festivals have different focuses. The Berlin Film Festival prefers social issues and discussions on human nature, and is particularly fond of films that focus on the fate of people in specific social situations.

If a movie like this were brought there, it might actually win an award.

"Leave it to me. I'll make the recommendation."

When Ning Hao mentioned this, he must have been thinking about getting the film shortlisted for the main creative unit. As a Golden Bear Award winner, Gu Wei is quite suitable for recommendation.

"Okay, Director, I've been waiting for you to say that."

...

The next day, Gu Wei contacted the staff in charge of selecting films for the Berlin Film Festival.

"Gu, don't worry, there will be no problem with your recommendation."

As they chatted, the other party was still asking about Gu Wei's plans for his next film and wanted to invite him to participate in the film festival.

"My next movie will still be a commercial film, but if I have the chance in the future, I will bring my work with me."

After one week of release, "No Man's Land" has grossed 1.4 million yuan at the box office. Another director with a box office of million yuan is about to be born in the circle.

At the same time, Hollywood movies "District 9" and "Guinea Pig Force" were released one after another. The box office of the two movies was average, and domestic movie fans did not rush into Hollywood movies as soon as they saw them.

At least the movie "District 9" is not very popular in the domestic market. Compared with the global box office, there is a big gap, but the word of mouth is good.

(End of this chapter)