Special feature of 1905 film network 、、、、、、。Almost half of Hong Kong’s films have been put together, which is unprecedented and has become a swan song.
Everyone shoots a short film, uses film to focus on an era and tells a story about Hong Kong’s feelings.
How to call them together, how to allocate time and how to shoot them? In this regard, we interviewed the producer of "Band of Seven" exclusively, and looked at the seven directors from her perspective, revealing the whole process of film organizing.
An exclusive interview with producer Zhu Shuyi on the 1905 movie network.
Coincidentally, Zhu Shuyi is also the producer of a hot Hong Kong film in the summer, and the box office of the film has now approached the 700 million mark, with a bright performance.
A Hong Kong-style blockbuster action movie, a collection of Hong Kong directors’ feelings, Zhu Shuyi managed two very important annual Hong Kong films this year.
Although the box office of "Band of Seven" is bleak, especially under the market crush of the same blockbuster, the current film schedule is only 1%. Regardless of the box office, Zhu Shuyi firmly believes that "creative expression is the first".
In this interview, for the first time, she disclosed many unknown inside stories of two films.
About "Band of Seven": Tsui Hark privately changed his contract with Lin Lingdong; How Xu Anhua is loyal to Tsui Hark; Before Lin Lingdong died, he agreed to make another film with the "Iron Triangle" Tsui Hark and Du Qifeng … …
About Detective Wars: the possibility of making a sequel; The feedback from Ah Sa’s sisters who "braved the wind and waves"; Views on being shortlisted for next year’s Academy Awards … …
Since entering Galaxy Image in 2002, Zhu Shuyi has followed Du Qifeng and directed all the films made by Galaxy Image. As CEO of Galaxy Image, she also revealed the latest progress of the new film "Watching Red Light with Eyes Covered" and the latest situation of Du Dao’s new film that fans are looking forward to.Everything you want to know is here.
(The following is Zhu Shuyi’s self-report, compiled by 1905 Film Network according to the interview content)
Band of Seven was born to commemorate the film.
Seven directors abide by three conditions.
The idea of "Band of Seven" came entirely from director Du Qifeng, because the director of their time experienced the era of film, and he felt that there was almost no film to make a movie, so he wanted to make a souvenir.
The second thing he wants to express is the spirit of teamwork, which he hopes can drive a new generation of filmmakers or other peers.
The time when this project was proposed is probably around 2012 and 2013. Why did you choose these seven directors?
I think when Du Dao first started to invite, he must be the best friends around him, such as "Iron Triangle", Tsui Hark and Lin Lingdong. Choose Sammo Hung and Yuan Heping, because they are representative Hong Kong action film directors. Then there is the female director, and it must be Xu Anhua. Tan Jiaming is not a prolific director, but many Hong Kong film students learn from him, and all the film students in Hong Kong know Tan Jiaming.
The invitation process is very simple, that is, make an appointment together, chat together and promise together. They know very well why Du Dao wants to do it, but they are very frank and don’t say anything.
There are three conditions that they must abide by when making this project. The first is to shoot with film, and the second is to talk about the feelings of Hong Kong. How to express Hong Kong’s feelings? It’s better to shoot an era for everyone, but how to shoot that era? Finally, it was decided that from the 1950s, we would draw lots to choose which one to draw and which to shoot.
But if you don’t want to shoot at that time, you have the right to exchange with other directors in private. If the other director is willing to change, you will change, otherwise you will admit it. In a word, you can shoot whatever you want, but you must shoot something related to Hong Kong. Your personal feelings about that era are very free to create.
Tsui Hark changed his signature to "spoil the game"
Lin Lingdong refused to exchange the reply "No Way!"
When drawing lots, only four directors came to the scene. I put the little card’s sign on the table, and everyone took their seats when they arrived, but the position that was not there was empty. Then everyone opened the sign, and I turned it in his position if I didn’t arrive, which represented that era.
When I finished, I had to report to other directors who didn’t attend, so I told director Tsui Hark which year he won, and he had a great reaction. He said how did you smoke just now? What’s the form of drawing lots? Who can monitor the whole lottery form? How did I get this? Anyway, he really doesn’t want this sign.
He said I want to change, and you help me tell Lin Lingdong that I want to change with him. I called director Lin Lingdong, and director Lin Lingdong replied with two words, "no way", which is impossible. I told director tsui hark, and he said, well, forget it, then I’ll figure it out myself.
After that, he didn’t inform me who to change the age with. It took me a while to know that he was a very, very smart director. He said that I wouldn’t affect any of your ages, and I didn’t need to exchange any ages with you. I filmed the future, so he put himself in the end, which is the future.
Xu Anhua handed in the film the fastest and Tan Jiaming the latest.
The biggest difficulty is that the production budget is too low
The seven directors didn’t have many meetings together, and then they went to create their own works. Because they are very busy directors, and we don’t want to interfere with their original work, we just hope that it will be better and better, and it will be completed in two or three years.
Director Xu Anhua was the first to finish this short film, which was completed in 2014, and the latest one was directed by Tan Jiaming in 2019.
Director Tan Jiaming hasn’t made a film as a director for more than ten years since then. In the process of thinking about this topic, he once doubted whether he could continue, not because he didn’t keep his word, but because he had requirements for his works.
Because he didn’t always stay in Hong Kong and had to teach, he had to transfer to another school one year, and he was worried that it would affect our progress, so he was also the last to finish it.
The biggest difficulty for all directors is that the production budget is too low. The most difficult ones should be directed by Xu Anhua and Sammo Hung. Because they filmed in the 1950s and 1960s, it will be more expensive in art, because it is harder than other directors to make old things or find something old.
We spent a lot of methods and energy to buy the negative. Because of the production budget, it is estimated that the average person will shoot for three days, which is the amount of 12,000 feet of film. In the past, you can reuse or return the film if you can’t finish it. Now you can’t, and you can’t order a new one if you exceed it. Therefore, they will use the negative film more accurately, and they also control it very well.
For a shot of Tsui Hark’s short film
Xu Anhua traveled from Harbin to Beijing to Hongkong the day before.
The whole shooting process was impressed by director Xu Anhua. Director Tsui Hark asked her to play, and Xu Anhua was very helpful.
Director Xu said, you ask director Xu Anhua if she would like to play a role. I didn’t say I would satirize her, but would she be unwilling to play? Director Xu Anhua said no, she could come.
In fact, director Xu Anhua was not in Hong Kong at that time. As a result, in order to cooperate with the filming, she took a three-hour bus to Harbin the morning before the filming, then transferred to Beijing and returned to Hong Kong from Beijing, just to catch up with the filming the next day.
They are like this. You just have to say that you want me to be an actor, and I am duty-bound to solve all the difficulties myself, even if I stay up late and overcome traffic problems.
Just to shoot that shot, this professional and loyal spirit is what we should pay tribute to.
15 days before Lin Lingdong’s death, the "Iron Triangle" had a dinner.
Discuss to shoot a romantic film together and leave the last photo.
Our biggest regret is that director Lin Lingdong is gone. What is really touching is that he handed over this last work. He completely finished all the work and handed it over to us before he left.
I miss him very much today. I will never delete the WeChat between him and me in my life. Sometimes when I look at the information he gave me, I really feel prophetic. It’s strange to say something, but I didn’t expect it at that time.
Moreover, 15 days before he left, we just had dinner together. When director Tsui Hark came back to Hong Kong for dinner that day and finished the last day of the short film, we arranged for the three bosses to have dinner together.
During the dinner, I also asked the three of them to take a group photo, because it was Christmas, and all three directors said that I was always doing this, and the last thing they liked was taking pictures. At that time, I said let’s shoot it, because the three of you seldom get together. Sadly, the original one was the last photo of them.
In fact, they had agreed that they would shoot another new thing and what to shoot. They also talked for a long time, saying that romantic movies "surprise them (the audience) and we will shoot something different", and also said that it was a deal, so it was also a pity.
As far as I know, there was a project in operation before he left, and of course there was no way to finish it in the end.
For me, The Band of Seven is a historical film, unprecedented, because there is no director Lin Lingdong, so it is impossible for seven people to be together, and the tribute to the negative must be the last.
I hope that the audience can feel the strength and spirit of filmmakers, and I hope that no matter whether they are studying movies or are already film workers, they also have this initial heart.
Asa exposed Gillian to watch Detective Wars without looking at her mobile phone.
I am confident that I will be shortlisted for next year’s Academy Awards, and there should be a sequel.
"The Band of Seven" is really a kind of spirit, so "Detective Wars" is a commercial element, and it also allows director Wei Jiahui to make his first independent action film.
Director Du Qifeng hasn’t seen the film yet, and he asked me if I had a ticket for him to see it. Du Dao and Wei Dao have a very friendly relationship. He knows about this project, but that’s all. He didn’t participate. They both respect each other and have independent development, and they have always been in the same spirit.
I remember that Asa’s first reaction after reading it was that she was grateful to the director, and she thought it was very good. Moreover, she has been very excited to tell us that the sisters (teammates on "Braving the Wind and Waves") are very happy.
She said that Gillian sometimes didn’t concentrate on watching movies, and she used to play with her mobile phone at first sight. She said that she had never seen this best friend, and she didn’t take her mobile phone out at all when watching this movie.
Will there be a sequel to Detective Wars? I think besides Wei Dao, the most important thing is the boss. Bosses should all want to have two or three editions, so please look forward to it closely. There should be, I hope there will be.
You asked me if I was confident that Detective Wars would be selected for the Hong Kong Film Awards next year. I should be confident. There are still movies behind, and there are many good movies. Depending on everyone’s tastes, our performances or our scripts, I hope to be shortlisted and get good grades.
"Watching Red Light with Eyes Covered" has been submitted for trial.
I’m called "old actor" on the set.
In the past two years, Director Du has often said that no matter the main creator, production team or actors, they need to be younger and support the creation of young people.
Our next new film "Watching Red Light with Eyes Covered" (formerly known as "Red Light with Eyes Covered") was created by the creative director, and Du Dao, the director and I were the producer. With the new generation of directors making movies for the first time, we made such a sentimental film.
Several children in the movie are great. Rong Zishan is more sophisticated, and Milla is a little newer. I like Milla very much. She works very hard and has a lot of temperament. At that time, director Lawrence Ah Mon and I were casting in Beijing for a long time. I think she has a bright future. Needless to say, Rong Zishan, I called him an "old actor" at the scene, which is already very powerful, let alone now.
The story background of "Watching Red Light with Eyes Covered" is in the mainland of China. I won’t get into the details first. Its feelings are in a region and a street in the mainland. It is a relatively short and literary film. Now it is in the stage of submitting the film for review, waiting for notice.
We have a review of the defeat
Ask Du Qifeng every day, do you have any ideas for the new film?
The last movie shown in the mainland on Galaxy Image was My Boxing Boyfriend. We know very well why we want to create this movie. As for the audience’s taste and market box office, we have no control.
It is possible that the audience is not so receptive to the unrealistic way and style in the movie. We did it on purpose, but it is also true. We tried our best, and everyone was very attentive at that time, but we will also review what problems have arisen and what we can do better in the future.
In fact, Du Dao and Wei Dao often say that they have made a lot of movies that are not necessarily very good at the box office. Maybe in a few years, everyone will experience different places after watching them again.
"Gorgeous Office Worker" and "My Boxing Boyfriend" all have song and dance elements. At present, I haven’t heard that director Du Qifeng has continued to plan this type of film. He has been preparing a new film in his mind, but I dare not rush him, because I don’t want to be scolded, but I will ask him every day. Have you thought of it? Have you got it?
Over the years, Du Dao often said that at this age, it is time for him to do whatever he wants. The style of Galaxy Image is unimaginable. When he suddenly comes up with an idea, we will do our best to carry out the task.
Du Dao often said not to become an "old smooth", and the future image of the Milky Way will follow this pace. Some people will cooperate together. I believe there must be this blood spirit, even if you don’t frame your own ideas, you must have new people.
The present situation of Hong Kong films has been greatly affected and impacted by the unprecedented difficulties caused by the epidemic. As filmmakers, we just keep our initial intentions, keep our enthusiasm and keep our persistence. As long as I don’t give up, I don’t think there is any so-called low tide. It’s nothing. Let’s move on.
