Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 232: The Hongmen Banquet

In fact, it is not called a shootdown, nor is it even called failing the initial review.

The Film Bureau is not responsible for reviewing film releases; that is the responsibility of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, but the Film Bureau’s opinions are equally important.

The post-production of "In Time" has not been completed yet, but a large part of the work has been completed and can be submitted for review.

Before submitting the film for review, China Film invited relevant leaders from the Film Bureau to watch the film in advance.

The visual effects are crude, but the story is already smooth and complete.

At the film bureau’s screening, all the film directors agreed that In Time was well made, but a few said, “There are enough blockbusters during the Lunar New Year holiday this year. Why don’t you schedule it in a different time slot?”

It was said verbally, and only positive opinions were written down.

The Film Bureau has no right to interfere with the film companies' release dates, but sometimes this kind of informal verbal notification is the most fatal.

"Why can't I be included in the Lunar New Year schedule?" Li Qiutang was naturally dissatisfied. "The Lunar New Year schedule is so big, why can't I be included?"

China Film Group chose to take a step back: "Let's not decide on the Lunar New Year schedule. This will give us time to prepare the special effects."

"If I have time, I can work overtime and catch the Lunar New Year schedule." Li Qiutang was unwilling to miss the most important and lucrative schedule of the year.

Yes, this year's Lunar New Year box office saw three blockbusters competing against each other, "The Orphan of Zhao", "Let the Bullets Fly" and "If You Are the One 2". Only "The Orphan of Zhao" is easier to control. "Let the Bullets Fly" will bring about a viewing craze and create a box office myth, but Li Qiutang is confident that "In Time" can compete with "Let the Bullets Fly".

"There are many blockbusters during the Lunar New Year period, and they want to avoid competition. But having more blockbusters can boost the market, and the audience will have more choices, and everyone will benefit." Li Qiutang still wants to set the Lunar New Year period.

"If you're worried about the deadline, I'll fly to Korea tomorrow and stay at the special effects company. Is that okay? I guarantee that the work will be completed."

Li Qiutang was acting a bit impulsive.

"It's just the Film Bureau's opinion right now. The General Administration hasn't looked at it yet. Don't worry. There's still time later."

Li Qiutang calmed down, but still said that he would strive to release the film during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Of course it would be best if it could be released during the Lunar New Year holiday, but the opinions of the Film Bureau cannot be ignored.

Several major producers are also trying to find solutions.

On this day, a media company called Starlight International contacted Autumn Pictures with only one purpose, which was to invite Li Qiutang to make a movie.

Li Qiutang has never said that he would not take on external plays. He is interested in many subjects. The power of one person or one company is always limited, and he does not mind external plays looking for him.

Li Qiutang had never heard of Starlight International. It seemed to be a new company. Li Qiutang was curious about what projects they would bring, so she agreed to meet with them.

The person on the other end introduced himself as Song, the chief producer of the film.

The film he brought was called "The Banquet at Hongmen".

Li Qiutang came to his senses a little: "The Hongmen Feast that Director Lu Chuan made before was produced by your company?"

Producer Song smiled bitterly and said, "It's from our company, but our cooperation with Director Lu Chuan has stopped."

"Why don't you do it?"

Producer Song said: "Our company's creative philosophy is not in line with that of Director Lu Chuan. He wants to use the Hongmen Banquet to extend the entire Chu-Han contention, and even the story of Liu Bang after the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Our company only wants to shoot the Hongmen Banquet scene." It has to be said that Lu Chuan is really ambitious.

"Also, Director Lu Chuan's work efficiency is not high. We also know that filming such a major historical subject requires slow work and careful work. We didn't rush him, but he couldn't even come up with a story outline in seven or eight months. It was difficult for the company to deal with it."

Li Qiutang understood that Starlight International fired Lu Chuan for two reasons: one was that he worked slowly, and the other was that he exceeded the budget.

Don’t believe in any inconsistency in creative concepts. In fact, what Lu Chuan wanted to shoot was too expensive, and Starlight International didn’t want to pay for it.

Li Qiutang is a well-known quick shooter in the industry, working quickly and well. Of course, Li Qiutang's offer is higher than Lu Chuan's, but Starlight International is willing to pay more for Li Qiutang's personal salary, which is better than a huge overspending on filming costs.

Li Qiutang was really interested in major historical themes such as the Hongmen Banquet.

So I carefully asked the other party about the progress of the project, and the answer I got was that there was not even a script yet.

"Lu Chuan has taken over our project for eight months, and he hasn't even written the script yet, but we already have characters like Xiang Yu, Liu Bang, Xiang Zhuang, and Fan Kuai." Producer Song had nothing good to say about Lu Chuan, "Nonsense, everyone knows that these are the characters in The Banquet at Hongmen."

Li Qiutang smiled and continued to listen to the other party's introduction of the project progress and complaints about Lu Chuan. Li Qiutang asked a question:
"What are you going to do with Yu Ji?"

The Hongmen Banquet had nothing to do with Yu Ji, but from an entertainment perspective, when making a movie, Yu Ji had to be included, otherwise no one would buy tickets.

Starlight International also wanted to include Yu Ji, and to film the love story between Yu Ji and Xiang Yu. Yu Ji's suicide should also be filmed, but Starlight International felt that the relationship between Yu Ji and the Hongmen Banquet was not important.

What they wanted to focus on was the Hongmen Banquet, and Yu Ji, as the only woman in a man's play, played a decorative role.

This approach is correct, and Li Qiutang also agrees that Yu Ji does not need to appear at the Hongmen Banquet.

Producer Song was very happy to see Li Qiutang was interested in his project and wanted to schedule it on the spot, but Li Qiutang said, "I'm not free this year. If your company is willing to wait, I can try to do it next year."

And said:

"It's really because In Time is about to premiere and I'm too busy. This drama is of great importance and I can't be distracted."

But Starlight International seems to be in a hurry and is willing to increase Li Qiutang's pay. They hope that he will take over "The Banquet" this year and start preparations, with filming starting next year and release the year after.

It was really Lu Chuan who wasted too much of their time.

But Li Qiutang had never filmed a historical theme before. If he took over "The Banquet", he would definitely do very detailed historical research. The fact that he works fast does not mean that he does a rough job.

For this kind of subject, a year is considered short. According to Li Qiutang's rough estimate, if he were to do the subject of Hongmen Banquet, the preparation period would be at least one year, and it is hard to say how much longer. Shooting and post-production would take at least one and a half years, which would be 1 years. This is the estimated time if all links are not stuck.

But it was clear at this point that Starlight International was not prepared to give Li Qiutang that much time.

I'm very sorry. Li Qiutang is interested in this topic, but the other party is not giving in, so there's no need for him to take the initiative.

It's a pity for Li Qiutang to see off Producer Song, as the theme of The Hongmen Banquet does have a lot of room for creativity.

After Lu Chuan left Starlight International, who took over this project?

Less than a week later, Starlight International announced that famous Hong Kong director Li Rengang would direct the company's "The Banquet" project.

Li Qiutang: Ah?
If I don't answer, you wouldn't pick such an alternative, right?

(End of this chapter)