Exclusive interview with bean guide Niu Chengze： I was more popular than Ruan Jingtian when I was 17

Niu Chengze accepts an exclusive interview with [Movie Network]

"Mengka" "Bean Guide" Niu Chengze

"Mengka" stills

[Click to watch the exclusive video]

　　Movie Network News (Photo/Shanghai Film Festival News Team) On June 17, Taiwanese director Niu Chengze appeared at the Shanghai International Film Festival and attended a film forum hosted by He Ping. [Film Network] interviewed Niu Chengze exclusively. Niu Chengze gave a detailed explanation on the issue of film placement advertising and the establishment of the Chinese film industry, and expressed his expectations and confidence in the establishment of the Chinese film industry. In the interview, Niu Chengze also revealed that at the age of 17, he was already more popular in Taiwan than Ruan Jingtian is now.

　　Movie Network: What activities are you mainly participating in at the Shanghai Film Festival this time?

　　Niu Chengze: Attend the chairperson’s forum on the morning of the 17th. In fact, we originally had a "Taipei Film Week" event. "Mengka" was originally used as the opening film and was to be screened in the theater in the form of a copy. And we were all ready, and then we made an appointment with a bunch of friends, but then the unit was temporarily cancelled, but the organizer was really sincere, and this forum was really valued, so I came later, and I thought it was very worthwhile.

　　Movie Network: We found this forum to be about what movies can be made besides blockbusters? What movies do we want to make? Such a theme.

　　Niu Chengze: The original theme was this, but later, under the guidance of Director He Ping, this theme was overturned.

　　Movie Network: Is there anything exciting to talk about? I also heard that you had a live performance with Peng Haoxiang on the forum, right?

　　Niu Chengze: Because Peng Haoxiang and I both love to act, in fact, I am a person who respects my elders very much. I have seen director Woo Yusen, director He Ping, and even director Wang Xiaoshuai. Although I heard that he is the same age as me, he looks much more mature than me, and his qualifications as a director are deeper than mine, so I will care about being depressed and polite. And Peng Haoxiang is relatively young, we interact a lot, and the two of us are also crazy. Before, we discussed whether to cooperate. Today, there was a very interesting episode. I was holding my head there, and he suddenly criticized the movie’s injection marketing as too serious and disrespectful to the audience. Then he took the watch as an example.

　　Movie Network: So what’s your opinion on injection marketing, the placement of advertisements in movies?

　　Niu Chengze: In fact, at the end of the forum, I originally wanted to make a conclusion, but I think I have crossed the line. I am just a young new director. Although I have rich, long-term and complete acting qualifications, I am just a film director who has only made a second film. In terms of my qualifications, I am the descendant of all the directors present. In fact, what I originally wanted to say is that on the road to the establishment of the film industry, I really look forward to and long-term look forward to the arrival of the Chinese film country. Now building a prosperous Chinese film country is "crossing the river by feeling the stones". At present, the development speed of the mainland is very amazing, and enterprises have strong strength. They need to constantly build relationships with audiences through various channels. As a locomotive for creative cultural products, film is the best way to spread. I look back at my own experience. When I was filming idol dramas, I was also looking forward to the appearance of some implant scenes, because it can directly increase my shooting capital and make better things for the audience. And this is not necessarily to increase my revenue and make more money. The two purposes are different. I think implant marketing is currently in a exploratory stage, and there will be many attempts. The audience’s eyes are sharp, and the creator will have his own conscience. The above two points will definitely collide with the powerful temptation of money, but there may be a good state in the end. I am now looking forward to it optimistically.

　　Movie Network: At present, the foundation of the entire Chinese film industry is still relatively weak, but with the increasingly frequent exchanges between filmmakers and the film industry in the three regions, we will see a phenomenon of film reconstruction in the entire Chinese-speaking circle. In such a big context, how should the films in the three regions find their unique roles in this industry chain?

　　Niu Chengze: This is a question that everyone needs to think about, but there is no need to be too self-conscious. First of all, I am a filmmaker. I have my own themes and stories that I want to share with the world, but I am not a social observer. I am not a politician. Everyone should make their own story, their own era, and the movie they want to watch the most. This is the biggest basic principle. When I was 17 years old, I starred in "The Man from the Hood", which was even more popular in Taiwan than today’s Ruan Jingtian, but I really didn’t have many good job opportunities, and I was really poor. At that time, I looked at those actors in Hollywood, why they were so successful, and then I came to a conclusion: because they have a market. For the emergence of Eastern Hollywood and the arrival of the Chinese film country, I am really full of confidence. We have also seen the continuous increase of film screens and the continuous refresh of records. There are also hidden worries, because the key point has emerged: what kind of works should we provide to the audience, so that the market can continue to develop healthily. In fact, this is the direction we should all strive for, so looking back, if we are kind, hard-working and sincere to make movies, to make movies in our hearts, we will naturally have our own characteristics.

Niu Chengze

Niu Chengze

　　Movie Network: Just now you said that as a director, what you most want to do is to shoot your favorite movies. We have also seen the appearance of your works "Love Must Be" and "Monga" in the past two years. These movies seem to us to be very different movies. If the previous one is a very expressive movie, what are your thoughts on the latter one?

　　Niu Chengze: In short, life forced me to make "Love Must Be". I tried to make it my first work in a simple form and at a low cost. During the preparation of the film, some long-standing problems broke out, so my life was suddenly strained, forcing me to face the problems of my life. I gained a lot of experience, so I decided to share this experience with the world. I don’t care how much it sells, it is a sincere movie. And "Monga" is a New Year’s movie. I just want to make a movie that everyone can understand and must sell for money. They are fundamentally different movies from the starting point, movies from different stages of my life. But they are the same kind of film because they are both works that the author loves and wants to share with the world.

　　Movie Network: It has been reported that you have done a very accurate calculation of the box office before filming "Mengka". From this point of view, this film can have such a good box office. It should be no exception for you at all?

　　Niu Chengze: Although accurate calculations have been made, there are not necessarily examples to prove it. It has no foundation, only careful thinking, but there is great romance and bravery in it. Because there was only one example before, and everyone said it was a miracle, but I personally don’t believe it. Even if the eyes of the world are focused on Hollywood, the audience must have expectations for a movie that tells our language, our culture, and our story. It’s just that you can provide the audience with that movie. Before the release of "Mengka", that precise calculation came from our experience, our romance, our kindness, and our bravery. For example, in the choice of actors, Ethan Ethan is suitable, he has potential, and he has media attention. I have ideas for him. In terms of funding, I wanted it to have the scale and detail of a blockbuster movie, where one dollar is two dollars. In terms of marketing strategy, I could only be full of imagination, not consuming, not creating fake news to create the focus of the audience, and then fully invest, romantically believe. Actually, we didn’t have any exact numbers at the time, but I knew it was a really good movie, and it had to succeed.

　　Reporter: When "Monga" achieved great results, you made a very interesting comparison, saying that the maturity of the film industry should be copied rather than surprised.

　　Niu Chengze: I don’t think movies can rely on surprises or miracles. If 2008 was "Cape No. 7" that created miracles, then I really hope that "Monga" can become a beautiful memory shared by everyone in 2010, and it can be an example for us to continue to go down. In fact, what the film industry needs is examples rather than miracles, and surprises need to keep appearing. Maybe ideas can’t be copied, talent can’t be copied, but we have a lot of experience, marketing strategies, distribution thinking, etc., that can be copied. I’m already doing these things now, and I hope to standardize it.