/ Morning Dew
There seems to be a myth in today’s Chinese movies: there are many domestic films that are loved by Chinese audiences, and many internationally recognized domestic films. Those who can achieve both are rare. .
"To make Chinese movies that Chinese audiences like and can truly go to the world." Song Xiaowen, founder and president of Ultra Small Pictures, yearned for and practised this way in the interview.
At the 32nd Tokyo International Film Festival that ended last week, Song Xiaowen was the producer, and the Chinese film "Summer Night Knight" produced by Super Small Pictures won the Asian Future Award. The premiere received numerous applause from Japanese audiences. .
This is not only the first feature film written and directed by the young director You Xing, but also the first Chinese film produced by Song Xiaowen.
, the new hot mom born in 1985, was not only selected as one of the top ten Hollywood producers of the year by American Variety Magazine, but also as one of the top 50 young filmmakers of the year by "Silver Screen" magazine. Her production works "Nancy" and "Children" "Jack" was also nominated for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, in which "Nancy" won the best screenwriter award at the festival.
made a movie together and after the film won the award, I interviewed the young film producer Song Xiaowen for the first time, and talked with her about the creative process of "Summer Night Knight", the award-winning experience, the experience in the Chinese and American film industry, and the company’s super The present and future of trumpet film industry.
"Going back to China to film is a very correct decision for me and the director."
"Summer Night Knight" was born when Song Xiaowen and You Xing hit it off.
In 2017, Song Xiaowen and You Xing, who both lived and worked in Los Angeles, met through a colleague of Song Xiaowen at the time and also You Xing's girlfriend. In the private exchanges between the two friends, they found that they had similar tastes in movies, so You Xing took out the feature-length movie script he had polished for a year and showed it to the producer friends.
When Song Xiaowen talked about his feelings about seeing the script at the time, he couldn't hide his appreciation for the work and the director: "I personally (of the script) very much. The temperament of the script reminds me of a movie I like-Director Yang Dechang "Yi Yi". You Xing's insight into human nature and the human world is very keen, so many years of life experience and accumulated literature and film accomplishments are very good, I think he has many elements of a good director, I am very Appreciating his personality and his book touched me, so I said at the time, I will produce for you, let's do it together."
▲The director of "Summer Night Knight" You Xing
Although the cooperation with the film hit it off. Since the film is completely Chinese from preparation to shooting, and the story takes place in the director’s hometown of Chengdu, returning to China for filming has also become an inevitable choice for both of them, but this is the same for both of them who have been developing overseas for many years. Tough decisions.
You Xing, who has studied and lived in the United States for ten years since graduating from high school, did not understand the domestic living environment and the working environment of the film industry. The return experience of some friends of the same generation and his own visa issues made him give up the current situation. The comfortable and familiar environment and the decision to return to China for filming are full of anxiety and uncertainty.
For Song Xiaowen, who was still an independent producer in Los Angeles at the time, even though he knew that returning to China to make a film was the only way for him to be a Chinese-speaking filmmaker, this opportunity still came both surprisingly and suddenly.
recalled this decision, Song Xiaowen also frankly said: "For us, the decision was too right. Because as a native Chinese, I am more passionate and impulsive to tell the story. It must be the Chinese story. I also hope that more Communicate with the audience in your country, and now the domestic film industry is developing very fast, and there are many opportunities."
▲ "Summer Night Knight" producer Song Xiaowen and director You Xing decided to return to China at the Tokyo Film Festival
. The two returnee filmmakers started the film preparation without stopping.
In the words of Song Xiaowen, the determination of the actors went smoothly. For example, Huang Lu, who decided to act after reading the script, and Xi Xi, the actor who plays the little boy Tiantian, who fits perfectly in appearance and role. In the film
, the Chinese actor Lin Ludi, the actor of the uncle, is the first to contact and determine the role. Talking about why he chose an actor who does not speak Sichuan dialect, and has some distance from the role in the cultural background, Song Xiaowen’s explanation proves the importance of the actor’s attitude: “Lu Di is very easy to learn, and he also likes the director’s script. Movie is very interestingInteresting, so I have been following up (this project), and also asked a language coach to help him with his lines, so we did not consider others later. "
Ji Lingchen's starring is more interesting. I learned about Ji Lingchen's Song Xiaowen in a variety show and felt that he could play the role of the "lady" in the film no matter in appearance, lines, or culture, so he was recommended to the director. The director wrote a sincere and sincere long article and wrote a private message to Ji Lingchen via Instagram. Soon his agent got in touch with the team and finalized the cooperation after meeting.
▲The lead actor Ji Lingchen was in position at the Tokyo Film Festival
. Due to the limited budget of the crew, the complicated procedures for the school’s shooting permission, and the shooting time coincided with the beginning of the school season, the crew finally decided to shoot in Pengzhou, a small county one hour away from Chengdu. Fortunately,
Pengzhou, known as the "Little Chengdu", is less affected by urbanization, and the features of the 1990s are still well preserved, providing a lot of convenience for the restoration of movie scenes.
is for the producer, director and company team , "Summer Night Knight" is their first time to shoot a feature film in China. They did not blindly imitate their unfamiliar working methods of domestic crews. Song Xiaowen and his team have always adhered to the principle of maximizing production efficiency and established a stable The working mechanism saves unnecessary time for eating, drinking and playing, and working ten hours a day, even if there are many big night scenes in the film, it will allow the crew to go back and rest fully and start the next day's shooting later.
recalls the movie The biggest difficulty in the filming, the new mother Song Xiaowen did not mention that she was pregnant and was in the group eating KFC every day and the meticulous work, but emphasized the differences in working methods at home and abroad, such as the common financial chaos of domestic crews. Through the joint efforts and communication of the entire crew, it has been resolved, and it has established its own set of compliant and efficient systems; for example, the different levels of art and props, photographers and lighting engineers in the crew, and photographer Sheldon’s bilingual communication
▲The launch ceremony of "Summer Night Knight"
Speaking of this, Song Xiaowen once again expressed his excitement for being able to cooperate with the director: "You Xing is a very professional director from the perspective of creation and business philosophy. On the one hand, he concentrates on his own creation, on the other hand, he also knows how to cooperate with the producers. We have a very clear division of labor. "
Indeed, we have heard too many stories of conflicts between producers and directors, and even antagonisms. So, like Song Xiaowen and You Xing, they are based on a tacit understanding of each other's ideas and deep trust, with a clear division of labor. Modern and efficient international working methods are not only the luck of Song Xiaowen, but also the yearning of all filmmakers. Under the support of this working mode, the success of "Summer Night Rider" is not surprising.
The award is completely unexpected." The ability of
to take "Summer Night Rider" to the Tokyo Film Festival for the premiere has already made Song Xiaowen very happy, and winning the award has never even thought about it. "None of us in the crew I thought, except for Teacher Ji who had a good feeling (laughs). After all,
is the first time shooting in China and lacks experience. Coupled with the director's unique style, there are very few works that can be targeted. Every step in "Summer Night Knight" is like crossing the river by touching the stones. The most important thing about
is that due to the rush of time, the final version submitted to the film festival, and the fine-tuning of the mixing, grading and editing of some places in the later period have not been completed. In addition, in the award-winning Asian Future of "Summer Night Rider", there are seven films from all over the world shortlisted, including experienced directors and large company teams.
Faced with fierce competition and his own imperfections, Song Xiaowen's reaction to the audience is also full of anxiety.
Facts have proved that the feedback from Japanese audiences on the film relieved the young producer. Not only during the film screening, the Japanese audience watched it very seriously, cried and laughed, and asked questions in the post-screening questioning session, and they also asked very precisely what the director wanted to express. "We think the Japanese audience is really a very good audience group, so we are looking forward to the release in Japan." After the
Tokyo Film Festival, Song Xiaowen also signed up for the film to participate in some European film festivals next year. While eager to communicate with audiences in a wider area and increase the attention of the film, I also hope thatFind a suitable domestic distributor to help the film be shown in domestic theaters next year.
Having said this, Song Xiaowen sincerely said: "I hope that the distributor is in line with our philosophy. The company may not be very large, but it can help the film to be seen by the right audience. This is our biggest wish."
" Longing for Chinese films to have their own voice in the world"
Song Xiaowen, who went to the United States to study, work and live in 2012, believes that the most important thing these experiences bring to him is the ability to think independently and look at problems from multiple angles.
"The most feared thing about making movies is impetuosity, or too much desire. If you are not careful, you may fall into these traps. Therefore, it is still necessary to establish a correct value and absorb what you think is right from various working methods. , Slowly accumulate and grow.” Recalling his work experience in China and the United States over the past few years, Song Xiaowen also shared his thoughts.
▲ Stills of "Children Jack"
For Song Xiaowen, the difference between the Chinese and American film industries actually has its own advantages and disadvantages. Compared with who has more advantages and disadvantages, it is better to say that the two are more like mirrors and make movies In the contact, people compare and think, learn from and absorb the strengths of the two.
The film industry in the United States is more standardized and industrialized, and the division of labor is more detailed and clear. The working methods between the crews are very similar. For the producers, there are relatively fewer things to worry about and less pressure. At the same time, it lacks passion.
In China, each crew has different rules. The human touch and the atmosphere of the rivers and lakes are very heavy, and there are more things to worry about. But for young producers like Song Xiaowen who are still in the growth stage, these pressures will transform. Become motivation and help her solve new problems and challenges, but it is more satisfying.
▲ "Nancy" poster
In recent years, with the development of the Chinese film market, not only films that reflect the life of Chinese people, such as "Pink Romance" and "Don't Tell Her" have become popular in Hollywood, sparking heated discussions and Chinese faces Also appearing more and more in front of and behind the scenes in Hollywood. Song Xiaowen believes that at present, the United States is only concerned about the voices of Chinese Americans, and that Chinese localized films still have a long way to go. As a member of the new wave of Chinese-language filmmakers,
dreams of making Chinese movies that Chinese audiences like and can truly go global. "I think my current peers also have this ability, because many of them have an international vision, have their own ideas and styles, and are working hard to innovate. Therefore, the new generation of Chinese filmmakers in the future will definitely get better and better in the world. , I’m even more yearning for real Chinese films to have its voice in the world.” At this point, Song Xiaowen’s tone is optimistic and firm.
"The super small film industry wants to grow up with young audiences"
"It is our greatest passion and ideal to create high-quality content for the young audience in the millennium."
is a super small, established in early 2017 and is about to be three years old. The first sentence in the plan of No. Film Company.
Chinese audiences born in the 80s, 90s, and even the 00s have experienced drastic changes in time and technology, formed a unique value system of this generation, and have grown into the backbone of Chinese movie audiences today. As a cutting-edge producer born after 1985, Song Xiaowen has always hoped to show the living conditions of his peers and younger audiences through film and television works.
"I am particularly optimistic about our generation, and the generation after 00. I think they have a good chance to become a group of high-quality audiences. Filmmakers also grow up with the audience. I want to make things for these young audiences. "
talked about the selection criteria for film and television projects. Song Xiaowen did not like to use the definition methods of literary films and commercial films, but in the current context, the ultra-small trumpet’s choice of literary films like "Summer Night Knight" Will be more cautious, plan to invest in one every one to two years, and then focus more on the development of genres.
▲Song Xiaowen and You Xing happily embrace
's current key development projects after winning the awards, including crazy comedies with the theme of youth campus brothers, family magic comedies around father and son love, and thriller mystery films, as well as comedies written by their own Web drama. In addition to the development and production of film and television projects, the other main business of
is the management of film and television talents. Different from the common entertainer agents in China, Super Small is positioned to be a manager of young filmmakers, for them to plan their careers, provide project reference opinions, andOther resource-level assistance such as legal affairs and taxation. The
business has only started for a few months, and the company has signed outstanding young directors, screenwriters, directors of photography, editors, etc. including You Xing, Busan, and Pingyao Film Festival finalist photographer Zhou Cong. Song Xiaowen also hopes to help more young filmmakers through his accumulated industry resources and experience.
▲The work of super-small film industry contracted photographer Zhou Cong's work
From a student who just set foot on the road to study in the United States seven years ago, to an intern who ran errands in Hollywood to buy coffee after graduation, and now leads a Chinese film to win The young producer of the International Film Festival Awards, Song Xiaowen's film road is focused, firm and solid. Regardless of how the environment changes, how the identity changes, and how the team expands, Song Xiaowen's original intention of making high-quality film and television content has never changed.
is just like her positioning of the company's super small film industry-to become a powerful development and production workshop, and to be a dynamic and creative production company like the young audience she loves.
