Interview with Zhang Xiaobei: The most important thing to be used in China science fiction films now is to be used

Science fiction movies are attracting more and more attention from the market. As a well-known screenwriter and film critic in the industry, Zhang Xiaobei is also a full-blown science fiction fan. He not only participated in the screenwriter of Liu Cixin's "Ball Lightning", but also will soon direct the science fiction theme comic book "Star Builder" is exploring and growing together with China science fiction films. After the Tencent Pictures annual press conference, the reporter interviewed new director Zhang Xiaobei and discussed with him some of the current status and problems of China science fiction films.

After "Three-Body" won the Hugo Award last year,"Beijing Fold" won the championship again this year. The "Three-Body" movie is in production. The film and television adaptation rights of "Beijing Fold" were sold to American directors last year."Heart of the Galaxy 3", which won the Science Fiction Nebula Award gold medal some time ago, will also be made into a movie. The development of science fiction literature makes people think whether science fiction movies will also usher in their own spring, but in fact there is still a long way to go before they are implemented in film and television production. So what is the most critical link from the implementation of science fiction literature to movies?

Science fiction movies are attracting more and more attention from the market. As a well-known screenwriter and film critic in the industry, Zhang Xiaobei is also a full-blown science fiction fan. He not only participated in the screenwriter of Liu Cixin's "Ball Lightning", but also will soon direct the science fiction theme comic book "Star Builder" is exploring and growing together with China science fiction films. After the Tencent Pictures annual press conference, the reporter interviewed new director Zhang Xiaobei and discussed with him some of the current status and problems of China science fiction films.

Zhang Xiaobei, who has been associated with movies for a long time, is also the owner of two companies in addition to his identity as a film critic, film screenwriter and new director. Founded in 2011, Battlestar is one of the earliest professional movie trailer production companies in China. Another company, Shifang Culture, was established in 2014. It focuses on the development and operation of film and television IP projects and will focus on making science fiction films in the next three to four years. According to Zhang Xiaobei, the two companies operate completely independently and have no relevant linkage to better leverage their respective advantages.

Choose "Star Builder": It is possible to complete a good science fiction film "Star Builder" at a relatively low cost for the story and subject matter

. It is a new adventure for both Zhang Xiaobei and Tencent Pictures. Science fiction films are a new movie genre in China. There are very few successful experiences to learn from. At the same time, Zhang Xiaobei is a new director. This is a challenge for both parties, but it is of great significance. Taking into account the different audience sizes of comics and movies, Zhang Xiaobei adjusted the world view of the original work in order to bring them on the big screen. The "Star Builder" movie is now the focus of his current work. The movie is scheduled to start in February and March next year and will be completed within the year. At present, after 6 months of preliminary development, the script and preliminary preparations have been basically completed, and it is about to enter a critical node in the production process.

Talking about cooperation with Tencent Pictures, Zhang Xiaobei said that he has always been very interested in science fiction. Tencent happened to be looking for a suitable person to do it. After communication, the two sides hit it off because of their mutual trust and common goals. Zhang Xiaobei described the cooperative relationship with Tencent Pictures as a comrades-in-arms relationship where you can safely "hand over your back to him." After confirming the cooperation intention, he started developing without signing any contract. Zhang Xiaobei spent a month watching all Tencent's anime. The most popular ones on the platform were zombie themes, but he understood that although this theme has a high number of clicks, it is also very risky to operate. "Star Builder" was finally selected because this story and theme had the potential to complete a science fiction film that was not bad and likely to be accepted and recognized by China audiences at a relatively low cost.

The opportunities and challenges faced by China's science fiction films

have been nearly 30 years since China's early science fiction films "Thunderbolt Beibei"(Douban score of 7.6) and "The Disappearance of the Atmosphere"(Douban score of 7.7). However, the level of China's science fiction films seems to still remain in the last century, with no significant progress, and there are very few works available in recent years.

Zhang Xiaobei believes that China science fiction films are in their infancy, with great hope but still many difficulties. There have been no real China science fiction films for nearly 30 years. However, China is currently developing science fiction films. In addition to the large market share and population base of China's film market, there are also very young movie-watching groups. The demand for science fiction films should come naturally.

"The market demand for China science fiction films is now obvious, and the signal is strong enough. New types create new audiences. Only when there are needs can there be applications, only when there are applications can there be experiences, only when there are experiences can there be requirements, and only when there are requirements can there be standards. After establishing standards, science fiction films as a specific genre can become a relatively important market for China films."

"The market positioning of China's science fiction films should initially be aimed at a broad audience."

Different films have different audience groups, so what is the positioning of China science fiction films? "It should be aimed at a broad audience. Generally speaking, science fiction movies have a high production cost. As a commodity, movies must have a reasonable commercial mechanism. Since we spend so much money to make science fiction movies, we must find a way to make it more accessible. Only when more audiences accept it can it become a commercially reasonable market." Zhang Xiaobei believes that although some art films are low-cost productions, they need to cost 1 million yuan to be produced. They have to follow certain commercial rules. For science fiction films, there will definitely be many possibilities in the future, but now in order to allow China audiences to accept science fiction films more quickly, the population base of this market must be cultivated in the early stage.

Does large-scale production and small-scale production have the opportunity to produce good science fiction films? There are two common views. One is that only by making big productions and special effects can we make good science fiction movies, and the other is that science fiction movies can be made at a small cost. Zhang Xiaobei believes that the two are not contradictory. The success of a high-cost science fiction movie will provide some experience and possibilities for later science fiction movies to complete the same level of production at a relatively low cost.

Generally speaking, the cost of science fiction films is relatively high, and science fiction films require a high degree of industrialization. However, the advantage of industrial production is that they can be produced and passed down. After a high-cost science fiction film is completed, the relevant technical accumulation will not disappear. If it is left and used by others again, those who come after it will have the opportunity to produce works of the same level at a relatively low cost, which will greatly improve the efficiency of science fiction film production. The key is to see whether there is an opportunity to establish a complete industrial system.

As a very industrial film product, science fiction movies require systematic integration and management capabilities to operate, which is what China science fiction movies lack. Industrialization has an important indicator. It is possible to make different products according to the same technical indicators and requirements. Technology and process management play a very important role in this process.

"If China's science fiction films want to truly develop, the most important thing is to start applying them."

At present, the industrialization of China's films still has a long way to go. The growth and development of China's science fiction films are closely related to the industrialization level of the entire China film market. The process of industrialization of China's films is actually similar to the process of industrialization in China. Sooner or later in the future, China's film market will gradually open up to the global market and gradually fully integrate into the entire global film market. By then, if China's science fiction films fail to accumulate mature technology, the gap with other countries will widen. If we want to narrow the gap, we must work hard to improve the level of film industrialization in a short period of time.

Zhang Xiaobei also clearly felt this sense of urgency."If China science fiction movies want to truly develop, the most important thing is to start applying them. It is undoubtedly very important to practice them first. It doesn't necessarily say how well they can be filmed. But if we don't start, there may be no future. Someone has to explore the way first. China science fiction films need to race against time, and there is not much time left for China films. China films must be typed and completed within a limited time, involving specific production and cost indicators, and the works must reach a level that exceeds the minimum limit." His concerns are not unreasonable. In recent years, there have been frequent rumors that China's film market will be fully opened to the world in the near future, causing concerns among some domestic filmmakers.

The balance between fast and slow is a kind of wisdom. Speed here does not mean rushing for success. Fruits that are too early may lose their original flavor. The best results should be good and fast. If you can't take care of it, it is also important to slow down, patiently polish and pay attention to quality.

Establishing local technical standards

Most of the popular science fiction films in China in recent years are from Hollywood in the United States. Hollywood science fiction films in the United States are very mature, and China has an all-round gap with them. This is a reality caused by historical reality. However, in fact, there are some good examples of Japanese and Korean science fiction movies, such as Japan's "Godzilla" and South Korea's "Hanjiang Monster"... Japan's Godzilla has become a global popular symbol, and Hollywood has also made a remake. The gap between Japan and South Korean science fiction movies, which belong to Asia as China, are of reference significance to China?

Zhang Xiaobei believes that it is of little significance to learn from it in terms of creation, but it can be learned from it in the film industry."Godzilla" is a sub-classified monster movie and is not yet a science fiction movie in the strict sense. China's content censorship mechanism makes it feasible to operate. In addition, technical aspects are also problems.

In recent years, many Korean companies have come to China to do special effects. The development of Korean special effects technology may bring some thoughts to the development of special effects technology in China. The Korean special effects company has spent more than ten years cultivating the market, sending people to study in the United States in terms of talents, and providing policy support after returning to China. After continuous practice, accumulation, improvement and maturity, it is exported, improving the level of industrialization. In terms of special effects technology, China has not yet formed a local standard. The maturity of technology requires continuous practice, accumulation, and summary of experience, followed by market feedback and technological upgrading.

"If the film market is a pyramid, science fiction films will be the top spire, and there must be a base below to support this type of film. Japanese and Korean films face the same problem. Japan and South Korea's own domestic markets are not large and it is difficult to support this type of spire. Only the China market has this possibility, and this market cannot be surrendered."

China has become the world's second largest film market after the United States. In 2014, 67 imported films grossed 13.3 billion yuan in box office, with science fiction exclusive to 64%. Most of the fat flows to outsiders, but culturally speaking, it may be difficult for Hollywood science fiction films to truly satisfy our domestic audiences emotionally."To make China's own soul science fiction films, we need to find the Chinese people's own stories, emotions, and values. On this basis, express them in a way that is consistent with modern science fiction films, and present them at the cost of Chinese films. This is also something we are exploring."

Optimistic estimates that China science fiction films will be truly accepted by the audience in about 3-5 years.

When will the public truly accept domestic science fiction films? 3-5 Around the year 2000 is Zhang Xiaobei's optimistic prediction. He put forward his own ideas: First, a movie appears on the market that is recognized by both box office and word-of-mouth audiences. Needless to say, it should sell sold well, but first of all, it should be able to make a profit commercially. Or at least not lose money; Secondly, it can be recognized by core science fiction fans and core movie audiences. These two are the first steps to be taken. Later, we will strive to have one or two universally recognized science fiction movies every year. If this happens for three consecutive years, it will not be far from the real spring of science fiction movies.

In addition to external conditions such as box office and reputation, Zhang Xiaobei believes that for a good science fiction movie, the theme plot, complete world view, and special effects are all important. Without many successful experiences from predecessors, I will use 100% of my strength and energy to make a science fiction movie for the first time. Exploring how to make science fiction movies suitable for China can only be smart people to work hard and try all possible methods once. Only after all the roads have been gone will they understand which way is more suitable.

There is no doubt that this is a process of trial and error, but you can't stop you from trying because you are afraid of making mistakes. Even if you make mistakes, you will accumulate experience. "If we want to do things that others have not done, we have to go places that others have not been. There is no way to take advantage." He set himself a relatively practical goal. Instead of shooting Star Wars at the beginning, he took it slowly and did not omit every necessary process. He believed that only after he had gone through it would he know how much the difference between needs and actual capabilities, and then think about how to use existing conditions to make up for it.

No matter what, China science fiction films have taken their first step, and more and more domestic science fiction films will be on the big screen. Because there is no so-called routine to imitate, it gives creators more possibilities to try differently. Maybe this is also an opportunity for film creators to innovate?

Editor: yvette