"Director Rosenberg, if it's possible..."
As the episode recording ended, Chai Jing tentatively extended an invitation. "Could I invite you to lunch?"
"It would be my honor."
Duke appeared very polite but still declined tactfully. "I've already made an appointment for lunch with Mr. Han from China Film Group."
As someone who deeply admired America, Chai Jing was clearly disappointed. She was leaving Shanghai that afternoon, and missing the chance to build a closer relationship with America's most famous director and tycoon was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She seemed like she wanted to say something more, but Duke gave her no chance. He called over an assistant to see the program crew out, then picked up his phone, dialed Tina Fey's number, and briefly asked about the situation in North America. After that, he left the small conference room used for the recording and returned to his own room. It was getting late, and he was preparing to change clothes to attend Zuo shandiao's dinner invitation.
This was not an official dinner. The other party had only invited him and a Warner Bros Greater China executive. The venue was an old, established Chinese restaurant not far from the Hilton Hotel.
Due to the interview, Duke arrived a bit late.
"My apologies."
Regardless of impressions, he had in fact arrived late. Duke sat next to Phil, the Warner Bros. Greater China executive, and said to Zuo shandiao in the main seat, "There was an interview, and it took a bit longer."
"No problem." Zuo shandiao also knew which media had interviewed Duke and smiled as he replied, "There aren't many people in this world worth waiting for like Director Rosenberg."
Phil adjusted his seat slightly. "Sometimes I want to wait for Duke too, but I don't qualify."
"Phil, when have I ever made you wait?" Duke casually joked back.
He had known Phil quite well since the 1990s. Phil had even helped him invite Yuen Woo-ping in Hong Kong before.
Once the waiters brought in the food and drinks, Zuo shandiao was the first to raise his glass. "Congratulations on the huge success of Transformers."
Duke followed local customs and replied, "Likewise."
"Yes, likewise." Zuoshandiao chuckled.
Transformers had received investment from China Film Group.
Baijiu was still a bit too strong for Duke's taste, so he merely sipped at it. As for the traditional Chinese cuisine the restaurant had prepared, he barely touched it. First, because such dinners were more about conversation than food; second, because after decades of Western cuisine, he was no longer used to Chinese flavors.
Some things don't change according to personal will like the huge difference in dietary habits between East and West.
Not to mention the West even within this vast country, people from one province often can't get used to another province's food.
Perhaps to accommodate him and Phil, the dinner used a Western-style individual serving format. Duke and the Warner Bros. executive merely tasted each dish and then put down their cutlery.
Phil had worked in this region for years and seemed used to Chinese cuisine. Duke, however, was different. For instance, he found a Sichuan dish quite delicious, but his stomach, unaccustomed to such spicy food for many years, couldn't handle it. After just two bites, he felt like his stomach was about to rebel.
"Phil, Duke."
Such occasions naturally bring people closer. As they ate and discussed Chinese cuisine, Zuo shandiao gradually steered the conversation toward the main topic. "Transformers becoming a global box office hit is already a certainty—especially its performance in the Chinese market."
He lifted his teacup and took a sip. "To be honest, we knew Duke's films could do well in the Chinese market, but China Film Group didn't expect it to be this explosive. It reminded me of Titanic back in the day."
"That's thanks to China Film Group's distribution and promotion," Duke replied politely.
He wasn't someone who ignored social decorum, nor did he think himself so invincible as to conquer the world alone. The fact that Transformers made over 300 million yuan in just seven days in China was due to both the quality of the film and the audience's emotional connection, but the strong support of China Film Group in distribution and marketing was another—perhaps even critical—factor.
"Transformers is a model of successful cooperation," Zuo shandiao said, his eyes seemingly full of sincerity. "Lately I've been considering whether this kind of partnership can be promoted among more Chinese film companies and Hollywood studios, to produce more co-productions and bring them to global markets."
International cooperation has become a mainstream production model in Hollywood. As long as there's enough funding and no core issues involved, Hollywood studios don't care whether the money comes from Russia or China.
"I also hope to increase cooperation with your country." Duke naturally guided the topic toward Phil. "I'm just a director. On this matter, China Film should talk more with Warner."
Phil looked at Duke and couldn't help but smile.
After all, Duke had once been a part of this country's film industry. After thinking for a moment, Phil added, "Any ambitious film enterprise wants to push its movies to global audiences. Your country, like us, is very interested in the global market. Film industry globalization is a global issue, not the problem of any one nation. It's a major topic in the U.S., and in every country. So in this regard, we must work together. Things are very different now compared to a few years ago we live in a digital age. To succeed, we must cooperate globally."
Hollywood could be called the epitome of globalization in film. Ang Lee once said: "What's national may not be international."
To some extent, Duke agreed with that statement. Many times, national cinema ends up being niche cinema even in Hollywood.
It's a simple truth. Culture has common ground, but it also has deep regional and ethnic boundaries, and those boundaries don't change just because people will it so.
Take movies, for example: the two versions of Infernal Affairs are textbook cases.
The Hong Kong version of Infernal Affairs only grossed $160,000 in North America, despite its high IMDB rating. American audiences just weren't buying it. The most criticized part was how romantic the film was—too romantic to be a crime thriller. The rooftop showdown, hailed as classic in the East, was among the most mocked scenes in the West. For two repressed men facing life-and-death situations to deliver such romantic lines at such a moment? North American audiences found it absolutely unbelievable.
By the same token, The Departed only had market appeal in North America and the West. In the Western Pacific region, it was harshly criticized. The constant profanity from the characters was simply intolerable. The rooftop scene, in particular Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon constantly swearing "FUCK" completely destroyed the mood of the original version...
The cultural gap is vividly illustrated through these two films.
Today's world is undoubtedly dominated by Western culture, a reality that won't change based on individual will. If Chinese cinema wants to truly break into the global market, it must adapt to globalization while maintaining its own distinctiveness.
That said, if Chinese films hope to conquer the world the way Hollywood films do, no matter how rapidly the industry develops, it simply isn't feasible.
The reason is simple: any country's film industry attempting to replace Hollywood faces a problem that goes far beyond filmmaking itself.
"Mr. Han, I still don't fully understand the function of China Film Group, but in my opinion, the company you manage, along with the industry authority upstream, should be somewhat similar to the MPAA."
Since he had spoken up, Duke decided to say a few more words. Though he followed a principle of profit above all, part of him had lived on this land and worked hard in this industry.
"The MPAA's job is actually quite simple: basically, it assists Hollywood studios in protecting their works and expanding market access. It's an industry, a business market expansion is very important."
Zuo shandiao also showed a look of serious attention at least on the surface.
Duke knew very well not to view this leading figure in Chinese cinema from a narrow perspective. This man had been steeped in the industry for decades. It would be false to say he didn't want to see Chinese cinema grow.
"And clearly, making movies is very expensive," Duke continued. "Writers need only a pen, painters a brush, but filmmakers need an army a high-level, well-coordinated team. Today, film production is costly. Whether in China or elsewhere, making a good movie takes money. Ensuring that a film appeals to audiences audiences around the world is absolutely essential."
No matter which country you're in, even France, cinema is a business.
Apparently, Duke's words had some impact. Zuo shandiao asked quite seriously, "What does Chinese cinema urgently need in order to enter the international market?"
"I'm not sure about the current positioning of Chinese films, and no one can clearly tell me what kind of global status Chinese cinema holds."
At this point, Duke paused and looked at Phil. Phil smiled and didn't refuse, instead continuing, "The number of screens in China is increasing, theaters are increasing, the number of films is increasing... all this tells me—Chinese cinema is on a very bright path."
He then shifted the tone, "What I want to say is that your country should focus on sustained growth. The Chinese market is the foundation—laying a strong foundation is key to having a shot at overseas expansion."
Zuoshandiao let out a light sigh. "It's just that time waits for no one."
He would retire in just a few years.
"Mr. Han, this is a common problem in the global film industry," Duke thought for a moment and then said. "If Hollywood made films only for the American market, we would never have succeeded. We've succeeded for so many years—and Warner Bros. has been around for nearly a hundred years—because we've made excellent global films. I believe you understand this. It's the right path, and that's good news for everyone."