Fledgling makes breakthrough in film industry

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“When I confront difficulties and obstacles, I always tell myself I should never forget why I start,” said Su Lun, a young Chinese screenwriter and director, whose first film “How Long Will I Love You” has become a big hit recently with a box office income of over 800 million yuan (about 123 million US dollars).

The box office success of “How Long Will I Love You” has pushed Su Lun from no-one to an up-and-coming director. But as a fledging, what is her secret to attaining such an achievement in the film-making industry?

June 19, 2018: Director and screenwriter Su Lun at the forum /CGTN Photo

In the forum titled “Emerging Film Panel: The Good, the Fledgling and the Audacious” of 21st Shanghai International Film Festival on Tuesday, Su shared her experience of making a good film and discussed the opportunities and challenges for young Chinese filmmakers with other participants.

Creative screenplay is the key to a good film

“How Long Will I Love You,” starring Chinese actors Lei Jiayin and Tong Liya, is a time-travelling rom-com. It imagines a rip in the space-time continuum right down the middle of a low-rent apartment shared by Lu Tao, a man living in 1999 and Gu Xiaojiao, a woman living in 2018.

This film received widespread praise from critics and audiences, making it a box office hit. When asked about the success of her first film at the forum, Su ascribed it to the creativity and originality of the film’s screenplay.

The screenplay was written by Su. However, she never learned how to write a screenplay. “In 2014, I got the chance to direct a movie adapted from a popular TV drama. But I gradually found that I had no passion for the job,” said Su, “I began to realize that an original and creative story is what I really want. Then I began to write my own story.”

Participants at the forum /CGTN Photo

It was not an easy job for a beginner. Su spent more than a year learning to script write before finishing "How Long Will I Love You." Su’s efforts have paid off. The film was well received by viewers and they appreciated the creativity, imagination and fantastic atmosphere of the film.

Screenwriter You Xiaoying, also the participant of the forum agreed that originality and creativity is an essential issue for filmmaking. She said that a creative screenplay can sometimes even help young filmmakers attract funds from investors.

Choose the right actors with right chemistry

Choosing actors can be one of the greatest challenges for new directors, particularly if on a tight budget or under pressure from the box office. When speaking about the cast of “How Long Will I Love You,” Su said she attached great importance to finding the right actors with just the right chemistry.

“It has become a convention in the film industry for investors and producers to preference famous actors or bankable stars for a new film. In their view, fame and so called ‘box-office attraction’ rank first. But being bankable is not equal to being suitable,” said Su.

Poster of “How Long Will I Love You” /Photo from douban.com

Su even joked that she felt a bit “selfish” when she chose actors without any consideration for the box office or the investor’s expectations. Su wanted to choose actors with a good match to the roles in her film. She really appreciated that Lei Jiayin and Tong Liya finally agreed to star in her film, as these two actors were not only suitable for the roles, but also well interpreted the roles with their virtuoso performance.

Poster for “How Long Will I Love You” /Photo from douban.com

But casting is a two-way street for directors and actors. Actors might refuse an invitation from a fledgling director because of a lack of experience.

How can young directors address this dilemma? Su employed her own experience as an example. She said she had polished her scripts again and again and provided actors with clear filming plans and agendas when persuading them to star in her film. “It is important to show actors your sincerity and patience. Only a careful attitude can deeply touch others,” added Su.

Film projects: double-edged sword

During the forum, Su and other participants also frequently mentioned that the booming film industry currently has provided young filmmakers with more opportunities, such as the financial support from various film projects.

Many film festivals, including the Shanghai International Film Festival, will launch film projects every year, in which young filmmakers can present their ideas and plans to film industry tycoons and investors. If their ideas are good enough, they can get funds to start up filming.

Poster of “How Long Will I Love You” /Photo from douban.com

Su indicated that these film projects are good opportunities for talented young people with a dream, even if they have not received professional training.

However, Su and other participants at the forum also worry that these film projects might bring something unfavorable as well. For example, some young filmmakers may forget their original intention of film-making and only cater for the taste of investors.

“Sometimes financial support has a bad impact on young filmmakers, as it can influence them in making compromises. So it’s essential for young filmmakers to maintain their faith in cinematic creation and make the right judgement,” said Su.