Life

Comic relief

By Liu Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-15 08:10

Comic relief

A colorful scene from A Simple Noodle Story. File Photos

Zhang Yimou's stiff and strong demeanor has caused him to be compared with the Terracotta Warriors, from his hometown of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province.

In an interview with China Daily, however, China's most famous director is highly animated and laughs a lot when talking about his habit of watching TV dramas at 2 or 3 am, and how that helped him cast parts for his latest film, A Simple Noodle Story.

The graduate of Beijing Film Academy's cinematography department is a technology enthusiast and used the latest digital high definition camera system for the film.

He enjoys fashion shows and says they "break the existing rules". He surfs on the Internet a lot, which explains his use of the trendiest Internet slang.

When he's called "pillar of the industry" or "leader of Chinese cinema", he quickly responds: "Altar is only in your imagination, I was never on that."

After the huge pressure and glory of producing the Beijing Olympics' Opening Ceremony what he wants most now is to be an ordinary director and make a comedy. How many times the audience laughs over the 100 minutes it plays for is his only criterion for success.

Zhang talks further about the film and his post-Olympic life before the film's premiere nationwide.

Q: Why did you choose Blood Simple over other Coen brother's works?

A: I like all the Coen brothers' works. I saw Blood Simple in 1984 or '85, without Chinese subtitles, but I understood it well.

What interests me most in Blood Simple is a person's powerlessness and absurdity before fate.

Coen films have a consistency in terms of the unrelenting tone and feeling of alienation. I gave up on that and added my own color and a slapstick feel.

Q: The colors in Noodle are impressive, opposite to the cold and depressing tones in Blood Simple. Why?

A: I have always liked ravishing and eye-catching colors. It is my preference.

In my previous Chinese costume dramas, you will find that bright and beautiful colors belong to only kings and nobles, while ordinary people wear what we call "rat's gray".

In this film I dressed the characters - all ordinary types - in lavish red and green.

I see many fashion shows, and I know mix-and-match is the trend. Fashion is about breaking the existing rules. So why can't we mix-and-match and break the rules, too?

I think the Coen brothers will think it is funny to see their film so changed. If a foreign director wanted to remake one of my films, say, Red Sorghum, I'd like to see it as different from the original as possible.

Q: You cast many er'renzhuan actors. Why? (Er'renzhuan is a type of folk performance from Northeast China which combines boisterous singing, dancing and stand-up comedy.)

A: The casting is what I feel the proudest of in this film. They (the actors) all have really unique skills, after years of stage experience. On the stage you have to make the audience laugh the moment you stand on it, and keep them laughing every two to five minutes. I think that makes them really able actors.

Q: Are you worried about comparisons between the two films?

A: Some will think it's better than the original work, and some won't, definitely, but that's not important. The fact that I dared make it this way is the most fun part. No one could have imagined a remake of Blood Simple would be like this.

Q: Some might say directing slapstick is unimaginable for someone who enjoys the prestige you have.

A: I stepped into hell when I decided to make the film a slapstick version. It was clear to me that when you make a comedy, one third of the jokes will be considered vulgar.

It is like when you raise a herd of horses. You try your best to make them all winged steeds, but it always turns out that only a few of them will make it.

I am fully prepared to be criticized because I know it is hard, even impossible, to make a perfect comedy, in which all the jokes are appropriate and are flawlessly woven into the storyline.

If you want laughter from the audience - which is harder than eliciting tears sometimes - you have to be prepared for criticism.

If the audience laughs 20 times when it watches the film, I will consider it a success.

Q: Any ambition for the overseas market this time?

A: This film is totally for the domestic market. Comedy is so local, especially with the dialogue. I am not at all confident this film will appeal to international audiences. The mainland market is the target. Even Hong Kong and Taiwan audiences may not find the film amusing.

The rise of the mainland market has made Chinese directors change their focus. Today a Chinese film can make 10 times the money it makes overseas.

Ten or 15 years ago my films relied heavily on the international market, but it is totally different now. Five years from now, or maybe less, a Chinese movie might make $100 million at the local box office. I am not exaggerating.

Q: You have used the latest digital high definition cameras this time and many advanced technologies at the Beijing Olympics' Opening Ceremony. Have you ever thought of making a science fiction film?

A: I do want to make one, but I have not found the right story. Of course it is also about money. It would be huge for us to spend $10 million on a sci-fi project, but in Hollywood it is nothing. We may have good sci-fi concepts, but we don't have enough money to make it visually as good.

Q: How about cooperating with Hollywood companies to make one?

A: I don't want to get on that boat. I am just a second- or third-class filmmaker on that boat. I know it clearly.

I don't speak English. How can I direct an English-language film if I cannot tell which is the best take among three from an actor? Even three takes for such a simple line as "OK" are different - and as a director you have to pick the best one.

Many Hollywood producers have come to me looking to collaborate, especially after Hero, but I always say, 'No'. Otherwise I would end up becoming a third-class director, instead of being a top one.

Q: As the leader of Chinese cinema do you consider you have responsibilities?

A: Let me use the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympics as an example. Why did the world marvel at it? Because it never thought such an old China could express itself in such a fashionable way!

When I raised the idea of using multimedia, many experts thought it would be impossible because it would be too difficult to solve the technological problems. They did not think we had enough time and experience.

They tried hard to make me give up - and I did have to give up sometimes. I remember once the government leaders visited and they were extremely anxious when they found the LED panels still did not light.

I feel so lucky that I insisted and made it. I had to shoulder the responsibility to create the image of a new and fashionable China to stun the world.

But back to your question. After the Olympics, I am once again just an ordinary film director. I really do not want to take on such great responsibilities any more.

When you do something for the sake of responsibility you have to give up on impulse and freedom.

Now, I do not want to give myself too much pressure. I want to maintain my excitement, joy and passion to try something I never tried before, such as the Noodle film.

Q: People call you a Superman, always energetic. What do you do when you're not working?

A: It is true that I cannot stand goofing off. I must do something.

I sleep little. When I do not have to work, I still stay up, reading, watching films and the TV, or surfing on the Internet. I do not go to bed before 4 or 5 in the morning.

I watch all kinds of TV shows, news and series. I cast Yan Ni, the leading actress, because the TV series starring her was often broadcast after midnight. And it was so funny. The other actor, Sun Honglei, heads the hit TV series Lurk, which I accidentally saw at night and got a crush on.

People around me are surprised that I know lots of new things. For instance, the film's theme song, I am Only a Legend, is a popular Internet slang. I wrote the lyrics for the song, in just 40 minutes.

Young people just love this kind of slang. No reason. Experts could discuss for hours why such slang is popular but they wouldn't be able to come to a conclusion. It just works. The only thing you have to know about winning over young people is to break the old rules.