Top Chinese thesp turns to helming
Featured Player: Jiang Wen
"The Sun Also Rises," (not based on the Hemingway tome), the upscale picture about passion he's in the middle of shooting, could be his last arthouse project. He has his next three already planned, all with a more commercial slant. And although his fans might not be pleased, he intends to spend more time making movies than acting in them.
Likened to John Wayne or Marlon Brando in terms of his importance to the Chinese industry, Jiang was banned in 2000 after helming "Devils on the Doorstep" (Guizi Lai Le), a black-and-white drama about Chinese villagers who harbor Japanese soldiers. Chinese authorities were incensed because his investors took the film to Cannes without permission, and also because the movie portrayed Japan with more humanity than was usual by Chinese standards. He was permitted to act again in 2002, and in 2005, was allowed to start helming his third movie.
Evidence of changing times in China and the extent of Jiang's rehabilitation comes with a visit to his office, surprisingly located in Beijing's Forbidden City. Access is through a discreet side door, and invoking his name is enough for security guards to drop their arms. The airy office pavilion is big enough to house a digital editing suite. Walls are crammed with books, posters and mockups for "The Sun Also Rises" marketing campaign.
Here Jiang welcomes a steady stream of reps from Hollywood studios and international sales agents. Each rep is shown half an hour of footage, delivered with Jiang's knowing twinkle that has made him the star of 20 movies, and then sent away to contemplate their offers.
The pic is at a critical stage. Originally set to be fully financed by media and property group Taihe, the $6.8 million picture has already cost Jiang some $2 million of his own funds. While the pic is divided into four sections -- madness, sex, dreams and violence -- lensing has been completed on only three elements. Winter scenes, likely to shoot in Russia and northern China, are still to come.
China is bursting with talent and stories, but even someone as independent and self-confident as Jiang is still hampered by a system dominated by propaganda pics and poorly made, job-creation movies. The number of indie producers with significant understanding of sophisticated financing systems, international markets or Hollywood studios is in single figures. Hence the dependence of his contemporaries on Hong Kong and other foreign partners.
Jiang could prove more attractive to potential partners than Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige or Feng Xiaogang, as he is aiming high while working in genres outside martial arts. "He is the most talented member of his generation," says one U.S. exec. Another described him as having the potential to become a global auteur on the level of Bertolucci or Almodovar.
Jiang has brought on board Lotus Entertainment, a Hong Kong- and Beijing-based shingle headed by former agent Thomas Leong, to act as producer. Lotus is handling rights to "The Sun Also Rises" and dealing with mounting festival clamor. The winter shooting sked means major autumn and winter festivals will miss out, and there are hints the film has already been offered a competition slot at Cannes 2007.
Lotus and Jiang's Beijing Bu Yi Le Hu Film Co. now have a four-picture deal including the current title and spanning Jiang's next three pictures as helmer. These are expected to mark a significant change in direction.
"From now on, I will work with other people's material if it fits where I want to go," Jiang says. "I'm especially keen to work with good scriptwriters on stories we have developed."
His roster includes an ethics drama about three men and two women; a Sherlock Holmes-style detective thriller; a Chinese period intrigue with lots of bloodshed; and a satirical comedy about the Korean War, complete with helicopters, jazz and American football.
He hesitates to use the word commercial to describe his new direction, and instead makes the point that his films to date have been accessible arthouse pictures. "Heat of the Sun" grossed $6.3 million, a socko number that was earned at a time when Chinese ticket prices were a fraction of what they are today. ("Devils" was not allowed a mainland release, but was a huge success in the pirate video market.) Jiang says the new lineup will have bigger budgets, bigger stars and better marketing. "I'm already moving in this direction with the likes of Joan Chen and Anthony Wong starring in 'The Sun Also Rises'," he says.
Adds Leong, "We will be working with budgets in the $5 million-$15 million range and putting a greater emphasis on marketing and connecting with audiences."
