Chapter 510: The Greatest Power of Film

"He is the most successful commercial director in Hollywood history and one of the most compelling directors of the twentieth century. Every one of his films sets a new personal box office record and establishes a new benchmark for future cinema. He has been in the industry for just over a decade, yet his directed works have grossed over 7.5 billion dollars at the box office. Persistent, hardworking, and tenacious, he is hailed by the North American media as a representative of the American dream. He is Duke Rosenberg!"

Standing backstage, Duke listened to the voiceover playing over the dance music in the front hall. He waited patiently. The occasional bursts of applause told him clearly that aside from the host, Yang Lan, there was a sizable audience in the studio.

"Last week, the eighth Shanghai International Film Festival opened. The arrival of renowned Hollywood director Duke Rosenberg has become one of the biggest highlights of the event."

Another round of applause broke out. Catching the floor director's cue, Duke walked on stage, waved to the audience with a slight smile, and sat down opposite Yang Lan.

For Duke, who had graced the cover of Time Magazine multiple times, this was a minor spectacle.

Wearing his usual dark casual suit, he looked natural and easygoing. His crisp, short hair gave him an energetic and spirited appearance, making him seem permanently locked at thirty—a mature, steady, and charming age.

Yang Lan shook Duke's hand and asked, "We won't have any problem conversing in Chinese, will we?"

"As long as you don't use local slang," Duke said. His Mandarin was even more fluent than that of many Shanghai locals. "Or idioms."

A murmur of admiration rippled through the audience at his words.

"I lived in America for a long time, and even for many Western linguistic prodigies, Chinese is an absolute nightmare." Yang Lan was clearly controlling the pace of the interview. "How long did it take you to reach this level?"

"About three years," Duke said, thinking back. "Roughly that long. I do have a bit of a talent for it."

"So you're a linguistic genius as well?" Yang Lan asked.

Duke shook his head. "No, I only speak English and Chinese. I've studied other languages but never made any progress. With French, for instance, I still only know a few basic words. Maybe it's just fate, but I found Chinese very easy to learn."

Then, just as he did while promoting in France and other countries, Duke launched into how deeply interested he was in Chinese culture.

"If you're interested in Chinese culture, have you watched any Chinese films?"

Hearing the question, Duke answered softly, "I have, but not many. Jack Chen's action comedies, for example, and Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tiger."

Yang Lan asked, "Where do you think the biggest gap lies between Chinese films and Hollywood films?"

"The industrial foundation!"

This answer clearly took everyone by surprise. A wave of astonishment even echoed from the audience.

Yang Lan asked with a hint of curiosity, "Not anywhere else?"

There were certainly other factors, but they involved multiple cultural, political, and economic elements, and Duke didn't want to stray too far off topic. "Personally, I think it's the industrial foundation," he said. "You could also call it technology."

Before she could ask further, he explained, "Before the nineties, Hollywood films were nowhere near as prosperous as they are now. European cinema still had the strength to compete with Hollywood. But that all changed starting in the early nineties. If you observe carefully, you'll see that for the most successful Hollywood films globally over the past decade or so, technology has been the crucial factor propping them up."

"Should the next step for Chinese cinema be to focus on technological development?"

"A film is the result of multiple factors combined; technology is just one link in the chain." Duke thought for a moment. "Every director has their own style. Take me, for example. Only with sufficiently advanced film technology can I turn the images in my head into reality. That's why some people consider me a technical director."

At this point, Yang Lan suddenly realized that Duke had unknowingly seized the initiative. This was a major taboo for talk shows, so she quickly changed the subject. "In your films, outstanding special effects always create jaw-dropping, blood-pumping visual experiences. Out of the ten highest-grossing films in box office history, four are yours. What do you think contributed to your success?"

"Dreams, persistence, and hard work." Duke paused before adding, "And the continuous expansion of theater chains. Ten years ago, for instance, it was incredible for a film to open in 3,000 theaters in North America. But now, securing 4,000 theaters isn't difficult. The development of theater chains and the increase in screen counts are among the most basic conditions for a film's box office growth."

It was a very simple truth, and both Yang Lan and the audience members nodded.

Duke continued, "Although television, the internet, and DVD players are all developing rapidly today, the theatrical viewing experience won't be replaced for a very long time. For films like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, watching on a big screen versus a small screen are two entirely different experiences."

Yang Lan reacted extremely fast, immediately asking, "Is this why you focus on making special effects films?"

Duke shrugged, not denying it. "You could say it's one of the reasons. The channels through which audiences can watch films are constantly increasing, so why must they go to the theater? You have to show them something they can't see on a small screen."

Yang Lan had clearly done her homework for the interview, asking next, "In your opinion, when a film becomes a massive hit, does the use of cinematic technology play a driving role?"

"For Independence Day, I used CG technology on a massive scale for the first time. The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy also utilized a lot of high tech." Duke didn't shy away from the audience present, stating directly, "I don't think moviegoers care about how a film is made. The audience just wants a certain experience. They like movies that captivate them and take them on a journey. The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy are exactly those kinds of movies."

Hearing Duke say this, the people in the audience nodded unconsciously. Duke had conducted extensive research; very few general audience members cared about how a movie was produced. What they wanted was simple enjoyment.

Seeing Duke unknowingly seize control again, Yang Lan changed the topic once more. "Taken, which you brought with you this time, has had an excellent reception. I have the latest box office statistics here. Since its release last Thursday, the film's cumulative box office in China has reached 28.65 million yuan."

She looked at Duke and asked, "What are your thoughts on that?"

"I'm very glad that the audience likes my film."

The number didn't seem conspicuous. But it was only 2004, and the films that could surpass 100 million at the box office in a single year were few and far between. The figure of 28.65 million RMB was already quite impressive.

"This film was released simultaneously in China and America," Yang Lan continued. "Have the North American box office figures come out yet?"

Seeing Duke nod slightly, she asked, "Could you share them with us?"

"Of course." Duke recalled the data he'd received at noon and said, "For the three-day weekend in North America, it was 51.25 million dollars."

"The box office champion?"

"The box office champion."

Taken couldn't be considered a big-budget commercial blockbuster by any means. Pulling in 51.25 million dollars in its opening weekend left both Duke and Warner Brothers extremely satisfied.

"Congratulations," Yang Lan said with a bright smile. "You have another massive box office hit on your hands."

"Thank you." Duke accepted the compliment without hesitation.

It was absolutely impossible for Taken to become the kind of massive hit The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was. But given the opening weekend trend, turning a profit through the box office wouldn't be difficult.

"From entering Hollywood to now, you've produced a lot of films." Yang Lan steered the conversation back to the box office. "And since entering the new century, film production costs have been climbing steadily, creating a lot of market pressure. Do you also feel a bit nervous before your own movies are released?"

"I do get nervous, and even lose sleep from anxiety." Duke pointed to his forehead. "All sorts of thoughts pop up in here, including the consequences of failure. It isn't until I see the box office numbers that I can breathe a sigh of relief."

Yang Lan's topic shifted to pressure. "Your works carry extremely high expectations globally, and China is no exception. What kind of pressure does this place on you?"

"Pressure is something every director has to bear, and it's often the driving force that pushes you forward." Duke's fingers slowly tapped the armrest of his chair. "You can look at the spotlight in different ways. Although it brings a lot of pressure, it's also a great opportunity. I've made low-budget films too, and the huge challenge with low-budget movies is figuring out how to attract audiences to see your work. The advantage of shooting these blockbusters is that you know they have a chance to meet a global audience. As a filmmaker, that is the best opportunity you can get."

The interview gradually neared its end. After asking a few more questions, Yang Lan gave the audience a chance to ask questions.

A male audience member around thirty was the first to stand up and speak. "Director Rosenberg, I've been a fan of yours since the nineties."

"Thank you, that's my honor."

Saying that, Duke gestured for him to continue. The man added, "You make movies at a pace of almost one a year. How do you maintain such vigorous creative energy?"

Duke thought for a few seconds before replying, "I enjoy the process of making movies, especially when collaborating with a team and creative people. Sparks of thought collide all over the room. It's an incredibly exhilarating thing."

"Take shooting a film like The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, for example. We had to create a new world and design entirely new creatures. I absolutely loved that process. If you do what you love, it doesn't count as work. If you're completely interested in what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. So my plan is to never work. Making movies is my greatest passion."

Next was a female audience member, and her question was related to his passion. "Why is making movies your greatest passion?"

"I believe the greatest power of film is its ability to bring audiences experiences and adventures they've never had before. Whether it's something that exists in reality, something that doesn't, or pure fantasy, cinema is an exceptional medium that lets audiences see things they've never imagined or witnessed."

The half-hour interview came to an end, and Duke's trip to China was drawing to a close.