"In history, Hong Kong has never tried so many directors to create together." Under the historical coordinates of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the film "The Band of Seven", which is currently being released, has created a precedent, bringing together Sammo Hung, Xu Anhua, Tan Jiaming, Yuan Heping, and Du for the first time. Qi Feng, Lin Lingdong, and Tsui Hark were jointly directed by seven directors, and it became a "Lifetime Series" that made fans sigh.
From the 1950s onwards, the story of "The Band of Seven" has spanned the present and the future, and constructed a panorama of Hong Kong for the past seventy years. The solo performances converge into a symphony of Hong Kong's 70 years of history.
In addition to directing "Golden Everywhere", To Qifeng also served as the producer of "Band of Seven".
When the film was released, Du Qifeng was interviewed by a reporter from Beijing Youth Daily.
Around the 1980s, Hong Kong Films ushered in a golden age.
In Du Qifeng's view, film was the main tool for filmmaking at that time, embodying the creative ingenuity of Hong Kong filmmakers and carrying many special meanings. This time, outstanding directors gathered together to pay tribute to the classic images shot on film. , to commemorate the era when Hong Kong cinema took off by leaps and bounds.
To Qifeng said that the unity of Hong Kong filmmakers has never changed, and the original intention of making this film is to inspire the younger generation of filmmakers to continue to maintain unity by concentrating the strength of the older generation of directors.
May be the last film shot
Beiqing Daily: As the creative initiator of "The Band of Seven", why did you make this film?
Did the other directors have any ideas for this movie?
Johnnie To: Because I worked with Tsui Hark and director Lin Lingdong on "Iron Triangle" before, I always wanted to do something like this again.
The idea of "Band of Seven" really came from me. First of all, I want to talk about why there is the idea of "band".
In 2010, when we started to make films without film (ie film), I felt that because of the existence of film and the existence of film, there were directors like us.
The disappearance of the film is really a pity. I don't think there will be any Hong Kong movies without film.
I have an idea, should we pay tribute to film?
So, I wanted to find a group of directors to shoot on film again, maybe the last time. The basic idea is to respect it.
With this tool, what should we talk about?
I think we should talk about Hong Kong.
This theme is from the 1950s until 2020, one every ten years.
Different directors will have different ideas, and they will use the method of drawing lots to talk about what they want to talk about.
Generally speaking, it is about respect for Hong Kong and respect for film.
After that, eight directors expressed their willingness to participate in the film, and they all found it interesting and meaningful.
Later, director John Woo withdrew from the filming due to physical reasons.
Therefore, the film was finally named "The Band of Seven".
The directors also held several meetings together to discuss what to shoot. The theme of the shooting era was also discussed by everyone.
"Seven" refers to seven directors
Beiqing Daily: As a producer, what specific work have you done?
Du Qifeng: The main thing is to agree with everyone on the shooting time and budget, including the later part.
Because the directors are all big directors, they are very experienced in shooting, and they all agreed to create freely.
So after that, the directors handed over the finished film of the part they shot.
Beiqing Daily: Why was it named "The Band of Seven"?
Johnnie To: "The Band of Seven" is actually just a name, I never thought it would be a real band.
Each of the seven directors of "Seven" is the lead singer.
Everyone has their own characteristics. There is a solo (individual performance), one for each person, and the seven solos add up to tell the story of Hong Kong.
The theme of the film is "Homage to Film"
Beiqing Daily: Compared with making long films, what do you think is the difficulty of short films?
Johnnie To: 10 minutes or 20 minutes is not a problem for us directors, and there is nothing difficult.
However, because "The Band of Seven" requires each director to shoot the time and budget, the film is all shot on film, and now it is basically difficult to find film, and so are the films we shoot.
Therefore, this short film shooting is relatively difficult for all of us.
Beiqing Daily: Regarding the stories and themes of several short films, have your directors discussed it?
Johnnie Du: The theme of the film is the "Tribute to Film" that everyone discussed at the beginning.
After everyone drew lots and divided the eras they shot, they were all free to create.
Since they are all directors from Hong Kong, since they were filming Hong Kong in the era of film that they drew, or the stories that happened in Hong Kong in that era, it is not uncommon for the emotions expressed in the finished stories to be basically the same.
I don’t know how young Hong Kong directors will think, but the original intention of our filming at the beginning was not only to pay tribute to the film, but also to show the new generation of young directors that Hong Kong directors have always been united, despite serving in different companies in the past. , we are still good friends.
For the development of the film industry, the unity of directors is very important.
I hope that what we directors do will inspire and inspire the younger generation of directors.
There will be no permanent shortage of film talent
Beiqing Daily: What have you been busy with in recent years?
When will new works come out?
Du Qifeng: There is no specific shooting plan for the time being, because there is no inspiration yet.
Now I have only the vague frame of the next movie in my mind.
I always have to have inspiration before I start filming.
Beiqing Daily: Many people say that a major dilemma for Hong Kong movies is the lack of talent. What do you think?
Johnnie To: Everyone seems to think that the new generation of Hong Kong films has not made great achievements.
I think in terms of inheritance, creative work needs people, both behind and behind the scenes.
Well-known Hong Kong directors, such as the director of "The Band of Seven", are all over 60 years old, and the new generation of directors needs time to prove themselves.
In terms of actors, Andy Lau, Tony Leung, and Chow Yun-fat are all over 60 years old.
Do you feel that Hong Kong has no capacity to sustain it?
I think so.
But I will not be too pessimistic, because different eras will have different effects, and the current shortage of film talents does not necessarily mean that there will be a permanent shortage.
Hong Kong films and Hong Kong film workers will have prospects on a larger platform.
For young people, the government and people in the film industry are giving them the best strength, and whether they can have the best future depends on their own abilities.
dialogue
Xu Anhua: It's very comfortable to film without box office pressure
"The Principal" directed by Xu Anhua in "The Band of Seven" tells the story of the poor in society in the 1960s, but the people who were seeking scholars.
A principal who forgets to write and the kind and elegant teacher Wang make a rooftop school the warmest home in childhood.
In an interview with a reporter from Beijing Youth Daily, director Xu Anhua said that he liked the 1960s. "The lifestyle at that time was very simple, and the relationship between people was very subtle."
Beiqing Daily: What was the original intention of filming "The Principal"?
Xu Anhua: The story of "The Principal" jumps from the 1960s to the 21st century.
I personally love the 60's and I'm very familiar with it.
In addition to love stories, I also want to talk about the simple human touch in the 1960s, including the relationship between teachers and students.
Through "Principal", what I want to express is that in reality, there will be good teachers who only want to educate people and don't expect anything in return.
Beiqing Daily: Does the 1960s have any special meaning to you?
Xu Anhua: Looking back now, the atmosphere at that time is what I especially yearn for, especially simplicity, hard work and simplicity. These things are rare now.
Although I don't want to be nostalgic, the spirit of that era is an ideal and a benchmark for me.
Beiqing Daily: The principal and the female teacher seem to be ambiguous, but in the movie, the two have almost no intersection. Why do you set this up?
Xu Anhua: I'm telling a story about an unfulfilled love, and I want to express the feelings of missing and right and wrong.
There is basically no intersection between the two characters in the film, mainly because the principal and the teacher are devoted to educating the children, they have not thought about their own affairs, and they have missed a beautiful love.
Beiqing Daily: Compared with making long films, what do you think is the difficulty of short films?
Xu Anhua: The difficulty this time lies in the use of film - each of us has a certain amount of film, and we must be very careful when shooting, and try not to have waste films.
Beiqing Daily: How do you feel about this shooting?
Xu Anhua: For me, making a movie together is a rare opportunity.
What's even better is that this time the seven directors are together, and there is no pressure to "take the blame alone" after the release. As long as the film is finished well, there is no need to worry about the rest.
"The Band of Seven" really has no box office pressure, because it was said from the beginning that it was a free expression film, not a commercial film.
When I filmed "The Principal" this time, I felt very comfortable, and I was very grateful to have this opportunity to make such a film. It was so rare.
Beiqing Daily: How do you think the future of Hong Kong films will develop?
Xu Anhua: The new generation needs to examine their own thinking and the way they see things.
I hope the new generation of filmmakers can give me some opportunities to learn from them.
I'm not joking, I think everyone can discuss their own problems, don't always let us "old ghosts" teach others and lead others.
Now the Hong Kong film industry and the government have many channels and platforms to cultivate new young filmmakers, and the development of young filmmakers will get better and better.
This group of articles / our reporter Xiao Yang
Coordinator/Liu Jianghua Man Yi