Among the many ambitious projects in Chinese cinema, few stories rival that of director Lu Chuan's epic undertaking, "Bureau 749." The film, conceived as early as 2016, aimed to be a cutting-edge sci-fi spectacle with Hollywood-caliber visual effects. However, its path to completion became a tumultuous saga marked by financial hurdles, production challenges and a relentless pursuit of artistic vision.

The Sept. 29 premiere in Beijing was charged with emotion as cast, crew and audience members were moved upon finally seeing the film on the big screen. During the eight-year journey, more than 6,000 people contributed to the project, experiencing hardship, despair and joy along the way.

"It's been really hard for us these past few years, and now it's time for us to present it to the audience and let them enjoy it and judge," Lu said.

"Bureau 749" draws inspiration from a real but enigmatic Chinese government agency that has become an urban legend. It's known only for conducting research and expeditions to study unusual phenomena, including reportedly supernatural individuals and events. Lu has mentioned that he worked in that government organ for some time after graduating from the People's Liberation Army Institute of International Relations. To reassure viewers, Lu invited former colleagues to the premiere.

Regardless of what he saw in that secretive agency, Lu gained imaginative ideas for filmmaking. He first showcased these concepts in his 2015 sci-fi monster and tomb raider blockbuster "Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe," before embarking on a new feature film dedicated entirely to the bureau in 2016. Lu also infused the project with personal meaning, making it a tribute to his youth.

"Bureau 749" stars young pop idol Karry Wang, actors Zheng Kai and Miao Miao — who met on set, married, and now have three children — along with Ren Min, Xin Baiqing and Li Chen. As they stood on stage at the premiere, they reflected on the passage of time and how their lives had evolved during the film's production.

The film follows the agents of Bureau 749 as they attempt to use a mutant child’s superpowers to combat a massive alien monster threatening a Chinese city. It features more than 1,700 visual effects shots and presents epic-scale disaster and action sequences that are designed to wow viewers.

Lu envisioned and initiated the grand project with a budget of 350 million yuan ($50 million) during the golden era of Chinese cinema. The cameras started rolling in Chongqing in 2018, despite only 30% of the promised investment materializing. The situation soon changed dramatically as Chinese tax authorities tightened regulations on the film industry's financial practices, causing some capital to retreat from movie businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic followed, further dimming the prospects for "Bureau 749."

Initially, the director hired Hollywood's top talents to realize his vision, including renowned cinematographer David Tattersall, who worked on classics like "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" and "The Green Mile." Lu also brought in professionals who had worked on blockbusters such as "Avatar" and "Mad Max: Fury Road." However, he soon discovered these experts were costly assets and had to let them go when financial crises arose. Lu was forced to cut spending in all aspects until the initial filming wrap in July 2019.

The post-production of a visual effects-heavy blockbuster at this level proved even more costly. At one point, Lu faced debts exceeding 25 million yuan, five lawsuits triggered by production and release delays, and contractual obligations to investors. Desperate to find funding, the director enrolled in an MBA program to learn about finance and took on various jobs. These included making a dozen commercials and creating online series. Every bit of money he earned went toward funding "Bureau 749."

With unwavering persistence and support from industry peers, mentors and convinced investors, including Huayi Brothers Media, Huawen Picture and Beijing Culture, Lu overcame the darkest days and ultimately completed the film. After additional filming concluded on April 22, Lu posted on social media, "I have no regrets. After eight years of dragging this ship, we can finally reach the shore."

At the premiere's conclusion, when asked if he had anything else to say to the audience, Lu paused emotionally. After a moment's reflection, he simply said, "Thank you."

"Bureau 749" hit Chinese theaters during the seven-day National Day holiday starting Oct. 1, attracting flocks of viewers and grossing more than 300 million yuan within the first four days of the holiday. However, the various financial setbacks and production challenges have clearly impacted the film, resulting in inconsistent visual effects, plot issues and dated elements. Since its release, the film has garnered mixed reviews and sparked controversy.

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