Chapter 830 The Astute Jiang Yuqian

Who will sing?

Lu Yanhe said, "It's not necessary to invite superstars to sing, but it must be someone with experience; young singers won't do."

A very important aspect of the atmosphere of this film is its sense of the era it evokes.

Because of Lu Yanhe's request, a number of popular OST singers were eliminated.

The management companies that produce singers are very disappointed.

However, one promotional OST for a movie is a bit too few.

Even a medium-budget production usually starts with three or four tracks.

Lu Yanhe, however, said that one song was enough.

A divine song that dominated the entire venue.

No matter how many more songs come, they won't be enough.

Just like "You Are the Apple of My Eye" doesn't need a second OST.

Chen Yin, of course, remained silent about Lu Yanhe's confidence, firmly believing in him and strictly implementing his decisions.

Shortly after, a media outlet revealed that the movie "If Love Has a Destiny" was so ruthless that not only the actors had to audition, but even the singers of the OST had to audition.

Moreover, all of them were established, top-tier singers.

It is said that Linghe has made a statement.

This song was written by Lu Yanhe. Whoever sings it will have it as their signature song, the kind that will sustain them for a lifetime.

Lu Yanhe's past works are all dazzling and impressive, enough to make any singer's heart flutter.

And so, through auditions, Lu Yanhe ultimately chose a style very similar to Li Jian's.

There was nothing he could do; he was only listening to Li Jian's version.

It sounds really good.

-

"The Classic" is indeed seen by the market as a film that has the potential to break the box office ceiling for romance movies.

The cast alone was enough to make it a hot topic in the early stages.

Even before the movie was released, fans had already given it a nickname: "The King of Looks".

The three actors are indeed among the most attractive actors today.

There's no need to say more about Yan Lingyu.

Yang Shiyi's ability to play the role of Twelfth Master in the TV series "Rouge" after Huang Kairen's excellent performance and receive rave reviews greatly enhanced his image.

Zhang Chun, who stood out in the audition, is a newcomer, just like Zou Xuan in "Summer Night Villa Horror". He won the role entirely because of his compatibility with the character.

The three of them together evoke the feeling of the movie "Love Letter" from back in the day.

"Love Letter" is also known as the "most handsome" duo.

On the contrary, Chen Ziyan was a little puzzled and asked, "When 'You Are the Apple of My Eye' was released last year, Li Zhibai and Yan Lingyu starred, and Li Yuefeng and Xiao Yun played the second male and female leads. Even with such a cast, you didn't have such high expectations for the box office. Why do you have such high expectations for 'The Classic' when it's also a romance film?"

"Because the release of 'The Classic' was perfectly timed," said Lu Yanhe. "It's the perfect movie for short video platforms right now. If it can reach a large audience in lower-tier markets, a huge number of people who don't usually go to the cinema will see it. Movie promotion, except for a very few actors who can attract tens of millions of fans, usually relies on stars as promotional mediums. Even with a big-name cast, the goal is just to bombard the audience and tell them the movie is worth watching. But 'The Classic' doesn't need star power to attract viewers. It only needs star power to open the door to promotion. This tragic love story will definitely be widely parodied on short video platforms after its release, and with the song 'The Classic,' it'll be incredibly catchy."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ziyan said, "If that's the case, why don't you let Li Zhibai act in the movie 'The Classic'? That movie would have higher box office returns and would have been a bigger boost for Li Zhibai."

"The biggest beneficiary of 'If Love Has a Destiny' wasn't the two male actors, but the female lead. Although it's a romance film, in some cases, male actors benefit more from romance films these days," Lu Yanhe smiled. "While 'You Are the Apple of My Eye' might have a lower box office, I have to say that in the young audience market, there won't be a more popular male character than Ko Ching-teng. Female audiences will love this character, and male audiences won't dislike him either. Like Li Xiaoyao in 'Chinese Paladin,' it's about life roles. Sister Ziyan, these are the two best male life roles I've ever written."

Chen Ziyan nodded.

"I have to admit, it's true, Li Zhibai is incredibly popular right now," Chen Ziyan said. "And what about 'Love is Not Blind'? And Wang Xiaojian too?"

"Uh, no, that's not it." Lu Yanhe's face showed an embarrassed expression. "It was Sister Yuqian who had a sudden inspiration and thought Zhibai was suitable. Of course, if he plays the role well, it will be a very exciting role. However, the real role in this movie is still the female lead played by Sister Yuqian."

This is also a character whose health is so high that even a flick of the finger couldn't knock her out of the entertainment industry.

Back then, the situation was incredibly dire, like the sky was falling. Bai Jie's fans wouldn't say, "She's still young," they silently supported her, giving her the strength to weather that darkest period. So much so that after a long period of silence, she single-handedly returned to the market with a women's film called "Door Lock," which grossed over 200 million yuan. However, the media predicted its failure, saying Bai Jie could no longer carry a film at the box office—

As a fan of Sister Bai, the author is truly speechless.

Chen Ziyan asked, "I can see the goodness of the script for 'Love is Not Blind,' but do you think Huang Xiaoxian can become a life-changing character? Forgive my poor eyesight, but to me she just seems like a typical urban woman? A very common one?"

Lu Yanhe smiled.

“You’re right, the most distinctive feature of this character is her energetic spirit,” Lu Yanhe said. “If you play her well, you can bring out that unique energetic feeling. Paired with Wang Xiaojian, it’s an absolutely life-changing role because she is very ordinary, but she is a hero in life. Sister Ziyan, you think she’s just average because you yourself are extraordinary. But more than 90% of girls aspire to be like you and Huang Xiaoxian, to be energetic no matter what.”

Chen Ziyan: "..."

-

"No, it's too beautiful, too fashionable."

At the makeup test for "Love is Not Blind," Lu Yanhe immediately shook his head as soon as Jiang Yuqian appeared.

“Huang Xiaoxian is a pretty girl with some looks in real life, but not the kind of girl who attracts attention the moment she appears,” Lu Yanhe told the stylist and makeup artist. “Her hairstyle can’t be plain and simple, nor can it have a complicated design. She is an office worker, which means she needs to dress up, but doesn’t have much time to do so. Therefore, from makeup to clothing, it needs to be economical and easy to manage at a glance. If you create too many layers, it’s not like an office worker at all.”

The makeup artist looked at Jiang Yuqian with some difficulty.

Jiang Yuqian said, "Just follow Yan He's suggestion for adjustments. Don't worry that I'm a celebrity and I'm unwilling to play ugly—this isn't about playing ugly. Actors serve the role, and we should do whatever fits the character."

After she made her statement, the makeup artist and costume designer breathed a sigh of relief and immediately made the necessary changes.

Jiang Yuqian came over and smiled at Lu Yanhe.

"What brings you here today to personally guide our work?"

“I’ve seen the sample images they sent and I think there are big problems. We have to talk about it on the spot.” Lu Yanhe sighed. “Li Zhibai hasn’t arrived yet. When he comes and we do the makeup according to the sample images, it will be even worse. They’ve completely designed this character as a sissy.”

Jiang Yuqian laughed heartily.

Lu Yanhe sighed and then smiled.

"It completely misses the point of capturing the essence of these two characters."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuqian's brow furrowed, and she asked, "What do you think is the most essential aspect of the character Huang Xiaoxian?"

"It looks like plain water, but it could splash you at any time," Lu Yanhe said.

Jiang Yuqian looked surprised.

"Your description... is so accurate." Jiang Yuqian was surprised, then realized, "Oh right, you wrote the script, how could it not be accurate?"

Lu Yanhe said, "Therefore, this character must look like an ordinary, average office worker, but she absolutely cannot be made to look ordinary and average like in typical movies, with things like ramen noodle hair and baggy skirts. What normal, young office girl would dress like that?"

Jiang Yuqian laughed loudly.

"It's just a little something, but it's the kind of little thing you do in your daily life, and it has nothing to do with your major." Jiang Yuqian nodded. "I understand."

Lu Yanhe nodded.

Jiang Yuqian then asked curiously, "So, what do you think is the essence of the character Wang Xiaojian?"

Lu Yanhe thought for a moment and said, "Disdain is a way of expressing love. You don't need to flex your muscles to deal with people."

Jiang Yuqian: "Amazing! Your two comments can definitely be used for movie promotion later."

Lu Yanhe: "Keep a low profile, keep a low profile."

Jiang Yuqian said, "Your strength doesn't allow you to be low-key."

Lu Yanhe said, "Let's see if this movie can be released on a large scale around the world. You two are the leads, and it has this kind of theme. I think it has potential. I think any woman in any modern country would like your character."

Jiang Yuqian: "I'm worried that I'm designing too many things and giving too much screen time. That's my problem when I'm acting now."

“It’s okay, give whatever you want. The director of this film is Wu Chi, who directed ‘You Are the Apple of My Eye’ and ‘The Sea, My Blade.’ I’ve worked with him before. He has a great advantage: he knows exactly what kind of shots my script wants to present. He will also create complete storyboards, just like comics, and communicate with you in advance to tell you the effect you want,” Lu Yanhe said. “When you get on set, it’s okay if you give too much; he can help you cut it down. You must act without any scruples in this film. At worst, just act randomly and discard all the footage you shoot. As long as acting randomly allows you to throw away all your burdens.”

Jiang Yuqian: "Is this role that difficult?"

“It’s not difficult, they are all special enough, and they are roles that require acting skills to be invisible,” Lu Yanhe said. “But it’s especially suitable for you. As long as you don’t have any psychological burden, I wrote this role based on many of your personality traits, which you also have.”

Jiang Yuqian: "Okay, since you've said so, I'll definitely go for it."

Jiang Yuqian's success in her career has given her much more confidence in acting than before.

-

In August, Lu Yanhe went to Spain again to participate in a local film festival.

This is the next job Darren Wilson helped him with.

Darren said that Spain's three most famous directors will attend the film festival.

All three of them are Oscar winners and wield significant influence within the Academy.

In short, this is one of the pre-release public relations moves for "Dingfeng No. 1".

Lu Yanhe naturally went with Wen Shengming.

He promoted the film "Dingfeng No. 1" at the local film festival and then attended their official events as a Chinese actor.

On the plane back, Wen Shengming said to Lu Yanhe, "I heard that Chen Pinhe is also contacting the Film Bureau, hoping that the Film Bureau can make a decision on this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film later."

Lu Yanhe was taken aback.

What's going on?

Lu Qingzhen was right after all?

Wen Shengming said, "Chen Pinhe is very confident in his starring role in 'The Pianist,' saying that the film is very likely to win an award at the Venice International Film Festival and can also represent China in the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film."

Lu Yanhe: "...What did the Film Bureau say?"

Wen Shengming: "They haven't made a statement, but if 'The Pianist' really does achieve something at Venice, they might really consider submitting 'The Pianist' because...we all know that 'The Wind Rises' is unlikely to get a nomination due to its subject matter."

It's still August.

The awards season is barely over.

Lu Yanhe said, "If 'Calm Wind No. 1' has already come this far, and it is ultimately defeated by 'The Pianist,' then there is nothing we can do. Regardless of whether 'Calm Wind No. 1' will apply for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Green Valley will help us apply for other awards, especially our individual awards."

Lu Yanhe especially hoped that Wen Shengming could get a nomination for an acting award.

They haven't yet discussed who should report on the male lead and who should report on the male supporting role.

We need to wait and see how things develop this year before making a decision.

Wen Shengming's activities overseas can be basically divided into two categories: one is being invited by Lu Yanhe, and the other is promoting "Dingfeng No. 1".

Since last year's Jose Film Festival, Wen Shengming's overseas media coverage has surged, and so has his exposure.

The success of the film "Dingfeng No. 1" is attributed to its decent box office performance in various global markets. Most importantly, media professionals have seen or heard of films like this to some extent, which gives them some recognition of Wen Shengming and makes him more than just a veteran Chinese actor.

Those who have seen his movies and witnessed his superb acting skills will develop an impression of him as a good actor. In their respective fields, many people are driven by passion.

Wen Shengming's fame gradually grew in this way.

Like his participation in a local film festival in Spain this time. Although such exposure may not seem like much, it is a memorable moment for the Spanish media and film fans.

A person might watch a movie last year and forget the plot this year, but if someone saw a certain person in a certain place ten years ago, they might still remember them ten years later.

A real meeting carries a different meaning.

-

The day they returned to China happened to be the day the movie "The Classic" was released.

When their plane landed and Lu Yanhe received the news, the first day's box office for "If Love Has a Destiny" had already exceeded 110 million RMB.

It was only 5:19 PM.

Just as Lu Yanhe had predicted, thanks to the massive pre-release publicity and the viral success of the song "If Love Has a Destiny" on short videos—to the point that almost everyone had seen it—the movie "If Love Has a Destiny" became a box office hit.

According to the data map, the proportion of this film's box office revenue in third-tier cities was significantly higher than that of other films.

In fact, several bloggers on short video platforms have created short videos on the theme of "watching 'The Classic'".

While the topic was generating a lot of buzz, Linghe finally released the video of Yan Lingyu running in the rain. The short GIF, lasting only a few seconds, went viral online.

-

A romance film, on its opening day, outperformed all other films released in the same period, both new and old—all were overshadowed by it.

The Chinese film market hasn't seen a blockbuster romance film in far too long.

Last year's "You Are the Apple of My Eye" even touched on the theme of "youthful nostalgia".

"If Love Has a Destiny" is about pure love.

Yan Lingyu didn't have any new works for a year, but upon his return, he's still a top star, a top star once again.

-

Jiang Yuqian messaged Lu Yanhe: I can act in this movie too! I can play an innocent girl just as well!

Lu Yanhe was both amused and exasperated, and said: "Sister Yuqian, if it were when you first debuted, I would have given you the role."

"If Love Has a Destiny" really needs someone like Yan Lingyu, whose screen/television image has always maintained this kind of purity, to play the role, or someone like Zhang Ruozhi when she played "Love Letter," a pure blank sheet of paper, so that the audience doesn't recognize her at all and can easily immerse themselves in the role.

Jiang Yuqian: How come Yan Lingyu is so lucky? Every role she plays is a beloved character for the audience.

Lu Yanhe: You've been famous for so many years, but you're still the white moonlight of your fans.

Jiang Yuqian: Zhao Ling'er, Shen Jiayi... including Zixi in "If Love Has a Destiny", if I had played any one of these roles, I would be more famous than I am now!

Lu Yanhe: You're already the top one, how can you become even more famous?

Jiang Yuqian: No, no, no, Yan Lingyu is definitely more famous than me. I'm so envious and jealous.

Lu Yanhe: You are the superstar that everyone envies.

Jiang Yuqian: You're just trying to fool me.

Lu Yanhe: How could this be to comfort you... Don't you know how famous you are?

Jiang Yuqian: You're not an actress, you don't understand.

Lu Yanhe: ...

In fact, Lu Yanhe understood what Jiang Yuqian was saying.

Whether it's "The Telephone," "Red Eye," or "The Squid Game," to put it bluntly, these are all films with some exciting moments, and her roles were quite popular at the time, but none of them are considered classics.

It's not the kind of life role that still has vitality after ten or twenty years.

Jiang Yuqian was right about one thing.

She's an actress, and she's very perceptive in that regard.

(End of this chapter)