Chapter 415 Why is this action so Li Zhibai?
Lu Yanhe had never heard of any conflict between Longyan Film Industry and HP's current Asia-Pacific head.
Of course, this is not a rare occurrence.
Although film and television are art, people who make film and television works are essentially business people.
Conflicts and frictions are inevitable in business.
However, Mrs. Wong felt a little uncomfortable with what she had done. If he hadn't asked Tom White beforehand, and if Tom White hadn't been direct, he might have been kept in the dark and unknowingly done something wrong with good intentions.
The final stop was Director Wang Zhong's company.
Lu Yanhe watched the first cut of "Rouge" with Tom White.
The initial cut of "Rouge" was nearly three hours long, without any special effects or post-production work. However, the English subtitles had been preliminarily dubbed, thanks to the help of Lin Yu and He Lan.
Both of them have an exceptionally high level of English proficiency, far beyond just being able to have everyday conversations.
When Lu Yanhe first started editing the version, he was actually a little surprised because the camera work, visuals and style were so similar to the original version in his memory, as if they had formed an unspoken comparison in the dark.
Wang Zhong handled the film's visuals with less of the infatuation and more of the melancholy of the passing of time.
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The initial cut is quite long, nearly three hours. Many shots and the pace are much slower than the original. Simply put, it's less "commercial" and has more artistic expression.
Putting all that aside, the overall development of the story and the characters' feelings are very similar to when Lu Yanhe was writing this script.
Especially Huang Kairen—
Chen Bige's excellence was within Lu Yanhe's expectations.
Although he believed Huang Kairen was capable of playing the role, he was also quite nervous. But in the film, he truly immersed himself in the role.
His performance style was different from the dashing and debonair Leslie Cheung in his memory, and thankfully it was different, otherwise Lu Yanhe worried that he would feel that the original was too good to be true.
Huang Kairen's portrayal in "Rouge" is more like the feeling Takeshi Kaneshiro had when watching Zhang Ziyi dance in "House of Flying Daggers".
A rich kid, cynical and carefree, only reveals a hint of affection when he's with Ru Hua in private, like when he looks at Zhou Xun in "Perhaps Love".
The love is genuine, beyond question. The indifference is also genuine, and its nonchalant air adds a layer of irony.
Lu Yanhe realized that Huang Kairen had taken a more dangerous path. Unlike Leslie Cheung, he did not portray the character beautifully, making the audience feel that his cowardice was human nature, but rather felt anger and disappointment towards him, yet also a vague sense of understanding.
Huang Kairen did not embellish the character of Twelfth Master in any way, nor could his acting ability and style be embellished. The basic conditions were what they were; not everyone is Leslie Cheung. However, actors with ambition will strive to create a three-dimensional character in their own way.
Huang Kairen's portrayal of the Twelfth Young Master is outwardly cynical and dashing, but inwardly he is genuinely affectionate and deeply devoted, yet also cowardly, hesitant, and incapable of taking responsibility.
After watching it, one can only feel that his tenderness towards Ru Hua, though perhaps genuine, was destined to fade away before his life and death.
To Lu Yanhe's surprise, when he was about to turn to look at Tom White after the cut-out screening, he found that the latter's eyes were red and there were tears in them.
Tom White took a deep breath and said to Lu Yanhe, "This is a heartbreaking story."
Lu Yanhe suddenly remembered that these foreigners seemed to have a particular fondness for tragic love stories set against a Chinese cultural background.
Especially a film like "Rouge," which tells the story of a woman stubbornly waiting for someone for over a hundred years... Lu Yanhe gasped. Well, such a story would be considered outdated in today's Chinese film market, but for foreigners, this kind of tragic love story set in a different cultural context is exactly what they're looking for.
Tom White's fondness for "Rouge" is actually highly personal.
Of course, Lu Yanhe was very happy no matter what.
Afterwards, Director Wang Zhong also took some time to meet with them.
Upon meeting director Wang Zhong, Tom Wright immediately expressed his feelings as a film fan.
Wang Zhong gifted Tom White a Blu-ray copy of "Three Mountains" signed by himself.
Tom White almost cautiously accepted the gift, then quickly picked up the gift he had brought and said, "Director, this is the first DVD of your film 'The Aftermath,' which was released in the United States twelve years ago. You mentioned in an interview that you hoped to one day collect a set of DVD versions of your films released in various countries around the world. I hope you like it."
At this moment, Wang Zhong was completely stunned.
"The Aftermath" is a film he made more than a decade ago. Very few DVDs were released in the US; he didn't know the exact number, but it certainly didn't exceed ten thousand copies. He didn't even own a copy himself, yet Tom White brought it over today.
Wang Zhongdu couldn't help but get excited.
"Wow, this, this... it's really meaningful."
Lu Yanhe glanced at Tom White in surprise.
This gift is truly thoughtful. Tom White's claim of being a longtime fan of Wang Zhong is no exaggeration.
To give such a gift, one must first watch Director Wang Zhong's interview to know what he wants, and also know what Director Wang Zhong has already collected and what he doesn't. Finally, one must have the ability to obtain a DVD version that even Director Wang Zhong himself hasn't been able to get.
Simply put, giving such a gift carries a heavy sentiment.
-
For the past three days, aside from attending classes, Lu Yanhe spent all his time with Tom White.
Finally, Tom White's trip to China came to an end after meeting with director Wang Zhong.
On the way to the airport with Tom White, Lu Yanhe said, "Tom, remember to let me know in advance next time you come to China."
“This trip to China has been very enlightening and rewarding,” Tom White said. “I hope that when I get back, I can convince headquarters to sign a long-term cooperation framework agreement with you, just like with Aurora Video.”
Hearing Tom White say that, Lu Yanhe was somewhat surprised, not expecting it.
Tom White said, "If HP wants to develop the Asian market, it will definitely need to collaborate with the best creators in various Asian countries. Yan He, your invitation to China has allowed me to see the current state of film and television production in China and understand it firsthand."
Lu Yanhe: "I'm glad to hear you say that."
-
Tom White, HP's soon-to-be head of the Asia-Pacific region, made a trip to China and was personally received by Lu Yanhe. This news spread not only within the Chinese film and television industry but also reached the ears of Maxine's Zhong Benshuo.
Now Jong Bon-seok will have no more doubts.
He immediately became nervous and contacted Lu Yanhe.
"You want to watch a movie right now?" Lu Yanhe asked, somewhat surprised.
Zhong Benshuo said, "Yes, Yan He, if it's appropriate, we can sign the agreement right now, instead of waiting until it airs to consider overseas broadcasting."
Lu Yanhe truly did not expect that Tom White's visit would arouse Zhong Benshuo's sense of crisis.
Lu Yanhe said, "President Zhong, the two films that have been completed so far are movies. The film you're interested in, 'Squid Game,' hasn't started filming yet."
As for what "Squid Game" was, Jong Bon-seok already knew. If he really wanted to buy it in advance, he could have done so much earlier, instead of waiting until now.
Zhong Benshuo was speechless for a moment.
He hesitated.
He hesitated, wondering if Tom White had reached an agreement with Lu Yanhe during his trip.
Is it possible that they signed an agreement a long time ago?
It's also possible that Tom White didn't take a liking to these projects and left empty-handed.
Zhong Benshuo didn't actually want to make a decision so soon. He hadn't even seen the finished product yet, and buying it prematurely could leave him with nothing. After all, Maxine couldn't enter mainland China; they could only do business outside of it. If the final product was subpar and the data was poor, it would be a major setback for him.
Lu Yanhe knew Zhong Benshuo's true thoughts from his hesitation.
He was actually both afraid of Tom White getting there first and afraid of being taken advantage of.
Lu Yanhe: "..."
At this moment, Lu Yanhe suddenly realized why he had always felt somewhat repulsed by Zhong Benshuo, unlike his positive impression of Tom White.
Because Chung Ben-seok gave him a strong businessman vibe; his words, actions, and attitude toward him were all full of calculation. Tom White, on the other hand, gave him a feeling of respect for creation and creators, without such an obvious and overt sense of utilitarianism.
You can certainly be pragmatic, but it's best not to appear too pragmatic.
Seeing that Zhong Benshuo remained silent, Lu Yanhe, too lazy to engage in pretense, said, "Mr. Zhong, if you haven't thought it through yet, let's talk about it later. Indeed, the film hasn't even been shot yet, so it's not safe to discuss cooperation now. I understand."
Lu Yanhe spoke frankly and directly, which made Zhong Benshuo look somewhat embarrassed, though Lu Yanhe couldn't see it.
After telling Zhong Benshuo about this, Lu Yanhe put down his phone; he still had to go to the Northern Lights video site.
In terms of negotiating a collaboration with HP, Lu Yanhe didn't actually have that much power. The company that could truly put him in a relatively balanced position to negotiate was a large video company like Northern Lights Video, which also had a large library of films and creators.
"I don't mind if you use some of my projects as test subjects to try and cooperate with HP." This time, Lin Desheng, the CEO of Northern Lights Video, was also present. He was bound to be there for matters involving the company's strategic development. Lu Yanhe spoke frankly, "Due to policy reasons, overseas streaming media like HP cannot directly launch in our country. This is a foregone conclusion and it is unlikely to change at present. However, HP really wants to open up the Asian market, which certainly includes mainland China. Since HP cannot directly enter the market, just like Maxine, it can only earn some copyright fees through licensing cooperation with domestic video platforms for each of its works."
“Well, but compared to the core profit of a video platform—memberships—some copyright fees are just a drop in the ocean,” Zheng Huai-ren said immediately. “HP’s ambition to enter the Asian market, especially the Chinese mainland market, certainly isn’t limited to such small copyright fees.”
Lu Yanhe nodded, "That's right, but that's the current situation. So, under these circumstances, since they have demand for our domestic market, we can also use that demand to open up overseas markets. I'm just giving an example. Suppose, I mean suppose, that Aurora Video and HP Video sign a cooperation framework agreement, creating a separate film library list. The works on the list would be open to each other, eliminating the need to negotiate cooperation on a film-by-film basis, saving both sides a lot of time and energy. In short, how the profits are divided depends on the metrics you care about, creating a formula. That's something you need to discuss. But under such cooperation, HP's works can enter our market on a large scale through you and meet the audience, while Aurora Video's works can also truly reach overseas markets through HP."
“This kind of cooperation model has been used before,” Zheng Huai-ren said. “Our domestic video platforms have had similar cooperation with overseas streaming media and film and television companies, but none of them lasted. This kind of cooperation model is very risky. To put it bluntly, in this kind of cooperation, everyone will feel that they have been taken advantage of and the other party has benefited. The first and second years may be fine, but in the later years, there will be unclear accounts, no one will trust each other, and the final result will be the collapse of the partnership.”
“President Zheng, this outcome actually proves something,” Lu Yanhe said with a smile. “I was just making theoretical ideas on paper, but what you said tells everyone that this kind of cooperation model is not without the prospect of making a profit and achieving a successful result. Its end is not because the audience didn’t like it, but because of internal problems between the two parties.”
Zheng Huai-ren was taken aback.
“I still think we can take this kind of cooperation slowly. The initial film library doesn’t need to be very large. We can explore first, build mutual trust, and that’s also a form of exploration,” Lu Yanhe said. “We need to see how much publicity our shows receive from them, how much publicity their shows receive from us, how much investment we need, and what kind of results we can expect. Only by trying things out little by little, by testing things out ourselves, can we have the confidence to carry out larger-scale cooperation later. Of course, these are just my thoughts, and the same applies not only to HP but also to other video platforms.”
He looked at Lin Desheng and said, "Mr. Lin, the reason I'm taking the liberty of making this suggestion is because many of my future film and television projects will definitely want to go international and be sold globally, not just limited to the domestic market. We have a cooperation framework with you, and it's going very smoothly so far. The need for overseas channels is not only something I need, but something you need too. That's why I'm suddenly throwing out this idea, this concept of cooperation, just hoping to get the ball rolling."
Lin Desheng nodded.
Lu Yanhe didn't know whether Lin Desheng agreed with his idea, or to what extent.
However, this was indeed Lu Yanhe's true thought at this moment.
Everyone is talking about going global and exporting their works, but how do we go about it, and where do we go? And even if we do, will anyone watch them?
Because there are no successful precedents, no one knows whether this path will work.
Only Lu Yanhe knew that in the context of globalization, and on streaming media platforms that dominate most parts of the world, so-called cultural barriers could be overcome.
Therefore, Lu Yanhe is determined to make his works known to the world.
-
Of the projects Lu Yanhe is currently collaborating on with Aurora Video, "Squid Game" and "My Own Swordsman" are the most important, while he only invested a small amount in "Rouge" as a token gesture.
However, besides film and television projects, Lu Yanhe also had an "unexpected surprise" that was making great strides with Aurora Video. That was "Confession on the High Platform," which was originally created to promote the movie "Late Spring." Now it has become an important project in the collaboration between Jump Up Company and Aurora, achieving high returns with extremely low costs.
The people behind Aurora Video are amazed that such a simple idea has become a long-running program, with each episode exceeding ten million views. Occasionally, an episode's content becomes a viral sensation online, sometimes reaching tens of millions of views.
It's truly low cost and high return.
This program alone can bring tens of millions of dollars in revenue to Aurora Video and Jump Up Company every year.
Of course, compared to those S+ level programs, the revenue is much less, as their revenue may start at 100 million. However, the key is that the production cost of "Confession on the High Platform" is so low that there is almost no risk of the program losing money, which is the most impressive thing.
The kind of person who actually makes money from a single idea.
This idea was conceived by Lu Yanhe and Chen Siqi.
Because Lu Yanhe is so famous in film and television, almost no one noticed that in the list of writers for the program "Confession from the High Platform," Lu Yanhe's name was listed second, while Chen Siqi's was listed first.
But those who post videos of the Northern Lights will never overlook this.
Zheng Huai-ren suddenly spoke up, saying, "Yan He, actually, the reason you came here today is that we also want to talk to you about other collaborations."
"Other collaborations?" Lu Yanhe frowned in surprise, looking at him with confusion.
They hadn't mentioned this to him before.
Zheng Huai-ren said, "We heard that Xin Zixing, the producer of 'City Travelogue,' was poached by your agent to join the new company."
"Hmm?" Lu Yanhe looked at him with some surprise. "Yes, that's true, but, Mr. Zheng, does it have anything to do with what we're talking about today?"
Zheng Huai-ren smiled and said, "We heard that the reason for poaching Xin Zi-xing is to serve the company's clients, some of whom are very rich but have faded from the spotlight and want to make a comeback, or artists who want to become hugely popular again. In short, it's about tailoring variety shows for them to help them regain their popularity."
Lu Yanhe grunted.
"We've also heard that you'll be the planner and writer for these shows."
Lu Yanhe knew what they were up to.
Lu Yanhe looked at them with slight surprise.
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After watching the aurora video, Lu Yanhe couldn't help but immediately tell Chen Siqi how fast the aurora video was.
Upon hearing this, Chen Siqi laughed and said, "It seems that 'Confessions on the High Platform' has given them a taste of success."
"I really didn't expect that either." Lu Yanhe's focus wasn't on this at all, so when Zheng Huai Ren solemnly proposed to him that he wanted to sign another cooperation agreement with him on the production of the program, Lu Yanhe really didn't expect it.
Chen Siqi: "Actually, I think this is a good thing."
"Huh?" Lu Yanhe was taken aback.
Chen Siqi said, "On the one hand, this can help Sister Ziyan's company find very powerful collaborators, which itself requires the support of a video platform, as you know. On the other hand, think about it, even if you've produced so many dramas, you still have to turn down most of your artist friends. Sometimes, their careers really need your help, but due to the suitability of the work, script, and characters, you really can't force them and can only refuse. Now, if you can have a stable channel to produce programs and let them become popular again through this channel, they can actually achieve their goals just the same way. They don't necessarily have to act in your dramas."
Chen Siqi's words suddenly opened up Lu Yanhe's mind, and he immediately realized what she meant.
"Now that you mention it, it's true."
Chen Siqi: "Actually, you have a talent for making programs. You did so many designs for 'The Days of Youth' before, and the feedback was very good. This time, 'Confession on the High Platform' is the same. Although you just casually mentioned an idea to us, it was this idea that made the program possible."
Lu Yanhe gave an awkward smile.
Just kidding, he watched quite a few shows before he traveled through time.
Even if I haven't watched the whole thing from beginning to end, I've heard about the highlights and key moments of each show.
Lu Yanhe didn't just "offer an idea casually"; he could only "offer an idea." As for filling in the details and enriching the specifics, he didn't know how.
Lu Yanhe said, "I did have a very pleasant collaboration with Aurora Video. They want to cooperate with me in this area, and of course I'm willing. However, it's not up to me to decide, since I don't own the copyright to the program. I've already told them that we'll schedule a time later to talk again with Sister Ziyan."
“Hmm,” Chen Siqi said, “Every time you say that my ambitions are growing bigger and bigger and that my business is expanding more and more, I don’t think you’re any better than me.”
Lu Yanhe thought to himself that he had the advantage of being a time traveler, which gave him an endless treasure trove of "creativity".
You're a native, and your head is constantly brimming with all sorts of interesting ideas; you're much better than me.
Lu Yanhe couldn't say these things to Chen Siqi, so he could only laugh.
Chen Siqi suddenly sighed with relief.
"After this semester's classes, I'll be a senior and graduate," Chen Siqi said. "Suddenly, I feel a bit of pressure."
"Huh? Pressure?"
"Well, before, I always felt that since I was a student, even if I messed up 'Jump Up' in the end, it wouldn't matter. After all, my main job is to be a student, and I had that kind of backup plan in my mind. But I won't be a student anymore soon, so I can't leave myself that kind of backup plan anymore."
Chen Siqi's words made Lu Yanhe fall into deep thought.
It turns out Chen Siqi had this idea.
That makes sense, he'll be a senior soon.
Then, I'll graduate from university.
Of course, if other people heard what these two were saying now, they would probably call them crazy.
After all, they are only juniors, yet they are already thinking about graduation.
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The Picardo Film Festival has closed, and unfortunately, "Night Run" did not win an award in the short film competition.
However, media reports followed that HP had acquired the exclusive global streaming rights to "The Night Runner" for a seven-figure sum.
This transaction price has been reported by major media outlets.
A short film like "Night Run" is unlikely to be shown in theaters, and it's not the kind of film that can make money in the film industry. However, it's surprising and astonishing that HP would spend seven figures to buy the exclusive streaming rights to "Night Run".
When this news reached China, people immediately thought of Lu Yanhe's recent reception of Tom White, the incoming head of HP's Asia-Pacific region, and their minds were filled with speculation. Only two words came to mind: No wonder.
Actually, this matter has nothing to do with Lu Yanhe.
This deal was agreed upon back in Bicarlo. While Tom Wright wasn't the one directly responsible for negotiating it, he certainly played a role behind the scenes. The high praise for *The Night Runner* in Bicarlo, and Wang Zhong's global fame and influence among film fans, were the key reasons why HP offered such a price.
It can make money.
Short films are short films, but they can still make money.
In the streaming era, users are the gold mine, traffic is the key, and clicks to play are the money-counting machine.
The transaction price of "Night Run" has attracted widespread attention, and it has also brought Lu Yanhe's commercial value back into the spotlight.
Lu Yanhe knew the key wasn't with him, but others didn't.
Now, everyone in China probably thinks that this matter is inseparable from Lu Yanhe and Tom White's trip to China.
-
"Sigh, I really don't know what to say." Lu Yanhe was quite helpless. After class, he came to Chen Ziyan and complained to her, "How come everything is related to me? I didn't know I was so amazing."
“Remember what I said before? At this stage of your life, even if something has nothing to do with you, as long as it is even slightly related to you, people will think it has something to do with you. What’s more, you didn’t keep your trip with Tom White a secret, everyone knows.”
Chen Ziyan took a freshly made latte from the coffee machine and handed it to Lu Yanhe. "This is a good thing. Let everyone think that you have a good relationship with Tom White. In other people's eyes, the more cards you have, the less they will dare to oppose you."
Lu Yanhe said, "No one's going against me now, right?"
“There will always be one. The tallest tree catches the most wind, and the most outstanding tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind,” Chen Ziyan said. “You can’t see your opponents now because you haven’t given them any leverage. Once they do, their offensive will be overwhelming and will catch you completely off guard.”
Lu Yanhe felt a chill run down his spine.
"That's terrifying."
Chen Ziyan nodded, "But now you're on the right path. Making many friends is never a bad thing. I'm glad that you've acted in so many dramas and haven't made any enemies. On the contrary, most of them have become your friends."
Lu Yanhe laughed.
Chen Ziyan: "Now that 'Lost in Thailand' has finished filming, 'Squid Game' is about to start filming, and 'My Own Swordsman' is expected to start filming in the middle of this year, basically all projects are in progress. What are you going to film next? Have you thought about it? Will you take the movie 'Burning Fire' that came to you before?"
Lu Yanhe: "I'm not sure, Sister Ziyan, I don't know if I should act in it."
Chen Ziyan said, "If you're unsure, then I would suggest you accept the offer."
"Um?"
"I'll say it again, because this is a blockbuster, you need a blockbuster," Chen Ziyan said. "And this movie has another advantage: the role they've offered you isn't the lead, but Shang Yongzhou. This means you don't have to carry the box office. To be honest, we don't even know if you can carry the box office of a blockbuster right now. Being able to play the second male lead means you're both the lead and don't have to face too much pressure."
Chen Ziyan had told him a long time ago that he absolutely had to act in a blockbuster film.
Lu Yanhe nodded upon hearing this.
"Do you think this script and this story can be made into a good movie?"
“I’m actually quite optimistic about it,” Chen Ziyan said. “This is Longyan Film Industry’s forte: fantasy blockbusters. Although fantasy blockbusters have always had a so-so reputation in China, with no particularly explosive or classic works, they are still an indispensable part of the film industry. Longyan Film Industry is one of the better ones, with rich experience and a good track record. In this genre that is destined to be very expensive, their films have never lost money and can break even at the box office.”
Lu Yanhe understood what Chen Ziyan meant.
“Okay, then let’s act it out,” Lu Yanhe said. “Anyway, I don’t have any other projects coming up.”
The script for the second season of "The Seventeenth Floor" is still being written, and filming is estimated to begin next year.
Since the funding for "Miss Ning" ran out, it has disappeared without a trace. He Han has gone to France and hasn't been in China for a long time. Lu Yanhe thinks it may be difficult to make this movie again.
It's a bit of a pity.
Miao Yue is still revising the script for Liu Bige's new spy film, and he is currently preparing for the romantic comedy film starring Li Zhibai, so the new spy film will have to be postponed.
Lu Yanhe, who was originally very busy, suddenly found himself without any projects to join the team.
Therefore, acting in "Burning Fire" is also an option.
Lu Yanhe took Chen Ziyan's words very seriously.
He can't just be a movie actor who acts in art films, low-budget movies, or films directed by new directors.
-
Upon learning that Lu Yanhe had finally relented and agreed to sign a contract with "Burning Fire," Huang Tai immediately called Lu Yanhe.
"That's great, Yan He. You're willing to join our movie. Trust me, you won't be disappointed," said Mrs. Huang. "With you on board, this movie will definitely be even better."
Lu Yanhe smiled and said, "Mrs. Huang, you're too kind. I'm very happy to have the opportunity to film this movie together. This is my first time filming this type of movie, and there's a lot to prepare and learn."
Mrs. Wong said, "If you need anything, just tell me and I'll arrange it for you."
Lu Yanhe quickly agreed.
After finishing the call with Huang Tai, Lu Yanhe immediately called Shang Yongzhou as well.
"Senior brother, I've decided to sign a contract with 'Burning Fire'."
Shang Yongzhou was somewhat surprised, "So fast?"
"Well, after looking at all the options, this film project seems to be the most suitable," Lu Yanhe said. "Can you act in it?"
"I'm still hesitating, I haven't made up my mind yet," Shang Yongzhou said. "It's been a long time since I've acted in a movie like this."
Shang Yongzhou used to act in quite a few visually stunning blockbusters, but he's done fewer in the last two years. This is mainly because his status is now secure, and he no longer needs to rely on the box office success of these blockbusters to elevate his image.
Lu Yanhe said, "I was actually quite moved by this story."
"Yes, its emotional impact is very strong," Shang Yongzhou also said. "Actually, it would be even better if the script's literary quality were a bit stronger."
"Um?"
"That's what I told Mrs. Huang and the others. They said the screenwriter is still revising the script, and I said we should wait and see," Shang Yongzhou said. "The current script is good, but the lines, dialogue, and characters are a bit thin. It's not that it has to be complicated or have plot twists, but it does lack a sense of completeness. At least when I read the script, I can't picture the character in my mind."
Shang Yongzhou has extremely high standards for scripts, a fact that Lu Yanhe experienced while filming "The Road to Glory" with him.
Actually, a script doesn't have to be overly complex or have many twists and turns; it's more about a feeling. Like the Japanese film "Little Forest" that Lu Yanhe had watched before, it basically had no plot. It just told the story of a young girl in the countryside doing very ordinary things like growing vegetables, cooking, and brewing wine. Yet, Lu Yanhe watched it from beginning to end and didn't find it boring at all.
It's difficult to give a quantifiable standard for what constitutes a good script, but at least after reading it, you should have a clear understanding in your mind that it's good.
Shang Yongzhou then said with a smile, "Mrs. Huang called me, probably to tell me about your agreement to sign the contract and to persuade me to do so."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yanhe couldn't help but laugh.
"Then I'll hang up now."
"Um."
Lu Yanhe hung up the phone and fell into deep thought.
A fantasy blockbuster?
Lu Yanhe actually had a story in mind.
If Chen Ziyan hadn't reminded him, Lu Yanhe wouldn't have remembered it for a long time.
However, at the time, this movie was actually one of the better-received fantasy blockbusters in China.
Painted Skin.
Perhaps after filming "Burning Fire" and experiencing the filming set of a fantasy blockbuster, he can write the script for this movie?
Anyway, the stories from "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" have already been adapted into many films and television series.
The story of "Painted Skin" has been adapted into a TV series, but it has not yet been made into a movie.
Because the story is already widely known, people think that if such a story were made into a movie, not many viewers would watch it.
But Lu Yanhe knew that the movie "Painted Skin" only retained the core element of "heart transplantation," and the rest of the story was a re-creation.
It could easily be made into a completely new story.
New wine in old bottles.
Lu Yanhe created a folder called "Painted Skin" on his laptop and put it there in case he forgot about it.
-
Within a day or two, the nomination list for the new Honghe Award was announced.
The Honghe Award, held every March, was also held as scheduled this year.
Lu Yanhe was nominated for Best Actor for his role in "The Seventeenth Floor," while Chen Bige and Li Yuefeng were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, for the same role.
These were all expected nominations.
Unexpectedly, it was the second season of Friends.
The second season of "Friends," which just finished airing, surprisingly lost its Best Director nomination at the Red River Awards despite being nominated for Best Television Series.
When asked why, an insider directly replied that Bai Jingnian's name was not on the registration list.
It was only then that everyone suddenly noticed something: Bai Jingnian was no longer in Beijing or Taiwan.
He went to watch the Northern Lights video.
Friends fans were in an uproar.
It's worth noting that during the airing of the second season, there was a lot of criticism, but director Bai Jingnian received a lot of praise. At the time, many people said that even with such a melodramatic script and dialogue, the director still tried his best to keep the second season as faithful to the first season, which was not easy. You could see the director's efforts to try to weaken the melodramatic plot twists through the language of the camera and preserve the warm and cozy atmosphere of the show.
Because of this incident, Beijing and Taiwan were trending on social media after being criticized by fans of the sitcom "Friends".
When Lu Yanhe learned of this, he couldn't help but curse as well.
"That's really short-sighted. Just because Director Bai Jingnian went to the Northern Lights Video, they won't nominate him for the Best Director award? Haha." Lu Yanhe curled his lip. "That's really ridiculous."
Wang Biao nodded in agreement.
"His pettiness has reached its extreme."
"Isn't this just asking for trouble?"
-
Bai Jingnian sat in his office, lost in thought, watching the online uproar and the constant ringing of his phone afterward.
Many friends sent him messages to comfort him.
Bai Jingnian wasn't really keen on responding to these words of comfort.
He never expected that Beijing and Taiwan wouldn't even nominate him for the Best Director award.
He's been working hard in Beijing and Taiwan for so many years; he's a veteran.
This made Bai Jingnian feel as if a wound had been cut into his heart, causing him great pain.
Bai Jingnian really wanted to call Beijing and Taiwan to ask them what they were thinking.
The phone rang again.
This time it wasn't a message, but a phone call.
Bai Jingnian glanced at the screen and saw the three words "Lu Yanhe" displayed. He hesitated for a moment, but still answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Director, how are you feeling?" Lu Yanhe asked directly.
"It's alright, just a little disappointing."
"Sigh, I don't know if my experience can comfort you," Lu Yanhe said with a hint of sarcasm.
Bai Jingnian then suddenly remembered that the conflict between Lu Yanhe and Jingtai was much bigger than his.
At that time, the "blockade" of Lu Yanhe by Beijing and Taiwan was also very intense.
Lu Yanhe said, "I hope this doesn't affect you. We still have 'My Own Swordsman' coming up, and that show can also help you win Best Director."
Bai Jingnian laughed after Lu Yanhe said that, and his depressed mood eased a bit.
"Whether I win an award or not, I don't really care that much anymore. I've been making films for so many years."
“I may not care about it in my heart, but I still have to win the award. You see, the eyes of the masses are discerning. The viewers of Friends have all seen how much you have contributed to the second season of Friends.”
“But the audience can see it, and they can’t,” Bai Jingnian said indignantly.
Lu Yanhe said, "They can't see because they're blind. If they weren't blind, they wouldn't have let you go."
These words struck a chord with Bai Jingnian.
"Thanks."
“What are you thanking me for, Director?” Lu Yanhe said. “My Own Swordsman will definitely become a work that is no less than Friends. At that time, no one will question or turn a blind eye to your ability as a director.”
"Actually, it's all thanks to the excellent script you wrote."
“It’s understandable for my fans to say that, but if someone in this industry says that, it’s really laughable,” Lu Yanhe said. “We’ve all seen how many good scripts are turned into bad movies by a director every year. If a screenwriter could handle everything with just one script, I would have already asked for more money as a screenwriter than I do as an actor.”
Bai Jingnian laughed heartily.
“The screenwriter is very hardworking, serious, and talented, but it also needs a director who can bring it to life,” Lu Yanhe said. “TV series are not an art of words, but an art of the camera. The person who controls the camera is not the screenwriter, nor the actor, nor the cinematographer, but the director who holds up the megaphone or who has never done it before.”
Bai Jingnian took a deep breath as he listened to Lu Yanhe's words.
"Yan He, thank you for comforting me. Your words really did comfort me."
“I believe that, director, when you look back on what happened today next year or the year after, you will only tell it as a joke,” Lu Yanhe said. “Just like when I look back at what happened with Beijing and Taiwan, it is definitely not my joke, but Beijing and Taiwan’s joke.”
Bai Jingnian's heart was stirred with pride by Lu Yanhe's words.
“You’re right. Let this become a joke between Beijing and Taiwan, not a joke for me.”
Lu Yanhe: "Director, let's do our best together!"
"Okay, keep it up!"
-
Lu Yanhe hung up the phone, took a deep breath, rubbed his aching head, and thought to himself, "Why has my head started hurting lately? Is it because I've been thinking too much?"
Will I grow gray hair?
He quickly ran to the mirror to do a check-up.
Only after confirming that he still had a head of jet-black, shiny hair did Lu Yanhe breathe a sigh of relief.
Then, looking at herself in the mirror, she was stunned.
Wait, what's wrong with him?
This move looks so much like Li Zhibai's!
From 3252 to 4449, a minimum of 6,000 words will be guaranteed, with an extra 5,000 words to go.
Successfully completed!
(End of this chapter)
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