Chapter 68: Iron Tree Blossoms
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Unlike the small crew of "Escape", "The Empress of China" is truly a historical masterpiece, with a creative team of more than 800 people. There are more than 100 actors with names in the script alone, and there are countless costumes, props, equipment, venues, and vehicles.
Managing such a large crew is a huge challenge for anyone.
What's more, this is Zhu Bing's first time as a producer.
Fortunately, Zhu Bing has a strong team under her, and Zhu Bing treats her subordinates well on weekdays, so that none of her team members have left in three years. Rumor has it that Zhu Bing is very generous to those around her, and her year-end bonus is as high as six or seven figures. When a company employee got married, she booked 30 tables for a banquet and gave gifts and necklaces. Another old employee who had been with her for 7 years couldn't afford to buy a house when she got married, so she bought one for the employee as a wedding house. With such a boss, how can employees not be loyal and work hard?
With such a team assisting Zhu Bing, and Zhu Bing's extensive network of contacts, the preparation of "The Empress of China" was very smooth.
Moreover, Zhu Bing was really serious this time. Not only did she invest a huge amount of money, she also invited many good friends to make guest appearances.
Zhang Zhiwei plays Xu Hui, Yang Baobao plays Empress Changsun/Zheng Wanyan, and I won’t mention the one who simply plays Concubine Chen.
Zhu Bing also invited her good friend Zhang Chen to play Li Zhi.
Zhang Chen is one of the iconic figures of Chinese popular culture, known as the "all-round Asian superstar in film, television and music". He is an all-rounder with admirable multi-faceted abilities. His status and traffic in the entertainment industry are even higher than most of the Four Heavenly Kings.
One can imagine how powerful Zhu Bing is to be able to find such a person to play the second male lead.
March 29th.
The crew of "The Empress of China" held a grand opening ceremony at Taiji Palace of the Tang Dynasty Palace in Hengdian.
As the male lead, Xu Kai also participated in the grand opening ceremony of "The Empress of China".
Moreover, I don’t know whether it was intentional by Zhu Bing or because of Xu Kai’s status as the male lead, but Zhu Bing actually arranged for Xu Kai to stand in the C position with her.
In the presence of deputy producer Song Shan, deputy producer Wang Qing, and superstar Zhang Chen, it is inevitable that people will speculate that Xu Kai, a relatively unknown person, is standing in the C position with Zhu Bing.
Someone swore, "If there is nothing wrong between Zhu Bing and Yu Qingyun, I will tear my head off and let you kick it like a ball."
Some people envied Xu Kai: "He was able to handle Zhu Bing. This Yu Qingyun is really a role model for my generation!"
Some people even laughed at Xu Kai: "Yu Qingyun looks quite manly, but I didn't expect him to be a gigolo. Tsk tsk!"
With so many rumors, it was impossible for them not to reach Xu Kai's ears.
Xu Kai just smiled at this.
You can't persuade everyone with just your mouth, and the villain also wants to live.
Besides, Xu Kai is not a young man in his twenties and does not have such a hot temper.
There is no need to explain it to the elderly.
The purpose of life is to make people laugh, and occasionally laugh at others. In the bustling city of red mortals, scrambling for a hot meal, why fear what idlers say?
At the opening ceremony, Zhu Bing announced on behalf of the production team: "This drama has a creative team of 800 people, including more than 500 scene designs, 380 large-scale scenes, nearly 1,000 shooting locations, and an investment budget of 350 million. We also invited a Hollywood styling team to create scenes such as the ancient capital of Chang'an, the Taiji Palace of the Tang Dynasty Palace, and the Battle of Dong Liao, an ancient imperial battlefield. Some of the studio scenes were built in the National Digital Film Industry Park. We are committed to restoring this true history."
Deputy producer Song Shan then said: "We spared no expense this time to set new records in the TV drama industry. We spent tens of millions of yuan on costumes alone. The total number of costumes for all the actors is about 3,000, of which Bingbing's costumes alone amount to 260."
Deputy producer Wang Qing took over the conversation and said: "We are committed to creating an epic historical masterpiece and presenting it to everyone."
After the three producers finished speaking, it was the actors' turn to speak.
After Zhu Bing finished speaking, Xu Kai, as the male lead, was the first to speak up: "Thank you to the producers for giving me the opportunity to play the role of Emperor Taizong. I will do my best to interpret the role of Emperor Taizong."
After saying this, Xu Kai handed the microphone to Zhang Chen, being quite low-key.
Zhang Chen spoke a lot to support Zhu Bing, and then handed the microphone to Zhang Zhiwei.
The main actors spoke in turn, and then it was the reporter's turn to ask questions.
As the first protagonist, the most popular star, the first investor, and the first producer of the show, Zhu Bing is undoubtedly the person who receives the most questions.
Then there is Zhang Chen.
Then came the popular stars such as Yang Baobao and Danchun.
When it was Xu Kai's turn, the only question he asked was, "Mr. Yu, why were you chosen as the protagonist?"
Xu Kai answered according to what Zhu Bing had told him before: "I think the producers should have their own considerations."
Zhu Bing immediately took the ball passed by Xu Kai and said, "Please take a look at the stills."
As soon as Zhu Bing finished speaking, a still photo of Xu Kai appeared on the big screen.
In this still, Xu Kai looks at least a dozen years older, with a completely middle-aged face.
But Xu Kai's charm did not decrease at all because of this. On the contrary, Xu Kai exposed another side of himself: calm, wise, enlightened, heroic, and looking down on the world. He perfectly interpreted the great emperor Li Shimin.
"I worked with Brother Yu in Escape. When I first met Brother Yu, I felt that he was the perfect choice for Emperor Taizong. In the subsequent interactions, I discovered that Brother Yu was both civil and military, had a calm and wise personality, and had excellent acting skills. I decided then that I must sincerely invite Brother Yu to join The Empress of China to add luster to the play. Later, I approached Brother Yu three times before he agreed to play Emperor Taizong."
Having said that, Zhu Bing gave Xu Kai a look of resentment, half real and half fake.
Xu Kai thought to himself that this was not good.
really!
The next day, Zhu Bing's look was spread along with the opening ceremony of "The Empress of China".
Fortunately, it was just a glance, and Xu Kai was not famous, so this iconic historical moment was soon drowned out by the overwhelming coverage of "The Empress of China".
Almost all the reporters who were able to attend the opening ceremony were partners and friends of the crew. How could they hold on to Xu Kai who was encouraged by Zhu Bing?
The question-and-answer session ended and filming of "The Empress of China" officially started.
In order to demonstrate the strength of the crew of "The Empress of China", the crew selected two large dramas as the dramas to be filmed at the opening ceremony.
The first group filmed the grand scene of Zhu Bing and other imperial wives entering the palace.
The second group filmed Xu Kai competing with his three sons in martial arts.
(Everything else has already been prepared, and the filming can officially begin as soon as the main actors arrive.) Logically speaking, the first set of dramas will naturally attract more attention.
Although this scene only has a few shots and Zhu Bing doesn't have many lines, the cost of the set and extras alone exceeded a million, which fully demonstrates the strength and ambition of the crew of "The Empress of China".
But many reporters were attracted by the competition between Xu Kai and his three sons.
It was seen that Xu Kai not only had the appearance and demeanor that matched that of Emperor Taizong, but he was also decisive and ruthless in his actions, and he defeated his three "sons" cleanly and efficiently.
Speaking objectively, the reason for this situation is, first of all, of course, that Xu Kai's martial arts skills are too high. Secondly, it is also because the three actors who played Xu Kai's sons, although they had intensively trained in martial arts for a few days, were still just fancy-looking. Whether in terms of movements or reactions, they were far inferior to Xu Kai.
The director didn't want Emperor Taizong, played by Xu Kai, to be too powerful, which would make the three ambitious princes appear too incompetent, so he called "cut" repeatedly and then discussed with the martial arts director and Xu Kai how to make the actors playing the three princes lose in a reasonable way.
Every time Xu Kai followed the director and martial arts director's requirements and cooperated with the three actors.
But because the difference between the two sides was so huge, the more Xu Kai gave in, the more awkward the photos turned out to be.
There was no other way, the director could only use the stunt doubles of the three actors.
In this way, Xu Kaicai contributed a wonderful fight scene to "The Empress of China".
After seeing Xu Kai's fighting scenes, a group of reporters, including the actors and staff of "The Empress of China", finally understood why Zhu Bing said that Xu Kai was a master of both literature and martial arts.
Let’s not talk about the literary aspect for now.
In terms of martial arts, Xu Kai is really amazing. Three well-known martial artists in the industry were beaten by Xu Kai to the point where they could only defend themselves without any power to fight back. The key point is that not only are Xu Kai's movements beautiful, but they are also not fancy. Each of his moves is a real killing move with great practical significance, making the fight between them both realistic and beautiful.
It can be said that using Xu Kai's fight scene as the opening scene of "The Empress of China" will definitely catch the audience's attention at once.
Zhu Bing's eyes were full of smiles and unconcealable admiration.
Zhang Chen came over and asked bluntly, "Why, is the iron tree blooming?"
"go."
Zhu Bing said stubbornly: "I just think that I have discovered a good actor."
Zhang Chen sneered: "Using me as a supporting role to set off him, just because he is a good actor?"
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(End of this chapter)
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