Entertainment 1998

Chapter 615 Chapter 614, "Departures" Wraps Up

Sachiko Izakaya

Jiang Feng is here again.

This was the first time Jiang Feng came here since he knew that Izumi Sakai had left. Of course, it would also be the last time.

Because everything you do must be completed from beginning to end.

In February, Jiang Feng had his first dinner here after arriving in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. Today, the crew is leaving after finishing filming, and Jiang Feng will also have his last breakfast in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, here.

Jiang Feng had never known much about Japanese breakfast, so when he arrived at Sachiko Izakaya, he just said, "Boss, make it as you wish," and then sat around the counter of the izakaya with Han Shanye, Jiang Zhiqiang, Otani Nobuyoshi, Harvey Weinstein and others.

"Director Jiang Feng, when will the post-production of the movie "Departures" be completed?"

Shochiku Film is a partner of China Film Group and Emperor Entertainment Group. According to the cooperation agreement signed by both parties, "Departures" will be distributed by this film and television company in Xiao Ri Zi.

Therefore, as soon as the few of them sat down, Shochiku Film Company President Nobuyoshi Otani asked this question.

“It will be done before May 5st!”

Jiang Feng estimated the time. The filming would be completed today, and tomorrow he would return to Beijing to start editing the film.

As for the crew members' trip to Kyoto and Tokyo, they will be led by Dawei, Mark, Li Xing and others. Jiang Feng is not interested in it for the time being.

When I feel like it one day, I'll go there with a pack of explosives.

"okay!"

Seeing that Jiang Feng gave the exact date, Otani Nobuyoshi thought for a moment, then turned to look at Han Shanye and Jiang Zhiqiang, and conveyed his thoughts through the translator.

“Mr. Han, Mr. Jiang, let’s put it this way. Shochiku Films will start warming up for “Departures” from now on, from traditional paper media to television media to online media.

As for the official release date... shall we put it on May 5th?"

"Okay." Han Shanye nodded.

"There's no problem with China Film Group."

"There's no problem with Enlight Pictures either." Seeing Han Shanye nod, Jiang Zhiqiang immediately gave his opinion.

Zhang Yimou came very quickly.

Jiang Feng, Han Shanye, and Otani Nobuyoshi had not talked for a few words when Zhang Yimou, who had gone out for a brisk walk, appeared in Sachiko Izakaya.

"Boss Han is here."

"Mr. Jiang is here."

"Uh…"

When Zhang Yimou saw Harvey Weinstein, he was stunned at first, and then sat next to Jiang Feng without saying a word.

have to…

It seems that Zhang Yimou must have been cheated by the old gangster.

But the old rogue is still an old rogue!
Seeing that Zhang Yimou ignored him, Harvey Weinstein, who was sitting on the far right, suddenly ran to the far left, then took Zhang Yimou's hand and started laughing.

"Director Zhang Yimou, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

“I heard that you are currently producing a movie called ‘Hero’, with Jiang Feng and Jet Li as the male leads. I wonder when it will be edited into a film. I would like to take a look first.

If possible, I am willing to invest 2000 million US dollars to buy out the global distribution rights of this film.

Well, if you don’t believe me this time, I can put the 2000 million US dollars in the account of China Film Group. After I watch the movie and feel it’s suitable, I will immediately notify China Film to transfer the money to you.”

"Really?"

Zhang Yimou's artistic achievements were okay, but he was really not cut out for business. When he heard Harvey Weinstein say that Miramax Films could put the money in China Film Group's account first, Zhang Yimou immediately became interested.

But Jiang Feng knew that Harvey Weinstein had to cheat him, even if Harvey Weinstein put 2000 million US dollars in the account of China Film Group for trust first.

Well, let alone the cunning Harvey Weinstein, even if it was me, under this situation, there were forty or fifty ways to trick Zhang Yimou into losing his pants. Of course, Jiang Feng did not say these words on the spot, after all, Harvey Weinstein and I had no grudges in the past life, and no hatred in the present.

What's more, two other important investors of the movie "Hero", Jiang Zhiqiang and Han Shanye, were sitting nearby.

Different from the exquisite Japanese breakfast made by Izumi Sakai, the breakfast of the old man in front of him was a bit perfunctory, without too many tricks. There were only two kinds. One was thick omelette, which was similar to the Chinese egg pancake; the other was miso ramen, which was actually instant noodles in miso soup.

But it doesn’t matter. We didn’t come here just for breakfast. We just wanted to fill our stomachs while chatting.

"Hmm..., the noodles are good."

Perhaps it was the first time for Han Shanye to eat this kind of thing, so he was a little happy. After taking two bites, he started to give a thumbs up.

"Well, I think this kind of egg pancake tastes better." In Zhang Yimou's hometown in northern Shaanxi, there are 108 kinds of noodles, such as waistband noodles, oil-splashed noodles, and whistle noodles. So as a man from the northwest, he naturally looks down on the noodles of daily life.

But Zhang Yimou was a sincere person, and he had to praise the chef of Sachiko Izakaya, so he started praising the egg pancakes.

Just as Zhang Yimou and Han Shanye were paying attention to the food, Harvey Weinstein, who was not used to Japanese food, spoke with a smile.

"Director Jiang Feng..."

"Ok?"

"If my guess is correct, will the shooting date of your third movie, The Departed, also be moved forward in Hollywood?"

"Well, that's right!"

Jiang Feng nodded in acknowledgement.

According to the original plan, the filming of "Departures" will be completed before June and released in July. Regardless of the box office performance, it can compete for next year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

As for the American version of "Infernal Affairs", filming began in late July and early August, was completed in October, and will be released early next year.

But now that "Departures" has been completed so many days ahead of schedule, it's time to shoot "The Departed".

Because according to the information Jiang Feng got from Li Xing, the Hong Kong version of "Infernal Affairs" project has not yet started, and even the film investors have not been finalized.

If you shoot the American version of "Infernal Affairs" in advance and release it, then the movie you shoot will be the authentic one!

As for whether I can participate in next year's Oscars, we'll talk about it then.

Jiang Feng was just thinking about it when Harvey Weinstein spoke again.

"Jiang Feng, I can see that you are an ambitious person, and I like ambitious people the most, so how about this, we cooperate in the future?
Well, to show my sincerity, you can leave the movie "Departures" to me..."

But before Harvey Weinstein could finish his words, Jiang Feng pointed at Han Shanye and Jiang Zhiqiang.

"Mr. Harvey, if you want to talk about this topic, please talk to them both."

.........

White steam rose from the medicine jars on the stove.

Li Lianhua's gaze was cast into the distance.

"I, too, left my home in Sapporo and came here. My son too... He was 2 years old at the time."

"Ah..." Jiang Feng widened his eyes.

"At that time, I attached great importance to the love in front of me. My son cried out "Mom, Mom", but I pushed away his little hands that were reaching out to me and ran out of the house."

"Did you meet your son later?" Jiang Feng asked.

"Of course I want to see him, but I can't."

"Why is that? Since you want to see him, why not go and meet him?" Jiang Feng was puzzled.

...

After having breakfast at Sachiko Izakaya, Jiang Feng and Zhang Yimou left the trouble of Harvey Weinstein to Han Shanye and Jiang Zhiqiang, and went to Watanabe Funeral Home to start shooting the last scene of more than a dozen shots.

(End of this chapter)