Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 338 Yuan Shanshan and Zu Feng
Liu Jiang, a student of the Acting Department of Beijing Film Academy in 88, switched to being a director after graduation.

Actors come from the Central Academy of Drama, and directors come from the Beijing Film Academy.

Although there are many directors graduating from Beijing Film Academy, almost none of them are from the directing department. Most of them transferred from other departments.

Liu Jiang is undoubtedly one of them.

Liu Jiang is still not well-known now, and even in the future, he is not considered to be in the first rank. At most, it can be said that he has a position in the field of TV dramas, but he is what Xingchen Entertainment needs most now.

"Now that the leading and main supporting roles have been decided, can you give me the remaining minor supporting roles?" Dong Jianqiang suddenly spoke.

"Why, are you useful?"

"Not really. I'm going to use it as a favor. To survive in this circle, you need to have a lot of friends~"

Zhang Chen is a big firecracker who likes to offend people for no reason. The overall style of Xingchen Entertainment is also tough, but someone has to surround people, and this task naturally falls on Dong Jianqiang.

"Wang Jinghua, Chang Jihong, and Guangguang all need to take care of a lot of places. We are all exchanging resources..."

Dong Jianqiang explained further.

"Well, you decide."

Anyway, the remaining ones are all small roles, it doesn’t matter who they are given to, it’s also good to be able to play a role in Dong Jianqiang’s hands.

This is because their company does not sign artists, so the resources they need are not many, otherwise at least one of the male and female protagonists would have to be given out.

"Then I will start contacting them to come and sign the contract." Chen Xi said.

"Okay, sign it."

……

In the afternoon, Zhang Chen went to China Film Studio.

Mr. Han San was very nice to him. He had been in the United States for two months, so naturally he would bring him some gifts when he came back. He didn't care how expensive the gifts were, what mattered was the thought.

"Come on, sit down~"

Han Sanping is a heavy smoker, and his office is always filled with smoke, like a fairyland.

As soon as Zhang Chen entered, he was almost choked out by the smoke.

After the door was opened and air-dried for a while, people were finally allowed in.

"I regret bringing you a gift." Zhang Chen said, but put the gift on the table.

"Let me see what you brought me~" The two of them now have a bit of friendship regardless of age difference. Zhang Chen is not polite to Han Sanping, and Han Sanping does not act like an elder either.

"Hey, cigar~"

"Well, authentic Cuban cigars, each one is rubbed on the girl's thigh~"

"Go~"

An old man and a young boy were laughing in an indecent manner.

"Then I'll accept it with pleasure." Han Sanping took out one and stuffed the rest into the drawer with a smile.

“It’s better to smoke less.”

Zhang Chen also smokes, but he still thinks Han Sanping smokes too much.

Han Sanping didn't want to talk about this topic, so he asked, "There must be a lot of reporters who want to interview you these days, right?"

Zhang Chen nodded and exaggerated: "How can that be a lot? That's quite a lot, with loud gongs and drums, firecrackers, red flags waving, and huge crowds of people..."

"Get lost, you are telling me a crosstalk?"

A cigar flew over and Zhang Chen reached out to grab it. Han Sanping took out a new cigar from the drawer, cut off the head with cigar pliers, and then started to light it with a lighter.

Zhang Chen followed suit, and the air index in the office dropped a few degrees again.

“How about The Promise?” Zhang Chen asked knowingly.

Han Sanping sighed when he heard this: "It's selling very poorly..."

"How come? Didn't it break the first weekend box office record?"

This time, Han Sanping did not answer immediately, but shook his head.

"In short, it's hard to put it into words..."

He was determined to implement the strategy of blockbuster films, and "The Promise" was one of his major bets. He didn't expect that poet Chen would perform so poorly.

Zhang Chen actually understands Han Sanping a little bit. This is equivalent to being kidnapped.

I knew it was a bad movie, but I had no choice but to help promote it.

A lot of the 3.5 million yuan cost was invested by China Film Group. If there is a loss, he, the advocate, will be the first to bear the brunt of the responsibility.

Even though he has an extraordinary status in China Film now, it all depends on the timing.

When you stumble, there might be someone who will come and add insult to injury.

"Director Chen has really screwed me over this time. If it weren't for your film Taken, this year's total box office might not even be as good as last year's. That would be a huge mistake."

China Film Group is not just a film studio, it has a political mission.

The prosperous domestic film market is the most important one among them.

No matter how prosperous it is, the total box office should at least increase year by year.

You told me that the domestic film market is developing in a good direction, but this year's total box office is not as good as last year's. Are you kidding me?

"How's the filming of 'A Quiet Place' going?" Han Sanping didn't want to continue the previous topic, so he asked about Zhang Chen's new project.

"It has been filmed and is currently in post-production."

“When are you planning on releasing it?”

"Summer season, maybe."

Han Sanping nodded: "What about the box office, how much do you estimate it will be?"

"One hundred million is definitely no problem, but whether it can reach 200 million depends on luck."

Just because “Taken” made 200 million doesn’t mean all of his future movies will make 200 million.

Otherwise, the box office of "House of Flying Daggers" would not be as good as that of "Hero".

Han Sanping's frown finally relaxed a little, and he asked, "What about Painted Skin?"

"The filming will start after the Chinese New Year. It will probably take about two months to shoot, and at least three months for post-production. I plan to release it during the Lunar New Year holiday to compete with Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower."

"Are you really going to have a fight?" When Han Sanping heard that they were going to have a fight, his brows, which had just relaxed, began to frown again.

Zhang Yimou is one of the few big directors in China who can carry the box office, and Zhang Chen happens to be one of them.

From his point of view, both of them are indispensable figures in the prosperity of the domestic film market, and the last thing he wants to see is a competition between the two.

"I can't help it. Zhang Weiping did that to me before, so I must fight back. There is no suitable movie for this year's "A Thousand Miles Alone", otherwise I will never let him off easily..."

"Can……"

"Okay, Third Master, stop trying to persuade me. I have nothing against Zhang Yimou, but I want to kill that bastard Zhang Weiping.

And the Wang brothers, when they were doing the first day of the month, they should have thought that I would be doing the fifteenth day of the month someday~"

Things have come to this point, and Han Sanping knows that he can no longer persuade him.

There is no use in persuading.

If young people are not passionate, can they still be called young people?

"By the way, Third Master, China Film Group lost money on The Promise, should we reconsider Painted Skin..."

According to their original agreement, China Film Group must be involved in Painted Skin. Zhang Chen is finally preparing to make a blockbuster, so how can China Film Group not get involved?

However, the box office failure of "The Promise" put China Film Group in a passive position, and also gave those forces in the group that opposed Han Sanping an excuse to launch an attack.

Unexpectedly, the Third Master waved his hand generously, "You underestimate me too much. The Promise did lose money, but the previous films The Shallows, Manslaughter, and Taken all made real money. If anyone dares to bring up The Promise, I will spit in his face.

Investing in movies is an act of investment. What is an act of investment? There are gains and losses. If anyone dares to say that he will not lose money on every movie he invests in, I will give him my current position. If you can't do it, just shut up..."

Han Sanping's words were very confident. So far, every movie produced by Xingchen Entertainment has been invested by China Film Group, and all of them have made huge profits without exception. This is his confidence.

"But boy, you must do a good job on Painted Skin. I'm counting on you to help me turn the tables~"

Han Sanping was afraid that Zhang Chen would become proud and complacent, so he gave him a few more warnings.

In fact, there was one thing he didn't say. Orange Sky asked John Woo to make the big production "Red Cliff", but he didn't even plan to bring China Film Group along. This was a blatant disdain for him, Han Sanping.

The third master was also holding his breath.

……

During the time when Zhang Chen was meeting with Mr. Han Sanye, Chen Xi was also calling the main and supporting actors of "Before Dawn" one by one to notify them.

"Teacher Chen, it has been decided that you will play the role of Tan Zhongshu. When you are free, we can sign the contract. Of course, it depends on your time. We can do it anytime..."

"Xiao Ming, this is Chen Xi. Director Zhang has looked at the cast list today and has finally decided that Zu Feng, whom you recommended, will play Li Bohan. No one answered his phone call. Can you please notify him and tell him when he is free to come to the company to sign the contract..."

Then she called Yang Xiaomi.

"Mi Mi, I have good news for you. The candidate for the heroine Gu Yejia in "Before the Dawn" has been decided. It's you..."

"Ah~" An exclamation came from the other side, followed by a burst of joy.

"Sister Xixi, thank you. It was you who recommended me to Director Zhang that gave me this opportunity. Thank you, thank you..."

Yang Xiaomi was so happy that she was a little incoherent. Chen Xi on the other end of the phone could fully understand her joy at this moment.

"Okay, don't be polite with me. If you really want to thank me, just promise me that you will think carefully about this role and act well.

This drama was personally arranged by Director Zhang. If you mess it up, I won’t be able to help you get a role in the future.”

"Don't worry, Sister Xixi, I will, I will definitely act well..."

Yang Xiaomi's tone was full of sincerity.

After a few more words, Chen Xi ended the call as he still had to call his actor.

Yang Xiaomi was still immersed in the joy just now when Yuan Shanshan's voice rang out beside her.

"Mi Mi, what are you so happy about? I just heard you say that you got the female lead in a TV series?"

"Well, a friend introduced me to a drama, and just now I was notified that I was cast as the female lead."

Yang Xiaomi said it openly, enjoying the envious looks from those around her.

Yang Xiaomi had already produced works before she was admitted to Beijing Film Academy and had also signed with a company.

It can be said that her starting point is higher than that of everyone in the same class.

While her classmates were still learning acting skills, she was already acting in TV dramas.

When her classmates started looking for internship opportunities, she was already the leading actress in a TV series.

"Mi Mi, congratulations, you are amazing~"

"I envy you so much~"

"Yes, yes, you are amazing. We are still in class, and you have already played the leading female role~"

Yang Xiaomi was in a good mood because of the flattery from her classmates.

"No, no, you will definitely be able to play your own heroine in the future."

"Hey Mimi, I don't care, you have to treat us tonight..."

The person who was speaking was Yuan Shanshan, who lived in the same dormitory and had the best relationship with Yang Xiaomi.

"No problem, it's my treat, what do you want to eat tonight~"

As a big girl in Beijing, Yang Xiaomi is very generous and said that she would treat everyone in the evening and everyone could order whatever they wanted.

While everyone else in the dormitory was playing around, Yuan Shanshan took the opportunity to find a private opportunity to beg Yang Xiaomi, "Mi Mi, since you are the female lead, can you talk to your producer and ask him to give me a role, even if it's a very small one~"

Yang Xiaomi felt a little embarrassed when she heard this. She didn't expect Yuan Shanshan to ask her for this.

But she herself came here with the help of others, so how could she help others? She hesitated for a moment.

"Good Mimi, please help me. We are good sisters. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else..."

Yuan Shanshan begged again, which made Yang Xiaomi hesitate and a little bit hostile. After a while, she could only say: "I... I'll try~"

……

On the other end, Huang Xiaoming was also calling Zu Feng.

"Squad leader, I called you several times but no one answered~"

"Oh, Xiao Ming, I was in class just now and my phone was on silent."

Zu Feng is not good-looking, and he did not have any famous works before "The Disguiser". But in fact, he is a classmate of Huang Xiaoming, Zhao Yanzi, Chen Kun and others, and he is also the class monitor.

After graduation, while others pursued their own careers, Zu Feng chose to stay in school and become an acting teacher.

"Oh my monitor, you can't do this. Xingchen Entertainment called you but couldn't get through, so you called me. Look, if they didn't know about your relationship, the opportunity might have slipped away."

Huang Xiaoming kept talking, and Zu Feng was excited when he heard it: "What, is there a result?"

Huang Xiaoming on the other end of the phone laughed and said, "Why, are you anxious now that you remember it?"

"Stop keeping us in suspense. Is there any result?"

Huang Xiaoming also knew that it was not appropriate to joke at this time, so he simply said: "Yes, Li Bohan's candidate has been selected, and it's you. Congratulations, squad leader~"

Zu Feng on the other end was also very happy, but he did not lose his composure. It was just that he couldn't take back the smile on his face.

"It's all thanks to you, thank you Xiao Ming, if it weren't for your recommendation, I wouldn't have this opportunity~"

Zu Feng was recommended by Huang Xiaoming. He told Chen Xi that his squad leader was a "drama fanatic" with excellent acting skills, but he was not very famous.

Chen Xi remembered this and auditioned Zu Feng for this casting, which gave him the opportunity to be a backup.

"You're welcome. The most I can do is ask them to give you an audition opportunity. Whether you can be selected depends more on yourself."

There is a reason why Huang Xiaoming has many friends and is popular in the circle.

He is a really nice person, willing to help others, and has good character. He is the type of person that both the boss and employees like.

In terms of personality, he is probably a bit like Andy Lau, who can handle everything well, except that his taste in finding a girlfriend is not that good.

"When are you going to sign the contract?"

"Tomorrow."

"Okay, then we'll go together. If we run into Director Zhang, I'll introduce you to him."

Huang Xiaoming is ready to do his best and see the Buddha through to the west.

Since I have already helped him, I might as well help him expand his network.

Besides, I also need to meet Zhang Chen, so this is a good excuse.

People become closer through interaction, and Huang Xiaoming understands this truth very well.

(End of this chapter)