Huayu: Hard fight against Zhang Weiping at the beginning

Chapter 370 Visiting Team
After resting at home for a night, Zhang Chen came to the company the next day, but was surprised to find that Lu Yang and Ning Hao were both there, along with Liu Jiang.

“Everyone is working so hard…”

Ning Hao shrugged: "Don't mention it. I stayed at home for only a few days, and all kinds of people came to my door, asking me to donate, asking me to invest in movies, and even inviting me to cut the ribbon. I really couldn't stay at home any longer, so I simply came back early and prepared for my "Racing"..."

Unexpectedly, Ning Hao encountered the same tragic thing as him. It's true that people are afraid of becoming famous just like pigs are afraid of getting fat.

This is probably the pain of being a celebrity.

On the other side, Lu Yang smiled and said, "I have nothing to do at home anyway, and I am worried about the review results, so I just come to the company. If there is something to do, I will do my own work, and if there is nothing to do, I will watch movies..."

Lu Yang is originally from Beijing, so coming to the company is just a matter of saying a few words.

When he said this, he pointed to the computer screen in front of him. The movie playing on it was "Huo Yuanjia". It was obvious that it was a pirated copy.

"What are you doing?"

"Pull the film and learn by the way~"

"Fuck, you're a director, but you openly use pirated resources..."

Zhang Chen looked righteous, but Lu Yang pouted: "Don't give me that, I don't believe that all the movies you've played are genuine resources..."

"Uh~"

What he said is really right. Anyone who wants to study directing has to watch films.

The so-called film analysis is to play the movie frame by frame to analyze the film's composition, color, actor's performance, etc.

This is a necessary stage for all those learning to direct. Lu Yang has gone through it, Zhang Chen has gone through it, and Ning Hao, who is not a professional director, has probably gone through it as well.

"So what did you learn?"

"I feel like there's nothing much to learn. The film's shooting techniques are too old-fashioned, and it's too didactic. I don't think the box office will be very high..."

There was no one else here, so Lu Yang expressed his intuitive judgment of "Huo Yuanjia".

"Huo Yuanjia" is actually not that outstanding, it can only be said to be average among Jet Li's movies.

Logically speaking, "Huo Yuanjia" has the potential to become a hit. After all, if "Ip Man" could become a hit, why can't "Huo Yuanjia"?
But the reality is that "Huo Yuanjia" is far inferior to "Ip Man", both in terms of character portrayal and influence.

The reason is that "Huo Yuanjia" has been filmed too many times and everyone has a prejudice in their minds.

Another problem is that it sounds too preachy and makes you lose popularity.

"How come Liu Jiang is here so early? I remember your family is not from Beijing, right?"

Although I am not familiar with Liu Jiang, I still have to ask him.

Liu Jiang just signed the contract because of "Before Dawn" and they have not worked together yet.

Liu Jiang scratched his head: "Nothing's wrong with me, I just want to review "Before the Dawn" again before filming..."

"Liu Jiang didn't go home for the New Year and stayed in the company the whole time. I saw him when I came here..." Lu Yang suddenly said at this time.

Even though Liu Jiang graduated a long time ago, he had only acted in one drama called "Iron-Blooded Youth". He is not well-known and has little experience, so he was very concerned about "Before Dawn".

Zhang Chen then realized that this guy didn't go back to his hometown for the New Year, but he appreciated his attitude.

People who are willing to work hard will not do too badly in their field.

Zhang Chen encouraged them with a few words, shared the specialties he brought with everyone, and then looked at Lu Yang again: "The results haven't come out yet?"

Zhang Chen was asking about the censorship of Kowloon Walled City.

"Before the New Year, I submitted it once according to Manager Dong's strategy, but it was rejected. The review department raised a lot of comments, so I made some cuts accordingly and resubmitted it before the holiday. Director Tian Zhuangzhuang also helped to put in a call this time, so theoretically it shouldn't be rejected. I estimate that the real result will be out after work on the eighth day of the New Year."

Lu Yang was full of confidence, and Liu Jiang beside him was confused. "It hasn't been approved yet? Then why do I see the media promoting it? It seems to be scheduled for March~"

When Liu Jiang said this, everyone laughed.

Lu Yang explained: "You are right. We have indeed promoted it in advance because we want to compete with "SPL"..."

Lu Yang is very clear about his own positioning and the significance of the existence of "Kowloon Walled City".

The boss made this movie just to slap "SPL" in the face.

Liu Jiang was surprised that Xingchen Entertainment was so bold that they dared to spend money on publicity before it passed the review. Aren’t they afraid that if it fails to pass the review, all the publicity will be wasted?
He doesn't know much about movies, but in the TV drama industry, perhaps less than half of the dramas can be officially broadcast each year. Many dramas cannot be broadcast due to censorship or other reasons. Liu Jiang has handled such projects.

Now hearing what Lu Yang said, I suddenly felt that it was better for the company to have connections.

"Who of you is free these two days? I'm going to go to the set of "Baby Project". If you are free, you can come with me..."

Visiting the set of "Baby Project" was not only Da Meiyuan's request, but also Cheng Long's request.

During the New Year holidays, he called Zhang Chen again, feeling a little anxious.

His contemporaries, such as Tony Leung and Jet Li's "Hero", Andy Lau's "House of Flying Daggers", Stephen Chow's "Kung Fu", and Tony Leung Ka Fai's "Taken". All of these movies grossed over 100 million yuan, but his didn't.

Now Jet Li has made "Huo Yuanjia", which looks like it will break the 100 million mark, and he is really anxious.

He is Cheng Long.

"Rumble in the Bronx" in 95 had already earned 9800 million, but now it is not as much as before. What's going on?

Although "Baby Project" has changed its track, he still has a feeling that it may not reach 100 million. Now he can only pin his hopes on Zhang Chen.

He doesn't ask for a 200 million box office like "Taken", he will be satisfied as long as it breaks 100 million.

But although Zhang Chen agreed, he also had a lot of films waiting to be shot. When would it be his turn?
So he invited Zhang Chen to come to the "Baby Project" and wanted to have a good talk.

"Don't look at me, I don't have time. The filming of "Racing" will start on the tenth day at the latest~" Ning Hao immediately refused.

"Brother, I can't do it either. I'm also responsible for helping you play "SPL" and I can't be distracted~" Lu Yang also shouted.

Liu Jiang moved his lips, and finally said, "Director Zhang, Before the Dawn is about to start filming, and I..."

Zhang Chen waved his hand: "It's okay, I'm just asking casually, if you have anything to do I'll go by myself."

He originally thought that one of the three people would go with him, but he didn't expect that everyone was busy with their own things and had no time to follow him to visit the set.

The next day, Zhang Chen boarded a plane to Beihai, Guangxi.

"Baby Project" was being filmed in Beihai at that time. Although it was the peak of the return journey, the traffic was still smooth because it was a plane.

After getting off the plane, Cheng Long sent his assistant to pick him up.

"Did the filming go smoothly these past two days?"

"It's OK. The filming started in December and we have finished almost half of it so far~"

Zhang Chen then found out that "Baby Project" had started filming in December. He calculated that it would take until April to finish filming. Four months to shoot a movie is actually normal in the industry, but Zhang Chen has never shot a movie that long. His movies usually take one and a half to two months to complete.

When he arrived at the crew, Cheng Long personally greeted him and introduced him to Sam Hui and Hei Gu. He already knew the director Benny Chan.

This movie perfectly brings together two generations of famous stars from Golden Harvest - Sam Hui and Jacky Cheung. Anyone who sees it would think that Golden Harvest must be the producer, but in fact the producer is Emperor Entertainment Group. However, Boss Yang is in Hong Kong now, not here.

"Thank you for your hard work along the way~"

"It's not hard. I also want to come and see how Uncle Long films~"

After a few polite words, the filming continued.

Every minute and every second counts for the crew, and it is impossible for them to stop just because of Zhang Chen's arrival.

In recent films, Jackie Chan has been experimenting.

"The Myth" depicts love, while "The Baby Project" is about warmth.

Although the focus is on the cuteness of the children, the Jackie Chan elements must still be present. The air conditioner outdoor unit must be used as a pedal to jump down little by little.

I have to say that Cheng Long is really an expert at filming this kind of drama. He always manages to make very dangerous things look very interesting.

Zhang Chen witnessed Cheng Long filming this scene with his own eyes. There must have been a safety rope, which was erased later.

Ordinary people would feel a chill on their tailbones if they stood at such a high place, but Cheng Long was very calm, as if it was as simple as having morning tea.

This shot was indeed not dangerous for him.

Close-up, mid-shot, long shot, close-up...

After shooting several times, Zhang Chen felt that everything was fine, but Cheng Long asked for a reshoot every time after watching the playback.

Chen Musheng couldn't figure out what he was dissatisfied with, "Brother Long, these shots are OK. If you are dissatisfied, then what are you dissatisfied with?"

Cheng Long looked at the air conditioners from various angles, and then watched the playback of the footage, with a gloomy face: "I can't really tell what I'm not satisfied with, I just feel that the shots are too ordinary, there's nothing amazing about them..."

"Everyone from the Cheng family team come over here, let's think about how to make this shot interesting..."

The stuntmen from the Jackie Chan Stunt Team came up to try to find a solution and huddled together with Cheng Long.

Zhang Chen came close to Chen Musheng and asked, "Does your crew often do this?"

The latter showed a helpless expression: "Yes, every time I encounter this kind of scene, my brother will be dissatisfied. If he is not satisfied, he will change it on the spot until he is satisfied."

“No wonder it took you so long to shoot.”

There are no particularly complicated shots in "Baby Project". He just briefly flipped through the script. For a script of this level, he could finish it in a month and a half at most. However, it took Chen Musheng and his team two months to shoot only half of it.

Over there, the Cheng family team quickly came up with a plan after discussion, which actually increased the difficulty based on the original plan.

Shooting resumes.

But Cheng Long was still not satisfied after watching the replay. Zhang Chen could clearly feel his irritability. Gao Yuanyuan gently patted Zhang Chen on the shoulder and said, "Let's stay away. He's about to curse."

Sure enough, not long after, the voice of Cheng Long cursing the Jacky Cheung Stunt Team was heard on the set.

Although only the Cheng family team was scolded, the entire crew was silent. No wonder Da Meiyuan took him away early. It would have been embarrassing if he continued to stay there.

Alas, the seemingly amiable Uncle Long is actually a powder keg on the set. In fact, he can understand others quite well.

In the film industry, it is impossible to rely on one trick to succeed everywhere. We must keep pace with the times.

If you don't know what your audience likes, you will soon become outdated.

It is Jackie Chan's attitude of striving for perfection that has kept him popular for decades.

(End of this chapter)