Generation Z Artists

Chapter 327 Cool Actions, Taking the Initiative

Fang Xinghe's resounding response was like a sword from 49, striking the increasingly chaotic and selfish entertainment industry of 03.

With a sharp crack, some people were utterly devastated.

What followed was anger, a strong anger that filled the hearts of many reporters who had come with ulterior motives.

"He's simply... incomprehensible!"

Yes, who would openly and brazenly tell their peers to die if they're no good?

Apart from Fang Xinghe, no one in the industry, no matter how arrogant, has ever done anything like this.

It's not just in the entertainment industry, it's in other industries too.

Not only does it not exist in China, but it doesn't exist anywhere else in the world.

Behind their backs, they all wish their competitors would die out, but to their faces they're all all smiles and wish to make a fortune together.

Who hasn't needed someone else's help at some point?

But Fang Xinghe doesn't care. I'll use you, and I'll also scold you. If you won't let me use you because I scolded you a couple of times, then you'll have some backbone.

Do you have ambition?

Fang Xinghe had invited almost everyone he wanted to film The Return of the Condor Heroes, and they all came.

The group, which had suffered repeated humiliations in person, was now even more numerous.

The butcher, mingling in the crowd, cursed viciously: "This show-off deserves to die a horrible death! Who in the entertainment industry would tolerate him?"

My colleague nodded vigorously: "Exactly! He's angered everyone; he's definitely not coming out unscathed!"

There are indeed many angry people, but even more people admire and applaud them.

Who is angry? The enemy.

Who cheered? Ordinary viewers.

The foundation of film and television industry practitioners is always the ordinary audience. Enemies cannot affect your work, but the audience can lift you to the sky.

Fang Xinghe knew this well, so he didn't take today's pace seriously at all; it was just a little bit of hardship.

Next, several reporters from media companies wanted to ask further questions, but Fang waved his hand and took away their microphones.

Do you really think Brother Fang doesn't know how to use permissions?
Answering a question is because one needs an opportunity to express their opinion.

Now that you've shown your attitude, what are you all doing, constantly nagging on my turf? Get out!

The press conference became somewhat chaotic.

But it didn't matter. As Wang Charlie started calling on reporters from Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States, eight languages ​​were spoken in turn, and the domestic scumbags could no longer get a word in edgewise and could only stare blankly.

South Korean media are particularly adept at saving face for themselves.

"Fang Xinghe, you used three outstanding actors from our Republic of Korea. Did you feel the precision and explosive power of our Korean acting method?"

After asking the question, he even glanced smugly at the Japanese media next to him.

Brother Fang gave him some face, smiled and shook his head, saying, "The main thing is that the actresses in your country this year have suitable physical attributes, but their acting skills may still need to be adjusted on the spot."

The South Korean reporter was all smiles.

Although it wasn't the most perfect answer, Fang Xinghe doesn't praise people easily, and such praise, when published in the news, was enough to satisfy the public.

But he has an even more important question.

"Fang Xinghe, are you aware that there is a special regulation protecting domestically produced TV dramas in our country?"

Fang Xinghe knew all too well.

This thing is colloquially known as the "Chinese Culture Act," which stipulates that the three major TV stations can only broadcast foreign TV dramas during non-prime time (after midnight) in order to protect local industries from cultural impact.

This tragedy was caused by "My Fair Princess".

When it was introduced to South Korea by SBS, its ratings soared and it became incredibly popular, leaving the petty-minded South Koreans speechless.

Film industry insiders protested, demanding that the government introduce relevant measures to protect domestic industries.

Thus, the ban on Chinese content was created long before the ban on Korean entertainment, only it was not as strict.

Fang Xinghe wants to sell his dramas in South Korea, but the biggest obstacle is the Chinese Wave Act.

But he already had a plan.

"My friend, a reporter from the Chosun Ilbo, my 'The Condor Heroes' is not a foreign drama, but a co-production between the three countries."

Fang Xinghe smiled gently and introduced the two unfamiliar faces beside him to everyone.

"These two gentlemen are representatives from CJ Korea and Sony Corporation of Japan, respectively. They jointly invested in this drama and also served as producer and assistant producer, providing cultural guidance for the filming of the drama..."

Huh? The domestic reporters in the audience were all dumbfounded.

I've never heard of this...

That's for sure. When Fang Xinghe does something, he will make sure that what he wants to publicize is known to everyone, and he will also keep the secrets he wants to hide until the very end.

Now, the mystery is revealed, aren't you surprised?
"Xiao Fang is too meticulous in his work."

A broadcasting official watching from the audience couldn't help but sigh, "But how could he be so arrogant when he was setting off firecrackers?"

The propaganda leader laughed and said, "You used the word 'arrogant' instead of 'reckless.' It seems you also understand that arrogance has nothing to do with meticulous thinking. One is a behavioral habit, and the other is a personality trait. Perhaps the reason he is so unrestrained is because he has figured out that it won't cause any harm?"

"Yes!" the broadcasting leader sighed, "So thoughtful yet still retaining a youthful spirit, that's rare!"

"I think it's great, really great."

A group of people nearby all laughed upon hearing this.

They didn't care that Fang Xinghe criticized his peers in the film and television industry. From the official standpoint, who could criticize his words as wrong?
Having the audience in one's heart is the correct ideology for serving the people.

Their only concern is whether "The Return of the Condor Heroes" will lose too much money, which is the root cause of the potentially disastrous consequences.

Fang Xinghe displayed a meticulous and methodical approach, which reassured them.

It's highly likely that they'll lose money, but judging from the looks of it, the loss shouldn't be too much.

That's good, that's good...

Fang Xinghe didn't want to lose a single penny, nor did he think it was possible to lose.

So what if the cost is 3 million?

We'll figure out a way to earn it back.

That's why he made grand promises to Japan and South Korea in advance: "Actors from various countries have outstanding appearances and superb acting skills, and they will definitely give excellent performances. This will open up opportunities for cooperation among China, Japan, and South Korea, and create a closer cultural exchange atmosphere..."

They talk a good game, but when it comes to the real test, who will ultimately prevail? You know what I mean.

The press conference lasted a full hour and a half before it ended.

A normal drama wouldn't be this long, but Fang Xinghe's "The Return of the Condor Heroes" has so many topics worth asking and writing about, so it took a lot more time.

At 9:58 AM, the auspicious time chosen by the bearded man, the opening ceremony officially began.

Fang Xinghe's opening ceremony was also unique in the industry.

The statues of the Three Pure Ones were placed in front, and the camera was set up next to the offering table, covered with red silk. The main creative team members offered incense one by one, then unveiled the red silk, and everyone shouted "Good luck with filming!" and the job was done.

Simple and easy, saving time and effort.

Then the group moved outdoors and filmed a simple interlude, thus completing their work for the morning.

Starting at noon, the press conference footage was urgently broadcast on television, causing a stir among the public.

Fang Xinghe is certainly not the first filmmaker to emphasize the importance of the audience, but words are one thing, deeds are another. He is the only star director to have truly dedicated himself to such a project. With the complete disclosure of details regarding investment, production planning, cast, location challenges, visual quality, and special effects, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" has officially become the number one drama in the hearts of the Chinese people.

"A must-see film in one's lifetime!"

The Tianya Film and Television section was buzzing with discussion on this topic, with enthusiastic comments popping up everywhere.

"Comparable to British and American TV series!"

"From this day forward, the world has a new top-tier genre of drama—Chinese drama!"

"Japanese and Korean dramas, please move to the back; there's no room for you at the head table!"

"This is fucking refreshing! It has to be Fang Shen, he's so domineering when he does things!"

"Mr. Fang, please note that I'm only giving you six months! 120 days for filming, 60 days for post-production, 2 days for submission for review, and 1 day for scheduling. I want to see 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' premiere on TV the very first day of my summer vacation!"

"Goodness, you really dare to make a wish for Ziwei. Do you think he would dare to brag like that?"

"You stupid hater, I'll only ask you one question: Will you watch 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' when it airs?"

"I saw your mother staring at the TV!"

The battle between the black and red has begun again... Forget it, let's not make it so dramatic and melodramatic; it's just an everyday occurrence.

Fang Xinghe's expression of sympathy for the audience did not cause a particularly big stir online.

How to describe it?
That's right. Audiences in this era don't have a clear concept at all. Most people don't know what a top-notch drama looks like.

"Yearning", "Journey to the West", "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "The Legend of the White Snake" are all classics, but limited by their time, they are not all-around excellent in every aspect; they only win with their plots.

It wasn't until the American TV series "Prison Break" came out that a small group of young people realized, oh, so TV series can be like this.

Since there's no comparison, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" is actually quite good. Look how simple-minded Li Erpeng's portrayal of Guo Jing is!
This is the current situation across the vast land of China; most viewers don't feel like they've been fed shit.

Even though there are occasionally some terrible dramas and movies, you can still enjoy watching them even if you're frowning.

For example, "The Storm Riders" features outrageous costumes, outrageous plots, outrageous lines, as well as some outrageous casting and shoddy production mistakes, making it a truly shocking experience. However, this does not prevent it from being a precious memory for those born in the 80s and 90s.

Therefore, "Wind and Cloud" became a huge hit, and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" was no less successful. The large amount of online criticism and the popularity of the show in reality seem contradictory at first glance, but in fact, they are very realistic.

If you haven't seen anything good, then something that's good enough is fine!

The "top-notch audio-visual feast" that Fang Xinghe spoke of is an abstract concept that modern audiences simply cannot imagine.

How much stronger can it be? It can't be that bad, can it?
What Fang Xinghe wanted to do was to completely overturn their understanding of TV dramas on the day of the premiere.

So, for the very first scene that was officially filmed, Director Fang led them in a big production.

Jiuzhaigou, Shuzheng Valley.

It was already deep winter, but due to the special geological structure, the small lake that was specially found was still in a state of half ice and half water. The lake water was clear and transparent, reflecting the emerald green of the surrounding mountains.

In winter, the colorful forests (golden, red, and emerald green) are reflected in the lake water, creating a unique landscape where blue ice and colorful forests intertwine.

The Sony HDW-F900, equipped with a large cinematic lens, was suspended from a helicopter in 1080/24P (progressive scan) mode, swooping down from the mountaintop into the forest, then skimming over the half-frozen, half-watery Blue Lake, and suddenly rising as it approached another forest.

The camera was pointed directly at the sky, which was clear and blue. Suddenly, a foot stepped on the camera lens.

The scene transitions, and Yang Guo lightly taps his foot on the eagle's back, using the momentum to move horizontally and vertically. As he soars through the air, his body rotates 1080 degrees in parallel, the hem of his fitted robe billowing out like a butterfly fluttering or snowflakes swirling.

Then, Yang Guo adjusted his posture, turned his back to the forest, faced the terrified eagle, and laughed heartily, saying, "Brother Eagle, I'm sorry!"

Before the laughter had even subsided, the person had already drifted down onto the tree branch.

The aerial maneuvers are cool enough, but the landing maneuvers are even cooler.

Yang Guo flew backwards with his back to the forest, roughly in a semi-reclining position in the air, with his upper body behind him as if being pulled by a great force.

The tree's branches spread out, with a long, jagged branch reaching out, standing out proudly on its own.

Just as Yang Guo's body brushed past the branch, he suddenly stretched out his right hand and gently pulled on the branch beside him, causing it to bend slightly, thus completely dissipating his strength.

The arc of the branch bending and sinking was only twenty or thirty centimeters, fully demonstrating Yang Guo's superb lightness skill.

At the same instant, he made a slight exertion with his right hand, and with a pull, he flipped in mid-air and stood on the branch.

The young man, seemingly a celestial being suspended in mid-air, clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Thank you for seeing me off, Brother Eagle. The journey through the martial world is long; we shall meet again!"

Yang Guo's untamed spirit, youthful exuberance, the joy of mastering his first kung fu skills, the romance of the martial arts world, and the chivalrous spirit of a knight-errant are all contained in this indescribable series of movements.

During filming, all the actors and crew members stared wide-eyed, as if watching a deity unleash their power.

Son Ye-jin stared dreamily at the figure on the treetop, her eyes glazed over: "Oh my god, Daebak, it looks like Director Bang is flying in the sky!"

Jun Ji-hyun covered her mouth tightly, her eyes wide open like saucers.

"Holy crap! Chinese kung fu is real?!"

Seriously, sister, your brother Fang still has to go through a tribulation of lightning in a few years...

It's no wonder they were shocked; with current wire work technology, this was an impossible move.

Even if you ask them to imagine it, they can't.

Whether it's "Storm Riders," "The World's Finest," or even "Water Moon Cave," which is famous for its real-life kung fu, when a master appears, he always rolls forward like a ball in mid-air.

Or it might be like a rocket, going straight up and down, spiraling in the process.

Because traditional wire work only supports planar movements in the same direction, if you fly forward, you can only do a forward roll; if you fly upward, you can only do a large spin; if you fly diagonally, you can't do anything except flap your legs a couple of times.

The stunt department of Galaxy Pictures brought with it an iterative and complex wire work system.

With a wire harness, a complex boom, and multi-point traction, it can drift however you want.

Of course, technique is far from everything; the most important thing is always the actor's core control.

Only with a strong core can one complete a full set of complex movements in mid-air without any support points.

High coordination is essential for making complex movements possess ultimate beauty.

Looking across the world today, there is probably no one else who can reach Fang Xinghe's level. Dance masters are not good enough, because their short bursts of power are not crisp enough. Acrobats are even worse, because their techniques are too focused on skill.

Only those with maximum strength, agility, coordination, and flexibility can fly in the sky like Fang Xinghe.

Even he couldn't capture the perfect shot on the first try.

The main reason is that in outdoor scenes, there are no conditions for using mechanical traction, so the stuntmen can only rely on their combined efforts at various key points.

Human effort is never as consistent as mechanical work; even the slightest imperfection in coordination can cause the final result to lose its quality.

Therefore, Fang Xinghe spent the entire afternoon hanging in the cold wind before he was finally satisfied with the shot.

As for the effect...

Zhao Xiaoding swore all afternoon.

The opening shot simulates the perspective of an eagle, creating a powerful and stimulating composition. The colors are rich yet layered, capturing the snow, green pines, golden fallen leaves, interspersed red maples, and the azure ice lake in breathtaking beauty.

The subsequent soaring through the sky directly set multiple records in the history of television dramas. It was more than just showing off skills; it brought the character to life and was more than just portraying a person. It allowed the audience to instantly feel Yang Guo's charm and immerse themselves in the story.

If we take this scene as Yang Guo's first appearance as an adult...

Zhao Xiaoding couldn't imagine how crazy the audience would get!
In the original novel, Yang Guo, who had just come of age, did not have such amazing lightness skills, but Fang Xinghe did not care about those. He liked to make a splash in everything he did, and when making a drama, he wanted to make a big splash first.

Martial arts, martial arts, if it's not cool enough, how can you enjoy it to the fullest?

Just watch how I perform!
This unique and successful start, spearheaded by Fang Xinghe, instilled in all the cast and crew a strong sense of destiny to make history, and everyone was fully immersed in this world of martial arts.

The filming process went smoothly and progressed rapidly.

(End of this chapter)