Generation Z Artists

Chapter 368 looks like a good show.

A few days later, Galaxy Pictures filed the script for "Untouchable," and unsurprisingly, it angered many people.

"What's going on? Are they deliberately trying to vilify us from Shanghai?!"

Fang Xinghe took some time to personally visit China Film Group, and the script was approved immediately.

Little Fang didn't do anything else; he directly bribed Third Master and drew a line on his desk.

To the left of the line are the notebooks that can be thrown.

The items to the right of the line are those that need further observation and consideration.

Before starting the work, he repeatedly confirmed with General Manager Han: "Do you really trust me? Is it absolutely necessary to tell me? Is this really the case?"

Han Sanping's answer was resolute: "I believe you! Go ahead and do it!"

"Sigh." Fang Xinghe shook his head and sighed, "You, who taught you to be so superstitious? What Ziwei Star? I didn't even take it seriously myself..."

"How can that be called superstition?"

Third Master looked unconvinced and spoke with great conviction, making his point completely.

“From your debut until now, no matter what you do, whether it's writing books, endorsing products, acting, or doing business, you have never lost money. In fact, even making a small profit is considered a loss!”

Either you are a celestial being descended from heaven, possessing soaring fortune and boundless blessings.

Either you have a precise assessment system and a guiding principle of going with the flow, and you only fight battles you are sure to win.

I don't understand it, and I don't need to understand it. I just know that you are better than anyone else, and trusting you is more reliable than trusting any expert.

Now that China Film Group is doing better, I feel even more cautious than before.

Once a person is put on a pedestal, it's very difficult for them to get down.

Who carried me up there?
Chinese cinema has suddenly reached this point, like two huge bombs being dropped into the ground – it's all your doing!

My personal honor or disgrace is not important, but China Film Group can only move forward and not backward. If the films it invests in next are all the kind of things that lose money and are shameful, how can China Film Group shoulder the important responsibility of guiding the industry?

I, Han Sanping, cannot let Chinese cinema be dragged down like this, and become a sinner against the nation!

Good heavens, with this huge accusation pinned on him, Fang Xinghe is completely helpless.

However, although there is an element of exaggeration, this is indeed the logic behind the matter.

The Chinese film industry is currently booming, with all elements such as genres, funding, market, and cinemas flourishing, promising a bright future.

But it is precisely in times like these that the helmsman needs to be prudent.

Just like some local governments rush to develop projects and make GDP soar, but after two or three years, they find unfinished buildings and resource depletion everywhere, with extremely negative and far-reaching consequences.

Irresponsible leaders only care about making the data look good during their term of office, while responsible leaders never consider the immediate situation or the specific circumstances.

Old Han is the latter.

Fang Xinghe didn't care how many bad movies he supported; he only cared about what he brought, what he took away, and whether he had a sense of responsibility and commitment.

Even a god can't stop a director from making bad movies. There are too many factors that influence the failure of good projects. Kai Ge has both "The Ultimate God" and "The Battle at Lake Changjin". How can you be sure which movie he's in is normal and which one he's acting crazy?

Avoiding it is luck, stepping into a hole is bad luck, as long as the overall strategy is correct.

As a practitioner in the industry in later generations, Fang Xinghe rarely heard his peers criticize the bad films directed by Third Master, which was not a fault of his own.

However, since the other party sincerely wants advice, helping China Film Group avoid a few bad movies is the most cost-effective contribution Fang Xinghe can make.

So what if I offended a few idiots? So what if I offended them!
Fang Xinghe went through project proposals one after another, going all out.

"I can vote for 'The Warlords,' 'Assembly,' and 'CJ7.'"
"Painted Skin," "Mei Lanfang," and "Ip Man" are worth following;

Let's set aside the above five parts for now and not go into detail.

What the hell is "The Abstinence from Sex"? How did the script even pass censorship? Just reading the synopsis makes it reek of garbage!

Han Sanping was taken aback: "Isn't that wrong? The original text seems to be fine, right? Wait a minute, let me take another look."

There was a project proposal and a complete script for "The Abstinence" in the office. After a while, there was a rapid sound of pages being turned. Han Sanping looked up in confusion.

"Although I don't know what the final version will look like, judging from the current submission, everything seems normal. With Li An's abilities, he'll most likely be able to produce a high-quality art film, right?"

There's nothing wrong with that idea.

In terms of quality, it is definitely not a bad film. Its technique and artistic conception are quite impressive; otherwise, it would not have been able to win the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

From an auditing perspective, Wang Jiazhi had no official identity; she was merely a patriotic female student, and there's nothing wrong with her ultimately abandoning the assassination plan for love.

This is a film that doesn't fit logically, but because it's an overseas film and has an import quota, China Film Group has to give it the green light in terms of distribution and screening.

"The Abstinence" is a multinational production jointly led by Focus Features and foreign investors such as Bill Kong, and no one can stop its release.

But Fang Xinghe insisted on causing it trouble.

There's no other reason; I'm happy to do it.

Fang Xinghe's voice was unusually intense: "Leaving aside why Li An insisted on making a romance film with a traitor as the protagonist, the direction of the story doesn't fit the domestic propaganda tone."

This is a movie that seems fine at first glance, but is actually quite flawed and extremely destructive.

Progressive female students of that era didn't love progressive young men; they preferred traitors. They were willing to betray their principles and partners for love, yet they used sex to interpret love... Was that love? Or was it just the pent-up desires of bourgeois intellectuals?

Other characters also have problems. A group of passionate young people, instead of thinking about using science and technology to serve the country, and not daring to risk their lives, they act like a group of mentally impotent people, using Wang Jiazhi, who admires them, to seduce them. Is this how our War of Resistance was won?
I agree that Li An has the ability to make this film well, but making it well is an even bigger problem!

Eileen Chang's novels already had a large readership. If she then repackages such depravity as love, and we see it as rubbish, but young women who read it yearn for this kind of distorted passion, do you think public opinion will lean in one direction?
What kind of values ​​are these?!

Fang Xinghe rarely showed anger, and President Han was startled.

"This...it can't be that bad, can it? Li An is a very sensible person..."

He found it hard to believe, not because of a lack of intelligence, but because he simply couldn't imagine such a sinister foreshadowing at the level of consciousness.

Fang Xinghe was too lazy to argue any further. Before things happened, too many predictions were just conjecture and had no weight.

"In short, don't get involved, be careful, and don't let the public's anger spread to you."

Mr. Han was a little numb: "We really can't control this film. The WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) grants co-productions more freedom than mainland films. Given the focus on Li An's international fame, there's very little I can do..."

"That's okay."

Fang Xinghe waved his hand and sneered like an evil king.

"Let them film it for now. If it's on the right track, let it be released. If it's weird, stop it. Let it be released when it's been cut to pieces."

Don't they love shooting fringe art? Big scissors are for dealing with the fringe.

Whatever their intentions, they've completely shattered the story. Let's see how many people will still cheer them on!

This is a plan to eliminate all descendants.

In the past, the censorship bureau only required the production company to cut out the explicit and violent scenes, which resulted in the failure of "Seduction".

In this lifetime, Fang Xinghe plans to destroy the very structure of the story, to kill it off.

With 95 users on Douban giving it an 8.7 rating, and a box office of 2.5 million RMB in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, it's a double success in terms of both critical acclaim and box office. If I don't cut your score in half, I'll have wasted my rebirth!

With a cold face, Fang Xinghe threw the project proposal aside, feeling half annoyed and half pleased.

What's annoying is that disgusting things keep happening, but what's satisfying is that I have enough power to fight them.

The boy, who used to be able only to be angry, has finally mastered a real weapon.

……

After finishing his rant about "The Abstinence of Lust," Fang Xinghe felt a little better, but soon he saw another huge lump of something else.

Red Cliff.

Fang Xinghe's pupils contracted. He flipped through two pages and found that it was just a preliminary report, so he didn't rush to fire.

The current environment is what it is; we must take it seriously strategically, adapt our mindset, and view the problems in development objectively.

No rush, one at a time, no one can escape anyway! After sitting in President Han's office all afternoon, Fang Xinghe finally obtained the filming permit for "Untouchable" by screening out seven projects that were sure to be profitable.

Actually, Lao Han and he shared the responsibility. If this film is made wrong, the damage will be greater than anything else.

But Fang Xinghe had no intention of escalating the matter, much less distorting the facts.

What is unattainable may ultimately be something we need not touch.

……

At the end of June, while "The Untouchables" was secretly starting filming, "The Untouchables" also began filming with great fanfare.

Fang Xinghe's original intention was to quietly enter the village and work in seclusion, and then bump into anyone he didn't like.

Unfortunately, in mainland China, no one allows him to keep a low profile.

The media gathered at the launch ceremony.

The three questions the reporter was most curious about were—

"Why are you making art films again?"

When do you plan to direct a blockbuster film yourself?

What are your expectations for The Intouchables?

Fang Ge stopped making reckless remarks and responded steadily, "I've matured. I'm not going to resort to sensationalism anymore."

"Because I wanted to leave a record of this era."

"Maybe next year or the year after, when the film market has developed further. The current market can't unleash my commercial potential."

"Our goal? To win two international Best Actor awards—one for me and one for Teacher You. Other awards are optional."

The reporter smacked his lips in disbelief, but this was already the least arrogant answer Fang Ge had given in the past two years…

This is what a mature man is like~~~
……

Compared to his previous works, the filming of "Untouchable" progressed at a rapid pace.

Whether as a director or an actor, Fang Xinghe has never made such a worry-free film.

The more exhausting it was for him to play dirty tricks with his mistress back then, the easier it is for him to confront Teacher You head-on now.

I. First meeting.

Lu Xiaoye went to apply for a job as Chen Dafu's caregiver.

Previously, Chen Dafu had dismissed 11 caregivers for various reasons, but essentially it stemmed from Chen Dafu's arrogant mentality.

Years of paralysis have made him extremely sensitive, suspicious, and irritable. Such a person will not be considerate of the lower-level staff, but will instead choose to vent his unstable emotions on those he has the most direct contact with.

Due to his harshness, professional service agencies in Shanghai have almost given up on this client.

—The pay is meager, and the person is difficult to please, so why bother?
Therefore, Chen Dafu had to "compromise" by hiring a less professional caregiver and further lowering his requirements.

This self-inflicted predicament greatly displeased Chen Dafu.

So when the two met for the first time, Chen Dafu was in a bad mood, his attitude was cold, and his eyes were scrutinizing and disgusted, but he had no choice but to accept the "pressure" from the butler.

This subtle state of pressure is difficult to portray.

Fang Xinghe stood in front of the hospital bed, rehearsing a scene with Teacher You. In the 30-degree overhead shot, Teacher You began to show off his skills.

Lu Xiaoye walked into the bedroom, but Chen Dafu never turned his head, staring intently at the color TV on the opposite wall.

It wasn't until the butler reported, "This is the eighteenth interviewee today, sir, would you like to take a look?"

Chen Dafu still didn't turn his head. He frowned slightly, pursed his relaxed lips tightly, and contracted his orbicularis oculi muscle, squeezing his eyeballs to form a half-closed shape.

An impatient feeling was fully released.

The main subject in the shot is Chen Dafu, and the accompanying person is the butler, which means that this impatience was caused by the butler. However, Chen Dafu did not say anything to the butler, but instead released his emotions to Lu Xiaoye in subsequent actions.

We'll skip Lu Xiaoye's performance for now; we'll film his details later.

During the operation, Lu Xiaoye was inwardly reserved but outwardly nonchalant.

He walked to the foot of the bed and greeted him, "Um, Mr. Chen..."

Chen Dafu suddenly raised his eyes and stared coldly at the boy: "Idiot! You're blocking my way!"

Lu Xiaoye turned around in surprise and saw the flat-screen TV hanging on the wall.

He was angry, after all, he was young and a hoodlum, but he needed the job, so he held back his temper.

However, the boy's ability to control his anger was clearly inadequate, and he subconsciously chose a confrontational response.

He silently took a step back and asked, "And now?"

This surprised Chen Dafu, as no caregiver had ever dared to speak to him like that before.

In that moment of astonishment, Teacher You raised her right eyebrow alone, the muscle pulling on her relaxed eyelid, making her right eye appear slightly larger than her left.

A moment later, his eyes narrowed, appearing cold and dangerous.

"Still so stupid! That's not where you should be standing either. You're applying for a job as a caregiver, and don't you know where a caregiver should stand?"

Lu Xiaoye took a deep breath, looked back, and said stiffly, "I don't know. Just tell me directly, where do you want me to stand?"

The boy's anger gave Chen Dafu a sense of satisfaction, but the aggressive gaze also made him involuntarily look away.

Chen Dafu turned to the butler and complained, "Where did you find this gigolo? I don't remember paying him such a high salary. Why didn't you introduce him to a nightclub?"

The dialogue is very harsh, but Teacher You's "rambling" delivery adds a subtle sense of envy and jealousy to the strong aggression.

I envy those who are young, handsome, and energetic.

The original version lacked this detail in Philip's emotional portrayal, but Fang Xinghe's version had to include it—because Fang Xinghe is too handsome, it's impossible for Chen Dafu not to envy him, otherwise it would seem unrealistic and not lifelike enough.

"Cough cough!"

Jiang Wu, playing the butler, coughed lightly and replied in a voice that both could hear, "Master, Xiao Lu is a very energetic young man. You thought the previous middle-aged caregivers were too dull. I finally found a young man willing to do this job. How about having him work part-time at the nightclub?"

"Ho ho!"

Chen Dafu was amused and turned his gaze back to Lu Xiaoye's face, a hint of interest finally appearing in his eyes.

But Lu Xiaoye refused to comply.

After thinking it over, he decided he didn't want to serve this strange old man anymore.

"Give me the nightclub's phone number."

Lu Xiaoye stretched out his hand to the butler: "Then let's sayonara!"

Chen Dafu's mood inexplicably improved, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "If you can tolerate a rich woman's blemishes, bad breath, and steel wool, then there's no reason you can't tolerate me. We're both incapacitated, but at least I won't defecate on your head."

Lu Xiaoye was stunned. He didn't stare, but his pupils dilated rapidly.

"Damn, do you rich people in Shanghai spend money like this?!"

“Perhaps…” Chen Dafu smirked, “it will cost more than you imagine.”

He was certain that Lu Xiaoye wasn't that kind of person, and he was also certain that he could handle the young man and enjoy the thrill of this inevitable confrontation.

His left cheek remained completely still throughout, making it seem as if half of it was paralyzed.

Actually, he wasn't completely expressionless; he just needed stronger emotional stimulation. This was a stroke of genius in the performance design, opening up a huge space for Chen Dafu's different states.

The performance ended with a round of enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Only this one scene was filmed, and the plot doesn't reveal anything yet, but the tension in the performance is so captivating.

Is this what a battle between top actors looks like?

This looks like a good show!
(End of this chapter)