Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 395 Exploring the Wind

In the end, Li Qiutang decided to film on location in the Mongolian grasslands, with the Ulanhada volcanic cluster and Moon Lake being his final choices.

The problem of eating in the wild is also easy to solve. There is something called a kitchen truck, which is now widely used in the civilian sector. One kitchen truck can feed one or two hundred people.

The production manager, who had been working with Li Qiutang for six or seven years, patted his chest and guaranteed that even in the wilderness, he would ensure the crew's meals and would never cut corners.

He's shrewd; he can't be too ruthless when working with Li Qiutang. He can only make money if Li Qiutang lets him. If he's too ruthless, there won't be a second time working with him, which would be a loss for him too.

Having worked together for so many years, he had long since figured out Li Qiutang's temperament.

When Liu Yifei returned from Guangxi Province, she told Li Qiutang about her visit to Shu Chang on set. Only then did Li Qiutang realize that Shu Chang had stolen Xiao Zhao's role in "The Journey of Flower"!

What consequences will this have?
It doesn't seem like it will cause any consequences. Why can others become famous, but Shu Chang can't?
When "X-Men: Days of Future Past" held its premiere in China, the organizers invited Li Qiutang and Liu Yifei to attend, but both declined, citing their busy schedules.

Fan Bingbing was very happy at the event, talking about the fun things that happened during filming, but also said that she didn't really yearn for Hollywood: "I'm doing quite well in China, but as for whether Hollywood movies are attractive to me, they are actually a great opportunity for every actor."

To be honest, Fan Bingbing's portrayal of Blink is only slightly better than that of an extra. There's no need to blame her for going to Hollywood for a minor role. As she said, it's an opportunity. The role isn't good, but it's not bad either.

However, it's because Fan Bingbing had too few scenes, and because "X-Men" is an old franchise, that the domestic promotion didn't focus on her.

The film grossed 6800 million yuan on its opening day, breaking the record for the highest opening day gross for an imported film this year. It also achieved great success at the global box office. However, Fan Bingbing does not seem to have benefited from this.

There were no new endorsements, no increase in pay, and the number of film offers remained the same.

This film was very dry for her.

She probably knows this herself, which is why she hasn't been very active in promoting "X-Men: Days of Future Past" in China.

After the opening weekend of "X-Men: Days of Future Past", Fan Bingbing posted photos on Weibo on Monday of herself visiting Liu Yifei on the set of "X-Men: Days of Future Past".

In the photo, Liu Yifei is wearing training clothes and suspended by wires.

Fan Bingbing captioned the post: "Yifei trained hard for more than two months, sweating profusely every day. The director was too unkind to her." She also added a laughing emoji.

Fan Bingbing came to see Liu Yifei not for any other reason than to visit her and have a chat.

Fan Bingbing missed Cannes this year because she had to promote "X-Men". She said to Liu Yifei, "Yifei, why aren't you going? The brand must have invited you."

"I was invited, but I had to train, so I didn't go." Liu Yifei still wanted to bring her work, whether it was for nomination or promotion, it was better than going to the red carpet empty-handed.

But this can't be said to Fan Bingbing; Liu Yifei still has that much sense.

As the two were talking, Li Qiutang came in from outside.

"Hey? You're such a busy person, yet you still have time to come here?" Li Qiutang said.

"I can't be busier than you." It's almost lunchtime now. "Want to come have lunch with Yifei?"

"No, I just came back to grab something and I'm leaving. You two eat."

As Li Qiutang spoke, she walked to another room, took a document and a bag, and left.

"Does he do this every day? He comes in and goes out in less than two minutes without saying a word to you."

Liu Yifei is used to it: "I've been extremely busy lately. Although we're both in Yanjing, I hardly ever see anyone all day long."

"Your film crew is about to start shooting, huh?"

"Yes, it'll be soon."

"Is Qiu Tang going to have a movie released this summer, that suspense film?" "Yeah, I don't know the exact release date, but they should be releasing the release date announcement and trailer soon."

Fan Bingbing laughed at her: "You're not doing a good job as a boss lady. You don't even know about such an important job."

“What boss’s wife?” Liu Yifei said. “I don’t care about his company’s affairs.”

It can only be said that they have different personalities. Liu Yifei only needs to focus on acting; she doesn't need to think about investing to make money or helping her husband manage the company.

But Fan Bingbing is different; she needs to go to great lengths to make things happen.

There's no need to wonder if Fan Bingbing would change if she married a wealthy man; it probably wouldn't. Her personality is what it is—she's always causing trouble.

If she succeeds, she'll be known as Fan Bingbing; if she fails, well, that's another story.

Fan Bingbing really stayed on set to have dinner with Liu Yifei, and even said that she hadn't eaten on set for a long time.

Fan Bingbing is currently not filming any projects and will take a break for a while. She said to Liu Yifei, "After you finish filming 'Mojin: The Lost Legend,' you'll join the cast of 'Mirage,' right?"

This is the suspense film that was revealed three years ago along with "The Invisible Guest," but has yet to be filmed.

“I’m not filming this,” Liu Yifei said while eating. “The female lead in this film is a mother with a child, and he wants to find someone in their thirties or forties to play the role, which is not suitable for me.” Liu Yifei was probably the first actor to see the complete script of “Mirage”.

When "Mirage" was first shown at Cannes three years ago, Fan Bingbing immediately expressed her desire to star in it to Li Qiutang, who then "agreed".

But as time went on and their relationship gradually came to light, Fan Bingbing worried that the project would slip away from her.

Now that Liu Yifei has personally said that she can't act, Fan Bingbing feels much more at ease.

But Liu Yifei's second sentence made her uneasy: "But he said he didn't want to make this film."

What's this?! The project failed?
Liu Yifei continued, "He wants to find a young director to make the film, and he can just act as the producer to oversee it."

That works too. When he's the producer, the young directors are basically just tools to him; it's no different from when he's the director.

"Bingbing, let me tell you, he's really arrogant now. He doesn't want to make low-budget films anymore, he wants to make big-budget films, saying that it would be best to invest 300 to 500 million."

Fan Bingbing wasn't surprised: "It's normal for a director of his caliber to want to make a blockbuster. There are plenty of people who can make low-budget films, but how many directors can handle blockbusters?"

Li Qiutang himself wanted to make blockbusters, and the company also hoped that he would make blockbusters. However, he always made low-budget films, resulting in a lack of highlights in the company's performance.

After the two finished their meal, Liu Yifei even ground a cup of coffee for Fan Bingbing by hand, saying that it was made from high-quality beans from a certain place, and that she knew a bit about coffee.

Fan Bingbing finished her coffee and left. Liu Yifei rested for a while and then continued training.

It wasn't until evening, after Li Qiutang finished his work, that he drove to pick her up and take her home.

Liu Yifei was talking in the car about Fan Bingbing visiting the set today, while Li Qiutang complained to her about Wan Da: "He's gone crazy trying to make money. Wan Da and Chen Guofu, along with iQiyi, made a reality show called 'Intern Ghost Blows Out the Light,' inviting a few young actors to the set to follow and film, and experience life."

"That's great."

"What's so great about it? It'll delay my filming." The program has already been confirmed, and Li Qiutang's objections are useless. "Wan will get at least ten million from this program alone."

Liu Yifei said, "This program can also help promote the drama."

"That's the only way to think about it." Li Qiutang turned the steering wheel and headed to the restaurant for dinner.

(End of this chapter)