Entertainment: I am the peak

Chapter 416 Express
Huayi Brothers building a movie town and Changchun Film Studio building a movie theme park seem like two completely unrelated things; you build yours, I'll build mine.

However, the cultural tourism investment circle is neither very large nor very small. Changchun Film Studio doesn't have any conflicts with companies like Wanda and Fantawild, but it does have some conflicts with Huayi Brothers, because both of them are using the name of film and television bases to acquire land and apply for permits.

Both companies have skirted the line, but the cultural tourism market is booming right now. As long as it can boost employment and consumption, there's no difference between building a film studio and an amusement park on the same piece of land, so the relevant departments turn a blind eye.

However, the project is ultimately ostensibly a film and television base, and while the relevant authorities advocate for the vigorous development of the film and television industry, the approval process for film and television bases remains very strict. It can be said that Changchun Film Studio and Huayi Brothers are in an invisible competition.

Wang Zhonglei was late in making the call. Investors could place their bets in multiple places, but Li Qiutang couldn't. Since she had chosen to help Changchun Film Studio, she couldn't go to Huayi Brothers.

But Li Qiutang wouldn't tell Wang Zhonglei the truth; she would only say that she had to film a movie and wouldn't be going.

Wang Zhonglei didn't insist. Huayi had Feng Xiaogang, and even without Li Qiutang, they could still get things running smoothly.

This was Li Qiutang's first time attending a presentation on a cultural tourism project, and she learned a great deal.

In the morning, the main speakers were staff members from Changchun Film Studio and the Xidu local government. After lunch, Li Qiutang, as an outstanding representative of Northeast filmmakers, also took the stage to speak—this is Li Qiutang's job.

He combined some cutting-edge technologies in the film and television industry to declare the necessity of building this "film and television city" from a creative perspective, saying that building such an advanced "film and television city" is a response to the future.

The point is to make people feel that this "film and television city" must be built, and that investing in this "film and television city" is investing in the future and can make money.

While Li Qiutang was in a meeting, reporters from CCTV-6 visited the Huairou base.

He even managed to find out that Li Qiutang had changed her schedule at the last minute, and then rushed over to arrange a visit and interview.

Because the schedule was changed at the last minute, the crew didn't have time to adjust their schedule. So even though filming wasn't on, the lead actors were still rehearsing their lines on set, and the set was still bustling with activity.

Due to confidentiality principles, the production team did not allow reporters to enter the studio for interviews. They also knew that CCTV-6 was there today mainly to interview Liu Yifei—with "Lucy" grossing over $100 million at the North American box office, making Liu Yifei the most sought-after actress.

Therefore, they only arranged to interview Liu Yifei. When the reporters arrived in Huairou, Liu Yifei was still rehearsing in the studio. She only went out to meet the reporters after receiving the notification.

"Thank you for your hard work," Liu Yifei said to the reporter.

The reporter was quite easygoing and started by striking up a conversation with her: "I heard you were here, so I came all the way here."

Liu Yifei didn't buy it at all. She pointed at him with her finger and laughed, "Too fake. What do you call this? Deliberate teasing, haha."

The reporter said, "Let's go somewhere to record an intro ID."

"Let's go over there, this is our crew's car." Liu Yifei pointed to a car outside the studio.

"I'll do the clapperboard." Liu Yifei rarely does clapperboards, but she was in a playful mood.

There was nothing the reporter couldn't agree to.

She stood in front of the car with a microphone in hand and tapped the clapperboard with her mouth: "Start."

"Hello everyone, I am, hehe." She actually burst out laughing.

"Sorry, let's record it again."

"Okay, let's begin. Hello everyone, I'm Liu Yifei, welcome to the 'Mojin: The Lost Legend' film crew." She paused for two seconds, then said, "Cut. Is that alright?"

"Yes, the recording went very well."

Liu Yifei told reporters that they weren't allowed to enter the film set, so the two chatted outside the studio, mainly about "Lucy" and mentioning a bit about "Mojin: The Lost Legend".

"I'm still very proud of this achievement." No one would believe that Liu Yifei is indifferent to her current achievements. "But it's probably because my two films were released too close together. 'Lucy' and 'Mojin: The Lost Legend' were released too close together, so I don't seem to have been greatly affected. There was no sudden influx of flowers and applause. No, I was still filming on set."

After thinking about it, she added, "If there's a gap between the two films for me to process, things might be different." Liu Yifei reiterated that she would still focus her work on the domestic market: "I've been looking at overseas scripts, but I'll prioritize filming 'Mojin: The Lost Legend' first."

Liu Yifei's contract with WMA expired last year, but WMA tried its best to retain her and offered her a generous deal. As a result, Liu Yifei renewed her international contract for another 5 years. WMA provided overseas assistance for the filming of "Mojin: The Lost Legend" in Canada.

"It still depends on the script and the role. I won't make a movie just for the money." Liu Yifei was very firm about this. "It must be because the story moves me and the role moves me."

After exchanging a few words, the reporter suddenly asked, "Your birthday is coming up soon, isn't it?"

"There are still more than ten days left."

What kind of gift would you like to receive this year?

Liu Yifei actually started thinking about it, then smiled and said, "I want to receive a new ring." Her assistant's pupils constricted in shock. Was that even something she could say?!

The reporter immediately realized what was going on and laughed, "We'll cut that out later. Tell us another one."

Liu Yifei said, "Just broadcast it as usual."

The reporter realized that Liu Yifei wanted to broadcast this segment.

Then she talked about the movie "Mojin: The Lost Legend" which she was filming. Liu Yifei couldn't say too much, but she did reveal that the crew had built a real ancient tomb palace set in the studio, and that she had a lot of action scenes.

"To be honest, I was a little scared, but it wasn't too bad when I was filming. It was just a little shudder, hahaha."

The reporter laughed along, saying, "How did you get that on your face? It's covered in dirt."

"Let me see." She said, looking at the camera lens, and the photographer zoomed in on her face to use as a mirror.

"It might have gotten a little on it," Liu Yifei said. "I also have a scratch here from earlier, I don't know how I got it." She was referring to her arm.

"It's cut."

"But this is normal." Liu Yifei didn't seem to care much.

The reporter asked her to handle it.

"Okay, see you later." She and the reporter were going to have an exclusive interview indoors later.

Liu Yifei didn't need any special treatment; she didn't even need gentian violet. After disinfecting, she just applied some ointment. As she applied the ointment, she told her assistant:
When will the director be back?

"Soon. He said he'd be back for dinner."

"Go buy one of those big cups and fill it with coffee. He's in meetings all day and will be pulling an all-nighter tonight."

Cindy suggested, "How about we treat the whole team to coffee tonight?"

"Okay, buy more." Liu Yifei thought for a moment and then added, "Buy another case of Coke when we come back." Li Qiutang needs to drink it while filming.

Cindy said, "I heard that cola kills X."

"Hmm? Is there such a saying?"

"Everyone says that, but I don't know what the scientific basis is."

"Then don't buy it."

(End of this chapter)