Fooling Huayu for Thirty Years

Chapter 289 "Nightclub" - Disrupting the Lunar New Year Film Season! (Two-in-One)

The main reason why Ma Xun chose "Nightclub" for this year's Lunar New Year film season is that the film's production cost was relatively low.

This was originally a last-minute decision, and there are only a few months left until the end of the year.

There's simply no possibility of making a big-budget production.

Moreover, Ma Xun's strategic objective this time was very clear: to cause trouble for the Wang brothers and Sun Donghai and his gang.

As the saying goes, it is impolite not to reciprocate.

If you guys cause me trouble and I don't respond, how am I supposed to survive in this industry?

Wouldn't I, Ma Xun, become synonymous with being bullied?

Therefore, a response is necessary.

However, this response would probably be quite difficult for an average person to handle.

The Wang brothers' Huayi Brothers haven't been involved in the film industry for very long, and their biggest asset right now is Feng Xiaogang.

Feng Xiaogang has achieved great success with three consecutive Lunar New Year films.

It truly deserves the title of the king of Lunar New Year films.

In other words, the current Lunar New Year film season is the backyard of the Wang brothers and Feng Xiaogang.

It would be extremely difficult for Ma Xun to disrupt their Lunar New Year film season.

In the current Lunar New Year film season, there are certainly people who want to teach Feng Xiaogang a lesson.

There was Zhang Yimou's "Happy Times" before that.

This movie was actually intended to compete with Feng Xiaogang during the Lunar New Year season, although neither Zhang Yimou nor Zhang Weiping mentioned it.

However, if we look at the entire production time of this movie, it basically matches perfectly.

The "Happy Girl" talent show was held at the beginning of the year, and it generated quite a bit of buzz.

Then, during the filming stage, Uncle Benshan, whoever he was, was there anyway.

Then, around the end of October, they started doing preview screenings.

Normal preview screenings are actually meant to generate word-of-mouth and facilitate discussions with more discerning film enthusiasts.

But an unexpected incident occurred. Zhang Yimou lost confidence due to the criticism he received from these so-called professional film fans, so he quickly contacted Uncle Benshan and others to reshoot the film.

The filming location was Dalian, which is currently known as the "Little Hong Kong of the North".

This demonstrates its level of prosperity.

Not only was "Happy Times" filmed here, but Mr. Feng's "Who Says I Don't Care" was also filmed here.

This movie gave birth to a famous meme that is still frequently mentioned today.

I'll pull the rubber band out of my underwear and make a slingshot to shoot through your windows...

This slingshot user later became the dean of the Performance Academy at Beijing Film Academy.

In the mental hospital, he's a slingshot expert; once he's discharged, you have to call him Director Wang!

Let's put all that aside and take a closer look at "Happy Times".

Is this movie really that bad?

Honestly, right?

"Happy Times" is actually quite good; it has a story, some funny moments, and some tearful ones.

However, it was criticized as a terrible film, and Zhang Yimou was also called box office poison.

We're saying that "Happy Times" isn't exactly a classic movie, but it's not that bad either, is it?
So it seems... who did the insult?

Ma Xun was almost certain that the mastermind behind this was definitely the Wang brothers!

These two are actually really good at doing this kind of thing.

What's remarkable is that these two have done this many times, but it can't be detected, or they always claim it has nothing to do with them.

However, if we take a very long-term perspective, we can look back at many of the scandals and controversies in our domestic entertainment industry over the past twenty years.

They are all more or less related to people from Huayi Brothers; some are current employees, while others are former employees.

Many big scandals are like this.

Knowing all this, Ma Xun naturally understood how difficult it would be to cause trouble for Feng Xiaogang and the Wang brothers during the current Lunar New Year film season.

But we men have always been the type to knowingly venture into dangerous territory!
Anyway, I'm not going to let you have any peace this time!

Ma Xun still needs to make a good movie.

Therefore, this movie must have these elements: low budget, tight schedule, and good quality!

Nightclub.

This one is the one, absolutely the most suitable.

Another advantage is that the film itself is dark humor and criticizes many social phenomena.

To put it bluntly, it's down-to-earth.

To put it more bluntly... it's perfect for the current Lunar New Year film season!

Currently, the most popular films in the Lunar New Year film season are, or rather, Feng Xiaogang's comedies.

It's really not that complicated.

Grasp the main points: humor, satire of reality, unconventional speech, and preaching profound truths, even if they are not necessarily correct.

In fact, Ma Xun believes that "Nightclub" itself is somewhat of an imitation of Feng Xiaogang's comedies.

This is better.

Repay the other person with his own way.

We'll use films like this to mess with you!
Therefore, after deciding on this film, Ma Xun naturally still needed to confirm a few things.

The original timeline of this film was 09, and the female lead at that time was Xiao Lu.

Oh right, there's another song, what were the lyrics again?

What? Wearing red and white leggings... and sticking out her butt to cosplay as a Christmas reindeer?
I can't remember, but I think there were even more explicit words later on.

Relatively speaking, Ma Xun is actually a conservative and respectable person.

Oh, He Qing and Zou Tao are both divorced?
Don't talk nonsense. This is their own business and has nothing to do with me, Ma Xun.

Okay, let's not talk about that anymore. The main thing is Xiaolu, we definitely can't keep her.

It seems she's filming "Angel's Trouble".

To be honest, this show had really high ratings; it was one of the earliest idol dramas in mainland China.

However, since Xiaolu is no longer wanted, who will play the female lead?
Bingbing is currently seeking to act in art films.

Jingwen is currently still reaping the benefits of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "50 First Dates".

Then Yuanyuan is the most suitable.

The female lead in this movie is a supermarket clerk.

There shouldn't be any problem with Yuanyuan playing the role. In fact, if she wore the supermarket uniform, she would give the impression of a hardworking female college student doing part-time work.

In terms of appearance and other aspects, he should be very suitable.

As for acting skills... actually, the female lead's acting skills in this movie are not very demanding.

As long as the output is normal, there will be no problem at all.

Although Yuanyuan's acting skills are not outstanding, they are not entirely nonexistent.

In fact, the female lead in this movie, in terms of importance, can only be considered the third lead.

The real lead role was actually played by Xu Guangtou.

That's the middle-aged migrant worker who won the lottery, but the supermarket owner didn't give him the prize.

The whole story begins with this incident.

The migrant workers, unable to claim their prize, decided to rob a supermarket, leading to a series of hilarious events.

And in this process, there is also the customer played by Wang Xun.

This customer is unbelievable; he's been dragging his feet over and over again just because of a straw.

but!

Don't think this is just an exaggeration in the movie.

Anyone who has actually worked in a supermarket knows that there are plenty of customers who are even more difficult to deal with than the one he's playing.

There are over a billion people.

But to be honest, Wang Xun's segment was quite down-to-earth, and the humor was also quite on point.

So, does this mean Ma Xun is going to find Xu Guangtou and Wang Xun?

Honestly, Ma Xun felt from the bottom of his heart that it would be better to go to Wang Xun, since he was actually quite flexible.

I cannot deny that there are some negative rumors circulating.

But those who are familiar with Wang Xun in the industry know that he actually has a people-pleasing personality.

There's nothing we can do about it; Wang Xun's rise to fame is truly due to the support of his 'friends'.

So-called friends are actually big shots; to put it bluntly, they're like Xu Guangtou and the wicked monkey Ning Hao.

Right now, both Xu Guangtou and Ning Hao are still just nobody.

I, Ma Xun, am the real boss!

Therefore, by contacting Wang Xun, Ma Xun was certain that this guy was determined to follow him.

But Xu Guangtou is different.

Don't be fooled by Xu Guangtou's current lack of fame; he's only known for "Spring Bright Pigsy".

But in reality, this guy is very capable.

He is a very prominent figure in Shanghai's drama circle.

There's no doubt that he's the king of Shanghai's drama scene.

His plays are truly outstanding.

For example, there's a play where the opening scene is full of arguments, making it seem like the play is going to fail. The audience is on tenterhooks, wondering if they've wasted their money.
But later, this guy came out and said that it was a little scene we deliberately arranged... and went on and on.

It turns out this was a small interaction between the stage and the audience.

It should be said that Xu Guangtou is capable, and capable guys like him are never easy to deal with.

Ma Xun doesn't want to plant a time bomb around himself, so what should he do?
An interesting situation has arisen.

"Migrant worker? The lottery ticket didn't go your way? Holding a grudge? I'll take your place!"

Huang Bo overheard Ma Xun mention the song "Nightclub" and immediately became interested.

Ma Xun said this casually.

I never expected this... As expected, Huang Bo should be a good replacement!

In fact, from an appearance standpoint, Huang Bo looks more like a migrant worker.

However, Xu Guangtou is much fatter than him, and in the movie "Nightclub", Xu Guangtou made good use of his advantage.

He's bald.

It really fits the character perfectly.

It can be considered that Xu Guangtou has taken the bait.

Now, if Huang Bo were to speak...

"How about I get my hair fixed up too? Maybe I should just pluck some out?"

"No, no, that's too much of a sacrifice. Just make yourself look a little greasy."

"Greasy?"

"It's like waking up in the morning without washing your face? Ideally, you'd have stayed up all night before."

"Oh, I got it!"

"in addition……"

"Smoke, right?"

Huang Bo has indeed made a lot of progress; he understands things very quickly.

Before Ma Xun could even speak, he had already thought of it.

Smoke is really important in this movie.

He Sanshui, a migrant worker, was practically penniless, with buying lottery tickets as his only remaining hope.

In fact, if we have any life experience, we can know some things about the situation.

Places like lottery stations and card game parlors.

That place was all smoky and polluted.

It's simply impossible not to smoke.

He Sanshui was extremely frustrated because the lottery ticket he won hadn't been redeemed by the shop owner yet.

A cigarette should be something one never lets go of.

So, how to draw this line is a very important part of this role.

"Okay, let me tell you about the play directly."

"it is good!"

"How do you think He Sanshui should draw his sword?"

"Well... just keep an eye on the lottery, and then eagerly go for it."

Have you seen Zheng Zeshi?

When Ma Xun mentioned the name, Huang Bo immediately pictured it in his mind.

It seems to be a movie called something like "The Grand Hotel," and then Kent Cheng gets out of the car, and he's smoking.

He flicked his hand repeatedly.

Despite his size, his smoking gesture is classic.

Ma Xun recalls that many people later mentioned Bao Qiang online.

It must be said that Baoqiang's smoking scene in "Mr. Tree" was truly excellent. But Ma Xun can't mention it now.

Moreover, it's clear that Bao Qiang also drew inspiration from Zheng Zeshi's movements.

Just shake your hands a couple of times.

Actually, "shuai" and "shuai" are... well, they're quite similar, aren't they?

That's about it. Huang Bo then figured out how to smoke in a cool way.

If this problem is solved, then he is He Sanshui.

……

They've landed the two most important roles in "Nightclub".

Ma Xun was certainly happy, but there was still one more role to play.

male protagonist.

Yes, actually the male lead isn't He Sanshui, even though he's the lead actor.

Why do you say that?
In fact, anyone who has seen the movie "Nightclub" will definitely remember one point.

That is, the entire perspective of this movie is from the perspective of the male employee in the supermarket!
That's right, the male employee is actually the male protagonist.

Because everything is from his perspective, including the female lead, He Sanshui, and those difficult customers.

Later, a murderer came to their shop, played by Zhang Jiayi, who wasn't very famous at the time... Obviously, "Dwelling Narrowness" hadn't been released yet when this film was made.

This murderer caused a huge upheaval in the entire plot.

In the end, the male protagonist became a hero.

The original film was directed and written by the same person, who is a guy who really likes to write about heroes.

No doubt about it, Ma Xun borrowed his film this time, and will definitely discover him in the future.

But what about the male protagonist now?
Who should we cast?

Ma Xun currently manages quite a few male actors, and the male lead in the original timeline is Qiao Renliang, who later passed away young.

There's no way to find someone to act in it now; he's only thirteen or fourteen.

So, who is the right person?
Just when Ma Xun was having a headache, a minor incident occurred in Beijing's entertainment industry!

A stage play has become a hit.

It was the play "Cuihua Serves Sauerkraut" at the Century Theater.

It can be said that a group of students from the Central Academy of Drama, under the guidance of their teachers, ignited the long-dormant drama market in Beijing.

However, this play is plagiarized, completely plagiarized.

Putting aside everything else, the name "Cuihua Serves Sauerkraut" comes from "A Family in Northeast China," which aired earlier this year.

The investor behind "A Family in Northeast China" is Dan Dan's ex-husband.

But this time it's interesting.

The play "Cuihua Serves Sauerkraut" is basically based on an online novel.

"Internet Addict's Diary"

This novel was actually written by three netizens online.

However, the three of them are... Yu Baimei, Ning Caishen, and Wang Shaoxiong.

However, Yingda took a liking to this novel and invested in making it into a TV series.

Now that the TV series is about to air, it turns out that a stage play plagiarized its content!

The key point is that the name still uses a popular phrase from his previous drama!
Yingda couldn't hold back any longer.

Sue them!
This is a matter within cultural circles, and it's caused quite a stir.

After hearing this, Ma Xun... laughed.

……

This day.

Century Theatre.

Yingda and her people came again to demand an explanation.

The students from the Central Academy of Drama were quite frightened, and the instructor, surnamed Tian, ​​was considered rather upright.

"We're just using this as a reference."

"Bullshit! You're just plagiarizing!"

“Teacher Yingda, we are all cultured people, you should speak more politely.”

"Civilized? This is thievery!"

"What theft? This is the business of cultured people, how can it be considered theft?"

This Mr. Tian is indeed quite knowledgeable; he is clearly a loyal reader of Mr. Lu Xun.

However, their standoff seems to be brewing something.

Ma Xun knew it was time for him to make his appearance.

"Gentlemen, could you please do me a favor and let's resolve this amicably, okay?"

He showed up, intending to be a peacemaker, but...

"Who are you?" said Deng Zhuo.

This guy is definitely a bit of a hothead.

But does anyone know who Ma Xun is?

"Mr. Ma, I didn't expect you to come."

The originally dominant side, Yingda, actually gave them face.

Mr. Ma?

Teacher Tian knew who this was, and said, "Boss Ma, we'll definitely give you face."

Yes, that's the feeling I want.

In fact, Ma Xun had made preparations long ago.

This time he plans to recruit some people.

"Boss Ying, they're all students, and putting on a play isn't easy. Here's what we'll do: how much money are they short? I'll cover it for them."

Wow!

atmosphere!

But in fact, Ma Xun knew very well that it was only 500,000.

This is roughly the amount the play earned. Even if Yingda wanted to sue, he would only get this much at most.

As for this data... of course, Ma Xun had already discussed it with Century Theater a long time ago.

"Well, with Mr. Ma's words, that's enough."

Yingda knew that Ma Xun was very rich.

But why would Ma Xun so readily give away 500,000 yuan as a gesture of goodwill?

He turned to Teacher Tian and Deng Zhuo and said, "I can help you with this expense, but I'm not running a charity. How about this, you can film a few movies for me for free, okay?"

this……

Deng Zhuo's expression immediately changed. "From now on, I'm Boss Ma's man!"

Goodness, this thing is a chameleon.

In this way, Ma Xun has resolved the matter.

A plagiarism incident in Beijing's cultural circles was quelled simply.

If word gets out, Ma Xun's reputation will definitely rise even higher.

So, this Deng Zhuo...

“I currently have a film project that requires a young man, preferably a student, who is passionate and willing to be a hero.”

After Ma Xun finished speaking, some people became completely shameless!
"Mr. Ma! These excellent qualities you described, aren't they exactly me?!"

Deng Zhuo fully demonstrated his abstract side.

In fact, he was the leading man in the play "Cuihua Serves Sauerkraut," and also the mainstay of the production.

Because he was on stage, wearing a halter top and black stockings, performing a pole dance...

That's right, in fact, he paid homage to himself in his later film, "The Breakup Guru".

Deng Zhuo is fundamentally an abstract thinker.

But this time, Ma Xun's actions were not just a simple matter of settling things.

This Teacher Tian... he's a habitual plagiarist.

It's not just that they plagiarized "Internet Addict's Diary" now.

Later, he also copied an American movie called "The Wish".

This movie stars Brendan Fitzgerald, and the story is about a devil who makes a deal with him, but in exchange for happiness.

So the devil transformed him into many impressive figures: a successful businessman, an NBA star, a renowned novelist, and so on. But unfortunately, he never found happiness in any of them.

For example, NBA stars look very strong and awesome, but if you pull open their tea leaves, wow... a little snake is hibernating.

And the play that Teacher Tian copied was:
"Want some twisted dough sticks? I'll twist them for you right now!"
This is it, absolutely.

Ma Xunke always remembered the way these guys came from.

Therefore, he had laid an ambush beforehand.

As for Deng Zhuo's classmates from the Central Academy of Drama, they can all use it; it's free.

My film, "Nightclub," had a lower budget.

In reality, the male lead of the TV series "Internet Addict's Diary" is still Brother Xiaoming.

Forget it, I'll just ignore him.

Of course, Ma Xun also established a connection with Yingda during this incident.

No doubt about it, let's go out for a drink.

During the banquet.

"Mr. Ying, you can also make a cameo appearance in my film."

"That would be great!"

"Have you ever made things difficult for the shop assistant when you bought something?"

"How could I possibly do that!"

How much truth is there in what Yingda said?

Haha, whatever, anyway, I've almost finished putting together this "Nightclub" movie.

Ma Xun plans to start filming after Yuan Yuan finishes filming "Hero".

After a hearty meal and drinks, everyone treated Boss Ma with utmost respect.

Ma Xun, still slightly drunk, returned to his small courtyard.

He opened the door and came in, then... rubbed his eyes.

Why?

There seems to be a fairy under that grape trellis.

But then the fairy chuckled softly.

What are you doing standing there?

Judging from the voice, it sounds like Yu-hyun.

Ma Xun walked over and saw that it was none other than Yu Xian, whom he hadn't seen for many days.

"You, why are you here?"

He drank quite a bit of wine.

Wang Xuxian smelled the alcohol and frowned slightly. "How could you have drunk so much?"

Seeing her sitting on the swing, Ma Xun couldn't help but come closer and say, "You really want me to hang you under this grape trellis?"

"You're so naughty~" Just that one sentence made Yu-hyun's pretty face blush slightly.

Clearly, she had missed him after such a long time apart.

But there are important matters to attend to right now.

"I'm here to talk about something serious."

"What do you mean 'serious'? What's the next part about 'serious'?"

Ma Xun's words made He Xian blush even more.

In truth, how could she not miss him after not seeing him for so many days?
Moreover, this grape trellis is really quite nice.

Look at these bright green grapes, they look so tempting.

"It's just 'The Peony Pavilion,' I know it."

"So you really haven't forgotten me."

"How could that be? You've given birth to my child, how could I be so heartless?"

"That sounds nice, you..." Only then did Soo-hyun realize that, as he spoke, his hand seemed to be...

He's really wicked.

Ma Xun laughed and said, "Perfect timing, your film is also coming to the Lunar New Year season this time."

"Is this...is this really okay?" Then came the legs.

He wanted to punch him, but he was powerless to do so.

At this point, Ma Xun was no longer thinking about anything related to the Lunar New Year film season.

What a beautiful view under the grape trellis...

(End of this chapter)